Earlier this week, NXT Superstars The Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson) spoke to Digital Spy, where The discussed their transition from NXT UK. GYV also spoke about working with Shawn Michaels, and more. Check out their comments below:
Gibson on adapting their promo style for the US audience:
“You do have to adapt but at the same time, the accent and the nuances of British humour or slang terms and stuff like that’s also something that’s interesting to a foreign audience. So we’re sort of educating them, whether they want it or not, on Scouse culture, maybe showing them some new terms they’ve not heard before. Something that some people struggle with is they go too far one way. They love their hometown and they love their own funny little phrases that they have but then they do 99% of their dialogue in that accent and with those terms and for that reason, it goes over people’s heads. It’s about working a little bit smarter and making sure that everyone can understand you whilst still trying to stay true to yourself.”
Gibson on inside jokes in their promo’s:
“You do have to adapt but at the same time, the accent and the nuances of British humour or slang terms and stuff like that’s also something that’s interesting to a foreign audience. So we’re sort of educating them, whether they want it or not, on Scouse culture, maybe showing them some new terms they’ve not heard before. Something that some people struggle with is they go too far one way. They love their hometown and they love their own funny little phrases that they have but then they do 99% of their dialogue in that accent and with those terms and for that reason, it goes over people’s heads. It’s about working a little bit smarter and making sure that everyone can understand you whilst still trying to stay true to yourself.”
Drake on working with “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels:
“I think one of the reasons why he has such an attraction to help the UK team is because, if you look at his style, especially in The Rockers, his work rate was go, go, go, go – effort and energy were not missed.”
Drake on Michaels identifying with NXT UK:
“I reckon that’s one thing he identifies with and sees in the UK is the effort and energy. The other thing is, I think a lot of us, as time’s gone on, are my size now [Shawn’s] been able to see people of his stature have an opportunity to make a living and get far in wrestling I feel like he’s identified that and if there’s anytime he can help them on their way, he will never say one or two liners, if he wants to give you advice he’s committing some time to do that.”
