NXT Heritage Cup

Last updated
NXT Heritage Cup
NXT UK Heritage Cup.png
The NXT Heritage Cup trophy
Details
Promotion WWE
Brand NXT UK
(2020–2022)
NXT
(2023–present)
Date establishedSeptember 10, 2020
Current champion(s) Charlie Dempsey
Date wonFebruary 27, 2024
Other name(s)
  • NXT UK Heritage Cup
    (2020–2022)
  • NXT Heritage Cup
    (2023–present)
Statistics
First champion(s) A-Kid
Most reigns Noam Dar
(3 reigns)
Longest reign Noam Dar
(2nd reign, 341 days) [lower-alpha 1]
Shortest reign Mark Coffey
(14 days) [lower-alpha 2]
Oldest champion Mark Coffey
(32 years, 130 days)
Youngest champion A-Kid
(23 years, 201 days)
Heaviest champion Mark Coffey
(235 lb (107 kg))
Lightest champion A-Kid
(154 lb (70 kg))

The NXT Heritage Cup is a professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is a specialized championship for men of NXT, the promotion's developmental brand. The title is defended just like any other championship but has a special stipulation in which all matches are contested under British Rounds Rules. The current champion is Charlie Dempsey, who is in his first reign. He won the title by defeating previous champion Noam Dar by 2–1 on the February 27, 2024, episode of NXT .

Contents

Unveiled on September 10, 2020, as the NXT UK Heritage Cup, it was originally established as a secondary championship for the NXT UK brand, which was a sister brand of NXT based in the United Kingdom. The inaugural champion was A-Kid. At Worlds Collide on September 4, 2022, all other NXT UK championships were unified into their respective NXT championship counterparts due to the closure of NXT UK. The Heritage Cup, however, was the only championship from either brand that was not contested at the event. The title then saw months of inactivity until April 2023 when reigning champion Noam Dar brought the Cup with him to NXT, with it in turn becoming an NXT championship.

History

Inaugural champion A-Kid A-Kid.jpg
Inaugural champion A-Kid

On September 10, 2020, the American professional wrestling promotion WWE announced the relaunch of the United Kingdom-based NXT UK brand, following a production hiatus since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] Along with the relaunch, the promotion announced the NXT UK Heritage Cup tournament to crown the inaugural NXT UK Heritage Cup Champion. The announcement also revealed that the Heritage Cup would be defended just like any other championship, but all matches would be contested under British Rounds Rules. [2] [3] [4]

Only seven of the eight competitors for the tournament were revealed during the initial announcement: "Flash" Morgan Webster, Noam Dar, Alexander Wolfe, A-Kid, Dave Mastiff, Trent Seven, and Joseph Conners. [2] [5] The eighth competitor was determined on the October 1 episode of NXT UK in a triple threat match in which Kenny Williams defeated Ashton Smith and Amir Jordan to win the final spot. [6] The tournament itself also began on October 1 and took place across episodes of NXT UK. [2] The final aired on tape delay on November 26 where A-Kid defeated Seven to become the inaugural champion (the date the episode was taped is unknown). [7]

In August 2022, WWE announced that NXT UK would go on hiatus after the Worlds Collide event on September 4, and the brand would relaunch as NXT Europe at a later time. [8] At Worlds Collide, all NXT UK championships were retired after they were unified into their respective American-based NXT championship counterparts. The Heritage Cup was the only title from either brand to not be contested at the event. [9] The last match for the title occurred during the July 7, 2022, taping of NXT UK, which aired on tape delay on August 25, where Noam Dar became a record two-time Heritage Cup Champion. [10] [11] Following this, the title saw months of inactivity until the April 4, 2023, episode of NXT when Dar, with the Heritage Cup, made his NXT debut. He stated he would defend the title when he sees fit. [12] The title was subsequently renamed to NXT Heritage Cup, with the first NXT defense of the championship coming at NXT Battleground on May 28, which was also the first time the title was defended in the United States. [13]

After Charlie Dempsey won the Heritage Cup in February 2024, his stable, No Quarter Catch Crew, announced the "Catch Clause" where any member of the stable could defend the Cup, but only Dempsey is recognized as champion. [14]

British Rounds Rules

Inaugural tournament

Quarterfinals
NXT UK
Aired: October 1–22, 2020
Semifinals
NXT UK
Aired: November 5–12, 2020
Final
NXT UK
Aired: November 26, 2020
         
Alexander Wolfe [Note 1] 1
Noam Dar 2 [6]
Noam Dar 1
A-Kid2 [15]
A-Kid 2 [16]
Flash Morgan Webster 1
A-Kid2 [7]
Trent Seven 1
Dave Mastiff KO [17]
Joseph Conners —
Dave Mastiff 1
Trent Seven2 [18]
Trent Seven 2 [19]
Kenny Williams 1
  1. ↑ Pete Dunne was the special guest referee

2021 Contender tournament

First round
NXT UK
August 12, 2021 – September 9, 2021		Semifinals
NXT UK
September 16, 2021 – September 23, 2021		Final
NXT UK
October 7, 2021
         
Mark Andrews 1
Noam Dar 2
Noam Dar2
Kenny Williams 1
Oliver Carter 1
Kenny Williams 2
Noam Dar2
Wolfgang 1
Wolfgang 2
Sam Gradwell 1
Wolfgang2
Teoman 1
Nathan Frazer 1
Teoman 2

Heritage Cup trophy design

Unlike other professional wrestling championships, the Heritage Cup is represented by a trophy instead of a title belt. The trophy itself is a silver cup, the front of which has a gold shield-shaped plaque that has a vertical NXT logo and below it the text "Heritage Cup". Below the cup is a physical representation of what was formerly the NXT UK logo, which is modeled after the United Kingdom's royal coat of arms, featuring a lion and a horse (instead of the traditional unicorn) on either side of the arms in gold, with a red shield at the center which has a gold vertical NXT logo. A small WWE logo is affixed at the center of the X in both NXT logos. A gold banner below this also says "Heritage Cup". This all sits atop a wooden base that is circled in gold name plaques which notate the current and previous champions. [7]

Reigns

As of April24, 2024, there have been eight reigns between six champions. A-Kid was the inaugural champion. Noam Dar has the most reigns at three and his second reign is the longest at 341 days; however, due to tape delay, WWE officially recognizes his second reign as lasting 292 days, but still the longest. Dar also has the longest combined reign at 790 days (739 days as recognized by WWE due to tape delay). Mark Coffey has the shortest reign at 14 days (42 days as recognized by WWE due to tape delay, but still the shortest). Coffey is also the oldest champion at 32 years old, while A-Kid is the youngest at 23.

Charlie Dempsey is the current champion in his first reign. He defeated Noam Dar by 2–1 on the February 27, 2024, episode of NXT in Orlando, Florida. At NXT: Roadblock, No Quarter Catch Crew (Dempsey, Drew Gulak, Myles Borne, and Damon Kemp) announced the "Catch Clause" where any member of the stable could defend the Cup, but only Dempsey is recognized as champion.

NameYears
NXT UK Heritage CupSeptember 10, 2020 – April 18, 2023
NXT Heritage CupApril 18, 2023 – present
Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
Days recog.Number of days held recognized by the promotion
N/AUnknown information
+Current reign is changing daily
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDaysDays recog.
WWE: NXT UK
1 A-Kid November 26, 2020
(air date)		 NXT UK London, England 1N/A174Defeated Trent Seven 2–1 in the tournament final to become the inaugural champion.
WWE recognizes this reign as beginning on November 26, 2020, and ending on May 20, 2021, when the matches aired on tape delay. The actual dates the matches took place are unknown.		 [20]
2 Tyler Bate May 20, 2021
(air date)		 NXT UK London, England 1N/A160Won 1–0.
WWE recognizes this reign as beginning on May 20, 2021, and ending on October 28, 2021, when the matches aired on tape delay. The actual date of when the title change took place is unknown.		 [21]
3 Noam Dar October 6, 2021 NXT UK London, England 1260258Won 2–1 after Bate's partner, Trent Seven, who was ringside, accidentally threw in the towel.
WWE recognizes Dar's reign as beginning on October 28, 2021, and ending on July 14, 2022, when the matches aired on tape delay.		 [22]
4 Mark Coffey June 23, 2022 NXT UK London, England 11442Won 2–1. Sha Samuels was banned from ringside.
WWE recognizes this reign as beginning on July 14, 2022, and ending on August 25, 2022, when the matches aired on tape delay.		 [23]
5 Noam Dar July 7, 2022 NXT UK London, England 2341292Won 2–1.
WWE recognizes this reign as beginning on August 25, 2022, when the match aired on tape delay.
Following Worlds Collide in September 2022, the title saw months of inactivity until it was brought back on the April 4, 2023, episode of NXT , thus transferring the Cup to NXT and was subsequently renamed to NXT Heritage Cup.		 [10] [12]
WWE: NXT
6 Nathan Frazer June 13, 2023 NXT Orlando, FL 17069Defeated Oro Mensah 2–1, who wrestled on behalf of Noam Dar due to Dar suffering an injury. [24]
7 Noam Dar August 22, 2023 NXT:
Heatwave 		Orlando, FL 3189189Won 2–1. [25]
8 Charlie Dempsey February 27, 2024 NXT Orlando, FL 157+57+Won 2–1.
At NXT: Roadblock, No Quarter Catch Crew (Dempsey, Drew Gulak, Myles Borne, and Damon Kemp) announced the "Catch Clause" where any member of the stable could defend the Cup, but only Dempsey is recognized as champion. The Catch Clause was invoked on the March 19 episode of NXT, where Gulak defeated Chase University's Riley Osborne 2–1 to defend the Cup.		 [26] [14] [27]

Combined reigns

As of April24, 2024.

†Indicates the current champion
RankWrestlerNo. of
reigns		Combined
days		Combined days
recognized by WWE
1 Noam Dar 3790739
2 A-Kid 1N/A [lower-alpha 3] 174
3 Tyler Bate 1N/A [lower-alpha 4] 160
4 Nathan Frazer 17069
5 Charlie Dempsey †157+
6 Mark Coffey 11442

Notes

  1. ↑ WWE officially recognizes 292 days due to tape delay.
  2. ↑ WWE officially recognizes 42 days due to tape delay.
  3. ↑ The actual number is undeterminable as both tape dates of when he won and lost the title are unknown.
  4. ↑ The actual number is undeterminable as the tape date of when he won the title is unknown.

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References

  1. ↑ Currier, Joseph (September 10, 2020). "WWE ANNOUNCES HERITAGE CUP FOR NXT UK". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "NXT UK Heritage Cup Champion to be crowned in eight-man tournament". WWE . September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  3. ↑ Satin, Ryan (September 10, 2020). "NXT UK – Heritage Cup Tournament Set, WALTER And Kay Lee Ray's Next Opponents Confirmed". Pro Wrestling Sheet . Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  4. ↑ Harris, Jeffrey (September 10, 2020). "UPDATED: NXT UK Heritage Cup Tournament Will Crown New Champion". 411mania. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  5. ↑ Johnson, Mike (September 10, 2020). "NXT UK HERITAGE CUP DETAILS". PWInsider . Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Powell, Jason (October 2, 2020). "10/1 NXT UK TV results: Noam Dar vs. Alexander Wolfe in a NXT UK Heritage Cup tournament match, Xia Brookside vs. Jinny, Ashton Smith vs. Kenny Williams vs. Amir Jordan in a Heritage Cup qualifier". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 Currier, Joseph (November 26, 2020). "WWE CROWNS FIRST NXT UK HERITAGE CUP CHAMPION". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  8. ↑ Defelice, Robert (August 18, 2022). "WWE Announces The Impending Launch Of 'NXT Europe' Final NXT UK Event To Be 'Worlds Collide' On 9/4". Fightful. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  9. ↑ Moore, John (September 4, 2022). "NXT Worlds Collide results: Moore's live review of NXT Champion Bron Breakker vs. NXT UK Champion Tyler Bate in a unification match, NXT Women's Champion Mandy Rose vs. NXT UK Women's Champion Meiko Satomura vs. Blair Davenport in a unification match, Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricochet for the NXT North American Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  10. 1 2 Russell, Skylar (July 7, 2022). "Spoiler: New NXT Heritage Cup Champion Crowned At 7/7 Tapings". Fightful. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  11. ↑ Defelice, Robert (August 25, 2022). "New NXT UK Heritage Cup Champion Crowned On 8/26 WWE NXT UK". Fightful. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Rose, Bryan (April 4, 2023). "Noam Dar returns with Heritage Cup trophy on WWE NXT". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online . Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  13. ↑ Kilbane, Lyle (April 18, 2023). "WWE Officially Change Championship's Name". TJR Wrestling. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  14. 1 2 Powell, Jason (March 5, 2024). "NXT TV results (3/5): Moore's review of NXT Roadblock with Carmelo Hayes vs. Tony D'Angelo for a shot at the NXT Title, Kabuki Warriors vs. Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley for the WWE Women's Tag Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  15. ↑ Powell, Jason (November 6, 2020). "11/5 NXT UK TV results: Noam Dar vs. A-Kid in a Heritage Cup semifinal match, Gallus vs. Sam Gradwell, Sam Stoker, and Lewis Howley, Jinny vs. Aleah James". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  16. ↑ Powell, Jason (October 8, 2020). "10/8 NXT UK TV results: A-Kid vs. Flash Morgan Webster in a NXT UK Heritage Cup tournament match, Nina Samuels and Amale vs. Xia Brookside and Dani Luna, Jack Starz vs. Saxon Huxley". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  17. ↑ Powell, Jason (October 15, 2020). "10/15 NXT UK TV results: Walter and Alexander Wolfe vs. Ilja Dragunov and Pete Dunne, Dave Mastiff vs. Joseph Conners in an NXT UK Heritage Cup tournament match, Isla Dawn vs. Piper Niven". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  18. ↑ Powell, Jason (November 13, 2020). "11/12 NXT UK TV results: Trent Seven vs. Dave Mastiff in a Heritage Cup tournament semifinal match, Nina Samuels vs. Xia Brookside, Rampage Brown vs. Jack Starz, Amir Jordan and Kenny Williams vs. Wild Boar and Primate". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  19. ↑ Powell, Jason (October 23, 2020). "10/22 NXT UK TV results: Trent Seven vs. Kenny Williams in an NXT UK Heritage Cup tournament, Amale vs. Nina Samuels, Oliver Carter vs. Eddie Dennis, the Walter and Ilja Dragunov contract signing". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  20. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (November 26, 2020). "WWE NXT UK #120 - TV-Show @ BT Sport Studios in London, England, UK". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  21. ↑ Defelice, Robert (May 20, 2021). "New NXT UK Heritage Cup Champion Crowned On 5/20/21". Fightful. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  22. ↑ Thompson, Andrew (October 28, 2021). "NXT UK notes: Noam Dar wins Heritage Cup, Satomura vs. Jinny, NXT UK Tag Titles". Post Wrestling. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  23. ↑ Guzzo, Gisberto (June 23, 2022). "Spoiler: Title Changes Hands During 6/23 NXT UK Taping". Fightful. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  24. ↑ Moore, John (June 13, 2023). "6/13 NXT TV results: Moore's review of Baron Corbin vs. Ilja Dragunov, Noam Dar vs. Nathan Frazer for the NXT Heritage Cup, Wes Lee, Mustafa Ali, and Tyler Bate vs. Joe Gacy, Jagger Reid, and Rip Fowler, Roxanne Perez vs. Tatum Paxley, Edris Enofe vs. Malik Blade, Thea Hail vs. Cora Jade". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  25. ↑ Moore, John (August 22, 2023). "NXT TV results (8/22): Moore's review of Heatwave with Carmelo Hayes vs. Wes Lee for the NXT Title, Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio vs. Dragon Lee and Lyra Valkyria, Nathan Frazer vs. Noam Dar for the NXT Heritage Cup". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  26. ↑ Moore, John (February 27, 2024). "NXT TV results (2/27): Moore's review of Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes meeting, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs. Edris Enofe and Malik Blade, Von Wagner vs. Lexis King, Kiana James vs. Kelani Jordan". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  27. ↑ Moore, John (March 19, 2024). "NXT TV results (3/19): Moore's review of Trick Williams vs. Noam Dar, Riley Osborne challenging for the NXT Heritage Cup, Roxanne Perez vs. Tatum Paxley, NXT Tag Team Title match qualifiers for Stand & Deliver". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
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