NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool (2019): A Brilliant Opener Launches the Brand's Big-Event Era

The first NXT UK TakeOver match immediately gives the new event line credibility. Moustache Mountain enter as overwhelming crowd favorites, while Zack Gibson and James Drake lean into the hostility and build a classic isolation structure around Trent Seven. Tyler Bate's hot tag changes the pace dramatically, and his double airplane spin gives the match a signature visual without replacing the wrestling story. The final third is excellent because each near fall has a logical save or counter behind it. Bate's attempt to rescue Seven from dual Shankly Gates is especially creative. Gibson and Drake finally isolate Seven and land Ticket to Mayhem for the upset. The crowd hates the result, which is exactly why it works.

Bálor versus Devlin succeeds because the surprise replacement has a real relationship behind it. Devlin was trained by Bálor, so the challenger can plausibly anticipate signature offense and repeatedly delay the Coup de Grâce without needing to look equal to an established main-roster star. Bálor controls the early bursts, Devlin gains useful offense after attacking around the ropes, and the match becomes more competitive than the result ever truly feels. Devlin's rope-assisted pin attempt and moonsault tease give him credible hope before Bálor finally strings together the 1916, corner dropkick, and Coup de Grâce. The outcome is obvious, but the crowd enjoys the journey. Devlin gains more from eleven competitive minutes than he would have from a protected shortcut.

Mastiff and Dennis work a solid weapons match that is more impressive when they rely on strength and agility than when they reach for familiar props. Dennis lifting Mastiff for the Severn Bridge is a legitimate power spot, while Mastiff's springboard moonsault attempt gives the bout an unexpected athletic wrinkle. The kendo stick, chair, exposed floor, and table provide the expected No Disqualification vocabulary without creating a distinctive escalation of their own. The best stretch comes late, when the wrestlers abandon extended setup and trade larger impact moves. Mastiff escapes another Severn Bridge attempt, lands a high-angle German suplex, and drives Dennis through the table with Into the Void. It is enjoyable midcard violence rather than a memorable grudge-match classic.

Ripley and Storm deliver a strong championship match built around two wrestlers who already look larger than the young division around them. Ripley targets Storm's back and uses her size to control the middle, while Storm's comeback is built on increasingly desperate strikes and suplexes rather than sudden invulnerability. The crowd buys the first Storm Zero near fall and reacts even more strongly when Ripley lands Riptide without finishing the challenger. That sequence gives the final counter real weight. Storm escapes a second Riptide and lands another Storm Zero to win the championship cleanly. The match could use a few additional minutes of escalation before the finishing stretch, but the title change feels earned and important without needing interference or a gimmick.

Dunne and Coffey attempt a sprawling championship epic, and enough of it works to keep the match good despite obvious excess. Dunne's joint manipulation and Coffey's power offense create a useful contrast, while the Boston Crab and repeated apron attacks gradually give the challenger credibility. The crowd becomes increasingly invested as both men survive bigger offense, but the match pushes past its natural peak. Multiple Bitter End kickouts, two awkward top-rope spills, and another long recovery sequence make the closing minutes feel improvised rather than inevitable. Dunne eventually traps Coffey in the triangle and attacks the fingers for the submission. The wrestling is strong enough to survive the length, but WALTER's post-match arrival is ultimately more memorable than the final stretch.