Game Changer Wrestling

Game Changer Wrestling
Company type	Private
Industry	Professional wrestling
Predecessor	Jersey Championship Wrestling
Founded	January 1999; 27 years ago
Founder	Ricky Otazu
Headquarters	New Jersey, United States
Area served	United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Germany, France, Mexico
Key people	Brett Lauderdale (owner), Danny Demanto (owner)
Products	Professional wrestling events and shows
Website	www.gcwmerch.com

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Game Changer Wrestling, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 25 July 20259 sources

Game Changer Wrestling (GCW), originally known as Jersey Championship Wrestling (JCW), is a U.S.-based independent professional wrestling organization headquartered in New Jersey. Established by Ricky Otazu in 1999, the promotion underwent a rebranding to GCW in 2015 following its acquisition by Danny Demanto and Brett Lauderdale. The company specializes in hardcore wrestling and incorporates shoot style bouts influenced by mixed martial arts.

Starting from its New Jersey roots, GCW broadened its reach to conduct events nationwide and internationally, including stops in Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Germany, France, and Mexico. Noteworthy yearly shows include Backyard Wrestling, Bloodsport, Joey Janela's Spring Break, the NGI, and the Tournament of Survival.

Jersey Championship Wrestling Origins

Founded in January 1999 by independent wrestler Ricky Otazu, also known as Ricky O,^[1] Jersey Championship Wrestling held its inaugural event on January 29, 2000, in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.^[2] That same year, JCW introduced the Jersey J-Cup tournament featuring prominent independent wrestlers, an annual tradition that continued until 2004 when JCW was sold to National Wrestling Superstars (NWS).^[3]

Following a nearly ten-year hiatus after NWS ceased operations,^[4] Otazu regained control of JCW and relaunched the promotion in September 2013.^[5] In April 2014, JCW established a training facility in North Bergen,^[6] and reinstated the Jersey J-Cup tournament.^[7]

2015 to Present: Transition to Game Changer Wrestling

In June 2015, following acquisition by Brett Lauderdale and Danny Demanto, Jersey Championship Wrestling was rebranded as Game Changer Wrestling (GCW). Since this transition, GCW has concentrated on hardcore wrestling and strengthened its foothold within the New Jersey wrestling scene. The promotion became known for events such as the Nick Gage Invitational Ultraviolent Tournament, Tournament of Survival, and the Acid Cup.

GCW expanded nationally with the launch of Joey Janela's Spring Break in March 2017 held in Fern Park, Florida. The company made its Los Angeles debut with the event To Live and Die in LA in November 2018. In April 2018, GCW collaborated with Matt Riddle to develop Matt Riddle's Bloodsport, a fusion of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts; Josh Barnett continued this event partnership in 2019. Additionally, GCW ventured internationally with a two-day tour in Japan during August 2019.

In December 2020, GCW parted ways with streaming service Independent Wrestling TV (IWTV), transferring its content distribution to FITE TV amid legal disputes concerning contractual breaches.

On January 23, 2022, GCW made its first appearance on traditional pay-per-view platforms by hosting The Wrld on GCW at the Hammerstein Ballroom. Shortly thereafter, GCW signed Nick Gage to an exclusive multi-year contract—making him their sole contracted talent—underscoring his significance to the company’s expansion and brand identity.

In April 2023, GCW announced a strategic alliance with Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw), enabling GCW's debut events in Germany during wXw’s World Tag Team Festival weekend.

On October 29, 2024, Nick Gage publicly confirmed his exit from GCW, concluding the promotion’s unique contractual relationship with him.

Wrestlers

'Reed Bentley' "Unknown" Richard Holliday Joe Zimbardi Rico Gonzalez "Unknown" Rina Yamashita Rina Yamashita Sam Stackhouse Sam Moore Santana Jackson "Unknown" Scrypts Sidney Bateman Shane Mercer Shane Goode Starboy Charlie Charlie Hilder Persia Pirotta (Steph De Lander) Stephanie De Landre Titus Alexander Titus Jimenez Tony Deppen Anthony Deppen Yoya "Unknown"

Ring name Real name Notes

Alan Parnell Current Game Changer Wrestling Tag Team Championship titleholder

Currently sidelined with a leg injury

'Unknown'

'Charles Mason' 'Unknown'

'Charlie Tiger' 'Unknown'

'Ciclope'

'Cole Radrick'

'CPA' 'Unknown'

'Dan The Dad' 'Unknown'

'Dante Leon'

'Dark Sheik'

'Davey Bang' 'Unknown'

'Dominic Garrini'

'Dyln McKay' 'Unknown'

'Effy' Holder of the GCW World Championship

'KJ Orso' 'Unknown'

'Grim Reefer'

'Gringo Loco'

'Hunter Drake' 'Unknown'

'Jack Cartwheel' Jack Summit Prospect for WWE ID and WWE NIL

'Jeffrey John' 'Unknown'

'Jimmy Lloyd'

'Joey Janela'

'John Wayne Murdoch' 'Unknown'

'Jordan Oliver' Current Game Changer Wrestling Tag Team Championship titleholder

'Josh Barnett'

'Kevin Ku'

'Látigo' 'Unknown'

'LuFisto' Genevieve Goulet

'Maki Itoh' Maki Itoh

'Mance Warner' 'Unknown'

'Marcus Mathers' 'Unknown' Prospect for WWE ID and WWE NIL

'Masha Slamovich' Holder of the JCW World Championship

'Matt Cardona' Matthew Cardona Serves as General Manager

'Matt Makowski' 'Unknown'

'Matt Tremont' Holds the GCW Ultraviolent Championship; inducted into Deathmatch Hall of Fame

'Microman' 'Unknown'

'Miedo Extremo' Jonathan Uriel Gijon Perez

'Mr. Danger' 'Unknown'

'Myron Reed'

'Otis Cogar' 'Unknown'

'Parrow'

		Mike Parrow

-}

Other personnel

Ring name	Real name	Notes
Adam Gault	Adam Gault	Referee
Brett Lauderdale	Brett Hoffman	Owner and booker
Chad Rico	Chad Rico	Referee
Dan Perch	Dan Perch	Referee
Dave Prazak	Dave Prazak	Commentator Inductee of the Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame
Emil Jay	Emil Hibian	Ring announcer and commentator
Johnathan Ashe	Johnathan Ashe	Production head
Jordan Castle	Jordan Cassel	Commentator
Max Recon	AJ Kissinger	Referee
Scarlette Donovan	Scarlette Donovan	Referee
Veda Scott	Veda Scott	Commentator and occasional in-ring performer

Deathmatch Hall of Fame

2019 Mad Man Pondo, Nate Hatred, Danny Havoc, Matt Tremont 2021 Supreme, Eugene, Nick Mondo 2022 Wifebeater, Toby Klein, Dewey Donovan, J. C. Bailey 2023 Mike "Piss Jug Mike" Bieszck, Lowlife Louie, John Zandig, Brain Damage 2024 Abdullah the Butcher, Markus Crane, Gary Walter 2025 2 Tuff Tony, Jeff Cannonball, Mean And Hard (Mean Mitch Page and Rollin' Hard), Scrawny Shawny

Year	Ring Name

Active Titles

As of ,

GCW World Championship Effy 1 January 19, 2025 Template:Age in days New York City, NY Won against Mance Warner at The People vs. GCW event. ^[8] JCW World Championship Masha Slamovich 1 February 10, 2024 Template:Age in days Jersey City, NJ Captured the title by defeating Jordan Oliver at Jersey J-Cup. ^[9] GCW Ultraviolent Championship Matt Tremont 1 January 19, 2025 Template:Age in days New York City, NY Unified the Ultraviolent and Extreme Championships during a ladder match at The People vs. GCW; subsequently, the Extreme title was retired. ^[8] GCW Tag Team Championship
YNDP (Alec Price and Jordan Oliver) 1 (second reign for both) April 18, 2025 Template:Age in days Paradise, NV Secured victory over Violence Is Forever at Joey Janela's Spring Break 9. Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Title	Current Holder(s)		Number of Reigns	Date Captured	Duration (days)	Venue	Additional Information	Source(s)

Retired Titles

Title	Inception Date	Initial Champion(s)	Retirement Date	Last Holder(s)	Duration (years)	Final Event
GCW Extreme Championship	September 13, 2013	Bandido Jr.	January 19, 2025	Matt Tremont	12	The People vs. GCW
GCW Women's Championship	November 23, 2003	April Hunter	June 3, 2016	Deonna Purrazzo	13	Live event
JCW Light Heavyweight Championship	April 14, 2000	Judas Young	April 10, 2004	Kahagas	4	Live event
JCW Television Championship	April 14, 2000	Kevin Knight	February 22, 2004	Moondog Wenzel	4	Live event

External Links

↑ https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=13119&name=Ricky+O. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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↑ https://mchalesean.wixsite.com/jcwonline/_p/nws3/F5F2A5B6-5B06-4D4A-B0FE-D077EE6E840D/news/jcw-wrestling-school-opens-in-april. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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