The reaction to Game Changer Wrestling bringing in Drake Younger (real name Drake Wuertz) for their weekend shows in Atlantic City, New Jersey prompted Younger to make a statement following his match on the second night of GCW’s Homecoming.
Younger was apologizing for the actions, behavior, and statements that led to his WWE release, most of which were affiliated with conspiracy theories and extremely conservative Christian organizations. But he only referred to past beliefs he says he no longer has,
without offering any specifics about what he no longer believes. That caused many to decline Younger the forgiveness he asked for — at least until he offers more concrete words, and ideally deeds, as proof of how he’s changed.
GCW owner and booker Brett Lauderdale issued his own statement, which explains his reason for bringing in the hardcore veteran after his WWE run ended in controversy.
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 addicition to opiates. I was at the end of the road in Miami for Mania Week and I needed help. I didn’t know what to do.
…only one person readched 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 the time.
Lauderdale also responded to some followers, paraphrasing them and replying via a screenshot of a note as he did above.
“Cool story bro… but that doesn’t have anything to do with me and it doesn’t change the fact that he said and did some fucked up shit. Why should I care?”
You’re right, and some people don’t want to give him a second chance, and they don’t 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 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 soceity move forward if we can’t be open to forgiveness?
The promoter says he got sign-off from his roster, which includes people who represent or support some of the communities harmed or put at increased risk by Younger’s past positions.
“ok cool… but what has he done to show he’s changed? Talk is cheap….”
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.
He closed by revealing that Younger donated a portion of his booking fee to New Jersey’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group.
“So that’s it? We are just supposed to take your word for it and move along?”
Nah, you don’t have to. If you feel like he’s worthy of an opportunity to redeem himself, that’s your choice.
But I know there are some that do. The people who chanted his name on Sunday at GCW showed me there are those that are willing to support his journey.
For now, Drake doesn’t have social media and I don’t intent to speak for him. But I can tell you about the first ACTION of his GCW tenure…
Using proceeds from his pay for this weekends appearances, Drake has asked GCW to make a donation on his behalf in the amount of $250 to Garden State Equality.
GSE is NJ’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group.
Hopefully this is the first many actions on the path to proving change…
My hunch is that this won’t be enough for a lot of folks, especially those who’ve been targeted by folks who sound and act like Wuertz/Younger sounded and acted from at least 2020-2023. I also suspect they won’t change Lauderdale’s mind, and that these statements will be enough for most of GCW’s current audience — and a fair amount of prospective future GCW watchers as well.
Regardless of how anyone feels about it, that seems to be how the world works in the summer of 2026.
