The April 27, edition of AEW Collision saw not one but three names from WWE NXT make their debuts for the All-Elite promotion.
The first episode following the inaugural AEW Dynasty event, Collision saw the Grizzled Young Veterans in action. Their arrival on the show wasn’t a surprise given that it’d been announced had been announced days earlier. The team of Zack Gibson and James Drake put up quite the effort against The Acclaimed but ultimately lost to the former AEW World Tag Team Champions.
In a post-match interview, the Grizzled Young Veterans were frustrated about their defeat and blamed ‘Daddy Ass’ Billy Gunn for their setback.
EXCLUSIVE: The Grizzled Young Vets, although frustrated, are more determined than ever! #AEWCollision@ZackGibsonGYV | @JamesDrakePro pic.twitter.com/fdRAjwd6My
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 28, 2024
Gibson and Drake joined WWE in 2018 and would become the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions. They were later moved to WWE NXT and joined Joe Gacy’s Schism but chose to leave WWE when their contracts expired in September 2023.
The Grizzled Young Veterans weren’t the only NXT alum on the show. Martin Stone also made his AEW debut on Collision in a losing effort to RUSH. In addition to being Stone’s debut, this was RUSH’s first match back after not competing since AEW Worlds End in December 2023.
In WWE NXT, Stone competed as Danny Butch and held the NXT Tag Team Championships with Oney Lorcan. He was released from the gold brand in January 2022 as part of cuts that saw many names close to Triple H be let go.