WWE is about to kill off UK Indie Wrestling

[RammerJammer]

Well, it was inevitable that this would happen eventually . . .

It has come to light via our sources that following this weekend’s tapings in Liverpool, several members of the NXT UK roster have been given new contracts. The new deals will allegedly see an increase to the wrestlers’ annual salary (we should note that we have not seen the contracts and we do not know figures at this stage) but will prevent them from working for any other promotions in the UK.

If true, this seems to directly contradict previous WWE statements at the launch of the brand that there would be “no restrictions” on talent and that WWE were not “the big bad wolf” coming into the scene and signing talent to stop them from working elsewhere.

Previously NXT UK talent were unable to wrestle for promotions with a significant online presence or with distribution deals (such as Defiant and RevPro) but were still permitted to wrestle on local-level indy events, as well as for WWE’spartner promotions PROGRESS, ICW and wXw (in Germany).

Has the gravy train ended?

Our sources indicate that the terms of the new contracts prevent NXT UK talent from working anywhere else except for the partner groups, giving WWE exclusivity on its roster. These changes are perhaps a response to the disappointing houses NXT UK has drawn for recent tapings, with only a reported 600-800 in attendance on each night of the Liverpool events this past weekend, far less than the venue capacity. The logic behind it is likely that if a fan can pay £10 to see the stars of the show at a local indy group then they are unlikely to pay significantly more to see them at NXT UK.

We should stress that we have been told this new deal does not apply to everyone on the roster, so you may still see some NXT UK talent appearing on indy shows, which would signify that they do not have new deals. We are told that it does apply to the majority of talent though.

 

[Art Barr]

Mcmahons gon McMahon.

UK, what part of the raid game,...
did you think this was or wasn't ?



Art Barr

 

[MenacingMonk]

It’s a major hole for them, but They’ll survive.

 

[JerseyBoy23]

Water's wet. I just think it's funny that some many people on Wreddit/WF believed Trips and Regal when they said they'd never do this to people on UK contracts.

 

[PlayerNinety_Nine]

Grass is always greener. Right as I was just starting to appreciate Progress as well.

In the UK they had a shot at a national wrestling show with the World Of Sport reboot, and from the sound of it, everyone involved fumbled.

I always wondered how well WWE would manage when it came to writing a show that was culturally relevant to the UK.

Turns out they just decided to make themselves the only game in town, instead.

Hopefully OTT didn't decide to bend the knee too

 

[The Intergalactic Koala]

As long as Puro is untouched by the grace of the Yakuza. UK indie wrestling market been in the shytter since PROGRESS began dikk gobbling the WWE.

 

[THE 101]

I said this in the other thread about WXW but HHH has taken up the Vince in '84 playbook and these gullible idiots in the indie scene have thought he would be their friend.

It's foot on neck time...Progress will be dissolved within 2 years

 

[Kunty McPhuck]

even then it still won't be as bad as the 90's wrestling scene in the UK.

when ZSJ, Marty and Ospreay, sign for . Until then the scene will always be alive and kicking.

 

[Superkick Party]

Water's wet. I just think it's funny that some many people on Wreddit/WF believed Trips and Regal when they said they'd never do this to people on UK contracts.

Because the love what he does in NXT they excuse all the other bullshyt he does as long as it doesn't affect their show lol

Its so corn