This week’s episode of SmackDown featured an interesting debut as former NXT UK Champion Pete Dunne was called up and it was quickly revealed that his name has been changed to Butch.
Fightful Select was told throughout the day that “something very dumb” would be happening on Friday’s episode of SmackDown, and numerous people noted that it would be a name change for a talent people already knew.
Wrestlers outside of the company reportedly knew about the name change the day before, and some speculated that it could be a “Bushwhackers rib” because Ridge Holland’s real name is Luke. Another former WWE name believed that the name was based on “Butch” from The Little Rascals.
Pete Dunne’s transformation into Butch on Friday Night SmackDown this week was said to be an official call-up, and originally Butch was set to team with Sheamus and Ridge Holland to take on The New Day at WrestleMania before Big E got injured.
Production was specifically instructed not to refer to Butch as “Pete Dunne.” It was also noted that Pete Dunne re-signed with WWE last summer. Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.
