Brett Lauderdale responds to controversy following Drake Wuertz’s appearance at GCW Homecoming

Some fans weren’t happy to see the former Drake Younger appear at GCW Homecoming last weekend. But GCW owner Brett Lauderdale says that everyone deserves second chances, and he owed Drake Wuertz a favor. 

Lauderdale made a post on social media responding to the controversy.

“In the past, Drake Wuertz shared some extreme views,” Lauderdale wrote. “He spread a rhetoric that was offensive to many and in some cases, dangerous.”

“What makes him worthy of a second chance and why does that second chance come in GCW of all places?”

“The answer to that question is personal to me…”

Lauderdale then shared an image of a longer explanation. 

“In March of 2012, I was on the losing end of a brutal addiction to opiates,” Lauderdale explained. “I was at the end of the road. I was in Miami for Mania Week and I needed help. I didn’t know what to do.”

“Only one person reached out his hand to help and that person was Drake Younger,” Lauderdale continued. “On that day, [March 29, 2012], he took me to my first of many years of [Narcotics Anonymous] 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 second chance. In my heart, I feel like now is that time.”

Younger’s controversial statements, and his return

Younger, who was at one point a senior referee in NXT, appeared at a Seminole County board of county commissioners meeting back in 2021 while at the WWE Performance Center via Zoom. Wearing a shirt with the NXT logo, he called himself a “a leader committed to fighting the evil of human trafficking and child exploitation” and made claims that the county’s mask mandate at the time put children at risk of being trafficked.

The following month, Younger was among eight NXT on-air talent released from WWE. Reporting at the time indicated that he had “nuclear” heat for attending events without a mask and was known for criticizing wrestlers for getting vaccinations and flu shots. Fightful also reported of an incident where Younger walked out following a Triple H speech where he said “(paraphrasing) that all people, races, genders, and religions were welcomed,” with Wuertz becoming upset once religion was mentioned.

Since then, Younger has mostly wrestled for Juggalo Championship Wrestling and Combat Zone Wrestling. He returned to Game Changer Wrestling at Night 2 of GCW Homecoming Weekend, losing to Otis Cogar. The next night, he publicly apologized for his prior words and actions.