WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament (January 2017)

Original Airdate: January 14 (first round) & January 15, 2017 (remaining rounds)

From Blackpool, Lancashire, England; Your Hosts are Michael Cole and Nigel McGuinness

WWE United Kingdom Title Tournament First Round Match: Trent Seven (England) v HC Dyer (England): Fifteen minute time limit for these first round matches. Really cool venue for this one, kind of reminiscent of the old school Manhattan Center RAWs. Seven's got a pretty sizeable gut. Both guys are dressed in black tights/pads/boots here, like a couple of videogame Create-a-Wrestlers. Dyer dropkicks him to the outside early, but runs into chops out there. Seven ends up chopping the post when Dyer ducks, however, and HC tries a stinger splash in the way back in, but misses. That allows Seven a barrage of poorly executed chops, but he at least sells the hand that hit the post all the while. Vertical suplex gets two, but Dyer backdrops out of a piledriver, and hits an ugly rotating spinebuster for two. Seven goes back to those stupid chops, but Dyer blocks a Texas cloverleaf, and punches him in the face for two. Well, that was direct. German suplex, but Seven blocks with an elbow, so Dyer blue thunder bombs him for two instead. Flying frogsplash looks to finish, but Seven rolls out of the way, and hits a discus punch to setup a short-clothesline for the pin at 5:24. It had a decent rhythm to it, but it was also sloppy as hell. ¾*

WWE United Kingdom Title Tournament First Round Match: Danny Burch (England) v Jordan Devlin (Ireland): Devlin looks like Finn Balor's long lost brother, and in fact Balor actually trained him. Both guys are dressed like Create-a-Wrestlers again. Feeling out process to start, with Burch winning a criss cross, and snap suplexing him for two. Cross corner charge misses, however, and Devlin pops off a dropkick for two, then grounds him in a chinlock. Burch escapes, so Devlin chops him down for two, then unloads a few mounted punches. He wastes time jawing with the crowd, however, and Burch comes at him with chops, but Devlin quickly shrugs him off, and goes back to the chinlock. Burch escapes with a jawbreaker, and this time manages to follow-up with a 2^nd rope flying dropkick, and he fires off some European uppercuts. A lariat sends Devlin spiraling to the mat for two, but he still manages to hook a schoolboy for two. Burch punishes him with a quick spinebuster and a headbutt for two, then shifts right into a crippler crossface! Jordan gets the ropes, so Burch tries a German suplex, but Devlin back flips onto his feet, and hooks a victory cradle for two. Enzuigiri gets two, and busts Burch open hardway - blood gushing out of the back of his head. Ouch! The match grinds to a halt as the referee busts out the latex gloves and does some checking, and we're done at 8:58. Shame, since the match was finally picking up. Most of this was a long chinlock. *

WWE United Kingdom Title Tournament First Round Match: Saxon Huxley (England) v Sam Gradwell (England): Gradwell looks classically English. And, finally, both guys actually show some personality with their outfits here. I was starting to get worried. Feeling out process to start, with Sam dominating. He hits a dropkick for two, and a butterfly suplex is worth two. He goes up, so Huxley wisely rolls to the floor to put some distance between them, and suckers Sam into a chase - hitting him with a butterfly backbreaker for two on the way back in. Huxley works a bow-and-arrow, but Sam escapes, and a slugfest goes Gradwell's way. Corner whip sets up some European uppercuts, but Huxley escapes a fireman's carry, so Sam throws a short-knee instead. Short-clothesline sets up a flying headbutt, and that's it at 6:00. Nothing wrong with it, just didn't really build to much. **

WWE United Kingdom Title Tournament First Round Match: Pete Dunne (England) v Roy Johnson (England): Dunne takes him down right away, and starts twerking Roy's fingers. Not as pretty as a moonsault, but you can't say it wouldn't be effective. Pete tries a guillotine choke, but Johnson counters with a vertical suplex, but gets backdropped onto the apron as he follows up, and Dunne takes him to the floor - stomping his hand on the steps. Back in, Dunne continues to work the hand, but runs into a flapjack, and Roy throws a 2^nd rope flying shoulderblock. Charge in the corner is countered with an enzuigiri, but Johnson still manages to drop him like a Samoan to keep control. Another 2^nd rope shoulderblock, but this time Dunne knocks him out of the air with a forearm for two. Bitter End, but Roy blocks, so Dunne throws another enzuigiri. Vertical suplex, but Johnson counters with a cutter for two. Pete fires back with a nice German suplex to setup a suplex-slam for two, and the Bitter End finishes Roy off at 7:40. Johnson looked awkward here, but it was a decent little match. ** ¼

WWE United Kingdom Title Tournament First Round Match: Tyson T-Bone (England) v Wolfgang (Scotland): Tyson smashes him with a headbutt during the handshake, and then pounds him in the corner, but Wolfgang returns fire, and throws a leg lariat. Wolfgang with a quick avalanche, and a cross corner bodypress sets up a flying axehandle for two. That was a nice little sequence there. Fireman's carry, but Tyson escapes, and a kick combo gets him two. Cross corner whip is worth two, and he grounds Wolfgang in a chinlock. Wolfgang escapes, so Tyson unloads another kick combo for two, then tries a vertical suplex, but Wolfgang reverses. It should be noted that Tyson wrestles while wearing several heavy gold chains, which is something even Razor Ramon wouldn't have dared doing. Slugfest goes Tyson's way with an eyerake, but he walks into a slam, and Wolfgang follows up with a 2^nd rope flying moonsault for two. Charge is blocked with a kick, however, and Tyson adds a German suplex to setup a superkick for two. They spill to the outside, where Tyson runs him into the post, but Wolfgang blocks a superplex on the way back in, and finishes with a flying somersault senton splash at 6:18. Good back-and-forth action here. ***

WWE United Kingdom Title Tournament First Round Match: James Drake (England) v Joseph Connors (England): These guys look like they could be brothers. Feeling out process to start, until Drake starts punching him in the brain to take control. Dropkick gets two, but Connors blocks a charge in the corner, and delivers a short-clothesline for two. Release side suplex gets two, and Connors grounds him with an armbar. Drake escapes and hits a jumping forearm, then an enzuigiri to setup a schoolboy for two. Sunset flip gets two, but Drake runs into a neat backelbow/backbreaker combo, and Connors follows up with the DLD for the pin at 7:14. Kind of paint-by-numbers, but not bad. * ½

WWE United Kingdom Title Tournament First Round Match: Mark Andrews (Wales) v Dan Moloney (England): Moloney looks like Josh Peck's body double, while Andrews looks like he could use a sandwich. Moloney quickly takes him down for an armbar, but Andrews makes a flippy-floppy escape, and they feel each other out. Mark runs into a flapjack for two, and Dan cross corner whips him for two. Fireman's carry, but Mark counters with a jawbreaker, and victory cradles him into a double-stomp. Nice! Double-high knee and a northern lights suplex setup a standing moonsault for two, and a headscissors sends Moloney to the floor. Mark follows out with a moonsault press, then rolls him back in for a shining wizard, but Moloney counters with a schoolboy for two. Vertical suplex, but Mark deftly counters with a stunner, and a flying shooting star press finishes at 5:40. Andrews relies a bit too much on flippy-floppy stuff for my taste, but he's definitely got the moves. ** ½

WWE United Kingdom Title Tournament First Round Match: Tyler Bate (England) v Tucker (Northern Ireland): This is the final match of the opening round. Feeling out process to start, with both guys putting each other through the paces in crisp fashion. Bate suckers him into a jab for two, but Tucker responds with a flying backelbow for two. Bate with a bodyslam to setup a somersault senton splash for two, and he grounds Tucker in a cravat. Tucker's tights have a really poorly placed brown colored graphic right on the asshole of his rights, which makes him look like he's walking around with a poo. Tucker escapes and roundhouse kicks him down, then follows up with a nice running rana. Cannon Shot gets two, and Tucker goes up, but misses a dive. Yeah, no shit. Bate was nowhere near him, and on his feet. The fact that he even dived makes them both look like amateurs. Tucker with a 2^nd rope flying backelbow for two, but Tucker counters a powerbomb with a somersault cradle for two, then backdrops him over the top. He tries following with a tope, but Bate knocks him out of the sky with a forearm. He tries a vertical suplex on the outside, but Tucker blocks, and springboards off the steps with a rana out there. Back in with a springboard bodypress, but Bate rolls through it into an airplane spin for two. Bate is dizzy, allowing Tucker to blast him with a superkick for two, but a flying somersault senton splash hits knees, and Bate koppou kicks him. Tyler Driver then quickly finishes at 10:41. The right guy went over, but still kind of a shame that Tucker had to job out in the first round, since he was pretty good. These two and Wolfgang are the only guys that really stood out in this round, with everyone else hit or miss. ***

WWE United Kingdom Title Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Pete Dunne (England) v Sam Gradwell (England): Twenty minute time limits for this round. Dunne looks like he'd be right at home on the set of Shameless. Gradwell blitzes him in the early going, and quickly sends him to the outside for a tope. Sam keeps pounding him out there with a butterfly suplex on the ramp, then rolls him on for a missile dropkick, but gets kicked in the face before he can cover. Dunne pops off a German suplex, but runs into a michinoku driver as he tries following up. Pete bails, but Gradwell is on him with a flying bodypress - only to get shoved over the top while trying to bring it back in. The entire crowd loudly counting along with the referee is cute. Sam beats the count in, but that proves to be futile, as Dunne quickly punishes him with a bodyslam into the turnbuckles for the pin at 4:49. Short, but fun. ** ¾

WWE United Kingdom Title Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Mark Andrews (Wales) v Joseph Conners (England): Andrews quickly fights out of a takedown attempt with a sunset cradle for two, and adds a schoolboy for two. Pair of armdrags work, but a third is blocked, and Conners smacks him around in the corner. He tries a sunset flip, but Mark blocks by back flipping onto his feet, and throwing a nice seated dropkick for two. Mark tosses him over the top to setup a moonsault press, but Conners gets out of the way, and sends Mark into the steps with a drop-toehold. Back in, Conners hits a facebuster for two, but Andrews fights out of a headvice, so Conners delivers a side suplex-slam for two. Short-clothesline gets two, but Mark blocks a side suplex attempt, and manages to knock Conners out of the ring with a high knee. Andrews follows with a somersault senton off the barricade out there, then rolls him in for a springboard bodypress for two. Double-high knee and a northern lights suplex set up a standing moonsault, but Conners lifts his knees to block for two. Conners with a slingshot DDT for two, but Mark hits a rana off the top. Shooting star press, but Conners brings him down for the backelbow/backbreaker combo - only to have a suplex countered with a stunner, and Andrews to finish with the shooting star press at 8:10. Another good outing, as everyone seems to be upping the ante for night two. ***

WWE United Kingdom Title Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Trent Seven (England) v Wolfgang (Scotland): They shove each other around to start, and Wolfgang pops off a side suplex to send Seven to the outside. Wolfgang follows for a flying moonsault off the barricade, but ends up smacking his knee on the floor on the landing, and Trent nails him with a tope before he can bring it back in. Trent takes too long following up, however, and Wolfgang is able to vertical superplex him, then fire off a big boot. 2^nd rope flying moonsault, but Seven lifts his knees to block, and unloads a nasty dragon suplex for two. Wolfgang made a full back flip on that one, which is impressive for anyone, let along a man of his size. Seven with a short-clothesline for two, but a piledriver off the top gets blocked, and Wolfgang capitalizes with a flying somersault senton splash at 6:43. I'd love to see Wolfgang both team with and wrestle Kevin Owens. ***

WWE United Kingdom Title Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Tyler Bate (England) v Jordan Devlin (Ireland): Devlin attacks from behind, and beats him down in the corner, but ends up getting LAUNCHED over the top rope. Bate dives after midget Finn Balor with a tope, but gets his eyes raked on the way back in, and Devlin goes to work on the hand. Tyler uses a monkeyflip to fight him off, and a 2^nd rope flying backelbow turns the tide. Airplane spin, but Devlin blocks. He tries a springboard bodypress, but Bate catches him, and make sure your tray tables are locked, because it's airplane time, baby! That sends a dizzy Devlin to the apron, but when Bate goes after him, Jordan snaps the top rope into his face like the elastic waistband on some undies. That was unique, and I liked it. Devlin with a flying moonsault, but Bate dodges, so Jordan uses a high knee for two instead. Back to the moonsault, but Bate moves yet again. He tries to capitalize with the Tyler Driver, but Devlin blocks, and drills him with an enzuigiri. Luckily he didn't break his skull open this time. And Bate is so pumped about it that he quickly powerbombs lil' Balor at 6:05. ** ½

WWE United Kingdom Title Tournament Semifinal Match: Mark Andrews (Wales) v Pete Dunne (England): Thirty minute time limit for this round. Dunne immediately snaps off a bodyslam for two, right at the bell, then aggressively grounds the smaller Andrews in a headlock. Cool sequence follows, as Dunne corner whips him, but Mark stops short and throws a standing moonsault press, which Pete catches, so Andrews shifts into an armdrag to send Dunne to the outside. Mark dives after him with a somersault plancha, but Dunne wrenches his hand before Andrews can follow-up. He tries stomping it on the steps, but Mark pulls away, and brings Pete down off the steps with a rana. Dunne manages to punt him anyway on the way back in, and he starts viciously working the neck. Andrews blocks a snake-eyes and uses a slingshot victory cradle to setup a double-stomp, then follows up with a the double high knees. Northern lights suplex sets up a wicked standing 450 senton splash! Nuts! Springboard headscissors sets up a standing shooting star press for two, and Dunne wisely bails. Andrews is on him with a moonsault press, but Pete catches him, and suplexes him into the apron! Man, whichever one of these two advances, they are going to have nothing left for the final. Dunne follows up with a suplex-slam onto the ramp for good measure, then leaves the kid out there to get counted out. Mark beats it in, so Dunne immediately starts punishing him by stomping right on his head a bunch of times. Hey, it makes a point. Another suplex-slam, but Andrews counters this one with a stunner for two. That's enough to give him the confidence to try the shooting star press, but Dunne recovers. He tries to superplex Mark down, but Andrews fights him off, and leaps - only for the press to hit the knees for two! Dunne tries the Bitter End, but Mark blocks, and throws an enzuigiri to setup a springboard, but Pete slugs him out of the air! Powerbomb, but Andrews counters with a rana into a cradle for two - the crowd going nuts for these near falls! Mark rushes back to the top for the shooting star press, but Dunne dodges, and grabs him with a release German suplex into the turnbuckles the moment he lands! Suplex-slam sets up the Bitter End, and that's enough at 10:41! Wow, that was a hell of a match - very modern in style, but very old school in sensibilities. ****

WWE United Kingdom Title Tournament Semifinal Match: Tyler Bate (England) v Wolfgang (Scotland): The crowd is still all pumped up from that last match, and are hot as this starts. Feeling out process to start, with Wolfgang using his size advantage to knock Bate around. Avalanche misses, however, and Tyler quickly capitalizes with a 2^nd rope flying backelbow. He can't lift Wolfgang into a fireman's carry, however, and ends up getting slugged down, then bodyslammed. 2^nd rope flying moonsault, but Bate pops up and clips the knee as Wolfgang perches, then comes at him hard with a running big boot. Wolfgang tries a press-slam, but Bate counters with a sunset cradle for two, so Wolfgang pop-up front-powerslams his ass for two. Wolfgang goes up for a flying somersault senton splash, but Tyler rolls out of the way. He's too battered to capitalizes, however, and Wolfgang spears him for two. Fireman's carry, but Bate counters with the Tyler Driver to advance at 5:59. That felt rather brisk. ** ¼

Neville v Tommy End: They trade wristlocks to start, and Tommy plays some mind games with him. End with a roundhouse kick for two, and he grounds Neville in a side-headlock. Criss cross ends in Tommy hitting a series of kicks, but Neville bails before End can... well... end him. Neville stalls out there to break the momentum, eventually frustrating End enough to chase him, and able to take control in the process. Neville with a kneedrop for two on the way back in, and he works a chinlock. Tommy fights up, so Neville corners him with a bootchoke, then unloads his own kick combo for two. Neville comes off the top, but Tommy knocks him out of the sky with yet another roundhouse kick, and starts mounting a comeback. Neville bails again, but this time Tommy is able to follow with a springboard moonsault press, and he unloads another series of kicks for two on the way back in. More kicks setup a bridging German suplex for two, but a trip to the top rope ends in Neville bringing him down with a rana. That sets up the Red Arrow, and that's the end of End at 8:43. I couldn't really get into this one, but it was filler anyway. *

WWE United Kingdom Title Match: Tyler Bate (England) v Pete Dunne (England): No time limit for this one. Feeling out process to start, with Dunne working Bate's bad shoulder, but running into a dropkick after getting too aggressive. They spill to the outside for a slugfest, and Pete is able to take control by attacking the shoulder again. He works the part, but gets reversed trying to throw Bate into the post, and Tyler is able to return fire with a 2^nd rope flying backelbow. Exploder suplex gets two, but the shoulder prevents him from executing the Tyler Driver, and Pete double-stomps him. Bitter End, but Bate counters with a small package for two, then grabs him in the airplane spin for two! Dunne fights off a follow-up with a triangle choke, but Tyler impressively muscles to a vertical base in the hold, and slams him back down to earth! Dunne wisely bails to avoid a potential cover, but Bate is right on him with reverse somersault plancha, then back in with a 450 double-stomp for two! Wild sequence! Unfortunately for him, Dunne wins a reversal sequence with the Bitter End, but Tyler is able to kick out at two! Pete gets mad and starts wrenching the shoulder again, but Bate manages to escape a kimura-lock with a nasty brainbuster for two! German suplex, but Dunne manages to back flip onto his feet to block, so Bate throws a koppou kick! Another one leaves Dunne on dream street, and the Tyler Driver finishes at 15:15! This built into a nice and satisfying final match, with Bate doing a terrific job of selling throughout. *** ½

BUExperience: While not as memorable as the Cruiserweight Classic – or even particularly good as a standalone event – the fact that this at all exists is good. This is exactly the sort of thing that they should – and thankfully are – using the Network for. Overall, other than the Dunne/Andrews semi, there’s nothing really worth going out of your way to see, but it’s still a cool concept, and I’m glad they ran it.