Game Changer Wrestling

Acronym	GCW
Founded	January 1999 (original) September 2013 (revival)
Style	Hardcore wrestling Shoot style wrestling
Headquarters	New Jersey, U.S.
Founder	Ricky Otazu
Owner(s)	Ricky Otazu (1999–2004, 2013–2015) Brett Lauderdale and Danny Demanto (2015–2019) Brett Lauderdale (2019–present)
Formerly	Jersey Championship Wrestling (1999–2015)
Website	Official website

Game Changer Wrestling (GCW), formerly known asJersey Championship Wrestling (JCW),^[a] is an Americanindependentprofessional wrestlingpromotion based inNew Jersey. The promotion was originally founded by Ricky Otazu in 1999; it was rebranded under its current name in 2015, after a sale to Danny Demanto and current owner Brett Lauderdale. The promotion specializes inhardcore wrestling, as well asmixed martial arts–inspiredshoot style matches.

GCW has grown from running shows based in New Jersey, to holding events across the United States, as well as internationally inCanada,United Kingdom,Japan,Australia,Germany,France, andMexico. Annual GCW events include Backyard Wrestling,Bloodsport,Joey Janela's Spring Break, the NGI, and the Tournament of Survival.

Jersey Championship Wrestling (JCW) was founded by independent wrestler Ricky Otazu, also known by hisring name of Ricky O,^[1] in January 1999 inNew Jersey.^[2][3] JCW ran their first show on January 29, 2000, inLyndhurst, New Jersey.^[4] Later that year, JCW hosted the inauguralJersey J-Cup, which featured many of the top independent 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 until September 2013 when, 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 inNorth Bergen.^[8] Later that year, JCW would return to hosting the Jersey J-Cup.^[9]

In June 2015, Jersey Championship Wrestling rebranded itself to Game Changer Wrestling (GCW)^[3] after being purchased by Brett Lauderdale and Danny Demanto.^[10] Since the buyout, GCW began to predominantly featurehardcore wrestling and continued to enjoy success in the New Jersey wrestling scene. GCW became known for producing several tournaments featuring independent wrestlers; including the Nick Gage Invitational Ultraviolent Tournament,^[11] the Tournament of Survival^[12] and the Acid Cup.^[13]

In March 2017, GCW producedJoey Janela'sSpring Break show inFern Park, Florida.^[14] This would become an annual tradition for the company.^[15] GCW would begin to expand throughout the United States and hosted its first show inLos Angeles in November 2018, titled Joey Janela's LA Confidential.^[16] In April 2018, GCW partnered withMatt Riddle to produceMatt Riddle's Bloodsport, a show that fused professional wrestling andmixed martial arts.^[17] Bloodsport would take place twice more in 2019, this time with the partnership ofJosh Barnett.^{[18][19][20][21]} In August 2019, GCW embarked on a two-day tour of Japan.^[22]

In August 2018, GCW began simulcasting their events on both IWTV andTriller TV, then in December 2020, GCW moved to end their partnership with streaming platform Independent Wrestling TV (IWTV), later moving their content exclusively toTriller TV. In 2021, IWTV sued GCW for breach of contract.^[23][24] An out of court settlement was reached that involved GCW producing a series of 8 events exclusively on IWTV, dubbed the "Settlement Series", they were primarily afternoon events held prior to major JCW and GCW shows, and featuring younger low card talent.

In May 2021, Lauderdale relaunched the JCW name as a separate brand, holding smaller events in the afternoon of major GCW shows, and utilizing more younger and unknown talent that have not yet debuted for GCW.

On January 23, 2022, GCW held the sold outThe Wrld on GCW event, their debut at theHammerstein Ballroom. The event marked the first GCW event to air on traditional pay-per-view outlets.^[25][26]

On February 7, 2022, GCW signedNick Gage to a contract, which was referred to as "the first and only contract that GCW will offer". GCW owner Brett Lauderdale said of the contract, "This is a major milestone moment for both Nick and GCW. I have always been against the idea of contracts in GCW but there are exceptions to every rule. From day 1, Nick has put his body, and literally his life on the line for the fans inside the squared circle. He deserves, and has earned the right to be rewarded for 20+ years of hard work and sacrifice. This historic contract will do just that, allowing him to continue his in-ring career at a pace that is beneficial to his health, while beginning to focus on opportunities that take him towards the next phase of his career. GCW would not have achieved the level of success it has without Nick F'N Gage, and we are proud to be able to say that GCW will remain Nick's home for the rest of his career".^[27]

In October 2022, Lauderdale signed a guaranteed rights deal with Triller TV to become a part of Triller's new subscription based service "Triller TV+", moving GCW events from a PPV business model to a monthly subscription based model. The promotion became the most prominent wrestling company to be featured on Triller TV+.

GCW returned to Japan in September 2022 with 3 sold out shows in conjunction withPro Wrestling FREEDOMS, they returned again in 2023 for 2 tours, and debuted inKorakuen Hall on October 12, 2023 with "The Wrld on GCW 2023", streaming the event live onTriller TV, GCW thus became the first American wrestling company to ever broadcast live from Korakuen Hall. Subsequent Japan events have been held in conjunction withDDT Pro-Wrestling, including a return to Korakuen Hall on July 30, 2025.

On April 12, 2023, GCW announced a working relationship withWestside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw), which saw GCW hold their inaugural events in Germany as part of wXw's 2023 World Tag Team Festival weekend.^[28]

On October 29, 2024, Nick Gage, GCW's sole contracted wrestler, announced that he was departing GCW.^[29]

Left to right:Effy,Billie Starkz,Matt Tremont,Jordan Oliver, andAlec Price.

As of November 24, 2025

Championship	Current champion(s)		Reign	Date won	Days held	Location	Notes	Ref.
GCW World Championship		Atticus Cogar	1	November 22, 2025	2	East Rutherford, NJ	Defeated defending championEffy andCharles Mason in athree-way match atGCW Dream On.	[32]
JCW World Championship		Billie Starkz	1	October 26, 2025	29	Ridgefield Park, NJ	DefeatedCharles Mason to win the vacant title atJCW Possession.	[33]
GCW Ultraviolent Championship		Matt Tremont	1	January 19, 2025	309	New York City, NY	DefeatedMaki Itoh, Brandon Kirk, Dr. Redacted,Drew Parker,John Wayne Murdoch,Matthew Justice andRina Yamashita in aUnificationDLC match to unify the GCW Ultraviolent Championship andGCW Extreme Championship atThe People vs. GCW, with the latter being deactivated.	[34]
GCW Tag Team Championship		YDNP (Alec Price andJordan Oliver)	2 (3, 3)	October 12, 2025	43	Atlantic City, NJ	Defeated The Brothers of Funstruction (Ruffo The Clown and Yabo The Clown) atFight Club 2025.	[35]

• Official website
• GCWMerch.com
• Game Changer Wrestling Results
• GCW Fans message board
• Game Changer Wrestling onTwitter

• American professional wrestling promotions
• American independent professional wrestling promotions based in New Jersey
• American companies established in 1999

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