GCW owner Brett Lauderdale has publicly cautioned young wrestlers against signing contracts with Major League Wrestling (MLW), labeling such commitments as professionally detrimental.
Following a report on MLW’s upcoming roster refresh, Lauderdale argued that the promotion’s limited taping schedule and restrictive clauses regarding outside bookings severely stifle athlete career momentum.
The controversy ignited on November 9, 2026, when Lauderdale responded to a Fightful Select report detailing MLW’s plan to shed contracts to clear budget space. According to F4WOnline, Lauderdale took to social media to state, “There is literally zero reason to sign a contract with MLW.”
The GCW owner noted that the promotion is looking to not renew some contracts to free up capital to pursue one or two bigger free agents. This report followed the company’s return to pay-per-view with Saturday Night SuperFight, which was broadcast on VEEPS.
Lauderdale’s critique centers on the operational structure of the promotion. He maintains that the company’s infrequent taping schedule limits the volume of content produced, which in turn limits the earning potential of talent under exclusive deals.
As reported by 411mania.com, the GCW owner emphasized that if a promotion truly values a performer, they will book that talent regardless of whether a formal contract is in place. He further warned that for young wrestlers, “the illusion of ‘being on tv’ and ‘being signed’ is very hard to pass up,” and that “signing away years of your career without a substantial money GUARANTEE is detrimental.”
There is literally zero reason to sign a contract with MLW. They only do a handful of tapings per year and you dont make any money. Your career momentum stalls and you cant sign w/ aew or wwe unless they let you out. Oh they also have a clause that says you cant wrestle for gcw https://t.co/UwWfMoptPo
The discourse has highlighted specific contractual barriers that allegedly prevent talent from appearing for GCW. Longtime GCW regular Joey Janela weighed in on the situation, alleging that these restrictive clauses were implemented as a direct response to his own public criticisms of how the company managed younger, less experienced performers.
Janela, who wrestled six times for MLW in 2018, claimed he was targeted for speaking out against a “lifetime scam artist & liar.”
Donovan Dijak recently announced his departure from MLW, confirming his status as a free agent. Reporting from Dave Meltzer via F4WOnline clarifies that Dijak was never under a formal contract, effectively operating as a free agent throughout his tenure with the group.
| Factor | Lauderdale’s Perspective | Industry Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Contract Utility | Detrimental without high guarantee | Provides stability and priority booking |
| Outside Bookings | Essential for career momentum | Often restricted to protect brand exclusivity |
| Taping Frequency | Insufficient for sustained income | Determines annual revenue per talent |
Janela’s public assessment remains stark, noting, “It’s f*ck Court Bauer forever always!”
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If they want you on their show bad enough, they will book you with or without a contract. But for young wrestlers, signing away years of your career without a substantial money GUARANTEE is detrimental
No, but if you are a young wrestler that doesnt know any better, the illusion of "being on tv" and "being signed" is very hard to pass up. https://t.co/VNwqvD5jlR
