8 Things You Didn't Know About WWE UK Champion Pete Dunne

6. Dunne Helped Train Tyler Bate

Staring at the bright lights of the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool and hearing his real-life friend be announced as the first ever WWE UK Champion must have been strange for Pete Dunne. As proud as he surely was of Tyler Bate on 15 January 2017, it wouldn't have escaped Dunne's attention that the pupil had overtaken the teacher.

Long before Bate was ready to wrestle on shows, he was sitting under the learning tree of Pete Dunne. Four years older than his new friend, Dunne was only too willing to impart knowledge he had gleaned over the years to Bate, and help him gain a foothold on the UK independent scene.

It's funny how things turn out. Dunne (the teacher) was the one chosen by WWE to put Bate (the student) over in the United Kingdom Title Tournament final, although he would eventually beat his pal for the UK Championship at NXT TakeOver: Chicago.