Tag: gcw

Natalya set to compete at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIII

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Natalya is heading to Bloodsport.

Josh Barnett announced that the WWE star will compete during Bloodsport XIII, which takes place on April 17 during WrestleMania weekend.

“The Queen of Harts. A member of the legacy filled Hart family. She spent time in the Hart Dungeon learning hoe to crank, rip, and tear wrestlers apart. You could say the she was BORN for this,” Barnett wrote on social media. “We she torture her opponent to the point of submission or will it be her hung from the rack? What will Bloodsport bring out of this veteran wrestler?”

This would mark Natalya’s first appearance in GCW. Since re-signing with WWE last fall, she has mostly been seen on WWE Speed, ultimately losing to champion Candice LeRae earlier this year. She also competed in the Women’s Intercontinental title tournament, coming up short in the qualifying around against IYO SKY and Alba Fyre.

Talent announced for Bloodsport XIII include Miyu Yamashita, David Modzmanashvilli, Tom Lawlor, Timothy Thatcher, Simon Gotch, Shinya Aoki, and Jonathan Gresham.

Sabu attacks Joey Janela at GCW event, retirement match set for Spring Break 9

Posted on by Ian Carey

An angle took place at Saturday’s GCW The Coldest Winter 3 in Los Angeles to build to Sabu’s retirement match at Joey Janela’s Spring Break this April.

Janela was set to honor Sabu at yesterday’s show by giving him his Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame plaque. However, Janela cut a promo saying that, similar to how Sabu failed to show up for his induction ceremony last year, he was nowhere to be found again. Janela said that the Sabu who cared about the fans was dead. This led to Sabu, who was at the show, coming out and attacking Janela, using skewers and his own Hall of Fame plaque to bust Janela open.

Following the attack, Janela said he would see Sabu at Spring Break, seemingly confirming a match thought to have been canceled due to Janela’s injury. Janela challenged Sabu for Spring Break at January’s The People vs. GCW show but later suffered a torn biceps at DEFY’s 8th Anniversary. Janela revealed he had surgery for the injury last month.

GCW Joey Janela’s Spring Break 9 takes place Saturday, April 18, at the Palms Theater at Palm’s Casino and Resort.

Also at GCW The Coldest Winter 3, NXT’s Cora Jade was in attendance watching TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich in action. Many fans are giving positive reviews for the match between Zack Sabre Jr. and Fuego Del Sol as well.

Sabu to receive Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame award at GCW The Coldest Winter 3

Posted on by Ian Carey

Sabu is set to receive his Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame plaque this weekend.

Game Changer Wrestling has announced that Joey Janela will present Sabu with the award on Saturday at The Coldest Winter 3 in Los Angeles.

Sabu was scheduled to be inducted into the Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame on April 7, 2024, in Philadelphia as part of WrestleMania week. However, when it came time for him to be officially honored, Sabu wasn’t there.

GCW’s Brett Lauderdale explained his absence, writing, “In the true spirit of independent wrestling, sabu has decided to keep his deposit and no show the indie hall of fame ceremony today. He accepted the booking and took the money, but doesnt wanna get in the elevator and come upstairs. What a legend.”

Sabu was at WrestleCon at the time, which was taking place in the same hotel. Lauderdale later noted that Sabu returned the $300 deposit and he donated it to the William Way LGBT Community Center in Philadelphia.

Other wrestlers inducted into the 2024 Class of the Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame include The Briscoes (Jay & Mark Briscoe), Trent Acid, Steve Corino, Mercedes Martinez, Eddie Gilbert, and indie superfan Kevin “Whack Packer” Hogan.

At last month’s People vs. GCW show at Hammerstein Ballroom, it was announced that Sabu will have his retirement match at Joey Janela’s Spring Break this year. Janela had challenged him to the bout but recently suffered a torn biceps and likely will not be cleared in time for the show. Janela was originally scheduled to wrestle Super Crazy on Saturday.

GCW The Coldest Winter 3 Lineup for Saturday, March 1, 2025:

  • Joey Janela to present Sabu with his Indie Hall of Fame award
  • GCW World Champion Effy defends against Sidney Akeem
  • GCW Tag Team Champions The Gahbage Daddies (Alec Price & Cole Radrick) defend against Violence Is Forever (Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku)
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Drew Parker
  • Rich Swann vs. Mance Warner
  • Masha Slamovich vs. Super Crazy
  • The Bollywood Boyz (Gurv Sihra & Harv Sihra) vs. Los Desperados (Arez & Gringo Loco)
  • Women’s Scramble Match: Zayda Steel, Megan Bayne, Sandra Moone, Dark Sheik, Vipress, Zara Zakher

GCW books Zack Sabre Jr. match for Los Angeles

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Both of Zack Sabre Jr.’s opponents have now been confirmed ahead of his return to Game Changer Wrestling this March.

Sabre vs. Drew Parker will take place at GCW’s The Coldest Winter 3 event in Los Angeles, California on Saturday, March 1. The next night, Sabre vs. Mance Warner is happening at GCW Just Being Honest in Mesa, Arizona. The shows will air live on TrillerTV+.

Both matchups have Sabre — one of the best technical wrestlers in the world — facing hardcore opponents. Parker is a death match wrestler from the United Kingdom who has experience competing in Japan. He briefly retired from the ring in August 2023 before returning in 2024.

These are Sabre’s first GCW dates since 2023, when he worked three matches with victories over Tony Deppen, Jordan Oliver, and Nick Gage.

Shortly after these GCW shows, Sabre will be back in Japan to take part in New Japan Cup 2025. He recently dropped the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to Hirooki Goto but would earn a rematch if he wins the New Japan Cup tournament.

LA’s Ukrainian Cultural Center is the venue for The Coldest Winter 3.

GCW announces opponent for Zack Sabre Jr. match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Game Changer Wrestling has revealed one of the opponents Zack Sabre Jr. will be facing in his return to the promotion next month.

On the weekend of March 1 -2, Sabre will compete in his first GCW matches since 2023. The Sunday event is being held in Mesa, Arizona — and it’s been announced that Sabre vs. Mance Warner will take place at the show. The first-time-ever matchup is a clash of styles with the technician Sabre facing a hardcore brawler in Warner.

Sabre is just over a week removed from dropping the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to Hirooki Goto at NJPW New Beginning in Osaka. Next month, he’ll be participating in New Japan Cup 2025 looking to earn another shot at Goto.

In addition to being one of GCW’s top stars, Warner recently debuted for TNA Wrestling.

The Sunday, March 2 GCW event in Mesa is titled Just Being Honest and will air live via Triller TV+. Warner was previously scheduled to face Super Crazy, but the lineup for the show was changed up after Sabre was added. Super Crazy will still be competing on the card.

Sabre’s opponent for GCW’s Saturday, March 1 show in Los Angeles has not been announced yet.

GCW to make Alaska debut this October

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Game Changer Wrestling is heading to unfamiliar territory this October.

The indie promotion will make its Alaska debut with an event taking place in Anchorage on Saturday, October 4. The show is being held at the Arctic Rec Center and will air live via TrillerTV+, with GCW noting that ticket information and other details will be announced soon.

While Alaska may not be thought of as a traditional wrestling hotbed, it is home to the promotion/training school 907 Pro Wrestling. New Jersey-based indie WrestlePro has made consistent trips to the state since 2019 as well.

The most recent WWE show to take place in Alaska was a 2017 live event in Anchorage.

It was also announced last night that GCW is heading to Arkansas for the first time ever this summer. That show is being held in Little Rock on Friday, June 20 with The Hall on West 9th St. serving as the venue.

Joey Janela undergoes surgery, says injury ‘decimated’ his dominant arm

Posted on by Ian Carey

Joey Janela is out of action after undergoing surgery.

Janela announced the news Monday, saying the surgery was due to “the complete decimation” of his dominant arm. He mentioned three weeks ago that he believed he’d torn his right biceps at GCW Up All Night. However, he has since wrestled Paul Walter Hauser at DEFY’s eight year anniversary, and Atticus Cogar at the JCW Jersey J-Cup this weekend.

Janela thanked former WCW wrestler Crowbar for helping arrange the surgery and assisting with his rehab, calling him “one of the very best dudes in a business full of weirdos.”

Janela wrote:

“I’ve been going hard for the past 6 years nonstop, no major injuries since my knee besides a few hiccups, but that streak has finally come to an unexpected end as I had major surgery today after the complete Decimation of my dominant arm.

Worst part is Coming to grasp some facts that unfortunately some major plans in my life & career will have to come to a halt but no one works harder when these situations happen.

Thanks to @wcwcrowbar again as always, as he not only will rehab me again in no time but also helped me arrange surgery. He’s one of the very best dudes in a business full of weirdos, in the coming months I’ll be putting out lots of merch and different Ways to make income so I can completely 100% dedicate myself to rehab so id appreciate all the support. Thanks everyone I’ll see you soon, especially @Atticus_Cogar #comingsoon”

Janela first mentioned a possible arm injury shortly after he was involved in a physical altercation with independent wrestler Dylan Bostic at a meet and greet event after GCW Up All Night. Following the incident, Janela posted to social media, “Not only did I have to deal with this shit I’m dealing with a torn possible right bicep from my match and I was just trying to go out there and meet some fans and make some money.”

Zack Sabre Jr. returning to GCW for two shows

Posted on by Joseph Currier

NJPW star Zack Sabre Jr. is coming to the United States next month to work a couple of dates for Game Changer Wrestling.

Sabre will be in action for the indie promotion in Los Angeles, California on Saturday, March 1 and Mesa, Arizona on Sunday, March 2. He’s returning to GCW for the first time since 2023. Opponents for Sabre have not been announced yet.

The Los Angeles event is titled “The Coldest Winter 3” and is taking place from the Ukrainian Cultural Center. “Just Being Honest” is the name of the Mesa show, which is being held at The Nile Theater. Both shows will air live via TrillerTV+.

At the New Beginning in Osaka earlier this week, Sabre’s four-month reign as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion came to an end when he was dethroned by Hirooki Goto. Sabre will have the chance to earn a rematch against Goto when he competes in New Japan Cup 2025.

Sabre made his GCW in May 2023 with a victory over Tony Deppen. He also defeated Jordan Oliver and Nick Gage in matches for GCW that year.

Joey Janela involved in scuffle at meet and greet, issues statement

Posted on by Ian Carey

Joey Janela has commented on an incident at a meet and greet following GCW’s show in Indianapolis last night. 

In a video circulated online, Janela is seen being confronted by independent wrestler Dylan Bostic at the event. Bostic flips over Janela’s table, and the two grapple briefly before onlookers attempted to break it up. At the end of the video, Janela appears to be holding Bostic down as others are kicking him. 

Joey Janela assaulted at meet and greet
byu/THISISXFL inSquaredCircle

Janela and Bostic were previously involved in a dispute in late 2020 following the death of Brodie Lee. Bostic posted online that he was upset at the compensation he received from AEW for working as an extra and many in AEW felt his comments were insensitive considering they were grieving the loss of their friend and co-worker at the time. Britt Baker posted a statement to X on the matter, referring to Bostic as a “sick human,” and writing, “The wrestling world is mourning the loss of an amazing friend, husband, and father and your bitching about $120?”

Evidently, Janela sent a private message to Bostic over his comments. Bostic posted a screenshot of Janela’s message and challenged him to a fight.

On Saturday morning, Janela responded to the altercation with Bostic, writing:

“Gonna nip this in the butt there’s a Video circulating of me getting ambushed at my table while I was meeting fans after the show tonight, it stems from him airing his grievances about his experience doing AEW extra work the day after brodie lee’s death that a lot of us were very upset about. I took to twitter because I thought it was disgusting and we went back and forth. Tonight 4 years later he flipped me and Megan’s gimmick table over, to confront me and we got into a scuffle, which resulted in the GCW crew thinking I was getting attacked by a deranged fan & Megan thinking it was some weird Joey janela skit. For someone that claims to have boxing training amazingly not one punch landed, and he was eventually carried out like a crying baby by Calvin Tankman. Sorry to all the fans that had to witness that it was an extremely embarrassing situation & sorry to all the Indianapolis crew that wanted to put on a great weekend of independent wrestling for the city. Sorry if I contributed to any of the unneeded drama.”

Janela later added:

“The first shot went behind my neck and the second didn’t connect, I wrestled him to the floor and put him in a clench and could’ve choked him 100% out but they were beating him like a sack of potato’s. He kept saying “we’re good, we’re good” then he was carried out like a baby with 4 different footprints on this face. This is the last I speak of this shit because it was fucking embarrassing.”

“Not only did I have to deal with this shit I’m dealing with a torn possible right bicep from my match and I was just trying to go out there and meet some fans and make some money.”

GCW announces Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport event for London

Posted on by Ian Carey

Bloodsport is headed to England. 

At today’s GCW show in London, it was revealed the promotion will bring Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport to the city on Sunday, September 28, 2025. The event will be held at The Electric Ballroom, which was also the venue for today’s show. 

The show in London will be the 14th edition of the event (15, including Matt Riddle’s Bloodsport in 2018). The next Bloodsport show is scheduled for the Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on April 17, 2025, as part of WrestleMania Weekend. 

GCW Live in London results from Sunday, January 26, 2025:

  • GCW Tag Team Champions Gahbage Daddies (Alec Price & Cole Radrick) defeated Lykos Gym (Kid Lykos & Kid Lykos II)
  • Sidney Akeem defeated Aigle Blanc
  • Maki Itoh defeated Man Like DeReiss
  • Luke Jacobs defeated Manders
  • Leon Slater defeated Jimmy Lloyd
  • Joey Janela defeated Big F’n Joe in a hardcore match
  • JCW Champion Masha Slamovich vs. Megan Bayne ended in a draw
  • Mance Warner defeated Drew Parker
  • GCW World Champion Effy defeated Cara Noir




GCW owner addresses potential Hammerstein return: ‘We’ll see what the future holds’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

While there are no firm plans in place, Game Changer Wrestling would like to return to the Hammerstein Ballroom one day.

GCW ran the legendary New York City venue for the second time with The People vs. GCW taking place this past Sunday. After the show, GCW owner Brett Lauderdale appeared on Game Changer Weekly and addressed whether his promotion will be returning to the Hammerstein in the future.

“Are there plans to go back to Hammerstein? I don’t have a contract right now for another date, but there’s no plan not to go back to Hammerstein,” he responded. “I think it’s just going to be a matter of if there’s a right time, right moment scenario that pops up again. You know, I still really love that place. It’s a special place for me. It’s a special place in wrestling, in my mind anyways. And, yeah, I don’t know. I would like to go back there someday, but whatever. We’ll see what the future holds.”

The Hammerstein Ballroom earned its reputation as a historic wrestling venue by hosting events from promotions like ECW and ROH. It was the location for the first two ECW One Night Stand shows in 2005 and 2006. In December 2024, AEW made its Hammerstein debut with three nights of action.

Sunday’s event was GCW’s first time back at the Hammerstein since 2022. The theme was that GCW was looking for redemption after that first show received mixed-to-negative reviews.

The promotion encountered some bad luck with Allie Katch suffering a broken leg in the second match of Sunday’s show, which affected the story for the rest of the night. Effy defeated Katch by referee stoppage and advanced to the main event, defeating Mance Warner to become the new GCW World Champion.

Lauderdale said he thought this was a good show overall but not perfect. He would rate it a 7 or 7.5 out of 10.

Allie Katch discharged from hospital following surgery

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Allie Katch is heading home from the hospital after undergoing surgery to repair her broken leg.

On Tuesday morning, Katch shared an update with fans informing them that she has been discharged from the hospital. She underwent surgery yesterday after suffering two broken bones in her leg at the Hammerstein Ballroom on Sunday night. She was facing Effy at The People vs. GCW when the injury happened. When attempting a dive through the middle and bottom ropes, Katch landed badly and injured her leg. The match was stopped and Effy was declared the winner.

Though she was initially told that it would be six weeks before she could walk without crutches, Katch said there is optimism that she’ll be off crutches before that.

A GoFundMe campaign has been started to help Katch with medical expenses and the loss of income that she is going to experience in the months she is out of action. It has currently raised more than $47,000.

By defeating Katch, Effy advanced to the main event of Sunday’s show and defeated Mance Warner to become the new GCW World Champion. This was Game Changer Wrestling’s second time ever holding a show at the legendary Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.

WOR: TNA Genesis, RAW report, GCW, Britt, more!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including thoughts on the TNA Genesis PPV on Sunday, PCO and what happened at this weekend’s GCW event, Britt Baker, ratings, RAW report, upcoming show line-ups and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:
Start: TNA Genesis fallout
12:16: Allie Katch injury, Dave’s thoughts on Chris Bey/TNA/GoFundMe
22:07: PCO’s issues with TNA
26:52: Britt Baker’s status with AEW, other AEW talent issues
44:57: Ratings
46:49: WWE Raw recap, lineups for the week

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Allie Katch undergoes surgery for broken leg

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

Allie Katch has shared her first post-surgery update:

**********

Allie Katch has already undergone successful surgery for the injury that she suffered at the Hammerstein Ballroom on Sunday night.

A match between Allie Katch and Effy at The People vs. GCW had to be cut short when Katch suffered two broken bones in her leg while going for a dive through the middle and bottom ropes. Effy was declared the winner and advanced to the main event, where he defeated Mance Warner to become the new GCW World Champion.

Fellow wrestler Steph De Lander has been helping Katch after the injury and sharing updates on social media. This afternoon, De Lander informed fans that Katch is out of surgery and is on the road to recovery. But it will be a long road ahead, and De Lander has started a GoFundMe campaign to help assist Katch with medical bills and the loss of income she is going to experience while out of action.

Katch will be staying in the hospital overnight following surgery. She sent out a message early this morning thanking anyone for the love they’ve shown her.

“I feel the love and I am so grateful, it’s the light in this very scary and uncertain time,” Katch tweeted. Forever in debt to Steph for taking care of me and thank you to all who have reached out. I’ll have more to say and update later but I am so tired and hangry yall!!!”

The GoFundMe has currently raised more than $34,000. Matt Cardona, Liv Morgan, Raj Dhesi (the former Jinder Mahal), Nic Nemeth, Piper Niven, Chelsea Green, Kris Statlander, Nick Wayne, Natalya, Will Ospreay, and Moose are listed among the contributors.

The People vs. GCW notes: Baron Corbin/Tom Pestock debuts, new champions crowned

Posted on by Josh Nason

GCW’s anticipated return to New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom for Sunday’s The People vs. GCW saw several new champions crowned as well as the first post-WWE match for the former Baron Corbin.

Corbin, going by his real name of Tom Pestock, took on Josh Barnett in a Bloodsport rules match during the show. Pestock tapped to a leg lock to take the loss, his first action since a WWE SmackDown dark match last October. Pestock’s contract wasn’t renewed by WWE, announced in November.

GCW has a new World Champion as Effy took home the title for the first time after defeating rival Mance Warner in the main event.

Effy earned the shot by virtue of winning a no. 1 contender’s match earlier in the night with Allie Katch — a bout that had to be stopped after just a few minutes when Katch injured her leg after a dive to the outside of the ring. The win ends the 232-day reign of Warner.

New GCW Tag Team Champions were crowned as the Gahbage Daddies (Alec Price & Cole Radrick) defeated Violence is Forever (Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku) to win the gold for the first time, ending the champions’ 400+ day title reign.

Matt Tremont is now the unified GCW Extreme/Ultraviolent Champion after winning a unification bout featuring Maki Itoh, Matthew Justice, Ciclope, Rina Yamashita, John Wayne Murdoch, Brandon Kirk, Dr. Redacted, and Drew Parker. Itoh came into the match as the Extreme champion while the other title was vacant.