Recently promoted to the main roster, renamed Butch and part of the British Isles stable also made up of Sheamus and Ridge Holland, Pete Dunne has starred in memorable matches on NXT UK and NXT since early 2017, having carried the NXT United Kingdom Championship for 685 years. days, between May 2017 and April 2019.
Born on November 9, 1993, in the English city of Birmingham, Peter Thomas England started wrestling in 2006, when he was just 12 years old, having debuted in the ring the following year. After stints with British and Irish companies, The Bruiserweight worked with Japanese Michinoku Pro Wrestling and American Chikara before making his WWE debut in January 2017 by participating in a two-night tournament to determine the first United Kingdom Championship holder, having lost in the finals to Tyler Bate.
Four months later, he began a nearly two-year reign as UK champion, appearing on both NXT UK and NXT. After losing that title, he won the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic alongside Matt Riddle in January 2020 and won the NXT Tag Team Championship with the same partner the following month, but he enjoyed little of this condition as he was unable to travel. to the United States due to restrictions to combat the covid-19 pandemic, eventually being replaced by Timothy Thatcher. However, on March 11 of this year, during an episode of SmackDown, the Brit officially became part of the man roster. It is therefore worth recalling Pete Dunne’s ten best matches in WWE, in chronological order.
United Kingdom Championship Tournament (January 15, 2017)
The tournament final to determine the first holder of the WWE United Kingdom Championship: Tyler Bates vs. Pete Dunne
At a press conference held at The O2 Arena in London, WWE Chief Executive Triple H announced on December 15, 2016, that a 16-man tournament would be held the following month to determine the first holder of WWE United Kingdom. Championship, which would become NXT UK’s premiere title. On the way to the final, Englishman Tyler Bate eliminated Northern Irishman Tucker, Irishman Jordan Devlin and Scotsman Wolfgang. Compatriot Pete Dunne took out fellow Englishmen Roy Johnson and Sam Gradwell and Welshman Mark Andrews.
NXT TakeOver: Chicago (May 20, 2017)
WWE United Kingdom Championship: Tyler Bates (c) vs. Pete Dunne
On May 6, during a live event, Tyler Bate beat Joseph Conners to retain the WWE United Kingdom Championship. The following day, Tyler Bate successfully defended the title again by defeating Mark Andrews, while Pete Dunne got the better of Trent Seven to become the main contender for the WWE United Kingdom Championship at NXT TakeOver: Chicago .
NXT (December 20, 2017)
WWE United Kingdom Championship: Pete Dunne (c) vs. Tyler Bate
On the November 29, 2017, episode of NXT, Tyler Bate and Trent Seven defeated Pete Dunne and Mark Andrews in a tag team match, with Tyler Bate netting Pete Dunne after a Tyler Driver 97. The following week, it was announced that Dunne (Butch) would defend the WWE United Kingdom Championship against Bate on the December 20 episode.
NXT (September 19, 2018)
Winner Takes All match for the NXT North American Championship and WWE United Kingdom Championship: Ricochet ( North American ) vs. Pete Dunne ( United Kingdom )
On the August 29 episode of NXT, Pete Dunne (Butch) and Ricochet teamed up to face The Undisputed Era but lost due to a miscommunication. Both blamed the other for the defeat, which led to a match between the two, with their respective titles, the NXT North American Championship ( Ricochet ) and the WWE United Kingdom Championship (Pete Dunne), on the line.
NXT TakeOver: New York (April 5, 2019)
WWE United Kingdom Championship: Pete Dunne (c) vs. Walter
On January 12, 2019, at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool, Walter made his WWE debut by confronting United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne, who had just defended the title against Joe Coffey. The following week, Walter confronted Dunne and Joe Coffey, showing once again that he was intent on winning the WWE United Kingdom Championship. On the February 2 episode of NXT UK, Walter made his in-ring debut, beating Jack Starz in under four minutes. All of this led to a title match between Pete Dunne (Butch) and Walter being scheduled for NXT TakeOver: New York .
Survivor Series 2019
NXT Championship: Adam Cole (c) vs. Pete Dunne
On November 19, it was announced that Adam Cole would defend the NXT Championship at Survivor Series and that his opponent would be determined by a triple threat match taking place at TakeOver: WarGames on the eve of the historic pay-per-view. Pete Dunne beat Damian Priest and Killian Dain to win the title shot.
NXT (November 25, 2020)
Ladder match to determine which team takes advantage of the WarGames match: Kyle O’Reilly vs. Pete Dunne
At a time when The Undisputed Era ( Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong) were involved in a feud with the Kings of NXT (Pat McAfee, Pete Dunne, Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan) and both factions had matches scheduled in a WarGames match at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, a Ladder match was scheduled for the November 25, 2020 episode of NXT between one member of each group to determine who would have a head start in the WarGames match. The Undisputed Era chose Kyle O’Reilly to compete in the ladder match, while Pete Dunne (Butch) would represent the Kings of NXT
NXT (December 16, 2020)
Match to determine the main candidate for the NXT Championship: Kyle O’Reilly vs. Pete Dunne
NXT champion Finn Bálor opened the December 9 episode of NXT by announcing that he was going to defend the NXT Championship at New Year’s Evil, but that he was not especially concerned about who his opponent would be, referring to this matter as a problem from William Regal ( NXT General Manager ). Pete Dunne, Kyle O’Reilly, Damian Priest and Karrion Kross’ partner Scarlett claimed a title shot. Bálor dismissed Dunne, O’Reilly, and Priest, but seemed willing to accept the challenge from Kross, who appeared later in this episode to attack Priest, which led to a match between the two in New Year’s Evil. That said, a match was scheduled between Pete Dunne (Butch) and Kyle O’Reilly to determine the main contender for the NXT Championship.
NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day (February 14, 2021)
NXT Championship:Finn Balor (c) vs. Pete Dunne
On the February 3 episode of NXT, Pete Dunne demanded that NXT champion Finn Bálor give him a title shot. Bálor then went to the ring and told Dunne that he would give him the title shot at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day. At the same time, 2021 men’s Royal Rumble winner Edge said he would be looking out for the match between Bálor and Dunne (Butch) because he had never won the NXT Championship but also because he was still deciding which world title to fight for at WrestleMania 37
NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver – Night 1 (April 7, 2021)
Kushida vs. Pete Dunne
On the March 10 episode of NXT, Pete Dunne (Butch) proclaimed himself the best technicist fighter in the world. Two weeks later, it was Kushida’s turn to proclaim himself the best technicist fighter. On March 31, they both participated in an eleven-man Battle Royal worth participating in the 6-man Gauntlet Eliminator match to determine the main contender for the NXT North American Championship but ended up eliminating each other. Earlier, on the same night, Pete Dunne had interrupted an interview that Kushida was giving to tell him that the Brit was the best technical fighter in the world. This set of incidents led to a match between the two being scheduled for the first night of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
