WWE comes to the UK this Saturday with its first premium live event to emanate from here since 2003. The event is called Clash At The Castle and occurs at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. As years have gone by many boxes have crossed over into wrestling in special attraction matches, but I look into the three from the UK who have entered the world of sports entertainment.
Lennox Lewis
WWE hosted its first premium live event from the UK in 1992 when they brought Summerslam to Wembley Stadium. The show was headlined by The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith taking on Bret Hart for the Intercontinental title. WWE wanted the British Bulldog to have an extravagant entrance and heavyweight boxing legend, Lennox Lewis got the call, as WWE got the hometown heroes of boxing and wrestling to come together for the night.
It's MAIN EVENT TIME at #SummerSlam92 as @LennoxLewis accompanies #BritishBulldog to the ring! #FlashbackFridaypic.twitter.com/xMTAX3CUma
— WWE (@WWE) August 12, 2016
Lewis was also linked with a match with up-and-coming WWE superstar Brock Lesnar in 2002. In 2015, Lewis told TSN's Off the Record that he was offered close to £5 million, and was very seriously considering it. However, Lewis turned the offer down as WWE wanted him to wear boxing gloves, whilst Lesnar would not.
Ricky Hatton
In 2009, WWE was running a programme where they would have a special celebrity guest host each week. When WWE Raw emanated from Manchester in 2009, Ricky Hatton was the man who got the call to be the guest host for the night. It was a strange night of affairs, as Hatton appeared in a segment with The Bella Twins and Chavo Guerrero. One thing lead to another and Guerrero and Hatton would have a game of darts.
Hatton would convincingly win the game, leading to Guerrero challenging the Hitman to a wrestling match. Hatton accepted and the pair would lock horns later in the night in a comedic bout that saw Hatton beat Guerrero.
Tyson Fury
The current WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury was the last boxer seen in a WWE ring. It all started in 2019, as WWE Smackdown was being aired on FOX for the very first time. FOX wanted some star power in attendance and the Gypsy King was obliged to bring that as he sat in the front row. During a match, WWE star Braun Strowman was outside the ring and traded verbals with Fury, leading to the heavyweight boxer jumping the guardrail to confront Strowman.
The pair were involved in a war of words on both WWE programming and social media which resulted in a match being confirmed between them at WWE Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia. In the lead-up to the bout, a clip was shared by WWE of Strowman blindsiding Fury in training.
The match went ahead and Fury made an extravagant ring walk as expected. The pair traded moves throughout but it would be Fury who would be victorious when Strowman couldn't answer the ten-count following a right hook from Fury. Fury and Strowman came together a few weeks later on WWE programming, burying the hatchet on their rivalry.
It is worth noting that Fury has expressed a desire to return to WWE. Following his victory over Dillian Whyte in April, Fury did state that he wanted to fight former WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre in Cardiff. McIntyre is now facing WWE and Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, but it does beg the question as to whether Fury could show up on the night and play a part.
WWE Clash At The Castle goes down this Saturday at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and can be watched live on BT Sport 2 from 6 pm.