NXT UK TakeOver Blackpool II: 5 Ups And 3 Downs

1. Match Of The Year

If a writer at WhatCulture Wrestling unironically referred to something as The Match of the Year before it had even taken place, we would make them change it. If life should have taught us all one lesson repeatedly, it's that it doesn't matter how good the competitors are, how big the stage is, how searing the rivalry or how personal the story, wrestling can and will let you down.

However in the space on the poster normally reserved for the stipulation or the championship being contested, NXT UK had written the words The Match of the Year above the heads of Jordan Devlin and Tyler Bate. At 29 and 22 years of age respectively, this was reckless booking that stood to do way more damage to their reputations that it could possibly have done good... right?

Wrong.

22 and a half minutes later the entire Ballroom (Regal and Trips include) was on its feet. Both men left to a standing ovation having put in a legitimate contender for, you guessed it, Match of the Year. The story that their previous tournament quarter-final meeting in this same room 2 years ago had set them both on paths that only ever led back to one another felt prescient throughout, and both men hit so hard the first 3 rows will need their fillings put back in.

Watch this match, and watch it immediately.