GCW Owner speaks with Fightful
Fightful had the opportunity to speak with Brett Lauderdale, the owner of GCW [Game Changer Wrestling]. Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp spoke with Brett for over thirty minutes, during which the two discussed numerous topics. This interview was done before the WWE ID announcement.
Sean mentioned GCW’s upcoming show at the Hammerstein Ballroom on January 19th, 2025, titled “The People vs. GCW.
Brett was asked if he had learned anything since his first run at the Hammerstein and organizing a show of this magnitude, mentioning the reactions it garnered. For him, the event’s high-profile nature brought various opinions, describing the challenge of balancing expectations. Brett said, “Everybody has an opinion on how it should be done and how it should have been done. That was a bigger scope than anything we’d ever done before. So, in some ways, it was overwhelming.”
Brett mentioned that many people said, “Wow, that was the greatest show I’d ever seen,” and then many others said, “That was the worst show I’ve ever seen.”
Brett mentioned the New York State Athletic Commission. He said they are strict, relentless, and unforgiving. He said even when a show is going on, a representative is at the event the entire time. Brett notes that the person is not just sitting around somewhere. He says they follow us around, telling us everything he thinks we are doing wrong.
Brett believes the current regulations seem outdated and serve as financial obligations with little impact on wrestler safety.
The discussion would move on to GCW’s People vs. GCW trailer, with Sean asking what went into making it. Brett said with the one in particular, he had the concept in his head for a couple of years now and was waiting for the right moment. Brett says he has a couple of secret weapons in his back pocket and people he can call when he needs a favor. Brett said that they tracked down a prison bus from the Department of Corrections to use. He said it was like real movie stuff that they did. Brett said it was something you did not want to half-ass. He adds that if you’re going to do it, you will need to go all the way with it. He said he was very proud of the video.
Brett said it was filmed over a couple of days but weeks apart. He said not everyone could be involved, but they did their best to plan around dates when they could get as many people as possible to be there.
Sean asked how GCW plans its shows. Brett says GCW has a contract with Triller, which includes 75 events a year. He said his goal has always been to take GCW to as many places as possible and take it all over. He says he takes pride in it and believes that drives him to do as many GCW events as possible.
Brett added that the dates fill up quickly when he makes the schedules. He says as they look to go to new locations. They look to engage with audiences who may be experiencing their events for the first time. Brett explains that they favor cities they have a history with, resulting in multiple shows in particular locations. He mentions the dedicated fanbases in areas such as Detroit, Louisville, Chicago, and others. He added the goal is to maintain consistency and develop strong connections in cities rather than just hosting a single event and moving on.
Sean asked how naming a GCW comes together. Brett said song titles or album names inspire many event names he enjoys. Some titles, like “The People vs. GCW,” are original, while others are simply reused song titles.
Brett talked about how he organized a wrestling event in Hawaii and the challenges involved. He said the idea for the Hawaii show began with a late-night thought about where to hold upcoming events. He mentioned a fan sent him a message and said he worked at a venue in Hawaii. The initial contact helped get them the venue and access to resources. Brett noted that the logistics for holding the event fell into place.
Sean mentions GCW’s partnership with Triller. Brett says working with Trilller has brought consistent viewership and growth for the company. He hopes he can stay with Triller for as long as possible.
Brett told Sean that they eventually began selling DVDs before going to streaming platforms. Brett said the first Spring Break event was part of a larger independent wrestling showcase weekend and was the most-viewed event, garnering significant buzz. Brett says they were only paid $1,000 for that initial event and said the success prompted them to move toward streaming every show.
Brett told Sean that their “Backyard Wrestling” event became one of the promotion’s most successful events, and that was without selling tickets,
Sean mentions the GCW and WWE relationship. Brett mentions that Josh Barnett established connections with key figures, allowing him to reach out directly when looking to involve WWE talent. Brett mentions that Barnett is friends with Nick Khan.
Sean asks about Nick Gage’s status. Brett talks about his 20-year friendship and expresses his support for Nick. He says they [GCW] are on a “break” and believes it is in everyone’s best interest.
Brett says whether Gage returns or retires from wrestling altogether and says their friendship will continue.
In closing, Brett would mention some of GCW’s upcoming shows. He mentioned that GCW’s “Dream On” will be at American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on November 23rd. He mentioned that it is already sold out. Brett also says “The Collective” event is set to take place in Las Vegas at the Palms Casino Resort’s Pearl Theater in April 2025.
Here is the link for the full interview with GCW’s Brett Lauderdale. https://youtu.be/iHbSjwY9Keo