Jackson Drake

Known as “The Carolina Reaper,” Jackson Drake hails from Greensboro, North Carolina and debuted on the independent circuit in 2017. He is the former inaugural WWE Evolve Champion and leads The Vanity Project. Drake became the first-ever Evolve titleholder on the April 25 episode of Evolve, besting Edris Enofe, Keanu Carver, and Legacy to claim the gold. After moving to NXT in 2026, Drake has dominated Tuesday nights alongside Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes.

On June 16, 2026, Drake faced Tavion Heights in a number one contender’s match for the NXT Men’s North American Championship. Heights had to contend with the rest of The Vanity Project at ringside, but Myles Borne came down to neutralize the interference. Tavion put Drake away with a belly-to-belly suplex for the three count, denying Drake the title shot heading into Great American Bash.