Game Changer Wrestling

Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) is an independent professional wrestling promotion based in New Jersey, U.S.A, active since 1999. It is currently owned by independent referee Brett Lauderdale.

Game Changer Wrestling
AcronymGCW
FoundedJanuary 1999
September 2013 (revival)
Defunct2004 (revived in 2013)
StyleHardcore wrestling
Shoot wrestling
Comedy
HeadquartersNew Jersey, U.S.
Founder(s)Ricky Otazu
Owner(s)Brett Lauderdale
Danny Demanto
FormerlyJersey Championship Wrestling (1999–2015)

The promotion was founded by wrestler Ricky Otazu in 1999 as Jersey Championship Wrestling. It was renamed Game Changer Wrestling in 2015, and has transformed itself from a small regional promotion into a nationally popular company that has toured all over the United States, as well as internationally in places like Japan. The company predominantly features hardcore wrestling, and incorporates a shoot style hybrid of mixed martial arts and professional wrestling in some events.

Some of GCW's most popular annual events include Bloodsport, Joey Janela's Spring Break, Backyard Wrestling, Tournament of Survival and Nick Gage Invitational.

History

1999–2004: Early history as Jersey Championship Wrestling

Jersey Championship Wrestling (JCW) was founded by independent wrestler Ricky Otazu, also known by his ring name of Ricky O,[1] in January 1999 in New Jersey.[2][3] JCW ran their first show on January 29, 2000 in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.[4] Later that year, JCW hosted the inaugural Jersey J-Cup, which featured some of the top unsigned wrestlers of that period.[5] They would continue to host the tournament until 2004, when JCW was sold to rival company National Wrestling Superstars (NWS).[6] The promotion would remain dormant for nearly a decade.

2013–2015: Revival

In September 2013, after the closure of National Wrestling Superstars,[7] Otazu reclaimed the rights to JCW and reopened the promotion.[6] In April 2014, JCW opened its own training school in North Bergen.[8] Later that year, JCW would return to hosting the Jersey J-Cup.[9]

2015–2017: Rebranding as Game Changer Wrestling

In June 2015, Jersey Championship Wrestling rebranded itself to Game Changer Wrestling[3] after being purchased by Brett Lauderdale and Danny Demanto.[10] After the buyout, GCW began to predominantly feature hardcore wrestling and continued to enjoy success in the New Jersey Wrestling scene, producing several tournaments that boasted high-level independent wrestlers, including the Nick Gage Invitational Ultraviolent Tournament,[11] the Tournament of Survival[12] and the Acid Cup.[13]

2017–present: Expansion

In March 2017, GCW produced the critically well received Joey Janela's Spring Break show in Fern Park, Florida.[14] This would become an annual tradition for the company.[15] GCW would continue to expand throughout the United States and hosted its first show in Los Angeles in November 2018, titled To Live and Die in LA.[16] In April 2018, GCW partnered with Matt Riddle to produce Matt Riddle's Bloodsport, a show that fused professional wrestling and mixed-martial arts rules.[17] Bloodsport would take place twice more in 2019, this time with the partnership of Josh Barnett.[18][19][20][21] GCW also entered a partnership with video-streaming service FITE TV to exclusively stream GCW events.[22] In August 2019, GCW embarked on a two-day tour of Japan.[23]

Roster

Game Changer Wrestling's roster consists mainly of independent freelancers.

Male Wrestlers
Ring name Real name Notes
1 Called Manders Steve Manders
Ace Austin Austin James Highley Signed to Impact Wrestling
ACH Albert Christian Hardie, Jr Signed to Major League Wrestling
AJ Gray Unknown
Alex Colon Unknown
Alex Zayne Unknown
Atticus Cogar Unknown
Benjamin Carter Unknown
Blake Christian Christian Hubble
Calvin Tankman Unknown Signed to Major League Wrestling
Chris Dickinson Unknown Acid Cup 2020 winner
Ciclope Jhonny Serrano Yedra GCW Tag Team Champion
Cole Radrick Unknown
Effy Unknown
Eric Ryan Unknown
Facade Michael Cichowicz
G-Raver Brandon Graver Inactive; nerve injury
Gregory Iron Gregory Allen Smith
Gringo Loco Charles Santo Signed to Major League Wrestling
Isami Kodaka Unknown Signed to Pro-Wrestling Basara
Jimmy Lloyd Unknown
Joey Janela Joseph Janela Signed to All Elite Wrestling; Host of Joey Janela's Spring Break; current Ironman Heavymetalweight Champion
Jordan Oliver Jordan Oliver Jr Signed to Major League Wrestling
Josh Barnett Joshua Lawrence Barnett Host of Bloodsport
Kikutaro Mitsunobu Kikuzawa
KTB Unknown
Lee Moriarty Unknown
Logan Stunt Logan Nelms
Mance Warner Unknown Signed to Major League Wrestling
Markus Crane Unknown
Masashi Takeda Masashi Takeda
Matt Tremont Matthew Tremont
Matthew Justice Matthew Hannan
Miedo Extremo Jonathan Uriel Gijon Perez GCW Tag Team Champion
Nate Webb Unknown
Nick Gage Nicholas W. Wilson
Orin Veidt Boone Winkler
Rickey Shane Page Unknown GCW World Champion
Pinkie Sanchez Unknown Also wrestles as "Sanchez"
Shane Mercer Unknown
Shlak Unknown
Tony Deppen Unknown
Tre Lamar Unknown
Yoshihiko — A blow-up doll signed to DDT Pro-Wrestling

Female Wrestlers
Ring name Real name Notes
Allie Kat Alison Woodard

Championships
Championship Current champion(s) Previous champion(s) Date won Event Location Days held
GCW World ChampionshipRickey Shane PageAJ GrayDecember 12, 2019Long. Live. GCWNashville, Tennessee251+
GCW Tag Team ChampionshipLos Mazisos (Ciclope and Miedo Extremo)The Rejects (John Wayne Murdoch and Reed Bentley)May 13, 2018The UntouchablesVilla Park, Illinois825+

Former championships
Championship Final champion(s) Previous champion(s) Date won Date retired Event Location Days held
GCW Extreme ChampionshipPCOTony DeppenSeptember 8, 2018December 29, 2018GCW Nick Gage Invitational 3: Thy Kingdom ComeVilla Park, Illinois112[lower-alpha 1]
GCW Women's ChampionshipDeonna PurrazzoSonya StrongJune 3, 2016June 3, 2016GCW at Wood-RidgeWood-Ridge, New Jersey0[lower-alpha 2]
JCW Light Heavyweight ChampionshipKahagasShawn SheridanApril 10, 2004April 10, 2004JCW at Pinellas ParkPinellas Park, Florida0[lower-alpha 3]
JCW Six Man Tag Team ChampionshipCJ Brock, Crazy Ivan and Dave GrecoN/A (inaugural)November 4, 2001November 4, 2001Payback TimeLodi, New Jersey0[lower-alpha 4]
JCW Television ChampionshipMoondog WenzelJay Lethal[lower-alpha 5]February 22, 2004February 22, 2004JCW at GarfieldGarfield, New Jersey0[lower-alpha 6]

Championship history

GCW World Championship
GCW World Championship
Details
PromotionGame Changer Wrestling (GCW)
Date establishedApril 14, 2000
Current champion(s)Rickey Shane Page
Date wonDecember 8, 2019
Other name(s)
Jersey Championship Wrestling (JCW) World Championship (2000–2004, 2013–2015)
Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
+ Current reign is changing daily
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
Jersey Championship Wrestling (JCW)
1 Andrew Anderson April 14, 2000 JCW TV Taping in Garfield Garfield, New Jersey 1 8 Defeated Nick Maddox in a tournament final to become the inaugural champion. [24]
2 Low Ki April 22, 2000 JCW TV Taping in Elmwood Elmwood Park, New Jersey 1 181 [25]
3 Reckless Youth October 20, 2000 Battle at Becton East Rutherford, New Jersey 1 379 [26]
— Vacated November 3, 2001 — — — — Reckless Youth vacated the title due to inactivity.
4 Inferno November 3, 2001 Mayhem South River, New Jersey 1 322 Inferno was awarded the vacant title. [27]
5 Crowbar September 21, 2002 It's the Big One Elizabeth, New Jersey 1 28 [28]
6 Lance Diamond October 19, 2002 JCW TV Taping in Elizabeth Elizabeth, New Jersey 1 141 Lance Diamond was also Television Champion during this reign. [29]
7 Don Montoya March 9, 2003 Skin To Win Paramus, New Jersey 1 112 [30]
8 Ace Darling June 29, 2003 For Family And Friends Paramus, New Jersey 1 147 [31]
9 Slyck Wagner Brown November 23, 2003 Crazy 8 Garfield, New Jersey 1 217 [32]
10 Homicide June 27, 2004 Jersey J-Cup (2004) Garfield, New Jersey 1 187 [33]
— Deactivated December 31, 2004 — — — — Homicide was no longer listed as the JCW World Champion after the company shut down in 2004.
11 Damien Darling November 9, 2013 Playas Club Collide Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey 1 209 [34]
12 QT Marshall June 6, 2014 JCW event at Barnegat High School Barnegat Township, New Jersey 1 168 [35]
13 Joey Janela November 21, 2014 JCW event in Howell Howell Township, New Jersey 1 204 [29]
Game Changer Wrestling (GCW)
14 Tama Tonga June 13, 2015 JCW Six Flags event Jackson, New Jersey 1 182 During Tama Tonga's reign, Jersey Championship Wrestling was renamed Game Changer Wrestling in July 2015, so their respective championships were also renamed. [36]
— Vacated December 12, 2015 — — — — Tama Tonga vacated the title due to inactivity.
15 Kyle the Beast March 12, 2016 To Crown A Champion Howell Township, New Jersey 1 350 Defeated Joe Gacy, Joey Janela and Pinkie Sanchez to win the vacant championship. [37]
16 Matt Tremont February 25, 2017 The New Face Of WAR Howell Township, New Jersey 1 294 [38]
17 Nick Gage December 16, 2017 Ready To Die: The 2nd Anniversary Howell Township, New Jersey 1 722 [39]
18 AJ Gray December 8, 2019 Long. Live. GCW. Nashville, Tennessee 1 <1 [40]
19 Rickey Shane Page December 8, 2019 Long. Live. GCW. Nashville, Tennessee 1 251+ [40]

Combined reigns
Former and longest-reigning champion, Nick Gage
† Indicates the current champion
+ Indicates the reign is changing daily
<1 Indicates that the reign lasted less than one day.

As of August 15, 2020.

Rank Wrestler No. of
reigns		 Combined days
1 Nick Gage1722
2 Reckless Youth1379
3 Kyle the Beast1350
4 Inferno1322
5 Matt Tremont1294
6 Rickey Shane Page †1251+
7 Slyck Wagner Brown1217
8 Damien Darling1207
9 Joey Janela1204
10 Homicide1187
11 Tama Tonga1182
12 Low Ki1181
13 QT Marshall1168
14 Ace Darling1147
15 Lance Diamond1141
16 Don Montoya1112
17 Crowbar128
18 Andrew Anderson18
19 AJ Gray1<1

Notes
  1. The championship has been inactive since December 29, 2018.
  2. The championship has been inactive since June 3, 2016.
  3. The championship has been inactive since April 10, 2004.
  4. The championship has been inactive since November 4, 2001.
  5. Lethal later vacated the title. Moondog Wenzel won the vacant championship by winning a battle royal.
  6. The championship has been inactive since February 22, 2004.

References
  1. "Ricky O". January 6, 2020.
  2. "Jersey Championship Wrestling - History". Jersey Championship Wrestling. Retrieved January 6, 2020 – via Wix.com.
  3. "Game Changer Wrestling (GCW)". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  4. "JCW @ Lyndhurst - January 29, 2000". Wrestlingdata. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  5. Tanabe, Hisaharu. "2000 Jersey J-Cup". NYProWrestling.com. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  6. "Jersey Championship Wrestling is back!". Jersey Championship Wrestling. September 14, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2020 – via Wix.com.
  7. "National Wrestling Superstars". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  8. "JCW Wrestling school opens in April". Jersey Championship Wrestling. March 14, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2020 – via Wix.com.
  9. "2014 Jersey J-Cup". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  10. Greer, Jamie (August 11, 2018). "Game Changer Wrestling Continues to Change The Game". Last Word on Pro Wrestling. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  11. "Nick Gage Invitational Ultraviolent Tournament". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  12. "Tournament of Survival". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  13. "Acid Cup". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  14. "GCW Joey Janela's Spring Break". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  15. Peeples, Jeremy (April 5, 2019). "JOEY JANELA'S SPRING BREAK 3, PT. 1 LIVE RESULTS". Figure Four Online. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  16. Andrew (February 9, 2018). "Game Changer Wrestling to debut in Los Angeles in November". SoCalUncensored.com. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  17. "Matt Riddle's Bloodsport results: Matt Riddle vs. Minoru Suzuki". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. April 5, 2018.
  18. "Josh Barnett's Bloodsport results: Minoru Suzuki vs. Barnett". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. April 4, 2019.
  19. Benjamin, Andrew (April 2, 2019). "Josh Barnett's Bloodsport Preview and Predictions".
  20. "Frank Mir making pro wrestling debut at Josh Barnett's Bloodsport". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. January 11, 2019.
  21. "GCW Josh Barnett's Bloodsport 2". Cagematch.net. September 9, 2019.
  22. "Gamechanger Wrestling Channel". FITE TV. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  23. "GCW Worst Behavior 2019". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  24. "JCW TV Taping in Garfield". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  25. "JCW TV Taping in Elmwood". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  26. "JCW Battle at Becton". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  27. "JCW Mayhem". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  28. "JCW It's The Big One". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  29. "JCW HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE HISTORY".
  30. "JCW Skin To Win". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  31. "JCW For Family And Friends". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  32. "JCW Crazy 8". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  33. "JCW Jersey J-Cup 2004". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  34. "JCW Playas Club Collide". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  35. "JCW @ Barnegat". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  36. "JCW Six Flags Event". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  37. "GCW Finals To Crown A Champion". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  38. "GCW The New Face Of WAR". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  39. "GCW Ready To Die: The 2nd Anniversary". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  40. "GCW Long. Live. GCW". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
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