WWE is currently being accused of trying to destroy the independent wrestling scene in the UK. Cody Rhodes doesn't believe that's the case.
WWE is demonstrating in a number of ways that it by no means is just a North American company. It has seen itself as having a worldwide presence for a long time but has really taken that to the next level over the past few years. Massive stadium shows in Saudi Arabia and Australia, plus the establishment of a branch of NXT in the UK.
It's NXT UK that has been a source of controversy in the wrestling world for the past few weeks. The British Superstars signed to the brand will have new contracts in 2019. Those contracts will stop them from competing for any promotions that don't have an affiliation with WWE. Some in the business have labeled it a move by WWE that will damage the independent scene in the UK.
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Not everyone agrees with that. Cody Rhodes actually thinks what WWE is doing in the UK right now is having the opposite effect, as he recently told The Mirror. "I think it just means more opportunity. There is obviously a deep roster of talent and maybe some talent we're not seeing because we're seeing so many NXT UK guys," Rhodes explained. Now that those Superstars are tied to WWE, it opens the door for up and coming talent to take their spots on the indie scene.
Rhodes described the UK recently as having a little bit of a wild west feel about it. "Somebody like me from Ring of Honor and New Japan could go over to the UK and mix it up with somebody who was one of the NXT UK talents." Those days are now gone, for now at least. British star Will Ospreay suggested shows where WWE talent wrestles one half of the show and independent stars on the other half. Sadly, that ship may have already sailed.
There are a lot of ways to look at this situation. Considering how strong the wrestling business is worldwide right now, we can't imagine something like this is going to hurt the British scene too badly. NXT now has a UK division because of how good British wrestlers are right now. If Triple H had opened a performance center in the UK before we knew names like Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate, then maybe we would agree that it would have a negative effect on British wrestling.