NXT TakeOver: London Success Is Proof UK Is Ready to Host Major PPV Again

There were a fair few takeaways from Wednesday's NXT TakeOver: London, but the biggest one of all had to be how the fans in attendance once again showed that WWE needs to act on its popularity in the United Kingdom.

It was an electrifying and incredible night to witness. Crowds in the UK have long been some of the hottest WWE witnesses each and every year, and Wednesday was proof the company needs to back its fanbase across the pond with more shows.

Most notably, WWE has to show its faith to the UK with a major pay-per-view in the near future. Twenty-three years have passed since WWE's only major venture to the UK and SummerSlam 1992, but the time has now come for that lengthy run to end.

There are plenty of reasons why it makes sense to get a big show over here. First of all, a quick flick through the calendar and the numerous pay-per-view events WWE puts on shows that there are a fair few that could easily be replaced for a show in England.

Battleground, Fastlane and Payback stand out as three that have no real purpose, or no real theme to them in the grand scheme of things. Picture one of those being swapped with a show such as Anarchy in the UK or something equally as British-named. 

The weeks leading up to the show see storylines given the opportunity to freshen up, too. If it's all planned right, you can have a multitude of European stars come to the fore and get shots at titles throughout the course of the night.

You only need to look back and see the reaction The British Bulldog got when he beat Bret Hart at Wembley Stadium in 1992. Imagine someone like Finn Balor or even Wade Barrett scoring a major success on what is effectively home turf? It would be incredible.

Throw in Paige challenging for the Divas Championship and even a popular European like Cesaro getting a major title opportunity, and you've got all the makings of something completely different. It can be a standout night on the calendar, when things take a turn away from the norm and offer fans all around the world something different.

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As well as that, the UK has the facilities to put on a major pay-per-view. Wembley was one of the most incredible arenas in the world in the 1990s when SummerSlam rolled into town, but now it's a re-developed, modern stadium that is ready for a major show.

Triple H sent out a tweet during the latter stages of TakeOver: London on Wednesday, which read:

If he's getting excited about the prospect of nearly 11,000 people packed in to watch NXT at Wembley Arena, he should seriously consider the realistic prospect of 95,000 across the road at Wembley Stadium for a massive pay-per-view. It's doable, because the fanbase at every single show dictates it. 

As a writer and, more importantly, a fan based in England, it's easy to see why fans over here get a touch frustrated with a lack of TV opportunities. A couple of Raw and SmackDown shows a year aside, there's not much else going on in the UK. Fans have to either record Raw or stay awake until 4 a.m. to watch it, to give you a feel for what it's like.

On those shows, there's never a dramatic amount of storyline development either. It's understandable that WWE might not want to give too much away when it's not at home, but it just feels right that there could be room in the calendar for one pay-per-view awarded to its most loyal foreign fanbase.

WWE tested the water with a show in Japan earlier this year. The potential for it to happen is there, and NXT TakeOver: London should have proved it. The UK is on the up when it comes to wrestling and especially when it comes to WWE. It's time to take the leap of faith and go for a major pay-per-view.

SummerSlam 1992 showed it could work. It wouldn't matter where you took it, it would sell out. The fans have been waiting so long, it's irrelevant where it's held. Just make it happen, WWE.