Last updated
    Drew Hankinson

    Drew Hankinson

    United States flagUnited States
    Celebrity

    professional wrestler

    Also known as: Luke Gallows, Doc Gallows, Festus, The Freakin' Deacon, D.O.C., Imposter Kane

    Birthday

    December 22, 1983

    Birth Sign

    Sagittarius

    Birthplace

    Cumberland, Maryland, USA

    Age

    42 years old

    Height

    6 ft 7 in (201 cm)

    About

    Andrew William Hankinson is an American professional wrestler who has performed as Luke Gallows, Festus, and Doc Gallows across WWE, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Impact Wrestling, and AEW. Standing 6 feet 7 inches and weighing over 300 pounds, he is known for his towering presence and his long-running tag team with Karl Anderson, the Good Brothers. Over two decades, he has won multiple tag team championships in WWE, NJPW, and Impact, and remains a fixture on the independent circuit as of 2026. Fans recognize him for his intimidating look, his dark humor on social media, and his loyalty to his longtime partner.

    Early Life & Background

    Drew Hankinson grew up in the Atlanta suburbs of Lawrenceville and Snellville, Georgia, after his family moved from Cumberland, Maryland when he was young. His father drove trucks; his mother stayed home. At Brookwood High School, he played football as an offensive lineman and defensive end, earning all-county honors. He graduated in 2002 and briefly attended Georgia Perimeter College but left to chase a wrestling career.

    In 2004, he started training under Bill DeMott at the former WCW Power Plant in Georgia. To pay the bills, he worked as a bouncer and security guard. The following year, he auditioned for the third season of WWE Tough Enough. He didn't win, Matt Cappotelli and John Hennigan took the prizes, but his raw size and athleticism earned him a developmental contract with WWE. He was assigned to Deep South Wrestling, where he wrestled masked as the Freakin' Deacon and on the indies as D.O.C.

    Career Growth

    Hankinson's first major WWE role came in 2006 as an Imposter Kane, wearing the Big Red Machine's old mask. At Vengeance that June, he shocked fans by pinning the real Kane clean. The gimmick fizzled, and in 2007 he was repackaged as Festus, a simpleton farmhand who turned feral at the sound of a bell. Teaming with Jesse, he became a popular ECW tag act for two years.

    After Jesse's release, Hankinson returned in 2009 as Luke Gallows, the shaven-headed enforcer for CM Punk's Straight Edge Society. That run lasted until his first WWE release in 2010. He then reinvented himself on the indies as Doc Gallows, joining New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 2011. In 2013, he became a founding member of the Bullet Club and formed a legendary tag team with Karl Anderson. They won the IWGP Tag Team Championship twice and the NWA World Tag Team Championship once.

    Gallows and Anderson returned to WWE in 2016 as part of the Club alongside AJ Styles, winning the Raw Tag Team Championship twice. Released again in 2020 during pandemic cuts, they moved to Impact Wrestling, where they won the Impact World Tag Team Championship three times. A brief run in AEW from 2023 to 2024 followed. As of 2026, they work as freelancers, still teaming on the independent circuit.

    Career Timeline

    2005Auditioned for WWE Tough Enough Season 3; signed a developmental contract
    2006Debuted on WWE main roster as Imposter Kane; defeated the real Kane at Vengeance
    2007Repackaged as Festus, teaming with Jesse on WWE ECW
    2009Repackaged as Luke Gallows, enforcer for CM Punk's Straight Edge Society
    2010Released from WWE for the first time
    2011Began wrestling for New Japan Pro-Wrestling
    2013Joined the Bullet Club; won IWGP Tag Team Championship with Karl Anderson
    2014Won NWA World Tag Team Championship with Karl Anderson
    2016Returned to WWE as part of the Club; won Raw Tag Team Championship twice
    2020Released from WWE again; joined Impact Wrestling
    2021Won Impact World Tag Team Championship (first of three reigns)
    2023Signed with AEW
    2024Released from AEW; returned to independent circuit

    Public Image & Style

    Gallows projects a biker-gangster aesthetic: leather vest, sunglasses, and a fedora or cowboy hat. In the ring, he is the heavy, a stoic enforcer who lets his size do the talking. On social media, he is funny and self-deprecating, often posting training clips, family snapshots, and the occasional political opinion that stirs debate. Hardcore fans chant Good Brothers at live events and treat his tag team with Anderson as a beloved institution. Though never a main event singles star, he has earned respect for his longevity and willingness to play any role.

    Fame & Fandom

    Standing six-foot-seven in a leather vest and fedora, Drew Hankinson commands the ring as Luke Gallows with a stoic intensity that turns him into an instant icon of professional wrestling. He is currently the 86th most famous person in Pro Wrestling, a ranking that anchors his status within the industry's hierarchy. This placement reflects a career spanning two decades where he evolved from a bouncer in The Marine to a cornerstone of the Bullet Club and the Good Brothers. While he has never held the singular spotlight of a main-event singles star for long stretches, his partnership with Karl Anderson created a tag team dynasty that rivals any in modern history. The duo's chemistry turned them into a beloved institution, drawing chants that echo through arenas globally. Fans recognize him not just for his size but for his dark humor and loyalty, traits that have cultivated a dedicated following without a formal organizational name. His audience spans casual viewers who know the Good Brothers' signature moves and hardcore fans who cherish his early TNA days with Aces and Eight. Though some recall his departure from TNA as a point of regret or a turning point in his career lore, the collective memory focuses on his resilience and reinvention across WWE, Impact, AEW, and NJPW. The iFANN Global Fame Rankings track this enduring presence, noting how his influence persists despite shifting promotions and evolving storylines. Whether he is headlining an independent show or appearing on major television, his reputation remains solid. There are no viral fan campaigns or organized street shutdowns attributed solely to him; instead, his fame rests on the sheer weight of his tenure and the iconic nature of his characters. He is a fixture whose legacy is built on consistent performance rather than fleeting internet moments.

    Interesting Facts and Legends

    Drew Hankinson's ring name Luke Gallows was inspired by a character from early drafts of the film The Boondock Saints. He later adopted the moniker Doc Gallows as a play on his real name and his self-described role as a doctor of destruction. Before finding fame in the squared circle, he appeared as a bouncer in the 2006 film The Marine, starring John Cena. A torn bicep suffered in 2017 sidelined him for months, testing his durability during a peak period of his career. He lent his voice to himself in the video games WWE 2K17 and WWE 2K18. Together with Karl Anderson, he co-owns a wrestling school in the Atlanta area called the Good Brothers Academy. Legends surrounding his career often revisit his chaotic tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as part of the faction Aces and Eight under the ring name DOC. Long-time fans frequently discuss his time in TNA as a defining chapter, citing high-profile stunts and violent storylines that became staples of the Hardcore Justice era. Some accounts suggest Hankinson views his departure from TNA as a significant regret, a story that adds depth to his veteran persona. His evolution through multiple gimmicks, including Festus and Director of Chaos, demonstrates a rare versatility that defines his legacy. These transitions from an indie wrestler in West Virginia to a main-event talent in global promotions form the core of his mythology.

    Notable Quotes

    I've been a masked man, a simpleton, and a straight-edge enforcer. It's all just wrestling.
    The Good Brothers are the best tag team in the world, and we've proved it everywhere.
    I don't need a big promotion to be happy. I just need a ring and a partner I trust.
    Getting released twice sucks, but it also gave me the freedom to go to Japan and become something bigger.
    People think wrestling is fake. Tell that to my body after 20 years.

    Family & Personal Life

    Hankinson married fellow professional wrestler Amber O'Neal in 2011. They have two children: a daughter born in 2013 and a son born in 2015. The family lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area. His father, William, was a truck driver, and his mother, Lynne, was a homemaker. He has one older sister, Sarah.

    Notable Connections

    Drew Hankinson is most closely associated with Karl Anderson, his tag team partner since 2013. Together as the Good Brothers, they have held championships in WWE, NJPW, Impact, and NWA. He also has strong ties to CM Punk, who led the Straight Edge Society, and to the Bullet Club stable, where he was a founding member alongside Anderson, Prince Devitt, and Tama Tonga.

    Relationships & Dating History

    As of 2026:Marriedto Amber O'Neal

    Hankinson has been married to professional wrestler Amber O'Neal since 2011. They met in the wrestling industry around 2008 and dated for several years before marrying. The couple has two children: a daughter born in 2013 and a son born in 2015. They have spoken publicly about their strong partnership, both at home and on the road. As of 2026, they remain married with no reports of separation.

    • MarriedAmber O'Neal2011 - presentCurrentMet in the wrestling industry around 2008; married in 2011; two children together.

    Salary, Net Worth In 2026

    $2 Million

    iFANN Editorial Team estimate

    iFANN currently estimates Drew Hankinson's net worth at $2 Million as of 2026. The bulk of his wealth comes from his WWE salaries, roughly $250,000 per year during his 2016–2020 run, plus pay-per-view bonuses and merchandise royalties. His New Japan salary from 2011 to 2016 was more modest, around $50,000 to $100,000 annually, but he earned additional income from independent bookings and merchandise sales through the Bullet Club. In Impact Wrestling, his deal likely paid $100,000 to $150,000 per year, and his AEW contract in 2023–2024 was reportedly in the $200,000 to $300,000 range. He and Anderson charge $5,000 to $10,000 per independent appearance. He owns a home in the Atlanta suburbs purchased for $400,000 in 2015, now valued at roughly $500,000 to $600,000. Endorsement income is minimal, limited to local commercials and appearances.

    Awards Won (9)

    Drew Hankinson has won multiple tag team championships across major promotions, including the IWGP Tag Team Championship twice, the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship twice, the Impact World Tag Team Championship three times, and the NWA World Tag Team Championship once. He was also part of the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship win in 2016. Pro Wrestling Illustrated named him and Karl Anderson Tag Team of the Year in 2016.

    2014 · Tag Team Championship

    With Karl Anderson

    Won

    2015 · Tag Team Championship

    With Karl Anderson

    Won

    2013 · Tag Team Championship

    With Karl Anderson

    Won
    View all 19 awards, honours and achievements

    Known For

    The Good Brothers

    2013 · Tag team with Karl Anderson

    Bullet Club

    2013 · Founding member

    Straight Edge Society

    2009 · Enforcer for CM Punk

    Festus

    2007 · Tag team with Jesse

    Imposter Kane

    2006 · Mystery opponent for Kane

    Keywords

    professional wrestlerWWENJPWImpact WrestlingAEWBullet ClubGood BrothersStraight Edge SocietyFestustag team

    Quick Facts

    Personal Details

    Full Name
    Andrew William Hankinson
    Height
    6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
    Spouse
    Amber O'Neal
    Children
    2 (daughter born 2013, son born 2015)
    Education
    Brookwood High School (2002); attended Georgia Perimeter College

    Filmography

    2

    Total

    1

    Film

    1

    TV

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How old is Drew Hankinson?
    Drew Hankinson was born on December 22, 1983, making him 42 years old as of 2026.
    What is Drew Hankinson's net worth in 2026?
    Drew Hankinson's net worth is estimated at $2 million in 2026, earned from WWE contracts, independent bookings, and merchandise sales.
    Is Drew Hankinson still wrestling in 2026?
    Yes, as of 2026, Drew Hankinson is still wrestling as a freelancer on the independent circuit, primarily teaming with Karl Anderson as the Good Brothers.
    Who is Drew Hankinson married to?
    Drew Hankinson is married to fellow professional wrestler Amber O'Neal. They tied the knot in 2011 and have two children together.
    What is Drew Hankinson best known for?
    Drew Hankinson is best known for his tag team with Karl Anderson, the Good Brothers, and for his roles as Festus, Luke Gallows, and a founding member of the Bullet Club.

    Similar People

    Join the community

    fans discussing