The WWE United Kingdom Championship is a professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE for their United Kingdom division. Unveiled on December 15, 2016, it was first awarded to Tyler Bate, who won the inaugural WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament on January 15, 2017. The current champion is Pete Dunne, who is in his first reign and is the longest reigning champion.
The championship will ultimately be the top championship of an upcoming WWE Network show that will be produced in the United Kingdom. However, in the interim, the title is currently being defended on WWE's developmental brand, NXT, as well as at shows produced by independent wrestling promotions in the United Kingdom. It is the only active WWE championship to be defended outside of WWE, and the first since the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship, which was defended in multiple promotions from its 1981 creation until becoming WWF-exclusive in 1997.
Video WWE United Kingdom Championship
History
In a press conference at The O2 Arena on December 15, 2016, Triple H revealed that there would be a 16-man tournament to crown the inaugural WWE United Kingdom Champion. The tournament was held over a two-day period, January 14 and 15, 2017, and aired exclusively on the WWE Network. The championship is intended to be the top championship of a new WWE Network show, produced in the United Kingdom (the show and its premiere date have yet to be revealed by the WWE). Tyler Bate won the inaugural tournament to become the first WWE United Kingdom Champion.
The title began being featured on WWE's NXT brand when Bate debuted during the January 28, 2017, tapings of NXT in San Antonio, Texas, which aired February 1. During the February 1 tapings at the brand's home base of Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, the title's very first defense took place, where Bate defeated Trent Seven (aired February 15). The title was defended for the first time outside of WWE when Bate retained the title against Mark Andrews on a show for the London-based promotion, Progress Wrestling; the show took place in Orlando, Florida on March 31 as part of WrestleMania Axxess. The first title change, as well as first defense to air live, took place on May 20, 2017, at NXT TakeOver: Chicago, where Pete Dunne defeated Bate to become champion.
Inaugural tournament
Maps WWE United Kingdom Championship
Championship belt design
As with some other championship belts unveiled in 2016, the base design is similar to the WWE Championship, with notable differences. Instead of a large cut out of the WWE logo, the center plate is modeled after the United Kingdom's royal coat of arms, featuring a lion and a unicorn on either side of the arms, while the center of the shield has been replaced with the WWE logo; atop the shield are the crown jewels. The banner atop the arms reads "United Kingdom" while the banner below reads "Champion". Like the WWE Championship belt and other belts introduced in 2016, the United Kingdom Championship belt features two side plates, both separated by gold divider bars, with removable round sections that can be replaced with the current champion's logo; the default plates feature the WWE logo on the globe. The plates are on a black leather strap.
Reigns
As of January 17, 2018, there have been two reigns. The inaugural champion was Tyler Bate, who won the inaugural tournament. Bate is also the youngest champion, winning the title at 19 years old, while the oldest champion is Pete Dunne, winning the title at 23. Dunne has the longest reign at 242+ days, while Bate has the shortest at 125 days (126 days as recognized by WWE).
The current champion is Pete Dunne. He defeated Tyler Bate at NXT TakeOver: Chicago on May 20, 2017.
See also
- WWE European Championship
- Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom
- List of current champions in WWE
Notes
References
External links
- Official WWE United Kingdom Championship Title History
- WWE United Kingdom Championship on Facebook
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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