Maven responds to WWE NXT wrestler after ‘sh*tty acting’ controversy
Former WWE wrestler Maven — now a popular YouTuber — has issued something of an apology after starting up controversy with a current member of the NXT roster.
In one of his videos last week, Maven — while admitting that he wasn’t any better of an actor — watched a segment involving Jackson Drake and called out Drake’s “pretty sh*tty acting.” The 22-year-old Drake responded in a tweet that same day where he said his impact on wrestling is already bigger than anything Maven did while with WWE.
“This fossil was signed to WWE for four years. I’ve been signed for six months and my impact has already usurped his,” Drake wrote. “Lmao at him calling my ‘sh*tty acting’ when it’s 10x better than he ever was at any aspect of the industry. Until somebody asks for advice on how to be as forgettable and vanilla of a wrestler as possible, dude has nothing to offer.”
Maven then uploaded a video today issuing a response to Drake. After mentioning some of the legends he shared the ring with in the 2000s and jokingly calling Drake “Jackson Blake,” Maven apologized for upsetting Drake and said he’s rooting for him. He also offered Drake some advice about ignoring criticism rather than letting people know they got to you.
“In all seriousness, Jackson, we did not mean to upset you. And if our video struck a nerve, I promise you that was not the intent,” Maven said. “Jackson, I have no doubt that you will go on to do better things than I did. I have no doubt you will make a bigger impact. And I am indeed now a fan. I will be watching you and looking forward to seeing what you bring to the world of professional wrestling.
“But Jackson, if I may: allow me to offer you one bit of free advice. And trust me, I know my free advice is overpriced. Never sell anything. And by sell, I mean if a rib or a joke lands with you personally, don’t let anyone know it bothers you. My first night in the WWE, my trainers told me, ‘When they rib you — not if, but when — don’t let anyone know that it gets under your skin. And I walked into the locker room and my bag was chained to the ceiling. With every wrestler in that locker room’s eyes upon me, I walked in, looked up, and said, ‘Huh? How the hell did that get up there?’ and proceeded to looking for bolt cutters.”
Maven then said he was going to send Drake an autographed picture. which he made out to “Jackson Blake” before crossing it out and putting the correct last name. Maven signed his own name with “(Fossil)” and put the picture in an envelope addressed to the WWE Performance Center.
Drake is the leader of Vanity Project in NXT and is a former WWE Evolve Champion.
Maven on YouTube —
In his own career, Maven was best known for winning Tough Enough season one and eliminating Undertaker from the 2002 Royal Rumble. He’s found a second life on YouTube with more than 900,000 subscribers. Maven has created a template other former wrestlers have followed by prioritizing clickable titles, thumbnails, and video ideas while discussing the behind the scenes of his time in WWE and reacting to current wrestling moments.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.