GCW’s Lauderdale Says AEW Viewed Marko Stunt More as a Character Than a Wrestler

GCW founder Brett Lauderdale has weighed in on Marko Stunt’s time in AEW, suggesting the company leaned into Stunt’s persona rather than fully utilizing him as an in-ring performer. In a recent interview, Lauderdale expressed that while AEW did appreciate what Stunt brought as a wrestler, the promotion ultimately saw him through the lens of a character first and foremost.

For Lauderdale, the distinction matters — and having Stunt back under the GCW banner is something he’s clearly enthusiastic about. Stunt had been away from the company for three years before making his return at Joey Janela’s Spring Break X in April. The comeback was a memorable one: Stunt teamed with Jack Perry to pick up a win over KJ Orso and Sam Stackhouse.

Stunt first became widely known through his GCW work before signing with AEW, where he became a fixture on Dynamite and Dark programming, frequently teaming with Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus as part of the Jurassic Express faction. Despite his popularity with live crowds, he was eventually released by AEW in 2022 as part of a broader round of talent cuts.

Lauderdale’s comments reflect what many fans have felt about Stunt’s AEW tenure — that his physical uniqueness and charisma made him an easy novelty act to lean on, potentially at the expense of being taken seriously as a competitor. Back in the GCW environment where he built his name, Stunt appears to have found a home that values him in a different way, and his Spring Break return suggested the crowd hasn’t forgotten what made him special in the first place.