WWE Scrapped Faction Name Due To Similarity To ‘The Bloodline’

WWE

A former WWE star says that the original name for their faction was scrapped due to similarities with ‘The Bloodline’.

Ridge Holland was called up to the WWE main roster in the 2021 WWE Draft, where he was moved over to the SmackDown brand, quickly forming an alliance with Sheamus on the show.

After a few months of Sheamus and Holland’s alliance, Pete Dunne was also called up to the main roster as ‘Butch’, with the three men forming the ‘Brawling Brutes’.

The Brawling Brutes Were Initially Going Be The ‘Bloody Brutes’

Speaking to Simon Miller on Under The Mat, Ridge spoke about the Brawling Brutes, with him noting that the group was initially going to be called the ‘Bloody Brutes’, but that name was nixed due to the company thinking it was too similar to the Bloodline.

He said:

“I think originally it was supposed to be the Bloody Brutes, but we couldn’t be the Bloody Brutes because of the Bloodline.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it, please credit WrestleTalk.com and link back to this page. 

Ridge Holland Admits ‘Nobody Was Interested’ In Breakup Storyline

Towards the end of the Brawling Brutes’ run, WWE began running tensions of a breakup with the Brawling Brutes, with Ridge walking out on Butch after a series of loss on television.

Ridge would ultimately return to the NXT brand after the break up of the Brawling Brutes, where he remained until his departure from the company in 2025, while Butch would reunite with Tyler Bate as the New Catch Republic on SmackDown, returning to his Pete Dunne ring name.

When asked about why WWE dropped the planned breakup storyline, Ridge admitted that it was likely because ‘nobody was interested’ in seeing it.

He said:

“I think (nobody was interested). They pushed me and you could hear a rat piss on cotton.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it, please credit WrestleTalk.com and link back to this page.

Both Ridge Holland and Sheamus have now departed WWE, with Sheamus’ contract expiring on October 1.

Pete Dunne remains with WWE, though he has not appeared on television in over a year, while Rayo Americano has debuted on WWE television as part of Los Americanos with El Grande Americano.

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• wwe
• Ridge Holland
• The Bloodline
• brawling brutes

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