10 Huge Stories That Changed Wrestling In 2016
1. The WWE United Kingdom Title
Wrestling’s last big story of 2016 came just last week, with the announcement of the WWE UK Title. Triple H, William Regal, and Finn Balor headed a huge company press conference in London on December 15th, delivering the news that WWE would crown their first United Kingdom Champion in January, with a 16-competitor tournament taking place at Blackpool’s Empress Ballroom.
The likes of WCPW regulars Joseph Conners, Trent Seven, and Pete Dunne will join an esteemed group that also includes current ICW Champion Wolfgang and many others. They’ll fight for the right to not only become the first ever UK Champion, but lead WWE’s on its latest wave of expansion, and continue the theme of product diversification established with the Cruiserweight Classic.
The implications are huge. If all goes well, WWE plan on adding a weekly UK-based show to their Network schedule, which means increased opportunities for exposure and renown for the country’s biggest and brightest. It remains to be scene what kind of impact (positive or negative) this will have on the burgeoning UK indie scene, but if a sizeable chunk of the tournament’s competitors are eventually signed to WWE deals, it promises to change the complexion of British wrestling forever.