WWE NXT UK and the Perfect Timing of Pete Dunne
At only 24 years old, Pete Dunne has the mighty responsibility of leading Triple H’s “global localization” in NXT. So far, though, Dunne has only proven that no cross is too big for the Bruiserweight to bear.
Not many 24 year olds today can hold down a stable job. Some may not even be out of college yet, depending on how long their program lasts. Thankfully for Pete Dunne, he is not like most 24 year olds. No, Dunne is something special. Turning 25 in November, he is currently an underrated gem of the largest professional wrestling company on the planet. As 205 Live‘s Lio Rush might put it, he is the right man, in the right place, at the right time.
But, back up for a second; how did he get here? How did Dunne, an independent wrestler from England, become one of NXT’s top stars, and the man who will lead NXT UK into the near future? It started when he won the WWE United Kingdom Championship, which began a perfect run at just the right time.
Dunne has been United Kingdom Champion now for over 400 days. After defeating Zack Gibson in the second annual WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament, his reign has no feasible end in sight. And really, that might be the best option for the title right now. Dunne won the title from Tyler Bate in May 2017, in the best match of Takeover: Chicago. Since then, he has only defended it a handful of times under the WWE umbrella. However, herein lies the beauty of his title reign: Dunne is not confined to WWE.
The landscape of professional wrestling is changing. Beneath WWE, independent promotions are collaborating, sharing talent, and loosening their borders on the wrestlers that compete for them. The partnership between Ring of Honor Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling is something truly special for both companies, and that’s just the first that comes to mind. While WWE’s main roster remains unmoved, NXT has taken full advantage of friendly promotions with which to share their talent. Pete Dunne and his United Kingdom Championship have benefitted like few others from these exchanges.
More from Daily DDT
- It’s time for Adam Cole and MJF to drop the ROH tag team titles
- Tom Lawlor talks MLW return, AEW opportunity, CM Punk’s WWE return and more
- Eddie Kingston stands to gain the most from the AEW Continental Classic
- Trish Stratus on WWE NXT would help elevate that women’s division
- Randy Orton signs with SmackDown to go after The Bloodline
Outside of NXT, Dunne has had incredible matches on the British and American independent scenes. His time as Progress World Champion, as well as his Pro Wrestling Revolver Tag Team Championship reign with 18 year old Millie McKenzie, have made Dunne one of the most versatile indie and WWE stars. Perhaps most importantly for Dunne, however, is that the man in charge thinks he is right for the job.
Triple H himself has been vocal about his support of Dunne, and his booking both inside and outside of NXT has shown that. Dunne has been booked like the powerhouse of the new UK division, like he deserves to be. So, where does that leave NXT right now?
With the advent of NXT UK in the coming months, the United Kingdom Championship needed stability. Dunne has not only provided that stability, but he has made the title feel special to the entire brand.
If WWE didn’t allow Dunne to defend his championship outside of their shows, he might feel like a British Brock Lesnar. But, the fact that he has made so many defenses in Progress, Fight Club Pro, and other British promotions yields the exact opposite effect. Dunne’s title feels more special than nearly any other championship in WWE or NXT, because it truly feels like a world championship. After all, Dunne’s willingness to take on any challenger from anywhere makes every match feel fresh and exciting.
Next: Did Dalton Castle Deserve A Better Title Reign In ROH?
At the end of the day, Dunne’s title reign will have to end eventually. Despite his 5-foot-10 frame, Dunne oozes charisma in a way that few other talents can, so he could feasibly become a star on the main roster. Pete Dunne came into Triple H’s hand at the perfect time, and NXT’s main man certainly chose the right man for the job in his global localization efforts.
When someone takes the title off of him, and Dunne moves on to the main roster, he can feel proud of his efforts as a brilliant United Kingdom Champion. That is a sign of a truly special world championship title in the NXT UK division.