NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II explained

NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II
Promotion:WWE
Brand:NXT UK
Date:12 January 2020
City:Blackpool, Lancashire, England
Venue:Empress Ballroom
Wwenlast:TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs
Wwennext:Worlds Collide
Event:NXT UK TakeOver
Lastevent2:Cardiff
Nextevent2:Final
Event2:NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool
Lastevent3:I
Nextevent3:Final

NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II was a 2020 professional wrestling livestreaming event produced by the American promotion WWE. It was the third and final NXT UK TakeOver event, and subsequently the second and final NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool, and took place on 12 January 2020 at the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. The event aired exclusively on the WWE Network and was held for wrestlers from the promotion's NXT UK brand division.

Five matches were contested at the event. In the main event, Walter defeated Joe Coffey by submission to retain the WWE United Kingdom Championship. In other matches, Gallus (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang) defeated Imperium (Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel), Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake), and Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster in a four-way tag team ladder match to retain the NXT UK Tag Team Championship, and Kay Lee Ray retained the NXT UK Women's Championship by defeating Toni Storm and Piper Niven in a triple threat match.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that began in March 2020, the next scheduled NXT UK TakeOver event,, was ultimately canceled and although WWE resumed live touring in July 2021 after COVID travel restrictions were loosened, no further NXT UK TakeOver events were scheduled. The NXT UK brand itself was dissolved in September 2022 for an eventual relaunch as NXT Europe.

Production

Background

TakeOver was a series of professional wrestling shows that began on 29 May 2014, when WWE's NXT brand held their second live special on the WWE Network.[1] The NXT UK brand debuted in June 2018 and subsequently adopted the TakeOver name for their live WWE Network specials, beginning with in January 2019.[2] Announced on November 16, 2019, Blackpool II was scheduled as the third NXT UK TakeOver event and was held on 12 January 2020. It was also the second in the TakeOver: Blackpool chronology, a subseries of TakeOvers held at the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. Tickets went on sale on 18 November.[3]

Storylines

The card included five matches that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the NXT UK brand, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television programme, NXT UK.[4] [5]

On the 7 November episode of NXT UK, Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster's match ended in a no contest after Gallus (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang) and Imperium (Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel) interfered. On the 12 December episode, Gallus' title match against Imperium ended in a no contest after Andrews, Webster, and Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson) brawled. Then, Johnny Saint and Sid Scala came out and announced that Gallus would defend against Andrews and Webster, Grizzled Young Veterans, and Imperium at TakeOver: Blackpool II in a ladder match.

On the 28 November episode of NXT UK, after Piper Niven's match against Jinny, Toni Storm returned and attacked Kay Lee Ray. Then on the 5 December episode, after Storm's match with Killer Kelly, Ray attacked Storm and Niven came out and helped but Storm however said that she did not need Niven's help. On the 12 December episode, after Kay Lee Ray's match with Isla Dawn, Ray grabbed the mic and talked trash about Storm and Niven only for them to come out and Ray attacked both superstars. As Ray was leaving, Sid Scala announced that Ray would defend her title against Storm and Niven in a triple threat match at TakeOver: Blackpool II.

Event

Other on-screen personnel!Role:!Name:
CommentatorsTom Phillips
Nigel McGuinness
Ring announcerAndy Shepherd
RefereesJoel Allen
Chris Sharpe
Chris Roberts
Tom Scarborough
InterviewerRadzi Chinyanganya
Pre-show panelAndy Shepherd
Tom Phillips
William Regal

Preliminary matches

In the opening bout, Trent Seven faced Eddie Dennis. Dennis performed a Neck Stop Driver on Seven to win.

Next, Kay Lee Ray defended the NXT UK Women's Championship against Toni Storm and Piper Niven. Storm performed a Frog Splash on Niven but Ray performed a Superkick on Storm. Ray pinned Niven to retain the title.

After that, Tyler Bate faced Jordan Devlin. Bate performed a Corkscrew Senton Bomb on Devlin to win.

Later, Gallus (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang) defended the NXT UK Tag Team Championship against Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake), Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster and Imperium (Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel) in a Ladder match. Coffey and Wolfgang retrieved the belts to retain the titles.

Main event

In the main event, Walter defended the WWE United Kingdom Championship against Joe Coffey. Walter performed a Running Front Dropkick on the referee. Coffey performed a Powerbomb on Walter. Alexander Wolfe interfered and performed a Bicycle Kick on Coffey. Ilja Dragunov appeared and performed Torpedo Moscow on Wolfe. Walter performed a Clothesline on Dragunov. Walter threw Coffey into the steel steps and performed a Powerbomb onto the ring apron on Coffey. Walter performed a Short-Arm Clothesline on Coffey for a near-fall. Walter performed a Diving Splash on Coffey for a near-fall. Coffey performed a Discus Clothesline on Walter for a near-fall. Walter performed a Sleeper Suplex and two Powerbombs on Coffey. Walter forced Coffey to submit to a Side Headlock to retain the title.

After the match, The Undisputed Era attacked Imperium. Roderick Strong performed a Jumping High Knee on Walter and Adam Cole performed a Superkick on Walter. Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly performed Total Elimination on Walter. Cole performed a Last Shot on Walter.

Aftermath

TakeOver: Blackpool II would be the final NXT UK TakeOver event held to date. Another event,, had been planned, but was ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] The main NXT's TakeOver series was also discontinued in late 2021.[7] Also, in September 2022, NXT UK went on hiatus and will relaunch as NXT Europe in 2024.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: James's WWE NXT TakeOver report 5/29: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live special on WWE Network. May 29, 2014. James. Justin. Pro Wrestling Torch. June 2, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140603015404/https://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwenxtreport/article_78704.shtml. June 3, 2014. live.
  2. Web site: Thompson. Andrew. WWE Announces NXT U.K. TakeOver For January 12th, NXT U.K. Women's Championship Match Set For The Show. Fightful. November 24, 2018. November 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20210729223644/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-announces-nxt-uk-takeover-january-12th-nxt-uk-women-s-championship-match-set-show. July 29, 2021. live.
  3. Web site: Robert. Defelice. NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II Set For January 12, 2020. Fightful. November 16, 2019. November 16, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20230328044026/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/nxt-uk-takeover-blackpool-ii-set-january-12-2020. March 28, 2023. live.
  4. Web site: How Pro Wrestling Works. Grabianowski. Ed. HowStuffWorks. January 13, 2006. Discovery Communications. March 5, 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20131129050844/https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm. November 29, 2013.
  5. Web site: Live & Televised Entertainment. WWE. March 21, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20090218142749/https://corporate.wwe.com/company/events.jsp. February 18, 2009.
  6. Web site: Lambert. Jeremy. NXT UK TakeOver: Dublin Officially Canceled By WWE. Fightful. April 30, 2021. May 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210501093821/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/nxt-uk-takeover-dublin-listed-canceled-ticketmaster. May 1, 2021. live.
  7. Web site: Thomas. Jeremy. UPDATED: NXT WarGames Set For December, Takeover Name Removed. 411Mania. November 15, 2021. November 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211110063906/https://411mania.com/wrestling/nxt-takeover-wargames-set-for-december/. November 10, 2021. live.
  8. Web site: Defelice. Robert. WWE Announces The Impending Launch Of 'NXT Europe' Final NXT UK Event To Be 'Worlds Collide' On 9/4. Fightful. August 18, 2022. August 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220818155043/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-announces-impending-launch-nxt-europe-final-nxt-uk-event-be-worlds-collide-94. August 18, 2022. live.