Pete Dunne on Triple H’s Reaction to Him Using the Pedigree, His Time in WWE

Over the past year or so, WWE have been expanding their reach as much as they can, creating the ‘Cruiserweight Classic,’ the ‘U.K. Tournament‘ and they’ve just recently announced the ‘Mae Young Classic.’

WWE UK Champion Pete Dunne recently appeared on the Sam Roberts Podcast, where he spoke about the reaction Triple H had to seeing Dunne and other signed competitors mock his moves and reflects on his time with WWE.

Dunne first speaks about being able to get the best of both worlds in working for a company as prestigious as WWE while still being able to work the indies as he did before the U.K. Tournament. He also has access to his social media, the Performance Center and to veteran performers that he can come to for advice.

“WWE has been absolutely brilliant to me and they’ve looked after me in every way that they can, and even from stuff like training in social media, that kind of stuff. And along with having exposure on these sorts of shows, bringing us out to America and training in the [WWE] Performance Center, and doing all of that, at the same time they’re allowing me to do the independents. And I’m a bit different than most [professional] wrestlers, I think, in that I’ve always looked at independent wrestling as developmental. I didn’t necessarily have to be signed to WWE to be learning that stuff. I’ve always tried to pick up as much knowledge as I could. Now, I continue to do so. Now, I also have access to the Performance Center and even access to people like Triple H, the great minds behind sports entertainment. So the thing for me is the best of both worlds. I love independent wrestling and it’s not something that I wanted to leave behind straight away. But equally, I’m learning the way TV is done and the WWE style has been completely new, so I’m still learning on both sides.”

“I figured I’d have to travel around the world and pick up as much experience as I could. I even figured at one point that I’d have to hold off if there was an offer from WWE. I’d have to hold off to keep building that brand and that name value, so when I got to WWE it was an immediate transition. And I was completely wrong in that. I didn’t know that this sort of deal was even an option. I’m so glad that it is – it’s the best of both worlds.”

He also credits WWE with allowing him to be ‘The Bruiserweight,’ a character he created himself.

“In the last 11 years, I’ve almost self-trained myself by wrestling people who are better than me and traveling the world and sort of making my own mind up and creating my own character. And again, speaks to how great WWE is. They’ve let me be that person, that character that I’ve created on the independents.”

Dunne explains he has worked over a year and a half to create an interesting character that is different enough to stand out from the rest of the talent, which is why he believes is prominently featured in WWE’s U.K. Division.

“I think one being the fact that I managed to get myself out there and learn when there wasn’t really much to learn in British [pro] wrestling. I paid for my own flights to Japan, America, China, all these different countries try to gain the knowledge I didn’t have back home. And then, the second thing is, even while I was doing that sort of stuff, I was getting better and better and I felt like I was getting to the point I wanted to get to in [pro] wrestling and I was starting to achieve what I wanted to achieve. And when I put myself out there and said, ‘what do these other people have that I don’t have?’ I wasn’t different enough, so I spent the last year-and-a-half making myself as different as possible. I tried to design a character that stands out from the pack.”

He was also asked about the antics of several U.K. Division wrestlers performing Triple H’s signature spots on the indies. Dunne, for example, hit the Pedigree at PROGRESS -Chapter 43.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been more intimidated than the first time he brought it up. I thought we were getting away with it scot-free. I didn’t think he would be paying any attention to what we were doing whatsoever, but he has seen it and it seems like he appreciates it. He was laughing along with us, so that’s cool.” Dunne added, “he’s taking it all in good humor.”

With H/T to WrestlingInc for all the quotes here!

Dunne defeated Tyler Bate back at NXT ‘TakeOver: Chicago‘ to capture the UK Championship and appears to be potentially having a rematch against Bate at the recently confirmed NXT ‘TakeOver: Brooklyn III.’

Triple H and William Regal confront Pete Dunne: Exclusive, Jan. 14, 2017

Editor’s Note:

I think Dunne is going to make for an impressive UK Champion. The only person I currently see potentially beating him for that title is Trent Seven, but I don’t think that will happen any time soon. He gives off the impression that he would be great for an interview.

What are your thoughts on superstars on the independent circuit mimicking WWE talent? How long do you expect Dunne to be UK Champion? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page or Twitter account. Additionally, you can find me on Twitter at @SOSNH1995.