William Regal: The Whole Point Of NXT Was To Change The Carny Culture Of Wrestling

William Regal discusses the formation of NXT UK and the hopeful culture shift NXT would provide.

William Regal was handpicked by Triple H to be part of the team tasked with building NXT and the future of WWE’s talent development. As such, William Regal would work with Triple H for nearly a decade and help develop the NXT brand into a world-renowned brand with its own fanbase.

Part of the long-term plan for WWE NXT was global expansion. WWE started this global expansion with the formation of NXT UK. On his most recent Gentleman Villain podcast, William Regal spoke about NXT expanding and why, despite the negative perception from some in the industry, he supports NXT UK as a safe training facility for talent in the United Kingdom.

“I’m going to have to say this, everything that NXT UK became, and there are people that will knock NXT UK, but NXT UK became a safe — with the best trainers, a great training facility. COVID knocked about a bit, but anyone who works there, you’re going to have the usual frustrations because of egos and whatever, but they all got paid a weekly wage, they all got the best training, they’re all better for being there. They will all tell you that they are far better for being there. We created magic there, with some of the specials we did. I had the offer to do that. I always imagined that.”

Furthermore, William Regal explains that Triple H had the idea for NXT UK a decade ago when he first met Robbie Brookside.

“I know there are myths out there about how NXT UK started. I’m telling you, whether you want to believe me or not, I’m telling you the truth,” Regal said. “NXT UK was formed in the mind of Triple H 10 years ago. Because we were in England, and my friend Robbie Brookside was still in England. There was another friend of mine getting the extras. He’s no longer with us, so I don’t want to say too much. But I found out that he was taking a few liberties. Here is a little tip for everybody. Listen to what I’m going to say now. The only people in real power are the people who control the money. Whenever you get a position — this is a good topic for this point. Whenever you get a position, never think you have any real power. Don’t abuse that power, because you don’t. That’s one of the things that’s gotten me through this. I have never thought I had any power. Believe me, I can call up anybody and get a lot of things done. But I don’t ever think I have and I truly don’t.

“But this person that was getting the extras was taking a few liberties with people,” William Regal continued. “He was charging them to get them tryouts with WWE. He was doing a few things that I didn’t like, although I knew him, I liked him, and I got on well with him, I didn’t like the way he was doing that. I don’t like that. There’s a lot of — we’ve heard the word ‘carny’ in wrestling. there’s a lot of carny stuff that goes on and I don’t like it. I tried to avoid it and I tried to change it.”

Furthermore, William Regal reveals that the entire concept of NXT was an attempt to change the carny perception of professional wrestling.

“I might as well say this, and I’m saying it now. That was the whole point of NXT was to try to change as much of the carny — you hear about the culture of NXT, was to change as much of the carny nonsense that goes on in wrestling was to change that. [NXT was created to show] that we’re all polite athletes that you can be proud to be.”

Turning back to Triple H having the idea of NXT UK, William Regal revealed that the only reason Robbie Brookside was ever brought to America was to learn the WWE system to better help acclimate the eventual NXT UK talent when that system was opened up. Fortunately for everyone involved, Robbie Brookside never left.

“Triple H came to me and said, ‘You know, Robbie,’ he said this is 10 years ago. So any of this nonsense, yes, things certain things hurried it up. But he said, ‘We’re going to open an NXT over here in the next few years. What if we bring Robbie over for a few months so he can learn our system? So when I do open that up, he can run it.’ He came over 10 years ago now. Unfortunately — not unfortunately, far from it, because it’s been great for everyone, everybody will tell you that, he never left. Because they realized how good he was. He is incredibly good and he does babysit everybody and makes sure everybody he gives — I hope people realize what a precious human being they’ve got when they get to train with him or get to have him in their daily lives. 

“When I heard that I’m like, ‘Great,’ and it eventually paid off,” William Regal continued. “Unfortunately, again, COVID and different things changed that and there was a lot of people trying to write their own narrative about ‘Oh, you’re doing this and you’re doing that and WWE is doing this.’ No, it was to have a decent place. Because I know a lot of promoters take advantage of their talent, and if you think I don’t know that, you are a fool.”

Today, William Regal works with AEW and is still happily working with young talent, including several of the names he helped further along in NXT.

NXT UK is still thriving and William Regal’s son, Charlie Dempsey, is one of many NXT UK names being considered for a reported excursion to NXT in the United States in the coming weeks. Learn more here.

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