What was once a regional promotion known as Jersey Championship Wrestling (JCW), that was one of the defining indie promotions in the New Jersey area from 1999 through 2015, made big waves when it rebranded as Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) in 2015. Since then, GCW has lived up to its name, creating such must-see events as Joey Janela’s Spring Break series, and elevating loads of new stars into the indie wrestling zeitgeist. Over the past year or so, GCW has begun to hold events around the US outside it’s Jersey comfort zone, with events in Chicago, Philadelphia and more, and in 2018, they tackled the West Coast for the first time with Joey Janela’s LA Confidential last November. This Saturday, they return to Los Angeles for another West Coast showcase, bringing some of GCW’s biggest stars and pitting them against some of the West Coast’s brightest emerging stars and indie legends. The event will air live on Fite.tv.
GCW To Live And Die In LA
KTB vs. Matt Vandagriff
KTB, aka Kyle The Beast, is no stranger to longtime fans of GCW. He’s been a part of the GCW family since he debuted in 2013 and is a former GCW World Champion during his past six years of destruction. His opponent is one of the fastest rising stars on the West Coast in 2-year pro Matt Vandagriff, another product of the Santino Brothers school. A regular with Empire Wrestling Federation (EWF), he’s also recently made waves in FIST and Ground Zero and made his Mexico debut with The Crash Lucha last year. He’s making his GCW debut on Saturday and this will either be a quick learning curve or a rude awakening.
Scramble Match: B-Boy vs. Human Tornado vs. Delilah Doom vs. Tyler Bateman vs. Lucas Riley vs. Douglas James
A 6-person Scramble Match showcasing the best of the West Coast old school with some of it’s brightest stars of the future. B-Boy and Human Tornado are both long-time veterans of the West Coast indie scene, who both were huge parts of the early success of Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) in the early 2000s. Tyler Bateman, hot off winning this year’s Percy Pringle III Cup with Championship Wrestling From Hollywood (CWFH), has exploded on the West Coast scene since relocating several years ago, where he’s now a featured performer with Bar Wrestling, CWFH, PWG and more. Lucas Riley is only 19-years old, but don’t let his youthful appearance fool you – another Santino Brothers student, he’s wise beyond his years. Douglas James is another West Coast talent ready to explode, working with Bar Wrestling, Alternative Wrestling Show (AWS) and PCW ULTRA, where he’s a former PCW ULTRALight Champion. And Delilah Doom is one of the women’s talents to watch for in 2019. A standout with SHIMMER and RISE, she recently made her debut with IMPACT Wrestling as one of the newest Knockouts in the division.
Eli Everfly vs. Jimmy Lloyd
Eli Everfly was one of the West Coast’s breakout performers of 2018, as the enigmatic high flyer became a fan favorite with Bar Wrestling, PWG, GCW, Canada’s Smash Wrestling, Mexico’s Crash Lucha, and PCW ULTRA. He’s facing off against a GCW staple in the Prince of American Hardcore, Jimmy Lloyd, who, at only 21 years old, is poised to be a star for the next decade and beyond.
G-Raver vs. Drew Parker
Pennsylvania’s G-Raver has been wrestling over a decade, with the likes of Pa.’s Renegade Wrestling Alliance (RWA), Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) and IWA Mid South, but it’s just been the past year or so that he’s taken it to the next level, primarily with GCW. Tough as nails, he’s also been a regular star with Blackcraft Wrestling, H20, and Mexico’s brutal Desastre Total Ultraviolento (DTU). His opponent is making his GCW debut, but over in his native UK, Drew Parker is a man known for a penchant for violence and bizarre tactics. The 21-year old is already a 5-year veteran of the UK indie scene, with Wales’ ATTACK! Pro Wrestling and England’s PROGRESS, HOPE, Fight Club: PRO, IPW:UK and more. He also just returned from his first tour with Big Japan Wrestling.
Tony Deppen vs. Jake Atlas
Tony Deppen is another young star on the rise from the East Coast, where he’s breaking out with GCW, CHIKARA, and Beyond Wrestling. The talented grappler will be facing another of the West Coast’s brightest stars in “Superstar” Jake Atlas, yet another student from Santino Brothers who recently became the new PCW ULTRALight Champion.
SHLAK vs. Markus Crane
For much of the past year, SHLAK and Markus Crane – two of the most destructive big men in GCW – have been teaming together in the tag team Hate Trash Disaster and leaving a path of devastation in rings around the country. On Saturday, they face off one-on-one against each other in what’s sure to be one of the most physical contests of the night. The two recently faced off at Insane Championship Wrestling (the Milwaukee one, not the Scotland one) and it’s possible that any issues from that may come out in this affair.
https://twitter.com/MarkusCrane/status/1100246624901713920
Jungle Boy vs. Rich Swann
GCW has helped launched many careers and comebacks and last year they gave West Coast indie sensation Jungle Boy his big break at LA Confidential and now he’s signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). One of 2019’s potential big breakout stars will be putting his aerial skills to the test against one of the best high flyers and athletes in the game today, in reigning IMPACT X-Division Champion (and former WWE Cruiserweight Champion) Rich Swann, in what could be match of the night.
Joey Ryan vs. Orange Cassidy
An indie dream match, featuring two of the best comedic characters of the past decade. Joey Ryan is box office gold and the star of Lucha Underground, Major League Wrestling, Bar Wrestling and multiple promotions around the world will be putting his penis up against one of the laziest men in wrestling. The Crown Prince of Lethargy, Orange Cassidy, is as about as motivated as a sleeping tortoise, but his ability to break out unorthodox moves without breaking a sweat (or even taking his hands out of his pockets) has made him a star with Beyond Wrestling and CHIKARA. He’s even the reigning Independent Wrestling Champion. This one may not be a five-star classic, but it will arguably be one of the most entertaining matches of the year.
GCW World Heavyweight Championship: Nick Gage (c) vs. Alex Colon
By the time he walks into the ring on Saturday night, Nick Gage will have held the GCW World Championship for over 440 days. A Living Legend of American Hardcore, the former 4x CZW World Heavyweight Champion, IWA Mid South Heavyweight Champion and Absolute Intense Wrestling (AIW) Absolute Champion is more dangerous now than at any point in his 21-year career. His opponent has earned this opportunity and then some. Earlier this month, at GCW They Said It Couldn’t Be Done, Alex Colon went the limit against Japan’s iconic Jun Kasai and, despite a losing effort, won the respect of fans worldwide. He’s the reigning and 2x H20 Heavyweight Champion and one half of the Rockstar Pro Tag Team Champions, and he’s a former DTU Alto Impacto Champion and 5x Rockstar Pro American Luchador Champion. This is Eric Ryan’s moment and it’s his to take.
