Kit Wilson Bio
Kit Wilson is an English professional wrestler signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand as one half of the tag team Pretty Deadly alongside Lewis Howley, who performs as Elton Prince. Together, the duo has built a reputation as one of the most accomplished tag teams in recent WWE history, capturing championships on multiple brands. Wilson has been active in professional wrestling since 2015, working across the British independent circuit before joining WWE.
Wilson and Howley are former two-time NXT Tag Team Champions and one-time NXT UK Tag Team Champions, making them only the second team to have held both the NXT and NXT UK Tag Team Championships. Their blend of sharp in-ring fundamentals and a confident, theatrical persona has made them a consistent presence in WWE’s tag team division.
Early Life and Background
Kit Wilson, born Sam Stoker on 21 November 1994, grew up in London, England. He developed an interest in professional wrestling during his formative years, eventually pursuing the sport as a career. Wilson was previously known on the independent circuit by the ring name Sammy Smooth before adopting his current persona.
Wilson began training for a career in professional wrestling and debuted on the British independent scene, where he first crossed paths with Lewis Howley. Together, they laid the groundwork for what would become one of WWE’s notable tag team acts of the early 2020s.
Path to Professional Wrestling
Wilson and Howley first competed together as a team under the name Greased Lightning on 14 November 2015 at a WrestleForce Live event in Basingstoke, facing Lance Lawrence and Oliver Peace. After that brief appearance, both men returned to competing as singles wrestlers on the British independent circuit, sharpening their skills individually before regrouping.
The pair officially reunited as a tag team on 2 February 2019 at a Hustle Wrestling Live event in Enfield, defeating Justin Case and Justin Vincible. They built a name for themselves on the British independent scene, working with promotions including Progress Wrestling and Revolution Pro Wrestling. During their time with International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom, they captured the IPW:UK Tag Team Championship once as Pretty Bastards, establishing themselves as a championship-caliber team before catching WWE’s attention.
Kit Wilson Career
Early Career (2015–2020)
Wilson’s early career was rooted in the British independent circuit, where he and Howley competed under various names including Pretty Bastards and a freebird trio called The Collective that included James Castle. Their work with IPW:UK produced their first recognized tag team championship, signaling their growing reputation within the United Kingdom wrestling scene.
During this developmental phase, the duo worked consistently across multiple British promotions, building chemistry and refining the flashy, character-driven style that would later define their WWE run. Their independent success positioned them for an opportunity with WWE’s developmental system.
WWE and NXT UK Era (2019–2022)
Wilson and Howley made sporadic appearances across NXT UK in 2019 before making their official WWE debut in a losing effort to Wild Boar and Primate. After a six-month hiatus, they returned to the United Kingdom and secured their first victory in WWE, building momentum toward championship contention.
On 28 January 2021, they defeated Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster, Oliver Carter and Ashton Smith, and The Hunt in a fatal four-way match to become the number one contenders for the NXT UK Tag Team Championship. They captured the titles on 25 February 2021 by defeating Gallus, beginning a reign that lasted 287 days. Their successful defenses included matches against Amir Jordan and Kenny Williams, Jack Starz and Nathan Frazer, Subculture, and Moustache Mountain, before losing the titles to Moustache Mountain on 9 December 2021.
On 5 April 2022, Wilson and Howley debuted on the NXT brand under the ring names Elton Prince and Kit Wilson, revealing themselves as the attackers of the Creed Brothers. The following week, they won a gauntlet match to capture the vacant NXT Tag Team Championship, becoming the first team to win the titles on their NXT debut and only the second team to have held both the NXT and NXT UK Tag Team Championships. Their first NXT Tag Team Championship reign ended at 53 days when they lost to the Creed Brothers at NXT In Your House on 4 June 2022.
At Worlds Collide on 4 September 2022, Pretty Deadly won a fatal four-way tag team elimination match to unify the NXT and NXT UK Tag Team Championships. Their second NXT Tag Team Championship reign ended at NXT Deadline when they lost to The New Day, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. After a feud with Tony D’Angelo and Channing Lorenzo that included a trunk match loss at Spring Breakin, the team wrapped up their NXT run.
SmackDown Era (2023–Present)
As part of the 2023 WWE Draft, Pretty Deadly was drafted to the SmackDown brand. They made their SmackDown debut on 19 May 2023, defeating Ridge Holland and Butch of The Brawling Brutes. On 16 June 2023, they won a tag team gauntlet match to become the number one contenders for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship, though they fell short against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn on 30 June 2023 in London.
On 14 July 2023, Howley, performing as Elton Prince, suffered a separated shoulder during a match against The Brawling Brutes, sidelining the team. Pretty Deadly returned on 13 October 2023 with a victory over Holland and Butch. On 10 January 2025, they lost to Los Garza in a first-round number one contendership match for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Style and Strengths
Kit Wilson and Elton Prince are known for their flashy, character-driven style that blends sharp technical tag team wrestling with theatrical showmanship. Their chemistry as a team, built over a decade of working together, allows them to execute seamless double-team maneuvers and adapt to a variety of opponents. Their villainous persona and confident presentation have made them a memorable act in WWE’s tag team division.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining milestones of Wilson’s career came on 5 April 2022, when Pretty Deadly became the first tag team to win the NXT Tag Team Championship on their NXT debut. Their subsequent unification of the NXT and NXT UK Tag Team Championships at Worlds Collide further cemented their legacy as one of the brand’s most decorated teams.
Kit Wilson Career Wins
Kit Wilson, alongside Lewis Howley as Pretty Deadly, has captured multiple championships across WWE’s developmental and main roster brands. Their championship success spans the NXT UK Tag Team Championship, the NXT Tag Team Championship on two occasions, and the unified NXT Tag Team Championship, highlighting their consistent presence in the title picture.
WWE Tag Team Championship Highlights
Pretty Deadly captured the NXT UK Tag Team Championship on 25 February 2021 by defeating Gallus, holding the titles for 287 days. Their reign included successful defenses against several prominent teams before losing to Moustache Mountain on 9 December 2021.
Their first NXT Tag Team Championship came on 12 April 2022 in a gauntlet match, making them the first team to win the titles on their NXT debut. They later unified the NXT and NXT UK Tag Team Championships at Worlds Collide on 4 September 2022, reigning as NXT Tag Team Champions for 98 days before losing to The New Day at NXT Deadline.
Other Wins and Performances
Before joining WWE, Wilson and Howley captured the IPW:UK Tag Team Championship once as Pretty Bastards, and competed across respected British promotions including Progress Wrestling and Revolution Pro Wrestling. On the main roster, they won a number one contenders’ gauntlet match on SmackDown in June 2023, positioning themselves for an Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship opportunity.
Kit Wilson Family
Personal Life
Since 22 September 2024, Kit Wilson has been married to fellow professional wrestler Lucy Bridge, who until October 2025 performed in WWE on the NXT brand under the ring name Stevie Turner. Wilson, whose real name is Sam Stoker, was previously known on the independent circuit by the ring name Sammy Smooth.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season for Kit Wilson and Pretty Deadly began with a first-round loss to Los Garza on the 10 January 2025 episode of SmackDown in a number one contendership match for the WWE Tag Team Championship. The defeat placed the team outside the immediate championship picture on the SmackDown brand early in the year.
Despite the setback, Pretty Deadly remained a recognizable presence in the SmackDown tag team division, drawing on their pedigree as former multi-time champions. Their experience and signature style continued to position them as a team capable of climbing back into contention.
With the WWE Tag Team Championship landscape evolving throughout 2025, Wilson and Howley are expected to pursue another opportunity to recapture tag team gold on SmackDown. Their track record of high-profile matches and championship experience makes them a team to watch in the division.
