Bully Ray and D-Von Dudley got to a table and signed a new deal with WWE.
A new article on Sports Illustrated revealed that the Dudley Boyz have recently signed a new legends deal with the company, still allowing them the opportunity to work outside of WWE, something they’ll be doing next week for IMPACT 1000. The conversation with Sports Illustrated took a look back at how the Dudleyz began and covered D-Von’s recovery from back surgery and a stroke. Now next week he’ll be competing in tag action with Bully Ray.
“It’s no secret I had the stroke in 2019, which was stress-related. Working behind-the-scenes for WWE at the time as a backstage producer was very stressful. A year later, when I had back surgery, I thought I was done. But I had a great trainer, and I kept getting stronger. Then I thought, ‘Let me get in the ring and try it again.’
“At first, I was a little off. But then I started doing it on a regular basis. I thought, ‘What if I do something with Bubba? Or something with my sons, who wrestle on the independent scene?’ The more I did it, the better I moved. At my wrestling school, I started getting into the ring with my students. Then I got the call from Bubba about doing the thousandth episode of Impact! He asked if I could get into ring shape, and I said, ‘Hell yeah.’ I’ve been working so hard to prove I haven’t lost a step. I’m ready for another 3D.”
Bully Ray & D-Von Were A Part Of The ‘Goofiest Wrestling Tag Team Families To Ever Exist’
What a family history Bully Ray and D-Von have together as the two have several Dudley “brothers” in the business. Bully Ray opened up about the wild (and fitting) origins of “The Dudley family.”
“It was based on a dad who traveled throughout the territories back in the day, shacked up with random women, and out came another random Dudley boy. It was absolutely ridiculous–direct descendants of the Hanson Brothers from Slapshot, tie dye and overalls. The joke in ECW was, when you didn’t know what to do with a guy, was to make him a Dudley. And it was true.”
Bully Ray and D-Von will team up as Team 3D this Saturday for the recording of IMPACT 1000.