Huge news broke on Aug. 18 that is explaining the direction for NXT UK. The report was first made by Ryan Gaydos of Fox News and shared by WWE’s official Public Relations Twitter account.
The official announcement regarding the launch of NXT Europe in 2023 is as follows –
STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– WWE® (NYSE: WWE) today announced that the NXT brand will grow internationally with the creation of an all-new NXT Europe, with the launch planned for 2023.
“Following the success of our live events and talent identification efforts throughout all of Europe, we believe this is the perfect time to expand NXT beyond the UK,” said Shawn Michaels, WWE Vice President of Talent Development Creative.
Launched in 2016, NXT UK has received critical acclaim and developed WWE main roster talent such as Rhea Ripley, Doudrop, Gunther and Butch. NXT Europe will reimagine the brand and its talent pipeline with a Pan European focus.
Prior to the debut of NXT Europe, Worlds Collide, a premium live event featuring NXT and NXT UK Superstars, will be presented live on Sunday, September 4 at 4 p.m. ET on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else.
Further news in regards to the change was added to the Fox News article –
Shawn Michaels, the vice president of talent development creative for WWE who oversees some creative aspects of the NXT brand, told Fox News Digital he was “pretty excited” about NXT Europe.
“Given the success of NXT UK, we felt like it was time to expand beyond that,” Michaels said.
The planned launch of NXT Europe means NXT UK will go on a “brief hiatus,” Michaels said, adding the final NXT UK event will be at Worlds Collide. Michaels said the company will work with the staff and talent to launch NXT Europe “bigger and better.”
There are currently 22 male wrestlers, 12 female wrestlers, and at least two on-air personalities on the NXT UK roster. Michaels divulged what will happen to the crop of talent.
“So some of it, like everything with the WWE and NXT, that pipeline is always fluid. It’s going to be one of those situations where we’re going to have a lot of representation going into Worlds Collide,” Michaels told Fox News Digital.
“It’s what NXT has always been and that is to be a pipeline for the WWE in support of RAW and SmackDown. That process is going to continue. We’re going to use the UK talent that we can to go into Worlds Collide and keep that representation out there for as long as we can. And as we move things over here in the process, we’ll make all those decisions in 2023 about who’s a part of NXT Europe and who continues to stay here in NXT in hopes of getting a main roster call up.”
With this expansion and rebranding, Michaels has also mentioned that he was to have shows in Italy, France, and Germany.
NXT 2.0 and NXT UK have seen crossovers happening throughout the past several months. Talent from NXT 2.0 such as Lash Legend, Fallon Henley, Ivy Nile, Thea Hail, and Sarray have all stepped into the NXT UK ring for the first time recently. NXT UK talent Blair Davenport made a shocking debut and confronted Indi Hartwell backstage on the NXT 2.0 Heatwave episode on Aug. 16.
On Aug. 16 the new NXT UK Champion Tyler Bate arrived to end the show confronting the NXT Champion Bron Breakker. Commentary mentioned Worlds Collide as the show went off the air.
What are your thoughts on this change? Has this answered any of your questions on the NXT 2.0 and NXT UK crossovers? Join the discussion below!
