AEW Talent Claims Josh Briggs Copied His Move

WWE NXT talent Josh Briggs has been accused of copying a move by an All Elite Wrestling talent.

Briggs and his tag team partner Brooks Jensen were involved in a tag team match with Malik Blade & Edris Enofe, and The Dyad on WWE NXT. During the match, Briggs launched Malik Blade from the outside onto the ropes which caused Blade to rebound into a brutal clothesline from the former EVOLVE Champion.

Booker T noted on commentary that he had never seen a move like it, something AEW's JD Drake took issue with as he pointed out that he uses the move regularly and has done so since 2015.

"At least let them know where you got it from Josh Briggs. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," Drake initially tweeted, before he added: "I did this in 2015-16. Worked with Josh in Evolve for a few years. Guess I made an impression. September 4. 2015 as a matter of fact."

Drake's Workhorsemen tag team partner Anthony Henry later supported his friend, writing: "He has done this since I have known him. Never seen Josh do it until now."

Captain Shawn Dean also noted that he used to call the move the JD Drake Deal.

Briggs and JD Drake faced each other several times in EVOLVE, with their final encounter taking place in December 2019 where Briggs defeated Drake to retain the promotion's title.