Nick Gage Confirms Rehab Stay & Moved on From GCW Following Expired Contract

Blvd Bullies held a recent interview with Game Changer Wrestling and indies hardcore wrestler Nick Gage. One of the topics discussed included Gage confirming that he had went to rehab around the time of him missing GCW’s Homecoming 2024 events this past August.

“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.”

Gage also provided an update on his status with GCW and his working relationship with GCW owner Brett Lauderdale.

“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 also stated that his contract with GCW was not a lifetime deal and instead it was only for two years in length that had recently expired.

“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.”

Gage also gave his thoughts about GCW’s upcoming return event to the Hammerstein Ballroom in January of 2025.

“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.”

Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com