Grizzled Young Veterans

Grizzled Young Veterans
Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson (left) and James Drake (right)) in 2019
Tag team
MembersJames Drake / Jagger Reid
Zack Gibson / Rip Fowler
Name(s)James Drake and Zack Gibson
Grizzled Young Veterans
The Dyad
Billed heights5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) – Drake
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) – Gibson
Combined
billed weight		401 lb (182 kg)
Drake (181 lb)
Gibson (220 lb)
Billed fromEngland
DebutJuly 30, 2017
Years active2017–present

Grizzled Young Veterans (also shortened as GYV) are an English professional wrestling tag team consisting of James Drake and Zack Gibson. They are signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and also make appearances for its sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), and partner promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where they are in their first reign as Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions.

They previously wrestled in WWE, where they are the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions, and later renamed as The Dyad on the NXT brand. They won numerous titles in their native England, being three-time Progress Tag Team Champions, and holding the Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro) Undisputed British Tag Team Championship once. They also run their own promotion in the UK called Burning Heart Pro Wrestling, launched in 2024.[1]

History

Progress Wrestling (2017–2019)

In 2017, Zack Gibson and James Drake formed a villainous tag team called Grizzled Young Veterans. Grizzled Young Veterans defeated Chris Brookes and Kid Lykos of CCK to become the Progress Tag Team Champions.[2] They successfully defended the titles against Aussie Open at Progress Chapter 59.[3] At Chapter 61, Grizzled Young Veterans defeated Moustache Mountain (Tyler Bate & Trent Seven) to retain their championships.[4] In 2018, Gibson took part of the Super Strong Style 16 Tournament, defeating Joey Janela in the first round and Pete Dunne by disqualification in the quarter finals before he was eliminated by Kassius Ohno in the semi-finals.[5][6]

WWE (2018–2023)

NXT UK (2018–2020)

In January 2017, Drake participated in the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament to crown the inaugural WWE United Kingdom Champion, losing to Joseph Conners in the first round.[7]

Gibson was announced for WWE's WrestleMania Axxess during Wrestlemania 34 weekend as part of a WWE United Kingdom Championship invitational where he lost to Mark Andrews in the first round. On day four of Axxess, Grizzled Young Veterans retained their Progress Tag Team championships by disqualification against Heavy Machinery. Around this time, it was revealed by Wrestling Observer that Gibson was signed to a WWE contract.[8][9] Both would participate in the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament with the winner facing Pete Dunne for the United Kingdom Championship. Drake lost to Flash Morgan Webster in the first round[10] but Gibson won the tournament after defeat Travis Banks in the finals and would go on to challenge Dunne, the next night in a losing effort.[11]

In 2019, they defeated Moustache Mountain at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool in the finals of a tournament to become the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions.[12] After some defenses, they would lose the titles to Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff in a triple threat tag team match also involving Gallus. On September 11, Drake and Gibson unsuccessfully challenged Andrews & Webster in a rematch. They would have another title match at NXT UK Takeover: Blackpool II against the new champions Gallus, Andrews & Webster and Imperium in a ladder match where the champions retained.[13]

In parallel to their NXT UK Tag Team Championship pursuit at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II, Drake and Gibson competed in the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. They defeated Kushida and Alex Shelley in the quarterfinals and NXT Tag Team Champions Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly of The Undisputed Era in the semifinals, before losing to The BroserWeights (Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne) in the finals.[14][15]

Arrival in NXT (2020–2022)

On the February 19, 2020, episode of NXT, the Grizzled Young Veterans joined the NXT brand as tweeners, defeating Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde before announcing their intent to take over NXT's tag team division.[16] However the two would soon disappear from television as a result of travel issues from the COVID-19 pandemic. The two returned on the 25 November episode of NXT, attacking Ever-Rise. In early January 2021, the Grizzled Young Veterans took part in the 2021 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic where they defeated Ever-Rise in the first round,[17] the team of Kushida and Leon Ruff in the second round,[18] and Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa in the semi-finals, earning the opportunity to face MSK in the finals at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.[19] At the event, the Grizzled Young Veterans were defeated by MSK, once again failing to win in the tournament finals.[20] On the 21 December episode of NXT, they faced The Creed Brothers (Brutus Creed and Julius Creed) which ended in a no-contest when both teams got into a brawl with Kushida and Ikemen Jiro (wrestling as the tag team Jacket Time) who were on commentary as well as Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen.[21] In January 2022, the Grizzled Young Veterans took part in the 2022 Men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic where they defeated Chase University (Andre Chase and Bodhi Hayward) in the first round,[22] but lost to The Creed Brothers in the semifinals.[23]

Schism (2022–2023)

On 19 July episode of NXT, Joe Gacy's masked allies were revealed to have been James Drake and Zack Gibson, now under the ring names Jagger Reid and Rip Fowler, officially renaming the tag team "The Dyad" and turning heel once again. Gacy and the Dyad subsequently named their group "Schism".[24] Schism gained an additional member on the 25 October episode of NXT, which was revealed to be Ava Raine.[25] The Dyad would fail to win the NXT Tag Team Championship from Gallus on the April 18 episode of NXT in a triple-threat match involving the Creed Brothers and on the May 9 episode of NXT. On the July 4 episode of NXT, the Dyad defeated the Creeds in a loser leaves town match. However, the Creeds would defeat the Dyad in a steel cage match on August 29, being reinstated with NXT in the process; it was Reid and Fowler's last match in WWE. On the September 12 edition of NXT, Gacy confirmed Fowler and Reid were no longer members of Schism in a pre-taped vignette. On September 14, Reid and Fowler departed WWE after their contracts expired.[26]

Independent circuit (2023–present)

On 14 October 2023, both Drake and Gibson announced that they would take independent bookings.[27] The following day, they made their first independent appearance since being released at Deadlock Pro-Wrestling's Live 3 event where they answered an open challenge set by DPW's tag team champions, The Workhorsemen.[28]

On April 25, 2024, Drake and Gibson announced the launch of their professional wrestling promotion, Burning Heart Wrestling. The promotion's first event took place on June 21.[29]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2024)

In January 2024, the Grizzled Young Veterans debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling at the pay-per-view Hard To Kill, challenging for the TNA World Tag Team Championship, along with The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz and Trey Miguel) and Speedball Mountain (Mike Bailey and Trent Seven), against champions ABC (Chris Bey and Ace Austin), which was won by ABC.[30][31][32] Director of Authority Santino Marella would then make a best of three series between the two teams over the titles, with the Grizzled Young Veterans winning the first match[33] and ABC winning the second.[citation needed] The Grizzled Young Veterans lost the third and decisive match at No Surrender.[34][35]

All Elite Wrestling (2024–present)

The Grizzled Young Veterans (rear) confronting the Young Bucks at All In in August 2024

The Grizzled Young Veterans made their All Elite Wrestling debut on the April 27, 2024 episode of Collision, losing to The Acclaimed.[36][37] At All In on August 25, 2024, the Grizzled Young Veterans made their return to AEW and stared down AEW World Tag Team Champions the Young Bucks before attacking FTR.[38]

Championships and accomplishments

Drake as NXT UK Tag Team Champion

References

  1. ^ Currier, Joseph (April 25, 2024). "Grizzled Young Veterans launching new wrestling promotion". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  2. ^ "PROGRESS Chapter 58: Live Your Best Life « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  3. ^ "PROGRESS Chapter 59: Whatever People Say We Are, That's What We're Not « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  4. ^ "PROGRESS Chapter 61: Don't Touch Me ... Don't ... Don't Touch Me « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
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  12. ^ Chiari, Mike. "Grizzled Young Veterans Beat Moustache Mountain to Win NXT UK Tag Titles". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  13. ^ "NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II start time, card, matches, live stream, watch online, WWE Network". CBSSports.com. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
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  15. ^ Moore, John (29 January 2020). "1/29 NXT TV results: Moore's review of Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne vs. Zack Gibson and James Drake in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament final, Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai, Adam Cole's challenger for the NXT Title at Takeover". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  16. ^ Garretson, Jordan (February 19, 2020). "The Grizzled Young Veterans def. Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde". WWE. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  17. ^ Moore, John (January 13, 2021). "1/13 NXT TV results: Moore's review of Adam Cole and Roderick Strong vs. Tyler Breeze and Fandango, and Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Ever-Rise in a Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic matches, Shotzi Blackheart vs. Candice LeRae, Johnny Gargano vs. Dexter Lumis in a non-title match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
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  19. ^ Moore, John (10 February 2021). "2/10 NXT TV results: Moore's review of MSK vs. Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde, Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart vs. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell, and Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans in Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic semifinal matches". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  20. ^ Moore, John (14 February 2021). "NXT Takeover Vengeance Day results: Moore's live review of Finn Balor vs. Pete Dunne for the NXT Championship, Johnny Gargano vs. Kushida for the NXT North American Title, Io Shirai vs. Toni Storm vs. Mercedes Martinez for the NXT Women's Championship, Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic finals". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  21. ^ Moore, John (21 December 2021). "12/21 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of AJ Styles responding to Grayson Waller, Raquel Gonzalez vs. Dakota Kai in a street fight, Pete Dunne vs. Tony D'Angelo, Dexter Lumis vs. Trick Williams, Julius Creed and Brutus Creed vs. Zack Gibson and James Drake, Von Wagner in action". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  22. ^ Moore, John (25 January 2022). "1/25 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of Solo Sikoa vs. Boa in a No DQ, Falls Count Anywhere match, Cameron Grimes vs. Tony D'Angelo for a shot at the NXT North American Championship, Toxic Attraction vs. Kay Lee Ray, Indi Hartwell, and Persia Pirotta, two Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic matches". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  23. ^ Moore, John (8 February 2022). "2/8 NXT 2.0 results: Moore's review of Mandy Rose vs. Kay Lee Ray for the NXT Women's Championship, The Creed Brothers vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans, and MSK vs. Malik Blade and Edris Enofe in Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic semifinal matches, the Bron Breakker and Santos Escobar summit". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  24. ^ "The Dyad Are Revealed To Be Former Tag Team Champions With New Names And New Looks". Fightful. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  25. ^ Defelice, Robert (25 October 2022). "Ava Raine (Simone Johnson) Debuts As The Fourth Member Of Schism On 10/25 WWE NXT". Fightful. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  26. ^ Knight, Cain A. (September 14, 2023). "Rip Fowler and Jagger Reid are gone from WWE". SBNation. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  27. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (2023-10-14). "Grizzled Young Veterans Are Officially Free Agents | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  28. ^ Thompson, Andrew (2023-10-16). "Grizzled Young Veterans appear at DEADLOCK Pro Wrestling's 10/15 event". POST Wrestling. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  29. ^ Lowson, Thomas (2024-04-25). "Burning Heart Pro Wrestling: Promotion Launched By Grizzled Young Veterans to Host First Show in June". sescoops. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  30. ^ "Grizzled Young Veterans Are Coming to TNA Hard To Kill & Snake Eyes". Impact Wrestling. December 26, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
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  33. ^ Moore, John (February 2, 2024). "TNA Impact results (2/1): Moore's review of ABC vs. Grizzled Young Veterans in the first match of the best of three series for the TNA Tag Titles, Nic Nemeth vs. Trey Miguel". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  34. ^ TNA Wrestling Staff (February 15, 2024). "ABC & GYV Settle the Score in Final Match of Best of 3 Series at No Surrender". TNA Wrestling. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  35. ^ "TNA No Surrender 2024". Cagematch. February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  36. ^ Carey, Ian (2024-04-25). "Grizzled Young Veterans to make AEW debut on Collision". Wrestling Observer. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  37. ^ "AEW Collision #43". Cagematch. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  38. ^ Powell, Jason (August 25, 2024). "AEW All In results: Powell's live review of Swerve Strickland vs. Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Championship, Toni Storm vs. Mariah May for the AEW Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  39. ^ "Titles « FSW Tag Team Championship « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". cagematch.net.
  40. ^ Richards, Alex (2019-07-29). "#AndNEW: Grizzled Young Veterans Win PROGRESS Tag Team Championships". Last Word on Pro Wrestling. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
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