NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff: Fallout, takeaways, what’s next

“You Spin Me Round (Like Ilja Dragunov)”

With the announcement that he would be making a stop in Cardiff only revealed after Raw, the context of Cesaro’s “hands-on” approach to NXT UK became a much-speculated upon topic. As a consistently great performer and a long list of talent queueing up to welcome him, it seemed Cesaro could be doing just about anything, up to and including fighting WALTER. Instead of waltzing in from the main roster and calling someone out, Cesaro opted for a tried and true route when you want to get someone to fight you in WWE: an open challenge.

https://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/1167867294111764480?s=20

As Cesaro stood backstage chatting it up with Radzi about his open challenge, Ilja Dragunov walked into frame and breathed heavily at him. If this didn’t immediately signal that he was accepting the challenge, Dragunov then went down to the ring to explain that yes, this was what he was doing, get out here already Cesaro. So Cesaro comes down and they have an awesome, physical match that shows why Cesaro is a star deserving of all the championships, and why Dragunov may soon be fast to rise up the NXT UK ranks.

It’s an ideal matchup because Cesaro likes to deal out physical punishment and Dragunov kind of thrives off of physical punishment. Loves it, you could say. So much so that even after  being scooped thrown over the top rope to the floor, after being caught in a Cesaro swing for literally 40 rotations, even after taking a Go To Sleep — but don’t call it that — swiftly followed by a huge diving uppercut, Dragunov is begging for more. Sure he’s on his knees and looks positively plastered, but Dragunov doesn’t want this match to end.

Channeling his inner fury, Dragunov summons the energy to plant Cesaro in the corner with a Death Valley Driver and then hit a big senton off the top rope for a two-count. Fired up, he loads up to unleash a Torpedo Moscow on Cesaro, only to get tossed up into the air and positively leveled with an uppercut. Cesaro then hits Dragunov with The Neutralizer to grab the pin.

Heading up the ramp victorious, Cesaro changes course and charges back into the ring. After running towards Dragunov like he’s going to pummel him halfway across the continent, Cesaro stops and offers a handshake instead. They shake, embrace, and Cesaro whispers some words of encouragement into Dragunov’s ear. It’s very reminiscent of his interactions with Sami Zayn following their NXT Arrival classic.

Backstage, Cesaro only has good things to say about Dragunov stepping up, saying that a fight like this keeps himself fresh and young. Maybe Ilja Dragunov will be sitting in “The Electric Chair” on Monday Night Raw soon enough!