Ever since details of the new NXT UK contracts emerged from a report from Voices of Wrestling on Monday, indie wrestling fans around the world – and especially within the UK indie scene – have expressed their concern over the “demise” of the British Wrestling scene due to new levels of exclusivity for those contracted under an NXT UK deal with the WWE. Pete Dunne felt the need to speak out.
From the report, it appears that these new deals – which would kick in in January of 2019 – will be multi-tiered, depending on the wrestler and the deal they’d signed. The first (top) tier contract – the one that long time stars like Pete Dunne, Trent Seven, Tyler Bate, and most likely, Toni Storm – would be signed to, these wrestlers are now forbidden from working any non-WWE allied promotions (PROGRESS or Insane Championship Wrestling). Over the past week, we’ve seen the implications of this, as British Strong Style (Dunne, Seven and Bate) said their goodbyes to Fight Club: PRO (which is incidentally owned by Trent Seven himself).
https://twitter.com/chrisxblast/status/1069010574586064896
The second tier contracts, which would include semi-regulars like Ligero, Travis Banks, Jinny, and others, would still be allowed to work WWE-approved indie promotions (PROGRESS, ICW, wXw, FCP, Attack! Pro Wrestling, Over the Top Wrestling and Futureshock) and appear on their VOD services as usual. The third tier, which was once considered a “promise deal” (more of a retainer than anything) would allow them to work anywhere except the WWE “blacklist” of promotions (NJPW, Ring of Honor, RevPro, Defiant, IMPACT, MLW and Lucha Underground). And while Tier 2 and Tier 3 are able to work VODs for other promotions, they are not able to work against any competitor signed with one of the “blacklist” promotions.
All of these new restrictions – most of which were to be expected – have raised the ire of the indie fans who are now lamenting the demise of the UK scene, just as it had reached it’s biggest heights since the heyday of World of Sport in the 1970s. But one man has come to the defense of these contracts and the “moving up” of some of the UK’s stars, and that’s current WWE UK Champion Pete Dunne. When rumors of the new deals first made its rounds, Dunne was quick to interject when fans screamed foul.
https://twitter.com/PeteDunneYxB/status/1067506766496350209
That’s an exaggeration. Also what if your favourite wrestler goes to wrestlemania? That will be out of budget for a lot of people to travel that far, but if they’re truly your favourite you’ll be made up for them and excited to watch on a very affordable streaming service 🤷♂️
— ‘The Bruiserweight’ Pete Dunne (@PeteDunneYxB) November 27, 2018
Put 12 years, a countless amount of money and months away from home at a time in an attempt to get your dream job. When you finally achieve your goal and you can also create a great life for your family I’ll make sure to discredit your hard work and tell you you’re a sell out 👍 https://t.co/jmZAK1hmms
— ‘The Bruiserweight’ Pete Dunne (@PeteDunneYxB) November 28, 2018
Without the hard work of myself and countless other wrestlers with the goal of signing to a major company there wouldn’t even be a thriving UK scene to begin with. Support independent wrestling and support independent wrestlers as they take the next step in their career
— ‘The Bruiserweight’ Pete Dunne (@PeteDunneYxB) November 28, 2018
And it seemed that many indie promoters and wrestlers agreed with Dunne, at least in principal. US indie wrestler David Starr, who spends a considerable amount of his calendar year working in the UK scene, voiced his opinion that a scene will stay alive as long as fans continue to support the promotions during their re-stocking periods, saying to “wait until you see some of these dudes over here step up and fill their spots”.
Just because @WWE decided to restrict some of their contracted @NXTUK talent doesn’t mean that the 🇬🇧/🇪🇺 scene is dead
The scene stays alive because of your support
You’re the lifeblood
Just wait until you see some of these dudes over here step up and fill their spots
— Charles Max Barsky (@TheProductDS) November 27, 2018
One wrestler, however, did not. Earlier on Wednesday morning, World of Sport Champion Justin Sysum took to Twitter to share his fears and seeming disdain for these new deals.
An open letter to British Wrestling. Thank you for reading. pic.twitter.com/zRFz6Hazoj
— Justin Sysum (@JustinSysum) December 5, 2018
This “open letter” naturally caught the attention of Pete Dunne, who responded to Sysum’s original post.
Every step myself and other members of the NXT UK roster have taken within WWE over the past two years has been nothing but a benefit to the independent scene. Don’t disregard that because of hear say and rumours.
— ‘The Bruiserweight’ Pete Dunne (@PeteDunneYxB) December 5, 2018
Which Sysum then responded to:
You guys are included in the part about the great British wrestlers who came before me. You’re a credit to the independent scene but unfortunately it seems you’re not part of it anymore. This is much more about the organisation and not the individuals. Thanks reading.
— Justin Sysum (@JustinSysum) December 5, 2018
This time, Dunne’s British Strong Style co-hort Tyler Bate entered the conversation as well.
https://twitter.com/Tyler_Bate/status/1070376818333622273
Pete Dunne would then take to his own Twitter to re-enforce his position.
NXT coexists with an independent scene in the US. The UK will be no different. Now let’s just take a look at how far British wrestling has come. 12 years ago when I started this was not a career for anyone, now it’s attainable and thus a thriving scene of top quality has emerged.
— ‘The Bruiserweight’ Pete Dunne (@PeteDunneYxB) December 5, 2018
Which prompted a response from another UK star – one who isn’t signed to NXT – but rather one of the “blacklists”, New Japan, in Will Ospreay.
https://twitter.com/WillOspreay/status/1070391278532206598
True enough, Will. True enough.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.
