WWE launching NXT Europe, September Worlds Collide event set

WWE will be expanding into more international markets beginning next year. 

Update —

WWE has clarified that NXT UK will form the foundation of NXT Europe beginning in 2023. 

“NXT UK will end in its current form and serve as the foundation for a bigger, better NXT Europe,” WWE stated to Slam Wrestling.  

Original —

WWE officially announced the creation of NXT Europe on Thursday. The final NXT UK show will be Worlds Collide on September 4, the day before Clash at the Castle and the day of AEW All Out. Worlds Collide will air beginning at 4 p.m Eastern time while All Out will begin later that night. 

Following Worlds Collide, NXT UK will then go on hiatus before NXT Europe launches in 2023.

“Following the success of our live events and talent identification efforts throughout all of, we believe this is the perfect time to expand NXT beyond the UK,” said Shawn Michaels, WWE Vice President of Talent Development Creative.

Michaels was also interviewed by Fox News about NXT’s expansion into Europe. 

“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,” he continued. “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 a main roster call up.”

Michaels continued to comment on possible events for NXT Europe across the continent. 

“I remember all the times we went to Germany it was off the charts, just fantastic. But I don’t know. I would love to kind of go to Venice, Italy, but that’s just me,” he said. “But look with WWE and NXT, we just want to go and represent our brand across the world. I certainly have some favorite places I would like to go. Look, I think Paris, France would be pretty cool.”

Michaels also spoke to Metro UK about NXT Europe. 

“This has been a goal of Hunter’s for quite some time, and I think clearly with what has gone on recently with him taking on creative, he felt that now would be a great time to have the ability to do that. NXT UK was one of the first steps in that process.”

Michaels also spoke about what Worlds Collide means for the NXT UK brand. 

“It’s sort of a pseudo-final event for NXT UK at Worlds Collide,’ he explained. “I’m just excited that we’re growing it. A lot of things we have talked about in the past, now they’re finally happening and this talent’s gonna have the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of all their hard work.”

“NXT UK has so much European talent as it is, so it’s only fitting we grow that brand to cover Europe. WWE is a global entity, and NXT is obviously a huge part of that,” he continued.

“Being able to help them and be part of that process is really one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever gotten to do in my entire life.”

Several NXT UK wrestlers appeared on NXT on Tuesday, building up angles for Worlds Collide. NXT UK Champion Tyler Bate got involved in a faceoff with NXT Champion Bron Breakker to close the show.