WWE NXT UK TakeOver Cardiff: Live results, highlights and grades

Live from the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales in the United Kingdom, WWE TV goes live tonight for the second ever NXT UK TakeOver event.

Today is set to be quite the eventful day in the world of professional wrestling. NJPW is set to hold its Royal Quest PPV live from the Copper Box Arena in London, England. Later that night, All Elite Wrestling will be airing their fourth ever Pay-Per-View, All Out, live from the Sears Centre Arena.

And smack dab in the middle of it all, WWE will be going live with a PPV of their own: NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff, highlighting the best wrestlers they have from across the pond.

The match card as it stands is as follows:

WWE United Kingdom Championship Match 
WALTER (c) vs. Tyler Bate

NXT UK Women’s Championship Match 
Toni Storm (c) vs. Kay Lee Ray

Last Man Standing Match
Dave Mastiff vs. Joe Coffey

NXT UK Tag Team Championship Triple Threat Match 
Zack Gibson & James Drake (c) vs. Mark Coffey & Wolfgang vs. Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews

Travis Banks vs. Noam Dar

Meanwhile, it is also worth noting that Cesaro was seen entering the building of the NXT UK show and when asked why he was there, he said that he was issuing an open challenge to any and every competitor on the NXT UK roster. His opponent will remain a mystery until the match actually starts airing live.

NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff goes live at 7 p.m. UK time. For our United States views, that is 2 p.m. EST time on the other side of the pond. If you cannot watch the show live, be sure to check back to this article at that time and refresh it periodically. We will be updating this piece as the show goes on with live results for each match and segment.

Noam Dar vs. Travis Banks

Start with a standard, but aggressive lock-up. Dar frustrates Banks with a shove, but favors the ropes (with a big ole grin on his face to boot) forcing the ref to force a break. Wrestling lock-ups continue as Noam continues to frustrate Banks. Banks puts his frustrations into Dar’s surgically repaired knee, kicking the ever loving might out of it.

Dar is able to capitalize following a clothesline off the top rope while Banks is sat atop the ring rope. Dar strikes further by whipping Banks awkwardly snapmare first into the ring ropes. Now, it looks like Dar has lost some feeling in his left hand. Dar focuses his energy into the left knee, setting up his Super-Kneebar finisher.

Eventually, Banks mounts a comeback. Eventually, wrenches in a crossface. Dar nearly taps before reaching the ropes.

Banks goes to kick Dar, Dar evades it, Dar kicks Banks’ leg against the ropes (the same leg he’s been working all match) and hits a Northern Lights Fisherman Suplex for a near fall. Noam locks in his Super Knee Bar, but Banks gets onto his back to face Dar face to face. The two slap each other until both pass out.

Seconds later, they make it to the outside where Dar throws Banks into the ring steps. He then throws him back in the ring, and clotheslines him for a near fall.

Banks hits some aggressive kicks to knock Dar down. He goes for Slice of Heaven, but Banks hits a double foot stomp to the back. Near fall.

Dar tries to roll out the ring, but turns around outside into a suicide dive. He throws Dar back in the ring for a double foot stomp to the chest for a near fall. They trade strikes until Banks hits a rolling elbow.

Banks then goes for Slice of Heaven, but Dar sweeps his leg. The Scottish Supernova capitalizes with the Nova Roller for the win.

Winner: Dar

Grade: C. Although I wasn’t too invested into this match because I haven’t cared for their storyline, I can at least appreciate how great their skills are and how it produced what was technically not a bad match. Solid, but nothing memorable.

https://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/1167867294111764480

Cesaro vs. Ilja Dragunov

In a backstage interview, Cesaro says he does not care who answers his open challenge. That’s when Ilja Dragunov steps into frame and they stare each other down. Looks like a challenge has been answered.

Immediately, Dragunov with a big boot and a series of strikes. Cesaro answers with chops.

Dragunov puts his hand in Cesaro’s face, asking him to bring it (Dwayne style). Cesaro answers with a big ole european uppercut.

Dragunov chops Cesaro and follows up with a senton for a 1-count. When Cesaro reaches his feet, Dragunov runs at Cesaro, but Cesaro picks him up, cradles him like a baby and throws him out the ring.

Cesaro continues to dominate. Teases a Big Swing, but instead decapitates him against the bottom rope. Sleeper hold rest stop until Ilja breaks out. He kicks at Cesaro, but gets caught, but recovers. He goes for a 619, but gets caught for a Big Swing! 40 swings, the crowd counts! He then locks in a Crossface. Dragunov breakouts and hits a 619-Clothesline combo.

Cesaro goes for an uppercut, but gets caught. Nearly gets a backslide pin, but Cesaro blocks it. He attempts a German Suplex, but Cesaro blocks it as well, but Ilja hits a one arm German Suplex instead. Cesaro rolls out, gets hit with a tope. On his way back in the ring, Ilja hits him with a Coast to Coast. Back in the ring to their feet, they trade back chops. Cesaro hits a right jab, but Ilja hits a series of Kobashi-esque chops.

Cesaro hits a Military Press GTS, for a near fall, then an uppercut for another near fall. Cesaro goes for another uppercut, but gets a backslide pin instead. Back to his feet, he gets a knee then a Death Valley Driver. Then, a senton from the top rope for a near fall.

Ilja sets up his running headbutt finish, but Cesaro lifts him in the air for a european uppercut, followed up by a Neutralizer for the win!

Winner: Cesaro

Grade: B+, My kind of match. Non-stop action. Loved every second of it. Super fun.

After the match, Cesaro teases an attack, but shakes Ilja’s hand and hugs him instead. Class act, that.

https://twitter.com/WWENetwork/status/1167872106341646337

Grizzled Young Vets (c) vs. Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan vs. Gallus – NXT UK Tag Titles

Zack Gibson and Mark Andrews start the match with a stare down. Lock up, but the bigger Gibson gets the advantage in a test of strength.

Mark Coffey and Flash Morgan in.

Match breaks down FAST with all six members of the match breaking into the ring following a pinfall attempt break up.

Wolfgang and Andrews tag in. Action moves outside, with Andrews/Flash diving onto Gallus.

Another breakdown with everyone pulling out crazy moves. Too much to keep up with!

https://twitter.com/NXTUK/status/1167875246461833231

Crowd is going nuts for every move.

At the end, Webster goes for the cover on Drake, but Gibson pulls out the ref.

Gibson gets the blind tag, and he and Drake hit their tag finisher on Webster. Gibson tells Drake to suicide dive onto Gallus outside while he goes for the pin, and he does.

However, Andrews nails a Shooting Star Press on Gibson. Webster makes the cover, and the win! First ever Welsh champions in WWE history, and second ever NXT UK Tag Champions!

Winners: Andrews/Webster

https://twitter.com/NXTUK/status/1167879367952756736

Grade: B+ – This one REALLY exceeded expectations. Then again, tag team matches are my favorite type of matches, so despite not being too invested in the storyline, I was bound to love this match. Hell, I was never really sold on Flash and Andrews as a team, but by jove, they won me over. Those two kids can go. This whole division can go like crazy!

Joe Coffey vs. Dave Mastiff – Last Man Standing

Immediately fighting up the ramp. Mastiff attacks with a chain. Back in the ring, they brawl. Mastiff whips Coffey so hard into the turnbuckle that he breaks it!

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1167880898483642369

Outside, Joe Coffey recovers by attacking Mastiff with a pool cue. Why there is a pool cue at ringside, no one knows. Anyway, he then drives Mastiff into the barricade. He breaks the pool cue over Mastiff’s back. He then attempted murder (a lot of that going on in WWE lately) by trying to stab Mastiff with the pool cue, but Mastiff reverses. He then clobbers Coffey with a cricket bat. He then charges at Coffey into a table, but Coffey gets out the way. Mastiff lands liver first into the table.

Coffey tries to capitalize by swinging a chain at Mastiff, but Mastiff dodges and hits a German Suplex. He then starts clobbering Coffey with the chain himself.

The two have a tug of war over the chain, and Mastiff lets him have it (literally) before sending him into the table).

They then brawl into the crowd and while there, Coffey knocks Mastiff down with a Discus Clothesline with a chain wrapped around his arm. Mastiff makes it to his feet at the count of 8.

Mastiff grabs two chairs, hands one Coffey, they walk to separate sides of the aisle and joust at each other!

They then head into the announce table area. Mastiff removes the cover. Picks Coffey up for a rolling Fireman’s Carry. Table doesn’t break.

Back to their feet, they climb above the table barrier. “Please don’t die” chants as they trade blows up there. Following a headbutt, they send each other off the barrier and through a table!

Ref counts down both men, but at the last possible second, Coffey makes it to his feet to become the Last Man Standing.

Winner: Coffey

Grade: B+ So much fun. The UK based weapons were a nice touch.

Toni Storm (c) vs. Kay Lee Ray – NXT UK Women’s Championship

Toni Storm charges at KLR, but the latter bolts out the ring. Pacing around the ring. Mind games. Every time she attempts to get in the ring, she backs out, but eventually, Storm finds an opening for a suicide dive.

Back in the ring, this turns into a fight. Trading kicks and punches. Quickly dissolves when KLR slows the match down with a rest hold. Then, transitions into a Gourdbuster for a 2-count. Storm eventually mounts a comeback with fists (and tears) of fury.

Storm attempts a Storm Zero, but KLR blocks it for a potential Gory Bomb, but gets caught with a sunset driver for a near fall. Then, inside cradle by KLR for a near fall. Storm finally hits a Storm Zero, but KLR kicks out. Something (I don’t think) anyone’s kicked out of before. Back to her feet, KLR hits the Gory Bomb after a Superkick, but Storm kicks out. KLR puts her on the top rope, but Storm fights back attempting a Storm Zero, but KLR blocks it.

Storm hops over KLR’s shoulders, then German Suplex off the middle rope. Another tope to the outside by Storm to KLR afterwards. KLR dives onto Storm after the fact (though it looks like KLR looks like she awkwardly lands on her neck, thankfully she’s okay).

Back in the ring, KLR hits one more Gory Bomb to become the second ever NXT UK Women’s Champion!

Winner: Kay Lee Ray

Grade: C

Bit disappointed in this one to be honest. Maybe my expectations were too high or I (and the rest of the crowd) were too tired from the last two berserk matches, but I felt like this match was missing something. Also felt like Kay Lee Ray and Storm were trying to create a WWE style match for the first time and it just didn’t work. Also a bit rushed in parts, though some good spots saved it.

WALTER vs. Tyler Bate – United Kingdom Championship

Bit of mat based wrestling to start. Bate stays on the move. Trying to outsmart WALTER; poke the bear if you will. It’s working.

Until WALTER gets him on the mat with a headlock. Bate back to his feet. Mounts a comeback, scoop slams WALTER for a huge pop, even though WALTER no sells by getting right back up, before getting forearmed smashed to the outside.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1167894542273482753

Bate goes for a suicide dive, but gets caught. WALTER chops Bate, then powerbombs him to the apron. WALTER a minute later powerbombs Bate into the ring post, but rather than back first, Bate lands head/neck first into the post. Medical staff check on Bate, but thankfully, he swears he’s okay. Not 100% sure if this is a spot or a real deal, given the horrid and awkward landing.

Back in the ring, WALTER dominates. Slams and rest holds galore until Bate teases a comeback. He lifts WALTER to his shoulders, but gets splatted.

Bate to the outside again. Back in at 8, again. Rest hold by WALTER. Again.

Bate finally makes a comeback.

https://twitter.com/NXTUK/status/1167897319720673281

Bate hits an exploder suplex. Then standing shooting star press for a near fall.

Some time passed and WALTER goes for a Powerbomb, reversed into Airplane Spin. Then, off the top rope, he hits WALTER with a Burning Hammer. Bate too tired to cover immediately. He finally gets to him, but WALTER rolls to the outside. Bate hits two dives on WALTER. Then a Tyler Driver, then a corkscrew senton inside. Both for a near fall.

WALTER locks in his rear naked choke. With WALTER on his back, Bate makes it to his feet. Falls down, forces WALTER to break the hold, but WALTER gets right back into it. They roll to the apron, where WALTER turns it into an overhead suplex on the apron. Then, a Powerbomb inside the ring for a 1-count. Followed by a Big Splash and a clothesline for a win after over 40-minutes.

Winner: WALTER

Grade: D+. Another case of two great athletes attempting a WWE style match, but with worse results than the last one. While KLR vs Storm felt rushed, WALTER vs. Bate just dragged out to the point it felt self-indulgent. Also not a fan of the slam spot getting such a huge pop, then immediately amount to nothing because WALTER got right up. Maybe its nitpicky, but imagine if Andre got right up after Hogan slammed it. It just annoyed me.

I might be in the minority, but this wasn’t clicking for me.

Overall: B-

While I think the last two matches hurt the show and weren’t good (neither was the opener, the rest of the show was pretty good and was filled with some great matches/moments that made up for it.