How WWE Were Destined To Damage British Wrestling With NXT UK

by Michael Hamflett
NXT UK Blackpool
WWE/Nathanemmison [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

Many have pointed to the deep talent pool as reason not to worry about WWE tightening their grip. But there's an air of negligence assuming all of these will still be able to get work the longer Triple H and Co stick around.

There are currently over 120 promotions in the United Kingdom, affording opportunities to hundreds of popular (and ticket-selling) talents that haven't decided to link arms with the McMahon empire just yet. But how long can either figure stay that high? Companies will close. More wrestlers will see WWE's offer as an easier option. Fans will accept NXT UK as the polished version of the wrestling they used to love. It's already happening. NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool sold out within minutes, despite the fact that announced main eventer Joe Coffey was one of the many stars that couldn't draw a full crowd to Liverpool's Olympia for the most recent set of television tapings.

People are buying into WWE the brand as they always do, but recent history has shown how that has intentionally replaced the old fashioned wrestling draw and strangled house show attendance as a result. And that was with WWE's domestic audience - it'll happen even quicker with the Sports Entertainment-starved UK fanbase.

That the subject matter generates debate rather than concern is Triple H's biggest victory since he booked his own win over Sting at WrestleMania 31. Within the confines of capitalism, big businesses often assume the most power and control with confusion. These latest changes have confused fans and wrestlers into arguing with each other, all whilst the go ahead unabated regardless under PR-friendly catch-all term "Global Localisation". Though they can literally label a pay-per-view as such, WWE actually can't call it a takeover because it appears ugly. In framing it as a debate, it asks people to pick sides. This steers everything away from focusing on the nuanced systemic issues buried within.

The very article you're reading has picked a side in title and tone, but your own opinion may already be entirely in opposition to this one. The freedom to voice these differing views is one we're all permitted thanks to contracts we sign with ourselves that have no restrictions. Jim Smallman, Mark Dallas and Pete Dunne may have made their dream deals. But they no longer have those.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett