How WWE Were Destined To Damage British Wrestling With NXT UK
Running the numbers makes disturbing reading for the life of a talent now totally dependent on WWE's ever-changing rulebook.
In 2016, Joseph Conners wrestled 93 matches. It was the year WWE took enough notice to sign him up and make him part of their project. In the first year of the "no restrictions" deal he worked 78 times. As of writing in 2018, he's down to 58. And the drop off is getting worse. Ligero cashed his decades-old gimmick in to wear a Union Flag match for a loss when he signed with WWE in May 2018. Again of writing, he's wrestled 110 matches in 2018, down from 276 the year before.
Every date represents a payday. A wage. Ligero and Conners have mortgaged their futures on dreams of WWE superstardom, but the road to WrestleMania is apparently paved with potholes that could make it harder to pay their bills. Curt Hennig was AWA's top guy, but he wasn't 'Perfect' until WWE monetised the living sh*t out of his silky skill. Stampede Wrestling wasn't going to buy Bret Hart a Calgary mansion no matter how much he liked working for his Dad. When Jim Duggan and Ted Dibiase were poached from Bill Watts to be midcarders for Vince McMahon, he promised them opportunities and almost immediately delivered them riches. Literally, in Dibiase's case.
Pete Dunne might have had a similar experience working for Triple H so far, but he'll also be working on the company's Boxing Day Madison Square Garden show instead of spending his Christmas at home. In a deal based on "no restrictions", he may not have had to take this booking. He's making wrestling industry-style sacrifices to chase his dream, and his workrate is a credit to him, but it makes a complete nonsense of WWE's arm-around-the-shoulder veneer.
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