NXT Minus 6: The Future of NXT UK

6. Now that he’s moving to RawDown, Nathan Frazer will be the biggest missed opportunity in NXT UK history. I’ve not been shy in my belief that Frazer is a generational talent. He has model good looks and moves like a Ninja Warrior. He could have been the David Beckham on NXT UK. He has more crossover appeal than anyone in the history of the brand, and now he’s gone. Thinking about this made me realize the bigger, more painful point.

5. I would be shocked if NXT UK is still a thing by the end of 2022. Look at the talent they’ve lost recently: Kay Lee Ray, WALTER, Pretty Deadly, A-Kid, Frazer. They are all top level performers who would find a home in any wrestling company in the world. And they’ve been replaced with absolutely nothing. I don’t see how that could be interpreted as anything but a death blow to the brand.

4. Maybe absolutely nothing is a bit harsh. Josh Morrell and Danny Jones are promising young talents. I’ve enjoyed watching both in ring. Jones is a big bruiser. Morrell is crazy athletic. Unless I missed it, neither has picked up their first victory. I’m sure they would both agree that neither of them is WALTER. Eliza Alexander just made her debut, so that’s a thing.

3. There is still plenty of talent on the roster. Noam Dar, Mustache Mountain, the Gallus boys, Jordan Devlin, Meiko Satomura, Kenny Williams. Other than Satomura, they’ve all been there since the beginning. No matter how good they are it starts to look stale and sad, like the restaurant that hasn’t changed its menu or decor in 40 years. I’m not saying the show needs the RawDown weekly surprise guest, but it also needs more than a cameo by Roderick Strong to keep my hopes up.

2.  Part of me wants to think I’m making a (mustache) mountain out of a molehill. WWE is bringing a major show to the UK for the first time in 30 years. Rumor has it Strong is just the first of many NXT 2.0 wrestlers on the way. I doubt they are sending any top names. Strong isn’t even the featured member of his own faction Diamond Mine. Unless this is a stopgap until they sign a major free agent, someone like Will Osprey or Zack Sabre Jr, then I fear this is just killing time until the inevitable.

1. I really hope I’m wrong. It kills me to see how they ruined the Black & Gold brand. NXT UK gives me what I want from wrestling: great personalities, interesting wrestling stories and solid in-ring action. Time will tell how much or how little the E cares about NXT UK. Right now I’m not seeing any light at the end of this tunnel. If things keep going down this road, I’ll have to trade in Peacock for TBS.