Brett Lauderdale Defends Booking Drake Younger In GCW

GCW owner Brett Lauderdale has defended booking Drake Younger for Game Changer Wrestling, noting on X/Twitter that Younger's appearances were personal for the promoter due to Younger - real name Drake Wuertz - helping Lauderdale while he was addicted to opiates.

"In the past, Drake Wuertz shared some extreme views. He spread a rhetoric that was offensive to many and in some cases, dangerous. What makes him worthy of a second chance & why does that second chance come in GCW of all places? The answer to that question is personal to me... In March of 2012, I was on the losing end of a brutal addiction to opiates. I was at the end of the road. I was in Miami for Mania Week and I needed help. I didn't know what to do...only one person reached out his hand to help and that person was Drake Younger. On that day, 3/29/12, he took me to my first of many years of NA meetings that put me on my road to recovery. Drake's compassion changed (saved) my life, he gave me a second chance. I've been waiting for years to return the favor and give him his 2nd chance... in my heart, I feel like now is that time," Lauderdale began.

Lauderdale then addressed those that have criticised the decision to bring back Drake Younger, noting that he believes the former NXT referee deserves a second chance.

"You're right, and some people don't want to give him a second chance, and they dont have to. That's their choice and I can't fault them for making that decision. Personally, I am a believer that people can change. I've seen it it happen and I think the most powerful thing we can do as humans is give people that opportunity to make amends and right their wrongs. How can we as a society move forward if we can't be open to forgiveness?" Lauderdale continued.

The GCW owner also stated that if he ends up being wrong about Younger, he will put an end to "this experiment."

"I agree. It's one thing to say you are a different person but it's another thing to live it, show it, and prove it. I can only speak on my most recent experiences and those of a trusted and *diverse* group of peers with opinions I value. If it turns out I was wrong, or that I missed something along the way, I will admit this was a mistake and that will be the end of this experiment. In my opinion, this is an ongoing process, and Drake has to do the work to show it," Lauderdale added.

In Younger's first attempt to prove that he has changed, Lauderdale revealed that Drake Wuertz donated $250 of his fee from wrestling for GCW to Garden State Equality, an LGBTQ+ advocacy and education organisation in New Jersey.

Younger made a surprise appearance at night one of GCW Homecoming on August 15, helping Joseph Sawyer (FKA Joe Gacy) to win the GCW World Championship. Younger then wrestled on night two of the event, unsuccessfully challenging Otis Cogar for the GCW Ultraviolent Championship.

At best, Younger received a mixed response from GCW fans across his two appearances, and he apologised for his past actions and associations following the Cogar match.

Younger's past actions and associations included opposition to face masks and vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, something he would loudly vocalise while he was signed to WWE as an NXT referee, with Younger even missing a May 2021 episode of NXT to appear at a Seminole County Public Schools board meeting and argue against children wearing face masks, citing conspiracy theories about face coverings that were prevalent within the far right QAnon movement.

WWE wrestlers also reportedly believed Younger was racist and minorities within the company took exception to how Younger worded things while speaking to them.

Another incident reportedly saw Younger aggressively gather his belongings and leave the building after Triple H gave a speech following NXT TakeOver: In Your House 2020 about all people regardless of their race, gender, or religion, being welcome in WWE, with Younger getting up after religion was mentioned.

Younger also reportedly used a WWE email account to help fundraise for the QAnon-adjacent Operation Underground Railroad organisation.

His actions resulted in "nuclear heat" on Younger and he was released by WWE in May of 2021. Younger subsequently resumed his career as a pro wrestler on the indies and he performed for the likes of CZW, BCW, XPW, Juggalo Championship Wrestling, and Big Japan, prior to joining Game Changer Wrestling.