The Vanity Project (professional wrestling)

The Vanity Project
Stable
LeaderJackson Drake
MembersBrad Baylor
Ricky Smokes
Myka Lockwood
NameThe Vanity Project
Combined
billed weight		599 lb (272 kg)
Former membersBryce Donovan
Zayda Steel
DebutApril 23, 2025 (2025-04-23)
Years active2025–present

The Vanity Project is a villainous professional wrestling stable in WWE, where they perform on the NXT brand. The group is led by Jackson Drake and consists of Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes, and Myka Lockwood. Drake is a former one-time and inaugural WWE Evolve Champion, while Baylor and Smokes are former one-time NXT Tag Team Champions.

History

WWE

Evolve (2025–2026)

On the March 5, 2025 episode of Evolve, Jackson Drake and Swipe Right (Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes) lost to Jack Cartwheel, Sean Legacy and Cappuccino Jones in a six-man tag team match in Evolve's first main event after its revival in WWE.[1] On the April 23 episode, Drake, Swipe Right, Bryce Donovan, and Zayda Steel joined together to form a stable called The Vanity Project.[2] On the May 21 episode, Steel lost in a Fatal Four-Way match against Kylie Rae, Aria Bennett, and Chantel Monroe to earn an opportunity to become the inaugural WWE Evolve Women's Champion.[3] On the June 4 episode, Drake defeated Sean Legacy, Edris Enofe, and Keanu Carver in a fatal four-way elimination match to become the inaugural WWE Evolve Champion.[4][5] After weeks of Drake blaming Donovan—who was the group's enforcer—for the group's failures, Donovan announced on the October 8 episode that he was done with the stable and that he would take the Evolve Championship away from Drake on the following week. He would then begin fighting against his former stablemates.[6] At the Evolve: Succession on October 15, Drake defeated Donovan to retain the title.[7] On October 9, Steel announced that she would not be renewing her WWE ID contract.[8] She wrestled her last WWE televised match on the October 22 episode of Evolve, where she was defeated by Thea Hail.[9][10] She made her last televised appearance with the group on the following week's episode.[11]

On the March 18, 2026 episode of Evolve, Drake lost the WWE Evolve Championship to Aaron Rourke in what would be The Vanity Project's final appearance on the brand, ending his reign at 301 days, although WWE recognizes it as ending at 287 days due to tape delay.[12][13]

NXT (2026–present)

On the January 13, 2026 episode of NXT, The Vanity Project were promoted to the NXT brand.[14] On the February 24 episode, Baylor and Smokes won the NXT Tag Team Championship by dethroning DarkState's Osiris Griffin and Saquon Shugars after an interference by Tony D'Angelo.[15] On April 4 at Stand & Deliver, Baylor and Smokes successfully defended their NXT Tag Team Championships against Los Americanos (Rayo Americano and Bravo Americano).[16] At Week 2 of NXT: Revenge on April 21, Drake was stood up by his date, leading to a chance meeting and connection with Myka Lockwood, who revealed that Drake had been catfished by a chatbot. Following this revelation, The Vanity Project accused Shiloh Hill of being behind the deception.[17] On the May 5 episode of NXT, Drake defeated Jasper Troy after an intervention by Lockwood. While the referee was distracted, Lockwood performed a bodyslam on Troy at ringside, allowing Drake to secure the victory. Following the match, Lockwood officially aligned herself with The Vanity Project.[18] Baylor and Smokes' reign as the NXT Tag Team Champions ended on the August 4 episode of NXT, losing the title to Myles Borne and Tavion Heights.[19]

Members

* Founding member
L Leader

Current

MemberJoined
Jackson Drake (L)*April 23, 2025
Brad Baylor
Ricky Smokes
Myka LockwoodMay 5, 2026

Former

MemberJoinedLeft
Bryce Donovan*April 23, 2025October 8, 2025
Zayda SteelOctober 29, 2025

Sub-groups

Current

AffiliateMembersTenureType
Swipe RightBrad Baylor2025–presentTag team
Ricky Smokes

Timeline

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ Tessier, Colin (March 5, 2025). "WWE EVOLVE (3/5/2025) Results: Jack Cartwheel, Cappuccino Jones, Carlee Bright, Keanu Carver, And More". Fightful. Archived from the original on March 6, 2025. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  2. ↑ Vetter, Chris (April 23, 2025). "WWE Evolve results (4/23): Vetter's review of Bryce Donovan vs. Timothy Thatcher, Carlie Bright vs. Kalyx, Zara Zakher vs. Aria Bennett, Jackson Drake vs. Sean Legacy". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  3. ↑ Vetter, Chris (May 22, 2025). "WWE Evolve results (5/21): Vetter's review of Keanu Carter vs. Harlem Lewis for a spot in the four-way to determine the Evolve Champion, Swipe Right vs. Sean Legacy and Timothy Thatcher". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  4. ↑ Vetter, Chris (June 4, 2025). "WWE Evolve results (6/4): Vetter's review of Sean Legacy vs. Jackson Drake vs. Edris Enofe vs. Keanu Carver in a four-way elimination match to become the first WWE Evolve Champion". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  5. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (June 4, 2025). "Jackson Drake Becomes First-Ever WWE EVOLVE Champion". Fightful. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  6. ↑ Vetter, Chris (October 9, 2025). "WWE Evolve results (10/8): Vetter's review of WWE Evolve Champion Jackson Drake's challenger for Succession revealed, WWE Evolve Women's Champion Kali Armstrong and Kendal Grey". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  7. ↑ Vetter, Chris (October 15, 2025). "WWE Evolve results (10/15): Vetter's review of "Succession" with Kali Armstrong vs. Kendal Grey for the Evolve Women's Championship, Jackson Drake vs. Bryce Donovan for the Evolve Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  8. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (2025-10-09). "Zayda Steel Leaving WWE ID". Fightful. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
  9. ↑ Vetter, Chris (October 22, 2025). "WWE Evolve results (10/22): Vetter's review of The Vanity Project in a six-man tag main event, Thea Hail vs. Zayda Steel, and Sean Legacy vs. Edris Enofe". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Matches « Zayda Steel". Cagematch. Archived from the original on October 23, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  11. ↑ Vetter, Chris (October 29, 2025). "WWE Evolve results (10/29): Vetter's review of Laredo Kid vs. Marcus Mathers vs. Tate Wilder in a three-way, Jin Tala vs. Masyn Holliday". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  12. ↑ Miller, David (March 19, 2026). "WWE EVOLVE RESULTS (3/18): Jackson Drake vs. Aaron Rourke for Evolve Title, Kam Hendrix vs. Dante Chen, Laynie Luck vs. Zena Sterling". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  13. ↑ "WWE EVOLVE #52". Cagematch. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  14. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (January 13, 2026). "Vanity Project Sign With WWE NXT". Fightful. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  15. ↑ Moore, John (February 24, 2026). "NXT TV results (2/24): Moore's review of Jacy Jayne vs. Sol Ruca for the NXT Women's Championship, DarkState vs. Vanity Project for the NXT Tag Team Titles, Keanu Carver vs. Sean Legacy". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  16. ↑ Moore, John (April 4, 2026). "NXT Stand & Deliver results: Moore's live review of Joe Hendry vs. Ricky Saints vs. Ethan Page vs. Tony D'Angelo for the NXT Championship, Sol Ruca vs. Zaria". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  17. ↑ Moore, John (April 21, 2026). "NXT TV results (4/21): Moore's review of NXT Revenge week two with Sol Ruca vs. Zaria in a Last Woman Standing match, Myles Borne vs. Dion Lennox for the NXT North American Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  18. ↑ Moore, John (May 5, 2026). "NXT TV results (5/5): Moore's review of Lola Vice and Mr. Iguana vs. Niko Vance and Izzi Dame, Zaria's return, Jaida Parker vs. Kali Armstrong, Jackson Drake vs. Jasper Troy". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  19. ↑ Thompson, Andrew (August 4, 2026). "Tavion Heights & Myles Borne Capture NXT Tag Team Championship On 8/4 WWE NXT". Fightful. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Wrestling Open Championship". Cagematch. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Wrestling Open Tag Team Championship". Cagematch. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  22. ↑ "NXT Tag Team Championship". WWE. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Evolve Men's Championship". WWE. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
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