WWE NXT UK Review - September 1, 2022

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Blair Davenport def. Eliza Alexander, Amale and Isla Dawn in an NXT UK Women's Championship No. 1 Contender's Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match

If you've been watching NXT in recent weeks, you probably knew who was winning this one. I was confused a few weeks ago when Davenport called herself to the NXT UK Women's Championship because I don't remember her ever actually earning the opportunity, but that's because she did and it just didn't air until now. Nonetheless, this was a solid showing from the ladies. I would've had Amale be in there toward the end with Davenport instead of Alexander.

Saxon Huxley def. Kenny Williams

This would have been better off as a two-match show because this served absolutely no purpose. Did these two have beef or something? I honestly don't remember. Williams was feuding with a few different masked men, which was supposed to be building to Amir Jordan's return since Williams was the one who booted him from the brand last year. At any rate, this was fine for what it was. I wouldn't be surprised to see both of these guys brought back when NXT Europe launches next year.

Tyler Bate def. Trent Seven to Win the Vacant NXT UK Championship

It's a bummer that this entire tournament was spoiled in advance and that it couldn't culminate on a TakeOver event because this match was many years in the making. I loved that they made it out to be a big deal with the pre-match video packages because their story has been told in WWE since their arrival over five years ago. For everyone except for those in attendance, there was no drama surrounding the outcome for obvious reasons, but this was a wonderful main event nonetheless and a fitting final match for the brand.

Overall Show

If they took out Williams vs. Huxley, this would have been a near-perfect show. It was a waste of time, and although you can say the same about the opening and closing matches because the results were spoiled weeks ago, at least those had some stakes. Bate vs. Seven in particular is worth checking out because those two delivered big time and it encapsulated what NXT UK was all about at its core before the pandemic severely hurt the brand's momentum. The show-closing tribute biding farewell to NXT UK was really well done. Hopefully NXT Europe gets more effort put into it than NXT UK in its last year or so. Many amazing talents came out of NXT UK and there have been some stellar shows (specifically the TakeOver specials), but WWE never bothered to increase its exposure (even in its early days) and that was its biggest downfall.

SEE MORE: NXT UK Reviews