Teenager has been in the same ring as WWE Champion AJ Styles
Monday 16 January 2017 12:14, UK
A teenager from the Midlands has become the first WWE United Kingdom Champion - but what do you need to know about him?
Name: Tyler Bate
Age: 19
Born: March 7, 1997
Birthplace: Dudley, west Midlands
Billed height: 5ft 7in
Billed weight: 175lb
Finishing move: Tyler Driver
Twitter handle: @Tyler_Bate
Why is he in the news?
Because he became the first WWE United Kingdom Champion on Sunday inside Blackpool’s Empress Ballroom. Bate knocked off Northern Ireland’s Tucker in his last-16 bout on Saturday night before seeing off Irishman Jordan Devlin and Scotland's Wolfgang the following day to set up a final against fellow Midlander and former mentor Pete Dunne. Dunne launched a sneak attack before the showpiece bout leading to Bate needing to have his injured shoulder taped up - but the teenager battled through that to plant his countryman with a title-sealing Tyler Driver powerbomb.
He must be one of the youngest WWE champions of all time?
He’s the second youngest, in fact. Bate claimed the UK belt at the age of 19 years and 10 months, making him slightly older than when Canada's Rene Dupree won the World Tag Team Titles with Sylvain Grenier at the age of 19 years and six months. Bate and Dupree are the only teenagers to hold gold in WWE, with Kenny Dykstra (20 years and 18 days) the next youngest when he claimed the World Tag Team Titles as part of The Spirit Squad.
What does Bate make of his landmark win?
He was overcome by emotion in the immediate aftermath, telling WWE.com: “It’s surreal, I wish I had words - I don’t. I don’t let things bother normally but this is overwhelming. I pictured myself as a young kind being a WWE champion but it doesn’t compare to when you are actually holding the title belt. I’m just going to go with the wind and see what happens. It’s overwhelming happiness - I can’t put it any better”.
What do others make of him?
Triple H, who organised the tournament, wrote on Twitter: “At 19 years old, who doesn't think @Tyler_Bate is the future of this industry? Congratulations!” while Michael Cole, who commentated on the event for WWE, said: “Really @tyler_bate is the future. No doubt. Real deal.”
Speaking before the event, Lawrie Neal, the general manager of Birmingham promotion Kamikaze Pro Wrestling, told The Mirror: “His age has never been a factor as he is very wise beyond his years. He has the innate ability to connect with an audience without needing to say a word.
“You can expect to see a complete wrestler with raw power, technical prowess and high-flying ability. We've watched him develop and progress from a young wrestler with a lot of potential to one of the top wrestlers in the United Kingdom. His wrestling does the talking for him."
Where else has he wrestled?
Bate, who began wrestling in his early teens, appeared in Preston City Wrestling in 2014, where, among other stars, he faced reigning WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rich Swann, Dunne and another WWE UK Championship Tournament competitor, Mark Andrews.
He has also competed for American promotion Chikara, facing reigning WWE Champion AJ Styles during a tag bout in September 2015 and winning the company’s Tag Team Titles with Trent Seven in August last year - Bate and Seven are also the current PROGRESS Wrestling Tag Team Champions.
Bate has also mixed it with current NXT star Kassius Ohno aka Chris Hero; WWE’s English cruiserweight Jack Gallagher; and British veteran Doug Williams, while he has collected titles in other promotions, too, including Westside Xtreme Wrestling and the aforementioned Kamikaze Pro.
What’s next for him?
WWE have yet to reveal their next step into the British scene, although Triple H feels it is ‘inevitable’ that a weekly WWE show emanates from the United Kingdom in the future. Bate is sure to play a fundamental role if that comes to pass. In the meantime, he could celebrate by playing the drums, with WWE’s profile of him claiming he loves to bash out some classic rock!
