A former NXT United Kingdom Champion has finally returned to action at the most recent set of NXT tapings.
Long before it was announced that NXT UK would be coming to an end, the brand has already been struck down by bad luck. Back in early July the brand’s champion Ilja Dragunov was forced to relinquish the title due to injury.
Dragunov had won the championship at NXT TakeOver: 36 where he became the first man to defeat Gunther (Then known as WALTER) in a WWE ring.
With Dragunov out of action a tournament was held to decide a new champion which was eventually won by Tyler Bate. The victory gave the Dudley-born star the unique honour of being the brand’s first and last champion. Almost as soon as Bate captured the title it was announced that NXT UK would be ending and replaced by NXT Europe in 2023. As a result a number of UK-based stars have now headed stateside.
One star who has joined the ranks a little later than hoped as a result of his injury is IIja Dragunov. The star made a surprise appearance at the most recent set of tapings to confront NXT Champion Bron Breakker and JD McDonagh, another former graduate of the British brand.
You can find a full list of spoilers from the taping below via the Wrestling Observer.
- Nathan Frazer defeated Axiom in their best of three series.
- Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) defeated Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley
- Schism came out to do a promo. During the promo, a hooded figure with a yellow mask on watched through the entranceway.
- The Dyad (Rip Fowler & Jagger Reid) defeated Edris Enofe and Malik Blade
- Cora Jade defeated Wendy Choo. After the match, Lash Legend attacked Choo.
- Andre Chase and Bodhi Hayward defeated Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams
- Oro Mensah defeated Grayson Waller. Apollo Crews came out during the match and aided Mensah in victory.
- JD McDonagh defeated Tyler Bate in a number one contenders match for the NXT Championship. McDonagh and NXT Champion Bron Breaker confronted one another after the match. Ilja Dragunov then came to the ring and confronted both men.