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United Kingdom Championship Tournament (2018)

The 2018 United Kingdom Championship Tournament was a two-day professional wrestling streaming event and tournament promoted by the American promotion WWE. The tournament aired exclusively on the WWE Network and featured wrestlers from the NXT UK and NXT brand divisions—the first event to officially promote NXT UK. The event was filmed on 18 and 19 June 2018 and aired on tape delay on 25 and 26 June. It was held at the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, London, England.

Day one of the event featured the second United Kingdom Championship Tournament, which was won by Zack Gibson. Day two (promoted as NXT U.K. Championship) saw Zack Gibson unsuccessfully challenge WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne. NXT's North American, Women's, and Tag Team championships were also defended on day two. NXT UK's Women's and Tag Team championships were introduced during the event.

Background

Production

On 14 and 15 January 2017, the American professional wrestling promotion WWE held its first United Kingdom Championship Tournament event. The tournament crowned the inaugural holder of the WWE United Kingdom Championship, which was won by Tyler Bate.[1] A follow-up to the event called the United Kingdom Championship Special aired on May 19.[2][3] On 7 April 2018, a second United Kingdom Championship Tournament event was scheduled for 18 and 19 June at the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, London, England and to air on 25 and 26 June exclusively on the WWE Network.[4][5][6][7] In addition to featuring wrestlers from WWE's new NXT UK brand, the tournament also featured wrestlers from the American-based NXT.[8][9]

On 25 May 2018, Shawn Michaels and Triple H were scheduled to make appearances at the event.[10][11] On 7 June, Johnny Saint was announced as the General Manager of WWE's United Kingdom-based brand, officially named NXT UK.[12] A United Kingdom Championship Tournament: Bracketology special aired on the WWE Network later that day, with appearances from all 16 tournament competitors.[13]

Storylines

The card included matches that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches, with results predetermined by WWE's writers.[14][15] Storylines were produced on the NXT television program.

On 28 April 2018, it was announced that British Strong Style (Pete Dunne, Trent Seven and Tyler Bate) would face The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong) in a six-man tag team match on the June 18 event.[10]

On 14 May, WWE revealed details about the second United Kingdom Championship tournament, scheduling the first round matches for the 2018 Download Festival from 8–10 June and succeeding rounds for the United Kingdom Championship Tournament event on 18 June.[16][17] The winner of the tournament will receive a United Kingdom Championship match with Pete Dunne on the following day.[16][17] On 16 May, the first 8 competitors of the 16 man tournament were officially announced on WWE.com. The first 8 revealed were Zack Gibson, Joe Coffey, Gentleman Jack Gallagher, Dave Mastiff, Kenny Williams, Ligero, Joseph Conners and Amir Jordan.[18] On 18 May, the remaining 8 competitors were announced.[19]

On 23 May, it was announced that Aleister Black and Ricochet would face EC3 and Velveteen Dream in a tag team match on the 19 June event.[20]

On 25 May, a fatal four-way match between Isla Dawn, Jinny, Killer Kelly and Toni Storm was announced for the 18 June event.[10] The winner of the match will receive a NXT Women's Championship match with Shayna Baszler on the following day.[21]

On 18 June, it was announced that Adam Cole would defend his NXT North American Championship against Wolfgang the following day.[22]

On 18 June, it was announced that The Undisputed Era (Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong) would defend their NXT Tag Team Championship against Moustache Mountain (Tyler Bate and Trent Seven) the following day.[21]

Participants

Tournament bracket

Results

United Kingdom Championship Tournament (18 June)

NXT U.K. Championship (19 June)

Broadcast team

Aftermath

On 18 June at day one of the event, it was revealed that WWE's United Kingdom brand would be debuting its first television programme, called NXT UK.[55] The inaugural tapings of NXT UK occurred on 28 and 29 July at the Cambridge Corn Exchange.[55]

See also

  • Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom

External links

References

  1. Andrew Soucek. SOUCEK'S WWE UK CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT REPORT 1/14: Ongoing coverage of night one of UK Championship tournament Pro Wrestling Torch, retrieved 14 January 2017^
  2. 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^
  3. Jim Ross and Nigel McGuinness to commentate on WWE UK Championship show from Norwich Metro, 2017-01-15, retrieved 2017-05-20^
  4. Sean Rueter. Triple H reveals WWE's UK Championship Tournament returns in June Cageside Seats, April 7, 2018, retrieved April 28, 2018^
  5. WWE.com Staff. WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament at Royal Albert Hall WWE.com, retrieved April 14, 2018^
  6. Tickets for the WWE U.K. Championship Tournament at Royal Albert Hall are available now WWE, April 13, 2018, retrieved April 28, 2018^
  7. Paul Jordon. WWE RELEASES OFFICIAL DETAILS ON WWE UK CHAMPIONSHIP BROADCASTS PWInsider, June 5, 2018, retrieved June 7, 2018^
  8. U.K. Championship Tournament, Mae Young Classic 2 and more announced for WWE Network! WWE on YouTube, Apr 19, 2018, retrieved Apr 28, 2018^
  9. Scott Felstead. Triple H reveals what wrestling fans can expect at WWE UK Championship Tournament this summer Daily Mirror, April 8, 2018, retrieved April 28, 2018^
  10. MON 18 JUNE 2018: WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament Live Nation Entertainment, retrieved April 28, 2018^
  11. WWE.com Staff. Shawn Michaels returns to London's Royal Albert Hall on June 18 WWE, May 25, 2018, retrieved May 25, 2018^
  12. Johnny Saint named GM of WWE's United Kingdom brand WWE, retrieved 2018-06-07^
  13. 2018 United Kingdom Championship Tournament bracket WWE, retrieved 30 May 2018^
  14. Ed Grabianowski. How Pro Wrestling Works HowStuffWorks, Discovery Communications, 13 January 2006, retrieved March 5, 2012^
  15. Live & Televised Entertainment WWE, retrieved March 21, 2012^
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  17. Andrew Thompson. Opening Round Of The WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament To Kick-Start At The 'Download Festival' Fightful, May 14, 2018, retrieved May 14, 2018^
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  19. WWE U.K. Championship Tournament roster reveal - Part 2 WWE on YouTube, May 18, 2018, retrieved May 18, 2018^
  20. WWE UK on Twitter Twitter, 2018-05-23, retrieved 2018-05-23^
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  41. Jason Powell. 6/25 WWE UK Championship Tournament 2018 Day One live review: A tournament for a shot at the WWE UK Championship, Undisputed Era vs. Pete Dunne, Trent Seven, and Tyler Bate, Triple Threat for a shot at the NXT Women's Championship Pro Wrestling Dot Net, June 25, 2018, retrieved June 26, 2018^
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  46. Travis Banks def. Ashton Smith in a Quarterfinal Match WWE, June 25, 2018, retrieved June 26, 2018^
  47. This match was originally a fatal four-way match also involving Jinny, but she was injured in the match and subsequently the match was made into a triple threat match.^
  48. Toni Storm def. Killer Kelly and Isla Dawn in a Triple Threat Match to earn an NXT Women's Title Match against Shayna Baszler on Night Two WWE, June 25, 2018, retrieved June 26, 2018^
  49. Zack Gibson def. Flash Morgan Webster in the Semifinal Match WWE, June 25, 2018, retrieved June 26, 2018^
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  52. Zack Gibson def. Travis Banks in the 2018 WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament Final WWE, June 25, 2018, retrieved June 26, 2018^
  53. WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament 2018 - Tag 2 cagematch.net, June 19, 2018, retrieved June 19, 2018^
  54. James Erskine. LIVE, ONGOING WWE UK CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT NIGHT TWO SPOILERS FROM LONDON PWInsider, June 19, 2018, retrieved June 19, 2018^
  55. WWE launches new U.K. series WWE, June 18, 2018, retrieved June 19, 2018^