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Building up to this week's show, the main focus has been the NXT UK women's title match between Kay Lee Ray and Meiko Satomura. Satomura came to WWE earlier this year, and is renowned as one of the top female wrestlers in the world. Going into the show, Kay Lee Ray was the longest-reigning NXT UK Women's Champion.
Also on the card for the March 4th edition of NXT UK was Ilja Dragunov vs. Sam Gradwell, and tag team action, with Kenny Williams and Amir Jordan facing Oliver Carter and Ashton Smith.
Here are the winners, grades and highlights from the most recent episode of NXT UK.
NXT UK opened with Ilja Dragunov vs. Sam Gradwell
In the opening match, Dragunov was first in the ring, followed by Blackpool's Sam Gradwell. The match began with the two circling one another, and Gradwell struck Dragunov around the face. Gradwell continued to taunt Dragunov, as the latter attempted to lock the former into a submission, unsuccessfully.
After a quick back-and-forth between the two, Dragunov managed to down Gradwell with a boot to the face, and then attacked his rival with a knee to the face from the top rope. As Dragunov attempted to execute another top rope maneuver, Gradwell knocked his rival down to the outside.
Dragunov then returned to the ring, and was repeatedly ground down by Gradwell. Gradwell then attempted to pin Dragunov following a suplex, but managed to kick out at two. Gradwell then caught Dragunov in a standing armbar, but the latter fought his way free and cleared out Gradwell with a clothesline, before targeting him with a series of knee strikes and knife edge chops.
Gradwell then began fighting back with strikes, but Dragunov knocked him down once more. However, after Dragunov missed his enemy and hit the turnbuckle, Gradwell used this as an oppertnuity to make a comeback, and hit Dragunov with a chop to the back.
The match ended in chaos, with Dragunov targeting the head of Gradwell with blow after blow, and the bell rang to stop the match.
However, Dragunov didn't end there, and the former top contender for the NXT UK Championship attacked the officials after help was called to the ring.
Grade: B+
Supernova Sessions with Naom Dar was up next on NXT UK
Before the action continued, a vignette introducing Teoman was shown ahead of his NXT UK debut next week.
There was also a brief backstage segment that followed this, where Nina Samuels unsuccessfully tried to prank Xia Brookside by putting salt in her tea. On last week's installment of NXT UK, Nina Samuels lost to Brookside and is now her personal assistant for the next month.
Next up was Supernova Sessions, hosted by Naom Dar, with special guest Tyler Bate — who is gifted broccoli by the chat show host.
During the segment, the pair discussed Tyler Bate's recent loss to A-Kid, and Naom Dar told Bate that he needed to face Dave Mastiff. Bate accepted this, and as he prepares to challenge again for the NXT UK Hertiage Cup, he claimed that the upcoming match would be under the Cup rules.
This was followed by a video segment showing new NXT UK talent Ben Carter training in the ring. During the clip, the up-and-comer reflected on getting his start in the United States before coming to back to his native UK.
Also seen are two brief video packages — the first showing new talent Aleah James, and the second showing the White Witch of NXT UK, Isla Dawn, focusing on her crystal ball.
Kenny Williams and Amir Jordan vs. Ashton Smith and Oliver Carter in tag team action on NXT UK
The second match of tonight's NXT UK began with Williams and Carter in the ring, and Carter immediately went for a series of unsuccessful rollups on Williams. The action between the two was fast-paced, with Carter sharply avoiding attacks from Williams.
Ashton Smith then replaced Carter in the ring and attacked Williams with a judo hip toss. Williams then tagged Jordan into the match, who kept Smith in a headlock before the latter pried his way free. Smith and Carter then teamed up on Jordan, quickly tagging in and out of the match to launch fast attacks on their rival.
Carter repeatedly tried to pin Jordan, who kicked out time and time again. Smith then replaced Carter in the ring and continued to isolate Jordan. Jordan however, gained some strength to tag Williams back into the match, who charged in with great momentum and knocked down Smith with a back elbow. He then attempted this once more, but was caught by Smith.
Williams then took out both Smith and Carter on the outside of the ring. He and Jordan used the opportunity to hit both of their rivals with a suicide dive through the ropes, and onto the NXT UK ramp.
The match looked as though it was going to end when Jordan pinned Smith after a stenton bomb, but this was broken up by Carter. The ending of the match between the two NXT UK tag teams then became chaotic, with multiple pin attempts. Jordan then managed to secure the win for his him by rolling up Oliver Carter.
Both teams put a great showing, and would be worthy contenders for the NXT UK Tag Team Championships.
Winners: Amir Jordan and Kenny Williams
Grade: B
A look at the upcoming mixed tag team match on NXT UK
The rivalry between Jinny and Piper Niven has been a focal point of NXT UK recently. Fans were reminded of the time that Joseph Conners ruined Niven's chances of earning another shot at the NXT UK Women's Championships, and the subsequent fallout between Niven and Jinny and Conners, with the latter two recently working together.
On last week's show, Niven requested a match between herself and the duo. However, she was told to find a tag team partner for the upcoming bout. She quickly grabbed Jack Stars, who agreed to join in on the action. The match, which is scheduled for next week, is the first-ever mixed-gender tag team match on NXT UK.
This was then followed by Amir Jordan and Kenny Williams reacting to their win on tonights show. The duo will next face former NXT UK Tag Team Champions Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster, as they set off in pursuit of capturing the titles from new champions Pretty Deadly.
It was also announced that the Heritage Cup rules match between Dave Mastiff and Tyler Bate has been confirmed.
NXT UK Women's Championship match, Kay Lee Ray vs. Meiko Satomura
The headline match of the show was the hotly-anticipated NXT UK Women's Championship bout between Kay Lee Ray and Meiko Satomura. As the bell rang, the pair quickly locked up, and Satomura floored Ray with a swift kick to the leg. However, Ray fought back by holding Satomura's arm behind her back in a lock, and then drove her challenger into the turnbuckle.
Satomura then hoisted Ray over her head and drove her into the mat, and the champion rolled out to the outside of the ring, taking her time returning. Satomura then targeted the NXT UK Women's Champion with a series of leg strikes, to which Kay Lee Ray responded with a series of chops to her rival's chest.
Satomura then held Ray in a crossface submission, but the titleholder managed to drag herself to the bottom rope. Satomura then continued to target the legs of Kay Lee Ray with stiff kicks to the backs of her thighs.
Kay Lee Ray then gained momentum by locking Satomura in a Koji clutch, before the hold was broken. After some back and forth between the two women, Satomura corned Kay Lee Ray against the turnbuckles, and targeted her with repeated kicks.
Following this, Kay Lee Ray pulled Meiko Satomura face first out of the NXT UK ring, onto the floor.
NXT UK Women's Championship match, Kay Lee Ray vs. Meiko Satomura (continued)
The NXT UK Women's Championship match then continued as both women got back to the ring to beat the count. Kay Lee Ray attempted a Gory Bomb on Meiko Satomura, but the challenger was able to wriggle her way out of the move. Both women then fought on the apron before Satomura slammed her opponent spine-first onto the edge with a Death Valley bomb.
Kay Lee Ray barely made her way back into the ring to break the count, and was hit with an onslaught of attacks from Satomura. Ray then fought back with a DDT, and another Koji clutch, which Satmoura tried to turn into a pin attempt before breaking the submission by hooking her leg on the bottom rope.
The NXT UK Women's Champion then attempted the hit Meiko Satomura with a top rope attack, but this was thrawrted when the challenger knocked her down with bicycle kicks.
Satmoura then attempted a frog splash, but Ray kicked her knees up. The challenger then kicked out of a Gory Bomb, leaving the champion enraged. Satomura then attempted a scopion kick on Ray, but she managed to dodge the attack before grabbing Satomura by the foot, and attempting another Gory Bomb which was reversed.
Once again, Kay Lee Ray got Meiko Satomura in position for the Gory Bomb. She managed to execute it before pinning the Japanese wrestling legend to retain the NXT UK Women's Championship.
Winner: Kay Lee Ray
Grade: A
Teddy Long snaps when Swerve Strickland's race is brought up HERE
