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Recent speculation seems to indicate that a previously retired wrestling championship could be returning. According to pro wrestling title source BeltFanDan, WWE is considering introducing the European Title as a mid-card belt for NXT UK.
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Before being retired in 2002, the European Championship helped establish up-and-coming talent during the Attitude Era when it wasn’t quite their time to lead the roster. Past champions include the likes of Triple H, Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho, all of whom went on to forge Hall of Fame-worthy careers.
To date, NXT UK has been a welcome addition to the WWE catalog. However, one criticism of their product is the lack of credible threats to the WWE United Kingdom Championship.
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During the run of Pete Dunne, and even now with WALTER, it’s hard to be convinced that anyone is capable of taking the scrap off them. Establishing a second title for the brand will help build the roster and forge future challengers for the main event scene.
So here are five potential inaugural holders of NXT UK European Title if it is introduced.
#5 Jordan Devlin
Not many talents worldwide can fly like a cruiserweight, spar with a heavyweight and cut a killer promo as a heel or face. The Irish Ace Jordan Devlin is one of those rare talents. Right now, he’s currently in that purgatory-like section of the roster between the title picture and the rest of the card.
He's shown he is capable of going toe-to-toe with the best there is. His matches in NXT UK and OTT in Ireland against WALTER are prime examples of what he can do. A chance to shine as the division’s first European Champion will give him some purpose and prime him for another future shot at the big prize.
#4 Alexander Wolfe
When you look back at the Triple H-led Evolution stable, their peak was hit in late 2003. It was at this point where each of the four members held championships. The Game held the World Heavyweight Title, Randy Orton was Intercontinental Champion and Ric Flair and Batista reigned supreme over the tag division.
Imperium is arguably NXT UK’s most dominant faction, led by UK Champion WALTER. If Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel are primed for a tag title shot, it would only be natural that the fourth man goes for the brand’s newest piece of gold.
Wolfe has main roster exposure through his run with Sanity. He’s also a talented worker who's yet to show his full potential in WWE. A run as European Champion would allow him to do just that.
#3 Joe Coffey
Speaking of stables, the other major group in NXT UK is Gallus. In their de facto leader Joe Coffey, they have a man who came within a whisker of dethroning Pete Dunne at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool.
In fact, Coffey's body of work in the last year has been some of his best in a long time. This coming from a man who defeated Kurt Angle in one of his final non-WWE matches.
Despite an impressive recent win over Dave Mastiff, it’s too soon for Joe to challenge for the main gold just now. NXT UK already has one Scottish Champion in Kay Lee Ray. A second would surely ensure that it’s not just an English and European dominated brand.
Plus, it can give Joe and Mastiff something to battle over if their feud was to continue.
#2 Travis Banks
Lady Luck hasn’t been on the side of the Kiwi Buzzsaw over the last year. Injuries have curtailed the momentum of the talented Banks till date in NXT UK. He has the talent and the tools to succeed, but it feels as though he’s constantly playing catch up to others.
What he has been able to show in flashes though has been of top quality. Take his last man standing battle with Devlin for example. Putting a belt around his waist will springboard him back into legitimacy in the eyes of the fans.
#1 Cesaro
One of the highlights of NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff was the debut of main roster star Cesaro. Having apparently longed for a taste of WWE’s UK brand, the Swiss Cyborg put on a classic in Wales against Ilja Dragunov.
Currently, chances on RAW are limited for Cesaro, which is a shame given his talent. WWE should let Cesaro reinvent himself in the UK and help to continue to build NXT UK into a major force as its mid-card champion.
Plus, just think of the potential matches we could see. Imagine Cesaro going hammer and tongs week in and week out with the likes of Zack Gibson or even Tyler Bate.
