Former WWE NXT referee Drake Wuertz has publicly addressed the controversy surrounding his past comments and social media activity, offering an apology following his appearance at GCW Homecoming.

Wuertz became the subject of significant criticism in 2021 while working for WWE. During a Seminole County Board of County Commissioners meeting, Wuertz appeared wearing an NXT shirt and spoke out against mask mandates.

During his remarks, Wuertz claimed mask requirements “only puts vulnerable children at risk of being preyed upon by traffickers and predators.”

His public statements and online activity generated considerable backlash at the time. Wuertz later said people attempting to “cancel” him had gone after his employment, religious faith, wife and children, while also threatening to “dox” members of his family.

Years later, Wuertz returned to the spotlight with an appearance at GCW Homecoming. Following his match, he took the microphone and directly acknowledged that some fans may have been uncomfortable with his involvement in Game Changer Wrestling.

Wuertz said:

“I’m not gonna sugarcoat around it. I’m not gonna pretend like it doesn’t exist. I accept and appreciate, for lack of a better term, that there are a number of people possibly building, definitely out there, perhaps back there, that may not be too thrilled about my presence in GCW. And you know what? Listen, you are incredibly valid for feeling that way, but I ask I ask you to hear me out.

About 5, 6 years ago, Joey Janela hit me up. Brett Lauderdale hit me up. Just casual friends keeping in contact. Somehow, at some point, I lost my way. I had people like Joey, like Brett, reach out to me and say, ‘Hey, you’re not the guy that I know. That’s not the Drake that I know, that sh*t that you’re saying. That’s not the loving Drake that everybody was so happy about when he signed the contract. That’s not our guy.’ And I brushed it off. I didn’t listen.

I had tunnel vision, stuck in my own bubble, associating with topics and groups loosely or directly that I had no business or no interest affiliating with. And through that, I may have said some things, and I definitely did some things that I’m sure offended a large portion of our audience here in Game Changer Wrestling and in independent wrestling. And for that, listen, look me in my eye, I want to tell you genuinely, for that, I’m sorry, and I hope you’ll forgive me.”

The comments represent a significant change in tone from Wuertz, with the former WWE official acknowledging that he had “lost my way” and admitting he ignored people close to him who attempted to challenge his behaviour and views at the time.

His apology also directly addressed the independent wrestling audience, with Wuertz acknowledging that his previous words and actions may have offended a large portion of GCW's fanbase.