On August 18, major news surfaced that clarifies the path of NXT UK. The news was initially reported by Fox News Ryan Gaydos and then published by WWE’s official Public Relations Twitter account.
The official statement on the 2023 debut of NXT Europe is as follows:
STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– WWE® (NYSE: WWE) today announced that the NXT brand will grow internationally with the creation of an all-new NXT Europe, with the launch planned for 2023.
“Following the success of our live events and talent identification efforts throughout all of Europe, we believe this is the perfect time to expand NXT beyond the UK,” stated Shawn Michaels, WWE Vice President of Talent Development Creative.
As reported by Ryan @Gaydos_ from @FoxNews, the @WWENXT brand is set to grow even more come 2023 with the creation of NXT Europe. https://t.co/Kba505JFKr — WWE Public Relations (@WWEPR) August 18, 2022
Launched in 2016, NXT UK has received critical acclaim and developed WWE’s main roster talents such as Rhea Ripley, Doudrop, Gunther, and Butch. NXT Europe will reimagine the brand and its talent pipeline with a Pan-European focus.
Prior to the debut of NXT Europe, Worlds Collide, a premium live event featuring NXT and NXT UK Superstars, will be presented live on Sunday, September 4 at 4 p.m. ET on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else.
The Fox News post on the adjustment was updated with further information.
Shawn Michaels, WWE’s VP of talent development creative, said he’s “very enthused” about NXT Europe.
“Given the success of NXT UK, we felt like it was time to expand beyond that,” Michaels said.
The planned launch of NXT Europe means NXT UK will go on a “brief hiatus,” Michaels said that the last NXT UK event would take place at Worlds Collide. Michaels said that the organization would collaborate with its personnel and talent to establish NXT Europe “bigger and better.”
There are currently 22 male wrestlers, 12 female wrestlers, and at least two on-air personalities on the NXT UK roster. Michaels divulged what will happen to the crop of talent.
“So some of it, like everything with the WWE and NXT, that pipeline is always fluid. It’s going to be one of those situations where we’re going to have a lot of representation going into Worlds Collide,” Michaels expressed to Fox News Digital.
“It’s what NXT has always been and that is to be a pipeline for the WWE in support of RAW and SmackDown. That process is going to continue. We’re going to use the UK talent that we can to go into Worlds Collide and keep that representation out there for as long as we can. And as we move things over here in the process, we’ll make all those decisions in 2023 about who’s a part of NXT Europe and who continues to stay here in NXT in hopes of getting the main roster call up.”
Michaels also indicated that he will be performing in Italy, France, and Germany as part of his growth and rebranding.
There have been crossovers between NXT 2.0 and NXT UK over the last several months. Recently, Lash Legend, Fallon Henley, Ivy Nile, Thea Hail, and Sarray, all from NXT 2.0, debuted for the first time in the NXT UK ring. Blair Davenport made a stunning entrance and challenged Indi Hartwell backstage on the August 16 broadcast of NXT 2.0 Heatwave.
The new NXT UK Champion, Tyler Bate, appeared on August 16 to close the program by challenging the NXT Champion, Bron Breaker. As the program ended, Worlds Collide was addressed in the commentary.
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