NXT UK Contract Updates, UK Promotions on WWE Network, Rhyno News

WWE reportedly introduced new contracts to the members of the NXT UK roster not too long ago. The company is said to have offered the top talents in NXT UK new deals with raises while the other talents are still able to take independent wrestling bookings outside of WWE. Some fans also took issue with the new NXT UK contracts allegedly preventing the British wrestlers from taking bookings with other promotions that are not closely aligned with WWE. Additionally, WWE supposedly has an option to buy promotions like ICW and PROGRESS that are linked with the company. Despite the backlash to the news from fans, some members of NXT UK (most notably Pete Dunne) defended the new deals from WWE.
Believe it or not, some other major developments relating to the NXT UK deals have been reported on. Voices of Wrestling has mentioned that the current NXT UK deals are worth about the same now as the typical NXT contract. Top stars on NXT UK can still take bookings, but they must be for promotions approved by WWE in advance. NXT UK stars can now only wrestle in dark matches for the foreseeable future. It was also noted that this is being done because WWE is expected to announce that Insane Championship Wrestling and PROGRESS will be added to the WWE Network at some point in January of 2019. As for EVOLVE Wrestling and wXw, those shows are also set to be added to the network at a later time.
Heath Slater and Rhyno made history by becoming the first-ever SmackDown Tag Team Champions back in 2016. The two of them have stuck together ever since, but during this week’s episode of Raw, their partnership came to a sudden stop. After acting General Manager Baron Corbin pitted Slater and Rhyno against each other  on Raw this week with the winner leaving the company, “The Man Beast” took the loss and gave a farewell speech to the crowd. Although most fans have assumed that Rhyno’s time in the ring is over, PWInsider has been informed that he is still being advertised for WWE’s shows in South America this month. The belief now is that the former ECW star’s retirement from WWE is part of an ongoing storyline.