British WWE stars making most of second chance to shine after being left stranded

The British pair are busy making a name for themselves overseas - but can also be watched from the UK

Two of WWE’s brightest young British stars are making the most of their big chance to shine in the States - after being stranded in the UK amid the Covid lockdown.

Zack Gibson and James Drake, who wrestle collectively as the tag team Grizzled Young Veterans, are making a splash for the sports entertainment giant as part of their NXT roster.

Now based Stateside, the pair are appearing regularly on the brand’s weekly television show, which airs not only in the US but also in the UK on BT Sport.

A chance to perform in front of huge, televised audiences is not one many would take for granted, but it’s obvious the duo know more than most the need to appreciate what they have.

Gibson, 30 and Drake, 27, revealed in an exclusive interview with The Independent that their journey to the grand stage of NXT has been far from one easily negotiated.

In fact, the breakthrough they’re now enjoying on NXT is the better part of a year overdue.

Having packed up and moved most of what they own to America in readiness for their permanent switch a little under 12 months ago, they journeyed back to the UK to tie up loose ends.

Just days before their scheduled flight back, Britain was plunged into a national lockdown that prevented their international travel.

While at pains to accept that such inconvenience might pale in comparison to the devastation the Coronavirus pandemic wreaked over that time, Gibson admitted the sudden turn of events left them “in limbo.”

“It was a tough pill to swallow,” he said. “We had a lot of momentum at the start of 2020.

“We were ready to really put our foot down full steam ahead and really go for it.

“We flew back to the UK just to collect the last of our belongings, and the next time we flew to the States, that was supposed to be our move – we were supposed to be there for good.

“Two days before that, we got locked down with all of our belongings back in our apartment in the States.

“We were just stuck in the UK with nowhere to go and were in limbo for like eight months.

“I don’t want to try and liken that to the worst situations that’s happened [during lockdown], but we had to sit back for eight months and watch the industry move forward and watch while other talents took those spots and made the most of the opportunities that they were granted that slipped us by through no fault or action of our own.”

Blackpool-born Dake reveals the pair, who’ve wrestled together across the world since 2017, were sustained by support from WWE officials during their enforced exile from the US.

Regular messages were enough to give them assurances that it wasn’t ‘out of sight, out of mind’ for the Brits while NXT rolled on without them for the better part of a year.

He added: “I will say that, probably on a monthly basis we’d have people from inside the job message just checking in.

“Just saying ‘Hey, how are you guys getting?’, that was enough for us – that’s enough to let us know, that’s them checking in.

“They really looked after us and really kept us up to date with the processes for getting us over there.”

Now back on US soil where they’ll tangle with the likes of The Undisputed Era and fellow Brit Pete Dunne, the pair are fully aware that they still have a role to play back home.

They may be thousands of miles away, but are part of WWE’s well-established role of giving its fans something to smile about when it comes to not only NXT but also Monday Night Raw and SmackDown, its other televised offerings.

With its unique brand of incredible athleticism and soap opera entertainment, Drake knows it’s a blend that can “captivate” those who focus on entertainment to break away from the realities of lockdown life.

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He went on to say: “Any sort of escapism right now is more important than ever – it’s tough right now and some people need to escape and get caught up in whatever we’re watching.

“That’s the thing with WWE – it’s the best of both worlds – top athletes and drama come together, and it does captivate you.

“It gives you that outlet that, right now, people unfortunately don’t have.”

Their Grizzled Young Veterans team name is suitably apt for the duo who, despite relatively tender years, have over two decades’ combined experience in the ring.

Yet with a mindset befitting veterans of even greater years, Gibson summed up their lockdown perfectly, and insisted their new opportunity - such as again wrestling in this year's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament - isn’t one they’ll squander.

“That’s the measure of the talent or performer – what you do with these challenges,” he insisted.

“James and I own a gym in Liverpool and for the whole eight months we were just preparing - watching everything and consuming everything we could – making sure we were ready for the opportunity we’ve now been presented with.

“There’s no looking back now.”

Watch Grizzled Young Veterans on WWE NXT, airing on BT Sport in the UK on Wednesday nights, 1am. For more details visit wwe.com.