WWE NXT UK Review - March 20, 2019

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne Demanded a Match Against WALTER at NXT TakeOver: New York

We haven't seen the WWE United Kingdom Championship defended on an NXT TakeOver special since some time, so it will be awesome to see Dunne put the gold up for grabs at TakeOver over WrestleMania weekend. Johnny Saint and Sid Scala kept their announcement short and sweet while Dunne's demand to face WALTER was exactly what it needed to be. That bout has the potential to be a show-stealer, to say the least.

Eddie Dennis def. Ligero

Dennis and Ligero wrestle two totally different styles, which is what made this such a fun match. They worked well together and made good use of the time they had. Ligero has been on a bit of winning streak as of late, so Dennis beating him had meaning. I'd definitely be open to more matches between them in the future based off the chemistry they showed here.

The Hunt def. Sam Stoker and Lewis Howley

Wild Boar and Primate were on the fast track to nowhere before forming an alliance with each other, so I'm in full favor of this tandem. I was actually sold as soon as they made their entrance and I'm honestly surprised they weren't paired together sooner. They have a great look and are fun to watch in the ring. They were able to showcase their skills here and go over in decisive fashion.

Kassius Ohno def. Ashton Smith

Ohno is such a fantastic fit for NXT UK. I enjoyed him on NXT proper, but he did all he could there short of capturing a championship, so NXT UK is a nice change of scenery for him. He kicked off his NXT UK stint on a high note with this hard-hitting and exciting affair against Smith. Ohno largely dominated, sure, but Smith looked credible in defeat. Travis Banks came to Smith's aid afterward, so he appears to be Ohno's first feud on the brand.

Tyler Bate def. NXT UK Tag Team Champion James Drake

I was happy that Trent Seven and Zack Gibson were kept away from ringside, ensuring the focus remained on the action. This was an above-average main event with both guys putting forth an excellent effort. It's rare we get to see Drake shine on his own, so it was cool that he scored as much offense as he did before being beaten. Bate's victory should set him and Seven up for another shot at the NXT UK Tag Team Championship in the near future.

Overall Show

Of course, the announcement that WALTER will vie for Dunne's U.K. title at TakeOver: New York was the most newsworthy thing on this edition of NXT UK, but it was still a rock solid show on the whole. Ohno's arrival on NXT UK should lead to a number of fresh matches, and the tag team division continues to heat up. Dennis and Ligero also had an entertaining encounter to kick the night off, so I have no complaints about this episode whatsoever.