While the Pete Dunne character might be gone, Butch is thriving on SmackDown alongside Sheamus and Ridge Holland in The Brawling Brutes.
The former NXT Champion recently sat down with Alistair McGeorge of Metro UK to discuss a wide variety of subjects. When asked about the transition from “The Bruiserweight” Pete Dunne to Butch, the SmackDown Superstar says he’s embracing the opportunity and is having as much fun with it as he can.
“I’m embracing the opportunity and having as much fun with it as I possibly can! I think that will come across,” Butch said. “For me, as long as that in-ring stuff is the same quality, and especially now with this character being able to push it more – it’s obviously very similar to how I was before, but that added step above feels completely fresh for me after 16 years in wrestling. I hope that comes across on screen.”
Pete Dunne had multiple dark matches on the WWE main roster before finally getting the call up to SmackDown. When asked if he saw the name change coming, Butch admitted that he did and that he went into everything with an open mind.
“I knew it was coming,” Butch admitted. “I didn’t know the name Butch specifically, but I figured there would be a name change, I knew that would be the case. I knew there would be multiple changes alongside that, so I went in with a very open mind.”
The reaction to the character change wasn’t well-received on social media, something Butch was well aware of at the time.
“I was aware of that, and that’s quite nervewracking at the time ’cause you know the reaction that’s coming from people. But, you just have to tune out from that and focus on what you can, and that’s the quality of the work you put out,” Butch said. “Seeing it catch on in different places, it’s almost more rewarding because I know who I am with Pete Dunne and the Bruiserweight, that’s established. But to start establishing something new is a really rewarding process.”
While many fans might not be enjoying the shift in character, he confirmed that Vince McMahon is really into the Butch character and finds it entertaining.
“‘He seems really into this, as you can imagine,” Butch smiled. “He seems really into the idea of Butch. It is entertaining.”
Pete Dunne was definitely a more grounded and serious character where as Butch falls more under the comedy category. Butch admits that some of his favorite work of his career was when he was able to do comedy stuff to showcase his personality.
“Some of my favorite work of my career has been the comedy stuff,” Butch said. “Obviously that’s not to say that Butch is strictly a comedy character, but it’s gonna allow me to show more of a range, show more of a personality.”
While Butch appreciates the passion of his fanbase that wants him to be Pete Dunne again, he’s happy that some people are coming around on his current character as well.
“I’m so happy that people do feel passionately enough to say, ‘No, we want Pete Dunne.’ I hear that quite a lot – even when I see people in the street, that’s a lot of what I’ve been getting,” Butch said. “But that’s slowly turning into, ‘But this stuff you’re doing now is good.'”
What do you make of Butch’s comments? Are you slowly but surely coming around on the character? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.
