Brett Lauderdale Explains Why Marko Stunt Didn’t Have a Bigger Run in AEW

During a recent interview with Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, GCW Owner Brett Lauderdale spoke about former AEW wrestler Marko Stunt. Stunt recently returned to the ring earlier this year, including a return to GCW at Spring Break X in April.

At the event, Stunt reunited with his former Jurassic Express stablemate Jack Perry, and they defeated the team of KJ Orso and Sam Stackhouse. Lauderdale spoke about Stunt’s special connection to GCW, along with why Stunt wasn’t able to have a bigger run in a major company. Below are some highlights from Fightful:

Brett Lauderdale on Marko Stunt

“Marko will always have a special connection to GCW. His overnight meteoric rise to fame in wrestling came through GCW and he’s one of those guys, he’s an underdog and you love seeing guys like him succeed against the odds. When people say ‘He’s not this,’ or ‘He’s not that,’ he was a guy who truly proved everybody wrong. At the same time, I almost think that Marko was a victim of his own success. His overnight success, it almost limited him in some ways. He wasn’t able to fully get out there and make the full rounds as an independent wrestler and show what he could do as a wrestler. I think when he was brought into AEW, of course, I think they did appreciate him as a wrestler, but I think they looked at him more as a character. I think that that might have limited him um in being able to do all the things that he was capable of.”

On His Belief That Marko Stunt Could’ve Done Better in a Major Company If His Indie Run Was Longer

“So had he been able to stick around in the indies a little longer, I think he would have been able to show that and it might have made him even more valuable to an AEW or whatever or a WWE or whomever. Regardless, it was cool. He had a nice little run and got to get paid very well for a few years and now he’s back out here and again, it’s another reset for Marko. It’s great to have him back. He’s somebody that’s super positive in the locker room. He’s fun to be around and he’s another one who’s super passionate. He takes it very seriously in a good way. I’m a Marko guy. So I’m excited to have him back and see what he’s going to do this time around.”

Marko Stunt reportedly parted ways with AEW in 2022. Stunt later announced in 2024 that he was retired from the ring, citing injuries, but he’s since made his in-ring return on the indie scene.