Tyler Bate On Dropping The “Conor McGregor” Act And Becoming More Serious

Tyler Bate is not messing around anymore.

The 21-year-old former NXT UK Champion is set to challenge WALTER for the PROGRESS World Title at PROGRESS Chapter 76. The title bout will headline the Sept. 30 event at The SSE Arena Wembley. 

Glen Joseph spoke with Bate ahead of the bout and Bate laid out exactly what he’s going to do to WALTER.

“I can easily outlast WALTER. What does he do? Throws a bunch of chops. I can take chops. WALTER can chop me all day long to the point where I’ve got blood trickling down to my toes. I don’t care. He can do that. I’m going to be running circles around WALTER,” said Bate. “Not only am I going to be running circles around him, I’m going to be throwing him from corner to corner. I’m going to make him look like a novice in that ring. I’m going to make him look like a child. The glasses are off. No more ‘Conor McGregor.'”

Bate has been compared to McGregor among PROGRESS fans for his gold shorts, flashy outfits, and supreme confidence. Bate remains confident ahead of his title match, but he’s dropping the flash.

“The whole ‘Conor McGregor,’ whatever you want to call that,” said Bate. “That’s just me enjoying the fruits of my labor. I’m just enjoying the hard work that I’ve put into this business. But, right now, I’m showing that I can be serious when I need to. I can take the glasses, watch, and gold chain off. I can throw all that away and still be a serious wrestler.”

Bate is a former two-time PROGRESS Tag Team Champion with Trent Seven. He has never held singles gold in the company.

You can listen to the entire interview above.