Nick Gage Returning to GCW for 1 Night Only at 2300 Arena
:gcw:
Game Changer Wrestling has officially announced that Nick Gage will make a one-night return to the promotion on Saturday, May 2, when GCW presents GCW One Night Only at the 2300 Arena (formerly the ECW Arena) in South Philadelphia.
The event is set to air live on Triller TV, with tickets on sale now at 2300arena.showare.com/GCWPresentsONENIGHTONLY.
The announcement, made by GCW with the tagline "The King Is BACK," is tremendous news for Gage's fans, in light of his personal struggles throughout last year.
2025 was one of the most difficult years in Nick Gage's personal life. The Deathmatch King's longtime partner, Sondra Culbertson, passed away in April 2025 at the age of 43 after 26 years together.
Shortly after making a surprise return at GCW Homecoming on August 23rd helping Shotzi Blackheart fend off Matt Cardona Gage competed one final time at Focus Pro's My Friends Over You event on September 20th before disappearing from the scene entirely.
In October 2025, GCW owner Brett Lauderdale confirmed the news that many fans had feared: "Gage had entered a long-term treatment program. "Nick Gage will not be attending any shows for the foreseeable future," Lauderdale wrote at the time. "He is currently in treatment (and has been for several weeks) and plans to stay indefinitely."
Then, on October 1st, Gage reportedly came face-to-face with death before his recovery took hold.
By late December 2025, the tone had shifted dramatically. Lauderdale took to social media to share photos of a healthy-looking Gage and a stirring update on his progress. "On Oct 1st, this guy was face to face with death," Lauderdale wrote.
"In less than 3 months, the turnaround is shocking & remarkable. This is what it looks like when you break free from decades of addiction and finally start believing in yourself. The king is back and I couldn't be more proud MDK." Lauderdale also credited WWE Hall of Famer Sean "X-Pac" Waltman for his role in assisting Gage's recovery.
Gage, 45, is widely considered the face of Game Changer Wrestling. A three-time GCW World Champion, his career highlights include a nationally televised match against Chris Jericho on AEW Dynamite in July 2021 and a title-winning victory over Jon Moxley in a Title vs. Career match.
His story, including a five-year prison stint from 20112016 for bank robbery, was documented in an acclaimed 2021 episode of Dark Side of the Ring.
Event Details:
- Event: GCW One Night Only
- Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
- Venue: 2300 Arena (ECW Arena) South Philadelphia, PA
- Time: 8 PM ET
- Broadcast: Live on Triller TV
- Tickets: 2300arena.showare.com/GCWPresentsONENIGHTONLY
