WWE crowns new NXT UK Champion at TV tapings

Tyler Bate is the first-ever two-time NXT United Kingdom Champion.

Bate won the vacant NXT UK Championship at Thursday’s NXT UK television tapings, defeating Trent Seven in the finals of an eight-man tournament. Former champion Ilja Dragunov had to relinquish the title at Wednesday’s tapings due to injury.

The tournament final was a matchup of former Moustache Mountain tag team partners. Seven turned against Bate after they lost the NXT UK Tag Team titles last month. Leading into their breakup, there had been dissension between Bate and Seven over Seven cheating to win their matches.

Bate was the inaugural NXT UK Champion, winning the title in January 2017 and dropping it to Pete Dunne in May of that year. Bate, Dunne, WALTER, and Dragunov are the only four wrestlers to ever hold the title.

Dragunov appeared at Wednesday’s NXT UK tapings with one of his feet in a protective boot. His injury has yet to be acknowledged on NXT UK television. A Dragunov vs. Wolfgang NXT UK title match that was filmed in June will air in the coming weeks.