GCW Owner Blasts Gail Kim After Calling Deathmatch Spot ‘Pure Trash’

Gail Kim’s recent remarks about a viral wrestling spot did not go over well with the deathmatch wrestling community.

Earlier this year, Talk To Me and Bring Her Back directors Michael and Danny Philippou announced plans for their documentary about deathmatch wrestling. At the time, the filmmakers estimated they were more than halfway done with the project. He said they planned to finish the project during the second half of 2025.

Over the weekend, director Michael Philippou shared a clip of the Exploding Barbed Wire Match he competed in on Instagram. The footage features Philippou and another performer standing on stacks of crushed cars positioned around an outdoor ring. They then performed a diving suplex-like move through panes of glass and barbed wire draped across the ring.

The clip resulted in more than 70,000 “likes” on Philippou’s account, including by video game director Hideo Kojima. However, the clip was also derided by many others, including Gail Kim. The TNA Hall of Famer saw the clip and reacted, calling the spot “pure trash.”

“Say you don’t know how to storytell without saying it,” Kim added on Twitter/X.

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A post shared by Michael Philippou (@michael_philippou)

GCW’s Brett Lauderdale fired back at Gail Kim

GCW owner Brett Lauderdale took exception to Kim’s remarks and fired back, writing the following on Twitter/X:

“This scene is part of a documentary produced by a24 telling the stories of little known deathmatch fighters from around the world,” Lauderdale wrote. “It will premiere at prestigious film festivals around the world (bookmark this). Now… i dare anyone to name 1 memorable Gail Kim match.”

Lauderdale later clarified his remarks and said that his comments were not because he dislikes Kim. Rather, he shared his disappointment that Gail shares the same “uninformed” opinion that other pro wrestling personalities (and deathmatch critics) like Jim Cornette share.

“I dont dislike Gail kim and its clear she’s well liked by her peers. That’s why its so dissapointing to see her echo the same uninformed tell a story Hot dog handshake bullshit about deathmatches as old losers like al snow, jim cornette & Dutch mantell. Shes better than that/them.”

Many people took issue with the last line in Lauderdale’s original reply, where he dared them to name a memorable Gail Kim match. This includes WWE NXT star Jordynne Grace and TNA star Steph De Lander, who said he could have left the last line out.

Noooo but you can say she’s wrong without lying – it’s GAIL KIM ?

I don’t agree with her either at ALL but an opinion doesn’t negate her career
— Jordynne Grace (@JordynneGrace) September 22, 2025

Now reply to her
— brett lauderdale (@Lauderdale11) September 22, 2025

Kim also responded to Lauderdale and said they should have a match. She promised to make it memorable, but it’d actually have ring psychology and a story. Lauderdale simply replied that he is not a wrestler.