Brett Lauderdale Gives Update on Nick Gage’s Recovery

2025 has been a tough year for independent wrestling deathmatch veteran Nick Gage. After losing his partner in April, Gage entered treatment for addiction indefinitely a few months later. Gage’s last match was on September 20 and we haven’t seen him since he entered treatment.

We have some good news here. GCW promoter Brett Lauderdale has posted an update on his longtime friend:

On oct 1st, this guy was face to face with death

in less than 3 months, the turnaround is shocking & remarkable

this is what it looks like when you break free from decades of addiction and *finally* start believing in yourself

the king is back and i couldn't be more proud MDK pic.twitter.com/mSfX0s1Y0V

— brett lauderdale (@Lauderdale11) December 29, 2025

“On oct 1st, this guy was face to face with death
in less than 3 months, the turnaround is shocking & remarkable
this is what it looks like when you break free from decades of addiction and *finally* start believing in yourself
the king is back and i couldn’t be more proud MDK”

Lauderdale then sent a shoutout to the haters & grifters that I’ll allow you guys to find on his social media. He also gave special thanks to wrestling legend Sean Waltman for his assistance.

Nick Gage has been competing in wrestling since 1999. He was an early part of Combat Zone Wrestling and was one of that promotion’s most consistent performers. After some time off due to legal trouble, Gage competed for GCW & other independent promotions. He appeared on AEW Dynamite in 2021, wrestling Chris Jericho and using a pizza cutter in an infamous spot that aired during a pizza commercial.

We wish Nick Gage the best of luck on his continued recovery.