News On Pete Dunne’s Transformation Into BUTCH On WWE Smackdown

Fightful was told throughout the day on March 11 that “something very dumb” was happening on tonight’s episode of Smackdown, with numerous people chiming in that it would be a name change for a star that many already knew.

There were wrestlers outside the company who knew of the name change as far back as yesterday, and were speculating that it could be a “Bushwhackers rib” because Luke is Ridge Holland’s real name. Another former WWE name believed it was based on “Butch” from the Little Rascals — the 1950s version.

We’re told this is planned as an official call-up and leading into the night there were plans for Butch, Ridge Holland and Sheamus to take on New Day at WrestleMania. However, with Big E’s injury on Smackdown, we can’t be sure that’s still the case.

Production was instructed not to refer to him as “Pete Dunne.”

Pete Dunne re-signed with WWE last summer.

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