Felix Upton on March 11, 2025
A new chapter is beginning for former WWE star Duke Hudson, and it comes with a fresh identity. After being released from WWE in January 2025, Hudson is now set to make his return to the independent wrestling scene—this time simply as “Duke.”
The announcement was made by Pandemonium Pro Wrestling, confirming that Duke will make his in-ring return at their April 17 event, The House Always Wins. This marks his first major booking since departing WWE and his first step back into the world of independent wrestling.
Before signing with WWE in 2019, the real-life Brendan Vink was a staple of the Australian wrestling scene, competing under the names PNB and Elliot Sexton. He even made appearances in NJPW during their Fallout Down Under Tour in 2018 before eventually landing in WWE.
During his run in NXT, Duke Hudson found success alongside Andre Chase as part of Chase U, capturing the NXT Tag Team Championship. Now, as he prepares for his next move, fans will get to see what this new version of Duke brings to the table.
Will dropping the “Hudson” name and going by “Duke” help him stand out, or should he have gone with something completely new? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
March 11, 2025 7:43 am
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