D-Von Dudley

Devon Hughes(/ˈdiːvɒn/DEE-von; born August 1, 1972)is an American retiredprofessional wrestler. He is signed toWWE, under a legends contract. He is best known for performing inExtreme Championship Wrestling(ECW) from 1995 to 1999 and for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) eventually renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as an in-ring competitor from 1999 to 2005 and from 2015 to 2016 asD-Von DudleyandReverend D-Von. He also performed withTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling(TNA) from 2005 to 2014 asBrother DevonandDevon.
Hughes is an accomplished tag team wrestler, notably achieving a majority of his success withMark LoMonaco(best known as Bubba Ray Dudley, Brother Ray and Bully Ray) as part of theDudley Boyz(known as Team 3D in TNA), with the team characterized by their unorthodox ring attire, hard-hitting style and usage of tables in their matches. He is recognized by TNA as a 23-time world tag team champion, and became part of the first tag team inducted into theTNA Hall of Fame. They are considered one of the major teams that revived tag team wrestling during theAttitude Era.Including his twoTNA Television Championshipreigns, Hughes has held 25 major championships between ECW, WWE, TNA andNew Japan Pro-Wrestling(NJPW). Hughes and LoMonaco were inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame in 2018as part of the Dudley Boyz.
Hughes was trained by Johnny Rodz and began wrestling in 1991, competing inindependentpromotionsin theNortheast.
In March 1996, Hughes debuted inExtreme Championship Wrestling, wrestling on ahouse showas "A-Train". On April 13, 1996, atMassacre on Queens Boulevard, Hughes reappeared as "D-Von Dudley" (sometimes spelled "Devon").His character was based onJules Winnfield, theBible-quotinghitmanportrayed bySamuel L. Jacksonin the1994 filmPulp Fiction.Dudley feuded with the other members ofDudley Brothers(his kayfabe half-brothers), claiming that theircomedicantics were not the way true Dudleys should act, and facedBuh Buh Ray Dudleyon numerous occasions, defeating him atUltimate Jeopardy, but losing to him atNovember to Remember.Dudley eliminatedChubby DudleyandDances with Dudleybefore joining forces with Buh Buh Ray,Big Dick Dudley,Sign Guy Dudley, andJoel Gertner. Known collectively asDudley Boyz, D-Von and Buh Buh Ray dominated the ECWtag teamdivision, winning theECW World Tag Team Championshipa record eight times and defeating teams such asThe EliminatorsandThe Gangstas.D-Von, Buh Buh Ray, and Gertner all achieved a degree of infamy for their vitriolicinterviews, which antagonized audiences to a point of nearriot.
In mid-1999, Bubba Ray and D-Von left ECW following a pay dispute and debuted in theWorld Wrestling Federation(WWF) in September.Throughout 2000 and 2001, the Dudley Boyz engaged in a three-way feud for theWWF Tag Team Championshipwith theHardy BoyzandEdge & Christian. The feud incorporated the firsttriangleladder matchatWrestleMania 2000, and twoTables, Ladders, and Chairs matches, the first atSummerSlamin August 2000 and the second atWrestleMania X-Seven.While they were initiallyvillainsand were known for driving women throughtables, the Dudley Boyz becamefan favoritesin early 2000.In early 2001, they were joined bySpike Dudley.AtSurvivor Series, the Dudley Boyz won the WWF Tag Team Championship, which they unified with theWCW Tag Team ChampionshipduringThe Invasion, a storyline where the wrestlers fromWorld Championship Wrestling(WCW) andExtreme Championship Wrestling(ECW) invaded the WWF.
FollowingWrestleMania X8the company divided the roster into two brands,RawandSmackDown!in March 2002. The Dudley Boyz were separated when D-Von wasdraftedto the SmackDown! brand and Bubba Ray ended up on the Raw brand. D-Von became a villainousreverendcharacter under the nameReverend D-Voninitially serving asMr. McMahon's "spiritual advisor", and later alongside his protégéDeacon Batista.Though the gimmick was a launching platform for Batista's career, it didn't last long and Reverend D-Von was betrayed by Batista. He did pick up one of his most memorable individual victories of his WWE career when he pinnedTriple Hon May 9, 2002, onSmackDown!afterChris Jerichohit Triple H with Reverend D-Von's collection box.
He eventually turnedfaceafter he reunited with Bubba Ray and Spike on November 17, 2002, atSurvivor Serieswhen he helped Bubba Ray, Spike andJeff Hardydefeat3-Minute WarningandRicoin a tables match. The Dudley Boyz then became a stable in theRawtag team division over the next sixteen months, feuding with teams such as 3-Minute Warning,La Résistance, and various combinations ofThe Un-Americans.They held the World Tag Team Championship several more times before being traded (along withBooker T) toSmackDown!on March 22, 2004, in exchange forTriple H.
After getting drafted to Smackdown, The Dudley Boyz turnedheelonce again by aligning withPaul Heyman. On May 27, 2004, the Dudley Boyz kidnappedPaul Bearer, themanagerof Heyman's enemyThe Undertaker.On June 27, 2004, atThe Great American Bash, The Undertaker defeated the Dudley Boyz in a handicap match.They also won theWWE Tag Team Championshipone more time but were upset by the high-flying team ofPaul LondonandBilly Kidman.In July 2004, the Dudley Boyz reunited with Spike.For the remainder of the year, they assisted Spike in his matches for theWWE Cruiserweight Championship.
In early 2005, the Dudley Boyz were removed from WWE television and sent toOhio Valley Wrestlingwhile the WWE creative team attempted to devise a storyline for them. The Dudley Boyz returned to WWE television in June 2005 in order to promoteECW One Night Stand, an ECW reunion show.  In the weeks preceding ECW One Night Stand they, along with several other ECW alumni, vied with former WCW PresidentEric Bischoffand his "anti-hardcorecrusaders". At ECW One Night Stand on June 12, the Dudley Boyz defeatedTommy DreamerandThe Sandmanin the main event.
On July 5, 2005, WWE announced that it had opted not to continue contract renewal negotiations with the Dudley Boyz.Concurrently, fifteen other wrestlers were released by WWE,which was decreasing its budget due to its shortfall. In August 2005, they were issued with legal notices instructing them not to use the (WWEtrademarked) name "Dudley".This led to a degree of acrimony between the former Dudleys and their erstwhile employers, as they had used the names since 1996, several years before all ECWintellectual propertywas acquired by WWE in 2003 as a result of bankruptcy proceedings. Both believed Paul Heyman had granted them the rights to the name. Soon after, the duo announced that they intended to pursue legal action against WWE.
No longer able to use the ring name "D-Von Dudley", Hughes adopted (and trademarked) the ring name Brother Devon Deadly, while LoMonaco became "Brother Ray Deadly". The team also trademarked "The Deadly Brothers" and "Deadly Death Drop".In August and September 2005, Devon and Ray made several appearances on the independent circuit, most notablyHardcore Homecoming, an unofficial ECW reunion show organized by ECW alumnusShane Douglas, a frequent critic of WWE and ChairmanVince McMahon. On September 21, Hughes (together with LoMonaco) signed withTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling, under the name of "Brother Devon".
Devon and Ray debuted in TNA on the October 8 episode ofTNA Impact!.Team 3Dquickly established themselves as fan favorites by confrontingNWA World Heavyweight ChampionJeff Jarrettand his allies, the NWA World Tag Team Champions,America's Most Wanted. Team 3D defeated AMW atpay-per-viewevents in November and December, but failed to defeat them in a title match atFinal Resolutionon January 15, 2006, due to the interference ofTeam Canada.Devon and Ray continued to feud with America's Most Wanted and Team Canada over the following months. On the April 13 episode ofImpact!, an attempted ambush by Team Canada was foiled by the debuting Spike Dudley, identified as "Brother Runt".
Devon and Ray then took time off to tour Japan, before returning to compete in tag team matches onImpact!and soon began feuding withNWA World Tag Team ChampionsTheLatin American Xchange(LAX). AtFinal Resolution, they beat LAX by disqualification.Subsequently, they lost to LAX in a "Little Italy Street Fight" atAgainst All Odds, and a "Ghetto Brawl" atDestination X.AtLockdown, Team 3D defeated LAX in aSteel Cage matchto win the NWA World Tag Team Championship. They were the final NWA World Tag Team Champions in TNA as on May 13, 2007, the NWA stripped them of the Tag Titles and Christian Cage of the NWA World Heavyweight Title due to Cage's refusal to defend the title in NWA territories, and cut business ties with TNA. The successfully defended their status as World Tag Team Champions at Sacrifice later that evening. Because of this, TNA awarded Team 3D the new TNA World Tag Team Championships and crowned them as the first champions.They feuded with several tag teams before losing the belts toSamoa JoeatVictory Road.
AtFinal Resolution, they teamed withJohnny Devineand took part in anUltimate X matchagainstThe Motor City Machine Gunsand "Black Machismo". They won by taking the X Division belt down with a ladder while therefereewas not looking.AtAgainst All Odds, a rematch took place in a Hardcore Street Fight. Early in the match, the Motor City Machine Guns were 'taken out' with two 3-Ds, leavingJay Lethalto singlehandedly save the X-Division. As a result of their loss at AAO, both Devon and Ray were subjected to weigh-ins prior to their matches. If they weighed in over 275 pounds, they would be unable to compete.During this time, they engaged in a feud withChristopher Danielsunder his Curry Man gimmick, andShark Boy. AtDestination X, Team 3D was given an ultimatum when Curry Man and Shark Boy won an elimination match to choose the stipulation for each of the wrestlers matches;if they weighed in at over 275 pounds, the duo would be fired; but if they weighed in under, they would never again be subjected to the weigh-ins. They were able to weigh in under the mark, but Team 3D would end up losing to Curry Man and Shark Boy after a blinded Ray accidentally helped Curry Man hit Devon with the 3-D.
On the November 28 episode ofImpact!, Team 3D turned into fan favorites, joiningThe Front Line. After appearing to joinThe Main Event Mafia, they double-crossed them, and attacked along with The Front Line leaders Samoa Joe,AJ StylesandRhino.AtLockdownTeam 3D won theTNA World Tag Team Championshipand retained theIWGP Tag Team ChampionshipagainstBeer Money, Inc.(Robert RoodeandJames Storm).AtSlammiversarythey lost the TNA tag titles to Beer Money, Inc. and on the July 30 edition ofImpact!the IWGP tag titles toThe British InvasionofBrutus MagnusandDoug Williams. On October 18, 2009, atBound for Glory, Team 3D captured their 24th tag team championship when they defeated Beer Money, British Invasion, and The Main Event Mafia's Scott Steiner and Booker T in aFull Metal Mayhem Tag Team match. With both the IWGP and TNA Tag tiles on the line, they captured the IWGP titles which were formerly held by The British Invasion.During the following weeks Team 3D turned heel and aligned themselves with Rhino in a battle against the younger talent of the company.On the November 19 edition ofImpact!Team 3D Academy of Professional Wrestling and Sports Entertainment graduateJesse Nealjoined Team 3D and Rhinoand two weeks laterSuicidejoined Morgan, Hernandez andD'Angelo Dineroto level the playing field.AtFinal ResolutionMorgan, Hernandez, Dinero and Suicide defeated Neal, Team 3D and Rhino in an eight-man elimination tag team match.On January 4, 2010, atWrestle Kingdom IV in Tokyo DomeTeam 3D lost the IWGP Tag Team Title toNo Limit(Tetsuya NaitoandYujiro) in a three-way hardcore match, which also includedBad Intentions(Giant BernardandKarl Anderson).WhenHulk HoganandEric Bischofftook over TNA at the beginning of 2010, Team 3D's angle with Rhino and Neal was discontinued and they reverted to being faces, while starting a feud withThe Nasty Boys(Brian KnobsandJerry Sags), who were a part of the new wave of wrestlers brought in by Hogan and Bischoff.AtAgainst All OddsThe Nasty Boys defeated Team 3D in a tag team match, whenJimmy Hartmade his return to the company and interfered in the match on the Nasty Boys' behalf.Team 3D avenged their loss on the February 25 edition ofImpact!, when Jesse Neal helped them defeat the Nasty Boys in a tables match.On the March 15 edition ofImpact!Team 3D and Neal were scheduled to face the Nasty Boys and Hart in a six-man tag team match, but prior to the match the Nasty Boys attacked Neal backstage and put him through a table.Team 3D found Neal a replacement in the returning Brother Runt, but were still defeated in the match by the Nastys and Hart.However, after the match Neal made the save for Team 3D and helped them put Sags through a table.In May Ray turned heel by attacking Neal, while Devon remained a face and stood up for his student against his brother.AtVictory RoadDevon faced Jesse Neal and Ray in a three-way match. During the match the members of Team 3D attacked each other, before Neal accidentally speared Devon and was then pinned by Ray.On the following edition ofImpact!Devon joined fellow ECW alumniMick Foley, Tommy Dreamer,Raven,Stevie Richards, Rhino,Pat KenneyandAl SnowandTNA World Heavyweight ChampionRob Van Damin attacking Abyss, Brother Ray and the rest of the TNA locker room.The following week, Ray declined Devon's offer to join the ECW alumni, before TNA presidentDixie Carteragreed to give the ECW alumni their own reunion pay–per–view event,Hardcore Justice: The Last Stand, as a celebration of hardcore wrestling and a final farewell to the company.However, on the July 29 edition ofImpact!Ray decided to join the ECW alumni and seemingly buried the hatchet with his brother.On August 8 at Hardcore Justice Team 3D, accompanied by Joel Gertner, defeated Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney, billed as Kahoneys, in a South Philadelphia Street Fight. After the match Devon and Ray were assaulted by the Gangstas.On the following edition ofImpact!, the ECW alumni, known collectively asExtreme, Version 2.0 (EV 2.0), were assaulted by A.J. Styles,Kazarian, Robert Roode, James Storm, Douglas Williams and Matt Morgan ofRic Flair'sFourtunestable, who thought they didn't deserve to be in TNA.This would mark Team 3D's final appearance on their old TNA contracts, which expired shortly thereafter. The two then entered negotiations over new contracts.Team 3D returned to TNA television two month later on the October 7 live edition ofImpact!, promising a major announcement atBound for Glory.At the pay-per-view Team 3D announced their retirement, but asked for a one final match against the TNA World Tag Team Champions, the Motor City Machine Guns.Their new multi–year contracts with TNA were confirmed shortly thereafter.AtTurning Pointthe Motor City Machine Guns defeated Team 3D to retain the TNA World Tag Team Championship.
During Team 3D's retirement ceremony on the following edition ofImpact!, Ray turned heel by attacking Devon, reigniting the feud between the two.The following week Ray claimed that Devon had gotten weak, since Sabin had managed to kick out of a 3D at Turning Point, calling him theMarty Jannettyand himself theShawn Michaelsof the team.On January 9, 2011, atGenesis, Devon was disqualified in his match against his former partner, now known as Bully Ray, after using Ray's own chain against him.In the following weeks Devon's sons Terrence and Terrell began making appearances onImpact!and were regularly abused by Ray.AtAgainst All OddsDevon faced his former tag team partner in a Street Fight. After Devon's sonsTerrellandTerrenceinterfered in the match, Ray low-blowed him and pinned one of his sons for the win.On March 13 atVictory Road, Devon and his sons interfered in a Falls Count Anywhere match between Ray and Tommy Dreamer, costing Ray the match.On the following edition ofImpact!, the feud between the former members of Team 3D was seemingly ended as Ray joinedImmortaland moved on to feuding withFortune.
In June, Devon entered a storyline where he was saved fromMexican Americaby D'Angelo Dinero, despite the fact that he had previously declined his help, claiming that he was a bad influence on his sons.Later that month, Devon and Dinero were both entered into theBound for Glory Seriesto determine the number one contender for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, during the course of which Dinero handed Devon a win in a tag team match, but Devon did not return the favor and save Dinero from a post-match assault at the hands of Samoa Joe. During the tournament, Devon also picked up impressive victories over Samoa Joe and A.J. Styles.On August 7 atHardcore Justice, Dinero defeated Devon in a Bound for Glory Series match. At the start of the match, Dinero offered to lay down for Devon, but he refused the offer.On the August 25 edition ofImpact Wrestling, Devon was forced to pull out of the Bound for Glory Series, after suffering a storyline injury at the hands of Samoa Joe, who had vowed to ruin the tournament. Later in the event, Devon returned to save Dinero from a similar attack at the hands of Joe.On the September 8 edition ofImpact Wrestling, Devon and Dinero defeated The British Invasion to become the number one contenders to the TNA World Tag Team Championship.On September 11 atNo Surrender, Devon and Dinero failed in their attempt to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship fromAnarquiaand Hernandez of Mexican America.On the December 1 edition ofImpact Wrestling, Devon and Dinero defeatedInk Inc.(Jesse Neal andShannon Moore) and Mexican America to become the number one contenders to the TNA World Tag Team Championship, now held by the team ofCrimsonand Matt Morgan.On December 11 atFinal Resolution, Devon and Dinero failed to capture the TNA World Tag Team Championship.On the following edition ofImpact Wrestling, Dinero and Devon's sons Terrence and Terrell joined forces and turned on Devon.On January 8, 2012, atGenesis, Terrence and Terrell turned on Dinero and helped their father defeat him in a singles match.
On March 18 atVictory Road, Devon answeredRobbie E's open challenge and defeated him to win theTNA Television Championship, marking Devon's first major singles championship.On April 15 atLockdown, Devon defeated Robbie in a rematch, contested inside a steel cage, to retain the title.On the following episode ofImpact Wrestling, general manager Hulk Hogan announced that from then on the Television Championship would be defended every week on the program. Devon started his series of defenses by defeatingGunner.During the next month, Devon developed a rivalry with Robbie E andRobbie T, successfully defending the Television Championship against each of them in singles matches onImpact Wrestlingand finally in a three-way match on May 13 atSacrifice.On the May 24 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Robbie E and Robbie T interfered in a TNA Television Championship match between Devon andGarett Bischoff, causing the match to end in a no contest. Following the match, Devon and Bischoff united to fend off the attack by the two.The following week, the Robbies also interfered in Devon's title defense againstJeff Hardy, causing another no contest.On the June 7 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Devon successfully defended the Television Championship against Robbie E, following outside interference from Garett Bischoff.Three days later atSlammiversary, Devon and Bischoff defeated the Robbies in a tag team match.Devon's weekly Television Championship defenses ended after the June 14 episode ofImpact Wrestling, where he successfully defended the title against Hernandez.Devon returned toImpact Wrestlingon August 9, when he and Garett Bischoff unsuccessfully challenged Christopher Daniels and Kazarian for the TNA World Tag Team Championship.Three days later atHardcore Justice, Devon successfully defended the TNA Television Championship against Kazarian.On August 29, Devon, still the reigning TNA Television Champion, announced that he had parted ways with TNA,after his contract with the promotion had expired the previous day and the two could not come to terms on a new one.With Devon still being recognized as the TNA Television Champion, on September 15, 2012, he became the longest reigning champion in the title's history, beating Eric Young's record of 180 days as champion. On September 26, TNA officially stripped Devon of the Television Championship, ending his reign at 192 days.
On October 14 atBound for Glory, Devon returned to TNA turningheel, when he attacked Bully Ray and Sting, costing them their tag team match against the heelAces & Eightsstable, who, as a result, earned full access to TNA.Devon, the first unmasked member of Aces & Eights, wrestled his first match back in the main event of the following episode ofImpact Wrestling, losing to Sting via disqualification following interference from Aces & Eights.On November 1, Devon and Bully Ray faced off in the main event ofImpact Wrestling, however, the match ended in a brawl between the Aces & Eights and the TNA locker room.On November 11 atTurning Point, Devon was defeated byKurt Anglein singles match via submission, despite the rest of Aces & Eights trying to interfere.On the December 6 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Devon defeated Samoa Joe to win his second Television Championship, after Aces & Eights memberDOChit Joe with aball-peen hammer.Three days later atFinal Resolution, Devon teamed with DOC and two masked members of Aces & Eights in a losing effort to Kurt Angle, Garett Bischoff, Samoa Joe, andWes Brisco.On the December 20 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Devon successfully defended the Television Championship against Kurt Angle, following interference from Aces & Eights, Garett Bischoff, Samoa Joe, and Wes Brisco.On January 13, 2013, atGenesis, Devon defeatedJoseph Parkin a non-title match.On the February 7 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Devon and DOC were defeated by Bully Ray and Sting in a Tables match.On March 10 atLockdown, Aces & Eights, consisting of Devon, DOC, Garett Bischoff,Mike Knox, andMr. Andersonwere defeated by Team TNA, consisting of Sting, Eric Young, James Storm, Magnus, and Samoa Joe in aLethal Lockdown match.On the April 18 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Devon was scheduled to defend his Television Championship against Magnus, however, he was attacked by DOC and Knox before the match could start. Samoa Joe was then awarded the title match in his place, but Devon retained the title after interference from Aces & Eights.On June 2 atSlammiversary XI, Devon was originally booked to defend his title against Joseph Park but Park was attacked by Aces & Eights before the match and Devon was awarded a count-out victory. Following this, Park's brother Abyss returned and defeated Devon to win the Television Championship, ending his reign at 178 days. On the August 22 edition ofImpact WrestlingDevon was pinned in the five-on-five match against the Main Event Mafia by AJ Styles and per match stipulations was, in storyline, fired from TNA as a result.Hughes later confirmed that his departure from TNA was legitimate.
Devon returned to TNA as aface, atSlammiversary XIIgetting inducted into theTNA Hall of Famewith Bully Ray as Team 3D. It was later announced that he had returned to TNA full-time. Devon made his return toImpact Wrestlingsaving Bully Ray and Tommy Dreamer fromEthan Carter IIIand Rhino which culminated in Carter receiving a 3D through a table. AtBound for Glory, Team 3D defeated Abyss and Tommy Dreamer. The event was the final contracted date for each member of Team 3D.
At the September 9, 2023 taping ofImpact 1000(aired September 14), Hughes made his return to TNA, now known asImpact Wrestling, after a nine-year absence, teaming up with Bully Ray, effectively reuniting Team 3D, who competed in a winning effort against the returning Desi Hit Squad. After the match they putRohit Rajuthrough a table.
Devon appeared atHouse of Hardcore 3, where he andMatt HardydefeatedHomicideandEddie Kingston. He also came out later that night duringBully Ray's segment involvingTommy DreamerandSpike Dudley, teasing a confrontation with Bully only for the two to hit Dreamer with a 3D. On June 6, 2014, Devon was scheduled to face Abyss and Tommy Dreamer along with Bully Ray. However, Ray was pulled out of the event, so the main event was Devon and Dreamer vs Rhino and Abyss. Dreamer and Devon won the match.On June 7, 2014, he and CW Anderson defeated Eddie Kingston & Homicide atHouse of Hardcore 5. 
On July 13, 2014, Team 3D made their debut in Squared Circle Wrestling, where they won the 2CW Tag Team Championship by defeating Axe andKevin Steen. On July 26, 2014, Devon defeated Abel Andrew Jackson atReality of Wrestling's Summer of Champions.On September 6, 2014, Devon made his debut in Wichita Falls, TX for Pure Action Championship Wrestling's Brawl In The Falls III, winning and becoming the promotion's final heavyweight champion.
At House of Hardcore VII, Team 3D made their debut in the promotion. They defeatedKiller Elite Squad.On March 8, 2015, Team 3D lost the 2CW Tag Team Championship toThe Young Bucks.
On August 28, it was announced that Team 3D would compete forInsane Championship WrestlingatFear & Loathing IXon November 20, where they challenged Polo Promotions (Jackie Polo andMark Coffey) for theICW Tag Team Championshipin a losing effort.
On December 17, Hughes wrestled once again as one half of The Dudley Boyz, in a losing effort to capture theHouse of GloryTag Team Championship at HOG VI. That match is his last known match to date.January 2015 D-Von wrestled for WUW at gleasons gym 30 year anniversary show taking on Mike Iannuzzi.
On the August 24, 2015, episode ofRaw, D-Von and Bubba Ray made a surprise return to the WWE, reviving their Dudley Boyz tag team persona. They attacked WWE Tag Team ChampionsThe New Day, and gave a 3D through a table onXavier Woods.On the August 27 episode ofSmackDown, they defeatedThe Ascensionand after the match they putViktorthrough a table.On the August 31 episode ofRaw, they defeated The New Day.After the match they attempted to putBig Ethrough a table with a 3D, butKofi Kingstonand Woods saved him. On the September 17 episode ofSmackDown, D-Von quickly defeated Kingston in his first singles match in WWE since 2004, after a distraction by Woods. At bothNight of Champions, andLive from Madison Square Garden, the Dudley Boyz challenged The New Day for the WWE Tag Team Championship, but would win both matches by disqualification, which allowed The New Day to retain their titles.AtHell in a Cell, the Dudley Boyz would challenge for the titles again, where they would lose to The New Day.AtSurvivor Series, the Dudley Boyz would team withGoldust,NevilleandTitus O'Neilto defeatStardust, The Ascension,The MizandBo Dallasin a5-on-5 Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team Match.
In December, the Dudley Boyz began a feud withThe Wyatt Family, and later aligned themselves with the returningTommy DreamerandRhynoin the feud, known asThe ECW Originals. AtTLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs, The Wyatt Family defeated The ECW Originals in an 8-Man Elimination Tables Match.At the2016 Royal Rumblekickoff, the Dudley Boyz,Mark HenryandJack Swagger, The Ascension andDarren YoungandDamien Sandowcompeted in a Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match to qualify for the Royal Rumble match itself, in a losing effort.
On the February 8 episode ofRaw, the Dudley Boyz attackedThe Usosafter a match involving them against The New Day and Mark Henry, thus turning heel in the process.Explaining that they did not come back to WWE to be a "nostalgia act" and reminding the fans that they are "the baddest tag team on the planet", the Dudley Boyz abandoned using tables. In the following weeks, the Dudley Boyz and The Usos began a feud, setting up a tag team match between the two teams atWrestleMania 32, where the Dudley Boyz lost to The Usos.The following night onRaw, the Dudley Boyz defeated The Usos in a tables match, breaking their vow to never again use tables and officially ending the feud. Afterwards, the duo were interrupted by the debutingEnzo Amore and Colin Cassady, who proceeded to insult them and ignite a new feud. In a tournament set up byShane McMahonto determine the new number 1 contenders to the WWE Tag Team Championship, they would defeatThe Lucha Dragonsto advance to the semi-finals, where they clashed with Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady in a losing effort. On July 19 at the2016 WWE draft, the Dudley Boyz were drafted toRaw.AtSummerSlam, they would lose toSami Zaynand Neville.
The day after SummerSlam, the Dudley Boyz announced that they were announcing their departure from WWE on that night'sRaw. During their farewell segment, they were confronted byThe Shining Stars. After receiving insults from The Shining Stars, the Dudley Boyz attacked them, turning face once again in the process. As they set upPrimofor a 3D through a table,Luke Gallows and Karl Andersonattacked both Bubba Ray and D-Von, sending D-Von through the table.
On September 26, a month following his departure from the company, Hughes would return to WWE as a backstageproducer.While mainly working backstage, Hughes occasionally appeared on WWE television to separate brawls between wrestlers.
On January 22, 2018, atRaw 25 Years, the Dudley Boyz returned for one night only, by interrupting a fight betweenHeath Slater&RhynoandTitus Worldwide, giving aDudley Death Dropto Heath Slater through a table. The Dudley Boyz were inducted into theWWE Hall of FameClass of 2018. In July 2019 during the Raw Reunion, D-Von returned in a one-off appearance to be in the corner ofThe Revivalin a tag team match againstThe UsoswithRikishiin their corner, in a losing effort. On January 19, 2023, D-Von announced on Twitter that he left WWE.
On October 27, 2024, D-Von, as Reverend D-Von, made a special appearance inNXT ChampionTrick Williams'diss trackvideo aimed atEthan Page.AtNXT2300on November 6, Bubba Ray and Williams lost to Page andRidge Hollandin a tag team match. After the match, Bubba Ray and Williams put Page through a table that was brought to the ring by D-Von, reuniting the Dudley Boyz in WWE since 2018 in the process.
Hughes' father, Preston, was abishop, and his mother, Renee Washington, is a pastor.He attendedElwood-John Glenn High SchoolinElwood, New York.
Hughes is married to Taylor Hughes and has two daughters and one son with her, Taliyah (born August 17, 2018), Amiyah (born January 15, 2020) and DJ (born December 19, 2023).He also has four sons from a previous marriage, twinsTerrell and Terrence(born February 25, 1995), Matthew (born November 27, 2001), and Preston (born June 12, 2008).Their names are tattooed on his upper biceps. Terrence and Terrell appeared on the February 3 and 10, 2011, episodes ofTNA Impact!and the February 14 pay-per-view Against All Odds, taking part in the storyline feud between their father andD'Angelo Dinero.Terrence and Terrell have gone on to wrestle asenhancement talentforAEWin November 2020.
Hughes appeared to come out as gay on the Table Talk podcast, although he later admitted to have just been joking as a way to bait dirt sheet writers.
Hughes opened asmoothieshop, 3D's Power Blendz, inMelbourne, Florida, and with longtime tag team partnerMark LoMonaco, opened a wrestling school, Team 3D Academy of Professional Wrestling and Sports Entertainment, inKissimmee, Florida.
Dudley has appeared in numerous wrestling video games. His latest video game isWWE 2K24, alongside Bubba Ray Dudley.