At NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool, Jordan Devlin attacked Travis Banks prior to their match. Despite Banks’ best efforts, his injured knee was exploited by Devlin. It didn’t take long for their feud to heat up, with their most recent singles encounter ending with a double count-out. Even outside of the ring, such as at the Performance Center, Devlin and Banks couldn’t help but find themselves brawling. Tonight, this feud will reach a heated conclusion, as they face off in the first-ever falls count anywhere match on NXT UK! Here is the NXTUK American Assessment for 3/6/19. This will be the main event, but it won’t be the only match with a heated rivalry behind it, which brings us to the first match of the evening…
NXTUK American Assessment for 3/6/19
Ligero vs. Joseph Connors
Before the match begins, the NXT UK universe shows support for the masked Superstar with “Ligero” chants. Starting off, Ligero shows off his quick-paced offense. He comes off the ropes and hits a hurricanrana, followed by a running dropkick, on Connors. Connors dumps Ligero out of the ring and to the outside. Connors follows his opponent to the outside and rolls him back into the ring. He then hits a tilt-a-whirl slam, going for the pin, with Ligero kicking out at two.
Connors wrenches at the neck of Ligero, who slowly rises to his feet. Joseph Connors goes for another tilt-a-whirl, but Ligero reverses it. Connors takes control again, hitting a flying shoulder tackle. He goes for the pin, but Ligero kicks out at two once more. Connors hits a big suplex, but Ligero kicks out again. From there, Connors hits a clothesline, but Ligero powers out of the following pin attempt. Connors hits a scoop slam followed by an elbow drop, but it’s only good for a near fall. Connors transitions into a seated stretch, his knee against Ligero’s back. Slowly, Ligero powers out of the hold and tosses Connors out of the ring. Back in the ring, Ligero escapes a back suplex maneuver, nailing a leg lariat to the midsection of Connors.
In the corner, Ligero hits a springboard stunner to the inside, but Connors kicks out at two. Ligero goes for a backslide, but Connors counters with a pinning combination, with Ligero kicking out. Connors hits a DDT from the outside, but Ligero gets the shoulder up at two in another of a series of pin attempts! Ligero, from the outside, hits a cross body into the ring. Connors hits a scoop slam facebuster maneuver, going for the pin, but Ligero kicks out at the last moment! Connors finds himself trapped in a small cradle, but kicks out of Ligero’s attempt. Ligero goes for his own elaborate pinning combination, surprising Connors with the 1… 2… 3!
Winner: Ligero
After the match, Ligero and Connors stand off in the ring, with Ligero extending his hand in a show of respect. Connors sidesteps, ignoring the handshake attempt, before making his way up the ramp. What does this mean for both competitors moving forward?
Later tonight, we will see Devlin and Banks in falls count anywhere action! The show transitions to an interview done earlier today with Toni Storm. She wishes the NXT UK women’s division good luck in dethroning her. As Storm steps out of the frame, we see Jinny standing there. She then follows the champion out of the frame.
We are then treated to a video package showcasing “Wild Boar” Mike Hitchman and “Primate” Jay Melrose. They will be making their way to NXT UK, as a tag team, soon. We throw things over to a WWE.com exclusive interview with Gallus. They address Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster, who they defeated on NXT UK television. They then set their sights on Walter and Pete Dunne, who say that they are next on the menu, and that NXT UK is their kingdom. We then shift to a backstage interview with Walter, but he remained silent, not speaking in regard to Gallus.
NXTUK American Assessment for 3/16/19
Sam Stoker and Lewis Howley vs. Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel
The match begins with Aichner using his strength to overpower his opponent, evading his quickness before ultimately hitting a quick powerslam. The opposite tag team member is brought in, but Aichner quickly overpowers him as well, chopping him in the corner. Aichner tags in Barthel. The upstart tag team begin to get the advantage over Barthel, but it doesn’t take long for Barthel to take control. Instead of going for the cover, though, Barthel continues to punish his opponent. Aichner hits a spinebuster and Barthel follows up with a penalty kick.
The match continues with Barthel throwing the opponent to Aichner, who hits a big stalling powerslam on him. “One more time” chants emit from the NXT UK universe. Aichner and Barthel hit a flying shoulder tackle/powerbomb combo, with Barthel getting the easy 1… 2… 3!
Winners: Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel
After the match, we see a video package featuring Nina Samuels, who will be in action next! We are also treated to a video package showcasing Kay Lee Ray, another of the rising talents within NXT UK’s women’s division. She will arrive next week!
NXTUK American Assessment for 3/16/19
Charlie Morgan vs. Nina Samuels
To kick off the match, Morgan and Samuels lock up, with the latter bringing her opponent to the mat with a submission attempt. Samuels takes down Morgan and goes for the arm, covering her opponent early for the two count. Morgan goes for a sunset flip attempt, but Samuels powers out of it, hitting a seated neckbreaker on her opponent. Samuels keeps Morgan seated in another submission hold, declaring that this “is the Nina Samuels Show!” Morgan hits a kick to the head of the seated Samuels, following up with a running uppercut in the corner. Morgan then hits an enziguri. She shoots Samuels off the ropes, but Samuel reverses, catching his opponent with a neckbreaker from a fireman’s carry position. Samuels goes for the pin, 1… 2… 3!
Winner: Nina Samuels
Following the match, we cut to a video interview with United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne, who will be teaming with Walter to face Joe and Mark Coffey in next week’s main event. Dunne says that it doesn’t matter if he and Walter coexist against Gallus, since he stood up to the stable alone before. Up next is our main event, with Devlin and Banks squaring off in what it is sure to be a heated falls count anywhere encounter! Before the match, we see that WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett is sitting at ringside.
NXTUK American Assessment for 3/16/19
Travis Banks vs. Jordan Devlin
Before the match has a chance to begin, Banks storms toward Devlin, who is making his entrance. The two quickly engage in fisticuffs. Banks hits a suplex on Devlin on the outside. Banks corners Devlin, chopping him across the chest, before following him into the crowd. The brawl continues deeper into the audience, with Banks getting the better of Devlin with his offense. Devlin drops several feet from the barricade onto the floor! High up, Banks perches himself on the barricade in question, hitting Devlin with a big crossbody! Banks covers Devlin, but he kicks out at two.
Banks continues to follow Devlin through the crowd, kicking him over the barricade back to ringside. Devlin takes advantage, grabbing a steel chair. He goes to hit Banks with the object, but Banks catches the attack, following Devlin into the ring. Banks hits a series of kicks to Devlin’s chest before following up with a superkick to the chin. Devlin rolls to the outside. Banks goes for a suicide dive, but Devlin uses the chair to hit Banks in mid-run. Devlin follows Banks back in the ring, hitting a series of mounted punches on him. Devlin sends Banks into the corner, putting the boots to him. Banks tries to chop at Devlin, but Devlin kicks his knee, sending him down to the mat. He then throws Banks into the corner, following up with a backbreaker. Devlin goes for the cover 1… 2… Banks kicks out!
The NXT UK Universe sounds off with “Kiwi Buzzsaw” chants, but Devlin drops Banks once again, hitting a standing moonsault. Devlin pins Banks, but it’s only good for two. Devlin and Banks find themselves standing on the ring apron. Jordan goes for a Spanish Fly, but Banks hangs on, causing Devlin to backflip solo and hit his knee on the chair. Banks hits a double stomp on Devlin, going for the cover, but Devlin kicks out at two! Banks quickly searches under the ring before coming out with a table, much to the approval of the crowd.
Back in the ring, Banks dropkicks Devlin, inadvertently catching the referee in the way. Meanwhile, Banks hits a fisherman’s buster, transitioning into a pin. Despite keeping Devlin covered for many seconds, the referee is still out. Devlin hits a headbutt on Banks, going up to the top rope. He then hits a big moonsault, with the official finally revived. Devlin goes for the cover, 1… 2… Banks kicks out! Devlin props Banks up on the top turnbuckle, going for the Spanish Fly. After fighting off Banks, Devlin hits a big superplex. Devlin rolls through, but Banks takes advantage, hitting the Kiwi Crusher out of nowhere! 1… 2… Devlin kicks out in this exciting encounter!
Banks and Devlin start to exchange strikes, with Banks getting the better of the exchange. Devlin comes back with a series of strikes of his own, running the ropes. Banks quickly hits his enziguri off the turnbuckle, Slice of Heaven, which causes Devlin to roll to the outside. Devlin goes for the cover on the outside, his legs propped up on the ring apron, but Banks kicks out. Banks evades an attack from Devlin, propping his leg against the steel steps. He repeatedly stomps on Devlin’s lower leg against the steps, following up with a double stomp from the top step. Banks applies the ankle lock, but Devlin rolls through, causing Banks to hit the barricade.
Devlin and Banks make their way back onto the ring apron. The match ends with Devlin pushing Banks against the nearby ring post, following up with a Spanish Fly through the table on the outside! Devlin goes for the cover, 1… 2… 3!
Winner: Jordan Devlin
With another episode of NXT UK in the books, including a brutal affair with Banks and Devlin, we must look to next week! On that show’s main event, Walter and Dunne will join forces against The Coffey Brothers. Hope you enjoyed this week’s show, and take care! This was the NXTUK American Assessment for 3/16/19.
