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.
*BREAKING*
The King is BACK…
NICK FN GAGE returns to GCW on Saturday, May 2nd when GCW comes to the ECW Arena for One Night Only!!!
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
Nick Gage has had a shocking and remarkable turnaround over the past few months, according to his friend Brett Lauderdale.
The GCW promoter shared an update on Gage on Sunday night, expressing how proud he is of Gage for the work he’s done to better himself. It was announced in October that Gage had been in treatment for several weeks and would be there indefinitely as he worked to overcome his long-standing battle with addiction.
On oct 1st, this guy was face to face with death
in less than 3 months, the turnaround is shocking & remarkable
this is what it looks like when you break free from decades of addiction and *finally* start believing in yourself
“On oct 1st, this guy was face to face with death,” Lauderdale wrote. “In less than 3 months, the turnaround is shocking & remarkable. 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.
“To the haters, grifters, enablers & bad faith ‘brothers’ who cowardly looked the other way or played dumb when you were called out, die slow, your time will come.”
Lauderdale also sent out a tweet thanking Sean “X-Pac” Waltman for helping Gage.
The 45-year-old Gage is a death match legend and was the subject of a 2021 episode of Vice TV’s Dark Side of the Ring. That year, he worked a match on national television when he faced Chris Jericho for AEW.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including an update on Nick Gage, the Dynamite show from Wednesday night, the women’s tag title tournament, Filthy hates PUPPETS, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!~!
Indie legend Nick Gage is “currently in treatment” and is being pulled off any future dates according to longtime friend and GCW founder Brett Lauderdale.
Lauderdale took to X Wednesday to set the record straight after he wrote that he saw some speculation online about the 45-year-old.
He wrote in two posts, “Nick Gage will not be attending any shows for the foreseeable future. He is currently in treatment (and has been for several weeks) and plans to stay indefinitely. Any promoters that have made deposits for shows coming up that he will not be able to attend will be made whole as soon as possible. Expect an update directly from the man himself when the time is right… in the meantime, thanks to all who have been supportive, MDK all fn day”
It was in August 2024 that Gage said was moving on from GCW but that it would always be his home and that Lauderdale would always be his friend. He added that he was looking into doing podcasts, blogs and more media things.
Gage confirmed he had a stay in rehab around the time he missed the 2024 GCW Homecoming show with Lauderdale saying prior to that that he was lured out of rehab. Gage said no one made him leave and that he did so because he felt good.
In a match between Shotzi Blackheart and Matt Cardona, Nick Gage made his return to GCW after being gone for over a year. Originally, Tommy Invincible had come out dressed as Gage and came out to his music wearing Gage’s attire. But he was then laid out by the real deal, handing Shotzi a pizza slicer as she carved up Cardona’s forehead.
Back at GCW’s Homecoming event last year, owner Brett Lauderdale announced that Gage would not be able to attend the show and was unsure when he would be back in the ring. In the time since, Gage has wrestled for other independent shows but not in GCW.
The match also saw Karrion Kross and Scarlett make their GCW returns, futher helping Shotzi. Multiple druids had attempted to assist Cardona, but the final two ended up being the former WWE stars, with Scarlett low blowing Cardona. Kross put Cardona through a door, allowing Shotzi to hit a senton for the win.
Kross and Scarlett left WWE on August 10 after their contracts expired, but continue to make headlines due to the way they made their exit, with some speculating it could be a WWE storyline.
Nick Gage has big plans for the future, even if that doesn’t involve Game Changer Wrestling.
GCW signed Gage to a multi-year contract in February 2022. Owner Brett Lauderdale stated at the time that it was the first and likely the last contract GCW would ever offer. Gage recently confirmed to the Blvd Bullies podcast that the deal has expired, and he is now a free agent.
“Brett Lauderdale is my friend, my best friend. He’s done a lot for my career. GCW’s always going to be a place I go, it’s always going to be my home,” Gage said.
“But, sometimes you got to move on in your career, sometimes you don’t see eye to eye with your friends, but, it is what it is.”
Regarding his future plans, Gage said:
“What I’m trying to do is get this MDK media off the ground, man. Podcasts, blogs, I’m going to start opening it up and show a different side of me.”
“I’m starting from the ground up again. So, it’s kind of tough, but it’s good to see people reach out and help out a little because pretty soon I’m going to take that and flip it, and I’m going to be alright because I’ve got a plan here.”
“I’m building bridges right now, podcasts, blogs, maybe a new promotion,” he continued.
Gage also confirmed rumors he went to rehab around the time he missed GCW Homecoming in August, saying:
“I am proud that I went there. I will not ever, ever apologize for that. I was exhausted. I was headed down the wrong path, but I’m glad I noticed that and I’m glad I had people in my corner, and I’m glad I went there.”
Last month, Lauderdale posted to X implying someone had lured Gage out of rehab, writing, “It takes a certain type of person to lure a sick person out of rehab with money and drugs in an effort to launch your shitty deathmatch promotion.” However, Gage said he left rehab because he was ready to.
“I want to clear something up; nobody made me leave that place. I’m a grown-ass man. Nobody makes me do anything.”
“I left because I felt good,” he continued.
Later in the interview, Gage mentioned that Jon Moxley demanded Lauderdale pay Gage the same amount he was getting after learning that Gage would be paid less for the show. Gage and Moxley have wrestled each other twice in GCW, once in 2021 and again in 2022.
Lauderdale has since responded to the comments online, writing:
“I will now make a shocking revelation: Yes, I was paying Jon Moxley – a major tv star of nearly a decade, a world champion, and the hottest wrestler in the industry more money than I was paying Nick Gage for their match in GCW.
Yes, at Mox’s request I did end up increasing Nick’s pay for the match, to an amount equal to what he was paid to wrestle Chris Jericho on television. Not that any of you actually care about Nick, but he is my brother of 20+ years and that will never change.
In this same interview, the hosts repeatedly tried to get him to talk bad about me and he forcefully declined. Nick not only referred to me as his friend, but his FAMILY. We have been thru alot in 20 years. The real ones know. And to everyone else, go f*ck yourself”
I will now make a shocking revelation:
Yes, I was paying Jon Moxley – a major tv star of nearly a decade, a world champion, and the hottest wrestler in the industry more money than I was paying Nick Gage for their match in GCW.
— GameChangerWrestling (@GCWrestling_) July 30, 2024
Earlier this month, it was announced that Hardy would be working multiple GCW events, with Now & Forever being his debut. Hardy discussed his first match on his Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast.
“I think it’s really exciting that they announced it — that Matt Hardy’s going to be there — and I think once you find out who I’m wrestling, people are going to go even more nuts,” he said. “And then it’s going to lead to some other stuff. And I think it’s going to be really cool. I’m very much looking forward to it.”
Gage’s match on Friday will be his first since June, when he defeated Orin Veidt in a death match.
The current card for Now & Forever:
Mance Warner in action
Joey Janela in action
Effy vs. Raj Dhesi (Jinder Mahal)
CPF vs. Davey Bang & August Matthews
Maki Itoh vs. John Wayne Murdoch
Arez, Galeno Del Mal, and Jack Cartwheel vs. Alec Price, Dustin Waller, and Marcus Mathers
Joey Janela’s Spring Break 8 will return to WrestleMania weekend once against as part of GCW’s Collective series of shows in Philadelphia.
In the main event of the first night of Janela-infused action, he will get a title shot against current GCW Champion Blake Christian. Janela will be flanked by none other than “The Walking Riot” Missy Hyatt.
Two enemies will complete their recent ring wars as Effy will battle Mance Warner in an I Quit match.
The unusual team of Maki Death Kill (Nick Gage & Maki Itoh) will unite against Danhausen & Ram Kaicho.
Matt Cardona will face Blue Pain while Minoru Suzuki will team with Masato Tanaka against Masha Slamovich & Rina Yamashita.
Other action includes Amazing Red vs. Gringo Loco while The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) will team with Kerry Morton against The East West Express (Jordan Oliver & Nick Wayne) and “Speedball” Mike Bailey.
**********
The show is off to a late start before finally starting at 7:15 PM alongside a tribute photo for Mike “Virgil” Jones. A hard rock-set music video sets the stage for the event with gorgeous slow-motion video of glass shattering and hard shots connecting. Veda Scott and Dave Prazak are on the call.
Veda put over Slamovich’s schedule facing Shayna Baszler yesterday and then Mike Bailey after midnight. Yamashita bullied Tanaka to start with a lockup before tackling him down. They tagged out to make it Suzuki vs. Slamovich in a fun, physical battle with Slamovich’s shots to Suzuki barely registering before he rocked her jaw with forearms.
Tanaka worked her arm over before fighting on the floor and unlike TNA, everything is actually visible on TV. Suzuki tagged in to stomp away on Slamovich in the corner. Tanaka landed some nice chops and wanted some in return before getting them and then knocking her down with a forearm.
Suzuki and Tanaka took turns beating down Slamovich before she suplexed Suzuki. Slamovich got a hot tag and ran wild on Suzuki for a bit before superkicking him to which he responded with a hard forearm. She responded with a middle finger, so he grabbed her finger and tagged Tanaka in to land a superplex before Yamashita got up with a suplex.
Yamashita landed an Omori driver before tagging in Slamovich and allowing her to hit a corner knee and helluva kick in the corner for 2. Yamishita and Slamovich hit a double-team ganso bomb for 2.5 on Tanaka. Slamovich and Yamashita went for a double-team corner to corner splash mountain through a door and had a three-legged race to try and not fall before Suzuki broke it up. Tanaka sent Slamovich through the door for two. Slamovich was such a great babyface in peril throughout this match. Tanaka went for the sliding D, but Slamovich turned it into a crucifix pin to win.
– A music video compilation of Ricky Morton hitting Canadian Destroyers in his 60s aired to hype up the six-man tag with the RNRs and Kerry facing off with the East West Express and Mike Bailey. Kerry Morton is in the Rock ‘n Roll Express tonight and yet has no mullet which is disappointing. Kerry cut a nice heel promo on the fans booing him and telling off his father, Robert Gibson and his opponents before jumping Jordan Oliver.
East West Express (Nick Wayne & Jordan Oliver) andMike Bailey defeated The Rock ‘n Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) andKerry Morton
The East West Express ran wild to start before Bailey got 2 on Kerry with a standing shooting star press. The East West Express worked on the arm before Kerry responded with an eye rake. Ricky ran down Nick Wayne with a shoulder tackle. It’s amazing how quick Ricky still is in short bursts. Kerry landed a cheap shot to Wayne before attacking Bailey and Oliver on the apron. The fans sang a song to Kerry that was a bit less flattering than “Happy Birthday.”
Kerry avoided a corner charge and cradled Wayne for 2. Oliver ran wild on Kerry before taunting him just like Kerry did earlier. Kerry stopped the double-team Oscutter before arguing with the RNRs. Ricky ballshotted Nick Wayne before landing a Canadian Destroyer and hitting a tope on the floor to everyone too. Ricky and Kerry hit a double dropkick for 2 on Oliver. Bailey came in and hit Ultima Weapon to Kerry before the double-team Oscutter on Ricky got the win.
Dragon Gate Classic (Dragon Kid, Kzy & YAMATO) defeated Reiwa New Generation (Ben-K, Kota Minoura & Shun Skywalker)
Minoura and Kzy worked quickly with punches before Dragon Kid came in to work with Skywalker. Skywalker worked as a heel, bullying Kid around. He clubbed away and avoided a hammer throw to land a Steamboat-like double chop. Skywalker working as a giant stood out so much here. Minoura came in to club away with an axhandle before a back and forth gutwrench throw. Skywalker blind tagged himself in and attacked YAMATO on the apron.
Skywalker wanted to eat a few shots from Kid and took one in order to land a suplex off the rope. Yamato came in and landed a corner forearm and exploder on Minoura for 2. Minoura and Yamato slugged it out with forearms. Kzy went up top so Dragon Kid could hit a super rana onto Minoura for 2 when Skywalker attacked. Skywalker monkeyflipped Kzy into his partners. Skywalker slugged it out with Kzy mid-ring before Kzy landed an uppercut and boot.
Ben-K ran in and hit a giant headbutt and spear before a corner spear missed. Minoura ran in and landed a black hole slam and falcon arrow for two when Kzy ran in for a save. Dragon Kid hit a crucifix bomb alongside a Kzy uppercut for the win.
Cole Radrick won the Grab the Brass Ring ladder match to earn a future GCW World title shot
Well, this should be rather insane. The match included Radrick, Myron Reed, Arez, Aigle Blanc, Mr. Danger, Leon Slater, Marcus Mathers, Microman, and Alec Price.
Danger hit a springboard legdrop onto Reed and thankfully did this mid-ring to not demolish his body like Johnny the Bull. Slater dove onto the floor only to come into the ring and eat a flurry of kicks from Arez before hitting a run-up the second rope moonsault onto a ladder. Blanc hopped onto a ladder for a dropkick.
Blanc ate a giant blind dive blockbuster from Price. Mathers ate a ladder shot before the ladder halo allowed Price to get a bit of an edge. He over-twirled the ladder before falling and another competitor entered in the form of Microman and his own stepladder. Microman did the ladder helicopter to the testicular region of everyone. Mathers took out Microman and then landed a blind dive destroyer on Slater.
Slater set up a big dive over the post and delivered a flip dive into the entrance area. Danger set up a ladder near the crowd and hit a moonsault off of it looking like he nearly hit the ceiling. He climbed up to win, but Radrick aimed to stop him before Mathers climbed a second ladder to try for the ring. Radrick won a slugfest with Danger on the ladder to win it.
– Matt Cardona’s out with a sedan that takes up nearly half the actual aisle. “Broski” Jimmy Lloyd wearing the trunks/tights combo that Bryan Alvarez hated is a fantastic touch. Cardona said he was on AEW and TNA TV and now he’s here at Spring Break, but he’s looking forward to his best friend Cody Rhodes finishing his story and he’s going to finish his story against Blue Kane…or Blue Pain as he’s now known after a move to Antarctica and two cease and desist letters.
All this for a match coming about due to WWE having Kane throw Cardona off a ramp in a wheelchair 12 years ago.
Matt Cardona (w/ Stephanie De Lander & Jimmy Lloyd) defeated Blue Pain
Cardona went outside to politely request that the fans remain silent before being choked and hit with a big boot. Blue Pain double noggin knockered SDL and Lloyd before sending Cardona into the crowd and setting up a table. Cardona knocked a fan out of a wheelchair before being thrown into it and Pain sent Lloyd through the table in the wheelchair.
Pain went up top for a diving lariat, but SDL distracted him and allowed a broski boot from Cardona. Deathmatch Royalty hit a stereo broski boot and a double impaler DDT got 2 on Pain. SDL got an urn and took an urn shot when Pain moved and blue smoke left the urn. Pain hit a sideslam and a diving lariat off the top. Pain landed a chokeslam for 2.9 thanks to SDL. She opened the door for Cardona chairshots and Radio Silence before Cardona’s old Zack Ryder’s theme hit leading to a Ryder underling coming out.
The underling counted two and then flipped Cardona off for a low blow that was exposed as a fake when Cardona showed him he was wearing a cup. Pain hit a double chokeslam on Cardona and Ryder. Lloyd unleashed a fireball onto Pain before Radio Silence and Deathmatch Royalty dogpiled Pain for the win. Pain later went for the flaming ringpost spot, but the the commission wouldn’t allow it.
Amazing Red defeated Gringo Loco
Red and Loco start off with wristwork before Loco’s girth prevents a leapfrog. Red landed a run-up springboard armdrag. Red landed a nice slingshot rana to the floor and a tope into the crowd! Loco landed a military press into a standing moonsault for 2. Red landed a corner forearm and satellite DDT for 2. Red went for a rewind rana, but Loco turned it into a powerbomb for 2.
Loco couldn’t fire up a superplex, but Red sent his face down with a diving complete shot for 2. Loco avoided the Code Red before nailing an overhead belly to belly in the corner. Loco went for a powerbomb but ate a rana counter for 2. They go up top and Loco hit a Spanish Fly off the top rope for 2! Loco bragged to the fans, but ate a tornado kick and a poison rana off the top! Red landed a double stomp and a frog splash before a Code Red ended it! Amazing Red still lives up to his name, while Gringo Loco had flashes of greatness throughout it and the post-match hug felt nice. A beautiful music video airs hyping up the battle between EFFY and Mance Warner set to “Ain’t No Grave” by Hidden Citizens.
Mance Warner defeated EFFY in an I Quit Match
Mance started it off with a finger snap, so EFFY responded with a trifecta of helluva kicks! EFFY hit a spear but ate a corner DDT through a door! EFFY landed a blockbuster and an Awesomebomb in the corner through a door! EFFY hit a piledriver onto a chair pile and Warner won’t give up. EFFY wanted Radio Silence, but ate a powerbomb on the chairs instead! Warner grabs the ref’s belt and whipped EFFY, who refused to give up. EFFY got fired up and slugged away before using the belt to punch Warner and whip him in kind!
EFFY blockbustered him on the apron, but Warner landed a chokeslam through a door bridge on the floor! EFFY is such a great babyface in peril and they go back and forth with broken door shots and then a Memphis-style slugfest mid-ring before transitioning into a kneeling headbutt war. Warner clocks him with a screwdriver and EFFY refuses to quit so Warner grabbed zipties that they’ve been using on the chairs and on the turnbuckle corners.
EFFY is tied up on the ropes and he ate a chair toss to the head. Allie Katch runs in and ate a chair to the head and threatens to drill Allie’s head if he doesn’t quit. EFFY quits to save Allie Katch and surprisingly, Warner doesn’t just attack her with the drill anyway. A history video airs showing Nick Gage’s issues with Danhausen.
Maki Death Kill (Maki Itoh & Nick Gage) defeated Danhausen & Ram Kaicho
Danhausen attempts to curse Itoh, but she counters with a double bird from a curse position. Danhausen sent her down off a tackle and landed a kokeshi headbutt! Itoh cries at her spot being stolen, so she steals what he did and tackled him down to hit a kokeshi headbutt of her own.
Kaicho came in and attacked Itoh with a voodoo doll. I’m going to boldly predict that some may not like this match because of its emphasis on comedy, unlike say Jimmy Valiant or Bugsy McGraw. Kinda surprised they haven’t gotten Valiant in for his 54th retirement match. Gage tagged in and bowled over Kaicho! Gage talks smack to a fan who gets a chant against him before Gage landed an elbow and a snap suplex for 2.
Kaicho turned another suplex into a DDT for a tag in to Danhausen. Danhausen inverted atomic drops Itoh, who sold it like she’s on a pogo stick. Gage suplexed him on a chair on the floor before bringing a door in the ring. Kaicho landed a codebreaker to Gage before double-downing off a lariat with Itoh. Kaicho grabbed a handful of dust and tossed it into Gage’s eyes before shotgun dropkicking him through a door.
Danhausen used the pizza cutter on Itoh before Kaicho used it and then Danhausen puts a handful of teeth into Itoh’s mouth and a pump kick got 2. Itoh hit a modified backbreaker on Kaicho before Gage speared Danhausen through a door in the corner. MDK landed stereo DDTs and kokeshi headbutts win it! Missy Hyatt is out with Janela and still has it as a manager – it’s incredible given how long she’s been retired.
GCW Champion Blake Christian (w/ Shane Mercer) defeated Joey Janela (w/ Missy Hyatt) to retain the title
Janela sent him into the corner with a tieup after a dueling ALL HEART/Paul Blart chant breaks out. Christian took him down with a headlock and flex. Janela took him down on the apron, but a kip-up and gamenguri hit Janela. Christian drove a door into Janela’s face with a door tope!
Christian kept the upper body work alive with a chinlock before a brawl on the floor where Christian sent Janela into Mercer to toss him into the post. Janela recovered and landed a corner uppercut and a brainbuster for 2. Christian sent him into the corner with a catapult for 2 before they exchange kneeling punches. Rolling Thunder spear by Christian before a double-down clothesline.
Apron warfare erupted with Janela winning that war with a DDT on the apron. Janela hit a snap DVD for 2.5! Christian hits a C4 and springboard 450 for 2! Janela avoided a punt and frog splash before landing a package piledriver for 2.5. Powerbomb by Janela and a superkick gets 2! Christian landed a spinebuster through a chair and a curb stomp hits!
Mercer went to slam Missy through a door bridge, but Janela saved and fought off Mercer’s Moonsault and Battery sending him through a door bridge on the floor. Janela hit a superplex through the door…with himself going through the door for 2 and then a double stomp on the door remnants for 2. Christian avoided a burning hammer with a DDT – showing that Janela maybe shouldn’t have called his shot there. Janela saves Missy from Christian before she hit Joey in the back of the head with the purse and a curb stomp on the purse ended it.
GCW has booked an interesting clash of styles for its return to Los Angeles in June.
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Nick Gage will take place at GCW Thank Me Later on June 17 from the Ukrainian Cultural Center. The show will air live on FITE. It will be the first time the two have wrestled each other.
Also booked for the show are Maki Itoh and Rina Yamashita.
ZSJ is scheduled to make his GCW debut at Brooklyn: Fight Night on May 11. The week prior he will defend his Strong Openweight Championship against Jeff Cobb at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku on May 3.
As for Gage, he dropped the GCW title to Masha Slamovich at Eye for an Eye on March 17. He hasn’t wrestled since teaming with Itoh and defeating BUSSY (Effy & Allie Katch) at Joey Janela’s Spring Break 7. However, Gage is booked to make his DEFY debut in Seattle on May 13.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back to try to make heads or tails of 1000 SHOWS THIS WEEKEND — WWE Extreme Rules, Smackdown, Battle of the Belts, Rampage, Bound for Glory, Mox vs. Gage, more on Moxley re-signing, any other news we can think of and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: Bray Wyatt returns at Extreme Rules, show recap
26:57: Jon Moxley loses to Nick Gage, re-signs with AEW
33:00: Impact Bound for Glory rundown
35:00: NJPW Declaration of Power card rundown
38:28: SmackDown, Rampage, Battle of the Belts thoughts
Nick Gage is once again GCW World Champion after defeating Jon Moxley at night one of GCW Fight Club in a career vs. title match.
The match featured the use of several light tubes, barbed wire, and Gage repeatedly carving Mox’s forehead with a pizza slicer. The finish had AEW stars Stokely Hathaway and W. Morrissey getting involved with Morrissey chokeslamming Moxley through a barbed wire glass window pane.
Gage went for a cover, but Moxley kicked out. Gage then scored the win after hitting three piledrivers and a choke breaker.
After the match, Gage praised Moxley, putting him over. He said he will keep going and going and wouldn’t have won the title without the fans, saying that he goes through glass and barbed wire for them. He praised GCW and said any of the haters can come find him.
This is Gage’s third run with the gold and his first since July 2021.
Moxley had held the championship for 399 days, defeating Matt Cardona at The Art of War Games back on September 4, 2021.
Jon Moxley and Nick Gage will face off in a title vs. career match at GCW Fight Club.
The event takes place October 8 & 9 from the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City and will air on FITE TV. GCW has yet to announce which night Moxley vs. Gage will take place on.
Moxley defeated Gage to retain the GCW Championship at last year’s Fight Club event on October 9, 2021. One year later, they will run it back again but this time Gage’s career will be on the line as well.
At GCW Homecoming earlier this month, Gage came out to confront the champion after Moxley had just defended his title against Effy. Gage challenged Moxley to a title match but Moxley responded that he would only do so if Gage put his career on the line as well. On Tuesday, GCW made the match official for Fight Club.
Moxley first won the GCW Championship at The Art of War Games from Matt Cardona on September 4, 2021. He has since defended the belt six times against Gage, Homicide, AJ Gray, Tony Deppen, Blake Christian, and Effy.
Matt Cardona and Chelsea Green’s wedding vow renewal ceremony did not go as planned.
The segment headlined GCW Homecoming Part Two from Atlantic City on Sunday. Former Tough Enough winner, Maven, officiated the ceremony and insulted the fans for making hurtful comments online about the Cardonas.
Cardona’s parents were in attendance for the ceremony. Green had a special surprise for Cardona as well and brought out Maki Itoh to sing for them.
At one point, Cardona said that he put GCW on the map when he defeated Nick Gage for the title. Gage would then hit the ring along with Dewey Donovan shortly after the ceremony ended. Gage first attacked Cardona’s father with light tubes and then turned his attention to Cardona.
Green went to confront Gage but was attacked by Allie Katch, who hit her with the wedding cake and then gave her a piledriver. Gage then took a pizza cutter to Cardona’s forehead and got on the microphone to say it’s “MDK all f***ing day” to end the show.
Earlier on the card, Maki Itoh made her debut for the promotion. She defeated Dark Sheik in singles competition. Itoh had lost to Billie Starkz at JCW After Hours Two the night before.
The GCW fans continue to boo Blake Christian after it was revealed he signed an AEW/ROH deal and will not be around as much. After his team with Jordan Oliver and Nick Wayne was defeated by the Second Gear Crew, Christian got up in his teammates’ faces as the crowd continued to turn on him.
Charles Mason attempted to interfere in the BUSSY vs. Charli Evans & Everett Connors match. All four official participants in the match ended up piling on him for the pin, however, despite him not actually being in the match.
One night after winning the GCW Ultraviolent Championship from Alex Colon, Rina Yamashita would successfully defend it against the 6ft 2 Sawyer Wreck.
The promotion also appears to be building to a big tag team title match on September 3 in Chicago. The Briscoes defeated Los Macizos for the titles on Saturday and were then challenged by the Second Gear Crew for a future title match. After John Wayne Murdoch and Alex Colon defeated Los Macizos on Sunday, they said they want a crack at the titles too. BUSSY hit the ring after the match and also said they want a shot at the tag titles in Chicago. So, it appears multiple teams are looking to face the Briscoes for the belts that night.
GCW will be back with shows next weekend from Concord, North Carolina on Friday and Atlanta on Saturday.
The full results from GCW Homecoming Part Two are as follows:
GCW Extreme Champion Cole Radrick defeated Alec Price, Gringo Loco, Axton Ray, Jimmy Lloyd, & Masha Slamovich to retain the title
Maki Itoh defeated Dark Sheik
Ninja Mack defeated Kevin Blackwood
The Second Gear Crew (Mance Warner, Matthew Justice & 1 Called Manders) defeated Blake Christian, Jordan Oliver, & Nick Wayne
Mike Bailey defeated Starboy Charlie
BUSSY (Allie Katch & Effy) vs. Charli Evans & Everett Connors went to a no-contest
GCW Ultraviolent Champion Rina Yamashita defeated Sawyer Wreck to retain the title.
The Mega Bastards (John Wayne Murdoch & Alex Colon) defeated Los Macizos (Ciclope & Miedo Extremo) in a tag team deathmatch
The next GCW World title match will be title vs. career.
Nick Gage accepted a title vs. career challenge from Jon Moxley during Saturday’s GCW Homecoming event. A date for the title match has not been confirmed.
After Moxley retained the GCW World title against Effy, Gage came out and said he wanted another shot at the title. Moxley said the only way Gage would get another shot is if Gage put his career on the line. Gage agreed, setting the stage for a future world title bout. A date for their match was not set.
The two met previously at GCW Fight Club on October 9 of last year in a death match. Moxley defeated Gage to retain the GCW World title. Since then, Gage has wrestled sparingly, with his last match taking place back in May of this year.
Moxley, who is also the interim AEW World Champion, won the GCW World Heavyweight title back at Art of Wargames on September 4 of last year, pinning Matt Cardona in an impromptu match to win the championship for the first time.
