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Netflix Cutting Pete Dunne WWE Promo Signals Push

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Laurence Gibbons | Last updated Jan 24, 2025 10:17 AM ET

Netflix cutting a promo and airing a shocking statistic highlights a push that could be coming for Pete Dunne. Dunne featured prominently on WWE Raw this week as he faced Penta in a 10-minute bout. The “Bruiserweight” was on top for most of the match before falling victim to the hottest new star in WWE Penta.

But it is a section of WWE Raw that aired live and has since been cut from Netflix, that signals Pete Dunne could be primed for a push. Dunne entered the American Airlines Center in Dallas to cries of ‘Butch’ from the crowd. After dressing down the mouthy fans on the entrance ramp, Dunne took to the mic.

Conspiracy Against Dunne On Netflix

Here, he targeted WWE officials for keeping him off Netflix for the first two weeks. He also vented his anger at WWE management for trying to bury him by giving him the disastrous name Butch. At this point, the live feed cut out.

Michael Cole referenced what had happened when the feed was restored. Dunne is being tested as a CM Punk-esque ‘pipebomb’ anti-establishment character.

However, WWE has also been keen to shed some hints that Dunne deserves to be treated with respect.

More TV Wins Than Rhodes & Uso

Dunne had more TV victories than Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso in 2024. WWE made sure to tell its viewers this on the inaugural WWE Raw on Netflix.

Whilst Jey Uso waited to face Drew McIntyre, a graphic showed the leaderboard for 20+ televised wins in 2024.

Bianca Belair led with 29, followed by Bron Breakker with 24, Damian Priest with 23, and Dunne with 22.

Uso and Rhodes were both shown to have 21 TV wins.

In the new Netflix Era of WWE, everything matters,zip-tied, and we are told things for a reason. Choosing the premiere episode of WWE Raw on Netflix – which drew 4.9 million viewers – to tell us this means Dunne is someone WWE wants its audience to know about.

Dunne In 2024

Dunne spent the latter part of 2024 hurting anyone that dared call him Butch. The segments took place predominately on WWE online exclusives. But the “don’t call me Butch” bit now being transferred to Netflix signals WWE might be finally about to push Dunne.

Dunne had a satisfying mini-feud with Sheamus last year that climaxed with a superb Good Ol’ Fashioned Donnybrook match in October. It was a busy 2024 for Dunne. He challenged for the NXT Championship, the Speed Championship, and the Tag Team Championship last year.

The latter saw him compete on night one of WWE WrestleMania 40 in front of more than 70,000 fans and at the Elimination Chamber in Australia in front of a crowd of over 47,000.

As we build up to WrestleMania 41 it isn’t totally inconceivable that WWE could have plans for Dunne to compete in his first singles match at “The Showcase of the Immortals”.

Breakout, Bate & Butch

Dunne was the breakout star of the United Kingdom tournament in 2017. Despite coming up short of Tyler Bate in the final, he soon won the UK Championship at NXT TakeOver: Chicago. Many called this contest the match of the year.

Dunne held the championship for 685 days before losing it to Walter. Kurt Angle highlighted him as a future star when he was a shock opponent for Enzo Amore on WWE Raw in November 2017.

Dunne feuded with the hottest stars in NXT and many fans anticipated his transfer to the main roster.

When he did finally make the move, many were left scratching their heads at him being renamed Butch. Despite this, he competed in many entertaining multi-man matches as part of Sheamus’s Brawling Brutes faction.

Pete Dunne started 2024 off with a bang when he got his name back and formed a team with longtime friend Bate. Bate’s injury was the spark for Dunne to go it alone and build towards the push we may be about to see.