It’s been over a year since Pete Dunne has graced a WWE ring under his long-established ring name, but his influence is felt elsewhere.
Still seen on screen as Rayo Americano, Pete Dunne last competed in a WWE ring back in May of last year, teaming with Tyler Bate on an episode of Main Event that saw New Catch Republic victorious over A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory & Grayson Waller).
For both members of New Catch Republic, their careers have taken a different turn, with Dunne as Rayo Americano and Bate as Bravo Americano, both members of Los Americanos in AAA and on WWE Raw.
Dunne, in particular, has also seen success in a backstage capacity, serving as a producer, with the acclaimed mask vs. mask match between El Grande Americano and The Original El Grande Americano among his accomplishments.
Fans may be dividing on the fortunes of Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate under any name but their more recognized ones, but there are reasons why it works for the Bruiserweight in particular:
A Great Mind For The Business
Long before Pete Dunne signed his first WWE contract, peers and contemporaries considering him the “next breakout star”. This wasn’t because they felt he was constantly on the radar of bigger companies, but because they recognized the talent that he brought, not just as an in-ring competitor but when it came to structuring matches, insight he would share with others who were seeking a way to make their own work stand out.
It Started In 2020
There may have been a lot of television exposure since then, but Dunne’s time as a producer started back in 2020, with the star affected by COVID-19 related travel restrictions, meaning that he wasn’t able to work in the United States.
NXT UK saw Pete Dunne working in a producer capacity, with the star still being on the NXT roster. All the insight he brought with him from his time as an independent wrestler and his run as a talent in NXT was the the benefit of a product that was largely limited by a rocky period of wrestling around the world.
“They Should Be Champions”
There is an argument to made that, in their own right, Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate should be holding titles on the main roster, yet neither have done so despite being called up to the main roster in March 2022 and January 2024, respectively.
For Dunne, he transitioned to the Butch character as a member of the Brawling Brutes, before getting his original ring name back after Bate was called up. Bate suffered an injury that would sideline him in July 2024, with his return in March of the following year.
Dunne is 32, with Bate being 29. There are plenty of years ahead for both stars to capture their first main roster championships, particularly given how talented they are either together or individually. And, there’s every possibility that Los Americanos could capture a title in AAA.
Let Pete Dunne Do What He’s Doing
With reports that Pete Dunne was on producer duties for Dominik Mysterio vs. El Grande Americano at AAA Triplemania 34, there’s little outward indication that the former United Kingdom Champion is dissatisfied with his position in WWE. The same is also true of Tyler Bate, who could fit into a producer role.
While it would be great to see both stars back as New Catch Republic, the attention they’re receiving as Los Americanos, replete with nods to their past characters, is arguably positioning them far more prominently than they may otherwise would be.
There is still time for Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate to make that WWE return but, for now, Rayo & Bravo Americano have found their own fans.
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