This week's NXT UK is what seems to be the brand's perfunctory huge episode of the month, and it doesn't miss.
The Final Boss ascends into bosshood
If there's one thing that kind of bugged me about Meiko Satomura's billing as "The Final Boss," it's that it took two tries for her to become NXT UK Women's Champion. I think Meiko beating Kay Lee Ray the first time would've made perfect sense and wouldn't have diminished the Scary Queen of Scots one bit.
But here we are, and I get why they did it—so they could have a huge starmaking moment in the end.
Let's bring out my inner Stefon—the match had everything. It had huge moves, it had outside action, it had fighting spirit, it had a near-walkout spot that made perfect sense, and it even had focus on one crucial spot: Meiko trying to hit her Scorpio Rising finisher, because she never got to do it the first time.
I've never seen Kay Lee Ray deserve to be the Forever Champion. That's not through any fault of her own, I think. She's had good (great, even) matches with everyone who's ever stood in her way, but I felt like she never truly had the gravitas WALTER has. I felt like they didn't work as hard on it as they did with WALTER, but I also acknowledge that it could be because she isn't as imposing against the rest of her division as WALTER is.
That said, it's a great time for the NXT UK women's division. Every time we get a new champion, many possibilities are unlocked, and this one is no different. We've already gotten a taste of what Meiko could do with the other ladies, and I hope they're also considering a record-setting reign for her. It is, after all, only right for someone called the Final Boss, although she won't have a pandemic hard stop working in her favor. But if she does reign for 650 days, it wouldn't be so bad—just keep the challengers coming.
NXT UK 6/10/21 Grade: A+
Bits and pieces
- WALTER is back too, reminding everyone that he is the real Forever Champion. I actually don't mind that, I'd just rather he defended the title more.
- Jordan Devlin is back! Strangely enough, I didn't really feel his absence. Not to say he isn't a good wrestler, but once he left for the States it felt like NXT UK moved well without him. Plus it's not like there's a lot of things to do for the men.
- It was supposed to be an enhancement match, but Symbiosis beating the two jobbers was so fun to watch. I don't know exactly how they slot against Pretty Deadly, who are clearly heels, though. Is someone going to turn heel? Can they also build Pretty Deadly's characters a little more, because I don't have any idea of who they are as people?
*****
Romeo Moran (@roiswar) is the Editor-in-Chief of Smark Henry and one of the three hosts of the Wrestling-Wrestling Podcast. He gets by in this hard-knock life through working in advertising. Smark Henry was his and Stan Sy's original vision of a watering hole for local wrestling fans. He roots for the undersized guys who hit hard, and he likes taking your wrestling questions over on his Curiouscat account.
: Meiko Satomura's Final Form){kind=link}