Before joining WWE NXT as a referee, Drake Wuertz spent years competing around the world, specializing in hardcore brawls.
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Battling in barbed wire ...
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...being thrown through panes of glass ...
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... and breaking fluorescent light tubes over his foes was a normal day at the office.
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Wuertz gained a cult fan base worldwide for his never-say-die attitude in the face of some of the most brutal matches ever conceived.
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Wuertz eventually stepped away from the hardcore game and earned acclaim for his mat prowess in straight wrestling matches.
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Today, Wuertz is thrilled to be part of NXT as a referee.
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While some members of the NXT Universe may simply know Wuertz as a referee ...
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... they should be aware that underneath his striped shirt ...
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...lie the scars of a warrior.
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This scar came from a grueling brawl in the finals of the "Tournament of Death." Wuertz was thrown through light tubes, the jagged remains of which cut open his chest.
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This scar came from a grueling brawl in the finals of the "Tournament of Death." Wuertz was thrown through light tubes, the jagged remains of which cut open his chest.