If you heard the names Jack Rea and James Dowell, it likely may not ring any bells in fans today. However, if you asked them about Zack Gibson and James Drake, they would likely share an opinion about the fiery duo, the Grizzled Young Veterans.
Their careers are as different as they are. The two British wrestlers have carved a path for themselves that has made fans stand up and take notice. In knowing who they are, it is important to explore where their careers began and evolved to where they are now.
Grizzled Young Veterans – Fighting Spirit Inside & Out
For Zack Gibson, Liverpool’s #1, before wrestling became his career of choice, football (soccer) was the place where he would showcase his athleticism. Gibson was trained by former wrestler, producer, commentator, and promoter ‘The Showstealer’ Alex Shane.
In a relatively short time after his training, Gibson would initially cut his teeth competing for FutureShock Wrestling.
However, it was at this time when Gibson would compete as Zack Diamond. Like any wrestler just getting their feet under them, the former Zack Diamond’s development also included his name.
It would be the following year when Liverpool’s #1 would begin to be referred to as Zack Gibson. The following year, with FutureShock Wrestling, Gibson would compete in the promotions Trophy Tournament.
A two-year veteran at the time, Gibson made it to the tournament finals. Even in defeat, it was a success. Gibson’s journey also saw him compete for other UK promotions, such as Grand Pro Wrestling.
The former Garage Pro Wrestling, now rebranded saw Gibson compete in the promotion’s 500th match at the Hero’s and Villan’s event which saw him compete for the GPW British Championship.
Gibson would compete for Insane Championship Wrestling in 2015. His time in the Irish-based promotion, saw him work with notable names in the industry such as Rob Van Dam while competing against notable Irish talents such as Lionheart and future NXT UK talent, Kenny Williams. It was also in ICW where Gibson would capture the ICW Zero-G Championship.
In 2016, movement for Gibson around the independent wrestling scene in the United Kingdom. He competed in the now former 5 Star Wrestling against the likes of Rey Mysterio Jr and Big Damo (formerly Killian Dain in the WWE).
The following year, Gibson would compete for WCPW (later rebranded Defiant Wrestling). It while he was there that Gibson would compete in the Pro Wrestling World Cup.
Despite losing in the first round of that tournament, Gibson would appear regularly on the promotions weekly program Loaded. It would be in Defiant that Gibson would face another UK stalwart and later WWE NXT UK talent, Rampage Brown.
If any one promotion became as tied to Zack Gibson’s time in wrestling it would be none other than Progress Wrestling. He first competed in the company in 2012 but wouldn’t return for another two years.
His return couldn’t come across a more talented and emerging talent in the UK than the aerial assassin, Will Ospreay. His return was a successful one at that as he would defeat Ospreay upon Liverpool’s #1 returning to the promotion. It would be in Progress Wrestling where Gibson would form a tag team James Drake.
Little is known recorded about Drake prior to his time in Progress Wrestling. But it really should be. A veteran himself of over a decade, Drake first match was in January 2010.
As part of the XWA British Heavyweight Multi-Man Gold Rush Rumble in Lancashire, England. However, if there was a promotion, Drake had long had ties to outside of his time in Progress Wrestling it would be FutureShock Wrestling.
FutureShock Wrestling is based out of Manchester, England and provided Drake an opportunity to get his feet wet and an opportunity go grow as a competitor. In fact, up until 2020, Drake competed for FutureShock Wrestling every year since he turned pro in 2010.
Despite the restrictions the typically prevented wrestlers from competing due to the global pandemic, Drake still found himself on one of FutureShock’s cards.
Drake first competed in Progress Wrestling in 2016 on two separate occasions. It wasn’t until 2017, when Drake and Zack Gibson would first work together.
In their first two recorded matches as a team for Progress competing on Chapter 53 and Chapter 54, Zack Gibson and James Drake were victorious. In one of those matches, the duo defeated longtime veterans Mark Andrews and Eddie Dennis.
It wouldn’t be until Chapter 57 where the Grizzled Young Veterans tag team name was tied to them. In Progress Wrestling, the Grizzled Young Veterans would become the three-time tag team champions.
For the Grizzled Young Veterans, feuds with the likes of British Strong Style (Trent Seven, Tyler Bate, and Pete Dunne) would have long been synonymous with one another. With the inception of the NXT UK promotion, it became time for a new threat for Pete Dunne to come about.
The seemingly easy transition for Gibson to challenge Dunne would later open the door for James Drake to also join the promotion. The duo would make history becoming the first NXT UK tag team champions.
It’s something we’re 100% open to. Our whole goal, and we’ve said it since we won these titles, is to make these titles prestigious. We’re the first-ever UK tag team champions and it matters.
As a wrestling fan, some people talk about who they want to see with a title, X, Y and Z, this guy could do this, this guy could do that; but a title doesn’t make a competitor, the competitor makes the title.
So we’ve really focused on being the guys to take these titles and make them what they are today, our main focus has always been on that. Not that we have to go to other people, but they have to come to us.
But we just want to make it clear: there is a reason guys like Cesaro and Kassius Ohno are coming over to NXT UK.
Because talent over here like ourselves are making a racket and they want to come over and find out what it’s all about.
So not necessarily are we going to go over and see what they’re going to do, we’ve laid the gauntlet down for guys to come here.
The duo would capture the WWE’s NXT UK tag team championship. As the inaugural title holders, the duo had immediately put forth their footprint on the tag team division.
While the duo may have seemed like overnight success stories their time was spent competing time and time again all over the United Kingdom. It was clear that their growth from the onset of them as a team came together rather quickly.
The duo have been able to transition their work as competitive singles talents as one of the WWE’s most formattable tag teams regardless of brand.
One of the least known facts about the duo was their ability to commit to the growth of wrestling as they are the growth of their own careers.
This was no more evident then the creation of their wrestling school Fighting Spirit Pro Wrestling School. However, with their schedule and the COVID pandemic, they were forced to close its doors.
The following were comments by Drake and Gibson to have to close down the school four years after operating it.
“Gutted to have to write this but unfortunately Fighting Spirit is having to close it’s doors for the forseeable. This decision has been made with a very heavy heart.
Thank you to everyone who came through our doors, stay safe and keep strong. #TeamFightingSpirit
Grizzled Young Veterans have the same fighting spirt that they had instilled in their students.
They carry that with each and every match they are in as well. With their commitment to grow as a tag team, their growth in the industry is as evident today as it ever was.
Grizzled Young Veterans become The Dyad and part of Schism.
In 2022, Drake and Gibson adjusted their look and, along with Joe Gacy and Ava Raine, became the group known as Schism. Under the moniker of Jagger Reid and Rip Fowler, Drake, and Gibson would be stripped of their gritty previous look.
While they would be successful as the NXT Tag Team Champions, they weren’t happy. In September 2023, James Drake and Zack Gibson would leave the WWE’s NXT brand, opting to become free agents.
After departing NXT, Drake and Gibson would compete in their home of England and in TNA. But in the Spring of 2024, Gibson and Drake would compete in All Elite Wrestling.
It’s clear that the Grizzled Young Veterans have goals for themselves that have yet to still be achieved.