Tag: bein sports

MLW notes: Fusion return date & network, Reelz statement on Underground

Posted on by Josh Nason

After several months away, new MLW content will return to beIN Sports and YouTube next month.

On a graphic displayed on Tuesday’s season finale of MLW Underground on Reelz, it was announced that Fusion will return to its former broadcast homes on Thursday, May 25th.

Several weeks ago, MLW announced Fusion would return but didn’t provide any details at the time. After MLW Underground debuted on Reelz earlier this year, new episodes of Fusion, Fusion: Alpha and MLW Azteca ceased on beIN and YouTube in February without any mention as to why.

Reelz releases statement on MLW future

Speaking of Reelz, the network released a statement to PWInsider Wednesday regarding their future with MLW that didn’t give any real idea as to what their future together may hold.

A spokesperson said, “Season 1 has ended and we are continuing talks for season 2.”

MLW content on Reelz has to be blacked out when airing on Peacock due to WWE’s exclusive partnership with the NBCUniversal-owned streaming service — something that was mentioned in MLW’s revamped ongoing lawsuit against WWE.

In March, there was confusion as to the future of the MLW/Reelz relationship following a statement released to Variety that indicated MLW would be done airing there after this month. Both MLW and Reelz denied releasing the statement.

MLW Fury Road live special to air on beIN Sports

Posted on by Joseph Currier

MLW’s show in Waukesha, Wisconsin next month will include both a live special and television tapings.

It was announced last night that MLW’s next live special on beIN Sports will air at 9 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, June 1. The special is called Fury Road and will take place from the Waukesha County Expo Center.

Two title matches are set for the live special. Teddy Hart will defend his Middleweight Championship against Jimmy Havoc, and the finals of MLW’s National Openweight Championship tournament will also air on the special.

Alexander Hammerstone advanced to the finals of the National Openweight title tournament by defeating Gringo Loco. Hammerstone will face the winner of Rich Swan vs. Brian Pillman Jr., which is airing on this week’s episode of MLW Fusion.

The June 1 tapings will also feature Tom Lawlor, Ross Von Erich & Marshall Von Erich vs. Contra Unit (Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael & Simon Gotch), Sami Callihan vs. Mance Warner in a falls count anywhere match, Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. MJF, and the MLW debut of Adam Brooks.

Two-hour MLW live special confirmed for April

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

MLW has confirmed a two-hour live special on beIN Sports for Friday, April 5.

The time slot is not official at this point but it would be in prime time and thus go head-to-head with NXT TakeOver: New York from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn as well as the weekly New Japan show on AXS.

The special will be built around the Battle Riot, a Royal Rumble style match as far as entrances but with eliminations via not only over the top rope but pins and submissions, and is more of a street fight style match. The winner gets to pick when they’ll challenge for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship. Tom Lawlor won the first Battle Riot and is the current champion, having defeated Low Ki for the title earlier this month.

The live special will take place at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York during WrestleMania week. It will be the second straight night for MLW at the venue, with the promotion also having tapings there on Thursday, April 4.

MLW Fusion moving to Saturday nights on beIN Sports

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Starting this week, MLW Fusion is shifting to a new night on beIN Sports.

MLW has announced that Fusion is moving to airing at 9 p.m. Eastern time on Saturdays starting with this week’s episode. The show had been airing on Fridays since debuting in April 2018.

Fusion is moving to Monday nights on the Spanish-language version of beIN Sports.

“With the majority of our cards on Saturday nights and beIN interested in doing more live broadcasts in 2019, it made sense to move the show to Saturdays,” MLW’s Court Bauer said about the move. “Saturday night wrestling has a history dating back decades. It’s an honor to bring that tradition back starting this Saturday night on beIN.”

MLW’s first live special on beIN took place in December. The second one aired earlier this month and featured Tom Lawlor winning the MLW World Heavyweight Championship from Low Ki and The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) defeating Pentagon Jr. & Fenix to win the Tag Team titles.

MLW’s next live special is titled “Intimidation Games” and will take place at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois on Saturday, March 2.

MLW to air first live special on beIN Sports

Posted on by Joseph Currier

MLW will be presenting its first-ever live television special in December.

It was announced today that “MLW Fusion Live” will air on beIN Sports at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, December 14. The show is taking place at the Scottish Rite Temple in Miami, Florida as part of MLW’s night of tapings. The venue is also hosting MLW tapings on December 13.

For the live Fusion episode, MLW is promoting a double main event of Rush vs. Rich Swann and a five-way ladder match with Middleweight Champion MJF (Maxwell Jacob Friedman) defending against Andrew Everett, Dezmond Xavier, Kotto Brazil, and Jason Cade. If MJF isn’t cleared to compete in time due to his fractured elbow, the title will be vacated and it will be a four-way match to decide the new champion.

Dragon Lee vs. DJZ and appearances by Low Ki, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, Salina de la Renta, the Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Brian Pillman Jr.), Tommy Dreamer, and more are also advertised for the special.

“There is an energy and sense of expectation to live TV, and with only one or two other companies on live, it puts us in rarified air,” MLW’s Court Bauer told Sports Illustrated. “We have now exceeded every milestone we had mapped out in our business plan within our first 13 months of operation. Once again, we now find ourselves in unchartered territory, but it’s very exciting.”

Bauer also noted that there are more live specials in place for 2019.

MLW announces television deal with beIN Sports

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Image: JJ Williams

MLW (Major League Wrestling) is coming to national television next month.

MLW announced via Sports Illustrated today that their new one-hour weekly series will debut on beIN Sports USA at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, April 20th, with a replay set to air at 11 p.m. It was noted that MLW is getting a rights fee from beIN Sports as part of the deal. 

“We’ve been in talks since the fall, and they were very impressed with our product,” MLW CEO Court Bauer told Sports Illustrated. “We offer a different presentation because we identify ourselves as a combat sport, but we have a lot more creative freedom than every other combat sport to give the most high-octane presentation.”

MLW, which also has a podcast network, returned as a wrestling promotion for the first time in over 13 years with an event called “One Shot” at GILT Nightclub in Orlando last October. They’ve run monthly shows at the venue since December and will be crowning a World Heavyweight Champion when Matt Riddle faces Shane Strickland on April 12th.

The TV episodes will be taped monthly and then edited for the weekly show.

Bauer said that MLW has worked out an agreement with Lucha Underground and AAA for Pentagon Jr. and Rey Fenix to be regulars on the TV series. Tony Schiavone and Rich Bocchini (formerly known as Rich Brennan in NXT) will be the announcers for it.

MLW will be part of a “Friday Night Fury” fight block on beIN Sports. Much of the channel’s programming is focused on soccer, with them having the rights to the top leagues in Spain, Italy, and France in the United States.