Ladies and gentlemen, grab your popcorn and pull up a chair because we’ve got some juicy backstage news for you. The Grizzled Young Veterans, formerly of WWE fame and NXT UK Tag Team Champions, are at the center of a wrestling tug-of-war!
Zack Gibson and James Drake, free agents since their WWE exit in 2023, have been making waves across the wrestling scene, popping up in DPO, TNA, and even AEW. But what’s next for these two seasoned grapplers? According to our friends at Fightful Select, AEW’s interest has been piqued after their match against The Acclaimed. However, despite the sparks flying, no official contract has been signed yet.
Now, let’s break it down: AEW top brass are clearly smitten with the duo and have been in ongoing talks, but as of last week, things haven’t quite gone according to plan. Imagine a high-stakes poker game where both sides are still figuring out when to lay down their cards. AEW still has its eyes on the prize, though, hoping to bring these veterans into the fold.
In an interesting twist, Gibson and Drake also strutted their stuff in TNA sans contract. However, don’t expect them to settle down there anytime soon. The Grizzled Young Veterans are keeping their options open, much to the delight of fans who enjoy a good wrestling soap opera.
In a candid December 2023 interview with Metro, Gibson shed light on their WWE departure. No bad blood here, folks—just a case of creative frustration. Gibson candidly called their WWE stint “boring,” emphasizing their desire to actually enjoy their craft.
If they do ink a deal with TNA, we could see them back on “NXT” screens thanks to the TNA-NXT agreement. But AEW’s persistent courtship might throw a wrench in that storyline.
So, what’s the next chapter for the Grizzled Young Veterans? Will they find a new home in AEW, rekindle an old flame with TNA, or shock us all with another surprise move? Stay tuned, wrestling aficionados, because this saga is far from over!