NXT UK (WWE brand)

NXT UK[1][2] is the United Kingdom-based brand of the American professional wrestling promotion WWE that was first established on 15 December 2016. It was launched as a way to give UK-based wrestlers an opportunity to wrestle for NXT. The brand's namesake show, NXT UK, had its first tapings in July 2018 and premiered on 17 October 2018 on the WWE Network.

NXT UK
Logo for the brand and the NXT UK television programme
Product typeProfessional wrestling
Sports entertainment
OwnerWWE
Produced byPaul "Triple H" Levesque
CountryUnited Kingdom
Introduced15 December 2016
Related brandsRaw
SmackDown
NXT
205 Live
ECW
Previous names:
United Kingdom
(2016 – 2018)
General Manager:
Johnny Saint
(7 June 2018 – present)
Assistant to the General Manager:
Sid Scala
(12 December 2018 – present)

History
Main article: WWE brand extension

In a press conference at The O2 Arena on 15 December 2016, Paul "Triple H" Levesque revealed that there would be a 16-man tournament to crown the inaugural WWE United Kingdom Champion. The tournament was held over a two-day period, 14 and 15 January 2017, and aired exclusively on the WWE Network. The championship was intended as the top championship of a new WWE Network show, produced in the United Kingdom (the show and its premiere date had yet to be revealed by the WWE at the time).[3][4] Tyler Bate won the inaugural tournament to become the first WWE United Kingdom Champion.[5]

On 19 May 2017, WWE held a follow-up to the United Kingdom Championship tournament,[6] titled United Kingdom Championship Special.[7]

On 7 April 2018, a second United Kingdom Championship Tournament event was scheduled for 18 and 19 June at the Royal Albert Hall.[8][9][10] On 7 June, Johnny Saint was appointed General Manager of WWE's United Kingdom-based brand.[11][12]

On 18 June 2018, it was announced that WWE's United Kingdom-based brand would begin filming a new show titled NXT UK in July 2018, and that championships for the brand's women's and tag team divisions would be introduced.[13]

On 17 October 2018, the inaugural episode of NXT UK aired on the WWE Network at 8 p.m. BT/3 p.m. ET.[14]

On 31 December 2019, WWE announced that NXT UK would begin airing on BT Sport in the United Kingdom. [15] On 21 January 2020, it was announced that NXT UK would also air on Paramount Network UK on a six-day delay after its WWE Network and BT Sport broadcasts.[16]

On September 10, 2020, WWE announced the relaunch of the NXT UK brand following production of shows for the brand being paused since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17]

Champions
See also: List of current champions in WWE

Tyler Bate won the inaugural tournament to become the first WWE United Kingdom Champion.[5] The first title change, as well as first defense to air live, took place on 20 May 2017, at NXT TakeOver: Chicago, where Pete Dunne defeated Bate to become champion.[18]

Rhea Ripley won the inaugural tournament to become the first NXT UK Women's Champion.[19]

The NXT UK Tag Team Championships were announced on 18 June 2018.[20] At the 13 October 2018 NXT UK tapings, Triple H and NXT UK General Manager Johnny Saint unveiled the championship belts.[21]

On November 26, 2020 episode of NXT UK, A-Kid won the NXT UK Heritage Cup tournament to become the inaugural NXT UK Heritage Cup Champion. It is defended just like any other championship but has a special stipulation in which all matches are contested under British Rounds Rules.[22]

Current championships
NXT UK
ChampionshipCurrent champion(s)ReignDate wonDays heldLocationNotes
NXT United Kingdom Championship Walter 1 5 April 2019 673 New York, New York Defeated Pete Dunne at NXT TakeOver: New York
NXT UK Heritage Cup A-Kid 1 N/A N/A London, England Defeated Trent Seven in a British Rounds match on NXT UK to become the inaugural champion
Aired on tape delay on November 26, 2020
Actual date the match took place is unknown
NXT UK Tag Team Championship
Gallus
(Mark Coffey and Wolfgang)		 1 4 October 2019 491 Brentwood, England Defeated Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster on NXT UK
Aired on tape delay on October 17, 2019
NXT UK Women's Championship Kay Lee Ray 1 31 August 2019 525 Cardiff, Wales Defeated Toni Storm at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff
  • Notes
The WWE 24/7 Championship and WWE Women's Tag Team Championship can also be defended on NXT UK as they are shared among the brands.[23]
The NXT Cruiserweight Championship can also be defended on NXT UK.

Personnel
Main article: List of WWE personnel § NXT UK

Television show
Main article: NXT UK

The WWE Network broadcasts NXT UK's eponymous television programme in the United Kingdom and internationally. The inaugural tapings of NXT UK occurred on 28 and 29 July 2018, at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, and began airing on 17 October 2018.[24]

WWE Network events
See also: NXT UK TakeOver
Event Date Location Venue Main event
United Kingdom Championship Tournament 14 January 2017 Blackpool, Lancashire
England		 Empress Ballroom Tyler Bate vs. Tucker
15 January 2017 Tyler Bate vs. Pete Dunne for the inaugural WWE United Kingdom Championship
United Kingdom Championship Special 7 May 2017 Norwich, Norfolk
England		 Epic Studios Tyler Bate (c) vs. Mark Andrews for the WWE United Kingdom Championship
United Kingdom Championship Tournament 18 June 2018 Kensington, London
England		 Royal Albert Hall[25] Zack Gibson vs. Travis Banks to determine the #1 contender to the WWE United Kingdom Championship
19 June 2018 Pete Dunne (c) vs. Zack Gibson for the WWE United Kingdom Championship
NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool 12 January 2019 Blackpool, Lancashire
England		 Empress Ballroom Pete Dunne (c) vs. Joe Coffey for the WWE United Kingdom Championship
NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff 31 August 2019 Cardiff
Wales		 Motorpoint Arena Cardiff[26] Walter (c) vs. Tyler Bate for the WWE United Kingdom Championship
NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II 12 January 2020 Blackpool, Lancashire
England		 Empress Ballroom Walter (c) vs. Joe Coffey for the WWE United Kingdom Championship

See also

References
  1. "WWE launches new U.K. series". WWE. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  2. "BREAKING NEWS: A new brand, #NXTUK is coming to @WWEUK. @TripleH and GM Johnny Saint announced the news this evening @RoyalAlbertHall". WWE on Twitter. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  3. Currier, Joseph (December 15, 2016). "WWE to crown first United Kingdom Champion in January". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  4. Keller, Wade (December 15, 2016). "WWE announces new UK-based brand, holding tournament to crown UK Champion, Nigel McGuinness on announce team". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  5. Soucek, Andrew. "SOUCEK'S WWE UK CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT REPORT 1/15: Ongoing coverage of night two of UK Championship tournament". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  6. "UPDATED: WWE UK Championship Special to air on WWE Network on Friday with legend Jim Ross on commentary". Daily Mirror. May 15, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2016. The 90-minute show, starring the company's top UK and 205 Live cruiserweight talent, will feature action from tapings in Norwich on May 6 and 7
  7. "WWE United Kingdom Championship Special premiere today". WWE. May 19, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  8. Sean Rueter (April 7, 2018). "Triple H reveals WWE's UK Championship Tournament returns in June". Cageside Seats. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  9. Staff, WWE.com. "WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament at Royal Albert Hall". WWE.com. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  10. "Tickets for the WWE U.K. Championship Tournament at Royal Albert Hall are available now". WWE. April 13, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  11. "Johnny Saint named GM of WWE's United Kingdom brand". WWE. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
  12. "WWE announces Johnny Saint as UK brand general manager". 7 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  13. John Pollock (June 18, 2018). "WWE announces NXT UK brand with two additional championships to be introduced". POST Wrestling. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  14. https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/article/nxt-uk-to-stream-on-wwe-network?sf199802418=1
  15. https://sport.bt.com/wwe/nxt-and-nxt-uk-join-raw-and-smackdown-on-bt-sport-the-new-uk-home-of-the-wwe-S11364421557178
  16. Felstead, Scott; Docking, Neil (2020-01-21). "Channel 5 to show WWE Raw and SmackDown highlights". mirror. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  17. Currier, Joseph (September 10, 2020). "WWE Announces Heritage Cup for NXT UK". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  18. Zimmerman, Zack. "5/20 Zim's NXT Takeover: Chicago live review – Bobby Roode vs. Hideo Itami for the NXT Title, Authors of Pain vs. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa in a ladder match for the NXT Tag Titles, Asuka vs. Nikki Cross vs. Ruby Riot for the NXT Women's Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  19. "The first NXT UK Women's Champion to be crowned at NXT UK tapings this weekend in Birmingham". WWE. August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  20. Pollock, John (June 18, 2018). "WWE announces NXT UK brand with two additional championships to be introduced". POSTWrestling. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  21. "Major news from Sunday night's NXT UK tapings (CAUTION: SPOILERS)". WWE. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  22. Currier, Joseph (November 26, 2020). "WWE CROWNS FIRST NXT UK HERITAGE CUP CHAMPION". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  23. Satin, Ryan (May 20, 2019). "WATCH: Mick Foley Unveils New WWE 24/7 Title, First Champion Crowned". Pro Wrestling Sheet. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  24. "WWE launches new U.K. series". WWE. June 18, 2018. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  25. Hall, Royal Albert. "WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament at Royal Albert Hall". WWE.com. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  26. "NXT UK TakeOver". MotorpointArenaCardiff.co.uk. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
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