10 Times Wrestling Fans Turned On Internet Darlings

2. Pete Dunne

Pete Dunne
WWE

In 15 years' time, when a suit-wearing Pete Dunne waltzes into shot on NXT UK, making a main event match for tonight, he will have earned the spot and you mustn't begrudge him. He's putting the hard work in now by assuming the role of British wrestling gatekeeper on Twitter, surfacing rarely - but with a stern authority, much like a Brummie Jack Tunney - to show errant UK talent "the way".

Or rather, what isn't "the way".

When a BritWres lad attempts alien concepts such as "banter" or "not staunchly defending WWE without irony", they earn a b*llocking from Dunne. WWE has helped the Independent scene, he reminds them, the evidence for which he appears to have eaten at the finger food buffet, Nigel!

There's a common misconception about Dunne's wrestling nickname of the 'Bruiserweight'. It's not a pun, but rather a portmanteau of "bootlicking cruiserweight," and this sort of behaviour has earned the ire of a home nation left without much of a scene to enjoy.

Pete Dunne is an absolutely fantastic professional wrestler, but the former PROGRESS World Champion is about as punk rock as Avril Lavigne, not that he'd profess to listening to anything of the sort.

"You like Motörhead? No way, me too!"

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!