WWE Contacting Asian Talent For New Tournament

The company's next big tournament is already in the works.

Nxt Japan
WWE.com

WWE's United Kingdom Title Tournament was a big success. The January event provided two nights of exciting, fast-moving action on the WWE Network, and crowned the company's first United Kingdom Champion in Tyler Bate.

While not as lengthy as last year's Cruiserweight Classic, the UK Tournament played a big role in WWE's excellent start to the year, and it looks like more are on the horizon in 2017.

This week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that WWE are now moving forward with plans for a tournament to crown the first ever WWE Asia Champion. The company have apparently contacted several Asian talents to inquire about passport details and other information, with a view to organising the tournament as soon as possible.

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In order to avoid the confusion we've seen in the UK Tournament's fallout, contacted Asian talents are being told outright that no outside bookings are allowed if signed in the USA, UK, or Japan. WWE have pulled a number of their UK talents from independent dates in recent weeks, and appear to have a firm level of control over said wrestlers.

With further global tournaments and a proposed women's competition seemingly on the agenda, WWE tournament fans are set for an exciting year.

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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.