NXT TakeOver: Cardiff Results (8/31/19) - New Champions crowned, British Strong Style reunites

The Ring General battled the Big Strong Boi in the main event
The Ring General battled the Big Strong Boi in the main event

NXT UK has built up an incredible card for the brand's second-ever TakeOver event. Tonight, we'll get six hard-hitting matches featuring the best superstars the UK has to offer. In fact, that also includes WWE Superstar Cesaro, who issued an open challenge on the TakeOver Pre-Show.

All three championships are on the line tonight. The Grizzled Young Vets will be defending their NXT UK Tag Team Titles in a triple threat tag team match. Last month, Gallus's own Mark Coffey & Wolfgang challenged the champions. However, as the two kicked off their bitter feud, Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews inserted themselves into the title picture. Webster & Andrews had to beat both Coffey & Wolfgang in singles competition to punch their ticket to Cardiff. Tonight, the undersized duo hoped to pull off an upset in their hometown.

Toni Storm's NXT UK Women's Championship is on the line tonight as she battles her former friend Kay Lee Ray. Ray quickly ended her friendship with Storm in order to get to the front of the line for the title, even bringing up Storm's troubled past. Ray has dished out some incredible mind games over the past few months, but will it be enough to shake the stellar young superstar?

At NXT TakeOver: New York, Walter ended Pete Dunne's incredible 685 day reign as UK Champion. Since then, he's aligned himself with Fabian Aichner, Marcell Barthell, and Alexander Wolfe, forming Imperium, a deadly stable Hell bent on dominating NXT UK by any means necessary. Over the summer, Walter injured Trent Seven after four brutal powerbombs. Tonight, former UK Champion Tyler Bate gets the chance to get revenge for his fellow British Strong Style members when he challenges Walter for his title.

Along with all of that, we also have a one-on-one bout between Travis Banks and Noam Dar as well as a Hoss Fight in the Last Man Standing match featuring Joe Coffey and Dave Mastiff.


Noam Dar vs Travis Banks

The Kiwi Buzzsaw finally makes it to TakeOver
The Kiwi Buzzsaw finally makes it to TakeOver

Banks and Dar locked up, with both men jockeying for position. Dar brought Banks in with a wrist lock, but the vet was able to escape, counting with a hold of his own. Dar pushed towards the ropes, breaking up the hold cand catching Banks with a leg hook. Banks escaped an ankle lock attempt, leading to a point where both men tried to take each other's head off with stiff kicks. It ended with a stalemate and Dar offering a handshake.

It was only a ploy, but Banks saw through it, taking out the left leg of Dar repeatedly. Dar was sent outside hobbling on his leg, but couldn't escape Banks as he leapt onto the apron for a penalty kick. Back inside, though, Dar was able to bait Banks in and hang him up on the top rope for a leaping clothesline. Banks kicked out at two.

Dar talked some trash while slapping the face of Banks, who attempted to fight back with a few punches. Dar quickly put an end to that, sending him into the ropes with a snapmare. Dar then started working over the left shoulder. Banks made it back to his feet but was left kneeling over in pain after a shoulder breaker. He managed to counter Dar eventually, sending him face first into the second turnbuckle and connecting with a running dropkick. A German suplex set up for a leaping double stomp, but Dar rolled away.

The two attempted to get around each other with a waist lock. Dar dropped to the ground and began kicking the head and shoulders of Banks, eventually bringing him down for an attempt at the LeBell Lock. Banks countered with a crucifix pin then trapped him in an arm trapped crossface. Dar fought to the ropes and saved the matchup for himself.

Dar slapped the taste out of Banks' mouth, leading him to go for a running kick but getting trapped in the ropes. Dar pelted him with kicks then brought him down with a spin out fisherman suplex. Banks kicked out. The Nova Roller was attempted, but a kick to the jaw stopped Dar in his tracks. Banks set up for the springboard kick only to be trapped in a kneebar.

Banks tried to fight out, leading to a spot where he was trapped in an Indian death lock while the two men traded punches. Banks then found himself outside on the apron where Dar knocked him off with a dropkick to the legs. Dar sent him into the steel steps, then sent him back inside for a basement lariat to the back of the Kiwi Buzzsaw's head. Banks kicked out.

Dar was sent into the corner with a shotgun dropkick and hit a second rope double stomp. He kicked out of a pinfall and rolled outside only to be driven to the floor by a suicide dive. As he was sent into the ring, he bounced out and rocked Dar with an elbow. Banks was sent into the barricade but leapt onto the top and countered with a Slice of Heaven.

Inside the ring, a top rope double stomp from Banks led to a two count. Both men leaned on each other to get back to their feet and traded forearm strikes. Dar hit a few uppercuts, sending Banks into the ropes where he bounced back with a clothesline. Dar avoided a shot in the corner and caught Banks with a running pump kick. Banks set up for the Slice of Heaven but Dar kicked his legs out from under him, leading to the Nova Roller and the pinfall.

Results: Noam Dar defeated Travis Banks via pinfall.

Ilja Draganov took Cesaro to the limit in a surprising show-stealing performance
Ilja Draganov took Cesaro to the limit in a surprising show-stealing performance

Ilja Draganov vs Cesaro

Draganov started off with a running big boot out the gate. He and Cesaro traded chops, with the former United States Champion getting the better of the trade. A shoulder block knocked him to the mat, but he responded with a running forearm.

Cesaro caught Draganov going for a crossbody. Draganov escaped his grasp and both he and Cesaro barely missed their strikes. Draganov told him to bring it, leading to a strong European uppercut. Cesaro continued to pelt Draganov with chops, only making the red-eyed brawler more enraged.

Draganov eventually won a striking trade, sending Cesaro into the corner. However, a leaping body splash was caught by Cesaro, who dumped Draganov over the ropes and onto the floor. Draganov was then dropped head first onto the barricade. Back inside the ring, Cesaro kicked Draganov in the jaw, following up with a body slam and a leg drop. Draganov kicked out at two.

Draganov fought back to his feet but was immediately brought down again with a back suplex. A guillotine in the ropes damaged the throat of Draganov, and Cesaro trapped him in a side headlock. Draganov broke out and kicked Cesaro in the face, and managed to counter another back suplex with a crossbody. He ran into the ropes for the 619, only for Cesaro to catch him and swing him around the ring for nearly three dozen rotations.

Cesaro trapped Draganov in a crossface. Draganov fought through and turned it into a pin. Cesaro broke out but was met by the 619 clothesline. Another clothesline leveled the Swiss Superman, and Draganov countered an uppercut with a backslide. Cesaro tried to stop it, leading to a jumping enziguri from Draganov. Cesaro was then dumped overhead and placed inside the ropes for a leg drop from the top rope. Draganov pounded the chest of Cesaro with chops before Cesaro worked his way back to his feet and traded strikes with Draganov again.

Dozens of chops to the throat weren't enough to put down Cesaro, who dropped Draganov with a GTS and a running uppercut to a seated Draganov. Still Draganov managed to break out of the pin. Draganov countered another uppercut with a backslide and when he broke out, sent Cesaro into the corner with a death valley driver.

A senton from the top rope looked to finish the match, but Cesaro managed to power out of the pinfall. Dragano hyped up the crowd and ran in, but a pop-up uppercut stunned him, allowing Cesaro to hit the Neutralizer for the win.

Results: Cesaro defeated Ilja Draganov via pinfall.

After the match, Cesaro chook the hand of Draganov and gave him the chance to celebrate in the middle of the ring.

The Grizzled Young Vets stood toe-to-toe with the hometown heroes
The Grizzled Young Vets stood toe-to-toe with the hometown heroes

NXT UK Tag Team Championship Match: Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster vs Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) vs Grizzled Young Vets (Zack Gibson & James Drake) (c)

Zack Gibson kicked off the match with Mark Andrews, with Gibson taking the hometown hero down for a quick pinfall. Andrews kicked out twice, leading to a sunset flip. Gibson kicked out and was sent over with a wheelbarrow arm drag. Gibson rolled through for an armbar before tagging in Drake.

Andrews was too fast for Drake, sending him over with two arm drags and tagging in Flash for a double arm drag and a pair of standing moonsaults. Andrews tagged back in but was sent into Gallus's corner, allowing Wolfgang to tag himself in. Drake tagged Flash in to escape Wolfgang.

Flash countered a pop-up powerbomb with a dropkick and a roll-up. Wolfgang caught Flash and went for a pinfall of his own, leading to Gibson breaking up the pin. Coffey tagged in but was sent into the Vets' corner. Gibson tagged himself in but was knocked off by Flash. Andrews took out Coffey with a moonsault from the apron while Flash continued his assault on Gibson.

Drake tagged Gibson while Flash wasn't looking, allowing the champions to take back over and slow the pace back down. Gibson tagged in again and brought Flash outside for an elevated backbreaker with Drake leaping over the top rope for the elbow drop. Back inside the ring, a body slam earned Gibson a two-count.

Gibson brought Flash into their corner with a headlock, and Drake came in with an elbow strike to the jaw. A backbreaker left Flash writhing in pain as Drake taunted Andrews and Gallus. A jawbreaker from Flash, though, stunned Drake, allowing Coffey to tag himself in. Flash fought away from Coffey, who was tagged out by Gibson before he could do any real damage. Gibson couldn't stop Flash from tagging Andrews, who lit up Gibson and Drake.

Andrews rolled up Gibson but leapt out of the pin for a tornado DDT on Drake. Gallus rushed the ring only to be met with a double pele kick. Flash joined him and the two went over the top for a pair of rolling sentons on Gallus, then the other side of the ring to take out the Vets. Back inside, Flash assisted with a 450 Splash on Gibson, but Andrews' pin was broken up by Drake.

Drake woke up Gibson only for the two to be taken out by Flash. Coffey managed to tag himself in and battered Flash and Andrews. Wolfgang tagged in, leading to a slingshot Samoan drop to Andrews. Andrews kicked out at two. Andrews found himself on Wolfgang's shoulders, and spiked him with a reverse hurricanrana as Flash connected with a running knee to the jaw. Andrews went up for the Shooting Star but was crotched by Gibson on the top rope. Coffey yanked Gibson off the apron, falling on his jaw.

Andrews fought off Coffey and with both members of Gallus and Zack Gibson below, hit the Shooting Star Press onto the outside. Back inside, Gibson was met by a Stundog Millionaire from Andrews and a senton bomb from Flash. Still, Gibson kicked out. Flash was dragged out and Drake came in for the running dropkick in the corner. Helter Skelter and the 450 Splash weren't enough to put away Andrews.

Flash came in to break up another tag team maneuver, knocking the champs out with a headbutt, leaving all four men out on the mat. Gallus emerged, fresh once again, and dominated them all with massive strikes, including a slingshot spear to Flash from Wolfgang. Wolfgang launched Coffey over the top for a huge splash on their opponents.

Andrews rolled in but was met with the Cunning Art. Wolfgang stood atop Flash while Coffey pinned Andrews, but FLash managed to break up the pinfall. The match broke down here as all six men got back in the ring, leading to a four-on-two assault on Gallus. They shook off their opponents, but Flash countered the slingshot Samoan drop by turning it into a Canadian Destroyer on Coffey. Wolfgang was dragged out for the electric chair clothesline.

Gibson and Andrews waited for the Vets to get inside. Drake tagged in, and the four men met in the middle of the ring, leading to an all out brawl. Flash was sent outside but Andrews countered another Helter Skelter with a double Stundog Millionaire. Flash Morgan Webster dropped onto Drake with a 450 Splash.

Before he could get the three count, Gibson yanked the referee out. Andrews tried to dive onto him but was met with a double throat chop. Gibson rolled inside and the Vets hit the Ticket to Mayhem. However, Andrews recovered in time to hit the Shooting Star Press, allowing Flash to cover Gibson for the win.

Results: Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews defeated The Grizzled Young Vets & Gallus via pinfall.

The Iron King emerges with an equalizer in hand
The Iron King emerges with an equalizer in hand

Last Man Standing Match: Dave Mastiff vs Joe Coffey

Coffey emerged with a steel chain, but that didn't stop Dave Mastiff from rushing him and sending him into the barricade. Inside the ring, the two traded massive body blows and shots to the jaw. Coffey took the big man down to his knees thanks to some kidney shots, but the big man responded by driving Coffey into the corner and breaking the turnbuckle.

Coffey got to his knees at the four-count, and Mastiff battered him with the broken ring post. He placed the post into Coffey's mouth then drove his face into the mat. Coffey managed to avoid a German suplex, but because the ropes were broken, collapsed when he couldn't hit a springboard maneuver. Coffey did manage to bring Mastiff overhead with a belly to back suplex.

Mastiff recovered quickly, responding with a German suplex that sent Coffey to the outside. As Mastiff stalked him, Coffey sent him into the barricade, then jabbed him in the face with a pool cue. Under the ring, Coffey pulled out a bag of trick, which included more chains, pool cues, bool cues and balls. A table was also brought out.

Coffey set up the table but as he turned around was sent onto the various weapons on the floor by Mastiff. Coffey responded by breaking a pool cue over Mastiff's back. He tried to stab the body of Mastiff with the broken bit, but Mastiff caught it, then battered Coffey's back with a cricket bat.

Mastiff followed Coffey around, pelting him more, but Coffey managed to avoid a massive collision and drove him into the table. Coffey then wrapped a chain around his fist, looking for a knockout blow. Mastiff ducked and sent him into the apron, taking the chain for himself and whipping Coffey with it.

Coffey's back, sternum, and even the side of his face were covered in welts from the chain as he managed to break the ref's count at seven. As that was going on, Mastiff brought out another table, setting it up on the barricade again. Mastiff came around with the cain, with Coffey grabbing the other end. He tried to send Mastiff into the table, but couldn't overpower him. Mastiff then drove Coffey into the table with the cannonball senton.

Somehow, Coffey beat the ten count, but immediately leapt over the barricade in an effort to escape Mastiff's punishment. Mastiff followed, though, and battered him with a steel chair. As Mastiff went for one final shot, Coffey knocked the chair out of Mastiff's hands with the steel chain. He then leveled Mastiff with a chain wrapped discus lariat.

Mastiff got up to his feet before the five count and gave Coffey a chair before grabbing one for himself. They ran into each other with the chairs over their sternums, sending both men crashing into the concrete floor. They both got to their feet before the ten count, and Coffey brought Mastiff over to the announcer's desk. However, Mastiff was the one to send him over the barricade separating Vic Joseph & Nigel McGuinness form the rest of the rowdy Cardiff crowd.

Mastiff and Coffey stood atop the table, hoping to drive the other through it. Coffey was driven onto the table with a rolling fireman's carry. Again, they both beat the ten count. Coffey and Mastiff ascended the structure above the table where the pre-show took place. Coffey attempted to send Mastiff off to the table below, but it was blocked. Mastiff headbutted Coffey, leading to both men falling onto a pair of tables below.

Both men used some supply cases to get to their feet, but Coffey kicked Mastiff's out from under him just as the ref hit the ten count, giving him the win.

Results:Joe Coffey defeated Dave Mastiff

Toni Storm's war with Kay Lee Ray left her broken
Toni Storm's war with Kay Lee Ray left her broken

NXT UK Women's Championship: Kay Lee Ray vs Toni Storm (c)

Ray immediately rolled to the outside, continuing to play mind games with the champion. Eventually, though, Storm caught her with a suicide dive. She battered her former friend with right hands to the face then tossed her into the barricade. Back inside, Storm attempted her finish, but Ray rolled out, slapping Storm across the face.

Storm responded with a few of her own, then sent Ray into the corner, catching her with a clothesline as she bounced back. Ray rolled out to the apron and waited for Storm to come over, hitting her in the gut. A kick to the nose allowed Ray to get back in the match as she then started choking Storm out with the ropes. In the middle of the ring, Ray held Storm in an arm trapped headlock, battering her while she had the chance.

A gourdbuster dropped Storm face-first on the mat. However, Storm, back on her feet, managed to respond with several slaps and chops to Ray. Ray blocked a German suplex but missed a springboard maneuver, getting caught by a superkick. The German suplex connected and a basement clothesline took out the challenger.

Storm attempted Storm Zero again, but Ray countered, catching her in the Gory Special. Storm turned it into a sunset driver, getting a nearfall. As the crowd began to cheer for Storm, Ray rolled her up, getting a nearfall ofher own.

A headbutt from Storm allowed her to finally hit Storm Zero. It wasn't enough, though, as Ray broke out before the three count. A pair of superkicks from Ray allowed her to hit the Gory Bomb. Storm kicked out.

Ray brought Storm up top, possibly attempting another Gory Bomb. Storm blocked it and tried to go for Storm Zero. Ray sent her over head only for Storm to land on her feet, leading to a second rope German suplex that spiked Ray on her neck. However, she was close enogh to the bottom rope that she was able to break the pin.

Outisde, another suicide dive stunned Ray. Goingo back in, Ray stunned Storm with a knee to the jaw, leaving her outside. Ray went up top for a plancha, barely connecting. Inside the ring, Ray bounced Storm off the rope with a Gory Bomb. The third Gory Bomb was enough to dethrone the first NXT UK Champion.

Results: Kay Lee Ray defeated Toni Storm via pinfall.

Walter nearly snapped Tyler Bate in half
Walter nearly snapped Tyler Bate in half

UK Championship Match: Tyler Bate vs Walter (C)

Walter forced Bate into the ropes with ease, but the challenger escaped his grasp and chopped at the champion's massive leg with a kick. Walter got his hands on Bate again, only for the Big Strong Boi to escape and go after the legs again.

Finally, Walter was able to bring Bate down with his overwhelming strength. However, Bate fought back, getting to his feet and bringing Walter into the ropes. The two finally started brawling, and Bate actually had the upper hand. However, a snapmare allowed Walter to roll Bate over for a side headlock.

Bate attempted to break away, eventually getting to his feet after a few minutes. He shot Walter off into the ropes but was knocked down by a shoulder tackle. Bate avoided the powerbomb and looked for the Tyler Driver '97. Walter sent him overhead. When Bate landed on his feet, he caught Walter with a knockout shot and dropped him with a body slam. A flying headbutt sent Walter outside as Bate posed in the ring.

Walter rolled back in and was met with three dropkicks. Blocking the third, he tried to slam Bate. Bate held onto Walter's body, saving himself. He then sent Walter outside and looked for a suicide dive. Walter caught him and sent him into the apron with a massive skillet sized chest chop. The powerbomb to the apron left Bate in agonizing pain.

Bate got to the apron but was knocked off with a running boot. Walter followed him, nearly decapitating him with a running boot in the barricade. A powerbomb into the ring post left Bate grabbing his head as Walter rolled inside, demanding that the ref begin the ten count.

And count he did. However, Bate was able to beat it, rolling in at seven. Walter toyed with his opponent, kicking him around the ring. A body slam set up for another massive kick to Bate's back. The Big Strong Boi tried to battle back, but the size of Walter was just too much to overcome. Bate was locked in a seated crossface before he was stood up for a kick right to the base of the neck.

Bate did manage to rock Walter with a strong punch to the jaw, but as he tried to pick him up for the airplane spin, crumbled to the mat. Walter immediately locked in a crossface, leading to Bate crawling to the ropes to break up the hold. Walter put him in between the middle and top rope and battered him with huge clubbing fists to the chest.

Walter dragged the broken body of Tyler Bate back to the middle of the ring where he pulled back the former champion's arms backwards. Bate managed to escape and sent Walter into the ropes with a double kick to the chest. Before he could get up, Walter leapt onto him with a seated senton. Another chop left Bate struggling for air on the ground as his chest turned beet red. A second chope sent him into the corner where Walter bounced his head with a few boots to the jaw.

Bate pulled himself up in the corner and hit two chest chops. A chop from Walter took him down to the mat. Bate was placed on the top rope where Walter nearly broke his back stretching him over the turnbuckle. On the apron, Walter looked for yet another powerbomb. Bate locked his legs on the bottom rope, forcing Walter to club his back to break the grip. A right hand from Walter was caught and Bate sent Walter onto the ground with an exploder suplex.

Bate managed to roll Walter inside and hit three leaping leg drops on the chest of Walter. A headbutt to the back of Walter's head rocked the champion. Bate continued the assault with a series of European uppercuts, followed up by a running uppercut into the corner. Walter caught Bate coming off the top rope for a rolling elbow with a chop to the back and immediately locked in the Boston crab. He turned it into a liontamer of sorts, placing his knee on the back of Bate's neck.

Bate was then trapped in a neck cranking side headlock. Bate tried to drag himself and Walter to the ropes, but the Ring General battered his neck with elbow strikes. Bate did, though, get ot the ropes with his foot.

Walter was seated in the middle of the ring, furious. It didn't help that Bate brushed his back with an empty kick, attacking Walter just out of pure spite. Walter picked him up for a suplex but it was blocked. Bate went for one of his own, but couldn't get the big man over. A chop dropped Bate, but he still blocked the suplex, and eventually slammed Walter.

Bate got a second wind and battered Walter with punches, chops, and running clotheslines. A fourth clothesline was stopped by a rolling elbow. Bate responded with a capo kick and an exploder suplex, dumping Walter on his skull.

Bate kipped up and hit a running shooting star press. Walter kicked out. Tyler Driver '97 was blocked again, and the champion and challenger traded uppercuts. Bate attempted the Tyler Driver '97 for a third time, but Walter sent him over and dropkicked him into the corner. Walter's powerbomb was countered into a sunset flip powerbomb. Walter just barely kicked out.

Walter rolled away to the apron before Bate could hit a diving headbutt. He rushed Bate, punching him in the gut. A chop to the chest sent Bate crashing to the mat. Walter then went up top, but a leaping headbutt stunned him. Bate ascended the turnbuckle one more time. Walter tried to chop him off, but Bate snapped his fingers just like his old friend Pete Dunne, then sent Walter crashing down to the mat with an exploder suplex from the top rope.

Bate targeted the ankle, tripping him up and cracking it. Walter responded with another massive chop, but Bate again sprang to his feet. He battered the champion with lefts and rights, only to be hit by another chop. And another. And several more. A running chop was stopped as Bate dropped Walter with a strong left straight hand. However as Bate fell to the mat, Walter fell on top of him, crushing him, stopping him from capitalizing on the opportunity.

Walter crawled to Bate and punched him in the face. Bate responded with one of his own. The two then traded elbow strikes. They both made it to their feet, and Walter attempted to cave Bate's chest in with multiple chops. Bate responded with several kicks to the left leg. Bouncing off the ropes for a clothesline, Bate was caught for an exploder suplex.

Bate countered the powerbomb with a kick to the head and was able to bring Walter up for the airplane spin. Bate spun toward the ropes, allowing Walter to hold on and stop the move. Bate brought him back down with a Burning Hammer. Before he could pin the champion, though, Walter rolled outside. Bate kicked him in the head before Walter could roll inside and dove onto him with a suicide dive/bulldog attempt, not getting all of it, but getting enough to knock Walter to the floor.

A second suicide dive connected, and Bate sent Walter back inside for a deadlift German suplex. Walter just barely kicked out. The Tyler Driver '07 was blocked a third time, but Bate was able to finally connect after countering a pinfall. Walter kicked out, leading to a dive from Bate. The spiral tap couldn't even put the champion away.

Bate stood up and waited for Walter before battering him with rights and lefts, forcing Walter to cover up in the corner. As the ref pulled Bate off, Walter rushed him and pelted him with chops. A rear naked choke was locked in, but Bate was able to stand up, driving Walter onto his back and breaking the submission. Walter locked it in again,

Bate got to his feet again and tried to use the ropes to roll Walter up. Walter released it and tried to send Bate to the outside. Walter was dragged onto the apron and locked in a sleeper hold. Bate broke out but was stunned by a massive chop to the back, followed up by a sleeper suplex on the apron. The body splash from the top ,the same one Walter beat Pete Dunne with, wasn't enough to end Bate.

Another sleeper suplex still couldn't put down Bate. Bate was battered with slaps and Walter finally hit the powerbomb. Bate kicked out...at one!! Another chop sent Bate into the ropes, and Walter bounced off the other side for a massive lariat, finally defeating Tyler Bate.

Results: Walter defeated Tyler Bate via pinfall.

Walter left the ring and celebrated at the ramp with the rest of Imperium. Afterward, Trent Seven and Pete Dunne walked down to the ring to help their comrade to his feet, British Strong Style reunited once again.

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