'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
NXT UK is just getting off the ground, but after their first Takeover show was such a huge success, it's clear that the WWE's plan for global expansion could be a great one. On the backs of talented young stars like Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate, Toni Storm, Rhea Ripley, and a plethora of others, the upstart brand has begun rivalling NXT as the WWE's best weekly show, and the focal point of it all is the aforementioned Dunne.
The Bruiserweight has been holding the WWE UK Championship since NXT Takeover Chicago back in 2017 after defeating Tyler Bate in a classic, and after 600+ days on top, it's time the WWE start building credible challengers. They've got a few in waiting, but at this point, it seems like Dunne is invincible, but if built up correctly, the following 5 men could be ready to tear down The Bruiserweight's historic reign.
#5 Mark Andrews
Mark Andrews and Pete Dunne are real life best friends, and have been travelling the world making names for themselves for a decade now, so it would be very fitting if it was Mark to dethrone Pete.
He's currently in a tag team with Flash Morgan Webster, so it may take some time to again build him up as a singles star, but that's where White Lightning has done his best work, and it's time the world sees just how good he can be.
Andrews is a very likeable star, engaging the crowds in his 'High Fiving and Stage Diving', and with his unique, innovative offence, he's the baby face star that could take out the vicious Bruiserweight.
With Walter gunning for Dunne right now, it's unlikely that Andrews will be next in line, but if the company continues to build him up as the elite talent that he is, there'll be nothing they can do to keep him away from the top of the mountain.
#4 Jordan Devlin
Jordan Devlin debuted in the WWE in the original UK tournament, and despite the fact that many saw him as nothing but a mini Finn Bàlor, he's proving that he's nothing like his mentor.
Devlin has a great presence about him, can cut a great promo and can work well as either a face or a heel (see his work in OTT for face examples), and that's what a company wants in the main event.
Although his work-rate and demeanour are different to Finn Balor, he's got the same great, athletic look, and after pitting him against Balor in Blackpool, it's clear they regard him highly.
We've yet to see the best of The Import Killer in the WWE, but given time to prove himself and great opponents, he'll rise to the top, and despite a loss to Dunne already, he's got the talent to carry the brand on his back.
#3 Travis Banks
Travis Banks may be from New Zealand, but he's been tearing it up all over the UK scene for a number of years now, and with his success in every top promotion, the WWE would be wild not to get behind him completely. In fact, it was the Kiwi Buzzsaw that defeated Pete Dunne for the Progress Championship (pictured above), and if he could do it in Progress, he could surely do it again in the WWE.
They've been slowly building up the hard-hitting Banks as an underdog who can fight from underneath, and given the success he's had in Progress (run by the same 3 men who run NXT UK), it's going to work out well.
His path to the NXT UK Championship will be different to the path that saw him win the Progress World Championship, but he's a hard-worker and one of the most dynamic and versatile performers in the world today, and it's only a matter of time until he's on top again.
#2 Eddie Dennis
The revival of wrestling in the UK has involved countless people putting in a lot of effort, and although Eddie Dennis doesn't have the championship pedigree of some performers, he's got a big time future ahead of him. The former school teacher was once a prominent baby face with the full support of any crowd he wrestled in front of, but with a heel turn on Mark Andrews in Progress, he completely reinvigorated his entire career.
Throughout the period he was out with injury, Dennis used his time to improve on promos and work on his character, and after beating Mark Andrews at Wembley Arena, it's clear that he's got main event potential.
After beating Dave Mastiff at the first ever NXT UK Takeover, it's clear the WWE see him as someone who could be a force in the year 2019, so a bout with Pete Dunne seems to be inevitable at this point.
#1 Walter
The Ring General debuted following Pete Dunne's successful defence against Joe Coffey in Blackpool, and in his few appearances since, he's proving why he's such a big star in the wrestling business. Walter has wrestled in America and all over Europe, and despite the lack of flair and flamboyance that fans enjoy in wrestling, he's become a huge baby face in all those promotions.
There are few in the world who hit harder than Walter, and it's taken him to the top of promotions like PWG, wXw and Progress, and it's clear he will one day be at the top of NXT UK. It's likely that he will be challenging Dunne for the title at the next NXT UK Takeover show (whenever that is announced), and given that Dunne will be over 650 days as Champion at this point, it wouldn't shock anyone to see Walter come out on top.
