Tag: gcw

Jack Perry & Marko Stunt reunite at GCW Maniac

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Jack Perry and Marko Stunt, aka The Jurassic Express, are reuniting.

On the April 4th edition of GCW Maniac, fans saw AEW National Champion Jack Perry emerge from the crowd and save his long-time ally Marko Stunt from KJ Orso.

As Orso attacked Stunt, Perry entered the ring through the crowd carrying a steel chair. He proceeded to help Stunt launch an attack on Orso using the chair.

Shortly after, it was announced that Stunt and Perry would be teaming up to face the duo of KJ Orso and Sam Stackhouse at Joey Janela’s Spring Break.

GCW Joey Janela’s Spring Break is scheduled to take place on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Horseshoe Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is scheduled to be on the same week as the upcoming WWE WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.

GCW Spring Break will also feature Joey Janela in a match against Brodie Lee Jr. ECW legend Sandman will also have his final wrestling match at the same event, while AEW’s Rascalz have also been announced for the show.

Two matches added to Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The card for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV is starting to take shape with a couple of new matches added.

Barnett revealed two new additions to the lineup today, announcing that Ulka Sasaki vs. Joe Dashou and Angel Verduzco vs. Matt Mako will take place at the WrestleMania week indie show. It’s set for April 17 and will be broadcast live on TrillerTV+ with a start time of 3 p.m. Pacific/6 p.m. Eastern.

Sasaki — a NOAH wrestler and former MMA fighter — is currently on excursion to the United States and training at the WWE Performance Center. Along with that training, he’s wrestled at some NXT house shows. This will be his Bloodsport debut.

Dashou and Verduzco both have experience competing in and coaching amateur-style wrestling. In pro wrestling, Dashou is a graduate of the NJPW dojo.

The Bloodsport card now has four officially announced matches:

Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV (Friday, April 17) —

  • Pete Dunne vs. Masashi Takeda
  • Charlie Dempsey vs. Timothy Thatcher
  • Ulka Sasaki vs. Joe Dashou
  • Angel Verduzco vs. Matt Mako
  • Also set to compete: Josh Barnett, Nattie, Zack Sabre Jr., Yuji Nagata, Shayna Baszler, Erick Stevens, Fuminori Abe, Ray Jaz, Royce Isaacs, Miyu Yamashita

Report: New suitor is seeking ownership of TrillerTV

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Combat sports streaming service TrillerTV is potentially on its way toward new ownership as Orange Crush, headed by Adam Abdalla, emerges as a new suitor.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider recently reported that Orange Crush is currently in the process of assembling private funding to purchase TrillerTV.

“Abdalla’s plan for TrillerTV is to bring music videos back to the forefront by incorporating them, along with movies, onto the platform to augment the combat sports component,” the report noted.

Triller, formerly known as FITE, faced financial issues and was delisted from NASDAQ in January 2026. It is the home of streaming for several independent promotions such as GCW, HOG, and more. In the past, it also streamed AEW, TNA, and NJPW.

Who is Adam Abdalla, the new suitor for TrillerTV?

Abdalla currently heads the NYC public relations powerhouse Cultural Counsel. He also sits on the board of several artistic and historical institutions and is well-connected in the film, TV, and media industries.

Abdalla, known for his time as booker for Jersey Championship Wrestling, has now exited the promotion. He is now set to launch his own company, PRODUCE, a new wrestling promotion and concept that will debut in June with events in New York City and New Jersey.

This past Thursday in Miami, Abdalla launched GameTime Sessions. It is the first-ever museum-led culture and sports conference at the opening of the largest traveling contemporary art and sports exhibit in the United States. Abdalla is also known for curating and launching Sunset Flip, which features the artwork of AEW Women’s Champion Thekla as well as ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty, currently exhibited at the Perez Art Museum in Miami.

GCW announces first-time-ever international show location

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Geared up and hyping its upcoming WrestleMania weekend shows, GCW (Game Changer Wrestling) has now also announced a brand new upcoming event in Milan, Italy.

For the first time ever, GCW will be heading to the Southern European country. On March 18, 2026, GCW announced its plan to visit Milan, Italy, on May 24, 2026. The show will take place at the Sporting Cesate in Milan, Italy. It will also air on Triller TV+ for fans to stream.

While no official match card has been confirmed for the show, tickets for GCW’s Milan show are scheduled to go on sale on Friday, March 20, 2026.

Apart from their Milan, Italy debut, GCW also announced their upcoming debut show in Des Moines, Iowa.

Nattie Neidhard and Pete Dunne of WWE are also set to appear and compete at GCW Bloodsport XV on April 17, 2026, just days ahead of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Nattie set to return to GCW Bloodsport during WrestleMania week

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Nattie Neidhart is all set for her GCW Bloodsport return.

In less than a month, WWE is set to host its much-awaited WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18-19, 2026. In the same week, WWE star Nattie is also scheduled for a match.

Josh Barnett announced that WWE veteran Nattie will return and compete at Bloodsport XV. The event is scheduled to take place on Friday, April 17, 2026.

The 43-year-old is currently 2-0 in GCW, with victories over Masha Slamovich and Miyu Yamashita. Apart from Nattie, WWE Superstar Pete Dunne has also been announced for an appearance at GCW Bloodsport XV.

Here are some of the other competitors announced for the show:

Masashi Takeda, Pete Dunne, Angel Verduzco, Erick Stevens, Fuminori Abe, Joe Dashou, Matt Mako, Miyu Yamashita, Ray Jaz, Royce Isaacs, Shayna Baszler, Timothy Thatcher, Ulka Sasaki, and Yuji Nagata.

GCW Bloodsport XV will take place at Horseshoe Las Vegas on April 17, 2026.

Pete Dunne match set for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Pete Dunne’s opponent for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV has now been revealed.

It was announced today that Dunne vs. Masashi Takeda will take place at the April 17 event in Las Vegas. Takeda is a Japanese wrestler and MMA fighter who has specialized in death matches. During his career, he’s competed for promotions like Big Japan, All Japan, FREEDOMS, and GCW.

This is the first match officially booked for the Bloodsport card, which will stream live on TrillerTV+ with a start time of 6 p.m. Eastern/3 p.m. Pacific on the Friday of WrestleMania week.

Since WWE started to allow some of its talent to compete at Bloodsport, Dunne has worked two shows with a 2-0 record. Both of those matches took place in 2025 with him defeating Jonathan Gresham and Timothy Thatcher.

Dunne currently plays the character Rayo Americano in WWE but will be wrestling as himself at Bloodsport. In WWE, he’s part of a faction with El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) and Bravo Americano (Tyler Bate).

Takeda’s last Bloodsport appearance was a 2019 victory over Gresham.

Here is the list of announced talent for the April 17 show:

Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV participants —

  • Josh Barnett
  • Yuji Nagata
  • Ulka Sasaki
  • Timothy Thatcher
  • Pete Dunne
  • Shayna Baszler
  • Erick Stevens
  • Fuminori Abe
  • Ray Jaz
  • Angel Verduzco
  • Joe Dashou
  • Masashi Takeda
  • Matt Mako
  • Royce Isaacs
  • Miyu Yamashita

The Sandman names ECW alum as his favorite opponent

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

The Sandman’s retirement match has been booked for Joey Janela’s Spring Break, the same event where Sabu wrestled his retirement match last year shortly before passing away. Now the ECW icon is discussing the legacy of his most famous rival. 

Sandman discussed Sabu and his retirement match in an interview with Jamal Niaz at Monopoly Events. “Sabu was easily my favorite opponent,” he said. “He was so easy to work with because honestly I didn’t really have to do much in the matches. He would just be flying all over the place putting me through tables and stuff. It was just easy to work with him. It was like, in our business, we call a ‘night off; when you can go out there and work 25 minutes and just have fun. That’s the part of the business that’s great.”

Sandman also talked about the influence Sabu had on American wrestling. “You could see it in Japan and stuff like that, but he brought that style, just all the flipping and stuff like that,” he said. “It wasn’t being done in professional wrestling back in those days. You didn’t see that on Saturday afternoons at WWF shows or something like that. So, he brought something totally different like a wild boy. They just never saw it before. He was great at it.”

A very special opponent has been booked for Sandman’s last match: The Invisible Man. 

“He’s going to beat the sh*t out of me,” Sandman said. “And I am not in good shape. Actually, as soon as I get home, I got about 50 days to get ready because, literally, I lay around and do nothing all day. You know, I’ll mow the lawn. That’s about the biggest I’ll do. But yeah, I’m going to actually try and get in a little bit of shape for that match.”

So will this truly be the last we see of the Sandman? “No, because … how many retirement matches did Terry Funk have?” he asked. “I was at his one in Amarillo. I was at one in Japan with him. You know, I can have 50 of these. This is a new start for me. I’ll wrestle till I’m 78.”

Sandman vs. The Invisible Man will take place at Joey Janela’s Spring Break X at Horseshoe Las Vegas on Friday, April 17. Tickets are available here. 

Timothy Thatcher booked for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Timothy Thatcher is headed to Bloodsport.

Josh Barnett announced on Sunday that the current WWE ID trainer has been added to Bloodsport XV, which takes place on April 17 as part of this year’s Collective event.

“If it’s Bloodsport, then you know this man will be there to showcase his Catch-as-Catch-can prowess,” he wrote. “A day-1 of Josh Barnett’s: Bloodsport, you’ll not find a wrestler more ready for combat. Timothy Thatcher is returning to Josh Barnett’s: Bloodsport 4/17, Wrestlemania Week.”

Thatcher was released by WWE in 2022 but was brought back a few years later as a trainer for WWE ID prospects. He has continued to wrestle on the independent scene wrestling ID talent but has also been seen on Evolve competing against the likes of Charlie Dempsey and Keanu Carver.

Pete Dunne, who is currently on Raw as part of Los Americanos, has already been announced for the WrestleMania weekend event. Other talent announced include Shayna Baszler, Erick Stevens, Fuminori Abe, Masashi Takeda, Miyu Yamashita, Matt Mako, Ray Jaz, Royce Isaacs, Angel Verduzco, and Joe Dashou.

Mance Warner & Steph De Lander make GCW return

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Mance Warner and Steph De Lander are back in Game Changer Wrestling.

They made their arrival during the main event of GCW So Alive on Saturday, reuniting with the Second Gear Crew (AJ Gray & Matthew Justice) to fend off VNDL48 (Atticus & Otis Cogar). A six man tag match was then made pitting Second Gear Crew against the Cogars and Christian Napier, with the latter team scoring the victory.

After show, De Lander posted a video on social media referencing she and Warner’s recent departure from TNA. 

“I’m not gonna let a businessman with a hat tell me when my career is over. Mance & SDL are back in GCW,” she declared.

It was revealed earlier this week that the two quit the company after De Lander was told by TNA president Carlos Silva that TNA was not going to allow her to wrestle again despite her surgeon fully clearing her to return to in-ring action.

“I received a phone call on Monday of this week that basically they never wanted to let me wrestle at TNA again. They just didn’t feel comfortable with that. So then I made the decision to leave, and my husband did too in solidarity,” she told TMZ.

De Lander previously wrestled for WWE under the name Persia Pirotta. When she was released in 2022, she made her TNA debut the following year and later became associated with Warner when he made his TNA debut last year.

Pete Dunne announced for GCW Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV

Posted on by Ian Carey

Pete Dunne has been announced for GCW Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV.

Josh Barnett announced the news on Wednesday for the event, which is scheduled for Friday, April 17 at Horseshoe Las Vegas at 3 p.m.

Barnett wrote:

“After making his Bloodsport debut last year, the “Bruiserweight” had so much fun playing “Kill or be killed”, he just had to come back and do it all again. Pete Dunne is returning to Josh Barnett’s: Bloodsport. The Horseshoe Vegas, 4.17.26 at 3pm”

Dunne, who is widely believed to be portraying the Rayo Americano character in WWE, debuted at Bloodsport 13 on April 17, 2025, defeating Timothy Thatcher at a show held at the Pearl Theater at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. He later returned at Bloodsport 14 in August, defeating Jonathan Gresham in Rutherford, New Jersey.

As Rayo Americano, he was defeated by El Grande Americano on Raw this week.

Others confirmed for the upcoming Bloodsport show include Shayna Baszler, Miyu Yamashita, Erick Stevens and more.

Brodie Lee Jr. to wrestle first-ever singles match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Brodie Lee Jr. is officially set to compete in his first-ever singles match during WrestleMania weekend.

Game Changer Wrestling has confirmed that Lee will make his singles debut when he faces off against Joey Janela on Friday, April 17. The match will be the main event of Joey Janela’s Spring Break 10, which is being held at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas and will stream live via TrillerTV+.

The build for this match extends all the way back to last year’s Spring Break, when Lee won the Clusterf**k match by eliminating Janela and his girlfriend Megan Bayne.

At GCW’s events this past weekend, Lee challenged Janela to face him in a singles match at Spring Break 10. Janela initially did not accept, but Lee goaded him into the match by calling him “Megan Bayne’s b*tch.” The angle ended with Janela laying out Lee with a piledriver.

The 14-year-old Lee is the son of deceased AEW legend Brodie Lee (Jon Huber), who tragically passed away at 41 years old in 2020 due to a rare lung issue.

When he turns 18 years old, Lee has the option of signing with AEW and fully beginning his wrestling career. He’s trained with Natalya and TJ Wilson at their Dungeon facility in Florida.

The Spring Break 10 card also includes The Sandman competing in his retirement match against The Invisible Man.

Brodie Lee Jr. challenges Joey Janela for Spring Break X

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Late wrestling veteran and former AEW TNT Champion Brodie Lee’s son, Brodie Lee Jr., was present at the February 28 edition of GCW Baller Blockin, where he challenged Joey Janela for a match.

On the February 28 episode, Lee Jr. was in the corner of Joey Janela during his match and victory over The Blade.

After the bout, Janela claimed that he had to make amends with Lee Jr. and wanted him in his corner at Spring Break X. However, the 14-year-old Lee Jr. had other plans. He refused to be in Janela’s corner and instead challenged him to a match.

Janela declined the challenge and claimed that Lee Jr. was only 14 years old and offered to fight him after four years. However, the young wrestler instead responded with “stop being Megan Bayne’s bitch.”

Not taking kindly to the insult, Janela responded with a slap and dropped Lee Jr. with a piledriver. It is currently not confirmed if Janela and Lee Jr. will square off at Spring Break X.

Lee Jr. made his in-ring debut last year at GCW Clusterf**k Battle Royal and won the match at Joey Janela’s Spring Break IX during WrestleMania weekend.

Nick Gage announced for GCW return

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Death match wrestling legend Nick Gage is returning to the ring for the first time since completing a successful stay in rehab last year.

Game Changer Wrestling has announced Gage for the promotion’s One Night Only show at the former ECW Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday, May 2. Gage’s opponent for the show has not been announced yet. The event will be broadcast live on Triller TV+ with a start time of 8 p.m. Eastern.

The rehab stint Gage went through in 2025 looks to have been a very productive experience, with GCW promoter Brett Lauderdale saying that his friend Gage went through a “shocking and remarkable” turnaround after only a few months working to break free from addiction.

“In less than 3 months, the turnaround is shocking & remarkable,” Lauderdale tweeted in December. “This is what it looks like when you break free from decades of addiction and finally start believing in yourself. The king is back and i couldn’t be more proud MDK.”

Gage was the subject of a 2021 Dark Side of the Ring episode titled “The Ultra-Violence of Nick Gage,” which chronicled his wrestling career, personal struggles, and the years he spent in prison for armed robbery. Gage also worked one match for AEW in 2021 on Dynamite against Chris Jericho.

Before entering rehab, Gage experienced tragedy in 2025 with the death of his long-time partner Sondra Culbertson

Brodie Lee Jr. announced for GCW Baller Blockin

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Brodie Lee Jr. is now all set to appear on GCW Baller Blockin.

Announced earlier on Thursday, February 26, late wrestling veteran Brodie Lee’s son, Brodie Lee Jr., will now be appearing at GCW Baller Blockin on Saturday, February 28, in Hartford.

The upcoming appearance will mark his second straight appearance in GCW. He is also set to be at GCW What’s My Name in Rochester on Friday, February 27.

Lee Jr., 14, made his in-ring debut last year at GCW Clusterf**k Battle Royal and won the match at Joey Janela’s Spring Break IX during WrestleMania weekend. Hoping to follow his father’s footsteps, he currently trains at The Dungeon with TJ Wilson and Natalya.

GCW Baller Blockin lineup | February 28, 2026

GCW Baller Blockin is set to take place at The Webster in Hartford, Connecticut, on February 28, 2026.

  • Atticus Cogar vs. Megan Bayne
  • Otis Cogar vs. Matt Tremont
  • Charles Mason vs. Dr. Redacted
  • Terry Yaki vs. Dustin Waller
  • YDNP vs. SAVAGE GNOMES
  • BEASTMAN vs. JIMMY LLOYD
  • GRINGO LOCO vs. KJ ORSO
  • Appearance from Joey Janela
  • Appearance from Effy

Sandman’s retirement match opponent revealed

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

ECW legend the Sandman had already declared that he would be wrestling his retirement match this April. Now, his opponent in his final match has been announced.

Sandman’s final match will be taking place at Joey Janela’s Spring Break X at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 17. On social media, Janela shared a video naming Sandman’s last opponent: the Invisible Man.

Sandman, age 62, is a five-time former ECW Champion. He also won the ECW Tag Team Championships with his partner 2 Cold Scorpio. He would later wrestle for WWE’s version of ECW, appearing alongside the other ECW Originals against the New Breed in an eight-man tag team match at WrestleMania 23. His last match was in October of last year, teaming with Yaya The Gremlin to defeat Nyeim Brooks & Vincenzo at GHW Halloween in Hamilton, New Jersey.

The Invisible Man debuted with DDT Wrestling in 2012, defeating Danshoku Dino in his first match. His first appearance in GCW was in the Spring Break Clusterf*ck at Joey Janela’s inaugural Spring Break event in 2017. He went on to win the Clusterf*ck at the Spring Break event in 2019. He would then die, but he recovered from that condition to defeat his brother, Invisible Stan, at Spring Break 3 in 2019. His last appearance was in last year’s Clusterf*ck, a 90-person match eventually won by 13-year-old Brodie Lee Jr. 

Tickets for Joey Janela’s Spring Break X are available here.