NXT UK recap, October 3: Shine bright like a wizard

Your recap of all the action worth recapping from the October 3 edition of NXT UK, featuring a clash between Tegan Nox and Kay Lee Ray.

Welcome, to the first ever recap of the Thursday era of NXT UK. Feel any different? No? Well that’s fair, this episode was pre-taped over a month ago at this point. Still, perhaps taking the third-best day of the week all for itself will be the springboard NXT UK needs to jump up to that fabled “next step.”

Regardless of the propulsive force of a Thursday afternoon (re-aired on Thursday evening) broadcast, let’s take a look at the October 3 edition of NXT UK: Shine bright like a wizard.

A little too shiny?

In her first real match (sorry Shax) since returning from a catastrophic knee injury, Tegan Nox proved why she was such a highly touted talent to begin with. With double Stone Cold Steve Austin knee braces, Nox threw everything she had at Kay Lee Ray. In front of her family and an adoring hometown crowd, she came close multiple times to getting one over on the NXT UK Women’s Champion. Came close.

Ray is champion for a reason. Though this match was a non-title contest, no way was Kay Lee Ray going to let herself be overshadowed by a two-time knee surgery patient. In no universe would she allow a wrestler whose only accomplishments of late are 1) being in the front row at TakeOver: Cardiff and 2) briefly meeting Shax, to stand in her spotlight. She’s the champion, pay attention to her.

Naturally — as any heel would against an opponent with surgically repaired knees — Ray targets and lays into one of Nox’s surgically repaired knees. It’s the right one that catches the abuse, getting stomped, twisted, and all around mangled up in this main event. Attack your opponent’s weak point for massive damage as if they were a common giant enemy crab. Bonus points if it’s the knee she likes to ram into people’s faces to end matches.

Whether from being weakened by the knee attacks, ring rust, or Ray simply being on another level than her, Nox cannot put the match away. For example, After escaping a guillotine choke with a spine buster, Nox neglects to go for the cover, only for Ray to rise from the dead like a slasher movie villain to re-lock in the hold. A chokeslam, a Molly-Go-Round, a Canadian/Welsh Destroyer: Ray kicks out of it all. Even Nox’s shiniest of shining wizards can’t keep Ray down.

Since her attempt in the ring failed, Nox tries to take things up a notch on the shining wizard. Turning the brightness up, she goes for one with both her and Ray on the apron. Unfortunately, turns out is is possible for a shining wizard to be too shiny. Blinded by ambition, Nox doesn’t calculate the risk of Ray dodging her until it’s too late and her knee is smashing up against the ring post. From there, Ray finally hits her with the Gory Bomb to get the win.

A great first win as champion for Ray that further establishes her as smart, tough and vicious. A valiant effort for Nox who you have to imagine we’ll be seeing more of. Seth Rollins constantly selling the knee is old hat, it’s time for someone else to take up the mantle.