2 More WWE NXT Wrestlers Undergo Name Changes, Leaving Brand?
Grizzled Young Veterans shorten ring names, then say they're finished in NXT.
It looks like we can add two more name changes to the NXT ranks, though it's unclear whether these two will be hanging around much longer.
On Tuesday night's edition of NXT 2.0, the Grizzled Young Veterans were exclusively referred to by their surnames, as Zack Gibson and James Drake seemingly have lost their first names. The duo also were introduced only as Drake & Gibson, not GYV or any derivation of their tag team name.
Drake & Gibson lost a tag match against Legardo del Fantasma, which has seen a member of its ranks, the former Raul Mendoza, rechristened Cruz Del Toro. The former NXT UK Tag Team Champions have been sputtering on NXT 2.0 lately, mainly serving as enhancement talent who can still put on a banger of a match.
After losing, a frustrated Drake & Gibson did a backstage interview for WWE's digital platforms where they said they wouldn't be coming around NXT.
After another frustrating loss, Drake & Gibson walk off saying the NXT Universe will no longer see Drake & Gibson. ?#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/jQsp8GMwWN
Advertisement— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 20, 2022
WWE has been on a tear renaming wrestlers recently as part of a decree from Vince McMahon that unestablished superstars can't use their real names or monikers they used on the independent scene. We've seen Raquel Rodriguez (formerly Gonzalez), Butch (formerly Pete Dunne) and (Austin) Theory all undergo name changes on the main roster.
Although they haven't officially had their names changed on NXT television, it's been reported that Kay Lee Ray has been renamed Alba Fyre, and Kacy Catanzaro has been redubbed Katana Chance, though a digital interview did make Chance's new name canon.