Zack Gibson
Zack Gibson | |
---|---|
Birth name | Jack Rea |
Born | Liverpool, England | 8 August 1990
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Zack Diamond Zack Diamond Gibson Zack Gibson Rip Fowler |
Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (190 cm)[1][2] |
Billed weight | 220 lb (100 kg)[2] |
Billed from | Liverpool, England[1][2] |
Trained by | Alex Shane[1] Andy Baker[1] |
Debut | 2009[1] |
Jack Rea (born 8 August 1990), better known by the
Rea, born in Liverpool on August 8, 1990, began his wrestling career in 2009 after being trained by Alex Shane. As Zack Gibson, he wrestled in various promotions including FutureShock Wrestling, Grand Pro Wrestling, 5 Star Wrestling, and WhatCulture Pro Wrestling/Defiant Wrestling. In Progress Wrestling, he formed a tag team called Grizzled Young Veterans with James Drake and won the Progress tag team championship. He also wrestled in Insane Championship Wrestling and Revolution Pro Wrestling. In 2018, Gibson joined WWE's NXT UK brand, where he and Drake became the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions. They later transitioned to NXT in 2020 and competed in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Rea is a fan of Liverpool F.C. and The Beatles, naming his finishing moves after them.
Early life
Rea was born in Liverpool on 8 August 1990.[1] He grew up in nearby Maghull, where he attended Deyes High School.[4] He graduated with a degree in accounting and finance from Liverpool John Moores University in 2011.[5] Before wrestling, he played football.[1]
Professional wrestling career
Independent circuit (2009–2019, 2023–present)
After being trained by Alex Shane, Rea made his pro-wrestling debut in 2009 for English promotion, FutureShock Wrestling as Zack Diamond.[6] For FSW, he would become a three-time FSW Heavyweight Champion in a series of matches with Noam Dar, Jack Gallagher, Andy Wild, Rampage Brown, Fabian Aichner, Ashton Smith and others.[7][8][9]
In March 2010, Rea started using the ring name of Zack Gibson.
In 2016, Gibson made his debut for 5 Star Wrestling, losing to Big Damo.[17] In 2018, before the promotion's closure, Gibson made his return to 5 Star losing to Rey Mysterio by disqualification after hitting Mysterio with a low blow.[18][19]
In March 2017 Gibson made his debut for WhatCulture Pro Wrestling (later Defiant Wrestling) as part of the Pro Wrestling World Cup English qualifiers, losing to Jimmy Havoc in the first round.[20] He began wrestling on Defiant's weekly program Loaded in late 2017 into 2018. He defeated Rampage Brown at the February 18, 2018 event Chain Reaction. His final match for the promotion before leaving for WWE, would be in March 2018, with Gibson losing a Magnificent 7 qualifying match.[21]
On October 14, 2023, both Gibson and Drake announced that they would take independent bookings.[22] The following day, they made their first independent appearance since being released at Deadlock Pro-Wrestling's Live 3 event where they answered an open challenge set by DPW's tag team champions, The Workhorsemen.[23]
On April 25, 2024, Gibson and Drake announced the launch of their professional wrestling promotion, Burning Heart Wrestling. The promotion's first event will take place on June 21.[24]
Progress Wrestling (2012, 2014–2019, 2024–present)
In 2012, Gibson made his Progress Wrestling debut at the debut show for Progress.[25] In 2014, Gibson returned to Progress at Chapter Twelve, defeating
Insane Championship Wrestling (2015–2017)
Gibson debuted for Insane Championship Wrestling in 2015 during the Road to Fear and Loathing tour losing an eight-man tag team match to the New Age Kliq.[32] In 2015, he challenged Grado for the ICW World Heavyweight Championship in a three way match with Dave Mastiff where Grado retained.[33]
On 20 November 2016 at ICW: Fear & Loathing IX, Gibson entered the Seven Man Stairway to Heaven match for the ICW Zero-G Championship, he faced Aaron Echo, Lionheart, Liam Thomson, Iestyn Rees and Kenny Williams but was first eliminated.[34][35]
In 2017 at ICW:Fear & Loathing X, Gibson and Rob Van Dam were defeated by Lionheart in a three-way elimination match.[36] On 16 June 2017 Gibson defeated Kenny Williams in a falls count anywhere match to win the ICW Zero-G Championship.[37] Gibson lost the championship back to Williams the following month in a ladder match.[38]
Revolution Pro Wrestling (2017–2018, 2023-present)
Gibson was defeated by Trent Seven in his
WWE
NXT UK (2018–2020)
Gibson was announced for
On 16 May 2018, it was announced that Gibson would be one of the 16 participants in the upcoming
In 2019, they defeated Moustache Mountain at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool in the finals of a tournament to become the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions.[55] After some defences, they would lose the titles to Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster at NXT Takeover: Cardiff in a triple-threat tag team also involving Gallus. On 11 September Drake and Gibson unsuccessfully challenged Andrews and Webster in a rematch. They would have another title match at NXT UK Takeover: Blackpool II against the new champions Gallus, Andrews & Webster and Imperium (Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel) in a ladder match where the champions retained.[56]
In parallel to their NXT UK Tag Team Championship pursuit at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II, Drake and Gibson competed in the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. They defeated Kushida and Alex Shelley in the quarterfinals and NXT Tag Team Champions Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly of The Undisputed Era in the semifinals, before losing to The BroserWeights (Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne) in the finals.[57][58]
NXT (2020–2023)
On the 19 February 2020 episode of
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2024)
On December 26, 2023, it was revealed that Gibson and Drake will make their
All Elite Wrestling (2024)
On April 25, 2024, it was revealed that Gibson and Drake will make their All Elite Wrestling on the April 27 episode of Collision.[69]
Personal life
Rea is a fan of Liverpool F.C. and The Beatles. He named his submission hold and finishing move to reference both respectively: a kimura lock called the Shankly Gates and an over-the-shoulder double knee facebreaker called the Ticket to Ride.[70]
Championships and accomplishments
- Attack! Pro Wrestling
- Attack! 24:7 Championship (1 time) – with Sam Bailey[71]
- Britannia Wrestling Promotions
- FutureShock Wrestling
- FSW Championship (3 times)[71]
- FSW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with James Drake[73]
- FSW Trophy Tournament 2015 winner (1 time)[72]
- Lotto-Thunder Tournament 2013 winner (1 time)[72]
- Grand Pro Wrestling
- Insane Championship Wrestling
- ICW Zero-G Championship (1 time)[71]
- New Generation Wrestling
- NGW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Sam Bailey[71]
- Over the Top Wrestling
- OTT Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Charlie Sterling and Sha Samuels[71]
- Progress Wrestling
- Progress Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with James Drake[71]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 207 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2019[74]
- Ranked No. 207 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the
- Pro Wrestling Revolver
- PWR Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with James Drake
- Revolution Pro Wrestling
- 1 time, current) – with James Drake
- WWE
References
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- ^ a b c "Zack Gibson". WWE. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ Currier, Joseph (25 April 2024). "Grizzled Young Veterans launching new wrestling promotion". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ a b Docking, Neil (24 March 2018). "British wrestler Zack Gibson signs with WWE as plans for UK show gain momentum". Mirror. Daily Mirror. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ Docking, Neil (17 August 2014). "From former Liverpool accountant to king of the ring Zack Gibson". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
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- ^ "5 Star Live From Liverpool". Cagematch. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^ Docking, Neil (2 February 2018). "REVIEW: 'Liverpool's No.1' Zack Gibson shocks fans at 5 Star Wrestling ECHO Arena show". Liverpoolecho.co.uk. Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
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- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (14 October 2023). "Grizzled Young Veterans Are Officially Free Agents | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
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- ^ "Get the latest results for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic". WWE. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- ^ Moore, John (29 January 2020). "1/29 NXT TV results: Moore's review of Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne vs. Zack Gibson and James Drake in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament final, Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai, Adam Cole's challenger for the NXT Title at Takeover". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
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- ^ "Santino Marella Makes Huge TNA World Tag Team Title Match for Hard To Kill". Impact Wrestling. Impact Wrestling Staff. 31 December 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ^ Powell, Jason (13 January 2024). "TNA Hard To Kill results: Powell's live review of Alex Shelley vs. Moose for the TNA Title, Trinity vs. Jordynne Grace for the Knockouts Title, Josh Alexander vs. Alex Hammerstone". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
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was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Moore, John (2 February 2024). "TNA Impact results (2/1): Moore's review of ABC vs. Grizzled Young Veterans in the first match of the best of three series for the TNA Tag Titles, Nic Nemeth vs. Trey Miguel". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ TNA Wrestling Staff (15 February 2024). "ABC & GYV Settle the Score in Final Match of Best of 3 Series at No Surrender". TNA Wrestling. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "TNA No Surrender 2024". Cagematch. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ Carey, Ian (25 April 2024). "Grizzled Young Veterans to make AEW debut on Collision". Wrestling Observer. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- Preston City Wrestling. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Zack Gibson". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ a b c "Zack Gibson". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ "Titles « FSW Tag Team Championship « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". cagematch.net.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2019 – The Internet Wrestling Database". Profightdb.com. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "NXT UK Tag Team Championship". WWE. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
External links
- Zack Gibson on WWE.com
- WWE Tournament Profile
- Zack Gibson on Twitter
- Zack Gibson's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database
- Zack Gibson (III) at IMDb