The relationship between Game Changer Wrestling and Independent Wrestling TV has crumbled.
It was last year when IWTV and Smart Mark Video unveiled that they were joining forces to provide fans with thousands of hours of independent wrestling content. As part of their union, the archives of Game Changer Wrestling were announced as "coming to independentwrestling.tv."
Today, the promotion released a statement looking to sever those ties:
"Game Changer Wrestling is formally requesting to be released from our IWTV contract.
This request comes with sadness and regret, but also with the knowledge that there is apparently no other option.
Thank you everyone for your support.
#FreeGCW"
Details as to why GCW wants out of their contract are not definitively known, but they have been filling their social media timelines with the "Free GCW" hashtag. The only information to be gleaned at the moment comes from promotor Brett Lauderdale who sent out the following tweet:
GCW Promoter Brett Lauderdale expanded on the desire to ?free GCW? from IWTV on his personal Twitter account. In a thread that stretches across half a dozen tweets, Lauderdale explained that due to the current climate the present agreement Game Changer Wrestling has with the streaming service is not sustainable.
By the end of the tweets, Lauderdale would say that he feels the streaming service will thrive regardless of whether or not GCW is present and he is just doing his best to make sure that the promotion can thrive as well.
I know there are people that think GCW is a giant operation w/ a huge bankroll but we're not. GCW is owned & financed by 1 person (me), who operates out of his home & has 0 employees.I am a single father & small business owner that works 24/7 to support alot of people.
Reviewing contracts and filing for copyrights is expensive and we've never had to hire a lawyer until recently. Our profile has grown quickly & we are working hard to adjust to these needs on a daily basis.
95% of everything @ GCW is done in-house. I hand write every merch label. I recieve & reply to every email & DM we get. I purchase every flight & hotel myself on my outdated Android. I drive to the post office 3x a week in a shitty car w/ a check engine light that never goes out.
I have a small team that pours their heart & soul into everything they do to help GCW and they do it because they believe in what we are doing.
We aren't perfect and I/we are as flawed as anyone but we are actively working to do good in wrestling & bring everyone along w/ us.
This is not a call for sympathy or an excuse. This is an acknowledgement that I/we are human and get frustrated and emotional when I feel like my company deserves better.
In this new world, our existing agreement w/ IWTV isn't sustainable & we need a change. We have tried to seek a resolution privately but we're not having much luck. IWTV will thrive with or without GCW. We just want the opportunity to do the same.
Hope you understand.
Thanks.
Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp reached out for comment, but one has yet to be provided. We will keep you apprised of the situation as details emerge. Check out an interview that Brett Lauderdale did with Sean Ross Sapp following The Collective in 2020 at this link.