TYLER BATE defeated Pete Dunne to create history and become the first-ever WWE UK Champion.
At Blackpool’s famous Empress Ballroom, Bate, the 19-year-old from Dudley in the West Midlands beat fellow Brummie and the man who had a hand in training him, Dunne, 23 in the tournament’s final.
Bate had to overcome the challenges of Jordan Devlin and Wolfgang in his quarter and semi-finals, and was then attacked by his final opponent, Dunne, before their match.
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Bate would go on to compete in the final with an injured shoulder because of Dunne’s savage attack.
The thrilling 16-man, two-day tournament concluded with a Tyler Drive on the ‘Bruiserweight’ Dunne in front of a wild crowd in Blackpool for the 1-2-3, before Bate was given the belt by Triple H.
Present and past British wrestling legends William Regal, Fit Finlay and Finn Balor were in the ring as Bate – who despite his age has competed in hundreds of bouts – received his title.
Addressing the crowd on the microphone after the show had finished, Bate, a former gymnast, said: “The people who really deserve this are all of you people.
“All of you people who support British wrestling and made this possible tonight.
“Without you people here there would be no UK Championship.
“I’d like to thank everyone in the ring [the fellow competitors had made their way down the aisle], all you people, my parents that have driven me all round the country for the last five years just so I can do what I love now.
“I’d like to thank my friends that supported me through all of this right now, and I’d like to thank all of you people for coming out and supporting British wrestling.
“And on that note. Let’s drink up.”
It wasn’t just upcoming home stars that featured, however.
Newcastle’s very own WWE superstar Neville, the ‘King Of The Cruiserweights’, defeated Tommy End in a bonus match on the show. It was sharp-kicking Dutchman End’s, who is signed to NXT, first televised WWE bout.
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