Drake Younger returns to wrestling, apologizes for past controversies

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The reaction to Game Changer Wrestling bringing in Drake Younger (real name Drake Wuertz) for their weekend shows in Atlantic City, New Jersey prompted Younger to make a statement following his match on the second night of GCW’s Homecoming. Younger was apologizing for the actions, behavior, and statements that led to his WWE release, most of which were affiliated with conspiracy theories and extremely conservative Christian organizations. But he only referred to past beliefs he says he no longer has, without offering any specifics about what he no longer believes. That caused many to decline Younger the forgiveness he asked for — at least until he offers more concrete words, and ideally deeds, as proof of how he’s changed. GCW owner and booker Brett Lauderdale issued his own statement, which explains his reason for bringing in the hardcore veteran after his WWE run ended in controversy. In the past, Drake Wuertz shared some extreme views. He spread a rhetoric that was offensive to many and in some cases, dangerous. What makes him worthy of a second chance & why does that second chance come in GCW of all places? The answer to that question is personal to me… In March of 2012, I was on the losing end of a brutal addicition to opiates. I was at the end of the road in Miami for Mania Week and I needed help. I didn’t know what to do. …only one person readched out his hand to help and that person was Drake Younger. On that day, 3/29/12, he took me to my first of many years of NA 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 2nd chance… in my heart, I feel like now is the time. In the past, Drake Wuertz shared some extreme views. He spread a rhetoric that was offensive to many and in some cases, dangerous. What makes him worthy of a second chance & why does that second chance come in GCW of all places? The answer to that question is personal to me… pic.twitter.com/GkLBE1bWK6 — brett lauderdale (@Lauderdale11) August 18, 2026 Lauderdale also responded to some followers, paraphrasing them and replying via a screenshot of a note as he did above. “Cool story bro… but that doesn’t have anything to do with me and it doesn’t change the fact that he said and did some fucked up shit. Why should I care?” You’re right, and some people don’t want to give him a second chance, and they don’t have to. That’s their choice and I can’t fault them for making that decision. Personally, I am a believer that people can change. I’ve seen it happen and I think the most powerful thing we can do as humans is give people that opportunity to make amends and right their wrongs. How can we as a soceity move forward if we can’t be open to forgiveness? "Cool story bro… but that doesn't have anything to do with me and it doesn't change the fact that he said and did some fucked up shit. Why should I care?" pic.twitter.com/YRrJbyY5Kc — brett lauderdale (@Lauderdale11) August 18, 2026 The promoter says he got sign-off from his roster, which includes people who represent or support some of the communities harmed or put at increased risk by Younger’s past positions. “ok cool… but what has he done to show he’s changed? Talk is cheap….” I agree. It’s one thing to say you are a different person but it’s another thing to live it, show it, and prove it. I can only speak on my most recent experiences and those of a trusted and diverse group of peers with opinions I value. If it turns out I was wrong, or that I missed something along the way, I will admit this was a mistake and that will be the end of this experiment. In my opinion, this is an ongoing process, and Drake has to do the work to show it. "ok cool… but what has he done to show he's changed? Talk is cheap…." pic.twitter.com/PblG40sopl — brett lauderdale (@Lauderdale11) August 18, 2026 He closed by revealing that Younger donated a portion of his booking fee to New Jersey’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group. “So that’s it? We are just supposed to take your word for it and move along?” Nah, you don’t have to. If you feel like he’s worthy of an opportunity to redeem himself, that’s your choice. But I know there are some that do. The people who chanted his name on Sunday at GCW showed me there are those that are willing to support his journey. For now, Drake doesn’t have social media and I don’t intent to speak for him. But I can tell you about the first ACTION of his GCW tenure… Using proceeds from his pay for this weekends appearances, Drake has asked GCW to make a donation on his behalf in the amount of $250 to Garden State Equality. GSE is NJ’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group. Hopefully this is the first many actions on the path to proving change… Using proceeds from his pay for this weekends appearances, Drake has asked GCW to make a donation on his behalf in the amount of $250 to Garden State Equality. GSE is NJ's largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group. Hopefully this is the first many actions on the path to proving change… pic.twitter.com/T6Z0PgfvOu — brett lauderdale (@Lauderdale11) August 18, 2026 My hunch is that this won’t be enough for a lot of folks, especially those who’ve been targeted by folks who sound and act like Wuertz/Younger sounded and acted from at least 2020-2023. I also suspect they won’t change Lauderdale’s mind, and that these statements will be enough for most of GCW’s current audience — and a fair amount of prospective future GCW watchers as well. Regardless of how anyone feels about it, that seems to be how the world works in the summer of 2026.

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When NXT made its rise as a brand/promotion in the mid-2010s, hardcore wrestler–turned-referee Drake Younger/Wuertz seemed to be one of its best stories. But whispers about Younger’s outside affiliations, and how he was bringing them to work at the WWE Performance Center, got too loud for his employer during the pandemic. Younger was the one who turned up the volume, posting on his social media and making speeches in public forums about the various societal ills he believed God called on him and others to fight. After that predictably caused numerous issues in the NXT locker room, Younger was released as part of roster cuts made in May 2021. After a failed run to be one of Florida’s representatives to Congress, Younger retired in 2023. But this is pro wrestling. Younger returned to GCW on Saturday night (Aug. 15), getting involved in the main event and helping Joseph Sawyer (recently released by WWE himself, where he wrestled as Joe Gacy) win the promotion’s World title from Atticus Cogar. On Sunday night, the second of GCW’s two Homecoming shows in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Younger lost to GCW Ultraviolent champ Otis Cogar. Post-match, Younger got the microphone to address what he said was “incredibly valid” criticisms fans had about his booking for GCW owner Brett Lauderdale and his frequent collaborator Joey Janela. Younger also shared how both men reached out to him “five or six years ago” to express concern, something Janela opened up about at the time. Last night, Younger told the crowd at the Showboat: “Somehow, at some point, I lost my way. I had people like Joey, like Brett, reach out to me and say, “Hey, you’re not the guy that I know. That’s not the Drake that I know that you’re saying. That’s not the loving Drake that everybody was so happy about when he signed a contract. That’s not our guy. “And I brushed it off. I didn’t listen. I had tunnel vision, stuck in my own bubble, associating with topics, loosely or directly, that I had no business or no interest in affiliating with. “Through that, I may have said some things, and I definitely did some things, that I’m sure offended a large portion of our audience here in Game Changer Wrestling and in independent wrestling. “And for that, listen, look me in my eye, I want to tell you genuinely, for that, I’m sorry, and I hope you’ll forgive me. “I’ve spent the last five years proving and showing that I’m not that guy. And all that I’m asking, as I look some of you in your eyes, all that I am asking is for that chance to prove myself to you.” While this admittedly didn’t hit our radar, Post Wrestling’s Neal Flanagan points out that this wasn’t Younger’s first comeback, or apology for his QAnon-tinged past: Following a deathmatch against Janela at Juggalo Championship Wrestling’s Powder Keg on August 1, 2025, he told the audience he was a “changed man,” described himself as “clean and sober”, and apologized to people he had offended through his actions. Americans have shown a willingness — or eagerness, even — to move on from the political correctness of the past 10-15 years, and to not really reckon with the impact of our collective pandemic experiences in any meaningful way. The current President and his political movement working aggressively to roll back everything that happened during the four years they were out of power, but they’re also less popular than ever. In that environment, will indie wrestling accept Younger’s apologies and welcome him back? Let us know where you stand, and/or how you think Younger’s comeback will fare, in the comments below.