GCW’s The Collective’s 2025 total attendance reaches 10,000 at the Palms!
In a WrestleMania week overrun by independent pro wrestling shows and events, the Collective 2025 stood out once again. While brands like New Japan Pro Wrestling, AAA and Ring of Honor have stopped running the week for a variety of reasons, Game Changer Wrestling (as well as TNA Wrestling) have remained firm in maximizing the weekend.
To put GCW running the Palms in perspective, the Palms has more seats than New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom and of course, the Collective means multiple shows over multiple days. Things kicked off quietly on April 16th with a pair of shows that were not included in the collective all-inclusive ticket.
Dragon Gate USA: The Rebirth 2025
The Rebirth had originally been planned for a more modest ballroom in the same hotel. However, a good ticket trajectory (and sensical logistics, such as not needing to set up another ring) made sense to keep it in the same venue as the rest. Dragon Gate sold out its multiple rows with only a planned number of “standing room” tickets expected at show time. In the bigger venue, people with GA could just sit outside of the planned 4 rows.
In demonstrating the power of the Collective, a Dragon Gate show presented by Pro Wrestling Revolution had a much slower trajectory with front row tickets remaining a couple of days out and more than 10 tickets available in rows 2 and beyond.
ID Tournament
Interestingly, social media promotional material for the ID Tournament did not include the WWE logo (perhaps due to Peacock and/or Netflix streaming commitments). Just prior to the show, there were a handful of tickets remaining in the first row and 10 or more tickets remaining in the second row and beyond. Clearly, this was the weakest ticket selling event for the Collective but perhaps the most important for networking opportunities with the industry gorilla.
As a note, FSW’s Friday leg of the tournament did not fare much better (and probably worse). A couple of days out, 10 or more tickets remained in the first row and beyond.
Joey Janela’s Spring Break 9
Attendance: 1,800 (per Brett Lauderdale)
In advance of the show, WrestleTix had 1,409 tickets distributed. A few days prior, GCW’s Lauderdale had tweeted that Spring Break 9 would be the second most attended JJSB (Spring Break 2 did 2,400, per Lauderdale). This year’s edition gained late momentum for Sabu’s retirement match.
While any number like that for an independent show is impressive, the collective nature of programming may have dampened an emphasis on the retirement. In addition, there was uncertainty if Janela could perform and if the match would even take place (let alone Sabu not appearing for a GCW hosted Hall of Fame induction in the past).
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIII
Attendance: 1,500 (per Brett Lauderdale)
1,026 per Wrestletix advance capture. Another good showing and buzz for this shoot style promotion. It’d be interesting to see Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport break out more.
Heels Have Eyes: For the Culture 2025
Attendance: 1,470 (per Brett Lauderdale)
WrestleTix pre-count: 1,050. Although it was a bit awkward switching up the promoter of the established For the Culture, it was the right move with this ascending promotion.
WrestleCon: Supershow 2025 – Mark Hitchcock Memorial
Attendance: 758
A good turnout and a smart move for WrestleCon to team up with the Collective in this usually competing event.
Effy’s Big Gay Brunch 10
Attendance: 752 (per Brett Lauderdale)
574 per Wrestletix advance capture.
DEFY: Living Proof 2025
Attendance: 478
For some reason, DEFY’s recent team ups outside of Washington with GCW haven’t drawn many fans (as evidenced in New York and Chicago prior). Living Proof 2025 was a similar story with 478 fans in attendance.
The Clusterf*ck Forever 2025
Attendance: 558
Probably right on expectations for a post-WrestleMania night 1 event.
Remaining attendance numbers
DDT Goes Las Vegas 2025
Attendance: 630
GCW vs. TJPW vs. DDT
Attendance: 583
PROGRESS Las Vegas
Attendance: 550
TJPW: Live in Las Vegas 2025
Attendance: 876
The Collective numbers for GCW’s The Collective 2025
In a challenging market and ambitious setting, GCW’s Collective achieves another WrestleMania week milestone. Incorporating the shows in which Brett Lauderdale provided a final number (8) along with pre figures available from WrestleTix, the total was 9,555.
One can assume the unaccounted for first 2 shows and a slightly higher total than WrestleTix for the 3 shows Brett did not update reached a cumulative additional 455 tickets total for 10,000 tickets sold. For the 11 shows with numbers available, the total of tickets counted by WrestleTix in advance was 8,306 and did not include shows on the 16th.
Lavie Margolin is the co-host of the Business of the Business podcast and can be reached via X: @Laviemarg.
All the shows from GCW The Collective 2025 can be streamed on TrillerTV.
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