NXT takes over Download Festival
The first leg of the NXT UK tour kicked-off this weekend as the stars of WWE’s ‘developmental’ brand headed to Donington Park for the Download Festival - and the shows didn’t disappoint!
The Gorilla Position team were there in person to witness NXT put on a weekend full of non-stop action that saw shocking debuts, surprising returns and the roster’s biggest and most popular names battling it out in the NXT tent.
WWE pulled out all the stops for the tour, none more so than an appearance by the brand’s ‘Godfather’, ‘The Game’ Triple H. Appearing firstly at the NXT tent on Saturday afternoon to a thunderous pop from the crowd and then in front of thousands on the main stage as he accepted ‘The Spirit’ of Lemmy Award’. Leaving his Authority character firmly back in the states, the King of Kings appearance added huge credibility to the tour, and confirmed his on-going commitment to NXT - even if the babyface he portrays is slightly polarizing to what we expect his character will be like come his return to WWE TV around SummerSlam.
Showing that the tour wasn’t just all about the new talent gaining experience in front of a live crowd, WWE also flew in Baron Corbin to make a surprising return to the NXT brand. The ‘Lone Wolf’ who’s currently embroiled in a main roster feud with Dolph Ziggler, defeated Alexander Wolfe and Angelo Dawkins in a triple-threat on the Friday night and then returned to tag with NXT Champion Samoa Joe the following night in Saturday’s main event, against Shinsuke Nakamura and Andrade "Cien" Almas. Having the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner at the event added star power and gave the event a real ‘must not miss’ feel. You’ll be lucky enough to hear some of Corbin’s thoughts on the event after he chatted to Greg James over the weekend as part of the BBC documentary GP host James Delow is working on.
The other headline story coming out the weekend was the NXT debut of Bobby Roode. Last seen walking into William Regal’s office during NXT TakeOver: The End, Roode is now officially an NXT talent after weeks of speculation. The ‘IT Factor’ defeated Angelo Dawkins in a short but thrilling encounter, in what was a small taster of what’s to come from the former TNA World Heavyweight Champion.
Elsewhere there were appearances from NXT woman’s champion Asuka, Tye Dillinger and American Alpha, plus the UK’s own Hugo Knox performed in front of his home crowd for the first time. Firstly defeating Sawyer Fulton on Friday, before teaming with Finn Balor to get the better of The Revival on Saturdays’ main event slot.
Friday’s show
Hugo Knox defeated Sawyer Fulton
Nikki Glencross defeated Peyton Royce
Baron Corbin defeated Alexander Wolfe & Angelo Dawkins
Saturday’s first show
Tye Dillinger defeated Sawyer Fulton. Dillinger got a big pop as well.
Carmella defeated Nicky Glencross.
Bobby Roode defeated Angelo Dawkins.
NXT Women's Champion Asuka defeated Peyton Royce
Finn Balor And Hugo Knox defeated the Revival
Saturday’s second show
Bayley and Carmella defeated Nia Jax and Nikki Glencross
Angelo Dawkins defeated Blake
Alexa Bliss defeated Peyton Royce
Chad Gable and Jason Jordan defeated Sawyer Fulton and Alexander Wolfe
Shinsuke Nakamura and Andrade "Cien" Almas defeated Baron Corbin and NXT Champion Samoa Joe
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