Pete Dunne

Pete Dunne Bio

Peter Thomas England, known professionally as Pete Dunne, is an English professional wrestler, trainer, and producer. Born on 9 November 1993 in Solihull, West Midlands, England, Dunne began his wrestling training at age 12 in 2006 and made his debut match in 2007. Throughout his career, Dunne has competed across the global independent circuit and currently performs in WWE on the Raw brand, where he also portrays the masked luchador character Rayo Americano. Dunne is recognized as a former WWE United Kingdom Champion and NXT Tag Team Champion, holding the latter title alongside Matt Riddle.

Beyond his in-ring career, Dunne serves as a producer for WWE and its sister promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide. He previously worked as a producer for NXT UK and WWE Speed. Dunne co-founded Defend Indy Wrestling, a clothing line for independent wrestling fans, alongside fellow wrestlers Mark Andrews and Eddie Dennis. As of 2024, he competes as part of New Catch Republic with Tyler Bate, a team that evolved from the British Strong Style stable.

Early Life and Background

Peter Thomas England was born in Solihull on 9 November 1993 and was raised in Chelmsley Wood. He began training at Phoenix Wrestling in Coventry under Steve “Psycho” Edwards in 2006, though he later described this early training as providing only “the basics.” His first wrestling appearance occurred at the 2007 Holbrooks Festival in Coventry, where he first met and wrestled Mark Andrews, who would become a significant figure in his career.

England initially competed under a mask as Tiger Kid until January 2010, when he lost a hair versus mask match to Helix at Riot Act Wrestling in Kent. Following this match, he retired the Tiger Kid character and adopted the Pete Dunne ring name, beginning to perform regularly in a tag team with his kayfabe brother Damian Dunne. He worked extensively for small independent promotions in the Birmingham area, including EDW Wrestling in Shrewsbury and Kamikaze Pro Wrestling in Birmingham.

During his formative years, Dunne trained with friends including Mark Andrews in a repurposed boxing ring at a community centre in Cardiff during school holidays. He co-founded Attack! Pro Wrestling in 2011 with ring announcer Jim Lee to create more opportunities for their group of friends. Dunne began competing internationally and more regularly in 2011, working for promotions including LDN Wrestling in England, Dublin Championship Wrestling in Ireland, Celtic Wrestling and Welsh Wrestling in Wales, and PBW in Scotland.

Path to Professional Wrestling

Dunne’s early career was characterized by extensive work on the British independent circuit. He became a prominent figure in Attack! Pro Wrestling, where he transitioned from a face to a heel in January 2015 at an event themed as a farewell for Mark Andrews before his TNA Wrestling signing. From mid-2015 to 2016, Dunne held the ATTACK! 24/7 Championship for an unprecedented 307 consecutive days while simultaneously feuding with Eddie Dennis and Wild Boar for the title.

His reputation grew through appearances in major independent promotions including Progress Wrestling, Revolution Pro Wrestling, Insane Championship Wrestling, and Westside Xtreme Wrestling. Dunne debuted in Progress at Chapter 13 in May 2014, defeating Robbie X. He won the Progress Tag Team Championship with Trent Seven at Chapter 36, and by December 2016, British Strong Style dominated Progress with all championships under their control.

In September 2014, Dunne made his debut for Chikara as part of “Team UK” in the King of Trios tournament. He returned to Chikara in 2017 as part of “House Strong Style” alongside Trent Seven and Tyler Bate, winning the 2017 King of Trios tournament. These independent circuit performances and his work with British Strong Style established Dunne as one of Europe’s most respected wrestlers, leading to his WWE opportunity in 2017.

Pete Dunne Career

Early Career (2007–2016)

After debuting in 2007, Dunne spent nearly a decade building his reputation on the independent circuit. He toured with Japanese promotion Michinoku Pro Wrestling for three months in 2013, teaming with Jason Larusso in his debut match and defeating Ayumu Gunji in his first singles match in Japan. This international experience expanded his wrestling style and exposure to different wrestling philosophies.

Dunne’s breakthrough in the United Kingdom independent scene came through his work with Progress Wrestling and Revolution Pro Wrestling. He won the RPW British Cruiserweight Championship in January 2016, holding the title until July while defending against competitors including Morgan Webster, Sonjay Dutt, and Will Ospreay. His time as Progress World Champion further elevated his status, defeating opponents including Zack Sabre Jr. and successfully defending the championship multiple times before losing to Travis Banks in September 2017.

NXT UK Breakthrough (2017–2022)

Dunne entered WWE through the United Kingdom Championship Tournament in January 2017, defeating Roy Johnson, Sam Gradwell, and Mark Andrews before losing to Tyler Bate in the finals. Despite the loss, he signed with WWE and made his NXT debut in February 2017 against Mark Andrews. At NXT TakeOver: Chicago in May 2017, Dunne defeated Tyler Bate to win the WWE United Kingdom Championship, a match that was later named Match of the Year at the NXT Year-End Awards.

His reign as United Kingdom Champion became historic. At NXT TakeOver: New York in April 2019, Dunne lost the title to Walter after a record-setting 685-day reign. During this period, he also won the NXT Tag Team Championship with Matt Riddle as The BroserWeights, winning the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and defeating Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly at NXT TakeOver: Portland in February 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily halted his career, as he was unable to travel to the United States from March to October 2020.

SmackDown and Raw Era (2022–Present)

Dunne made his main roster debut on SmackDown in March 2022 under the ring name Butch, aligning himself with Ridge Holland and Sheamus in The Brawling Brutes faction. As Butch, he competed in various tag team matches and singles competition, including qualifying for the Money in the Bank ladder match in June 2023. In January 2024, he reunited with Tyler Bate to reform British Strong Style after Bate was promoted to SmackDown.

On the January 19, 2024 episode of SmackDown, Dunne returned to using his original ring name. The team was renamed New Catch Republic in February 2024. New Catch Republic were drafted to the Raw brand during the 2024 WWE Draft in the supplemental draft. In July 2024, the team went on hiatus after Bate suffered a torn pectoral muscle injury. They returned to Raw in March 2025 and introduced their masked characters Rayo Americano and Bravo Americano in July 2025.

Style and Strengths

Dunne is nicknamed “The Bruiserweight” in reference to both his weight class and wrestling style. His approach primarily consists of brawling, stiff strikes, submission grappling, and bending of his opponents’ fingers. His finishing maneuver is a pumphandle reverse STO called the Bitter End, originally named Drop Dead. When he adopted the Butch character on the main roster, Dunne transitioned into a more manic and aggressive style that complemented his already intense presence.

Notable Events and Milestones

Dunne’s career is defined by several significant milestones. His 685-day reign as WWE United Kingdom Champion remains the longest in the title’s history. Winning the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic with Matt Riddle and capturing the NXT Tag Team Championship established him as a major player in WWE’s developmental system. His victory in the 2017 King of Trios tournament with British Strong Style at Chikara highlighted his international reputation. The formation of New Catch Republic and his ongoing partnership with Tyler Bate continues his legacy in tag team wrestling.

Pete Dunne Career Wins

Pete Dunne has accumulated numerous championships across multiple promotions throughout his career. His most significant achievements include historic reigns in WWE and prominent titles on the independent circuit. Dunne’s success spans singles competition, tag team wrestling, and tournament victories.

WWE Highlights

Dunne captured the WWE United Kingdom Championship in May 2017 at NXT TakeOver: Chicago, defeating Tyler Bate. His 685-day reign remains the longest in the title’s history, including successful defenses against opponents including Zack Gibson, Roderick Strong, and Joe Coffey. In February 2020, Dunne and Matt Riddle won the NXT Tag Team Championship at NXT TakeOver: Portland after winning the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament. These victories established Dunne as a top performer in WWE’s NXT and NXT UK brands.

Other Wins and Performances

On the independent circuit, Dunne achieved significant recognition. He won the Progress World Championship, defeating Jimmy Havoc to claim the title. Dunne also held the Progress Tag Team Championship with Trent Seven. In Revolution Pro Wrestling, he captured the RPW British Cruiserweight Championship in January 2016 and defended it successfully against several opponents before losing to Will Ospreay. He won the 2017 King of Trios tournament at Chikara as part of House Strong Style alongside Trent Seven and Tyler Bate.

Pete Dunne Family

Personal Life

Like his British Strong Style teammates Tyler Bate and Trent Seven, England became a vegan after watching the 2014 documentary Cowspiracy. This dietary choice aligns with his lifestyle outside of wrestling. He maintains a close friendship with Bate and Seven, both personally and professionally, which has translated into their successful partnerships in the ring across multiple promotions and characters.

2025 Season Performance

In 2025, Pete Dunne and New Catch Republic made their return to Raw after a period of hiatus. The team returned to in-ring competition in March 2025, re-establishing their presence on the Raw roster. July 2025 marked a significant creative shift for Dunne and Bate as they debuted masked characters. Dunne began portraying a masked luchador character initially referred to as El Grande Americano before being renamed Rayo Americano on the September 29 episode of Raw.

Alongside Tyler Bate, who performs as Bravo Americano, the duo competes collectively as Los Americanos. This new direction expands Dunne’s versatility as a performer, showcasing his ability to adapt to different wrestling styles and personas. Additionally in 2025, Dunne expanded his role behind the scenes as a producer for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, WWE’s sister promotion. This dual role allows him to contribute to the wrestling industry both in front of and behind the camera.