Former AEW and WWE NXT wrestler Bobby Fish is joining the MLW roster.
MLW announced today that Fish will return to the promotion at Intimidation Games 2024 in New York City on Thursday, February 29. Fish’s opponent for the show has not been announced.
This will be Fish’s first time competing for MLW since 2021. Following his release from WWE, Fish debuted for MLW as an entrant in the 2021 Opera Cup tournament. He defeated Lee Moriarty in the first round but lost to Davey Richards in the semifinals.
Fish was with AEW from 2021 until his contract expired in 2022 and was not renewed. He made appearances for Impact Wrestling and NJPW Strong after that. In 2022, Fish won his pro boxing debut.
Intimidation Games is taking place from the Melrose Ballroom in Queens and will air live on TrillerTV+. In the main event of the show, new MLW World Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima defends his title against Minoru Suzuki. Kojima won the championship from Alex Kane at MLW SuperFight last weekend.
MLW has again pushed back its next scheduled trip to the Chicago area.
It was announced today that MLW’s Intimidation Games set of television tapings have been rescheduled to Saturday, June 5, 2021. After already having been pushed back once due to the coronavirus pandemic, the show had been set for June 12 of this year before being rescheduled again today.
The tapings are being held at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois. Tickets that have already been purchased will be honored on the new date.
“League officials continue to monitor the on-going coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and under the advisement of medical experts and public health officials elected to reschedule MLW’s Chicago event for 2021,” MLW wrote in a press release. “The status to delay additional events will be decided in the weeks ahead.”
MLW added: “The league remains focused on a return after suspending promoting live events, however is proceeding with an abundance of caution. At the appropriate time, the league will communicate plans for promoting live events outside of the temporary hiatus and update the status of league events. The MLW family would like to extend our appreciation and well wishes to all doctors, nurses, emergency services staff, first responders, medical professionals, essential services staff and all others on the front line working to address the public health crisis in our nation and around the world.”
Last week, it was announced that MLW Anthology will premiere on beIN Sports in conjunction with MLW Fusion on Saturday, May 16. It will “spotlight the biggest rivalries, iconic athletes and championship classics spanning the history of MLW dating back to 2002.”
The episodes of MLW Fusion that are currently airing are from the promotion’s Super Series with Lucha Libre AAA that was filmed in March. That was MLW’s last event before the promotion temporarily suspended promoting live events due to the pandemic.
Two days after running a TV taping in Tijuana, Mexico, Major League Wrestling announced they have rescheduled their April Elimination Games event to June instead due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The Chicago, IL, TV taping at Cicero Stadium was moved from Saturday, April 18th to Friday, June 12th, with all purchased tickets honored.
MLW’s next event is a TV taping at Dallas, Texas’ NYTEX Sports Center on Saturday, May 2nd. That is just outside a 45-day window the promotion said they will not run live events in at which time they will reassess their upcoming schedule which calls for one event per month.
Their weekly hour-long Fusion TV product will continue on BeIn Sports and YouTube as they are currently airing matches taped at their recent Philadelphia, PA, Fightland event with Friday’s MLW vs. AAA event taped in Tijuana coming after that.
MLW has been shopping around for a new TV partner, the main reason owner Court Bauer was not in Mexico Friday. Dave Meltzer added the following:
“He said he discussed the situation with his television partners and felt empty arena shows don’t work after watching SmackDown. Even if they did, it’s not something his company could risk doing. The current plan if they can’t return to taping soon would be to do personality profile shows on their top talent through June, and then using archival content, including going back to the original MLW from the early 00s, in July. Bauer noted that New York has a quarantine zone just a half mile from their office in New Rochelle, NY.”
Independent wrestler Chris Dickinson is coming to MLW this April.
MLW announced today that Dickinson will make his debut for the promotion when they return to the Chicago area for their Intimidation Games television tapings. The tapings are taking place at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois on Saturday, April 18.
MLW hyped up Dickinson while announcing his debut:
Chris Dickinson is tough as nails. A Staten Island roughneck known for crushing wrestlers on their heads with a variety of suplexes, Dickinson talks a big game and backs it up in the ring.
A powerhouse wrestler, Dickinson is a tank in the ring known for taking his opponent’s best yet continuing to march forward and unleash destruction.
Bullying adversaries by imposing his strength, Dickinson is a challenge to many for his ability to quickly transition from power moves to technical wrestling only to overwhelm an opponent with a blitz of brawling. A hybrid wrestler of sorts, Dickinson is the master of the Pazuzu Bomb — a spectacular version of the Awesome Bomb into the turnbuckles.
Promising a “one man chi-town rumble” on April 18, the punishing powerhouse Chris Dickinson now sets his sights on Major League Wrestling.
Debuting for MLW is part of what is a big month of April for Dickinson. He’s facing Minoru Suzuki at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport III on Thursday, April 2 and Shingo Takagi at Pro Wrestling Revolver’s Pancakes & Piledrivers IV on Saturday, April 4. Both of those shows are taking place in Tampa, Florida during WrestleMania week.
In addition to last night’s Intimidation Games live special, MLW held a set of television tapings at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois.
– Jim Cornette was introduced as the newest member of the MLW broadcast team. He called the show with Rich Bocchini.
– Alexander Hammerstone defeated Isaias Velazquez
– MLW Middleweight Champion Teddy Hart defeated Myron Reed to retain his title
Hart was selling his ribs throughout the match as part of an angle where he was attacked by MJF and Richard Holliday on a previous MLW Fusion episode.
– The Lucha Bros (Pentagon Jr. & Fenix) defeated Taurus & Laredo Kid for last night’s special. MLW then set up the steel cage for Tom Lawlor vs. Low Ki, where Lawlor defeated Low Ki on the special to retain the MLW World Heavyweight Championship.
– Ace Romero defeated Simon Gotch by DQ
Jacob Fatu and Josef Samael attacked Romero for the disqualification. Samael bloodied Romero’s head with a spike.
Gotch, Fatu, and Samael’s group is called Contra, and they also attacked Lawlor on the special.
– Ricky Martinez defeated Air Wolf
– Ace Austin defeated DJZ in a Battle Riot qualifying match
– An enhancement team defeated Jacob Fatu & Josef Samael by DQ
Samael again used his spike, and their attack on the enhancement team included fire being thrown. The fans threw trash at Fatu and Samael.
– Daga defeated Ariel Dominguez
Low Ki came out after the match, with referees having to separate him and Daga.
– Puma King defeated El Hijo de LA Park
Mance Warner distracted Hijo de LA Park and hit him with a chair before the finish.
– MLW Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) defeated The Dynasty (MJF & Richard Holliday) by DQ
Alexander Hammerstone came out with a chair and attacked Smith for the DQ. MJF, Holliday, and Hammerstone then beat down The Hart Foundation.
– El Gringo Loco defeated Myron Reed
– Alexander Hammerstone defeated Brian Pillman Jr.
After the match, MJF, Holliday, and Hammerstone ripped Pillman’s necklaces.
MLW’s third live special on beIN Sports takes place in the Chicago area tonight as Cicero Stadium hosts Intimidation Games.
After losing the MLW World Heavyweight Championship to Tom Lawlor at last month’s live special, Low Ki will get his rematch for the title tonight. This time, it will be Lawlor vs. Low Ki in a steel cage match.
Low Ki defeated Shane Strickland for the MLW World title in July 2018 before dropping it to Lawlor last month.
Prior to tonight’s event, MLW announced that Jim Cornette is the newest member of their broadcast team and will be doing color commentary. Cornette is calling tonight’s show with Rich Bocchini, and MLW also has television tapings taking place at Cicero Stadium both before and after the live special.
The Intimidation Games live special will be an hour long and will begin on beIN Sports at 9 p.m. Eastern time.
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The Lucha Brothers (Pentagon Jr/Rey Fenix) beat Team AAA (Laredo Kid/Taurus)
Free for all to start with all four guys getting moves in. Laredo Kid took out Pentagon with an Asai moounsault to the outside. Then Taurus took both of them out with a flying corkscrew moonsault. And then Fenix hit a springboard top-rope moonsault onto Team AAA.
Pentagon hit a flying spin kick on Laredo Kid, followed by a superman punch from Fenix and then a double superkick. Then they did a whacky double Lucha submission spot but couldn’t get the tap. Action just kind of stopped after that, which was weird.
Crowd solidly behind the Lucha Brothers as Pentagon and Laredo Kid do the yay/boo spot as we go to commercial. Back from commercial and Taurus is working over Pentagon. Fenix comes in and eats some punches and kicks before taking over on Taurus. Fenix does the running rope walk and a double foot stomp to the back of Taurus. Laredo Kid and Fenix then trade vicious chops in the corner. Lared Kid with a springboard cutter for 2.
Taurus powerbombs Pentagon onto Fenix, who then hits a 450 splash but the Lucha Brothers kick out of a double pinfall attempt. Lucha Brothers hit superkicks on Taurus. Lucha Brothers hit a springboard stuffed package piledriver and Pentagon pins Laredo Kid for the win. A bit dijointed at times but a lot of fun.
Fans threw money into the ring when it was over. Fenix cut a promo in English putting over the crowd in Chicago and said they’ll be here for life.
Good video package for Jimmy Havoc aired next. “England’s most dangerous man”. And then a taped Hart Foundation promo from a poolside. They promised to add the MLW six man belts to their tag team titles and Teddy Hart’s middleweight belt they already hold. They also promised to defend the tag belts using Freebird rules.
Matt Stryker hosted the Battle Riot Control centre, which will take place over Mania weekend in NYC. Minoru Tanaka from NOAH was announced as competing in it, in addition to Pentagon Jr and Davey Boy Smith Jr.
Backstage interview with MJF, alongside Richard Holiday. They are known as the Dynasty and MJF asked for a tag team title shot. MJF and Teddy are also feuding over the middleweight belt. MJF is really playing up the Hart family disfunction over the years and claiming that he comes from a family that is respected in society.
Yet another backstage interview with Salina De La Renta. This is all to give them time to set up the cage for the main event. She promised that Low Ki would get vengance tonight.
MLW heavyweight title match:
Steel cage match – Tom Lawlor (c) beats Low Ki w/Salina De La Renta to retain the title
Cornette did his homework on Lawlor, pointing out all knds of stuff from his UFC career, including the many bonuses he won, in addition to winning a fight with a twisted knee. Lawlor the clear crowd favorite during the intros with a loud FILTHY TOM chant.
Low Ki attacks Lawlor before the bell to get the early advantage. Low Ki gets a takedown adn working for a D’Arce choke but Lawlor picks him up and slams him against the cage to break it. Lawlor setting up a Kimura and armbar attempt simultaneously before just gaining mount and pounding out Ki with punches in the corner. Lawlor attempts a standing rear naked choke but Ki slams him into the cage to break it. Salina hands Low Ki a high heeled shoe, which Ki james into the gut and then the head of Lawlor.
Low Ki with a series of kicks to the chest of a kneeling Lawlor but Lawlor asks him for more, before standing up. Lawlor catches a kick and hits strikes to the midsection before Ki slams him into the cage to get the momentum back. Announcers put over the fact that Low Ki watched Lawlor’s UFC matches to see how he lost and then using the same tactics his opponents did. Low Ki with an abdominal stretch, which highlights a cut on the midsection of Lawlor as a result of the high heeled show from earlier.
Lawlor briefly turns things around with punches before getting whipped into the cage by Ki again. Lawlor catches Ki and hits a nice suplex and both guys are down. Lawlor goes for a powerbomb but Ki hits elbows to the head to knock him down and then hits a double foot stomp to take control. Ki misses a springboard cross body and then Lawlor hits a spinning facebuster for two. The announcers point out that there will be no commercial breaks during this match, unlike what other companies do.
Lawlor with an ankle lock attempt but Ki makes it to the ropes and kicks Lawlor in the head to break it. Ki brings a roll of pennies into the ring but Lawlor gets it and nails Ki with a punch before breaking the roll of coins. Lawlor with the first attempt to escape the cage by climbining but Ki follows him up and then attempts a rear naked choke as Lawlor is standing on the top turnbuckle. Ki with elbows to the head knocks Lawlor into the tree of woe. Ki about to attempt the double foot stomp but Lawlor shakes the cage to knock Ki off the top.
Both guys trading punches while sitting on the top of the cage, doing the Yay/Boo spot. Lawlor attempts to climb down the cage and Ki follows him. Ki with elbows to the head and a head butt. Lawlor with his foot caught in the cage. Ki with more elbows to teh head. Lawlor recovers and landing kicks to the legs of Ki as he hangs off the cage. Lawlor with kicks to the back of Ki and then slams his head into the cage. Both are hanging on the outside of the cage and it’s very weird because either guy could fall off at any time.
As I typed that, both guys fell off the cage but Lawlor landed first and retains the title.
Lawlor is attached after the match by former partner Simon Gotch and two other dudes. They aren’t identified. One of them was Jacob Fatu. They throw Lawlor back in the cage beat him down. Fatu goes to the top of the cage and lands a splash onto Lawlor. Crowd chants HOLY SH*T after that. It was impressive. They then cover Lawlor in a flag labelled CONTRA, the name of their group.
During Saturday night’s SuperFight event, MLW made announcements for two upcoming shows.
MLW’s next live special on beIN Sports will be called “Intimidation Games” and will take place at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois on Saturday, March 2. This will be the third live special that MLW has had on beIN.
Intimidation Games will be the second MLW show to be held at Cicero Stadium. A set of MLW Fusion television tapings took place there this past November.
MLW also announced the date and location for SuperFight II. The promotion is heading to Los Angeles, California for the event, with it taking place on Saturday, February 1, 2020. SuperFight will again be held the day before the Super Bowl.
This year’s SuperFight saw two championships change hands. The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) defeated Pentagon Jr. & Fenix to win the MLW Tag Team titles, and Tom Lawlor defeated Low Ki to win the MLW World Heavyweight Championship.
