At GCW: Boss of All Bosses PPV on July 11th, delivered an electrifying night of professional wrestling with its event at Gilley’s in Dallas, Texas. It was streamed live on TrillerTV+. The Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) event featured a stacked card with title matches, intense rivalries, and a mix of hardcore and traditional wrestling. It showcased GCW’s unique brand of chaos and storytelling. With a record crowd in attendance, as noted by GCW promoter Brett Lauderdale, the event marked a significant moment for the promotion during the AEW All-In weekend.
Match Recaps
Scramble Match: Gringo Loco defeated Jack Cartwheel, Bobby Flaco, Cappuccino Jones, Dulce Tormenta, and Gavin Ashe (10:13)
The night kicked off with a high-flying, fast-paced scramble match. This is a staple of GCW’s chaotic style. Gringo Loco emerged victorious, showcasing his athleticism and lucha libre flair against a talented field of competitors. The match featured a flurry of high spots, including Cartwheel’s signature flips and Tormenta’s hard-hitting offense. But Loco’s precision and crowd connection secured the win.
Scramble matches are designed to spotlight multiple talents. This one delivered by giving each wrestler a moment to shine. Gringo Loco’s victory reinforces his status as a reliable mid-card star with potential for a bigger push. The inclusion of Dulce Tormenta hints at GCW’s continued effort to integrate international talent.
Singles Match: Joey Janela defeated Man Like DeReiss (12:01)
Joey Janela faced the up-and-coming Man Like DeReiss in a competitive bout. Janela’s experience and cunning gave him the edge. However, DeReiss held his own with impressive athleticism. Post-match, Janela attacked DeReiss, only for Brodie Lee Jr. (AEW’s Negative One) to make a surprising appearance. He delivered a low blow and a Canadian Destroyer to Janela. His win keeps him relevant in GCW’s upper mid-card, while DeReiss’s performance elevates his profile. The post-match angle with Brodie Lee Jr. was a significant moment with emotional resonance due to his lineage.
Singles Match: Shotzi Blackheart vs. Matt Cardona ends in a No Contest (10:49)
Billed as a “Garage Beer Rules Match,” this clash between Matt Cardona and Shotzi Blackheart promised high energy. This started because Shotzi made a surprise appearance at a GCW hardcore tournament and started calling herself “The Indy God” and “The Death Match King,” which are terms Cardona has used to describe himself. He ran over her arm with her tank, which is the kayfabe reason she broke her arm. This feud even spilled over into the Maple Leaf Pro show recently. As Cardona tried to spray Shotzi with beer, he mostly ended up spraying the fans as Shotzi proved too fast for him. At one point, Cardona hit the referee with a case of beer, knocking him down. Mance Warner came out to help Cardona, leading to the no-contest. After the match, both beat down Shotzi until Ricky Morton came out to save her.
Matt Cardona, a polarizing figure in GCW, continues to play the arrogant heel, while Shotzi’s “Ballsy Badass” persona resonates with fans. I would say almost 100% of the fans were behind her during this match. The no-contest finish is a classic wrestling trope to extend feuds. Given Cardona’s history of drawing heat, this storyline could escalate into a major program.
Tag Team Match: 1 Called Manders and Ricky Morton defeated Kerry Morton and Mance Warner (9:19)
This unique tag match pitted the veteran Ricky Morton against his son Kerry Morton, alongside the hard-hitting 1 Called Manders and Mance Warner. Manders and Morton’s teamwork prevailed, with Ricky’s experience and Manders’ power overcoming their opponents. The family dynamic added emotional depth to the match.
This was a flat-out fun match with lots of storytelling elements and selling going on. The Morton family drama is a compelling narrative. It blends generational storytelling with GCW’s gritty style. Ricky’s victory keeps him relevant, while Kerry’s loss could fuel a redemption arc. Mance Warner remains a key player in the promotion’s storytelling.
I Quit Match: KJ Orso defeated Sam Stackhouse (25:16)
In a deeply personal I Quit Match, KJ Orso (formerly Fuego Del Sol) faced his former tag team partner, Sam Stackhouse. The brutal encounter saw Orso force Stackhouse to say “I Quit,” marking a significant victory and a turning point in their heated rivalry. This match was a storytelling highlight, with the former partnership adding emotional stakes to the hardcore violence. Orso’s win positions him as a rising star. The I Quit stipulation ensured a definitive end to this chapter.
GCW World Tag Team Championship: YDNP (Alec Price and Jordan Oliver) (C) defeated Dante Leon and Ninja Mack (21:30)
The high-flying YDNP retained their titles against the dynamic duo of Dante Leon and Ninja Mack. The match showcased incredible athleticism, with both teams delivering breathtaking sequences. YDNP’s chemistry and strategic teamwork secured the victory. YDNP’s reign continues to solidify their status as a top tag team, while Leon and Mack’s performance keeps them in contention. This match highlighted GCW’s ability to blend high-flying action with storytelling, and the loss could motivate Leon and Mack to pursue a rematch. The crowd didn’t seem into this match. However, I thought it was an exciting, very good match.
Singles Match: Elayna Black defeated Priscilla Kelly (7:25)
Originally scheduled to face Masha Slamovich, Elayna Black took on Priscilla Kelly, who replaced Slamovich due to unannounced reasons. The crowd appeared to be pretty excited to see the former WWE Cora Jade take on the former WWE Gigi Dolan. Black secured the win in a competitive, but extremely short match. It still showcased her potential as a rising star in GCW’s women’s division. The fans weren’t happy that a simple DDT ended this match and made sure their displeasure was seen.
Black’s victory over the debuting Kelly is a significant moment. Kelly’s participation, despite the last-minute change, adds intrigue, and her performance suggests she’ll be a fixture in future events. The absence of Slamovich raises questions about her status, potentially setting up a future confrontation between both Black and Kelly with Slamovich.
GCW Ultraviolent Championship Death Match: Matt Tremont (C) defeated John Wayne Murdoch (13:31)
In a brutal, blood-soaked deathmatch, Matt Tremont retained the GCW Ultraviolent Championship against John Wayne Murdoch. The match lived up to its billing, with both competitors pushing the limits of hardcore wrestling. This match was a showcase of GCW’s hardcore roots, with Tremont and Murdoch delivering the kind of violent spectacle fans expect. Tremont’s retention keeps him as the face of the Ultraviolent division, but Murdoch’s performance ensures he remains a credible challenger. The match likely set a high bar for future deathmatches.
GCW World Championship: EFFY (C) defeated Atticus Cogar (17:29)
The main event saw EFFY defend the GCW World Championship against Atticus Cogar in a highly anticipated clash. EFFY retained with help from allies. They thwarted Cogar and the VNDL48 faction. The match was bloody and dramatic.
EFFY’s retention reinforces his role as GCW’s top star, with his charismatic babyface persona carrying the promotion. The interference angle involving VNDL48 and GCW’s “pillars” sets up a larger faction war, with Charles Mason looming as EFFY’s next challenger.
Promos and Key Moments
Post-Match Chaos (Janela vs DeReiss)
Brodie Lee Jr.’s intervention after Janela’s match was a major talking point on social media with fans. His low blow and Canadian Destroyer sparked massive crowd reactions at the event. This moment not only introduced Brodie Lee Jr. but also hinted at a personal vendetta against Janela.
VNDL48 Interference
The main event saw VNDL48’s involvement, which was countered by GCW’s core roster, described as the “pillars” of the promotion. This moment underscored the ongoing faction war, with EFFY as the central figure resisting VNDL48’s influence. Charles Mason’s looming presence adds a new layer to this storyline. Hopefully, this leads to a Mason vs EFFY match very soon.
Morton Family Tension
The tag match involving Ricky and Kerry Morton included verbal exchanges that highlighted their familial conflict, adding emotional weight to the in-ring action. This dynamic is a key storyline to watch moving forward. I thought that having Mance Warner and 1 Called Manders involved added some grit to the match.
Overall Verdict
“Boss of All Bosses” was a strong event for GCW, blending its signature hardcore style with compelling storytelling and character-driven narratives. The record crowd at Gilley’s Dallas amplified its visibility during the AEW All-In weekend. The main event’s faction warfare and EFFY’s retention set the stage for a high-stakes showdown with Charles Mason. The undercard elevated talents like Elayna Black and KJ Orso.
Some of the event’s strengths were that it advanced multiple feuds, particularly EFFY vs. VNDL48 and the Morton family drama. This should provide clear direction for future shows. It had a diverse card with high-flying scrambles to a brutal deathmatch. The whole card catered to GCW’s eclectic fanbase.
However, one of the biggest weaknesses was the unexplained absence of Masha Slamovich. It may have been for a good reason, but it wasn’t announced. It could have disrupted the women’s storyline if Priscilla Kelly would not have been there. Some fans may have been disappointed with the no-contest ending to Shotzi vs Matt Cardona. It does serve the purpose of extending their feud. Overall, I believe that GCW is a must-watch promotion with a lot of upside.
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