WWE Axxess, the live fanfest that occurs during WrestleMania week, will feature live invitational tournaments and showcase superstars from the UK and promotions like Evolve and Progress, the WWE announced on Twitter today.

BREAKING: WrestleMania Axxess to feature four invitational tournaments, @WWEUK Championship participants, @ThisIs_Progress & EVOLVE Wrestling action and more https://t.co/vX6CjtmORS

— WWE UK (@WWEUK) April 2, 2018

According to the official announcement on WWE.com, each tournament will be divided into four categories – the UK and U.S. Invitationals, Tag Team Invitationals and Women’s Invitational – which will showcase NXT female talent like Peyton Royce and SAnitY’s Nikki Cross, WWE cruiserweights Drew Gulak and Akira Tozawa and teams like Street Profits and Moustache Mountain. Each tournament winner will face off against each division’s respective champions – the WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne, the yet-to-be-crowned NXT North American Champion and the NXT Tag Team Champions (whoever they may be following NXT TakeOver: New Orleans) on Axxess‘ Day 4 program.

Also, the WWN Championship will be defended when NXT superstar Kassius Ohno faces off against current champion Keith Lee (Luke and Oli’s favorite wrestler on the independent circuit).

.@RealKeithLee is my new favourite everything. Him and Ishii had a corker last night at @RevProUK.

— Oli Kawaii (@OliDavis) November 10, 2017

For those unfamiliar with Evolve or Progress, don’t worry, we here at WrestleTalk have you covered. Founded in 2010, Evolve Wrestling is an independent organization based out of Philadelphia and falls under the umbrella of the WWN family of wrestling promotions. Check out Evolve’s YouTube page to see amazing wrestling footage of superstars you might recognize:

Progress Wrestling, also affectionately dubbed “Punk Rock Pro Wrestling,” was established in the UK in 2012 and fashions itself as a “strong style” alternative to what fans see on the current wrestling landscape. The promotion will host shows – “Chapters 88 and 89” – on April 6 and 7 at the Pontchartrain Convention Centre in Kenner, Louisiana in addition to participating at Axxess.

The card for those events shapes up as follows and is subject to change:

Chapter 66 – 6th April, 12-3pm

Travis Banks (c) vs. Shane Strickland – PROGRESS World Championship
Grizzled Young Veterans (c) vs. Moustache Mountain – PROGRESS World Tag Team Championships
Pete Dunne vs. Flash Morgan Webster vs. Mark Andrews
Will Ospreay vs. Mark Haskins
Toni Storm & Shazza McKenzie vs. Jinny & Mercedes Martinez
Ringkampf (WALTER and Timothy Thatcher) vs. Sexy Starr (Jack Sexsmith and David Starr)
THUNDERB****RD MATCH: Austin Theory vs. Joey Janela vs. Jeff Cobb vs. Rickey Shane Page vs. Chris Brookes vs. Darby Allin vs. MJF vs. Parrow

Chapter 67 – 7th April, 12-3pm

WALTER vs. Zack Sabre Jr – No.1 Contender’s Match
Chris Brookes vs. Rey Horus

Much of this card depends on happenings at Chapter 66 – we’ll announce the rest of the Chapter 67 card after Chapter 66 is done!

To learn more about Progress, check out the organization’s website for news and other updates, or subscribe to Progress’ YouTube channel to see matches, interviews and other video content.

What do you think about Axxess receiving its own tournaments, championship matches and appearances from independent wrestlers? As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on our official Twitter page.

• WWE AXXESS
• WWN
• Evolve Wrestling
• breaking
• WrestleMania 34
• pete dunne
• toni storm
• PROGRESS
• Zack Sabre Jr
• travis banks
• Will Ospreay
• nxt
• wwe

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