Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) is only one week removed from their Los Angeles return, To Live And Die In LA, but they’re heading back east this Friday, with the first event back in Philadelphia since the Trent Acid Cup in 2016. The event will air live on Fite.tv. Most likely still some matches to be announced during the broadcast, as several wrestlers have been advertised to appear on Friday night who have not had matches announced yet, like Colby Corino and 19-year indie veteran Dysfunction, a long time vet of the Wisconsin indies who also worked Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) and Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW).
Tony Deppen vs. Tye Hyll
Tony Deppen has been an intriguing character the past year. On one hand, he’s been one of CHIKARA’s breakout stars in the family-friendly promotion, while he’s also one of the new gatekeepers in the promotion’s more violent and adult-oriented product. But regardless which side of the ratings he works on, he’s been a solid grappler. Tye Hyll is an emerging star who is making his GCW debut, having worked for the likes of 3-2-1 Battle!, Freelance Wrestling, and others.
Ophidian vs. Lucky 13
Ophidian is a CHIKARA legend and arguably one of the most underrated wrestlers of the past decade. His unique athleticism and ring technique is mesmerizing and his skills are top notch – he’s one of the trainers for CHIKARA’s Wrestle Factory. He makes his Game Changer debut on Friday night, taking on another longtime CHIKARA veteran in Lucky 13 (where he was previously known as Retail Dragon). In 2010, he began a lengthy stint with CZW, becoming 2x CZW Tag Team Champions with Nation of Intoxication, a trio that included Danny Havoc and Devon Moore. It’s been 11 years since these two last met in the ring when they faced off in tag action in CHIKARA.
Jimmy Lloyd vs. Drew Parker
The UK’s new Prince of Hardcore, Drew Parker, made his GCW debut last week at To Live And Die In LA (in a loss to veteran G-Raver), but he’s back for more in Philadelphia. The 21-year old Brit takes on America’s own 21-year old Prince of American Hardcore in Jimmy Lloyd, who has improved immensely over the past year into a real talent to watch for in 2019. These are two young studs who will risk it all for the victory and this could be an international feud for the next decade in the making.
Orange Cassidy Open Challenge
The Clown Prince of Lethargy Orange Cassidy has blown up in the past year. For years, he was a comedic sidepiece, often to Chuck Taylor in CHIKARA’s Gentleman’s Club, but with his work in Beyond the past few years and now with GCW, he’s become a superstar in his own right. On Friday he’ll be issuing an open challenge to anyone in the back – and with GCW, that can have violent consequences.
Alex Colon vs. Joe Gacy
Alex Colon has had a hard run the past few shows he’s had with GCW – he went toe-to-toe with two of FREEDOMS‘ heaviest and most dangerous strikers in Daisuke Masaoka and Jun Kusai and then faced Nick Gage for the GCW World title last week in LA. While he’s on a losing streak with his last three fights, he’s gone the distance and earned the respect of everyone involved. He now faces another tough challenge in former 2x CZW World Heavyweight Champion Joe Gacy, who knows a thing or two about violence.
GCW World Heavyweight Championship: Nick Gage (c) vs. KTB
After a year of fighting his way back to the top, former GCW World Champion KTB is now back on the peak of the mountain in his efforts to reclaim the title he lost in February of 2017. Until his loss to Matt Tremont that day, he had been the GCW World Champion for 350 days. But in order to reclaim his throne in GCW, he must put an end to a reign that is sitting at 447-days, and the man wearing the crown is the undisputed King of American Hardcore for the past 20 years, Nick Gage. This one won’t be pretty, but it will be a war for the ages, as two men who have ruled GCW for years clash in the ultimate battle for supremacy in GCW.
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