Elton Prince Bio
Elton Prince is a professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment, performing on the SmackDown brand as part of the English tag team Pretty Deadly. The team consists of Elton Prince and his tag team partner Kit Wilson, with whom he has achieved significant success in WWE’s developmental and main roster systems. Prince has established himself as a skilled tag team competitor with multiple championship reigns across WWE’s NXT and NXT UK brands.
During his time in WWE, Elton Prince has become a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion and one-time NXT UK Tag Team Champion as part of Pretty Deadly. The duo has competed in high-profile matches and storylines, showcasing their abilities as both athletic competitors and charismatic villains. Prince’s journey through professional wrestling has taken him from the independent circuit to the global stage of WWE’s main roster.
Early Life and Background
Elton Prince was born as Lewis Howley and hails from Grays, Thurrock, Essex, England. He attended Hassenbrook Academy in Stanford-le-Hope, Thurrock, during his formative years. His path to professional wrestling began with training at the DKW Academy in Purfleet, Essex, where he studied under the guidance of Jon Ritchie, Paul Jerome, and Lucas Jackson.
The foundation of Prince’s wrestling career was built through extensive training and early competition in the British independent wrestling scene. His development period helped shape the skills and persona that would later become integral to his success in WWE. Before achieving prominence, Prince appeared on an episode of the television show First Dates in 2017, showcasing aspects of his personality outside the wrestling ring.
Path to Professional Wrestling
Elton Prince began his professional wrestling journey in 2015 on the independent circuit. His first recorded match occurred on November 14, 2015, under the team name Greased Lightning, competing against Lance Lawrence and Oliver Peace on WrestleForce Live in Basingstoke. After this initial appearance, Prince returned to singles competition before eventually forming a more permanent tag team partnership.
Prince gained valuable experience working with various promotions including Progress Wrestling and Revolution Pro Wrestling. He and his future partner captured the IPW:UK Tag Team Championship once as Pretty Bastards and also held the titles as part of a freebird trio known as The Collective, which included James Castle. This period of competition helped refine his skills and prepare him for the opportunity to join WWE.
Elton Prince Career
Early Career (2015-2020)
Elton Prince spent several years competing on the British independent wrestling circuit before joining WWE. During this period, he and Sam Stoker, now known as Kit Wilson, formed their tag team partnership on February 2, 2019, at Hustle Wrestling Live in Enfield, where they defeated Justin Case and Justin Vincible. The duo honed their craft across multiple independent promotions, developing the chemistry and in-ring style that would become their trademark.
The team’s success on the independent circuit included winning tag team championships and gaining recognition for their performances. Their work with promotions like IPW:UK, Progress Wrestling, and Revolution Pro Wrestling provided them with the platform to showcase their abilities to a wider audience. This independent circuit success ultimately led to WWE signing the team, marking the beginning of their journey to international prominence.
NXT UK Breakthrough (2020-2022)
Pretty Deadly made their official WWE debut on NXT UK in 2019, though their appearances were sporadic initially. Their first WWE match ended in a loss to Wild Boar and Primate, forcing them to take a six-month hiatus before returning to competition. The team secured their number one contender status for the NXT UK Tag Team Championship on January 28, 2021, by defeating Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster, Oliver Carter and Ashton Smith, and The Hunt in a fatal four-way tag team match.
On February 25, 2021, Pretty Deadly defeated Gallus to capture the NXT UK Tag Team Championship, marking their first title victory in WWE. They successfully defended the championship against several teams including Amir Jordan and Kenny Williams, Jack Starz and Nathan Frazer, and Subculture’s Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster. Their reign lasted 287 days before they lost the titles to Moustache Mountain in a rematch on December 9, 2021.
NXT Breakthrough (2022)
Pretty Deadly made their NXT brand debut on April 5, 2022, revealing themselves as the attackers of the Creed Brothers. The following week, they won a gauntlet match against Legado Del Fantasma, Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen, and Grayson Waller and Sanga to capture the vacant NXT Tag Team Championship. This victory made them the first tag team to win the titles on their NXT debut and the second team to have won both NXT and NXT UK Tag Team Championships.
After losing the titles to the Creed Brothers at NXT In Your House on June 4, 2022, ending their first reign at 53 days, Pretty Deadly continued their pursuit of championship gold. At Worlds Collide on September 4, 2022, they defeated The Creed Brothers, Gallus, and Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs in a fatal four-way tag team elimination match to unify the NXT and NXT UK Tag Team Championships. They held the unified titles until NXT Deadline, when they lost to The New Day, ending their second reign at 98 days.
SmackDown Era (2023-Present)
As part of the 2023 WWE Draft, Pretty Deadly were drafted to the SmackDown brand, marking their transition to WWE’s main roster. They made their SmackDown debut on May 19, 2023, defeating Ridge Holland and Butch of The Brawling Brutes. The team quickly established themselves in the tag team division, winning a tag team gauntlet match on June 16, 2023, to become number one contenders for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship.
Prince suffered a separated shoulder during a match against The Brawling Brutes on July 14, 2023, which sidelined him for several months. Pretty Deadly returned to action on October 13, 2023, with a victory over Holland and Butch. In 2025, the team competed in a first round number one contendership match against Los Garza but were unsuccessful in their bid to challenge for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Style and Strengths
Elton Prince is known for his technical wrestling ability and tag team coordination with partner Kit Wilson. Their team chemistry and ability to work together seamlessly have been key factors in their championship success. Prince combines athletic ability with strategic thinking, making him effective in both offensive and defensive situations inside the ring.
Notable Events and Milestones
Pretty Deadly achieved the distinction of being the first tag team to win the NXT Tag Team Championship on their NXT debut. They also became only the second team in WWE history to win both the NXT and NXT UK Tag Team Championships. Their unification of the NXT and NXT UK Tag Team Championships at Worlds Collide in 2022 stands as a significant milestone in their WWE career.
Elton Prince Career Wins
Elton Prince has achieved multiple championship victories throughout his professional wrestling career, primarily as part of the Pretty Deadly tag team. His accomplishments include holding tag team titles in both WWE’s developmental system and on the main roster, establishing him as a successful tag team specialist.
NXT UK Highlights
Pretty Deadly won the NXT UK Tag Team Championship once, defeating Gallus on February 25, 2021. Their reign lasted 287 days, during which they successfully defended the title against several notable teams including Amir Jordan and Kenny Williams, Jack Starz and Nathan Frazer, and Moustache Mountain.
NXT Highlights
Pretty Deadly captured the NXT Tag Team Championship twice during their tenure on the NXT brand. Their first reign began on April 12, 2022, and lasted 53 days. Their second reign started on September 4, 2022, when they unified the NXT and NXT UK Tag Team Championships, and continued for 98 days until losing to The New Day.
| Series | Tag Team Championships | Days as Champion |
|---|---|---|
| NXT UK | 1 | 287 |
| NXT | 2 | 151 |
Elton Prince Family
Personal Life
Elton Prince is currently in a relationship with Kelly Verbil, who works as a backstage reporter for WWE NXT under the on-screen name Kelly Kincaid. Verbil is also a former professional wrestler. The couple welcomed their daughter on September 20, 2024. Prince maintains his residence in England while competing for WWE.
2025 Season Performance
As of 2025, Elton Prince continues his run on the SmackDown brand as part of Pretty Deadly. The team faced Los Garza in a first round number one contendership match on January 10, 2025, but were unsuccessful in their attempt to secure a title opportunity. This match represented their continued presence in the WWE tag team division and their pursuit of championship opportunities on the main roster.
Pretty Deadly’s focus in 2025 remains on climbing the ranks of the SmackDown tag team division and positioning themselves for another shot at WWE Tag Team Championship gold. The team’s combination of in-ring skill and experience from their successful NXT runs positions them as credible contenders in the tag team landscape. Their ongoing partnership and chemistry continue to be their greatest assets as they seek to add main roster championships to their resume.
