Tag: fightland

Women’s title match booked for MLW Fightland

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A Women’s Championship match featuring two competitors from Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling has been booked for MLW Fightland 2025.

Shoko Nakajima will put her MLW Women’s Featherweight Championship on the line against Yuki Kamifuku at the September 13 event in North Richland Hills, Texas. The show is airing live on MLW’s YouTube channel for free.

In April of this year, Nakajima made her MLW debut by defeating Delmi Exo to become the new Women’s Featherweight Champion. The title has existed since 2022 with Exo, Janai Kai, and Taya Valkyrie being past champions.

Kamifuku debuted for MLW in June with a victory over Wakana Uehara.

“This summer in Japan, the rivalry turned ugly when Yuki Kamifuku viciously attacked Shoko Nakajima, going as far as to strike the champion with her own championship belt,” MLW wrote. “Now, the world will see the fallout when these two clash in MLW’s return to Dallas/Ft. Worth.”

The Fightland broadcast has a start time of 10 p.m. Eastern.

MLW Fightland 2025 (Saturday, September 13) —

  • MLW World Heavyweight Champion Matt Riddle defends against Donovan Dijak
  • Templario vs. Ikuro Kwon for the vacant MLW Middleweight Championship
  • MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion Shoko Nakajima defends against Yuki Kamifuku
  • Opera Cup tournament first-round match: Volador Jr. vs. Titan
  • Opera Cup tournament first-round match: Zandokan Jr. vs. Blue Panther Jr.
  • Texas Death Match: Alex Hammerstone vs. Matthew Justice
  • Shotzi vs. Alejandra Quintanilla

Texas Death Match booked for MLW Fightland

Posted on by Joseph Currier

When MLW comes to Texas next month, a death match will be part of the lineup.

MLW has announced that Alex Hammerstone vs. Matthew Justice in a Texas Death Match will take place at Fightland 2025. The show is being held at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills on September 13 and will air live on MLW’s YouTube channel.

Hammerstone — a former MLW World Heavyweight Champion — returned to the promotion this April following a stint with TNA Wrestling. He’s set his sights on becoming World Champion again but challenged for a different belt this June, facing Ultimo Guerrero for the MLW National Openweight Championship. It was supposed to be a one-on-one match until Justice was added at the last minute.

In the triple threat, Guerrero ended up retaining the National Openweight title after Justice cost Hammerstone the win.

MLW wrote:

Hammerstone came within seconds of reclaiming the title, only for Justice to crash the moment. After the bell, frustration turned physical as the two erupted in a violent post-match confrontation, throwing live rounds until MLW security intervened. The tension hasn’t cooled since.

Hammerstone has since lashed out, labeling Justice ‘Mud Show Matt,’ mocking his no-rules brawling style and questioning his place in MLW. But Justice hasn’t backed down—firing back by calling out Hammerstone for walking away from the league, claiming, ‘I bleed MLW. You left to chase greener pastures.’

Justice is a former National Openweight and Tag Team Champion in MLW.

The live Fightland broadcast will begin at 10 p.m. Eastern time on September 13. Here’s the updated card:

MLW Fightland 2025 (Saturday, September 13) —

  • MLW World Heavyweight Champion Matt Riddle defends against Donovan Dijak
  • Templario vs. Ikuro Kwon for the vacant MLW Middleweight Championship
  • Opera Cup tournament first-round match: Volador Jr. vs. Titan
  • Texas Death Match: Alex Hammerstone vs. Matthew Justice

TV taping portion (will not air live)–

  • Opera Cup tournament first-round match: Austin Aries vs. KUSHIDA
  • Opera Cup tournament first-round match: Ultimo Guerrero vs. Esfinge

MLW announces match for vacant Middleweight title

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A new MLW Middleweight Champion will be crowned at the promotion’s Fightland event next month.

MLW has announced that CMLL star Templario will face off against Ikuro Kwon on September 13 with the vacant Middleweight title on the line. The winner will be the first wrestler to hold the belt since Mistico — who had been champion for 401 days — had to relinquish it due to injury this April.

Templario was scheduled to challenge Mistico for the Middleweight title at April’s Battle Riot event prior to Mistico being forced off the card. There was instead a three-way match where Templario defeated Esfinge and Hechicero.

Despite not being able to compete then, Mistico still appeared at Battle Riot and vacated the Middleweight Championship. There was an angle where Kwon physically stole the title belt on behalf of Contra Unit.

Fightland 2025 is taking place at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, Texas and will air live on MLW’s YouTube channel.

MLW Fightland 2025 (Saturday, September 13) —

  • MLW World Heavyweight Champion Matt Riddle defends against Donovan Dijak
  • Templario vs. Ikuro Kwon for the vacant MLW Middleweight Championship

MLW books Matt Riddle vs. Tom Lawlor stipulation match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Former UFC fighters Matt Riddle and Tom Lawlor will do battle in a pro wrestling match this weekend.

MLW has announced that Riddle vs. Lawlor will take place on the TV taping portion of the promotion’s Fightland event in Atlanta this Saturday (September 14). It’s a “Vale Tudo rules” match, which MLW hypes as being a no holds barred martial arts-inspired street fight.

“Before MMA was an organized sport, pit fighters would battle in the underground fight world of Brazil in no-rules, no-holds-barred martial arts street fights. They called it Vale Tudo Rules! A dangerous, controversial, and arguably barbaric form of combat sports, Vale Tudo tests the limits of human endurance, skill, and sheer will to survive,” MLW wrote.

“Now MLW brings Vale Tudo to Center Stage in Atlanta, where two of the sport’s most dangerous competitors will collide in a match that harkens back to the true, gritty roots of MMA. Matt Riddle and Tom Lawlor will throw down in a clash that promises to be one of the most unpredictable encounters in MLW history.”

An air date for the match has not been announced. It’s the first one-on-one matchup between Riddle and Lawlor since 2017.

Fightland will include both a live special and TV tapings. The live special is airing for free on MLW’s YouTube channel.

MLW Fightland live special (Saturday, February 14) —

  • MLW World Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima defends against Mads Krugger
  • Opera Cup finals: TBA vs. TBA
  • Opera Cup semifinals: KENTA vs. TJP
  • Opera Cup semifinals: Mistico vs. Bad Dude Tito
  • Donovan Dijak vs. Timothy Thatcher
  • The Andersons (Brock Anderson & CW Anderson) vs. Bomaye Fight Club (Alex Kane & Mr. Thomas)
  • Okumura vs. Adam Priest

TV tapings —

  • Vale Tudo rules match: Matt Riddle vs. Tom Lawlor
  • Bobby Fish vs. Kevin Knight

Donovan Dijak to make MLW in-ring debut at Fightland

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Former WWE wrestler Donovan Dijak is set for his first MLW match.

Dijak will make his MLW in-ring debut at Fightland 2024, facing off against Timothy Thatcher. The show is being held at Center Stage in Atlanta on Saturday, September 14 and will stream live on MLW’s YouTube channel for free.

Last week, Dijak arrived in MLW by disrupting a scramble match between Jimmy Lloyd, LSG, Little Guido, and Nolo Kitano. He laid out everyone in the match and then cut a promo saying his aim is to become the next MLW World Heavyweight Champion. The belt is currently held by Satoshi Kojima. Dijak also mentioned Thatcher, Matt Riddle, and Minoru Suzuki as targets.

The 37-year-old Dijak is a free agent after departing WWE this June when his contract was not renewed by the company. On June 27, Dijak posted a statement saying he tried to negotiate with WWE, but they never made him an offer. He was informed at the “eleventh hour” that WWE would not be renewing his contract.

Mister Saint Laurent is Dijak’s manager in MLW.

Here’s the updated card for Fightland:

  • MLW World Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima defends against Mads Krugger
  • Opera Cup finals: TBA vs. TBA
  • Opera Cup semifinal match: KENTA vs. TJP
  • Opera Cup semifinal match: Mistico vs. Bad Dude Tito
  • Donovan Dijak vs. Timothy Thatcher
  • The Andersons (Brock Anderson & CW Anderson) vs. Bomaye Fight Club (Alex Kane & Mr. Thomas)

NJPW’s Kevin Knight to make MLW debut

Posted on by Joseph Currier

NJPW wrestler Kevin Knight is set to debut for MLW later this month.

At MLW Fightland, Knight will make his debut in a singles match against Bobby Fish. It will be part of the TV taping portion of the event, which is being held at Center Stage in Knight’s hometown of Atlanta on Saturday, September 14.

Knight is a former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, holding the titles with KUSHIDA. Knight recently teamed with Rocky Romero & YOSHI-HASHI in a victory over Bullet Club War Dogs (David Finlay, Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney) at NJPW Capital Collision.

In MLW, Fish is part of a newly formed stable with The Andersons (Brock Anderson & CW Anderson) and Brett Ryan Gosselin. They laid out Paul London at MLW Summer of the Beasts.

The Andersons made their MLW tag team debut at Summer of the Beasts and are set for action at Fightland, but their opponents have not been announced.

Fightland’s main card will stream live on MLW’s YouTube channel. The show is being headlined by Satoshi Kojima defending his MLW World Heavyweight Championship against Mads Krugger.

MLW returning to Atlanta for Fightland 2024

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After holding Battle Riot VI in the city, MLW has announced a return date for Atlanta.

MLW will be back at Center Stage on Saturday, September 14 for Fightland 2024. The event will feature both a live streaming special and matches taped for MLW television. Tickets are going on sale this Wednesday (June 5) at 10 a.m. Eastern time.

Center Stage also hosted Battle Riot VI this past Saturday. At the event, Matt Riddle won the 40-man Battle Riot match to earn a future MLW World Heavyweight Championship shot. Satoshi Kojima, the current champion, retained his title against Tom Lawlor. MLW hasn’t announced when Riddle will be getting his title shot.

Battle Riot was MLW’s Atlanta debut.

Going forward, MLW’s special events (including Fightland) will air live on YouTube for those who subscribe as a paid member to the MLW YouTube channel. The events previously aired on TrillerTV+.

Riddle, Kojima, Lawlor, Alex Kane, Mistico, AKIRA, Sami Callihan, Jake Crist, Delmi Exo, Cesar Duran, Salina de la Renta, and Contra Unit (Mads Krugger, Minoru Suzuki, Janai Kai & Ikuro Kwon) are advertised for Fightland.

Here’s a look at MLW’s upcoming event schedule:

  • Blood & Thunder: Friday, July 12 at The Coliseum in St. Petersburg, Florida
  • Summer of the Beasts: Thursday, August 29 at the Melrose Ballroom in New York City
  • Fightland: Saturday, September 14 at Center Stage in Atlanta
  • Lucha Apocalypto: Saturday, November 9 at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois

Tag Team title ladder match added to MLW Fightland

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The MLW Tag Team titles will be up for grabs in a ladder match at Fightland.

MLW has announced that The Calling (Rickey Shane Page & AKIRA) will defend their titles against Second Gear Crew (1 Called Manders & Matthew Justice) in a ladder match at Fightland. The event is taking place from Philadelphia on Saturday, November 18 and will air live on Fite+.

This is a rematch from the most recent episode of MLW Fusion. The Calling and Second Gear Crew faced off in a tables match in the main event of that show. It ended in a draw when Justice and AKIRA went through a table at the same time. Following the match, Second Gear Crew challenged The Calling to take it to a “whole new level of violence” by facing them in a ladder match.

The Calling have been MLW Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from Lance Anoa’i & Juicy Finau this July. Anoa’i & Finau were recently granted their releases from MLW.

Rickey Shane Page is a double champion in MLW, also holding the promotion’s National Openweight Championship.

Mance Warner, a fellow Second Gear Crew member, is facing Matt Cardona in a Loser Leaves MLW match at Fightland. The updated card for the show is listed below:

  • MLW World Heavyweight Champion Alex Kane defends against Jacob Fatu
  • Loser Leaves MLW match: Matt Cardona vs. Mance Warner
  • Ladder match: MLW Tag Team Champions The Calling (Rickey Shane Page & AKIRA) defend against Second Gear Crew (1 Called Manders & Matthew Justice)
  • Lucha libre rules match: Rocky Romero & Barbaro Cavernario vs. Mascara Dorada 2.0 & Ichiban

World Heavyweight title match booked for MLW Fightland

Posted on by Joseph Currier

MLW has revealed the next challenger for World Heavyweight Champion Alex Kane.

Kane will put his championship on the line against Jacob Fatu at MLW Fightland on Saturday, November 18. The show is taking place from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia and will air live on Fite+.

Fatu is looking to become the first person to hold the MLW World Heavyweight Championship twice. His first reign with the title lasted from July 2019 to October 2021.

Fatu is also a former MLW National Openweight Champion.

This July, Kane defeated Alex Hammerstone to become MLW World Heavyweight Champion. He’s made title defenses against Willie Mack and Tom Lawlor since then. The latter title defense was originally supposed to be Davey Boy Smith Jr. challenging Kane, but Smith had to withdraw from the match. Smith underwent emergency surgery to remove part of his appendix and colon.

Kane vs. Fatu will be the main event of Fightland. MLW has also announced that the show will feature a tag team match with Rocky Romero & Barbaro Cavernario facing Mascara Dorada 2.0 & Ichiban.

Trish Adora to challenge for MLW Women’s Featherweight title at Fightland

Posted on by Joseph Currier

In her debut for the promotion, Trish Adora is getting a shot at the MLW Women’s Featherweight Championship.

MLW has announced that Adora will challenge Taya Valkyrie for the Women’s Featherweight Championship at this Sunday’s Fightland tapings in Philadelphia. The tapings are being held at the 2300 Arena.

Adora is a United States Army veteran. She was one of the standout performers in the ROH women’s division before ROH went on hiatus at the end of 2021.

Adora has made several appearances on AEW Dark, including unsuccessfully challenging Mercedes Martinez for the ROH Women’s Championship earlier this year. Adora was also part of a six-woman tag match on AEW Rampage this April

Valkyrie was crowned the inaugural MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion this May.

Matches from the Fightland tapings will air on future episodes of MLW Fusion. The updated lineup for the tapings is listed below:

MLW Fightland (Sunday, October 30) — 

  • Last Man Standing match: MLW World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone defends against EJ Nduka
  • MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie defends against Trish Adora
  • MLW Middleweight Champion Shun Skywalker defends against Lince Dorado
  • Jacob Fatu vs. Lio Rush
  • Willie Mack vs. Calvin Tankman
  • Real 1 (nZo) vs. Mance Warner
  • Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Billington Bulldogs vs. Bomaye Fight Club
  • Samoan Swat Team vs. The FBI
  • Sam Adonis debuts
  • Delirious debuts

Middleweight title match set for MLW Fightland

Posted on by Ian Carey

MLW has announced that the middleweight title will be on the line at Fightland. 

Shun Skywalker will defend his championship against Lince Dorado on the show. It will be Skywalker’s first defense of the belt since winning it from Myron Reed at MLW Super Series last month. 

As for Dorado, this will be his second time challenging for the title. He faced Reed for the belt in a fatal four-way match at Battle Riot IV on June 23. 

“The new World Middleweight Champion Shun Skywalker has accepted his first challenge for the title as luchador Lince Dorado looks to pounce the mercurial masked Japanese phenom and win gold,” reads an MLW press release. 

MLW Fightland takes place Sunday, October 30 from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA, and will be filmed for future episodes of MLW Fusion. The announced matches for the show are as follows:

  • MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone defends against EJ Nduka in a last man standing match
  • MLW Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie defends against TBA
  • MLW Middleweight Champion Shun Skywalker defends against Lince Dorado
  • Jacob Fatu vs. Lio Rush
  • Willie Mack vs. Calvin Tankman
  • Real 1 (nZo) vs. Mance Warner
  • Billington Bulldogs & Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Bomaye Fight Club

Davey Boy Smith Jr. returning to MLW at Fightland

Posted on by Joseph Currier

For the first time since 2020, Davey Boy Smith Jr. is returning to MLW.

MLW has announced that Smith will return to the promotion at its Fightland tapings in Philadelphia this month. The tapings are being held at the 2300 Arena on Sunday, October 30.

Smith is a former MLW Tag Team Champion and the winner of the 2019 Opera Cup tournament. After losing in the first round of the 2020 Opera Cup, it was announced that Smith had departed the promotion. MLW’s Court Bauer said at the time:

Davey Boy’s exit in the opening round of the Opera Cup marks the end of this chapter for DBS in MLW. I have immense gratitude for (Davey) and his contributions inside the MLW ring over the past 2 ½ years. The MLW system was a great fit for him. Winning the 2019 Opera Cup as well as his run as a World Tag Team Champion. A certified beast. Davey Boy Smith Jr. is the real deal and I wish him luck with whatever comes next.

Smith returned to WWE in 2021 but ended up never making a televised appearance for the company. He was released by WWE in November 2021.

This June, Smith won the NWA Tag Team titles with Doug Williams. They had to vacate the titles in August after Smith wasn’t able to compete at NWA 74 due to an illness.

The updated card for the MLW Fightland tapings is listed below:

MLW Fightland (Sunday, October 30) —

  • Last Man Standing match: MLW World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone defends against EJ Nduka
  • Jacob Fatu vs. Lio Rush
  • Willie Mack vs. Calvin Tankman
  • Sam Adonis debuts
  • Davey Boy Smith Jr. returns

MLW media call notes: Braun Strowman, WWE, women’s division

Posted on by Skylar Russell

MLW CEO Court Bauer held a media call today to promote the upcoming MLW Fightland event. 

Bauer was asked about having interest in Adam Scherr (Braun Strowman), as well as Windham Rotunda (Bray Wyatt). Although Bauer avoided the Wyatt question, he noted that they contacted his brother Taylor Rotunda a.k.a Bo Dallas but he wasn’t interested in coming in and is focused on farming. When it came to Strowman, Bauer said while the two had talks but ultimately couldn’t reach a deal.

It was also made clear that the promotion’s long term plan is to have a separate league for the women’s division, as well as their own separate streaming/media show. 

Some additional notes from the call:

  • MLW has a residency at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia through 2022.
  • Talks with WWE did happen, but Bauer called them “tricky” and was worried it could hurt the creative of their show.
  • Bauer wants a streaming network for the company, but is waiting for the right situation. He noted that he has to step back and say no sometimes.
  • West coast dates are planned for 2022, pending the state of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
  • Bauer said that he hopes that the Fightland show can retain at least 50% of the Dark Side Of The Ring audience. 
  • An event showcasing Latin American MLW talent is penciled in for December, but is still pending due to the pandemic. 
  • Alexander Hammerstone sprained his ankle at the Fightland tapings. Expected to be ready to go by November tapings.
  • Nicole Savoy’s injury at the tapings was described as a “bruised sternum”. She is expected to be fine in a few weeks. TJP, who tweaked his knee at the Fightland tapings, is also expected to be fine.
  • Bauer put over his working relationships with IWA, AAA, and All Japan. Notes that Tajiri, Savio Vega and Konnan are all great bookers for their respective promotions.

Fightland is set to air on Vice TV tomorrow at 10/9c following a new episode of Dark Side Of The Ring.

Tom Lawlor vs. Davey Richards set for MLW Opera Cup tournament

Posted on by Joseph Currier

MLW has revealed the first opening round matchup in this year’s Opera Cup tournament.

Tom Lawlor and Davey Richards will face off in the first round of the Opera Cup at MLW’s Fightland tapings at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday, October 2. The Opera Cup first round and semifinal matches are taking place at Fightland. The finals will then be held when MLW returns to the 2300 Arena on Saturday, November 6.

Alex Shelley, Bobby Fish, Lee Moriarty, TJP, Calvin Tankman, and Matt Cross are the other participants for this year’s Opera Cup.

Lawlor was the winner of the 2020 Opera Cup. Davey Boy Smith Jr. won MLW’s inaugural edition of the tournament in 2019.

Richards made his MLW debut at July’s Battle Riot tapings.

A one-hour special from the Fightland tapings will air on Vice TV at 10 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, October 7. MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu vs. National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone in a title vs. title match will headline the special. A four-way match with Myron Reed defending his MLW Middleweight title against Tajiri, Aramis, and Arez will also air on the special.

Here’s the updated lineup for the Fightland tapings:

  • Title vs. title match: MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu vs. National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone
  • MLW Middleweight Champion Myron Reed defends against Tajiri, Aramis, and Arez in a four-way match
  • Nicole Savoy vs. Holidead
  • 2021 Opera Cup tournament first round and semifinals

MLW adds Septimo Dragon vs. Douglas James to Fightland

Posted on by Josh Nason

Two potential challengers to MLW Middleweight Champion Myron Reed will square off at MLW Fightland.

The promotion announced Friday that Septimo Dragon vs. Douglas James has been added to next Saturday’s February 1st card in Philadelphia, PA, a TV taping for MLW Fusion.

James, a legit MMA fighter and BJJ ace, signed with MLW last fall and made his company debut in September while the 26-year-old Mexico native Dragon is looking for his first win in MLW since debuting in 2019. James is also looking for his first singles win in MLW.

Here’s the updated card for the tapings:

  • MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu vs. CIMA
  • Tom Lawlor vs. Killer Kross
  • MLW National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone vs. T-Hawk
  • Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Erick Stevens
  • Low Ki vs. King Mo (w/ Dan Lambert)
  • Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Jimmy Havoc (w/ Priscilla Kelly)
  • Los Parks (LA Park & El Hijo de LA Park) vs. CONTRA Unit (Josef Samael & Simon Gotch) in a lumberjack match
  • MLW Middleweight Champion Myron Reed vs. Arez
  • Injustice (Jordan Oliver & Kotto Brazil) vs. Gringo Loco & Puma King
  • Septimo Dragon vs. Douglas James