6 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE NXT UK (22 April)

1. Thunderstorm Vs. Bomber Underwhelms

Sam Gradwell vs. Dave Mastiff had all the makings of a decent match. Mastiff is delightful to watch, while Gradwell is steadily being pushed up NXT UK’s cards. It just massively failed to impress.

All stemming from Mastiff literally locking ‘The Thunderstorm’ out of the UK Performance Center last week, the match never needed to happen. This shouldn’t be how NXT UK – or any professional wrestling promotion, for that matter – books a successful story arc. Worse yet, Gradwell called Mastiff a yoghurt during the match. Solid insult, Sam.

From an in-ring standpoint, it wasn’t the worst thing ever. Mastiff just saying f*ck it and repeatedly flattening Gradwell simply because he could was fine. His running senton being countered with two knees to the back wasn’t fine, however; Sam’s knees crumbled under the pressure, meaning ol’ Dave took no real damage.

So, why did he sell it when his back barely touched the turnbuckles? One sit-out Death Valley Driver later, and Sam Gradwell scored a three count. Good for him. He could do with a win. Just, that win could have came in a better match.