WWE United Kingdom Championship

WWE United Kingdom Championship

The United Kingdom Championship belt with default side plates.
Details
Promotion WWE
Brand NXT (interim)
Date established December 15, 2016
Current champion(s) Pete Dunne
Date won May 20, 2017

The WWE United Kingdom Championship is a professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE. 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 championship will ultimately be the top championship of an upcoming WWE Network show that will be produced in the United Kingdom.[1][2] However, in the interim, the title is currently being defended on WWE's developmental brand, NXT.[3] The current champion is Pete Dunne, who is in his first reign.

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).[1][2] Tyler Bate won the inaugural tournament to become the first WWE United Kingdom Champion.[4]

The title began being featured on WWE's NXT brand when Bate debuted during the January 29, 2017 tapings in San Antonio, Texas, which aired February 1.[5] 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).[6] 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.[7] 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.[8]

Inaugural tournament

The inaugural United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate, after winning the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament
First Round
January 14, 2017[9] 		Quarter-Finals
January 15, 2017[4] 		Semi-Finals
January 15, 2017[4] 		Final
January 15, 2017[4]
        
EnglandTyler Bate Pin
Northern Ireland Tucker 10:34
England Tyler Bate Pin
Republic of Ireland Jordan Devlin 6:05
England Danny Burch 8:55
Republic of Ireland Jordan Devlin Pin
England Tyler Bate Pin
Scotland Wolfgang 5:55
England Trent Seven Pin
England H.C. Dyer 5:25
England Trent Seven 6:35
Scotland Wolfgang Pin
England Tyson T-Bone 6:20
Scotland Wolfgang Pin
England Tyler Bate Pin
England Pete Dunne 15:10
Wales Mark Andrews Pin
England Dan Moloney 5:35
Wales Mark Andrews Pin
England Joseph Conners 8:10
England James Drake 7:12
England Joseph Conners Pin
Wales Mark Andrews 10:33
England Pete Dunne Pin
England Pete Dunne Pin
England Roy Johnson 7:30
England Pete Dunne Pin
England Sam Gradwell 4:50
England Saxon Huxley 6:00
England Sam Gradwell Pin

Championship belt design

The United Kingdom Championship belt's center plate is partially inspired by the United Kingdom's royal coat of arms

As with some other championship belts unveiled in 2016, the base design is similar to the WWE Championship, with notable differences.[10] 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 the lion of Llywelyn the Great and the Scottish 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 August 18, 2017, there have been two reigns. The inaugural champion was Tyler Bate, who won the inaugural tournament. Bate is also the youngest champion at 19 years old and has the longest reign at 125 days (WWE recognizes it as 126 days). The oldest champion is Pete Dunne at 23.

The current champion is Pete Dunne. He defeated Tyler Bate to win the title at NXT TakeOver: Chicago on May 20, 2017 in Rosemont, Illinois.

Reign The reign number for the specific champion listed
Location The city in which the title was won
Event The event promoted by the respective promotion in which the title was won
+ Indicates the current reign is changing daily
No. Champion Reign Date Days held Location Event Notes Ref.
1 Tyler Bate 1 January 15, 2017 125 Blackpool, England WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament Defeated Pete Dunne in the tournament final to become the inaugural champion.
WWE officially recognizes Bate's reign as lasting 126 days.		 [4]
2 Pete Dunne 1 May 20, 2017 90+ Rosemont, Illinois NXT TakeOver: Chicago [8]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ WWE officially recognizes it as 126 days.

References

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