At a landmark press conference at London’s O2 Arena, Triple H announced a UK tournament to be held in Blackpool in January 2017. The King of Kings also stated that the winner of that tournament will be crowned the first ever WWE UK Champion, with the belt design also revealed in the British capital.
It was a clear statement of intent from the biggest professional wrestling company on the planet.
Many are already lamenting the tournament, seeing it as nothing more than a new way for Vince McMahon to destroy any and all competition that could stand in his way. These viewpoints are understandable, but this will matter little to the 16 men who make up the tournament and will be competing to etch their name into the history books.
The counter-argument is possibly stronger that this exposure can only be good for British wrestling.
Whichever side of that fence you find yourself on, the likelihood is that all of the arguments will dissipate by the time the tournament begins on January 14th. From the moment the first bell rings, all eyes will turn to Blackpool’s Empress Ballroom and the men competing inside the squared circle.
Who will come out on top when all is said and done on January 15th? Here are five wrestlers who are in with a great chance of becoming the first ever WWE United Kingdom Champion.
#5 Pete Dunne
Pete Dunne may well be the hottest commodity in British professional wrestling today, and whilst all of the 16 competitors will see being involved in the tournament as a landmark for them it is Dunne who will be seen as a coup for the company.
Dunne lost in the qualifiers for the WWE Cruiserweight Classic earlier in the year, but his presence in tryouts and more, show that he has clearly been on WWE’s radar for a while. Of the 16 men involved, Pete Dunne stands out.
It is also Dunne who provides the most intrigue for WWE outside the ring. After winning the Progress World Championship last month, Dunne delivered a great promo alongside his British Strong Style buddies (Seven and Bate) stating that the title was only good for signing a contract on, and whilst the promo itself was excellent it comes with extra weight now.
Dunne is still only 23-years old and has a huge future ahead of him. His future is now, however, and even if he doesn’t win the tournament, which quite frankly would be a surprise, it would be a shock if Dunne isn’t affiliated with WWE in any way shape or form at the end of 2017.
As we stand, however, Pete Dunne is the clear favourite for the WWE United Kingdom tournament.
#4 Wolfgang
From one former independent wrestling champion to one who currently holds a major title belt in the United Kingdom; Wolfgang is another major name named for the tournament. Whilst he may not come with the technical wrestling prowess of some of his peers, you can never rule out a man who has held the ICW Heavyweight Championship for over four months now.
The Big Bad Wolf won that title by defeating Joe Coffey, taking advantage of the Ironman’s exhaustion from defeating Big Damo to cash in his Square Go! Briefcase, and has held the belt ever since.
Wolfgang will bring a no-nonsense brawling style to the tournament, and whilst that goes at odds with WWE’s focus on technical prowess in such tournaments, it would be no surprise to see the 13-year veteran standing tall with the new Championship in tow.
Professional wrestling needs variation, and if every individual were a technical wonder, we’d all be bored senseless. The hirsute brawler adds an extra dimension to whatever show he performs on, and could very well be a dark horse to win the whole tournament.
#3 Tyler Bate
British pro wrestling has no shortage of old-fashioned technical wrestlers in trunks twisting their opponents into all shapes in a true World of Sports style, but not many do it with the intangible charisma of Tyler Bate. Watching Bate is a joy at all times, a joy that is accentuated when you realise just how young the man from Dudley is.
At just 19 years old, the sky may be the minimum that he can achieve.
Tyler Bate is the type of professional wrestler that is almost irritatingly smooth, a performer with a brighter future than most of his peers. His place in the tournament could be one of the entries that worry die-hard British indy fans the most, a young superstar-in-waiting, who could quite plausibly spearhead the British wrestling scene for many years to come.
Losing such a talent to the wrestling conglomerate that is WWE would be a major blow for independent UK wrestling. All of which may be forgotten once the tournament gets under way and one-half of Moustache Mountain begins to make his way through the field.
#2 Trent Seven
From one of the bright young talents of British wrestling to a performer almost twice Bate’s age, Trent Seven is another major name announced for the WWE United Kingdom tournament. Seven was front and centre of the press conference line-up, and while that isn’t exactly classic foreshadowing, there must have been reasons for the placement.
It is always wise to read way too much into everything when we’re talking about WWE. Trent Seven more than deserves to take a place of importance in this tournament, whether that is through winning the whole thing or providing an inspiring story throughout.
Seven is a special talent, who can perform in a variety of roles and his presence will be a vital form of consistency. Furthermore, the man from Wolverhampton will be just at home as a heel or a babyface or even in the grey area between the two.
Seven has also proved a capable performer in a comedy role, marking him out as a truly unique performer in the process.
Seven’s age may work against him with regards to a long-term run with WWE, but then many are hoping this tournament doesn’t lead to such things. If this is about maintaining a strong presence in the United Kingdom, Seven may well be the man to open up the brand new era. He is simply too great a talent to be discounted.
#1 Joseph Conners
12 months ago, Joseph Conners wasn’t a household name in British professional wrestling, and the Righteous Killer’s billing as a top guy in the United Kingdom tournament shows just how good a year, the man from Nottingham has had.
Of the many pro wrestlers to see their stock rise with WCPW’s arrival in 2016, the former WCPW Champion has benefited the most.
Conners’ career in WCPW went into hyperdrive with that championship win, turning heel on ‘The Local Hero’ Joe Hendry in the process. As a result of his increased exposure Conners must be considered one of the favourites for the tournament.
He already works a fairly WWE-friendly style, and when you add that to his concise character work (since his heel turn at least), you have yourself a man who will eventually be at home in NXT. It would represent a remarkable rise to fame for the 10-year veteran.
A loss in the business end of the tournament is the most likely outcome, but don’t be surprised if Conners comes out on top.
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