10 Wrestlers Whose Stock Has Risen In 2017
4. Pete Dunne
Unless you’re a keen British independent wrestling follower, chances are you didn’t even know Pete Dunne’s name prior to the WWE UK Title Tournament. ‘The Bruiserweight’s’ rise has been astronomical, and nothing exemplifies this better than TakeOver: Chicago, when he and Tyler Bate created one of the year’s most electric live atmospheres inside the Allstate Arena.
18 months ago, Dunne was no more than a middling tag wrestler on the UK indies. Now, he’s one of his country’s biggest wrestling stars. His rise started in 2016, but 2017 has sent him stratospheric, and, more than anyone else on the WWE UK roster, Pete feels like a genuine superstar. He’s an ideal choice to build the fledgling UK brand around, and now that he has the Championship, his notoriety will continue to grow.
We already know that Triple H is a big fan of his work, which should put Dunne in a strong position going forward. It remains to be seen what WWE’s long-term plans for their UK expansion are, but thanks to the work they’ve done this year, Pete is a guy who wouldn’t look at all out of place if he became a permanent Raw or SmackDown superstar tomorrow.