Implemented on December 15, 2016, to give NXT UK a major title, the NXT United Kingdom Championship has since been the subject of memorable matches not only on Her Majesty’s lands but in the United States as well.
With Tyler Bate as the first holder, the belt spent 870 days in Walter’s possession, a record still far from being threatened by the reigning champion, Ilja Dragunov, who has held the belt since August 22, 2021. Four wrestlers have had one reign each. Tyler Bate was the lightest champion (79 kg) and the youngest to win the title (19 years and 314 days), while Walter was the heaviest (135 kg) to become champion and also the oldest (31 years old). and 228 days).
It is therefore worth remembering the ten best fights (so far) for the NXT United Kingdom Championship, in chronological order.
United Kingdom Championship Tournament (January 15, 2017)
The 1st WWE United Kingdom Championship Match:
Tyler Bates vs. Pete Dunne
At a press conference held at The O2 Arena in London, WWE Chief Executive Triple H announced on December 15, 2016 that a 16-man tournament would be held the following month to determine the first holder of WWE United Kingdom. Championship, which would become NXT UK’s premier title. On the way to the final, Englishman Tyler Bate eliminated Northern Irishman Tucker, Irishman Jordan Devlin and Scotsman Wolfgang. Compatriot Pete Dunne took out fellow Englishmen Roy Johnson and Sam Gradwell and Welshman Mark Andrews.
NXT TakeOver: Chicago (May 20, 2017)
WWE United Kingdom Championship:
Tyler Bates (c) vs. Pete Dunne
On May 6, during a live event , Tyler Bate beat Joseph Conners to retain the WWE United Kingdom Championship. The following day, Tyler Bate successfully defended the title again by defeating Mark Andrews, while Pete Dunne got the better of Trent Seven to become the main contender for the WWE United Kingdom Championship at NXT TakeOver: Chicago .
NXT (December 20, 2017)
WWE United Kingdom Championship:
Pete Dunne (c) vs. Tyler Bate
On the November 29, 2017 episode of NXT , Tyler Bate and Trent Seven defeated Pete Dunne and Mark Andrews in a tag team match, with Tyler Bate netting Pete Dunne after a Tyler Driver 97. The following week, it was announced that Dunne would defend the WWE United Kingdom Championship against Bate on the December 20 episode.
United Kingdom Championship Tournament – Day 2 (June 26, 2018)
WWE United Kingdom Championship:
Pete Dunne (c) vs. Zack Gibson
On April 7, 2018, the second edition of the United Kingdom Championship Tournament was announced, scheduled for June 18 and 19 in London and televised on the WWE Network on June 25 and 26. A month later, WWE revealed that the tournament would serve to determine the main contender for the WWE United Kingdom Championship, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals scheduled for the first day of the event and the title match for the second day. Zack Gibson was the winner of the tournament, defeating Amir Jordan, Gentleman Jack Gallagher, Flash Morgan Webster and Travis Banks, thus scoring a duel with champion Pete Dunne.
NXT (September 19, 2018)
NXT North American Championship and WWE United Kingdom Championship:
Ricochet ( North American ) vs. Pete Dunne (United Kingdom)
On the August 29 episode of NXT , Pete Dunne and Ricochet teamed up to face The Undisputed Era, but lost due to a miscommunication. Both blamed the other for the defeat, which led to a match between the two, with their respective titles, the NXT North American Championship ( Ricochet ) and the WWE United Kingdom Championship (Pete Dunne), on the line.
NXT TakeOver: New York (April 5, 2019)
WWE United Kingdom Championship:
Pete Dunne (c) vs. Walter
On January 12, 2019, at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool, Walter made his WWE debut by confronting United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne, who had just defended the title against Joe Coffey.
The following week, Walter confronted Dunne and Joe Coffey, showing once again that he was intent on winning the WWE United Kingdom Championship. On the February 2 episode of NXT UK, Walter made his in-ring debut, beating Jack Starz in under four minutes. All of this led to a title match between Pete Dunne and Walter being scheduled for NXT TakeOver: New York .
NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff (August 31, 2019)
WWE United Kingdom Championship:
Walter (c) vs. Tyler Bate
On the July 3, 2019 episode of NXT UK , Imperium (Walter, Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel) interfered in a match between Mustache Mountain (Trent Seven and Tyler Bate) for the NXT UK Tag Team Championship, attacking and injuring Tyler Bate. On the July 31 episode, Bate returned and attacked Imperium. As a consequence, a WWE United Kingdom Championship match was scheduled between champion Walter and Tyler Bate for NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff .
NXT UK (October 29, 2020)
WWE United Kingdom Championship:
Walter (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov
On April 2, 2020, episode of NXT UK (taped March 7), Ilja Dragunov won a 20-man battle royal to become the main contender for the WWE United Kingdom Championship, having eliminated Tyler Bate in last place.
However, due to restrictions established by the United Kingdom due to the covid-19 pandemic, NXT UK was suspended until September, when it returned without an audience.
On the September 17 episode, Dragunov beat Noam Dar and after the match was confronted by champion Walter.
Two weeks later, Dragunov saved Pete Dunne from an attack at the hands of Walter and Alexander Wolfe, which led to a tag team match between the two parties on the October 15 episode, with Dragunov and Dunne winning. On October 22, during the signing of the contract for the WWE United Kingdom Championship match between Walter and Dragunov the following week, the champion brutally attacked the Russian.
NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver – Day 1 (April 7, 2021)
NXT United Kingdom Championship:
Walter (c) vs. Tommaso Ciampa
With a reign that already exceeded 700 days and that was already the longest in the WWE since 1988, Walter, who usually only attended NXT UK events, appeared on the March 17, 2021 episode of NXT and decimated Tommaso Ciampa. That said, it was announced that the Austrian would defend the NXT United Kingdom Championship against Ciampa on the first night of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
NXT TakeOver 36 (August 22, 2021)
NXT United Kingdom Championship:
Walter (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov
In October 2020 at NXT UK, Walter beat Ilja Dragunov to retain the NXT United Kingdom Championship. In June 2021, Dragunov gained a new opportunity to fight for the title by beating Rampage Brown and Joe Coffey in a triple threat match. Initially, the title match was scheduled for the July 22 episode of NXT UK, with the signing having taken place the week before. However, Walter injured his hand during a backstage altercation , which led to the match being postponed to NXT TakeOver 36 , precisely one month later.