
January 19, 2025
Hammerstein Ballroom – New York, NY
The People vs. GCW Results
- 6-Man Scramble: Manders over Marcus Mathers, Mr. Danger, Fuego del Sol, Rich Swann, and Blake Christian via Lariat in 11:03
- Kickoff Rumble: PCO in 15:45
- DLC Ultraviolent/Extreme Championship Unification Match: Matt Tremont over Drew Parker, Dr. Redacted, Rina Yamashita, Matthew Justice, Ciclope, John Wayne Murdoch, Brandon Kirk, and Maki Itoh in 15:54
- #1 Contender’s Match: Effy over Allie Katch via Referee Stoppage in 4:34
- Amazing Red, Grim Reefer & Homicide over Kerry Morton, Tony Deppen, & Griffin McCoy via Cop Killa in 11:08
- GCW Tag Team Championship: Gahbage Daddies over Violence is Forever via Gahbage Disposal in 14:27
- Steel Cage Match: Charles Mason over Richard Holliday via Chain Choke at 12:12
- Sidney Akeem over El Hijo del Vikingo via Final Act at 10:33
- Arez, Gringo Loco & Jack Cartwheel over Super Crazy, Yoshihiro Tajiri & Little Guido via Split-Legged Moonsault in 12:36
- Bloodsport Match: Josh Barnett over Tom Pestock via Submission at 9:57
- Megan Bayne over Atticus Cogar via Tombstone Piledriver in 13:54
- Joey Janela over Masato Tanaka via Package Piledriver at 12:37
- Matt Cardona over Tommy Invincible via Radio Silence in 1:44
- Matt Cardona over Microman via Roll-Up in 1:37
- Jimmy Lloyd over Matt Cardona via Ganso Bomb in 1:06
- GCW Tag Team Championship: Effy over Mance Warner via Sack Ryder in 19:05
Kickoff Scramble
GCW’s much-anticipated return to the Hammerstein Ballroom kicked off with a 6-Person Scramble Match as the crowd filed in. The participants included:
- Mr. Danger
- Marcus Mathers
- Fuego del Sol
- Rich Swann
- Blake Christian
- Manders
The action was fast and furious in the show opener with all six men impressing with their high-flying offense. The commentary team noted that Marcus Mathers was recently added to the WWE ID program, having been scouted from GCW. Manders picked up the win after a giant lariat on Marcus Mathers. This was a great showcase and all six men shined.
25-Person Kickoff Rumble
The next match on the kickoff was a 25-person Rumble featuring names such as Crowbar, Zayda Steel, Starboy Charlie, 2 Tuff Tony, The Backseats Boys, Sam Stackhouse, Shane Mercer, Brooke Havok, CPA, Big Vin, and TNA Digital Media Champion PCO. This started with at least fifteen competitors in the ring a la a Battle Royale, but then entrants began coming out more like a Royal Rumble. Worth noting was that a TNA Champion was appearing live on this show while a TNA Pay-Per-View was occurring concurrently.
As the crowd thinned out, the final four remaining in the ring were Sam Stackhouse, Brooke Havok, PCO, and Shane Mercer. Havok then eliminated Stackhouse with a Huricanrana over the ropes. Havok was then caught by Mercer and thrown from overhead onto a big crowd of eliminated participants on the outside.
.@theirondemon sends @BrookeHavok into the crowd of eliminated competitors. #ThePeopleVsGCW @GCWrestling_
▶️https://t.co/Gi6KNfeGOt pic.twitter.com/h5bwRwGyDv— Rob (@HeyImRob) January 20, 2025
In the end, only PCO and Shane Mercer remained and both men ended up on the outside on the ring apron. PCO reversed Mercer’s offense and chokeslammed Mercer off the ring apron to win the Rumble. After the match, Emil Jay got in the ring welcoming PCO back to GCW. PCO said he’s been in TNA for the last three years and he’s wanted to do something for a long time. With that, he got a sledgehammer and went to town on his TNA Championship. Emil Jay kept trying to stop him as he continued to speak and suddenly the show cut to a promo package.
WTF why PCO just do that #TNAGenesis #ThePeopleVsGCW 😳😱😱🤯 @GCWrestling_ @ThisIsTNA pic.twitter.com/oQJvO2WXF4
— The Final Boss (@Cleveromantic2) January 20, 2025
Brett Lauderdale Speaks
Next up, Brett Lauderdale was introduced and said GCW was “the first real independent wrestling company to run Hammerstein and the only one to run it twice” and noted that they’ve had record dates, “including any show that’s run here in the last thirty days or so”. He then went on to say they didn’t sell out but they were close and they made tonight happen without a television deal or a billion-dollar safety net. After he concluded his rallying speech, Dave Prazak was announced as returning to the commentary desk.
DLC Ultraviolent/Extreme Championship Unification Match
The opening match on the main show was the Doors, Ladders, and Chairs Match in which the Ultraviolent and Extreme Championships would be unified. The participants were Drew Parker, Dr. Redacted, Rina Yamashita, Matthew Justice, Ciclope, John Wayne Murdoch, Brandon Kirk, Maki Itoh, and Matt Tremont. Only Tremont was given the PPV entrance as all the other participants walked out at the end of the Kickoff show. The match began with John Wayne Murdoch getting on the mic and saying that Maki Itoh didn’t belong in this match (despite being the GCW Extreme Champion). This led to all eight other competitors teaming up on Murdoch as the bell rang.
From there, the action was fast and furious occurring all over and around the ring. Ciclope had an early scary spot hitting a moonsault to the outside but nailing both his legs on a table that did not budge one bit.
Matt Tremont tries to send @DRxRedacted into the end of a ladder but Redacted flips it back into Tremont's head!#ThePeopleVsGCW @GCWrestling_
▶️https://t.co/Gi6KNfeGOt pic.twitter.com/rF6yxZowUZ— Rob (@HeyImRob) January 20, 2025
As expected, this was a crazy spot fest much to the delight of the capacity crowd. Ciclope at one point kissed Rina Yamashita and then suplexed her off the top of a ladder from inside the ring through tables set up on the floor. Drew Parker then hit a Swanton onto both Ciclope and Yamashita from the top of a ladder onto the floor.
Was that the kiss of death? #ThePeopleVsGCW 💋@GCWrestling_
LIVE NOW on TrillerTV+ pic.twitter.com/Wn4hX7xA75— TrillerTV (@FiteTV) January 20, 2025
Murdoch then shoved Brandon Kirk off the ladder as he was trying to go for the titles when Matt Tremont appeared and attacked Murdoch with a fork. This allowed Tremont to grab both titles and become the Ultraviolent/Extreme Champion.
GCW Championship #1 Contender’s Match
The next match on the show was the #1 Contender’s Match between Effy and Allie Katch to determine who would go on to face Mance Warner for the GCW Championship later in the night. This match began and was quickly derailed as ALlie Katch seemed to injure herself executing a Tope onto Effy on the outside. Katch was screaming in pain as Effy watched on looking concerned. Mance Warner suddenly stormed down to the ring and hit Effy with the Championship belt. He then chokeslammed Effy through the timekeeper’s table and it was announced that Allie Katch could not continue. Therefore, Effy won by referee stoppage and would go on to face Warner later on the card.
Trios Match
Next was a trios match between Real F’n Pros (Kerry Morton, Tony Deppen, & Griffin McCoy) and the NYC OGs (Amazing Red, Grim Reefer & Homicide). Before the match began, Kerry Morton spent a while on the mic running down their opponents and the crowd and it went on for a strangely long time. Finally, Emil Jay announced that they were in a “delay” because the commission was dealing with the Allie Katch situation. Finally, Morton, Deppen, and McCoy decided they had already been paid and were going to leave. David Bixenspan clarified what was going on via BlueSky:
To clarify: In NY, the EMTs working the show have to be on the show floor for a match to be in the ring. So as long as the EMTs are tending to Allie, they have to kill time. #ThePeoplevsGCW
— David Bixenspan (@davidbix.bsky.social) 2025-01-20T01:59:01.785Z
GCW went to some promo packages and then broke back to live action as Dave Prazak explained that Allie Katch had to be taken to the hospital and they had to wait until another ambulance arrived as per NY state rules. They also explained that Effy’s neck was injured by the Mance Warner chokeslam through the table.
Attention finally returned to the action in the ring as these two teams recaptured the crowd rather quickly. At one point, the Grim Reefer put a joint in his mouth but Kerry Morton stole it, ripped it in half, and threw it into the crowd. Shortly after, as the face team gained the advantage, Grim Reefer lit a backup joint and leaped onto the heels on the floor. Reefer continued to wrestle with the joint in his mouth and even passed it off to Homicide who started grappling with Kerry Morton. Real F’n Pros then pulled out a fork to attack Homicide when Ricky Morton appeared and attacked his son, hitting him with a Canadian Destroyer. Amazing Red hit a Code Red and finally, Homicide then hit the Cop Killa on Tony Deppen for the win.
Ricky Morton nails a Canadian Destroyer on his son. This is a crazy show. #ThePeopleVsGCW pic.twitter.com/pgEkeg8ivp
— Ryan Gaydos (@Gaydos_) January 20, 2025
After the match, they announced that Amazing Red was the first inductee into the 2025 Independent Wrestling Hall of Fame.
GCW announces The Amazing Red is the first inductee into the 2025 Independent Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame! #ThePeopleVsGCW pic.twitter.com/629chFFps4
— NY-TALL-GUY (@tall_ny) January 20, 2025
GCW Tag Team Championship
Next up was the Gahbage Daddies (Alec Price & Cole Radrick) taking on the champions Violence is Forever (Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku). These two teams went back and forth with near falls on both sides including Radrick kicking out at the last minute after a double team Spike Piledriver from VIF. Kevin Ku then hit Alec Price with a Brainbuster onto the top turnbuckle. The crowd came alive as the Gahbage Daddies hit the Gahbage Disposal on Kevin Ku to win the GCW Tag Team Championships.
@ThePrizeCityOG and @ColeRadrick proving that violence isn't forever #ThePeopleVsGCW pic.twitter.com/Mtr6JmuqeL
— Tripping Balls (@IsThisWrestling) January 20, 2025
Steel Cage Match
The next match was the Steel Cage Match between former tag team partners Charles Mason and Richard Holliday. Charles Mason came out onto the stage dressed in Hannibal Lecter’s straight jacket and face mask accompanied by a video montage of real-life murderers including Luigi Mangione (to which the crowd popped for). Richard Holliday came out in full Shawn Michaels WrestleMania 25 garb.
Richard Holliday entrando a #ThePeopleVsGCW como Shawn Michaels en Wrestlemania 25. #GCW. pic.twitter.com/FKftXOe1R0
— El Face Genérico 2.0 (@FaceGenerico) January 20, 2025
Early in the match, Charles Mason had the match won and could have easily escaped the cage but instead, he turned around and hit a big elbow drop off the top of the cage. Parrow then appeared, attacking both Mason and the referee. Parrow was going to powerbomb Mason through a door when Slade appeared and speared Perro through the door instead.
Elbow drop off the top of the cage from @CharlesMas0n!#ThePeopleVsGCW @GCWrestling_
▶️https://t.co/Gi6KNfeGOt pic.twitter.com/zr1g5RbF7O— Rob (@HeyImRob) January 20, 2025
SLADE IS HERE#ThePeopleVsGCW pic.twitter.com/dDcGfeXREC
— Tripping Balls (@IsThisWrestling) January 20, 2025
The two brawled into the crowd and back in the ring, Manson brutalized Holliday with a chair until Holliday responded with a low blow. Channeling HBK again, Holliday said “You’re damn right I snitched, and I f*cking hate you.” as he superkicked him. Holliday picked him back up, spit in his face, and hit the 2008 for a one count. Mason then mounted a comeback, countering a second 2008 with a rear naked choke. Holliday attempted to grab a chain but Mason intercepted and used the chain to choke Holliday out for the victory.
Sidney Akeem vs. El Hijo del Vikingo
Next was a singles bout between Sidney Akeem and El Hijo del Vikingo. These two both moved so fast that it was difficult to write down anything that was happening. Sidney Akeem hit the Final Act on Vikingo and Vikingo kicked out at two as the announcers exclaimed no one had kicked out of the move before. Vikingo then responded by jumping off the ring post and hitting Vikingo with a destroyer on the apron. Then out of nowhere, Akeem hit a second Final Act on Vikingo for the win.
Vikingo with an apron destroyer!!! #ThePeopleVsGCW pic.twitter.com/46ilpEKqTk
— Luchawrassle (@iixShinigamixii) January 20, 2025
Trios Match
A mere minute or so after the last match, they dove directly into the next which saw Super Crazy, Yoshihiro Tajiri, and Little Guido taking on Los D’Sperados (Arez, Gringo Loco & Jack Cartwheel). This match got the crowd going quickly as Super Crazy and Tajiri got their opponents into Tarantulas while Little Guido applied an armbar. This led to brawling into the crowd where Super Crazy executed a moonsault off the balcony to a huge pop.
#ThePeopleVsGCW DIOS MIO!!!!! https://t.co/DXAPFSevYH
— Ray Frand (@RayBtwin91) January 20, 2025
As the two teams returned to the ring, they both engaged in dueling surfboards. Then each man tried to one-up the other with increasingly more unique dives to the outside. Tajiri then sprayed green mist into the referee’s face, followed by Arez hitting Tajiri with red mist. Meanwhile with the referee down, Gringo Loco hit a split-legged moonsault as a second referee ran down to make the three-count.
Tajiri with the GREEN MIST into the eyes of @RefAJKissinger, but @ArezStrange follows it up with the RED MIST #ThePeopleVsGCW pic.twitter.com/OE1cT05GIf
— Tripping Balls (@IsThisWrestling) January 20, 2025
Tom Pestock (FKA Baron Corbin) vs. Josh Barnett
Next up was a Bloodsport match with the founder of Bloodsport Josh Barnett taking on Tom Pestock (the former Baron Corbin). The GCW crowd gave Pestock a warm welcome as the match began with both men grappling for the advantage. Both men went back and forth with Barnett getting booed when he was in control. Finally, Pestock hit a few punches followed by a big suplex on Barnett. The two continued to exchange body shots until Pestock hit multiple suplexes as the crowd chanted “End of Days”. Barnett then applied a kneebar and Pestock was forced to tap out to massive boos from the crowd.
on a show full of hits and misses, this ain't it pal #ThePeopleVsGCW pic.twitter.com/VIyCPVCzE7
— Tripping Balls (@IsThisWrestling) January 20, 2025
Megan Bayne vs. Atticus Cogar
The next match on the card (now in the 11 pm hour on the East Coast), saw the newest AEW signing Megan Bayne taking on Atticus Cogar. Cogar came down to the ring wearing what was described as a tribute to Megan Bayne’s career. The match started with Bayne hitting a spear on Cogar and nearly getting the win. Cogar then gained control hitting ga prone Bayne who he had draped on top of a ringside barricade.
Uncanny! #ThePeopleVsGCW pic.twitter.com/PrE5MIxKQN
— Sam Fines (@realsamfines) January 20, 2025
.@Atticus_Cogar dives onto Megan Bayne laid out on a guardrail. #ThePeopleVsGCW @GCWrestling_
▶️https://t.co/Gi6KNfeGOt pic.twitter.com/q7a9TW5dZD— Rob (@HeyImRob) January 20, 2025
Cogar then missed while trying to hit Bayne with a set of skewers, plunging them into the corner turnbuckle. Cogar then purposefully lodged more skewers into two of the other four turnbuckles. Bayne then caught Cogar and hit a fallaway slam onto a chair for a near fall. Cogar then caught Bayne on the top rope and hit an air raid crash on the apron in a scary-looking spot. Thankfully, both competitors seemed to be okay as the match continued.
welp, stop the show again #ThePeopleVsGCW pic.twitter.com/hXqaesCqKZ
— Tripping Balls (@IsThisWrestling) January 20, 2025
Megan Bayne then hit the F5 but a delayed cover allowed Atticus Cogar to kick out at two. Bayne then took the skewers but Otis Cogar ran down and chokeslammed Bayne, following that up with a moonsault but Bayne kicked out. Otisset up for another moonsault but someone appeared at ringside spraying something in Otis’ face. It was revealed to be Sawyer Wreck. Wreck then tasered Cogar, allowing Bayne to hit a Tombstone Piledriver for the victory.
Sawyer Wreck in full effect. #ThePeopleVsGCW pic.twitter.com/6KfsuBS6pN
— Professional Wrestling (@WresBurner) January 20, 2025
Joey Janela vs. Masato Tanaka
Next was Joey Janela taking on former ECW Champion Masato Tanaka. Early in the match, Janela hit Tanaka with a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron. Tanaka not to be outdone, set Janela up on a table on the outside and hit a splash from the top rope on him putting Janela through the table. Tanaka then threw a bunch of chairs into the ring and executed a swinging DDT onto said chairs. Janela retorted with a brainbuster on those same chairs. Janela then powerbombed Tanaka off the ring apron through a table on the outside.
Joey Janela just DESTROYED Masato Tanaka. #ThePeopleVsGCW pic.twitter.com/5ib8yZCRHt
— Professional Wrestling (@WresBurner) January 20, 2025
Janela then hit a superplex on Tanaka on top of four set up chairs and despite that Tanaka kicked out at one. Tanaka then hit a swinging DDT onto a table that didn’t give an inch. Janela popped right up and hit a Death Valley Driver through a door propped up in the corner. Finally, Janela hit a package piledriver on Tanaka for the three-count victory.
.@JANELABABY with a superplex onto open steel chairs!#ThePeopleVsGCW @GCWrestling_
▶️https://t.co/Gi6KNfeGOt pic.twitter.com/u290PQ2MwD— Rob (@HeyImRob) January 20, 2025
yeah that table ain't breaking #ThePeopleVsGCW pic.twitter.com/chNlJm0XUm
— Tripping Balls (@IsThisWrestling) January 20, 2025
After the match, Joey Janela got on the mic and urged the crowd to give it up for Masato Tanaka. The two shook hands and bowed toward each other. Janela then promoted his Spring Break event. The lights went out, and a Sabu video started playing. As we returned to the Hammerstein, Sabu was in the ring. Janela proposed a retirement match against him on April 18th from Las Vegas, to which Sabu seemed to agree.
Matt Cardona vs. Tommy Invincible
Matt Cardona vs. Microman
Matt Cardona vs. Jimmy Lloyd
Downstait performed “Always Ready” after telling the New York City crowd to go f*ck itself for Matt Cardona’s entrance. It was then revealed that Cardona’s mystery opponent was Tommy Invincible. Cardona immediately hit Radio Silence as the bell rang for a two count. Invincible then got a little offense in but Cardona hit a second Radio Silence for the win. Cardona got on the mic and complained that he needed a bigger name.
This brought out Microman. Microman hit Cardona with a 619 and a splash from the second rope but Jimmy Lloyd pulled the referee from the ring. Cardona hit a low blow and rolled up Microman for the win. Cardona again demanded better competition and Jimmy Lloyd took the spot immediately jumping him. Jimmy Lloyd pinned Matt Cardona in just over one minute after screaming “I’m not your bro”.
Broski no more!!!!! Jimmy Lloyd is back!!! #ThePeopleVsGCW pic.twitter.com/Zw0WkOPvKT
— Luchawrassle (@iixShinigamixii) January 20, 2025
.@TheJimmyLLoyd spikes Matt Cardona with a ganso bomb!#ThePeopleVsGCW @GCWrestling_
▶️https://t.co/Gi6KNfeGOt pic.twitter.com/OGfxrAJSCA— Rob (@HeyImRob) January 20, 2025
GCW Championship
Finally, it was time for the main event, with Effy taking on Mance Warner. Throughout the night, the announcers mentioned that Effy might have a neck injury, but he came to the ring as if he was 100%. Warner dominated the early portion of the match after nailing Effy with the GCW title belt, followed by several chair shots to Effy’s back.
Bam 💥 @ManceWarner #ThePeopleVsGCW pic.twitter.com/AZSENzehoI
— Kyle Pribila (@kyle_pribila) January 20, 2025
Effy then recovered hitting a TKO and a Tombstone on a pile of chairs but Warner was able to kick out. Effy then tried several other big maneuvers to put Mance Warner down including a curb stomp onto a chair but could not secure the three count. Warner then attempted a piledriver from the apron through a table on the floor but Effy slipped out and the table didn’t break.
Unfortunately, the table didn’t break. #ThePeopleVsGCW pic.twitter.com/bVYf5ENDsX
— WrestlingINC.com (@WrestlingInc) January 20, 2025
Warner then hit a DDT on Effy off the top rope through a door but Effy was able to kick out. Mance Warner then threatened the referee with a chair, telling him to count Effy out which he obliged, but Effy could get back into the ring before the ten count.
Warner assaulted Effy with chair shots and followed up with a knee strike but Effy kicked out a tone. Warner revealed a screwdriver from his boot but Effy speared Warner. Effy then grabbed the screwdriver nailing him with it. Effy then powerbombed Warner through a door but Warner kicked out at one himself. Effy attempted the Sack Ryder but it was countered. Warner hit a big DDT for a two-count.
Mance Warner then went to Downstait’s gear and grabbed a guitar when Cole Radrick appeared, kicking Warner below the belt. Radrick revealed the brass ring around his neck and considered cashing it in, but instead, he handed the guitar to Effy. Effy hit Mance Warner with the guitar and hit the Sack Ryder to win the GCW Championship.