WWE: Tyler Bate crowned new UK champ
New WWE United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate, center, poses with Triple H and William Regal. Photo by WWE.com
Tyler Bate defied the odds was crowned as the first ever WWE United Kingdom Champion on Monday (Manila time) at Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, England.
The 19-year-old bucked an injured shoulder and topped Pete Dunne in the Finals of the WWE United Kingdom Championship tournament, putting an exciting end to the two-day affair.
Bate used a pair of wheel house kicks to the back of the head of Dunne before nailing him with Tyler Driver 97 for the pinfall win.
Dunne earlier looked poised to snare the crown after attacking Bate before their duel, slamming him to the ring posts which led to the kid from Dudley, England to separate his AC joint on his left shoulder.
But Bate wagered on to the championship match, as he showed his wares and nailed a Flosbery flop to the outside before setting Dunne for the 450 double foot stomp.
The “Bruiserweight,” though, continued to punish his former protege, connecting with the Bitter End and set him up for the Kimura Lock after kicking out. But the young technician just had enough in him, reversing the hold to a brainbuster before ending the match with the wheel house kicks and his finisher.
It was the two’s fourth match in two days, as 16 of the best British wrestlers battled for supremacy.
Bate first topped Tucker in the first round, before beating Jordan Devlin in the quarterfinals, and Wolfgang in the semis.
Dunne, meanwhile, beat Roy Johnson in the first round, before running roughshod of Sam Gradwell in the quarterfinals, and Mark Andrews in the semifinals.
The title is expected to remain in the UK, to be defended across different independent promotions in the country.
