GCW is gearing up for its biggest show to date as this Sunday, January 23rd, the company is taking over the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City for The WRLD on GCW 2022. The show is going to be a celebration of what makes GCW so popular alongside title matches from other elite companies and a who’s who of independent and contracted standouts across multiple generations. It will also be accompanied by a two-match pre-show that will feature a battle royal and scramble sponsored by GCW’s beer of choice Pabst Blue Ribbon. Whilst not everything is known, this is a breakdown of what is known so far.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Pre-show Scramble: Grim Reefer vs Dante Leon vs Alex Zayne vs Jack Cartwheel vs Nick Wayne vs Ninja Mack
It wouldn’t be a GCW show without a scramble and the pre-show will be the home to that match and features some of the top scramble standouts as well as the king of “high” flying Grim Reefer. Leon, Zayne, and Mack have all been standing out recently for their scramble performances and now Nick Wayne and Jack Cartwheel have been added to make it the most gratuitous display of high-flying athleticism.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Pre-show: Battle Royal, Participants unknown
The other announced match for the pre-show is the battle royal. GCW shows have features battle royals in the past though I don’t quite think this one will be about trying to see something. GCW has been continuously releasing names of people who are appearing at Hammerstein who don’t currently have a match so I assume a lot of them will be in this. This should be good fun and could potentially reach Clusterf*ck levels with the potential talents involved.
Six-man tag: Team ASF (ASF, Bandido & Laredo Kid) vs Team Gringo Loco (Gringo Loco, Demonic Flamita & Arez)
One of the first matches announced for this show was a six-man Lucha tag match between two warring stars and the armies they have amassed. Gringo Loco and ASF have had standout standoffs in singles and scramble action and now they are bringing in some friends. ASF has Bandido and Laredo Kid on his side whilst Loco has Demonic Flamita and Arez. This could be a potential show-stealer as the Lucha matches often are.
Matt Cardona (w/Chelsea Green) vs Joey Janela
Matt Cardona might just be the most hated man in GCW. Ever since he shocked the world with a deathmatch win over Nick Gage, he has not stopped pestering the GCW fans or as he calls it, his GCW Universe. Recently, after some leaked photos between Chelsea Green and Joey Janela, he has set his ire on the Bad Boy Joey Janela. Things remained fairly tame until Cardona tried to attack Ricky Morton and really earned the wrath of Janela. At Hammerstein, these elements finally collide.
Allie Katch vs Ruby Soho
“You have to start asking yourself what if it does work out? What if your dreams do become a reality?”@AllieKATCH meets @realrubysoho this Sunday at #TheWrldOnGCW LIVE from the SOLD OUT Hammerstein Ballroom.
watch it live on @fitetv or PPV.
— GameChangerWrestling (@GCWrestling_) January 19, 2022
Allie Katch is one of GCW’s top workers. She has torn her way through so many competitors in recent months and now she gets to go one-on-one with Ruby Soho. Katch has continuously been challenged with some of the highest-quality talents the company has to offer and that culminates with one of the ultimate challenges at Hammerstein. Katch has really become her own person without the Kat and now, it’s time to reap those rewards. This is her dream and now she’s fighting for it because it’s in her home.
EFFY vs Jeff Jarrett
"If you step foot into The Hammerstein Ballroom… you're stepping in to MY WORLD…"#TheWrldOnGCWpic.twitter.com/QuqodchRt2
— GameChangerWrestling (@GCWrestling_) January 17, 2022
The match that no one could have predicted. When Jeff Jarrett started appearing at a GCW show, no one could have expected it to lead to EFFY. He attacked EFFY and got told to jog on, EFFY was done giving out free clout. He then attacked Allie Katch after her Say You Will match with Kylie Rae and made EFFY’s blood boil. You can attack him but not his family, not BUSSY and now Jarrett is getting his ass kicked at the Hammerstein Ballroom. I don’t think anyone quite knows what to expect from this one. It’s certainly got a lot of intrigue behind it.
Grab the Brass Ring Ladder Match: PCO vs Lio Rush vs Alex Colon vs Jimmy Lloyd vs Jordan Oliver vs Tony Deppen
The chaos continues on the card as a whole lot of GCW standouts and OGs take part in a brass ring ladder match. Tony Deppen, Alex Colon, Jimmy Lloyd, Jordan Oliver, PCO, and Lio Rush all collide in a match sure to break bodies and lead to some nightmarish spots. The winner will earn a title match of their choice and will showcase everything that this diverse roster can bring as we have high-flyers, hybrid deathmatch stars, blood fighters, and PCO. This again stands the chance of stealing the show.
The Briscoes GCW Tag Title Open Challenge
At the end of Say You Will, after a gruelling match with the Rejects, The Briscoe Brothers had retained the titles and issued an open challenge to anyone who was willing to step up. As it stands, no one has accepted that challenge and will probably find out on the day. There are some noticeable names missing from this show right now so maybe we’ll see SGC or 44OH! step up to the plate.
ROH World Title: Jonathan Gresham vs Blake Christian
Another of the first matches to be announced was an ROH World Title match for All Heart Blake Christian against the reigning and defending champion, Jonathan Gresham. Christian came back from the WWE and has been making up for the lost time by challenging some of the best in GCW. To be the best though, he wants to beat the best in the world and snag some gold. To do that, he needs to enter the Octopus’ lair. Christian can work almost any style but Hammerstein and Gresham will push that to the limit.
GCW World Title: Jon Moxley vs Homicide
Last but not least so far from the announced matches, we have the GCW World Title match. Jon Moxley is your current GCW World Title holder and after a justified absence, he is back and ready to defend that belt once again. His return opponent is none other than the Notorious 187 Homicide. It will be the King of the Independents vs the former King of AEW in what should be an exceptionally hard-hitting match. Homicide won the spot after winning a contender’s rumble and now, will be looking to take the title on GCW’s biggest show.
Right now, WRLD on GCW 2022 is sold out but will be available to stream on FITE TV at 1 am on January 24th (January 23rd in the US) for just over £11 ($14.99.) It is also being broadcast on US Cable services. This is currently everything announced but there are still some missing names as AJ Gray doesn’t have a designated match and Atticus Cogar hasn’t been added despite putting the company on blast. They will no doubt be announcing things until the day, so stay tuned to GCW socials for further updates.
"I've seen a million GCW's come and go… it'll never last"
1.23.22
NYC
Hammerstein Ballroom pic.twitter.com/hnJ61mp1Cc— GameChangerWrestling (@GCWrestling_) October 10, 2021
All images courtesy of GCW