Grizzled Young Veterans Throw Shade On WWE Run, Announce Global Takeover

@JamesDrakePro

James Drake and Zack Gibson have announced a Grizzled Young Veterans ‘global takeover’ following their WWE departures.

Drake and Gibson, formerly Jagger Reid and Rip Fowler, officially left WWE this weekend, with the duo’s WWE contracts expiring on Saturday (October 14).

The duo have now shared a promo, re-introducing themselves as the Grizzled Young Veterans.

In a ‘one-take’ video promo, Drake and Gibson threw shade on their time in WWE, stating that they didn’t need a production crew, spooky lights, special effects or contact lenses to be effective.

Jakes Drake fired shots at ‘soulless wrestlers with heartless gimmicks’, and the death of creativity, noting that they’re sick of taking the safe option.

Gibson stated that a ‘famous British wrestler’ advised him to put his head down and listen to orders when he moved to the US with WWE. He then apologised for them not being ‘politicians’ before reintroducing himself as Liverpool’s number one.

You can watch the promo video below.

Drake shared the video on Twitter with the caption:

❌ No production crew.
❌ No spooky lighting.
❌ No contact lenses.

Me @ZackGibsonGYV are proud 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗪𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀.

We are the 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲𝗱. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴. 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀.

Drake also shared a graphic announcing that the duo are now on a global takeover, but will be based in the US moving forward.

The former NXT UK Tag Team Champions previously confirmed in April that WWE denied their release requests.

The duo, who previously wrestled as the Grizzled Young Veterans, both made their WWE debuts as part of the NXT UK brand.

While Drake competed in the inaugural UK Championship Tournament in 2017, Gibson first wrestled for WWE in the 2018 edition of the tournament, which he ultimately won.

The former NXT UK Tag Team Champions were rebranded as The Dyad in July 2022, part of Joe Gacy’s Schism faction, with Drake renamed ‘Jagger Reid’, and Gibson wrestling as ‘Rip Fowler’.

The duo most recently wrestled on the August 29 edition of WWE NXT, losing to the Creed Brothers in a steel cage bout.

❌ No production crew.
❌ No spooky lighting.
❌ No contact lenses.

Me @ZackGibsonGYV are proud 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗪𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀.

We are the
𝗚𝗿𝗶𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲𝗱. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴. 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀. pic.twitter.com/D9VeJo4WJw

— 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐞 (@JamesDrakePro) October 14, 2023

𝗚𝗥𝗜𝗭𝗭𝗟𝗘𝗗. 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚. 𝗩𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦.
𝗫
𝗚𝗟𝗢𝗕𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥.

Booking information 👇
GrizzledYoungVets@Outlook.com pic.twitter.com/RjntJJFfQg

— 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐞 (@JamesDrakePro) October 14, 2023

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• Dyad
• grizzled young veterans
• James Drake
• Zack Gibson
• wwe

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