On this week’s NXT UK episode, a video aired with Carter announcing that he’s now going by the name Nathan Frazer. Carter said it’s like he’s getting a brand new start in his career since he joined NXT UK — and with a brand new start comes a brand new name. Carter said he’s going to grab this brand by the throat and take it wherever he wants to take it. Carter declared that he’ll go down as the greatest to ever do this.
Carter made his NXT UK debut by unsuccessfully challenging for Jordan Devlin’s version of the NXT Cruiserweight Championship this January. Carter has since gotten wins against Sam Gradwell and Josh Morrell.
Carter was trained by Seth Rollins at Rollins’ Black and Brave Wrestling Academy. A video aired on NXT UK last week with Carter working out in the ring at the NXT UK Performance Center with coach James Mason. Carter said that because he basically started his career in the United States, he never really learned the British wrestling style until now despite being British.
Carter wrestled three matches for AEW before signing with WWE. He also made an appearance on Impact Wrestling’s Xplosion. Carter said in this week’s video that he had a few different options in front of him when he signed with WWE, but he wanted to come to NXT UK and wanted to come home. Carter noted after joining NXT UK that he had an offer to sign with WWE before he appeared anywhere else.
Ben Carter’s second match for NXT UK is set for next week.
On today’s NXT UK episode, it was announced that Carter will be in action on NXT UK next Thursday. Carter’s opponent for next week’s show wasn’t announced, but Sam Gradwell was then shown watching clips of Carter’s match against NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin from two weeks ago. Gradwell asked if this was supposed to be exciting. Gradwell admitted that Carter pushed Devlin to his limit, but Gradwell said we’ll see how exciting Carter is when Gradwell sends him packing back home.
Carter made his NXT UK debut as the guest on Noam Dar’s Supernova Sessions talk show two weeks ago. It set up Carter unsuccessfully challenging for Devlin’s version of the NXT Cruiserweight Championship in that episode’s main event.
It was officially announced last month that Carter had signed with WWE and was coming to NXT UK.
Next Thursday’s NXT UK will be headlined by Pretty Deadly (Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley), Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith, The Hunt (Wild Boar & Primate), and Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster facing off in a four-way elimination tag match. The winning team will become the number one contenders to Gallus’ (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) NXT UK Tag Team titles.
It was announced on NXT UK today that Eddie Dennis will be banned from accompanying The Hunt in next week’s number one contender’s match.
Jinny defeated Piper Niven to become the number one contender to Kay Lee Ray’s NXT UK Women’s Championship. Jinny got help from Joseph Conners, who first took a somersault senton for Jinny and then pulled Niven’s legs away from under her, allowing Jinny to roll her up.
Ben Carter was interviewed by Noam Dar on his Supernova Sessions talk show. After some shenanigans, Jordan Devlin interrupted and was eventually challenged by Carter
Pretty Deadly cut a promo on Gallus.
Tyler Bate cut a spiritual promo that was mocked by Sam Gradwell. Bate vs. Gradwell is set for next week.
Dave Mastiff defeated Saxon Huxley in a quick match.
In a tremendous main event, Jordan Devlin retained his version of the NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Ben Carter. Carter looked like a million bucks here in a star-making performance in losing and should have a great future on the brand, if not on NXT or even the main roster down the line.
Full rundown —
NXT UK Women’s Championship number one contender’s match: Jinny defeated Piper Niven with a roll-up after getting assistance from Joseph Conners (6:49)
They traded vicious strikes right away and ended up at ringside. Back in the ring, Jinny kept viciously attacking Niven and gained the upper hand, locking in the Iron Octopus. Niven eventually managed to power out. Joseph Conners walked down the aisle and started watching the match on the ramp.
Jinny went to ringside and Niven went for a somersault plancha, but Conners stepped in front of Jinny and got wiped out. Jinny went to the top rope, but Niven caught her. As Niven got ready to slam Jinny, Conners grabbed Niven’s legs from the outside, allowing Jinny to roll through and get the win.
– Pretty Deadly cut a promo on NXT UK Tag Team Champions Gallus and said they knew Gallus didn’t like them. Pretty Deadly said they had Gallus paint a target on their back — almost as if that was what they wanted Gallus to do.
– A mysterious video narrated by Aoife Valkyrie aired. Valkyrie talked about birds having to be ready when they leave the nest. She said birds don’t try to be perfect when they soar, they just are.
– Tyler Bate cut a very spiritual promo about losing to A-Kid. He quoted Bruce Lee, who said that you had to become like water and who inspired martial artists to change their style. Bate said he wanted to do that to professional wrestling. Sam Gradwell was then shown watching this video on his phone. Gradwell asked if that was supposed to be inspirational. Gradwell said the only Yogi he respects is the one running around stealing picnic baskets. Gradwell said being like water is terrible advice.
Supernova Sessions with Ben Carter
Noam Dar said this was New Year’s resolution sessions and proceeded to read off his list. Dar’s resolutions were:
NXT Cruiserweight Champion
NXT World Champion
NXT UK Champion
Superstar of the Year Award
Most Handsome Award
Most Funny Award
The Most Humble Award
The Lead Role in The Marine 475
To be an absolute legend (which he proceeded to tick off the list)
Trish Stratus’ phone number (which he said was a joke, since he already got it)
Dar then introduced his guest, Ben “Carpenter,” who will make his NXT UK debut next week. Dar proceeded to ask him about woodwork and if it had always been a passion. Carter took it in stride and told Dar his name was Carter, but that he knew all about Dar and knew he would pull off something like this. Dar pretended this was a mistake made by “his people” and said that he had prepared seven questions on shelf design.
Dar then asked Carter why he decided to join NXT UK and Carter said that he wanted to face the very best this industry has to offer. Dar said that’s cool because he had the best in front of him and maybe they could have a match. At that point, NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin’s music interrupted their talk and he walked onto the set.
Devlin asked Dar how he could have Carter on the show before him. Devlin was respectful to Carter, saying he had been in his place, being called a prodigy with unlimited potential. Devlin also said he has a standing open challenge every time he steps into the ring and since Dar shared a roster with him, he should have had him on the show first. Dar replied by saying that once Devlin becomes the “real” NXT Cruiserweight Champion and not just a substitute, his people would talk to Devlin’s people and he could be on the show.
Carter interjected and said Dar had been surprisingly nice to him, but he sided with Devlin on this. Carter called Devlin the true, legitimate, undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion, the ace of this division, one of the gatekeepers of this entire brand — and because of all these things, Devlin should have no problem defending the title against him. Dar got all giddy and Devlin said that he knows Carter was supposed to debut next week, but he should face the Irish Ace tonight instead.
Sid Scala then entered and said he would call Johnny Saint, but he was confident that they could move something around and make the match official as the main event for tonight.
– A graphic for next week’s WALTER vs. A-Kid NXT UK Championship match was shown.
– Kay Lee Ray cut a promo, talking about Jinny becoming the number one contender to her title. KLR said usually Jinny’s daddy would reach into his pocket and buy her what she wanted, but the NXT UK Women’s Championship requires talent and could not be bought.
– A video recapped Dave Mastiff recently saving Jack Starz & Levi Muir from a post-match attack by Saxon Huxley.
Dave Mastiff pinned Saxon Huxley after hitting Into the Void (4:43)
Mastiff had the upper hand early, but Huxley came back and ran wild. Mastiff came back and after some more offense hit his Into the Void cannonball senton into the corner for the victory.
– A great video that included promos and match highlights of both men previewed WALTER vs. A-Kid for next week.
– Tyler Bate vs. Sam Gradwell was also announced for next week.
NXT Cruiserweight Championship match: Jordan Devlin retained against Ben Carter after hitting Devlin Side (12:44)
This was a star-making performance for Carter, who had probably the most impressive NXT UK debut in the brand’s history.
Carter started out strong and controlled Devlin, showing off his speed, agility, and athletic prowess. Devlin eventually stopped him off a whip-in and hit the uranage/standing moonsault combo, then proceeded to beat the hell out of Carter.
Carter came back once more and got a near fall off a beautiful sunset flip that he seemingly hit from high up in the sky. Carter avoided a dropkick by Devlin as he paused mid-move on a springboard move, then hit a springboard dropkick of his own. Devlin regrouped and threw carter to ringside and then into the ring steps.
Devlin scored a near fall back in the ring. A welt formed on Carter’s shoulder from the impact into the steel steps. Seconds later, they collided in mid-air off flying crossbodies, which grounded both competitors. Devlin then slid to ringside and Carter hit a moonsault reverse DDT off the apron. Carter followed up with a spinning neckbreaker in the ring for a very close near fall.
Carter missed a Phoenix Splash but rolled through, then got wiped out by a standing Spanish Fly from Devlin. Carter hit a Code Red for another near fall but then got his legs caught coming off the ropes. Devlin locked in the Four-Leaf Clover, but Carter would not tap, making the ropes twice and eventually forcing a break.
Carter was on his knees, with his back in bad shape. Devlin capitalized, hit a number of Kawada-style kicks, and then hit Devlin Side to get the win. This was a great match.
Next week —
WALTER defends the NXT UK Championship against Heritage Cup Champion A-Kid
Ben Carter’s first appearance on WWE television will take place on next week’s episode of NXT UK.
WWE has announced that Carter will be the guest on Noam Dar’s Supernova Sessions talk show on NXT UK next Thursday (January 7). The appearance comes after it was officially confirmed earlier this month that Carter ha signed with WWE and joined the NXT UK roster.
Carter’s signing was announced via a video that aired on the December 17 episode of NXT UK. It included comments from William Regal, Ashton Smith, Wolfgang, Nigel McGuinness, Seth Rollins, and Sid Scala. Carter trained at Rollins and Marek Brave’s Black and Brave Wrestling Academy.
The 22-year-old Carter made multiple appearances on AEW programming this year.
This will be the second edition of Dar’s Supernova Sessions. The segment debuted earlier this month with A-Kid appearing as Dar’s guest.
Next week’s NXT UK is the first episode of the show of 2021. It will also feature Piper Niven and Jinny facing off in a number one contender’s match. The winner will get a future shot at Kay Lee Ray’s NXT UK Women’s Championship.
WWE has officially unveiled a new addition to the NXT UK roster.
During this week’s NXT UK episode, a video aired announcing that Ben Carter is coming to NXT UK. Dave Meltzer had confirmed this October that Carter had signed with WWE.
The video on this week’s NXT UK featured footage and pictures from early in Carter’s career, along with comments from William Regal, Ashton Smith, Wolfgang, Nigel McGuinness, Seth Rollins, and Sid Scala. McGuinness called Carter a can’t-miss prospect and Scala said Carter could have signed anywhere but decided to sign with NXT UK. The video also covered how Carter trained at Rollins and Marek Brave’s Black and Brave Wrestling Academy. Rollins said the way Carter moves in the ring reminds him of Dynamite Kid and Eddie Guerrero.
The 22-year-old Carter is from the United Kingdom. He made multiple appearances on AEW programming this year, including a match where he lost to Scorpio Sky on Late Night Dynamite this September.
Carter told Fightful in October that he couldn’t be paid for his AEW matches due to not having a visa.
“I came to the states 4 and a half years ago as a kid with a dream,” Carter tweeted today. I had no idea how I was gonna do it… but I knew exactly what I wanted. That dream, it just came true. I’m a WWE Superstar. @NXTUK”
In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer confirmed that Ben Carter has signed a deal with WWE, a rumor that had been circulating for several weeks.
Carter got on the radar with his recent appearances for AEW where he impressed in matches against Ricky Starks and Lee Johnson on Dark and against Scorpio Sky on the one-off Late Night Dynamite. He also had an Impact Wrestling Xplosion match with Chris Sabin earlier this month that got great reviews.
On October 16th, he tweeted a short video from his soccer playing days where he said he was planning on becoming a professional wrestler for WWE that got the rumor mill buzzing.
It’s been quite a year for Carter, who also tested positive for COVID-19 in late-September.
Meltzer didn’t have additional details as to where the UK-born Carter might be headed, nor whether AEW or Impact offered him a contract. He will have to apparently get a working visa as he told Fightful in a recent interview that he did his two AEW matches for free because it would have been illegal for them to pay him given his status.
The 22-year-old is a trainee of the Black & Brave Academy, owned by Seth Rollins and Marek Brave.
The day after Lance Archer said he will be out for a few weeks due to a positive COVID-19 test, rising prospect Ben Carter tweeted Thursday that he has tested positive as well.
The 23-year-old didn’t explain how he got it or when, but said he feels fine other than losing some of his taste. His return is unknown.
Carter, a trainee of Seth Rollins and Marek Brave’s wrestling school, recently got praise for his debut match against Ricky Starks on Dark and wrestled twice on Tuesday, losing to Scorpio Sky on Late Night Dynamite and on Dark in a win over Lee Johnson.
Fightful and Spectrum Sports 360’s Jon Alba reported late Wednesday that several AEW wrestlers and talents tested positive for COVID-19 in the weeks following their September 9th tapings. The company has yet to make any public comment to either outlet about the report.
Archer tweeted Wednesday he got it from a family friend and would be out for two weeks. As of now, no one else from AEW has said they have tested positive.
