28-year-old star returns on Raw after 272 days absence from WWE programming

The former NXT UK Champion made his return nearly after nine months and reunited with his old partner on the latest episode of Raw.

28-year-old star returns on Raw after 272 days absence from WWE programming

Raw arena [via WWE]

The New Day has been reshaping their identity since turning heel in December last year. Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston believed they had earned a title shot, but Raw GM Adam Pearce wasn’t convinced. However, he offered them one chance to prove they were worthy of the opportunity.

On the latest episode of Raw, The New Day faced Pete Dunne and a returning Tyler Bate in tag team action. The crowd erupted as The Big Strong Boi made his long-awaited return after nearly nine months. Fans passionately cheered every move of the New Catch Republic, showing their full support. However, The New Day had different intentions.

YouTube video

In the final moments of the match, the former WWE Champion capitalized on a distracted referee, allowing The New Day to secure the victory. Still, it was great to see the inaugural NXT UK Champion back in action after a long absence. Following WrestleMania XL, Pete Dunne and Bate were drafted to Raw, where they competed as a tag team until Bate’s unfortunate injury in July.

Bate suffered a torn pectoral muscle, forcing the team into a hiatus. In his absence, Dunne embraced a villainous persona, feuding with stars like Sheamus, R-Truth, and Penta. The Big Strong Boi is the third-youngest champion in WWE history, and his NXT UK run, including his unforgettable battles with then-WALTER, was remarkable. Fans are eager to see what lies ahead for the newly reunited New Catch Republic.

Tyler Bate breaks his silence after his return from an injury on Monday Night Raw

Sure, the former NXT UK Champion’s return didn’t go as planned, but he remains optimistic. After their tough loss to The New Day, Jackie Redmond interviewed the duo backstage. While Bate stayed in good spirits despite the defeat, Dunne was clearly frustrated with how they lost.

Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne
Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne [via WWE]

When asked about his feelings regarding his return after such a long time, Bate clarified that he was fully healthy and ready to compete. He was also excited about the reunion of the New Catch Republic and thrilled to return in front of his home crowd. However, when he mentioned that things were looking good, Dunne interrupted and reminded him to focus on the next match after their recent loss.

Indeed, I am healthy, and I am chuffed. I’m absolutely chuffed to be back here. New Catch Republic is back together. We’re in the UK. We’re in London at the O2 Arena. And things are looking pretty good right now. I’m back.

Tyler Bate backstage on Raw

Bate calmed Dunne down and encouraged him to always focus on the positive side. He even joked that people were finally starting to call him Pete Dunne instead of Butch. The Bruiserweight understood what he meant and left. Dunne and Bate share undeniable chemistry, and if they continue working hard, there’s no doubt they could become the next tag team champions.

Pete Dunne vs. Timothy Thatcher match announced for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport

During WrestleMania weekend, GCW will host Josh Barnett‘s Bloodsport XIII event, featuring stars from various wrestling companies. Superstars from WWE, TNA, AEW, MLW, Impact Wrestling, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling are all scheduled to appear. WWE’s own Pete Dunne will face Timothy Thatcher on April 17, and they could very well steal the show.

Pete Dunne and Timothy Thatcher
Pete Dunne and Timothy Thatcher [via WWE]

The Bruiserweight took to X and shared Josh Barnett’s post announcing his match against The British Messiah. Dunne and Thatcher haven’t faced each other in the ring since 2016, and both share a similar wrestling style. In addition to Dunne, several other stars will appear at the Bloodsport event, including NXT’s Charley Dempsey, veteran Natalya, Karmen Petrovic, and Karrion Kross.

Thatcher had a brief but notable stint in WWE. He had an impressive match against Damian Priest for the NXT North American Title and even became Dunne’s partner after replacing Matt Riddle. Recently, he made his WWE return on the March 26 episode of Evolve, where he lost to Sean Legacy.

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