Game Changer Wrestling
Game Changer Wrestling (GCW), formerly known as Jersey Championship Wrestling (JCW), is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in New Jersey. The promotion was originally founded by Ricky Otazu in 1999; it was rebranded under its current name in 2015, after a sale to Danny Demanto and current owner Brett Lauderdale. The promotion specializes in hardcore wrestling, as well as mixed martial arts–inspired shoot style matches.
| Acronym | GCW |
|---|---|
| Founded |
|
| Style | |
| Headquarters | New Jersey, U.S. |
| Founder(s) | Ricky Otazu |
| Owner(s) | Ricky Otazu (1999–2004, 2013–2015) Brett Lauderdale and Danny Demanto (2015–2019) Brett Lauderdale (1999–present) |
| Formerly | Jersey Championship Wrestling (1999–2015) |
GCW has grown from running shows based in New Jersey, to holding events across the United States, as well as internationally in Japan and Mexico. Annual GCW events include Backyard Wrestling, Bloodsport, Joey Janela's Spring Break, the Nick Gage Invitational, and the Tournament of Survival.
History edit
As Jersey Championship Wrestling edit
Jersey Championship Wrestling (JCW) was founded by independent wrestler Ricky Otazu, also known by his ring name of Ricky O,[1] in January 1999 in New Jersey.[2][3] JCW ran their first show on January 29, 2000, in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.[4] Later that year, JCW hosted the inaugural Jersey J-Cup, which featured many of the top independent wrestlers of that period.[5] They would continue to host the tournament until 2004, when JCW was sold to rival company National Wrestling Superstars (NWS).[6]
The promotion would remain dormant for nearly a decade until September 2013 when, after the closure of National Wrestling Superstars,[7] Otazu reclaimed the rights to JCW and reopened the promotion.[6] In April 2014, JCW opened its own training school in North Bergen.[8] Later that year, JCW would return to hosting the Jersey J-Cup.[9]
2015–present: Rebranding as Game Changer Wrestling edit
In June 2015, Jersey Championship Wrestling rebranded itself to Game Changer Wrestling (GCW)[3] after being purchased by Brett Lauderdale and Danny Demanto.[10] Since the buyout, GCW began to predominantly feature hardcore wrestling and continued to enjoy success in the New Jersey wrestling scene. GCW became known for producing several tournaments featuring independent wrestlers; including the Nick Gage Invitational Ultraviolent Tournament,[11] the Tournament of Survival[12] and the Acid Cup.[13]
In March 2017, GCW produced Joey Janela's Spring Break show in Fern Park, Florida.[14] This would become an annual tradition for the company.[15] GCW would begin to expand throughout the United States and hosted its first show in Los Angeles in November 2018, titled To Live and Die in LA.[16] In April 2018, GCW partnered with Matt Riddle to produce Matt Riddle's Bloodsport, a show that fused professional wrestling and mixed martial arts.[17] Bloodsport would take place twice more in 2019, this time with the partnership of Josh Barnett.[18][19][20][21] In August 2019, GCW embarked on a two-day tour of Japan.[22]
In December 2020, GCW attempted to end their partnership with streaming platform Independent Wrestling TV (IWTV), later moving their content to FITE TV. In 2021, IWTV sued GCW for breach of contract.[23][24]
On January 23, 2022, GCW held the sold out The Wrld on GCW event, their debut at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The event marked the first GCW event to air on traditional pay-per-view outlets.[25][26]
On February 7, 2022, GCW signed Nick Gage to a contract, which was referred to as "the first and only contract that GCW will offer". GCW owner Brett Lauderdale said of the contract, "This is a major milestone moment for both Nick and GCW. I have always been against the idea of contracts in GCW but there are exceptions to every rule. From day 1, Nick has put his body, and literally his life on the line for the fans inside the squared circle. He deserves, and has earned the right to be rewarded for 20+ years of hard work and sacrifice. This historic contract will do just that, allowing him to continue his in-ring career at a pace that is beneficial to his health, while beginning to focus on opportunities that take him towards the next phase of his career. GCW would not have achieved the level of success it has without Nick F'N Gage, and we are proud to be able to say that GCW will remain Nick's home for the rest of his career".[27]
On April 12, 2023, GCW announced a working relationship with Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw), which will see GCW hold their inaugural events in Germany as part of wXw's 2023 World Tag Team Festival weekend.[28]
Roster edit
Game Changer Wrestling's roster consists mainly of independent freelancers and wrestlers contracted to promotions like All Elite Wrestling, Impact Wrestling, and Ring of Honor.
Wrestlers edit
| Ring name | Real name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Called Manders | Steve Manders | |
| 2 Cold Scorpio | Charles Bernard Scaggs | |
| Alec Price | Unknown | |
| Alex Shelley | Patrick Martin | |
| Alex Zayne | Alex Brandenburg | |
| Allie Katch | Allison Woodard | |
| Arez | Jonathan González | |
| Axton Ray | Unknown | |
| Bandido | Unknown | |
| Blake Christian | Christian Hubble | World Champion |
| Billie Starkz | Lillian Bridget | |
| Calvin Tankman | Christopher Heyward III | |
| Charles Mason | Unknown | |
| Charlie Tiger | Unknown | |
| Chris Sabin | Joshua Harter | |
| Ciclope | Unknown | |
| Cole Radrick | Joey Hodge | |
| Dante Leon | Marcos Meza | |
| Dark Sheik | Sam Khandaghabadi | |
| Demonic Flamita | Unknown | |
| Dominic Garrini | Dominic Garrini | Tag Team Champion |
| Effy | Taylor Gibson | |
| Ellis Taylor | Unknown | |
| Grim Reefer | Michael Corcoran | |
| Gringo Loco | Charles Santos | |
| Homicide | Nelson Erazo | Indie Wrestling Hall of Famer |
| Jack Cartwheel | Jack Cartwright | |
| Janai Kai | Janai Ruiz | |
| Jimmy Lloyd | James Lloyd | |
| Joey Janela | Joseph Janela | Extreme Champion |
| John Wayne Murdoch | Unknown | |
| Jordan Oliver | Jordan Oliver, Jr. | JCW World Champion |
| Josh Barnett | Joshua Lawrence Barnett | |
| Kevin Ku | Kevin Ku | Tag Team Champion |
| Komander | Unknown | |
| Maki Itoh | Maki Itoh | |
| Mance Warner | Unknown | |
| Mark Briscoe | Mark Pugh | |
| Marko Stunt | Noah Nelms | |
| Masha Slamovich | Ann Khozine | |
| Matt Cardona | Matthew Cardona | |
| Matt Tremont | Matthew Tremont | Deathmatch Hall of Famer |
| Matthew Justice | Matthew Hannan | |
| Miedo Extremo | Unknown | |
| Nick Gage[29] | Nicholas W. Wilson | Contracted wrestler |
| Nick Wayne | Unknown | |
| Ninja Mack | Brenden McAleavey | |
| Parrow | Mike Parrow | |
| PCO | Carl Ouellet | |
| Rina Yamashita | Unknown | Ultraviolent Champion |
| Sawyer Wreck | Unknown | |
| Shane Mercer | Shane Goode | |
| "Speedball" Mike Bailey | Émile Baillargeon-Laberge | |
| Starboy Charlie | Charlie Hilder | |
| Steph De Lander | Stephanie De Landre | |
| Tony Deppen | Anthony Deppen | |
| Violent J | Joseph Bruce | Member of Insane Clown Posse |
| Yoya | Unknown |
Other personnel edit
| Ring name | Real name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brett Lauderdale | Brett Lauderdale | Owner/booker |
| Dave Prazak | Dave Prazak | Commentator Indie Wrestling Hall of Famer |
| Emil Jay | Unknown | Commentator Ring announcer |
| Johnathan Ashe | Johnathan Ashe | Video producer |
| Veda Scott | Veda Scott | Commentator Occasional wrestler |
Championships and accomplishments edit
Current championships edit
As of December 14, 2023
| Championship | Current champion(s) | Reign | Date won | Days held | Location | Notes | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCW World Championship | Blake Christian | 1 | June 4, 2023 | 193 | Atlantic City, NJ | Defeated Masha Slamovich at Cage of Survival 2. | [30] | |
| JCW World Championship | Jordan Oliver | 1 | February 11, 2023 | 306 | Jersey City, NJ | Defeated "Speedball" Mike Bailey at Jersey J-Cup to become the inaugural champion. | [31] | |
| GCW Ultraviolent Championship | Rina Yamashita | 1 | August 13, 2022 | 488 | Atlantic City, NJ | Defeated Alex Colon at Homecoming: Part 1. | [32] | |
| GCW Extreme Championship | Joey Janela | 1 | October 9, 2022 | 431 | Atlantic City, NJ | Defeated Cole Radrick at Fight Club: Night 2 in a winner-takes-all match, where Janela defended his DDT Extreme Championship. | [33] | |
| GCW Tag Team Championship | Violence Is Forever (Dominic Garrini and Kevin Ku) | 1 (1, 1) | November 4, 2023 | 40 | Atlanta, GA | Defeated Los Mazisos (Ciclope and Miedo Extremo) at ¿Sí Or No?. | [34] | |
Former championships edit
| Championship | Date of entry | First champion(s) | Date retired | Final champion(s) | Years active | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCW Women's Championship | November 23, 2003 | April Hunter | June 3, 2016 | Deonna Purrazzo | 13 | Live event |
| JCW Light Heavyweight Championship | April 14, 2000 | Judas Young | April 10, 2004 | Kahagas | 4 | Live event |
| JCW Television Championship | April 14, 2000 | Kevin Knight | February 22, 2004 | Moondog Wenzel | 4 | Live event |
| JCW Six Man Tag Team Championship | November 4, 2000 | CJ Brock, Crazy Ivan, and Dave Greco | November 4, 2001 | CJ Brock, Crazy Ivan, and Dave Greco | 1 | Payback Time |
Championship history edit
GCW Extreme Championship edit
| GCW Extreme Championship[35] | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Details | |||||||||||
| Promotion | Game Changer Wrestling | ||||||||||
| Date established | September 13, 2013 | ||||||||||
| Current champion(s) | Joey Janela | ||||||||||
| Date won | October 9, 2022 | ||||||||||
| Other name(s) | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| No. | Overall reign number |
|---|---|
| Reign | Reign number for the specific team—reign numbers for the individuals are in parentheses, if different |
| Days | Number of days held |
| <1 | Reign lasted less than a day |
| + | Current reign is changing daily |
| No. | Champion | Championship change | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | ||||||
| Jersey Championship Wrestling (JCW) | ||||||||||
| 1 | Bandido Jr. | September 13, 2013 | Extreme Title Tournament | Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey | 1 | 505 | [36] | |||
| 2 | Steve Scott | January 31, 2015 | JCW Live event | Manville, New Jersey | 1 | 42 | This was a four-way match which also involving Frightmare and Lucky 13. | [37] | ||
| 3 | Pinkie Sanchez | March 14, 2015 | JCW Live event | Howell, New Jersey | 1 | 391 | [38] | |||
| Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) | ||||||||||
| 4 | Smiley | April 8, 2016 | GCW Live event | Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey | 1 | 568 | [39] | |||
| 5 | Tony Deppen | October 28, 2017 | Worst Behavior | Howell, New Jersey | 1 | 315 | This was a four-way match which also involving Eli Everfly and Zenshi. | [40] | ||
| 6 | PCO | September 8, 2018 | Nick Gage Invitational 3: Thy Kingdom Come | Villa Park, Illinois | 1 | 1,225 | This was a four-way match which also involved Gringo Loco and Nate Webb. | [41] | ||
| 7 | AJ Gray | January 15, 2022 | Say You Will | Hoffman Estates, Illinois | 1 | 195 | [42] | |||
| 8 | Cole Radrick | July 29, 2022 | The People vs. GCW | Nashville, Tennessee | 1 | 72 | [43] | |||
| 9 | Joey Janela | October 9, 2022 | Fight Club Night 2 | Atlantic City, New Jersey | 1 | 431+ | This was a winner-takes-all match where Janela's DDT Extreme Championship was also on the line. | [33] | ||
Combined reigns edit
As of December 14, 2023.
| † | Indicates the current champion |
|---|
| Rank | Wrestler | No. of reigns | Combined days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PCO | 1 | 1,225 |
| 2 | Smiley | 1 | 568 |
| 3 | Bandido Jr. | 1 | 505 |
| 4 | Joey Janela † | 1 | 431+ |
| 5 | Pinkie Sanchez | 1 | 391 |
| 6 | Tony Deppen | 1 | 315 |
| 7 | AJ Gray | 1 | 195 |
| 8 | Cole Radrick | 1 | 72 |
| 9 | Steve Scott | 1 | 42 |
JCW World Championship edit
| JCW World Championship[44] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Oliver with the current design of the title (2023–present) | |||||
| Details | |||||
| Date established | February 11, 2023 | ||||
| Current champion(s) | Jordan Oliver | ||||
| Date won | February 11, 2023 | ||||
| |||||
Jersey J-Cup Tournament (2023) edit
| First Round[45] | Second Round[31] | Semi Final[31] | Final[31] | ||||||||||||
| Mike Bailey | Pin | ||||||||||||||
| Jonathan Gresham | 20:59 | ||||||||||||||
| Mike Bailey | Pin | ||||||||||||||
| Komander | 12:33 | ||||||||||||||
| Arez | 12:38 | ||||||||||||||
| Komander | Pin | ||||||||||||||
| Mike Bailey | Pin | ||||||||||||||
| Blake Christian | 15:30 | ||||||||||||||
| Jack Cartwheel Marcus Mathers Yoya | 10:57 | ||||||||||||||
| Cole Radrick Dante Leon Dyln McKay | Pin | ||||||||||||||
| Cole Radrick | 11:56 | ||||||||||||||
| Blake Christian | Pin | ||||||||||||||
| Alec Price | 13:36 | ||||||||||||||
| Blake Christian | Pin | ||||||||||||||
| Mike Bailey | 21:25 | ||||||||||||||
| Jordan Oliver | Pin | ||||||||||||||
| Joey Janela | Pin | ||||||||||||||
| Starboy Charlie | 16:34 | ||||||||||||||
| Joey Janela | Pin | ||||||||||||||
| Lio Rush | 10:20 | ||||||||||||||
| Tony Deppen | 13:25 | ||||||||||||||
| Lio Rush | Pin | ||||||||||||||
| Joey Janela | 28:56 | ||||||||||||||
| Jordan Oliver | Pin | ||||||||||||||
| Charles Mason | Pin | ||||||||||||||
| Billie Starkz | 14:19 | ||||||||||||||
| Charles Mason | 14:54 | ||||||||||||||
| Jordan Oliver | Pin | ||||||||||||||
| Alex Shelley | 17:55 | ||||||||||||||
| Jordan Oliver | Pin | ||||||||||||||
Reigns edit
| No. | Overall reign number |
|---|---|
| Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
| Days | Number of days held |
| + | Current reign is changing daily |
| No. | Champion | Championship change | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | ||||
| 1 | Jordan Oliver | February 11, 2023 | Jersey J-Cup Session 2 | Jersey City, NJ | 1 | 306+ | Defeated "Speedball Mike Bailey to become the inaugural champion. This was also the finals of the 2023 Jersey J-Cup tournament. | [46][31] |
References edit
- ^ "Ricky O". January 6, 2020.
- ^ "Jersey Championship Wrestling - History". Jersey Championship Wrestling. Retrieved January 6, 2020 – via Wix.com.
- ^ a b "Game Changer Wrestling (GCW)". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ "JCW @ Lyndhurst - January 29, 2000". Wrestlingdata. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ Tanabe, Hisaharu. "2000 Jersey J-Cup". NYProWrestling.com. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ a b "Jersey Championship Wrestling is back!". Jersey Championship Wrestling. September 14, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2020 – via Wix.com.
- ^ "National Wrestling Superstars". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ "JCW Wrestling school opens in April". Jersey Championship Wrestling. March 14, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2020 – via Wix.com.
- ^ "2014 Jersey J-Cup". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ Greer, Jamie (August 11, 2018). "Game Changer Wrestling Continues to Change The Game". Last Word on Pro Wrestling. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ "Nick Gage Invitational Ultraviolent Tournament". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ "Tournament of Survival". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ "Acid Cup". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ "GCW Joey Janela's Spring Break". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ Peeples, Jeremy (April 5, 2019). "JOEY JANELA'S SPRING BREAK 3, PT. 1 LIVE RESULTS". Figure Four Online. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- ^ Andrew (February 9, 2018). "Game Changer Wrestling to debut in Los Angeles in November". SoCalUncensored.com. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ "Matt Riddle's Bloodsport results: Matt Riddle vs. Minoru Suzuki". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. April 5, 2018.
- ^ "Josh Barnett's Bloodsport results: Minoru Suzuki vs. Barnett". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. April 4, 2019.
- ^ Benjamin, Andrew (April 2, 2019). "Josh Barnett's Bloodsport Preview and Predictions". Mma Sucka.
- ^ "Frank Mir making pro wrestling debut at Josh Barnett's Bloodsport". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. January 11, 2019.
- ^ "GCW Josh Barnett's Bloodsport 2". Cagematch.net. September 9, 2019.
- ^ "GCW Worst Behavior 2019". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ "GCW Requests To Be Released From IWTV Contract, Promoter Brett Lauderdale Comments". Mandatory. December 27, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
- ^ "GCW's Brett Lauderdale Explains Why They Moved To FITE Rather Than Stay With IWTV". Mandatory. June 8, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
- ^ Currier, Joseph (November 26, 2021). "GCW sells out tickets for Hammerstein Ballroom show". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (January 12, 2021). "The WRLD On GCW To Air On Traditional PPV". Fightful. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ Ross Sapp, Sean (February 7, 2022). "Game Changer Wrestling Signs Nick Gage To Exclusive, Multi-Year Contract". Fightful. Sean Ross Sapp. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ^ Tessier, Colin (April 12, 2023). "GCW Announces Germany Debut, Teams Up With wXw For World Tag Team Festival Weekend 2023". Fightful. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- ^ Nason, Josh (February 7, 2022). "Nick Gage signs exclusive, multi-year contract with GCW". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
- ^ Wolstanholme, Danny (June 4, 2023). "GCW Cage Of Survival 2 Results (6/4): New GCW World Champion". wrestlinginc.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 11, 2023). "GCW/JCW Jersey J-Cup 2023 - Session 2 - Pay Per View @ White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
- ^ Defelice, Robert (August 13, 2022). "New GCW Ultraviolent Champion Crowned At GCW Homecoming Part 1". Fightful. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
- ^ a b Wolstanholme, Danny (October 9, 2022). "GCW Fight Club 2022 Night Two Results (10/9): Joey Janela Vs. Cole Radrick For The DDT And GCW Extreme Titles". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- ^ Brennan, Corey (November 4, 2023). "GCW ¿Sí Or No? Results (11/4/23): Brogan Finlay Says Goodbye To GCW, Santanta Jackson vs Mike Bailey". Fightful. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 13, 2013). "GCW Extreme Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 13, 2013). "JCW Extreme Title Tournament - Event @ VFW Hall in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 31, 2015). "JCW - Event @ VFW Hall in Manville, New Jersey, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 14, 2015). "JCW - Event @ GamerChangerWorld in Howell, New Jersey, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 8, 2016). "GCW Live - Event @ VFW Hall in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 28, 2017). "GCW Worst Behavior - Event @ Game Changer World in Howell, New Jersey, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 8, 2018). "GCW Nick Gage Invitational 3: Thy Kingdom Come - TV-Show @ GALLI Arena in Villa Park, Illinois, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 15, 2022). "GCW Say You Will - Pay Per View @ Grand Sports Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 29, 2022). "GCW The People Vs. GCW - Pay Per View @ Fairgrounds Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
- ^ "JCW Championship". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 11, 2023). "GCW/JCW Jersey J-Cup 2023 - Session 1 - Pay Per View @ White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 11, 2023). "Jersey J-Cup Tournament (2023)". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
External links edit
- Game Changer Wrestling on Twitter
- Game Changer Wrestling on YouTube
- Fite TV page