08-07-2025
WWE Superstar Addresses Fan Concern Amid Hiatus
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WWE superstar Tyler Bate has broken his silence on his ongoing absence from television. The former NXT United Kingdom Champion clarified his status in a recent social media post, confirming he is not injured.
Bate, along with his New Catch Republic tag team partner Pete Dunne, has not been seen on WWE programming since late May.
This led to reports that both men were on the shelf with injuries, but Bate's update paints a different picture.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: A general stadium view during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: A general stadium view during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas.
In a post on his Instagram account, Tyler Bate shared a new image of himself with a short but very telling caption. His two-word message has clarified his physical health while raising new questions about his creative direction.
Bate wrote, "Not injured. Waiting..."
This statement directly contradicts a recent report from the Wrestling Observer that claimed both Bate and Dunne were sidelined with injuries.
While Pete Dunne's status remains unconfirmed, Bate has made it clear that his own absence is not due to a physical issue. This suggests that WWE creative currently does not have a storyline for him.
A Frustrating Pattern
This is a particularly frustrating development for the "Big Strong Boy," who has had a stop-and-start career on the main roster. He previously missed nine months of action from mid-2024 to early 2025 with a torn pectoral muscle. He returned in March of this year to reunite with his longtime rival and partner, Pete Dunne.
The duo, known as New Catch Republic, was seen as a promising addition to the tag team division due to their history and acclaimed in-ring chemistry.
However, since reuniting, they have been used sparingly, with their last match being a victory over A-Town Down Under on the May 26th edition of Main Event.
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A Storied Champion
Tyler Bate is one of the most accomplished young talents in WWE. In 2017, at just 19 years old, he made history by winning a tournament to become the first-ever WWE United Kingdom Champion. His subsequent matches against Pete Dunne for that title are considered some of the best in the history of the NXT UK brand.
Bate is also a former NXT Tag Team Champion and NXT UK Heritage Cup Champion. Despite this impressive resume, he has yet to be featured in a significant, long-term storyline on the main roster. His recent post suggests that the wait will continue for the foreseeable future.
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