Highlights
- Pete Dunne's return appears to be imminent as WWE dropped a hint on SmackDown.
- Tyler Bate suggests that Butch reconsider his identity and go back to his old name and style from NXT.
- Fans reacted positively to the potential return of Pete Dunne, as it suggests a transformation and a push for him.
The much-anticipated return of Pete Dunne appears to be on the horizon, as WWE dropped a significant hint during the latest episode of SmackDown. Previously known as Butch, a video aired on the show featuring a meeting between Butch and Tyler Bate following their recent tag team reunion. Bate addressed Butch's apparent struggle with identity and suggested a name change back to Pete Dunne.
He said:
"Now you want to make a name for yourself. Remember who told you that back in Blackpool? You need to look inward and ask yourself, 'Who was that guy?' You need to look inward and ask yourself, 'What is that name going to be?' Well?"
The video revealed Butch's reluctance to continue teaming with Bate, claiming their reunion was a one-time occurrence. Butch said his tag team days were in the past, including with the Brawling Brutes.
Bate suggested Butch rethink not being his tag partner, but also that Butch find himself again. Emphasizing that this was their opportunity to showcase the essence of British Strong Style to the world, Bate hinted at Butch going back to his old name and style from his days in NXT.
Notably, Butch, formerly Pete Dunne, had adopted the name when joining the main roster as part of The Brawling Brutes in 2022 and with the group being over, there's no reason to keep that name any longer.
Butch's Potential On The WWE Main Roster Is Being Wasted
Butch has massive potential. But since he's been called up to WWE's main roster, he's been nothing but wasted.Last week, Bate officially joined the SmackDown roster after making his debut as Butch's mystery partner against Pretty Deadly. WWE had Butch and Bate earn a decisive win over a heel tag team that had won a number of matches prior to that point. It teased that this new tag team could be a formidable duo. But, as Bate helps Butch navigate his personality crisis, it's not clear what the future holds for the duo.
Some Fans Will Be Excited To Have Pete Dunne Back
Immediate reaction to the idea of Dunne returning and the Butch name going by the wayside had a lot of fans on social media excited. The storyline suggests a potential transformation for Butch, reverting to the iconic Pete Dunne moniker and NXT fans know what that means. He'll get a push to help stablish a connection with British Strong Style and a more aggressive, less humorous side of his character will get the spotlight.
The exact timeline and details of the transformation remain to be seen.
