NXT UK TakeOver explained

NXT UK TakeOver
Promotions:WWE
Brands:NXT UK
Firstevent:Blackpool (January 2019)
Lastevent:Blackpool II (January 2020)

NXT UK TakeOver was a series of periodic professional wrestling events produced by the American promotion WWE, exclusively for its former United Kingdom-based brand, NXT UK. Established in 2019, the UK TakeOver events served as the brand's counterpart to the main NXT brand's TakeOver shows, and were livestreamed exclusively on the WWE Network.

Only three NXT UK TakeOver events were produced: Blackpool and Cardiff in January and August 2019, respectively, and Blackpool II in January 2020. A fourth, Dublin, was planned for April 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic that began in March, it was ultimately canceled and no further UK TakeOvers were scheduled. In late 2021, the main NXT's TakeOver series was discontinued after NXT went through a restructuring. The NXT UK brand was then dissolved in September 2022 for an eventual relaunch as NXT Europe.

History

In December 2016, the American professional wrestling promotion WWE announced plans for a United Kingdom-based brand.[1] The first live specials held in the country were then the United Kingdom Championship Tournament and United Kingdom Championship Special in 2017,[2] [3] followed by a second United Kingdom Championship Tournament in 2018.[4] These events aired exclusively on the WWE Network. Soon after the establishment of the NXT UK brand in June 2018 followed by its own television program in October, the brand began livestreaming its own "TakeOver" events on the WWE Network—TakeOver was the name for the main NXT's periodic live specials. The first NXT UK TakeOver was Blackpool in January 2019.[5] It was followed by Cardiff in August[6] and then Blackpool II in January 2020.

Only one NXT UK TakeOver event had to be cancelled. Dublin was originally set to air live from the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland on 26 April 2020 and would have been the first TakeOver held outside the United Kingdom. The event was initially rescheduled to 25 October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which began affecting all of WWE's programming in mid-March that year. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, the event was once again rescheduled, this time to 20 June 2021. On 30 April, however, WWE confirmed that the event had been cancelled.[7]

No further NXT UK TakeOver events were scheduled following the cancellation of Dublin. The main NXT's TakeOver series was also discontinued in late 2021.[8] NXT UK was then dissolved in September 2022 for an eventual relaunch as NXT Europe.[9] [10]

Events

EventDateVenueLocationMain eventRef.
1BlackpoolEmpress BallroomBlackpool, Lancashire, EnglandPete Dunne (c) vs. Joe Coffey for the WWE United Kingdom Championship[11]
2CardiffMotorpoint Arena CardiffCardiff, South Glamorgan, WalesWalter (c) vs. Tyler Bate for the WWE United Kingdom Championship[12]
3Blackpool IIEmpress BallroomBlackpool, Lancashire, EnglandWalter (c) vs. Joe Coffey for the WWE United Kingdom Championship[13]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WWE announces new UK-based brand, holding tournament to crown UK Champion, Nigel McGuinness on announce team. Keller. Wade. Wade Keller. December 15, 2016. December 15, 2016. PWTorch.
  2. Web site: UPDATED: WWE UK Championship Special to air on WWE Network on Friday with legend Jim Ross on commentary. Daily Mirror. The 90-minute show, starring the company's top UK and 205 Live cruiserweight talent, will feature action from tapings in Norwich on May 6 and 7. May 15, 2017. May 20, 2017.
  3. Web site: WWE United Kingdom Championship Special premiere today. WWE. May 19, 2017. May 20, 2016.
  4. Web site: Triple H reveals WWE's UK Championship Tournament returns in June. Sean Rueter. Cageside Seats. April 7, 2018. April 28, 2018.
  5. Web site: Rodger . James . What time does NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool start? Full card, how to watch and the Midlands stars set to compete . Birmingham Mail . August 27, 2019 . January 11, 2019.
  6. Web site: NXT UK TakeOver. MotorpointArenaCardiff.co.uk. June 8, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190608203857/https://motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk/whats-on/nxt-uk-takeover. June 8, 2019. dead.
  7. Web site: Lambert. Jeremy. NXT UK TakeOver: Dublin Officially Canceled By WWE. Fightful. April 30, 2021. May 1, 2021.
  8. Web site: Thomas . Jeremy . UPDATED: NXT WarGames Set For December, Takeover Name Removed . 411mania . November 15, 2021 . November 9, 2021.
  9. Web site: WWE to launch NXT Europe in 2023, NXT UK to make impact at upcoming event. August 18, 2022. Gaydos. Ryan. Fox News. August 18, 2022.
  10. Web site: WWE Still Planning For NXT Europe. August 22, 2023. Kilbane. Lyle. TJR Wrestling. September 19, 2023.
  11. Web site: Powell. Jason. 1/12 Powell's NXT UK Takeover: Blackpool live review – Rhea Ripley vs. Tony Storm for the NXT UK Women's Championship, Pete Dunne vs. Joe Coffey for the WWE UK Championship, Trent Seven and Tyler Bate vs. Zack Gibson and James Drake to become the first NXT UK Tag Champions. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. 12 January 2019 . January 12, 2019.
  12. Web site: NXT UK TAKEOVER ANNOUNCED, AEW STAR RINGSIDE AT TAKEOVER: XXV. PWInsider. Johnson. Mike. June 1, 2019. June 1, 2019.
  13. Web site: NXT UK set to return to The Empress Ballroom for TakeOver: Blackpool II on Sunday, Jan. 12.. WWE. November 16, 2019. November 17, 2019.