GCW Set To Break Tournament Of Survival Attendance Record In Atlantic City This Weekend

GCW's annual Tournament of Survival is typically one of the biggest independent wrestling shows of the year.  And, in light of the news earlier this week that NJPW star El Desperado would be a part of this year's bracket, GCW promoter Brett Lauderdale tweeted that this weekend's show will have the biggest crowd in the Death Match tournament's history.

"Super excited to announce that Tournament of Survival 8 has just blown past TOS7, and for the 3rd straight year we will have an all time record crowd in attendance for TOS at the Showboat," he wrote. "Thanks everyone for the unbelievable support. See ya Saturday."

Super excited to announce that #GCWToS8 has just blown past TOS7 and for the 3rd straight year we will have an all time record crowd in attendance for TOS at the showboat.

Thanks everyone for the unbelievable support. See ya Saturday

🎬🎬🎬 pic.twitter.com/PtRLIYMZpf

— brett lauderdale (@Lauderdale11) June 1, 2023

Going back to 2018's Tournament of Survival 3 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey, the annual card has been one of the better-drawing independent wrestling shows outside of WrestleMania weekend. Since 2019, the event has been held at what became GCW's home base venue — the Showboat in Atlantic City. Due to ongoing work at the Showboat however, GCW is now running a different event space in the hotel instead of the usual Carousel Room.

The full field for the tournament, which will open with three-way matches in the quarterfinals, consists of El Desperado, GCW Ultraviolent Champion Rina Yamashita, Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS stars Tomoya Hirata and Toru Sugiura, Joey Janela, Sawyer Wreck, Kasey Kirk, John Wayne Murdoch, both of Los Macizos (Ciclope and Miedo Extremo), reigning IWTV Independent Wrestling World Champion Matt Tremont, and Montreal-area veteran Green Phantom.