10 Big Questions About Future Of WWE’s UK Brand
The UK Tournament was a big success, but what does it mean for British wrestling?
When Triple H first announced the WWE United Kingdom Championship back in December, he mentioned that a successful opening tournament would likely result in a new weekly show on the WWE Network. Now that the tournament is in the books, it's safe to say that not only did everything go according to plan, but the tournament exceeded everyone's expectations.
Night one was fun, but the finals were outstanding. Not a minute was wasted as WWE crowned its first UK Champion, and from Tommy End's surprise debut to Tyler Bate's coronation, the night was full of great moments. Bate and Pete Dunne emerged looking like genuine superstars, and if the tournament's buzz is echoed by strong viewing figures, that Network show is surely on the way.
This leaves the burgeoning British wrestling scene in a very interesting position. It has already been established that WWE have productive working relationships with companies like PROGRESS and ICW, and that ITV's World Of Sport revival might have prompted this sudden expansion. As great as the past few years have been for British wrestling, however, the next twelve months promise huge upheaval, starting from the moment WWE unveil their new brand.
There's an overwhelming sense of optimism around WWE's UK expansion at the moment, but there are plenty of reasons to be cautious. The only certainty is uncertainty, and until WWE reveal their future plans, their British endeavours will remain shrouded in mystery.
Here are 10 big questions about the future of WWE's UK brand.
10. Will Michael Cole Stick Around?
One of the biggest surprises of the WWE UK Championship Tournament was the commentary, specifically: how great it was. Michael Cole has been a tedious presence for years, and a man who spends more time shilling sponsors’ products and reciting catchphrases than he does calling the action on Raw. Nigel McGuinness, meanwhile, is a highly respected independent wrestling veteran, but his Ring of Honor commentary was regularly banal and unengaging.
Questions were raised when Cole and McGuinness were assigned to the UK announce booth, but they did a tremendous job. Cole came into the tournament with great knowledge of the wrestlers and their histories, and sounded reborn without Vince McMahon screaming thr08gu u9s ear-9ece. He called the action at a level he hasn’t been able to achieve in years, and beside him, Nigel was engaged, enthusiastic, and precise in his analysis.
Nigel will almost certainly be part of any future UK shows, but what about Cole? Raw duties aside, Cole keeps a busy schedule by producing every other announcer in the company, and that’s without mentioning his other PR duties. Replacing him with a lesser announcer would unquestionably diminish the product, but would WWE be willing to fly their top commentator over to the British Isles on a regular basis? That remains to be seen.