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Tonight's edition of NXT UK proved to be a special one with multiple matches announced before the show. The main event was the much-anticipated No Disqualification Match between long-time rivals, Sam Gradwell and Ilja Dragunov.
Also on this week's edition was a singles match between Joseph Conners and Jack Starz. Isla Dawn and NXT UK newcomer Aleah James went head to head, and Primate and T-Bone faced off against Josh Morrell and Danny Jones.
NXT UK opened with Noam Dar's Super Nova Sessions
Noam Dar welcomed Trent Seven as his guest for this week's edition of Super Nova Sessions. The pair discussed Seven's recent title match against Jordan Devlin.
As Trent Seven opened up about his training regime, Dar interrupted his guest by telling him that he has spent five years in WWE without having a title shot. He then dubbed Seven an "outsider" who has squandered his title matches.
Trent Seven then squared up to Dar, calling himself a "found father" of NXT UK, before being interrupted by Sha Samuels. The former NXT Tag Team Champion then said that he and Samuels should be in the corner of Tyler Bate and Noam Dar in their Heritage Cup No.1 Contender's match at NXT UK Prelude.
After this segment, Jinny was told that she and Piper Niven are banned from ringside during tonight's match between Joseph Conners and Jack Starz.
Following WALTER's NXT UK return last week, a video package is shown celebrating the superstar and his many title defences during his reign as Champion.
He will defend the NXT UK Title against Rampage Brown at the Prelude event on 8th April 2021.
Joseph Conners vs Jack Starz on NXT UK
Jack Starz has been Joseph Conners rival on NXT UK since he became the ally of Piper Niven in her battle against Jinny, and Conners.
Their singles match got underway quickly. Conners trapped Starz in a wristlock early on, which the latter eventually fought out of.
Jack Starz floored Jospeh Conners with a dive over the top rope. The pair got back into the ring, and Starz got straight into the action with a crossbody from the top rope to his rival.
Starz then drove Conners into the corner, but the tide changed as the latter began to gain some momentum of his own.
Conners hit Starz with a backbreaker and repeatedly attempted to pin him. However, his opponent kept kicking out each time. Conners then trashed Starz, who retaliated by flooring his rival with a suplex. The pair then exchanged strikes in the centre of the ring.
Starz once again hit Conners with a suplex, but his opponent began to fight back even harder with a neck breaker. This secured Conners the pin, and he earned the win on NXT UK.
Winner: Joseph Conners
Grade: B-
A video package of NXT UK Tag Team Champions Pretty Deadly was then shown, with the pair showing off their titles, and calling out Kenny Williams and Amir Jordan.
Piper Niven was then seen backstage, trying to cheer up Jack Starz following his loss against Joseph Conners.
Josh Morrell and Danny Jones vs Primate and T-Bone on NXT UK
The action moved back to the NXT UK ring, with up and coming stars Danny Jones and John Morrell going head-to-head with Primate and T-Bone.
The action was intense from the get-go with Primate and T-Bone quickly dominating the match.
Primate repeatedly attacked his rivals, and Danny Jones quickly became a target. Jones began to fight back, with Eddie Dennis watching from ringside.
After an intense back-and-forth between the two teams, multiple pin attempts on Morrell who kept kicking out of them.
Primate then attacked Josh Morrell, before throwing him back in, where T-Bone attempted to pin him once more, but he kicked out at two.
Chaos then ensued as T-Bone and Danny Jones shared the ring and the latter was slammed into the mat. Primate was then tagged in, and he flattened Jones with a top rope dive, before pinning him for the win.
Winners: Primate and T-Bone
Grade: B-
A video segment is then shown of Kenny Williams and Amir Jordan training together ahead of their NXT UK Tag Team Championship match against Pretty Deadly.
Aleah James vs Isla Dawn on NXT UK
Aleah James is one of the newest stars of NXT UK. As the match began, James and Isla Dawn locked up, with the pair appearing to be equally matched.
James then managed to get Dawn cornered against the turnbuckles. However, this backfired, as the latter jumped out of the way in the nick of time.
Isla Dawn viciously attacked Aleah James and tried to pin her, but James kicked out at two.
Dawn then began to dominate, and grabbed Aleah James in a standing submission. The NXT UK newcomer slowly managed to fight her way out before striking Isla Dawn, and followed it up by hitting her opponent with a dropkick. She then pulled off a crossbody from the top rope.
Isla Dawn turned the tables on James with a hard-hitting suplex, and then a bridge to pin Aleah James.
Winner: Isla Dawn
Grade: B-
Nina Samuels was seen backstage, excited to be free from her role as Xia Brookside's assistant. However, Brookside appeared and reminded her that she has a few hours left and instructed her to clean the men's bathroom.
NXT UK Women's Champion Kay Lee Ray then approached Isla Dawn backstage, seemingly impressed with her new, more aggressive side. Dawn then started to stare at Ray. The Champion was taken back by this and quickly left.
Could Dawn be the new challenger for the NXT UK Women's Title?
NXT UK Main event - Sam Gradwell and Ilja Dragunov in a No Disqualification match
Before the bell even rang for the NXT UK main event, Sam Gradwell lunged at Ilja Dragunov with a series of stomps. The action between the two men was fast-paced from the get-go.
Gradwell grabbed a steel chair to attack his opponent. However, this was quickly thwarted by Dragunov, who threw the chair away before dragging Gradwell back into the ring.
As Gradwell went under the ring for weapons, Dragunov stopped him each time. As Ilja climbed to the top rope, Sam moved to another corner. Unbesiegbar executed a Coast-to-Coast leap with relative ease.
Gradwell then grabbed the NXT UK announcer's bell and hit Dragunov with it. Sam began to attack his opponent with a cable.
Gladwell then suplexed Dragunov onto a steel chair, leaving welts across his back. He then exposed the turnbuckles on the ring, which he tried to shove Dragunov into. However, Ilja propelled himself back with his foot and escaped from the predictament.
NXT UK Main event - Sam Gradwell and Ilja Dragunov in a no disqualification match (continued)
The action continued in the NXT UK main event as Sam Gradwell put Ilja Dragunov on the top rope. However Dragunov threw his opponent to the mat.
Sam responded by pushing Ilja off the top, causing him to hit the barricade on the way down.
The pair then brawled at ringside, as Dragunov clutched his right arm. Unbesiegbar then lifted the steel steps as Gradwell pleaded and said sorry.
Dragunov put the steps down as Gradwell grabbed a steel chair and went to hit his rival with it, only for him to bend backwards and completely avoid this.
Sam Gradwell then scooped up Ilja Dragunov, and slammed him onto the steel steps, leaving him writhing in pain.
It appeared to be all over as Gradwell piled up steel chairs in the middle of the NXT UK ring and lifted Dragungov. However, Ilja he escaped from this, and Gradwell ended up being laid out on the bed of chairs.
Sam Gradwell proceeded to hit Ilja Dragunov with a series of chops to the back and chest which set him off into a wild fury.
Ilja then pounded his opponent into the steel chairs and continued to strike him whilst he was down.
As Gradwell tried to escape, Dragunov started vicious attack on him and planted him on top of the chairs once more.
This action caused the referee to call for an end to the match and declare Ilja Dragunov the winner of this vicious NXT UK main event.
Winner: Ilja Dragunov
Grade: A
