Bea Priestley Joins NXT UK Roster After Signing With WWE

Out with "Bea Priestley", in with "Blair Davenport"...

Blair Davenport
WWE

As expected, Bea Priestley was behind the Blair Davenport vignette that aired on last week's episode of NXT UK.

Priestley was unveiled as Davenport on last night's show. Revealing her face for the first time, having visually signed her NXT UK contract last week, the WWE newcomer cut a brief promo on sacrificing everything to get to WWE and ending up as part of what she called "the greatest women's division on earth."

The 25-year-old's WWE signing was considered effectively a done deal as far back as April, when she wrestled her last match for her old promotion, STARDOM, losing to 2021 standout Utami Hayashishita.

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As Bea Priestley, the English-New Zealand wrestler first built her reputation on the British indie scene in the mid-2010s, working for such promotions as WCPW/Defiant and PROGRESS. She transitioned to her first major Japanese tour in October 2017 and became a STARDOM regular thereafter, holding the promotion's World of STARDOM and Goddesses of STARDOM belts during her tenure, playing a prominent role throughout.

2019 and 2020 saw the former Priestley work a handful of dates for AEW, though she was released in August 2020 as a result of being unable to travel to shows during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

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.