NXT UK (brand)

NXT UK is one of WWE's developmental brands which was established on December 15, 2016 as United Kingdom. The wrestlers from the brand also currently compete as part of the NXT brand.

History
In a press conference at The O2 Arena on December 15, 2016, Paul "Triple H" Levesque revealed that there would be a 16-man tournament to crown the inaugural WWE United Kingdom Champion. The tournament was held over a two-day period, January 14 and 15, 2017, and aired exclusively on the WWE Network. The championship was intended as the top championship of a new WWE Network show, produced in the United Kingdom (the show and its premiere date have yet to be revealed by the WWE). Tyler Bate won the inaugural tournament to become the first WWE United Kingdom Champion.

On May 19, 2017, WWE held a follow-up to the United Kingdom Championship tournament, titled United Kingdom Championship Special.

On April 7, 2018, a second United Kingdom Championship Tournament event was scheduled for June 18 and 19 at the Royal Albert Hall. On June 7, Johnny Saint was appointed General Manager of WWE's United Kingdom-based brand.

On June 18, 2018, it was announced that WWE's United Kingdom-based brand would begin filming a new show titled NXT UK in July 2018, and that championships for the brand's women's and tag team divisions would be introduced.

Champions
Tyler Bate won the inaugural tournament to become the first WWE United Kingdom Champion.

The title began being to appear on WWE's NXT brand when Bate debuted during the January 28, 2017, tapings of NXT in San Antonio, Texas, which aired February 1. During the February 1 tapings at the brand's home base of Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, the title's very first defense took place, where Bate defeated Trent Seven (aired February 15). The title was defended for the first time outside of WWE when Bate retained the title against Mark Andrews on a show for the London-based promotion, Progress Wrestling; the show took place in Orlando, Florida on March 31 as part of WrestleMania Axxess. The first title change, as well as first defense to air live, took place on May 20, 2017, at NXT TakeOver: Chicago, where Pete Dunne defeated Bate to become champion.

Although unsuccessful, Johnny Gargano was the first wrestler from outside of the United Kingdom division to challenge for the U.K. title on the November 18 taping of NXT. (aired on November 22).

Television show
The WWE Network will broadcast NXT UK's eponymous television program in the United Kingdom.The inaugural tapings of NXT UK occurred on July 28 and 29 at the Cambridge Corn Exchange.