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Hello everyone and welcome to this historic NXT UK event, a first for the United Kingdom, as the WWE and the NXT Brand proudly presents the first ever NXT UK Takeover live from Blackpool, England. This evening we have five exciting match-ups and some surprises sprinkled in that will surely get the WWE Universe excited. So without any further ado let's get started with action.
"Finals of the NXT UK Tag Team Tournament To Crown New UK Tag Team Champions" - Moustache Mountain (Trent Seven and Tyler Bate) vs. James Drake and Zack Gibson
We kicked off tonight's contest with quite a doozy. This was a smash mouth, hard hitting match that had the WWE Universe on the edge of their seats. We saw Trent Seven and Tyler Bate decked out in "The British Bulldogs" inspired ring gear that will surely make the late Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid proud.
We saw some incredible action and high spots, which included Tyler Bate applying to perfection a Double Airplane Spin, showcasing his power and might, as he spun his opponents around for the WWE Universe. Both men connected with a combination Running Powerslam/Diving Headbutt combination as another homage to the British Bulldogs that nearly gave them the victory. Tyler Bate had his head split open after a thunderous elbow to the back of the head.
Zack Gibson and James Drake would battle back, connecting with the Helter Skelter and a 450 Splash, back to back, to try and put Moustache Mountain away but to no avail. Later on, we had an amazing spot in which we saw Tyler Bate take a plunge off the shoulders of Zack Gibson hard onto the arena floor after James Drake dove through the ropes and connected with a Suicide Dive that was a sight to behold.
When the smoke was cleared, we saw Gibson and Drake double-team Trent Seven, connecting with the Ticket to Mayhem to become the newly crowned NXT UK Tag Team Champions!
Winners: Zack Gibson and Trent Seven
"Grudge Match" - Travis Banks vs Jordan Devlin
The next match on the card is a featured grudge match between Travis Banks and Jordan Devlin. Leading up to the match, we saw a backstage confrontation that led to Travis Banks injuring his knee during the assault between he and Devlin. WWE officials checked on Banks shortly thereafter and cleared him for competition tonight.
As both men made their way down to ringside, Devlin dove out to ringside and attacked Banks before the bell could ring, further injuring Banks before he could reach the ring. With Banks clearly in no shape to wrestle, Devlin thought he was going to get away with a cheap victory but to no avail. NXT UK General Manager Johnny Saint introduced a plan B... much to the delight of the WWE Universe and the dismay of Devlin, none other than former NXT Champion and WWE Superstar FINN BALOR came down to ringside to challenge Jordan Devlin!
Winner: No Contest
"Singles Match" - Finn Balor vs Jordan Devlin
It was time for the teacher to meet the student. We witnessed a punishing and grueling match, as Jordan gave Balor everything he had out there and then some. We had a nice spot with Devlin connecting with a huge Uranage Slam, followed up by a Standing Moonsault. Both men battled it out and gave it their all, but at the end, it was Finn Balor connected with the Coup De' Grace to get the pin fall and the victory.
Winner: Finn Balor
Prior to our next match, we see a very special guest in the audience tonight... The one and only Luke Menz!
"No Disqualification Match" - Dave Mastiff vs Eddie Dennis
These two men are no strangers to each other. Without question, this rivalry needed to be settled with the rule book thrown out the window. Therefore, NXT UK General Manager Johnny Saint placed Eddie Dennis and Dave Mastiff in a No Disqualification Match in hopes of settling this rivalry once and for all.
Needless to say, both of these individuals took this match to heart and to the very limits. We saw everything from steel chairs, kendo sticks, steel steps and of course, tables!
A few spots that were highlighted in this match included a Spinning Side Slam on the steel steps from Eddie Dennis on Dave Mastiff that left the "Bomber" riving in pain. Not to be outdone, however, Dave Mastiff fought back and started swinging for the fences with one brutal Kendo Stick shot after the other as he was having none of it and wanted to teach Eddie Dennis a lesson that he will never forget.
To cap off this thrilling contest, Dave Mastiff finished off Eddie Dennis with a humongous Cannonball Splash through the table to seal the deal, as Mastiff pinned Dennis for the three count.
Winner: Dave Mastiff
As to be expected with any NXT Takeover event, we will be seeing some surprises appearances occur throughout the show. Tonight, we saw former WWE Mae Young Classic Competitors Kay Lee Ray and Jazzy Gabert at ringside, enjoying the action. Could these women be making their way to the NXT UK Women's roster soon? We shall see!
Speaking of which, next up is the NXT UK Women's Championship match!
"NXT UK Women's Championship Match" - (C) Rhea Ripley vs Toni Storm
These fierce women are no strangers to each other, as this match has been much anticipated for weeks. Toni Storm won the 2018 Mae Young Classic, but failed in capturing the NXT UK Women's Championship from Rhea Ripley in their initial encounter, as Rhea would defeat Storm to become the inaugural NXT UK Women's Champion.
The match got off to a roaring start, as both women went at it with an onslaught of maneuvers and strikes, particularly to the challenger Toni Storm that left the self-proclaimed "Mosh Pit Kid" reeling in the early going. Storm took everything that Rhea could dish out. In a moment that left the WWE Universe breathless as they all gasped in relief, Rhea Ripley had connected with the Riptide for the cover. Toni Storm would kick out! Historically, she is the first woman to kick out of the Riptide, as equally stunning as seeing Rhea Ripley kick out of the Storm Zero shortly thereafter.
What would it take to end this match for either woman?
We would see Rhea Ripley attempt the Riptide one last time, but instead the move was countered in a heart-stopping turn of events, as Toni Storm connected once more with the Storm Zero on Rhea Ripley as she got the cover and the pin fall victory to become the new NXT UK Women's Champion. This was certainly a match that will go down as one of the top bouts of 2019, bar none.
Certainly, this was an emotional moment for Toni Storm after a rollercoaster of emotions both personally and professionally. Congratulations are in order for Toni Storm, as she will make for a fantastic UK Women's Champion!
Winner: Toni Storm
"NXT United Kingdom Championship Match" - (C)Pete Dunne vs Mark Coffey
Pete Dunne is going into NXT UK Takeover: Blackpool with his 600+ day reign as UK Champion at stake. Tonight, he faces Joe Coffey from "Gallus", who may prove to be one of Pete's more formidable foes to date.
Both men began fighting on the outside of the ring, as the challenger dropped Pete Dunne hard on the rampway with a thunderous slam. The champ would recover, fight back and connect with a beautiful Diving Moonsault from the top turnbuckle to the arena floor on Joe Coffey.
Back inside the ring, we would see the self-proclaimed "Iron King" fight back, as he applied a Boston Crab that would leave our NXT UK Champion in agony, as the "Bruiserweight" seemed to be moments away from passing out. However, the champion would fight back with a diving forearm from the top rope, then connecting with the Bitter End. However, even that was not enough to put Joe Coffey down.
Joe Coffey would take things to the extreme, so to speak, as he would drop Pete Dunne flush across the ring apron with a brutal Sitout Powerbomb, as both men came crashing down to the arena floor.
Both men would eventually make their way back inside the ring and continue this epic encounter. Pete Dunne would kick out of the All of the Best for the Bells, and even a Spinning Powerbomb off the top rope that left both men spent and laid out in the center of the ring. Not only were these men out of gas, but so was the WWE Universe it seemed.
The match would continue, as the "Bruiserweight" would hit the Bitter End on Joe Coffey for a near fall. Seeing that he was running out of options, Dunne resorted to grabbing Coffey by his finger, twisting and bending them back like he has never before in NXT, as Joe Coffey had no other choice but succumb to the pain and submit. Pete Dunne would retain the NXT United Kingdom Championship in an absolutely breathtaking and amazing match!
Winner: Pete Dunne
Just as Pete Dunne was celebrating his victory, we had one more final surprise that left the WWE Universe buzzing all over social media..,
He's here, ladies and gentlemen. WALTER has officially arrived to NXT UK! We close out the show with a staredown and a show of respect, as it would seem, between Pete Dunne and the very man who could be his next challenger and his greatest challenge to date!
What did you think of NXT UK Takeover: Blackpool? Let us know in the comments below.
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