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NXT UK returns next Thursday, September 17th. On this week's hype show, WWE announced that the introduction of the NXT UK Heritage Cup with the winner being decided in an eight-man tournament. The tournament will be contested under British Rounds rules, which are the following:
- Matches are set to consist of six three-minute rounds.
- Matches are set to be contested on best 2-out-of-3 falls.
- Falls can be pinfall, submission, and count-out.
- After a fall, the round ends immediately.
- When a wrestler gets two falls, the match ends.
- If there is a DQ or a KO, the match ends immediately without the need for any more falls or rounds.
- In case six rounds are completed, the star who has more falls wins the match.
- There are 20-second breaks between each round.
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With these very unique rules, this tournament will be very interesting to watch unfold. After the winner is decided, the NXT UK Heritage Cup will be defended as a championship afterwards.
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Seven of the eight competitors for the NXT UK Heritage Cup tournament have been announced. A diverse group of the best upper to mid-card stars of the brand will fight it out to determine the first champion. In this article, we will discuss the five Superstars who could win the NXT UK Heritage Cup. We will only be choosing from the names that are known so far with the wildcard entry yet to be announced.
#5 A-Kid could win NXT UK Heritage Cup
A-Kid, the newest Superstar to the brand, will be a part of the NXT UK Heritage Cup. The first Spaniard and youngest wrestler to compete in a Wrestling Observer Newsletter rated five-star match has made quite the impression since his debut to NXT UK late last year. His win over Kassius Ohno in his NXT UK debut put everyone on notice and showed that big things are yet to come for him.
NXT UK could show their devotion to the future of the brand with a win for A-Kid in this tournament. At just 24 years old, A-Kid has so much potential and could put on some really good matches over the next few weeks. The unique rules may also play into his diverse arsenal. Becoming the first NXT UK Heritage Cup champion will be the ideal feather in his cap to truly establish him on the brand.
#4 Alexander Wolfe could win NXT UK Heritage Cup
Alexander Wolfe has been a solid addition to the NXT UK brand since joining Imperium last summer. The former NXT Tag Team Champion spent a year and a half on the main roster as a member of SAnitY. The group never got a proper push during their time on SmackDown before the decision was made to separate the group. Now, as a member of Imperium, he is apart of the most dominant faction on NXT UK.
Wolfe has had encounters with members of British Strong Style as well as a rivalry with Ilja Dragunov since moving to NXT UK. The British Rounds Rules may lend him some momentum with his hard-hitting style. He may also benefit from his fellow members of Imperium helping him advance.
The introduction of this championship gives the NXT UK brand a mid-card title for stars who may not be ready for the main event scene. It also allows Imperium to become even more dominant in NXT UK. WALTER has the NXT UK Championship, while Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner are sure to be top contenders for the NXT UK Tag Team Titles, coming off their run with the NXT Tag Team gold. This leaves the new Heritage Cup Championship as a perfect opportunity for Alexander Wolfe to help Imperium hold all the gold.
#3 Noam Dar could win NXT UK Heritage Cup
Noam Dar has been apart of WWE since he participated in the Cruiserweight Classic back in 2016. Even with his long-standing on 205 Live, Noam was never able to win the Cruiserweight Championship. Dar then made a move to the NXT UK in 2018 when the brand was introduced. After a failed shot at the WWE United Kingdom Championship against then-champion Pete Dunne, "The Scottish Supernova" made NXT UK his home.
Although he has a victory over Travis Banks back at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff last year, Noam Dar has not seen another opportunity at the NXT UK Championship. Although he is multi-talented and has great technical ability, it just is not likely they would put the top prize on Dar. However, the introduction of the Heritage Cup Championship opens the door for Noam to finally win gold in WWE.
Noam Dar has been on the cusp of winning gold several times over the years, but this new mid-card title may just be the opportunity that he has been waiting for all along. His technical expertise and the British Rounds rules should help him be a favorite in this tournament.
#2 Dave Mastiff could win NXT UK Heritage Cup
The man known as Bomber has made a huge impact in NXT UK. Dave Mastiff tallied a number of impressive wins during his time on the brand, including victories over Kassius Ohno and Eddie Dennis. Earlier this year, Bomber failed to win the NXT UK Championship against WALTER. Now with the introduction of a new prize, can he finally win some elusive gold?
With his impressive strength and hard-hitting repertoire, the British Rounds rules for the NXT UK Heritage Cup tournament can either benefit or hurt his abilities. If someone can push him to the later rounds, Mastiff could be in trouble. However, Bomber will likely take out some competitors early on and finish them before the match reaches round three.
With only two losses during his time on the brand, Mastiff has to be a favorite to win this entire NXT UK Heritage Cup tournament with ease. There may be only one competitor in the tournament who has had the same success as him without championship gold on NXT UK.
#1 Trent Seven could win NXT UK Heritage Cup
Widely considered one of the pillars of the NXT UK brand, Trent Seven has been the overlooked member of British Strong Style. With the massive amounts of success for his compatriots in the group, Seven has not seen the career-making victories as Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne. Bate and Dunne were the first two WWE United Kingdom Champions and have also won the NXT Tag Team gold.
Although Seven did win the NXT Tag Team Titles with Tyler Bate back in 2018, he is yet to win any gold in NXT UK. He has put on classic battles with Dunne and WALTER in the past, but has been denied the chance at winning the NXT UK Championship himself.
One of the very best in the ring and on the mic, Seven would be the perfect winner of the NXT UK Heritage Cup tournament. A traditionalist and throwback to the origins of the style, the British Rounds rules are right in his wheelhouse. This marquee victory would solidify all the praise that Trent has garnered over the years.
Whoever the first champion will be, this tournament will truly provide a number of memorable matches and moments for the superstars involved. The NXT UK Heritage Cup tournament provides a lot of opportunities and a much-needed boost of attention for one of the most overlooked brands in all of WWE.
