NXT UK Defines Why Wednesdays are for Wrestling
Mark Coffey, Joe Coffey & Wolfgang take on Ashton Smith, Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster. Photo Courtesy of the WWE
By Matthew Klink (@klinkmatt)
November 9, 2018
NXT UK is for Wrestling Fans
Wednesday is for wrestling. GET OFF YOUR ASS AND WATCH NXT UK!
It was, for a long time, a notion we all believed considering NXT has long been the best of the WWE brands. Even with the current NXT roster being, arguably, the best roster NXT has had since its inception, its NXT UK that is defining Wednesdays as every wrestling fan’s dream.
NXT UK is still in its infancy, but I feel like it’s already making an enormous impact and stamp on the industry. The double dose of NXT UK has allowed us to be introduced to a whole new style of wrestling and fandom. The fans are hot, unrelenting, creative, and enthusiastic. The wrestlers are new, fresh, fun, excited…and extremely talented.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I know this is still WWE programming. I know its success doesn’t necessarily push the WWE to change its ways or “be better” because it exists to ensure the WWE doesn’t have to change. Its the answer to all of our complaints. Its that extra does of wrestling we’ve all been clamoring for. It’s why we’ve filled out those survey for years, asking the WWE to add more new wrestling to their catalogue.
The roster is great. Zack Gibson, Dave Mastiff, Toni Storm, Jinny, Dakota Kai, Danny Burch, Mark and Joe Coffey, Wolfgang, Rhea Ripley Mark Andrews, Flash Morgan Webster, Ashton Smith, Trent Seven and Tyler Bate. Oh right! Did anyone mention that their champion, Pete Dunne, is the longest reigning champion in the WWE?
But this fan interaction has been like nothing else I’ve seen before.
NXT UK Audience is its Own Talent
Here’s a few examples:
The audience in attendance isn’t just voicing their opinion, but they are dictating the direction of promos…on the fly! They are absolutely relentless too! They don’t get bored…ever. And they find some way and some reason to cheer, boo, chant, and steal the show.
On top of that…their interaction actually has me cheering for the faces and booing the heels. A novel idea, eh? I remember doing this with NXT, so at least for the time being, I can say the fan’s exuberance is keeping me kayfabe.
If there’s any reason live records work and any reason that the band KISS ever made money, its because enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm. I am completely sold on the legitimacy of NXT UK and I’ll be happily tuning in, every Wednesday going forward.
The Change We Need
I have all of the confidence in the world that this brand will continue to impress and give us great wrestling. I’m looking forward to picking my favorites (although I’m leaning towards Flash Morgan) and getting know these guys better.
Hopefully my dreams of a Ryder Cup pay-per-view between NXT and NXT UK will become a thing, but until then, I’m very satisfied with what we have here.
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