In a twist more unexpected than a surprise roll-up, Tyler Bate of the New Catch Republic has been sidelined due to an injury. On Monday night, Pete Dunne graced “WWE Raw” for the first time since May, but instead of tagging with his buddy Tyler Bate, he faced Bronson Reed solo. The mystery of Bate’s absence was solved when the commentary team spilled the beans: Bate is nursing an injury from last week’s “WWE NXT” match against Hank Waller and Tank Ledger.
The injury drama unfolded during Tuesday’s show. Toward the end of the match, after Bate’s spectacular Tornillo off the top rope and a successful pin on Ledger, fans noticed him clutching his left arm. Bate’s surprise and discomfort were evident as he flexed his fingers, possibly checking if everything was still attached. Dunne, ever the protective partner, shooed away the referee who attempted to raise Bate’s hand in victory.
Details about the specific nature of Bate’s injury or the expected recovery time remain under wraps. However, Dunne’s post-match activities might offer a clue. With Bate out, Dunne seems to be rekindling old rivalries, as hinted by his budding program with former Brawling Brutes teammate Sheamus after his match with Reed.