8 WWE NXT Call-Ups That Will Happen After WrestleMania 35

6. Pete Dunne

Adam Cole Raw
WWE.com

Pete Dunne will put his 600+ day reign as WWE United Kingdom Champion on the line against Austrian bruiser WALTER at TakeOver: New York on 5 April, and it's there that 'The Bruiserweight's' run should come to an end, as the Englishman passes NXT UK's franchise player role over to his best-suited successor.

The British brand doesn't need Dunne anymore. Being there becoming a millstone to one of WWE's most promising wrestlers, and while there's every possibility that the company could move Pete to NXT proper rather than Raw or SmackDown, he's ready for the main roster. He has been for a long time.

Dunne is an exemplary pro-wrestler, whose brutal in-ring meanness is as impressive as his ability to project a superstar aura. He lacks size, increasing his chances of getting stuck on 205 Live (he's billed at exactly 205lbs, tellingly), though there's no reason why he shouldn't be tangling with WWE's biggest names on the main roster proper. Strong character work and underrated microphone skills mean he'd never look like a fish out of water, and it'd be fun to see him tearing it up on SmackDown in particular.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.