Opinion

NXT UK Is Not The End Of The UK Indy Scene

Published

4 years ago

October 21, 2018

Scott Mcleod

Ever since the announcement of a WWE UK brand and the relationship WWE had with certain UK promotions people have been crying it as the end of the UK Indy scene.

I don’t think this is the case and I’ll tell you why.

On Wednesday night after months of waiting for it NXT UK has finally aired on the network. A good first episode caped off with Pete Dunne retaining his UK Championship over Noam Dar.

While it seems clear that NXT UK is a knee jerk reaction to the relaunch of World of Sport both are great for a lot of the wrestlers. WOS being on terrestrial TV and NXT UK being on the Network it gives a lot of talent an opportunity to be seen by a whole new audience.

About every home in the UK get ITV so could possibly see WOS and casual fans who have persuaded to get the network may stumble across NXT UK. Also American fans who are very into Indy wrestling but don’t watch a lot of UK wrestling can go on the network and get a good insight to how good British wrestling is.

The wrestlers involved are still able to work indies in between which helps those indies in turn gain some new eyes. They can put NXT superstar next to a NXT UK Guys name to draw in the casual fans.

While there has been criticism that they’re only doing indies WWE approve of they’re still working the main UK promotions like Progress and ICW. These are the promotions responsible for the recent boom so I think it stands to reason that these are the companies WWE would look to for the best in the UK. It’s almost recognition to these promotions for helping build the scene.

There was a story that WWE UK guys weren’t allowed to work Indy shows if it’s within a certain amount of time before one of their WWE dates that caused to outrage. While that might suck if it causes them to miss a date it just seems like WWE protecting their investment and preventing these stars from being injured.

Missing one show is better than getting injured and missing out on your opportunity to work with biggest wrestling promotion in the world and depending on the injury miss out on more indy dates than you would have originally.

If anything, the fact that NXT UK and WOS are fighting over talent is a compliment to how big the UK scene has gotten in the last few years. Not even WWE who have notorious for pretending no other promotions exist can ignore how big it’s gotten.

This is part of WWE’s global expansion which if it’s anything like this looks to hearkens back to the old territory system of the 60’s and 70’s. Something you know has to be a Triple H idea because he loves old school wrestling.

If Triple H is behind it which all the evidence is pointing to gives me more faith in it as we’ve seen what he’s done with NXT.

In the end I think the fans are going to be the real winners. With NXT UK and World Of Sport competing against each other could almost be the UK’s version of WWE’s war with WCW. Not exactly because they’re not on at the exact same time but you get my point.

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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Opinion

King’s WrestleMania Rewind: Stone Cold VS. Scott Hall (WrestleMania X8)

Chris King is back with another WrestleMania Rewind, looking at the NWO’s Scott Hall battling Stone Cold Steve Austin at WWE WrestleMania X8 from Toronto!

Published

1 week ago

March 14, 2023

Chris King

Chris King is back with another WrestleMania Rewind, looking at the NWO’s Scott Hall battling Stone Cold Steve Austin at WWE WrestleMania X8 from Toronto!

Chris King is back this week with another edition of WrestleMania Rewind, where he is rewatching all the past Mania matches and feuds. This week you’re in for a treat as we look back at ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin vs. Scott Hall at WrestleMania X8.

In late 2001, Vince McMahon bought out his competition WCW and acquired the rights to a plethora of talent including Booker T, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, and the iconic trio known as NWO. Hulk Hogan; Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall were hell raisers, and what better way to make a name for yourself than take out the two top superstars in the WWE The Rock, and Stone Cold?

The NWO cost Austin his chance at becoming the Undisputed Champion at No Way Out during his match with Chris Jericho. Adding insult to injury, the NWO spray-painted ‘The Texas Rattlesnake’ with their brand logo just like they did in WCW. As you can imagine, Austin was pissed and out for revenge against the group and primarily Scott Hall.

Hall would challenge Stone Cold to a match at WrestleMania 18. Both superstars beat the living hell out of each other leading up to this highly-anticipated match for who runs the WWE.

The glass broke and Stone Cold made his iconic entrance, and black and white NWO covered Halls’ entrance alongside Kevin Nash. With the odds stacked against ‘The Toughest S.O.B’ could Austin or NWO prove their dominance? Sadly the NWO broke up that very night when Hulk Hogan came to the aid of his adversary The Rock after their ‘iconic’ dream match. Stone Cold would ensure the victory with the Stunner. Hall would perform an Oscar-worthy sell over the finisher.

What a time to be a wrestling fan in the 2000s when nothing was impossible for WWE. Who would’ve thought WCW would go out of business and Hogan would make his long-awaited return to WWE?

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Opinion

King’s WrestleMania Rewind: Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens (WWE WrestleMania 36)

Chris King takes a look at the most underrated WWE WrestleMania matches, and starts off with Seth Rollins battling Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 36!

Published

2 weeks ago

March 8, 2023

Chris King

WWE WrestleMania 36 Kevin Owens Seth Rollins

Chris King takes a look at the most underrated WWE WrestleMania matches, and starts off with Seth Rollins battling Kevin Owens in the WWE Performance Center at WrestleMania 36!

Chris King is starting a new series heading into WrestleMania season dubbed WrestleMania Rewind. Each week he’ll be going back and sharing his insight over underrated matches at the Show of Shows. First up, is Kevin Owens vs. “The Monday Night Messiah” Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 36.

At the 2019 edition of Survivor Series, Rollins sacrificed himself during the men’s traditional match allowing SmackDown to ultimately gain the victory. The following night the self-proclaimed Messiah, berated the whole roster but KO was not having any part of it. Owens quickly became a huge barrier in Rollins’ cause for the greater good. The Authors of Pain attacked Owens with Rollins’ character in question.

Owens finally had enough of his rival’s mind games and torment and challenged Rollins to a match on the Grandest Stage Of Them All. Rollins mockingly accepted his challenge and the match was made official for night one of WrestleMania. Owens came out of the gate beating the holy hell out of the Monday Night Messiah trying to achieve his long-awaited moment at Mania but, Rollins tried to steal a disqualification victory by using the ring bell.

Owens hellbent on revenge provoked Rollins into turning their encounter into a no-disqualification contest where the fight could be taken all over the empty arena. The highlight of the match, was when KO used the WrestleMania sign to deliver a thunderous senton bomb through the announce table. Owens would secure the victory with a Stunner in an incredible match. Despite having no crowd during the pandemic era, both KO and Rollins put on an intense performance under the brightest lights.

In my personal opinion, this was a great feud that helped both superstars in their transformation as compelling characters for years to come.