WWE NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool Highlights, Grades, and Analysis

NXT UK hosts their first WWE Network special today with NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool. After premiering back in October 2018, the NXT UK brand has grown and given us some of Europe’s best competition fighting for a chance to shine. Can NXT UK live up to the bar set by previous NXT TakeOver specials?

NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool comes to us today at 2PM ET, 1PM CT, and of course 7PM UK time where it will be emanating from. We’ve got two highly personal grudge matches and three huge championship matches on the card, including one to crown the first ever NXT UK Tag Team Champions.

While Pete Dunne has been the WWE United Kingdom Champion for over 600 days, the NXT UK brand has only truly existed since first airing on the WWE Network on October 17, 2018. Since that first airing, fans have been treated to two episodes a week which has given them 24 episodes and a literal 24 hours of content to build towards this inaugural special.

NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool Full Match Card

Grudge Match: Travis Banks vs. Jordan Devlin

After weeks of personal jabs by “The Irish Ace” Jordan Devlin to “The Kiwi Buzzsaw” Travis Banks about the New Zealand native’s lack of time spent visiting home, things will finally hit a boiling point at TakeOver. Things are very personal, but don’t forget that these are two of the best in-ring competitors in the UK.

No Disqualification Match: Dave Mastiff vs. Eddie Dennis

In the early weeks of NXT UK, two stars went on an impressive undefeated streak. When “Bomber” Dave Mastiff and Eddie Dennis faced off for the first time, it was the 17-year veteran Mastiff who picked up the win, but Dennis attacked him after the match. These two clearly have unfinished business, and they look to settle it in a No Disqualification Match at TakeOver.

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NXT UK Tag Team Championship Match: Moustache Mountain (Trent Seven & Tyler Bate) vs. Zack Gibson & James Drake

The NXT UK Tag Team Championships were first revealed in October 2018. After teams had the chance to impress NXT UK General Manager Johnny Saint, a tournament was organized.

Moustache Mountain and the team of Gibson and Drake have both qualified for the finals and will face each other to determine the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions.

NXT UK Women’s Championship Match: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Toni Storm

The NXT UK Women’s Championship was also announced before NXT UK first aired and became the focal point of a tournament to crown the inaugural champion. The eight woman tournament concluded with Rhea Ripley defeating Toni Storm in the finals to become champion.

Since losing to Ripley, Toni Storm went on to win the Mae Young Classic at WWE Evolution, and now believes it’s “Toni Time” and hopes to leave TakeOver as a champion.

WWE United Kingdom Championship Match: Pete Dunne (c) vs. Joe Coffey

While NXT UK is only beginning to write its history, Pete Dunne has been the WWE United Kingdom Champion since May 20, 2017. For over 600 days he’s represented this burgeoning brand, but “The Iron King” Joe Coffey is looking to end that reign.

Coffey leads the group known as Gallus which has been running wild over the NXT UK brand since its inception. “The Iron King” has the opportunity to start a new era, but “The Bruiserweight” intends to keep his reign going well past 600 days.

As a reminder, NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool goes live on the WWE Network at 2PM ET, so check back here for live results, highlights, and analysis of the show.

Credit: WWE.com

NXT UK Tag Team Championship Match: Moustache Mountain vs. Zack Gibson & James Drake

NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool got off to a hot start with a tag team contest to crown the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions. A four-team tournament was created to crown the first pair of champions, and both these teams had strong competition on their way to Blackpool.

Moustache Mountain qualified with a big win over Mark Coffey and Wolfgang of Gallus, while Gibson and Drake qualified by defeating Flash Morgan Webster and Mark Andrews. It’s led to this spectacular clash worthy of crowning the first set of champions.

Right off the bat, the crowd in the Empress Ballroom is already losing their minds. Not only is the crowd extremely supportive of Tyler Bate of Moustache Mountain, but they’re happy to berate Zack Gibson with their disdain for the Liverpudlian with a chant of “If you hate Gibson, shoes off!”

https://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/1084166264690372608

Tyler Bate and Zack Gibson opened with some back and forth action, but neither man got a clear advantage. Things swapped out with Drake and Seven in the ring, but the two men remained evenly matched.

After some more work by both teams trying to get an advantage, Trent Seven finally started to dictate the pace over James Drake. A blind tag by Zack Gibson helped the team known elsewhere as Grizzled Young Veterans take control, much to the dismay of the crowd.

As an aside, Moustache Mountain are channeling The British Bulldogs with their gear, but all I keep doing is looking at their bright red thighs and thinking they’ve got some sort of nuclear sunburn. However, gear choices didn’t prevent Trent Seven from fighting through a barrage at the hands of Gibson and Drake.

Trent Seven wasn’t slowing down, but the damage was clear as a stray forearm by James Drake busted open the back of Trent’s head. As the match continued and Gibson wore him down, Seven’s blondie hair began to change shades and show just what these men are willing to do to become champions.

Finally, Trent Seven found his way to the proper corner and got a red hot tag to Tyler Bate. With the crowd behind him, Bate rolled in and cleared house before taking Drake for an airplane spin. Amazingly, Bate followed it up by lifting both Gibson and Drake on his shoulders for a huge double airplane spin!

With Moustache Mountain back in control, Seven planted Gibson with a Burning Hammer that looked like it would be enough for the win, but Drake managed to break things up. Bate and Seven were looking to finish off Drake, but a well-timed Ticket to Ride by Gibson stopped it.

Gibson put Seven into the mat with Helter Skelter and James Drake hit a picture perfect 450 Splash, but somehow Trent Seven kicked out! The crowd is fired up, and this match is already setting the bar high for NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool.

Gibson managed to get Seven into Shankly Gates and was looking for the submission victory, but an all-heart effort by Tyler Bate managed to break it up before Seven had to tap out. Both teams are feeling the exhaustion of things, and looking for an advantage to try and pick up the win.

Tyler Bate rebounded off the ropes and hit his huge clothesline while Seven simultaneously planted Drake with a momentum-assisted dragon suplex, but Drake still kicked out. Zack Gibson got Bate on his shoulders on the outside, and Drake came flying with a suicide dive for a modified doomsday device taking Bate out of the equation!

Back in the ring, Gibson and Drake finally nailed Trent Seven with Ticket to Mayhem. Tyler Bate was still down on the outside and unable to break things up as the referee counted the pinfall crowning Zack Gibson and James Drake the new NXT UK Tag Team Champions!

Grade: A, a blistering opener that really helped hype the crowd up and established Drake and Gibson as a top-tier tag team by defeating former NXT Tag Champions Moustache Mountain. 

Credit: WWE.com

“The Kiwi Buzzsaw” Travis Banks vs. “The Irish Ace” Jordan Devlin

This highly personal contest has been building for weeks, and that build continued today before NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool was even on the air. Just as Banks arrived in the building, Devlin attacked him and managed to injure the knee of Banks.

It was confirmed during the pre-show that Banks was medically cleared to compete, but he’s clearly not competing at 100%. Before the bell even rang, Banks came flying over the top rope with a dive onto Devlin. Unfortunately he tweaked the knee, and Devlin is already doing work.

With a vicious carefree attitude at his disposal, Devlin assaulted the knee and slammed Banks into the steel stairs. Sid Scala and some referees made their way to the ring to check on the condition of Banks who could barely stand at this point.

With “The Kiwi Buzzsaw” being escorted backstage and unable to stand under his own power, it looked like the match wouldn’t be happening. Sid Scala and NXT UK General Manager then revealed they had a backup plan if Devlin tried something like this and announced his replacement opponent… Finn Balor!

Master vs. Apprentice: Finn Balor vs. Jordan Devlin

In a shocking turn of events, former WWE Universal Champion Finn Balor is in the Empress Ballroom ready to take on his old student Jordan Devlin! The crowd has come unglued once again, and Devlin looks stunned.

Finn started things quick with a slingblade and an early attempt at the Coup de Grace, but Devlin slid out of harms way and tried to slow the pace down. This match is already special, and NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool is looking truly unforgettable!

Finally gaining his bearings, “The Irish Ace” took control and began to slowly wear down Finn Balor. These two men know each other incredibly well, but Balor flipped the script not long after with a string of deafening knife-edge chops.

Things hit a stalemate a few moments later with each man trying to get some momentum, but Balor was to his feet first with a big forearm and a double stomp to take control. Finn looked for 1916, which Devlin tried to slip out of, but Balor planted him to earn a count of two.

Devlin put up a great fight and almost picked up the win with a rope-assisted roll-up, but a well-timed Coup de Grace by Balor finished off “The Irish Ace.” While it’s a loss for Devlin, going toe to toe with a former champion and your former teacher in your TakeOver debut is certainly a respectable effort.

Grade: B, All in all, this is great storytelling. It’s preserved the Banks and Devlin rivalry moving forward, and showed Devlin could hang with a top-tier superstar. It loses a few points because while good, the Devlin vs. Balor match could have been much better if given more time. 

Credit: WWE.com

No Disqualification Match: “Bomber” Dave Mastiff vs. Eddie Dennis

The night’s third contest saw “Bomber Dave Mastiff and Eddie Dennis going one on one in a No Disqualification Match. Both men were ready to fight as they began throwing punches the second the bell sounded.

Mastiff looked to introduce the hardcore aspect of things but putting the larger half of the steel steps into the ring. Before he could use them to take control, Eddie Dennis yanked a kendo stick from beneath the ring and struck Mastiff with it.

Both men were hitting extremely hard, and the disdain between them was right at the surface. On the outside, Eddie Dennis increased the intensity and danger by pulling back the protective mats and revealing the bare floor at the Empress Ballroom.

As the match continued, we saw Eddie Dennis exhibit some absolute pure strength that was undeniably impressive. Whether it was holding the massive Dave Mastiff up in the air for Severn Bridge or this amazing swinging slam, Eddie’s power was next level.

Unfortunately, that power just wasn’t enough. After trying to put Mastiff through a table with Severn Bridge, Dave fought out and sent Dennis crashed through the same table with Into the Void. The huge cannonball senton was enough for the pinfall to keep his undefeated streak alive.

Grade: B-, Not a bad match, but a relatively slow pace kept it from really shining. Eddie Dennis with some great feats of strength, but couldn’t outlast the “Bomber.” 

Also, Kay Lee Ray and Jazzy Gabert were shown at ringside after this match and look to be new additions to the NXT UK women’s division moving forward.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1084184152868438016

Credit: WWE.com

NXT UK Women’s Championship Match: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Toni Storm

The penultimate match of the night was the first glimpse of NXT UK’s women’s division. The confident young champion Rhea Ripley looked set to successfully defend her title, but Toni Storm insisted it’s “Toni Time.”

The Australian challenger was aggressive out of the gate with right hands and even hit an early dive to the outside that took down the champion. Rhea Ripley used a handful of hair shortly after to give herself an opening and hit Toni with a pair of devastating kicks.

With the challenger reeling, Rhea Ripley began to set the pace and really take control of the match. From some stiff kicks in the corner to a leg scissors, Ripley continued to unleash punishment on Storm and chart her path to victory.

Toni Storm managed to kick out of each pinfall attempt, but struggled to get in any offense. Toni countered her way out of a submission attempt by Ripley, but ate a stiff dropkick only moments later which kept the champion in charge.

Ripley felt her confidence surging, but let it get the better of her. After mouthing off to Storm, she came running at the challenger and caught a stiff headbutt that sent both women crashing to the mat. The referee began his count, and things were at a stalemate for a moment.

Both women struggled to their feet and started trading strikes, only firing each other up even more. Toni Storm followed it up with a pair of german suplexes. She looked for Storm Zero, but Ripley slipped out and kept her fight alive.

Rhea fought through the attempt and locked the challenger in a painful looking inverted cloverleaf. Ripley applied heavy pressure to Storm’s legs, but Toni slipped out and locked on an ankle lock of her own to damage the lower body of the champion.

Both women refused to give up, but the exhaustion on their faces is plain to see. Ripley finally planted Toni with Riptide, but Storm still kicked out! Despite looking completely down for the count, Toni Storm refuses to die.

Rhea followed it up with some powerful clotheslines, but Storm somehow slipped free. A stiff headbutt and Storm Zero looked to end things, but Rhea Ripley still kicked out at two! Both women have fired their best shot, but neither will let things end.

Ripley tried to regain some momentum, but Toni finally hit Storm Zero a second time and put her down for the count of three to become the new NXT UK Women’s Champion!

Grade: A-, This was a really great match that helped solidify Toni Storm as the top face in the NXT UK women’s division. I’m giving it an A- just because the opening tag match was better at an A, but these two women should be proud of the fight they put on. 

Credit: WWE.com

WWE United Kingdom Championship Match: Pete Dunne (c) vs. Joe Coffey

It was finally time for the main event of the evening as “The Bruiserweight” Pete Dunne defended his WWE United Kingdom Championship against the leader of Gallus, “The Iron King” Joe Coffey.

The crowd was behind Dunne a thousand percent, but Coffey is looking to take control of NXT UK. Things started with a stare-down and a lockup in the center of the ring, but Coffey used the ropes to break things up.

Pete Dunne took an early advantage and showed Coffey some of his trademark joint manipulation. Dunne simply outmaneuvered him at each step, even isolating and damaging the fingers of Coffey.

Coffey kept looking for an opening, but Pete Dunne was simply outwrestling him at every turn. The champion even got him locked in a painful looking Regal Stretch, but Coffey refused to tap out.

Dunne kept control with a wristlock that kept Coffey from executing a stalling suplex. Coffey held on and hit a few stiff strikes to finally hoist Dunne into the air, but a string of knees let Dunne slip out and slap on the wristlock yet again.

Joe Coffey just can’t find any sort of momentum at this point, and the champion looks dominant. The fight spills to the outside when Coffey suddenly slams Dunne hard into the ramp. Suddenly there’s a target on the back of Dunne, and “The Iron King” has an opening.

Back in the ring, Coffey followed that slam on the ramp with a stiff backbreaker and sidewalk slam. He followed it with a bearhug, and finally it looks like “The Iron King” can taste victory. Dunne is feeling the damage more than ever.

Pete Dunne fights out of it, but the damage has been done. Joe Coffey proceeded to take control with a huge flying cross body and a series of splashes sandwiching “The Bruiserweight” in the corner.

Despite the damage, Pete Dunne fought through and somehow planted Coffey with The Bitter End. It looked like the match was over, but Coffey still kicked out. Dunne heads to the apron, but Coffey manages to plant him back-first with a sitout powerbomb on the apron!

The referee starts to count, and amazingly both men slide into the ring just before the count of ten rings out. Dunne gets another wind and hits a series of stiff strikes, but Coffey hits a huge discus lariat that somehow only gives him a two count!

Coffey goes to finish him, but Dunne locks in a triangle. Coffey slams him into the turnbuckle, but Dunne refuses to release. Coffey climbs all the way to the top and comes flailing off the top, sending the champion crashing into the mat.

Both men slowly got to their feet with the ropes as help, and they’re fired up once again swinging wildly at one another. Coffey plants a huge Mount Everest german suplex, but Dunne just refuses to die.

Coffey follows it up with stray strikes on the downed champion, clearly frustrated he still hasn’t been able to put down “The Bruiserweight.” Coffey tries to hit Dunne with his own finisher, but Dunne counters it into a DDT and plants Coffey with The Bitter End.

Feeling the damage dealt throughout the match, Coffey manages to roll away before Dunne can cover him. Coffey tried to drag Dunne to the top rope to end things, but a struggle on the turnbuckle caused Coffey to fall hard to the outside.

Coffey went to the top again shortly after, but Dunne climbed to the top and suddenly both men crashed down towards the barricade on the outside. It wasn’t clear what they were heading for, but the exhaustion was clear from both parties.

Back in the ring, Dunne finally hits The Bitter End again but Coffey kicks out. Dunne follows it with an armbar and starts wrenching on the fingers to a near breaking point, and Coffey has no choice but to finally tap out. Your winner, after a brutal quest, is Pete Dunne who is still the WWE United Kingdom Champion.

Grade: A+, I wasn’t a big supporter of Coffey going into this match. I would’ve happily told you someone else deserved this title shot, but Coffey proved me wrong in one of the hardest fought matches I’ve seen in recent memory. These two went to war, and this was a main event truly worthy of headlining NXT UK’s first TakeOver. 

After the match, Dunne’s celebration was cut short by the familiar classical power tune of Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9. One of the biggest and most powerful names on the independent scene in Europe has finally arrived in NXT UK, and Walter has his eyes on the champion!

Coffey tried to interrupt the stare down between Walter and Dunne and ate a kick by Walter for his troubles. After a respectful face to face, Walter left Dunne to finish his celebration, but a statement has been made.