WWE is introducing new characters and gimmicks to NXT following the revamp of the brand. Among them so far has been former CZW wrestler Joe Gacy portraying a politically correct “woke” character who talked about safe spaces, male privilege, and hugs. Gacy’s gimmick would attract attention from mainstream media such as Fox News, Daily Mail, and New York Post which is something WWE would typically love. However, WWE has since removed references to the gimmick and Gacy from their social media accounts, including making an exclusive digital promo he cut after NXT on YouTube private.
Why WWE has made the decision to seemingly back from the gimmick isn’t known, and as of writing, it has not been confirmed whether the character has been dropped entirely or is instead being tweaked. It should, though, be noted that the Gacy’s match with Cameron Grimes is still available to watch on Peacock and the WWE Network, so he hasn’t been completely removed from history.
Gacy has been with WWE since late August 2020, when the company purchased EVOLVE. He’d later debut on 205 Live before participating in NXT’s Breakout tournament, being eliminated in the first round. The 34-year-old began his career in CZW back in 2006 and went from participating in a scholarship tryout match to holding the companies Heavyweight Championship three times. He was also part of the Switchblade Conspiracy stable alongside Jon Moxley and Sami Callihan between 2009 and 2011 on the indies.
