NXT UK: The Post-TakeOver Landscape - 12th September 2019

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by Colt Barnett

NXT UK has come a long way in the past 11 months. Starting 2 years ago with the crowning of Tyler Bate at the first UK tournament in 2017, the Red and Black brand has established itself as another great platform provided by HHH and the Mcmahons to highlight the incredibly dense pool of hot talent.

Following two TAKEOVER events and 11 months of weekly programming, the show has cemented its place as a must-see program in an almost overfilled and saturated market.

The brands current Champions are:

WALTER - WWE United Kingdom Championship (107 Days)*
Kay Lee Ray - NXT UK Women's Championship (12 days)*
Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews - NXT UK Tag Championship (12 days)*

The singles division has all been the focus of the rise of WALTER and Imperium

WALTER

Undefeated since his debut match back in February the Austrian behemoth has been tearing opponents in half and chopping divots into human flesh. Reforming his wXw stable Ringkeimpf in May with former member Marcel Barthel and Barthel's tag partner, the upstart Fabian Aichner. The now Imperium were crucial in WALTER's capture of the UK Championship (159+ days)* from the multi-year reigning predecessor Pete Dunne.
This was followed by a feud with the former champion's stable British Strong Style. Consisting mainly of a UK Title rematch and a following 6 man tag match which resulted in a victory for Imperium, whilst also revealing the 4th member, old ally Alexandre Wolfe, formerly of SANITY.

WALTER and his stable are now set on cementing their grasp of power as the heads of the NXT UK beast.

The Tag Division

The brands Tag Division has a new face, following the toppling of inaugural champs, James Drake and 2018 UK tournament winner Zack Gibson, Grizzled Young Veterans.

GYV have defended the belt against the likes of Gallus, Moustache Mountain and The Hunt since winning the belts back at Takeover: Blackpool in January. Scathing promo after scathing promo by Gibson, the team found themselves in a triple-threat barnburner at Takeover: Cardiff against Gallus and the hometown heroes Webster and Andrews.
The Welshmen took the gold in spectacular fashion and this week defeated the former champs GYV on NXT UK TV.

The Women's Division

The Women's championship has had the exact same amount of title holders as the UK Championship within a single year.

Transferring from inaugural champion Rhea Ripley to fellow countrywoman Toni Storm in January, the Queensland native put on tough and evenly matched defenses against the likes of Nina Samuels, Jinny and even Piper Niven over in ICW.

Storm was then confronted by the debut of old friend turned new rival Kay Lee Ray. Kay Lee Ray would spend weeks toying with the championship which resulted in KLR taking the gold for herself at Cardiff.

Singles Possibilities

No one has yet to step to WALTER after his title defense. Here is a list of possible contenders:

CESARO - Following a surprise appearance at Takeover Cardiff, the Swiss Superman won a hard-fought open challenge against Ilja Dragunov.
Great to see the former RAW tag champ doing something since the disappearance of Bar partner Sheamus.

JORDAN DEVLIN - Despite the Irish Ace's recent failure at a UK Title #1 Contender chance and sequential loss against Alexander Wolfe, Devlin has won his past 2 matches, each with a hint of a lust of gold. An angry man wanting nothing but his goal, Devlin still poses a threat to other future contenders.

DAVE MASTIFF - From toppling Eddie Dennis at Blackpool in January to running through Gallus leader Joe Coffey at Cardiff. The Bomber has maintained heavy momentum and cemented himself as NXT UK's resident Big Guy.

KASSIUS OHNO - NXTs resident Knockout Artist, Kassius Ohno jumped across the Atlantic this year. Preaching his belief of being the BEST BRITISH WRESTLER, he has managed to win 3 out of the 4 most recent singles matches whilst on the brand.
Perhaps Ohno and his clash with the management of NXT UK could prove fruitful and get a match with WALTER.

Womens Possibilities

TONI STORM - Despite not being seen since her loss to Kay Lee Ray, one would assume a rubber match will be on the cards not too far down the road.

TEGAN NOX - The Girl with the Shiniest Wizard is back! Returning this week on NXT UK after suffering a severe leg injury in her Round 1 victory at the Mae Young Classic last year. Winning her return match in swift fashion. Her celebration was ruined by the new Womens' Champion.

JAZZY GABBERT - Debuting in August, the German would be seen as the new hired muscle for the conniving fashionista Jinny. Undefeated in all matches except a Battle Royale, Jazzy is a behemoth of a possible contender.

Tag Team Possibilities

The tag team division has recently been shaken up, the new team of Webster & Andrews successfully defending their belts in a rematch against GYV on NXT TV.* Due to this the list of potential contenders are all speculation, no team is yet to step up

IMPERIUM (AICHNER & BARTHEL) - With Imperium having a stranglehold of NXT UK, this European Union have all the reason in the world to turn their heads to a different objective, GOLD! The duo have had strong success in both UK and back over in the US (including a stellar match in Round 1 of the Dusty Classic against Ricochet and Aleister Black)

THE HUNT - Native UK wildmen Primate and Wild Boar are the only tag team on the UK roster that haven't had a shot at the title. Despite only winning 2 matches since forming, they have a chance to be granted a title match… which would most likely end up in a loss.

NXT UK is without a doubt the hottest thing the WWE is offering currently. Its stars shooting from European staples such as PROGRESS, OTT, ICW and wXw. The platform provided by the WWE has elevated some of the United Kingdom and Europe's hottest talent to even bigger stardom.

NXT UK is released weekly 5 hrs before NXT would air. NXT US has started to plateau in momentum, and getting stale to some fans. UK is a balls to the wall hour of pure wrestling. A stacked roster as you know but also possessing a great undercard.

NXT UK is an incredible program and I wish nothing but success for it.

Triple H