Manchester card cancelled
Peterborough wrestler Bobby Roode had been scheduled to headline NXT card at Manchester Arena on June 6
An NXT wrestling card at Manchester Arena that was to be headlined by Peterborough professional wrestler Bobby Roode has been cancelled in the wake of Monday’s suicide bombing at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.
Roode had been scheduled to face Japanese star Hideo Itami for Roode’s NXT world men’s championship belt in the main event of the June 6 card at Manchester Arena.
World Wrestling Entertainment announced Friday that the card has been officially cancelled.
Many people who had bought tickets for the Mancaster card took to social media this week to say they were too upset by the bombing to attend.
Twenty-two people were killed and dozens were injured, many of them children, in the bombing.
Roode and his fellow touring NXT wrestlers are now scheduled to go to Manchester anyway on June 6 and visit “with those affected by the tragedy.”
“Out of respect for all those affected by the Manchester tragedy, WWE is cancelling the NXT event on Tuesday 6 June at the Manchester Arena,” WWE said in a statement.
“( We’ re) giving fans who purchased tickets to the show a full refund and offering them the option to receive a free ticket at point of purchase to the NXT show on Wednesday, June 7 at First Direct Arena in Leeds.”
NXT is WWE’s third touring brand, featuring stars such as Asuka, Kassius Ohno, Drew McIntyre, Roderick Strong and Canadian Eric Young of the SAnitY faction. They are featured on a weekly television show on the WWE Network cable channel and periodic NXT Takeover specials.
The Manchester stop is part of an NXT tour of the United Kingdom from June 5 to 11 that features cards in Aberdeen, Leeds, Brighton and the Download Festival in Donnington.
Roode made his in-ring NXT debut at the Download Festival a year ago in an unadvertised surprise appearance.
After making enhancement talent appearances in the WWE from 2001 to 2003, Roode joined TNA Impact Wrestling in 2004 and went on to be men’s heavyweight champion twice and tag team champion six times before leaving the promotion early last year after a 12-year run.
He then made a surprise appearance in the crowd at the April 1, 2016 NXT Takeover: Dallas, signalling he had reached a deal to join the WWE.
Roo de wont heNX Tm en’ s championship on Jan .28 atNXT Take Over: San Antonio from Japanese star Shinsuke Nakamura and has since defended the title at NXT TakeOver events on April 1 in Orlando, Fla. in a rematch with Nakamura and last Saturday in Chicago against Itami.
A future feud with Strong, who recently joined NXT after a 13-year run with the Ring of Honor promotion, is brewing.