Brett Lauderdale: I Don't Want GCW On TV At All, The Game Plan Is To Stay Authentic

GCW made big strides in 2021, gaining buzz thanks to appearances by Jon Moxley, Matt Cardona, and more along with the rise of Nick Gage.

The company is set to hold its biggest event to date on January 23 when they head to the Hammerstein Ballroom for The Wrld on GCW.

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On Busted Open Radio, Bully Ray likened GCW selling out the Hammerstein Ballroom to ROH, with the help of NJPW, selling out Madison Square Garden. Bully Ray noted that ROH didn't have much of a follow up for the event, which ultimately hurt them.

GCW President Brett Lauderdale was asked by Bully Ray if he has a plan to follow up the Hammerstein show. He replied, "I think so. There is nothing dramatic. Our goal going forward...we've already made an announcement, March, we're going to Atlanta and Center Stage. I want to try and hit cool venues, historic venues, new markets, just do more stuff that is cool and continue to grow markets and fanbases and make new fans along the way. I don't have a dramatic game plan of 'I want to be on TV by the end of 2022,' because quite frankly I don't want to be on TV at all, but that's another story. Do cool things, keep reinventing and finding new fans and new markets and doing what we do. Staying authentic. That's the game plan."

GCW will be bringing in the likes of Eddie Kingston and The Briscoes (Mark & Jay Briscoe) for the Hammerstein event. The only match announced thus far is Jonathan Gresham defending the ROH World Title against Blake Christian.

Asked about GCW staying authentic, Lauderdale said, "We've reached a level of success, popularity, and notoriety where a lot of people will say, 'You need to get bigger venues. When are you going to be on TV?' The things that get suggested, that's not necessarily what we want to do. The way we became popular was to remain true to what we started as. I don't want to run these giant rec centers if there's not a purpose. I'm happy running smaller arenas and selling them out. I'm happy sticking to what got us here. There are ways to grow out company without having TV or running bigger venues. I don't want to sell out our values. I like the method that got us here and don't want to compromise that."

GCW is set to hold its Die 4 This event on Saturday, January 1. The event will be headlined by a Do Or Die Rumble where the winner will be the number one contender for the GCW World Title, which is currently held by Jon Moxley.

Fightful will have results from GCW Die 4 This following the conclusion of the event.

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