A multitude of updates and revelations from Nick Gage.
The last time Nick Gage competed in a sanctioned match was in August under the JCW banner. He guest appeared on a Blvd Bullies livestream on YouTube to clarify where he’s been, future plans and his status with Game Changer Wrestling among other subjects.
Gage confirmed he was in rehab, but shut down rumors that he was ‘lured out’ by potential wrestling opportunities. Gage said he left on his own accord because he felt better.
And I’ll tell you the truth, I am proud that I went there (to rehab). I will not ever, ever apologize for that. I was exhausted, I was headed down the wrong path but I am glad I noticed that, I am glad I had people in my corner and I’m glad I went there and you know what? It helped me out. I would never apologize for going there and I wanna clear something up, nobody made me leave that place. I’m a grown ass man. Nobody makes me do anything… That’s his opinion but it’s totally wrong (if Brett Lauderdale is suggesting otherwise). It’s totally wrong. So, I left because I felt good. I got off — I was good.
For there to be a word coming out that he (wrestling promoter) lured me out of there and all that stuff is totally false. Not true and I’m gonna speak this right now. That is not true. I went up to that guy who worked in that place. I said, ‘I wanna leave now.’ They said, ‘Okay.’ I packed my bags, I went out the door, I caught an Uber to the f*cking Mexican spot where I got food and I got a haircut right next to it. I went to a hotel, relaxed, caught a plane, went there. That’s exactly what happened. Nobody lured me out. Saying, ooouuu, if you come out of here, you can get… how is that possible?… That was the narrative put out there.
He was questioned about his GCW status and relationship with the promotion owner, Brett Lauderdale. He’ll always love GCW and if it were up to him, he’d still be wrestling there.
First off, Brett Lauderdale is my friend, my best friend. He’s done a lot for my career. GCW’s always gonna be a place I go, it’s always gonna be my home… I love Brett, I love his family, I love everything about him. But, you know, sometimes you gotta move on in your career and sometimes you don’t see eye to eye with your friends, but, it is what it is… It’s business, and it’s a little bit of everything, you know what I mean? But, life moves on. You gotta keep trucking.
I’m very proud of what I did at that company and it’ll always be my home. It’ll always be a company that I grew and I started. I will always, always go back to that company when I feel I wanna go back to that company, okay? We don’t see eye to eye. That’s fine. It’s fine and dandy. Was it my decision? No. If it was my decision, I’d still be wrestling there. It’s not my decision. What that decision was-was to go get healthy, go get clean, get back to what I am, get back on the track and feel good about myself and feel confident and that’s where I’m at in my life right now. Very simple.
Gage is the first and only wrestler that Lauderdale has signed to a GCW contract. Nick stated that he’s proud of that. As far as the contract details, he was given the option to choose how long he wanted to sign for and opted for two years.
Gage said the deal was up, they moved to a handshake agreement and now it’s all over.
I was proud of the contract I signed (with GCW). To be an independent wrestler, to sign a contract with a company like that, very proud of that.
It wasn’t a lifetime contract. He (Brett Lauderdale) gave me the option of how many years I wanted. I signed for two years. The two years ran up, we did a handshake agreement and now it’s over.
Even with the contract, I felt like some part of it was like, oh, I did you a favor by giving you that contract. No, I earned that motherf*cker. I earned that sh*t.
Come January 19th, GCW will be returning to Hammerstein Ballroom in New York for The People vs. GCW. Gage is not sure if he’ll be at the event and has not communicated with Lauderdale often.
He hopes the show is a sellout and went on to shout out the GCW regulars he worked with.
I don’t know (if I’ll be at the 2025 GCW Hammerstein Ballroom show). I haven’t spoke to anybody from that side over there… No I haven’t (spoken to Brett Lauderdale). I got a little text, you know? But, nah man and I’ll be honest with you, he’s doing him, he’s focusing on himself. I am totally focused on myself, my brand, building bridges and I’m building a team. I’m building a team. I’m building a squad. It’s not just gonna be me. We need a lot of people to get this sh*t rocking and rolling.
And for GCW vs. The World, I am praying that it’s a sellout. I’m praying that all the boys do awesome. Shout out to Effy, shout to Mance Warner, shout out to all them people over there. I love them guys and they know that and I would never hate on any of them people or anything with that company. Nothing but good f*cking thoughts and good vibes, and that’s the way I f*cking roll. I build bridges. I don’t tear ‘em down. That’s it.
The 44-year-old Gage’s most recent match for Game Changer Wrestling was over the summer against Matt Hardy at the Now And Forever show.
He was supposed to wrestle at GCW Homecoming on 8/24, but Lauderdale said Gage was unable to make it and was unsure of when he’d be coming back to the ring. Gage made his return to wrestling for the Battleground promotion.
If the quotes in this article are used, please credit the Blvd Bullies with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.
