Triple H kicked off the event by saying that every empire has a beginning. Triple H asked the crowd if they were ready and the Empress Ballroom erupted.
First Round: Trent Seven vs H.C. Dyer
Dyer connected with a Dropkick to kick off the match. The crowd was heavily behind Seven. The match spilled outside the ring and Seven went for a chop but missed and hit the ring post instead. Back in the ring, Dyer went for a Splash in the corner but Seven moved out of the way. Seven then hit 10 chops but grabbed his injured hand in pain. Seven then landed a Suplex and cockily went for a pinfall but Dyer powered out at two.
Dyer planted Seven with a Spinebuster. Dyer then leveled Seven with a big time right hand and went for a pinfall but Seven kicked out. Dyer then landed a Blue Thunder Bomb and went to the top turnbuckle. Seven avoided Dyer’s Frog Splash and hit the Seven Stars for the victory.
Winner & Advancing To The Quarterfinals : Trent Seven
First Round: Danny Burch vs Jordan Devlin
The WWE has hyping up the fact that Devlin was trained by Finn Balor and showed Balor in the crowd. Michael Cole pointed out that all the attention being paid to the fact that Balor trained him was starting to get under Devlin’s skin. The match started out with Devlin immediately going for a roll up but Burch kicked out. Burch connected with a Suplex and followed it up with a shoulder tackle. Burch landed another Suplex on Devlin.
Devlin battled back and connected with a Dropkick. Devlin beatdown Bruch in the corner until the referee separated them. Burch went to the second turnbuckle but Devlin threw him off the turnbuckle to the mat. Devlin then applied a Chinlock in the middle of the ring. Burch powered to his feet but Devlin once again slammed him to the mat. Devlin then taunted the crowd and Burch.
Devin controlled the match for the next few minutes. Every time Burch tried to mount some offense, Devlin knocked him to the mat. Finally, Burch connected with a Missile Dropkick off of the second turnbuckle. Devlin connected with a knee and a headbutt and then applied a Crossface. Devlin was able to get his foot on the bottom rope to break the hold. Devlin hit a kick to the back of Burch’s head and busted him open. Devlin went for a pinfall. Burch appeared to kick out right as the referee’s hand hit the mat for a third time. The crowd chanted “bullsh*t!” as Devlin was awarded the victory. After the match, Burch went to shake Devlin’s hand but Devlin decided to kick him in the face.
Winner & Advancing To The Quarterfinals: Jordan Devlin
First Round: Saxon Huxley vs Sam Gradwell
The match started out back and forth. Huxley looks like Jesus and a “lets go Jesus!” and “Jesus sucks!” chant broke out in the crowd. Gradwell took control of the match by locking in an Arm Bar.
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Huxley hit a Backbreaker as the crowd continued with hilarious chants.
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Gradwell landed a Flying Headbutt onto Huxley for the pinfall victory.
Winner & Advancing To The Quarterfinals: Sam Gradwell
First Round: Roy Johnson vs Pete Dunne
Dunne started off in control of the match but Johnson fought back and planted him with a shoulder tackle. Johnson followed it up by connecting with a Suplex. The action spilled outside the ring and Dunne stomped on Johnson’s hand against the steel steps. Back in the ring, Dunne continued to beatdown Johnson. Johnson hit a shoulder tackle off of the second rope. Johnson hit a Samoan Drop and went for the pinfall but Dunne kicked out at two. Dunne hit Johnson with a big right hand and then landed a kick to the back of Johnson’s head. Dunne then hit a German Suplex but Johnson kicked out at two. Dunne then hit the Bitter End (Pump-handle Flatliner) for the victory.
Winner & Advancing To The Quarterfinals: Pete Dunne
First Round: Wolfgang vs Tyson T-Bone
T-Bone hit Wolfgang with a headbutt before the match started. Wolfgang battled back for a bit but Tyson knocked him down to the mat with a knee to the face. T-Bone applied a Chinlock to Wolfgang in the middle of the ring. Wolfgang halted T-Bone’s momentum by planting him with a Suplex. Wolfgang followed it up by hitting the Wasteland and a Moonsault off the second rope. T-Bone responded by planting Wolfgang with a German Suplex.
Tyson threw Wolfgang out of the ring and followed him out there. The crowd was behind Wolfgang during this match. T-Bone shoved Wolfgang into the ring post outside the ring. T-Bone then got back into the ring and Wolfgang got into the ring at the last second to avoid the count out. Both men were on the top turnbuckle. Wolfgang threw T-Bone to the mat and hit a Swanton Bomb for the victory.
Winner & Advancing To The Quarterfinals: Wolfgang
First Round: James Drake vs Joseph Conners
Drake controlled the first few minutes of the match. Conners finally battled back and beat the hell out of Drake on the ring apron. Conners had an injured ear and Drake focused most of his attack there. Drake hit several forearms to Conners in the corner. Conners hit an elbow to Drake’s face and then hit a Backbreaker. Conners then followed it up with the DLD (Don’t Look Down) for the victory.
Winner & Advancing To The Quarterfinals: Joseph Conners
First Round: Mark Andrews vs Dan Moloney
The crowd was behind Andrews for this match. Moloney started out on the offensive and connected with a chop that echoed through the Empress Ballroom. Andrews hit a Jawbreaker and then hit a stomp to the stomach of Moloney. Andrews hit a Northern Lights Suplex and followed it up with a standing Moonsault. Andrews hit another Moonsault on Moloney outside the ring and celebrated the move by high-fiving a fan in the front row. Moloney battled back and connected with a kick to the face of Andrews. Andrews countered a Suplex into a Stunner and landed a Shooting Star Press for the victory.
Winner & Advancing To The Quarterfinals: Mark Andrews
First Round: Tucker vs Tyler Bate
Both Bate and Tucker couldn’t connect with anything in the first few minutes of the match. Tucker hit an elbow off the top rope for a two count. The crowd was heavily behind Bate in this match. Bate finally built up some momentum but Tucker connected with a kick that sent Bate to the mat. Tucker followed it up with a Hurricanrana and a forearm in the corner. Bate connected with an uppercut off the second rope.
Tucker responded by launching Bate out of the ring. Tucker went for a Suicide Dive but instead was greeted by an uppercut to the face from Bate. Tucker hit another Hurricanrana off the steel steps onto the entrance ramp. Back in the ring, Tucker hit a vicious kick that sent Bate out of the ring. Tucker brought Bate back into the ring and went for the pinfall but Bate kicked out. Tucker went for the Swanton Bomb but Bate got his knees up. Bate hit the Tyler Driver for the victory.
Winner & Advancing To The Quarterfinals: Tyler Bate
Reaction: The first round of the United Kingdom Championship Tournament is in the books and it was an awesome show. The wrestling was very good but the atmosphere was awesome. I thought the crowd was great during this show. It was so refreshing to hear a crowd actually react during matches. That is something that the WWE has been missing for quite some time, especially on Monday Night Raw. Some may not enjoy all of the chants but I think the crowd definitely added to the event tonight. The crowd will be even more energetic tomorrow for the finals and I’m looking forward to it. I thought the Bate and Tucker match was the best one of the night. Here is the updated bracket and the matches that will take place tomorrow on the WWE Network.
What did you think of the first round of the United Kingdom Championship Tournament? Let us know in the comments below.
