WWE will soon be crowning the promotion’s first ever United Kingdom Champion.
It was announced at a press conference in London today that WWE would be holding a two-day tournament that will air live on the Network to determine the first UK Champion. The tournament will feature 16 wrestlers and will be held at the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, England on January 14th and 15th.
Triple H made the announcement at the press conference and was joined by Michael Cole, William Regal, and Finn Balor. It was also revealed that former ROH star and behind-the-scenes talent Nigel McGuinness would be joining WWE to call the action alongside Cole and Regal.
Dave Meltzer detailed some elements of the tournament in this week’s edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and has reported on WWE’s attempts to sign UK talent in recent weeks.
Triple H cited the move as the next chapter in WWE’s talent development and content strategy. He said that they have spent the better part of the year working with promotions like PROGRESS, Revolution Pro Wrestling, ICW, and OTT to find the best talent in the region.
The UK’s wrestling scene has exploded in the last few years while featuring some of the best talent in the world. WWE tweeted a picture of the competitors for the tournament, which will feature UK stars like Pete Dunne, Trent Seven, and Tyler Bate. For the rest of the names and what the news could mean for the UK wrestling scene, check out Alan Boon’s column running down what you need to know about the tournament.
Video of the press conference is available to watch below: