GCW has made big strides in 2021, generating plenty of buzz thanks to appearances by Jon Moxley and Matt Cardona along with the increased hype around Nick Gage, who was the focus of Dark Side of the Ring episode and appeared on AEW television.
GCW is set to invade the Hammerstein Ballroom on January 23 for its biggest event ever.
Speaking on SEScoops Business of the Business podcast, GCW founder Brett Lauderdale discussed GCW's place in the wrestling universe.
“I’m very confident in our product and I think that what we do is special and unique and entertaining and fun and all that stuff. As far as numbers go, #3, #2 or #1 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7, I don’t really feel like we’re competing with anyone,” Lauderdale said. “We’re just focussed on what we’re doing and trying to be the best at what we do.”
GCW recently brought in The Briscoes, who won the GCW Tag Team Titles, and is bringing back PCO, who says he'll be part of 40 GCW shows in 2022.
“The Briscoes are awesome and it’s not secret that they are awesome and that they are one of the best tag-teams of all time. Obviously, they were under contract with Ring of Honor, which was great for them,” Lauderdale said about Mark & Jay Briscoe. “Unless you were a hardcore Ring of Honor fan, you don’t really see the Briscoes as much. There’s so many matchup and so many people that have never had the chance to work with them. It’s exciting for the fans and I can also tell you it’s exciting for the Briscoes.”
On the subject of PCO, Lauderdale said, "It’s possible he could do that many but I don’t have 40 dates lined up right now and obviously we don’t have contracts or anything. Certainly PCO is a guy we like to have around as often as he can.”
Finally, Lauderdale commented on GCW working with Pabst Blue Ribbon.
Cardona originally mentioned he wanted to celebrate with PBR after defeating Gage for the GCW World Title. PBR would end up airing a commercial during AEW Dynamite.
“I hate the term sponsor. We’ve talked about this with PBR. We like to consider what we do to be more of a partnership,” Lauderdale said. “We’re kind of signed on to work together for the duration of 2022. We’ve got several events lined up that we’re going to partner on. A lot of ideas that we’re working on and developing. PBR is a very cool brand and I think a lot of people don’t fully understand the history of that brand and what they’re doing now. From a cultural standpoint, they match up with us, they are a good match with GCW. We kind of have the same demo.”
GCW has officially sold out the Hammerstein Ballroom. No matches have been announced for the event though Nick Gage, Allie Katch, Matt Cardona, Chelsea Green, The Briscoe Brothers and more are scheduled to appear.
