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A former WWE tag team is set to debut in AEW at the upcoming episode of Collision on Saturday. Some recent reports have shed some light on the duo's status with the Tony Khan-led promotion.
The team in question is The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake), who departed from the WWE in September 2023 and made their TNA debut at the Hard to Kill 2024 PPV. The duo had a great run on NXT UK. However, they vented frustrations with their booking when they were put in the Schism faction led by Joe Gacy on NXT.
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Gibson and Drake called out AEW's The Acclaimed and called them an embarrassment to the tag team division. Since then, The Grizzled Young Veterans' AEW debut was made official for this week's Collision, where they will take on The Acclaimed in a tag team match.
In a recent Q&A session, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select provided an important update on the Grizzled Young Veterans' status with the Jacksonville-based promotion.
“Grizzled Young Vets are not, as best as I know, signed for those who are wondering.”
Former WWE tag team Grizzled Young Veterans is set to launch a new wrestling promotion
The team of Zack Gibson and James Drake is one of the most talented duos in professional wrestling. The GYV are the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions, however, had an underwhelming run once they moved to the WWE NXT brand. Gibson and Drake officially left the WWE in September 2023 and recently announced the launch of their new wrestling promotion.
The name of the promotion was revealed as 'Burning Heat Pro Wrestling' and the first show is set to take place in Liverpool on June 21, 2024.
“It is my pleasure to announce that the first show will take place in my hometown on the 21st of June at the Liverpool Olympia, a venue rich in history that has seen its fair share of blood, sweat, and tears in a city with unrivaled heart what better place for a company called Burning Heart to show the world exactly what they are about pro wrestling from the heart. This is the first time we've been back in Liverpool in over five years, so you know that we're bringing our best, and you know that we're coming for a fight.”
The duo is set to debut for AEW at the upcoming Collision against The Acclaimed. It will be interesting to see if Tony Khan decides to offer a contract to the Grizzled Young Veterans.
