NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin is unable to leave Ireland due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and, as a result, he has been stripped of the title. General Manager William Regal announced the move on WWE's The Bump and said a tournament would be held for an interim belt.
Devlin has only been champion since late January, when he won a Fatal 4-Way match at Worlds Collide. The Irish Ace offered a statement to WWE about the decision to strip him of the title and also delivered a warning to the man who ends up winning it in Regal's tournament.
"So I got word from WWE today that due to the situation we are in, due to the worldwide travel ban, and due to the fact that I can’t go to America or England or anywhere else, I need to defend this title, the powers that be have decided they're going to hold a tournament to crown an interim NXT cruiserweight champion," Devlin explained. "Well, this is a message for the new champion: Whichever one of you frauds picks up the interim Cruiserweight title just know as soon as I am legally able to be there I am going to prove that not only is there just one Irish Ace, but there is only one NXT Cruiserweight Champion."
While Devlin is the only titleholder to be stranded somewhere, he's not the only WWE superstar -- or the only NXT roster member, for that matter. Regal said Pete Dunne is also unable to leave his native UK, so he has "a decision" to make regarding the NXT Tag Team titles, as well.