7 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE UK Championship Tournament (Night 1)

3. Pure Intensity

James Drake Joseph Conners
WWE.com

Commentator Nigel McGuinness chose former WCPW Champion Joseph Conners as his pick to win the tournament early in the evening, and his confidence was entirely justified. The (former?) Righteous Killer navigated his first round match with James Drake with trademark intensity and ruthlessness, putting him away with the newly-renamed Don't Look Down, and moving onto the next round.

Drake was fighting in his hometown, but could never find his groove against Conners, particularly when Joseph started amplifying the intensity. Conners switched gears after a back-and-forth opening spell, summoning the characteristic fervency that fans have come to know him for, and using it to put Drake away.

Former TNA wrestler and PROGRESS Champion Mark Andrews awaits Conners in the next round. This will be a stern task in itself, and even if Conners is successful, he's likely going to have to get through Pete Dunne to make to the finals. It's an incredibly tough pathway, but if anyone can pull it off, it's Conners. You won't find a more driven competitor in the country, and it'd take a brave man to root against him.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.