WWE NXT UK Review - January 9, 2019 (Part 2)

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Ligero def. Joseph Conners

Conners is an incredibly bland and boring performer, but when he's up against someone infinitely more exciting than he is (which surprisingly is less often than you would think), he's actually capable of contesting a decent match. He held his own here, but Ligero was the real star and together they produced a well-wrestled affair. I don't think either guy will be involved in anything at TakeOver: Blackpool, so this was a nice way to spotlight them before the show.

Travis Banks def. Tyson T-Bone

Banks has been embroiled in a rivalry with Jordan Devlin in recent weeks, so this match merely existed to give him a momentum boost before they likely face off at TakeOver. T-Bone is a damn good talent and I don't mind his tag team with Saxon Huxley, but the outcome to this was never once in doubt. Despite Devlin attempting to distract Banks from the stage and interference from Huxley, Banks still managed to reign supreme.

Gallus def. British Strong Style

This bout has been in the making for quite a while and the timing couldn't have been any more perfect with Pete Dunne and Joe Coffey clashing for the WWE United Kingdom Championship this Saturday at TakeOver. This was given over 20 minutes, and although the pace didn't pick up until the second half, this was a well-executed six-man tag team match with everyone shining at one point or another and an electric atmosphere to boot. It was smart wrestling throughout with everything serving a purpose, and of course the added build to Dunne vs. Coffey was a great touch.

Overall Show

The main event was the centerpiece of this show, and considering it was an excellent piece of business, I'd say this show is an easy thumbs-up. Meanwhile, the other two matches were fun while they lasted and served a purpose, but I was especially happy that there was so much hype for TakeOver via video packages and backstage promos. It's shaping up to be a must-see special and I'm very much looking forward to it.