Drake Wuertz knows there are wrestling fans who want absolutely nothing to do with him, and the former WWE referee is now asking them to give him another shot after his surprise return at GCW Homecoming.
Wuertz, better known to longtime independent wrestling fans as Drake Younger, showed up during GCW Homecoming night one and helped Joseph Sawyer defeat Atticus Cogar to capture the GCW World Championship. One night later, Wuertz wrestled Otis Cogar for the GCW Ultraviolent Championship, came up short and then grabbed the microphone to address the elephant in the room. Wuertz immediately acknowledged that some fans weren’t happy to see him back in GCW and said he understood why.
“I accept and appreciate that people may not be thrilled about my presence in GCW. You are incredibly valid for feeling that way.”
Wuertz then said Joey Janela and GCW promoter Brett Lauderdale tried to get through to him five or six years ago when they believed he had lost his way. According to Wuertz, he refused to listen at the time and became wrapped up in subjects and groups he now believes he should have stayed away from.
“People like Joey and Brett were saying, ‘That’s not the guy I know.’ I brushed it off and didn’t listen. I had tunnel vision and was associating with topics and groups, loosely or directly, that I had no business or interest affiliated with. Through that, I may have said some things, and I definitely said some things that offended a large portion of our audience in independent wrestling. For that, genuinely, I’m sorry, and I hope you’ll forgive me.”
There is a lot of history behind that apology. Wuertz became a lightning rod during the final years of his WWE run over his political activism and conspiracy-related social-media activity. In April 2021, while still working for WWE, Wuertz called into a Seminole County government meeting from the WWE Performance Center and argued against mask requirements. Weeks later, he skipped an NXT television taping to attend a Seminole County school board meeting, where he argued against masks in schools and claimed face coverings could help predators prey on children.
Wuertz also faced scrutiny over QAnon-related material. VICE documented social-media activity in which he interacted with QAnon content, as well as posts from Proud Boys-affiliated accounts. Wuertz denied being affiliated with the Proud Boys and later told VICE in 2022 that he did not support QAnon.
There was another controversy involving Operation Underground Railroad, an anti-human-trafficking organization that VICE described at the time as QAnon-adjacent. Emails obtained through public-records requests showed Wuertz using his WWE corporate email account to coordinate fundraising efforts for the organization and offering to recruit WWE talent for an event. Operation Underground Railroad itself denied being affiliated with QAnon.
WWE released Wuertz in May 2021 during the middle of that storm, although WWE never publicly announced that his political views or outside activities were the reason for his departure. Wuertz later claimed his stance against COVID-19 vaccination played a role in losing his WWE job.
Back at GCW Homecoming, Wuertz said he’s not looking for special treatment or some cushy legends deal. He said he wants the opportunity to earn his spot and prove that the man fans remember from those controversies isn’t who he is today.
“All I’m asking is for an opportunity.”
Wuertz finished by thanking Lauderdale and Janela for giving him that opportunity. Whether wrestling fans are willing to accept the apology is another story. Wuertz isn’t pretending the backlash came out of nowhere, and his GCW return now puts him directly in front of an independent wrestling audience that remembers exactly why his name became so divisive in the first place.
Do you think Drake Wuertz deserves another opportunity in GCW after apologizing for his past, or are some controversies too difficult to move past? Let us know what you think and leave your feedback in the comments.
