WWE Announces First-Ever UK Title Tournament, Nigel McGuinness' Role

[Dale]

WWE just made the following two announcements in the UK:


WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament comes to WWE Network in January

LONDON — At an historic press conference at the O2 Arena in London, Triple H revealed that WWE’s first-ever United Kingdom Champion will be crowned this January.

The WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament is a 16-competitor, two-day throwdown at Blackpool’s Empress Ballroom, airing live and exclusively on the award-winning WWE Network, featuring some of the best talent the U.K. has to offer. The last man standing at the end of the tournament will be crowned champion and awarded a title, which was also revealed at the conference.

Joining Triple H in London were former WWE Universal Champion Finn Bálor, General Manager of NXT William Regal and British wrestling icon Nigel McGuinness, who will be calling the tournament action on WWE Network alongside the voice of Monday Night Raw, Michael Cole. The WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament competitors also took the stage.

Tickets for this historic two-day event at the Empress Ballroom will be available starting today at 12 p.m. GMT at livenation.co.uk.

Stick with WWE.com for more news on this incredible tournament as it becomes available, and don’t miss the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament, January 14 & 15, live and exclusively on WWE Network!

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Nigel McGuinness announced as WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament co-host

LONDON — Plenty of big news came out of today’s press conference at the O2 Arena in London, with one of the most exciting reveals being that famed British grappler Nigel McGuinness will serve as co-host for the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament, live and exclusively on the award-winning WWE Network this January.

Widely considered to be one of the greatest competitors to never have a major run in WWE, McGuinness was a contemporary of Superstars like Daniel Bryan, Cesaro and Samoa Joe, and shared the same global path through the wrestling world as those men. A swaggering London native with peroxide hair and a Johnny Rotten attitude, McGuinness entered the ring to a blistering Oasis anthem and attacked his opponents with the recklessness of a soccer hooligan after a losing game. His series of bouts against Bryan in the mid-2000s were so unrelentingly physical that you watch them and wonder why the cops didn’t intervene mid-match.

Injuries brought an early end to McGuinness’ career, but his influence is present in WWE today, whether you knew it or not. Seth Rollins cites him as a key opponent in his evolution as a ring performer, and the wild rebound lariat Dean Ambrose throws with abandon on SmackDown LIVE is done in tribute to the great McGuinness.

Outside of his in-ring physicality, McGuinness also possessed great intelligence and ring acumen, which he used to his benefit in retirement as he transitioned to the announce booth. He’ll bring those skills to the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament on January 14 & 15, 2017, live on WWE Network, and the WWE Universe will finally be introduced to one of England’s — and sports-entertainment’s — greats.

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Stunning looking title. By all accounts this was thrown together rather quickly because of ITV signing up a bunch of UK wrestlers for World of Sport Wrestling...

 

[Sabretooth]

Well at least the title looks good. WWE really moving forward with this new era.

 

[Deezy]

I wouldn't sweat that world of Sport show since its only major draw is Jim Ross commentating, that wouldn't keep an audience going.

But if it's more wrestling and more importantly, different wrestling......that's cool I guess.

Not gonna pretend like I have to watch and treat it like a burden.

 

[Dale]

I wouldn't sweat that world of Sport show since its only major draw is Jim Ross commentating, that wouldn't keep an audience going.

But if it's more wrestling and more importantly, different wrestling......that's cool I guess.

Not gonna pretend like I have to watch and treat it like a burden.

Especially considering it's just a one off show but by all accounts they're wanting to do some sort of season afterwards which is why they're trying to sign up UK guys and thus in turn WWE are trying to sign them too to counter them for whatever reason.

 

[Deezy]

 

[Crippler]

Lets hope we get a mania out of this at least, who am i kidding. Only positive is Nigel finally getting on the WWE payroll well deserved

 

[Dale]

So I just watched the announcement on wwe.com and HHH said that the plan in the long term was to use this tournament as a launching pad for a weekly show that would be produced from the UK.

Not sure that I like the sound of that though in all honesty

 

[Deezy]

UK version of superstars loom.

 

[Sabretooth]

Seems like they're trying too hard

 

[Kross Rhodes]

WWE is trying to monopolize the business on a worldwide level.

 

[Andrew]

I'm a huge fan of this tournament. Great list announced. Scary that majority are under 25 with Tyler Bate being the youngest at the age of 19.

There's plenty to keep an eye out for, James Drake for one. Pete Dunne (If you have no idea who he is or Trent Seven.. I suggest you watch PROGRESS).

Also, that belt is amazing.

 

[Dale]

Guaranteed garbage list then if endorsed by Andrew. Skip this show.

 

[Andrew]

Guaranteed garbage list then if endorsed by Andrew. Skip this show.

You wouldn't have a clue about wrestling to begin with.

 

[Dale]

You wouldn't have a clue about wrestling to begin with.

Totally. Sorry I don't give a shit about dime a dozen indy nobodys.

 

[Crippler]

tbf i live in the UK and have never heard of any of those uk geeks