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James Drake: A New Chapter Will Begin On 10/14, I Haven't Felt This Alive In A Long Time

Wrestling
Colin Tessier Oct 13, 2023 10:08AM

James Drake looks forward to a new beginning.

James Drake and Zack Gibson, also known as the Grizzled Young Veterans or The Dyad, previously requested their releases in April 2023. The request was denied, and the duo continued to compete on NXT.

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Fightful Select recently reported that Grizzled Young Veterans' WWE contracts expire on October 14, and they are expected to officially leave the company.

Drake took to social media and shared his thoughts ahead of the beginning of a new chapter. He thanked everyone for their support and said he was excited and terrified for what comes next. Drake wrote that he hasn't felt this alive in a long time.

Drake and Gibson first teamed up together in WWE in 2018. They both competed in the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament before the duo became a featured team in NXT UK. Drake and Gibson won the NXT UK Tag Team Championship once, and Gibson won the United Kingdom Championship Tournament in 2018. They moved to NXT in 2020, and they had been featured their ever since.

The duo last competed on the August 29 episode of NXT, where they lost to The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed) in a Steel Cage match. They were seemingly written off NXT TV on the September 12 episode, as Joe Gacy said the Schism tree was dying, and it was down to two roots.

Update: Gibson and Drake have been teased for a match against Sam Doyle and Charlie Sterling at OTT's Ninth Year Anniversary Show on October 27. A picture of Gibson was shown in a promo for the show.

Fightful will provide more information about what the future holds for Drake and Gibson as it becomes available.

Kevin Ku recently expressed his interest in facing Grizzled Young Veterans. Check out his comments here.

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