JJ Gale: Mad Kurt Was One Of Those Guys That Lit Up A Room With His Infectious Personality And Humor

JJ Gale remembers his late friend Mad Kurt.

JJ Gale remembers the late Kurtis Chapman.

In December of 2023, the wrestling world lost one of its brightest lights, as ‘Mad Kurt’ Kurtis Chapman tragically passed away. Kurtis has been remembered in several ways since his passing, most recently with a special memorial show, Mad Kurt Forever, on March 5th. 

While speaking to Fightful’s Corey Brennan on the night of Mad Kurt Forever, JJ Gale remembered his late friend, noting how much he lit up every locker room he was in.

“I mean, that’s all you’ve heard since the tragic news is just, you know, as sad as it is what’s happened, you know whenever you talk about him, you can’t help but smile because he was just one of those guys that he lit up a room with his infectious personality and humor. Half the time he’s pissing you off and you just want to tell him to fuck off but like you look back now and you wouldn’t change that for the world. There’s so many stories. Some probably i shouldn’t tell on here. But honestly, just such a such a dynamite personality that just lit up every locker room he was in and like i know it sounds cliche, but it like really was the way it was. I think from what everyone said, you get that. But so many funny times on the road, just, you know, he’s one of those guys, if you’re in a car with him, you got four hours drive to a show, it’s just gonna fly by because you’re just choking away and having a laugh. A fond one for me was when we went to Germany together a few years ago, just because it was one of those first trips abroad for both of us where it’s quite exciting and it’s new and it’s different. We had a real fun match there. That’s when we tagged. And then afterwards there was an after party where we’re drinking away. Like I said, I won’t get into the details, but it’s just such fun and funny memories. But I could go on and on, but you know, he’s just such an incredible person, such an incredible professional wrestler and I’m not sure he really got his flowers enough. I think he’s starting to get that now. Him versus Will Ospreay from the 229 back in 2022, like that match was incredible. I know Will’s one of the best in the world, but Kurt’s got to hold up his end and the way that worked and that story unfolded, the crowd were just there for everything and they played every little part of that as they could. Genuinely one of my favourite matches I’ve watched live just because it was just so much fun. It’s everything that’s amazing about pro wrestling. So yeah, I love Kurtis. I miss him a lot. Gutted I couldn’t be there tonight. But we’re just going to keep doing him proud by going out and doing this thing that we all loved so much. It’s been cathartic at points just to be around British wrestling and then be around the other boys and girls that held him so dear and just sharing our joint love for Kurtis. So God rest his soul.” 

Mad Kurt Forever would stream live on YouTube, and you can watch the full show here.

Elsewhere in Gale’s interview with Fightful, he discussed his match with Zack Sabre Jr late last year. You can read more about that here.