WWE UK Championship Tournament Announced: Photos, Dates and More Details

WWE announced Thursday at the O2 Arena in London that a tournament will be held in January to crown the first-ever WWE United Kingdom champion.

According to WWE.com, the 16-man tourney will take place Jan. 14 and Jan. 15 at the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, England, and it will air exclusively on WWE Network.

WWE's official Twitter account tweeted a photo of the new championship belt:

It was also revealed on WWE.com that longtime Ring of Honor competitor, announcer and authority figure Nigel McGuinness will call the tournament alongside Michael Cole.

Former WWE universal champion Finn Balor discussed the importance of the event in the following video:

NXT general manager William Regal also addressed the crowd in London and vowed to put together a highly competitive tourney:

WWE has long dipped into the British talent pool, particularly during the Cruiserweight Classic tournament over the summer.

Zack Sabre Jr. was among the biggest names to take part. Jack Gallagher, who is now part of Raw's cruiserweight division, also participated.

The UK wrestling scene is brimming with talent, and not only does the tournament give some of those wrestlers a chance to gain worldwide acclaim, but it could also be an open audition for WWE contracts.

In creating compelling programming for the WWE Network and ostensibly holding a tryout for possible signees, WWE stands to benefit greatly from the United Kingdom Championship tournament.

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