Joseph Sawyer made a triumphant return to Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) on Saturday night at Homecoming Night 1. The event took place at the Showboat Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Sawyer, previously known in WWE as Joe Gacy, captured the GCW World Championship from Atticus Cogar.
During the match, Sawyer and Cogar delivered a packed performance featuring intense competition. Sawyer’s victory marked his first match in GCW since 2020, when he was known as Psycho Joe. The encounter included aggressive chair shots and attempts to put Cogar through a door positioned in the ring’s corner.
“What a f—ing Homecoming,” Sawyer exclaimed after securing the title.
A tribute to the late WWE star Bray Wyatt was evident during the night. Cogar’s entrance music and attire paid homage to Wyatt, who passed away in August 2023. Sawyer finished the match using a move named Sister Abigail DDT on Cogar. The audience responded enthusiastically, pounding the ring apron in celebration.
Violence was a theme, with items like light tubes, chains, scaffolds, chairs, and a barbed wire table in play throughout the night.
Otis Cogar successfully defended his GCW Ultraviolent Championship against Anakin Murphy. Murphy’s entrance, inspired by Gerard Way from My Chemical Romance, connected with the New Jersey crowd. During the match, Murphy boldly invited a punishing chair shot from Cogar but ultimately fell short after using a fan’s Buffalo Bills helmet as a weapon.
In another fierce clash, Vipress and Christian Napier competed in a Chola Chain Match, linked by a chain. Despite being injured after Napier threw her into a chair, Vipress regained control. She managed to tie Napier with the ropes and used light tubes against him. She secured victory by wrapping the chain around Napier’s face, causing him to submit.
Following the win, Vipress challenged Cogar for the GCW Ultraviolent Championship.
The night also saw a six-man deathmatch with Nick Gage, Nino Extremo, and Sicko The Clown defeating Conor Claxton, Dr. Redacted, and Jimmy Lloyd. A precarious moment occurred when Claxton ascended a scaffold with Sicko The Clown. Extremo’s presence helped turn the tide, and Sicko The Clown executed a Spanish fly on Claxton through a bundle of light tubes, resulting in Claxton being hospitalized afterward.
KJ Orso and Sam Stackhouse claimed the GCW Tag Team Championship by defeating Alec Price and Jordan Oliver. Bobby Flaco, Hunter Drake, Jay Lucas, and Terry Yaki overcame Leedz Lewis, Ryan O’Neill, Sal Mistretta, and Tarzan Duran in an eight-man tag match.
Joey Janela preserved his wrestling career by beating Marko Stunt with Ryan O’Neill’s assistance. Additionally, Bear Bronson and Gabby Forza won against Charles Mason and Slade.
GCW Homecoming Night 2 is scheduled for Sunday at the same venue. Pro wrestling enthusiasts can watch the event on Triller TV+.
Ryan Gaydos serves as a senior editor for Fox News Digital.