Following a wildly successful Cruiserweight Classic last summer, WWE has announced their second unique tournament in less than a year: The UK Championship Tournament. Featuring 16 wrestlers from all over the United Kingdom (including one wrestler from Wales), the two-day tournament will crown the first-ever WWE United Kingdom Champion. After the champion is crowned, WWE will be launching another new weekly show based solely on UK wrestling, a la 205 Live. WWE changed the game with the Cruiserweight Classic, and now it’s time for them to do it again.
Trent Seven vs. H.C. Dyer – Round One
Trent Seven is currently a Tag Team Champion for PROGRESS Wrestling, and according to Michael Cole, the strong style wrestler is a favorite for many to win the tournament. Also, he is from Mustache Mountain, which adds a nice little bit of flair. H.C. Dyer is called the “future of sports entertainment in the U.K.,” mixing agility with hard hitting fists. However, it doesn’t seem like the crowd likes him very much.
H.C. Dyer misses a crucial frog splash attempt, and Trent Seven takes advantage to hit a spinning backfist, followed up by the Seven Stars lariat to advance to the second round. Seven will either face Tyson T-Bone or Wolfgang. Winner: Trent Seven | Eliminated: H.C. Dyer
Jordan Devlin vs. Danny Burch – Round One
Danny Burch has been in NXT for two years, and he is the only NXT Superstar to compete in the tournament. Jordan Devlin was trained by former WWE Universal Champion Finn Balor, and he combines catch-as-catch-can wrestling with strong style.
Danny Burch busts the back of his head open, and while it does seem like he may have kicked out at 2, the referee stops the match presumably because of the injury. In controversial fashion, Jordan Devlin advances to the second round. Devlin and Burch shake hands after the match, then Devlin immediately hits Burch with a superkick. Winner: Jordan Devlin | Eliminated: Danny Burch
Sam Gradwell vs. Saxon Huxley – Round One
Both Sam Gradwell and Saxon Huxley have trained under Marty Jones, but then their training differs. Gradwell stayed in the UK to train under Johnny Saint, while Huxley trained overseas under the guidance of Brian Kendrick and Lance Storm.
Following a brutal lariat, Sam Gradwell hits a diving headbutt from 3/4 of the way across the ring to put Saxon Huxley away (or as the audience calls him, “Jesus”) and advance to face either Roy Johnson or Pete Dunne. Winner: Sam Gradwell | Eliminated: Saxon Huxley
Pete Dunne vs. Roy Johnson – Round One
Roy Johnson calls himself the most “wavy” guy in the tournament (although he won’t explain what that means), and only has two years of wrestling experience. Johnson looks for the strength advantage, with a career in powerlifting. Pete Dunne is 205 pounds, but calls himself a “bruiserweight.” Dunne deifnitely has the most unique and memorable look in the tournament, and Michael Cole notes that he is reminiscent of Fit Finlay.
Roy Johnson gives a pretty good showing, but Pete Dunne comes out on top after a pumphandle flatliner. Pete Dunne pencils his name in the Quarterfinals, taking on Sam Gradwell tomorrow. Winner: Pete Dunne | Eliminated: Roy Johnson
Wolfgang vs. Tyson T-Bone – Round One
Tyson T-Bone calls himself a fighter, not a wrestler, and it shows. It looks like he just walked off of the street, competing in street clothes similarly to Dean Ambrose. Wolfgang competes in a traditional singlet, and the Scottish wrestler is perhaps the biggest man in the tournament.
Wolfgang shows an impressive amount of athleticism, finishing off Tyson T-Bone with a Swanton Bomb, advancing to the Quarterfinals where he will take on Trent Seven. Winner: Wolfgang | Eliminated: Tyson T-Bone
Joseph Connors vs. James Drake – Round One
Joseph Connors is Michael Cole’s pick to win the whole tournament, and he believes that this match will steal the show. While that is still to be determined, it is a hard hitting affair.
Joseph Connors (the one missing half an ear) hits the DLD (“Don’t Look Down”) elevated flatliner onto James Drake to take out the Blackpool native and he looks to his match with the winner of the following bout. Winner: Joseph Connors | Eliminated: James Drake
Mark Andrews vs. Dan Moloney – Round One
Mark Andrews, who is just 5’8″, is the only Welshman in the tournament. Dan Moloney definitely has the size and strength advantages over Andrews, and all he cares about is getting the job done so he can make some money.
Andrews counters a suplex into a stunner, then puts Dan Moloney away with a Shooting Star Press to move on to his match against Joseph Connors. Winner: Mark Andrews | Eliminated: Dan Moloney
Tucker vs. Tyler Bate – Round One
To finish the first round of tournament matches, we will see the Irish competitor Tucker, who calls himself the underdog in any situation and who is also a protege of Finn Balor. Tucker (who has no last name for some reason) takes on Tyler Bate, who considers himself a throwback competitor, despite being only 19 years old.
After hitting a wheelhouse kick on Tucker, Tyler Bate hits the Tyler Driver (double underhook sit-out powerbomb) on Tucker to win the best match of the first round. Bate will face Jordan Devlin in the second round. Winner: Tyler Bate | Eliminated: Tucker
To end the night, all of the competitors competing in the quarterfinals are announced and come to the stage. While William Regal signs off for the night, Pete Dunne rushes across the stage and sucker punches Sam Gradwell before their match tomorrow. Understandably, Regal is furious.
The remaining three rounds of the UK Championship tournament will take place tomorrow on the WWE Network at 3pm Eastern, 12pm Central.
