Jacob Fatu vs. nZo (Real 1) has been scheduled for MLW Battle Riot IV.
The promotion announced the match on Monday.
“The Real 1 says he is the toughest guy on the block — but he’s never stepped foot in the ring with a Samoan Werewolf… until this Thursday when the bell rings and Jacob Fatu and Real 1 collide,” MLW wrote.
MLW Battle Riot IV will take place Thursday, June 23 from the Melrose Ballroom in New York. Matches on the show will be filmed for future episodes of MLW Fusion.
The updated lineup is as follows:
40-man Battle Riot match
MLW World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone defends against Bandido
MLW National Openweight Champion Alex Kane defends against Davey Richards
MLW Middleweight Champion Myron Reed defends against Lince Dorado, La Estrella, and Arez in a four-way match
A new-era version of the Samoan Swat Team is set to debut in MLW.
MLW has announced that Jacob Fatu is forming a new incarnation of his family’s Samoan Swat Team faction. The group will consist of Fatu, Lance Anoa’i, and Juicy Finau.
Anoa’i & Finau will team together at MLW’s Kings of Colosseum television tapings this Friday, taking on the masked Uno & Cinco of Los Aztecas.
A new faction arrives in Major League Wrestling this Friday.
The Samoan Swat Team ravaged the tag team circuit in the 1980s and 90s with Samu and Fatu warring with the likes of the Steiner Bros., Von Erichs, Freebirds and countless others as they took the world by storm.
Now, the next generation of one of wrestling’s great tag teams will unite and debut on Friday, May 13 in Philadelphia.
Recently, Fatu and Cesar Duran have been quarreling. After a vicious attack at the hands of Bestia 666, Cesar Duran and his considerable influence and never-ending army of luchadores have only escalated in their attacks and games. It’s clear Jacob Fatu is fighting a one man war. So, ‘The Samoan Werewolf’ is countering by forming his own swat team!
In addition to Fatu, the swat team features a powerful combo of speed, power and force in Lance Anoa’i and Juicy Finau.
Lance Anoa’i, the son of Samoan Swat Team founding member Samu, grandson of Afa and cousin of The Rock, is a blend of agility and innovation. Teaming with Jacob Fatu over the years, Lance and Fatu are as close as it gets in and away from the ring.
And while Tongans and Samoans have at times been engulfed in their own wars, including possibly a king being eaten during a contentious island conflict, Tongan Juicy Finau is family to Fatu. Super heavyweight Finau and Fatu represent the west coast of the Polynesian family. A proud Tongan with a devastating arsenal that defies and quite possibly breaks gravity, Finau rounds out what could be this decade’s most dangerous and promising team.
Cesar Duran has welcomed Fatu’s swat team to MLW… by signing a bout sheet for their debut as the SST in Philadelphia against Cesar Duran’s Los Azteca Uno y Cinco.
Will Duran’s duo dash the debut of Fatu’s SST or will Fatu’s swat team wreck shop? Find out LIVE Friday night, May 13 in Philadelphia at MLW Kings of Colosseum!
Fatu will also be in action at Kings of Colosseum. He’s facing Mads Krugger in a “Weapons of Mass Destruction” match. The ring and ringside perimeter “”will be militarized with weaponry all around it and inside of it” for that match.
Kings of Colosseum is being held at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. The updated lineup for the tapings is listed below.
MLW Kings of Colosseum (Friday, May 13) —
MLW World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone defends against Richard Holliday (w/ Alicia Atout)
Taya Valkyrie vs. Holidead to crown the inaugural MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion
Weapons of Mass Destruction match: Jacob Fatu vs. Mads Krugger
nZo vs. Lince Dorado
MLW Tag Team Champions Hustle & Power (EJ Nduka & Calvin Tankman) defend against The Von Erichs (Ross & Marshall Von Erich) and 5150 (Slice Boogie & Danny Rivera) in a triple threat match
A stipulation match is set for MLW’s return to the former ECW Arena.
Former Contra Unit stablemates Jacob Fatu and Mads Krugger will face off in a “Weapons of Mass Destruction” match at MLW’s television tapings at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Friday, May 13. Kings of Colosseum is the name of the tapings.
For the Weapons of Mass Destruction match, the ring and ringside perimeter “will be militarized with weaponry all around it and inside of it.”
MLW is advertising this as the “final battleground” for Fatu and Krugger’s rivalry. The two have been feuding since getting into a brawl following Contra Unit’s loss to Alex Hammerstone, Richard Holliday, EJ Nduka, Savio Vega & Jeff Cobb in a War Chamber match last November. Krugger blamed Fatu for Contra’s loss.
Fatu and Krugger have each defeated the other once during their feud.
MLW wrote about the Weapons of Mass Destruction match:
CONTRA’s civil war reaches the final battleground as the former CONTRA kingpin Jacob Fatu collides with ‘The Black Hand of CONTRA’ Mads Krugger in a Weapons of Mass Destruction Match in the City of Brotherly Love.
In a match that promises a destructive conclusion to the bitter six month [feud], the ring and ringside perimeter will be militarized with weaponry all around it and inside of it.
Krugger, the masked mercenary from South Africa, challenged Fatu to this match and the ‘Samoan Werewolf’ didn’t hesitate to accept. With both combatant each owning a win over the other, the stage is now set for annihilation in Philly.
What weapons will be revealed when Fatu or Krugger open military crates? Who will reign supreme? Find out Friday night, May 13 in Philadelphia at MLW Kings of Colosseum!
Here’s the updated card for Kings of Colosseum:
MLW World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone defends against Richard Holliday (w/ Alicia Atout)
Weapons of Mass Destruction match: Jacob Fatu vs. Mads Krugger
Meltzer reported that all three Parks (LA Park, LA Park Jr. and Hijo de LA Park) were set for a run-in on Alexander Hammerstone and Jacob Fatu at the end of last Thursday’s TV taping and in doing so, they got too rough with both men.
“One person noted that they went off script, ruined the post-match angle and went into business for themselves and unloaded live rounds (real punches and shots) on Fatu and Hammerstone including reckless chair shots that busted both Fatu and Hammerstone open. Both needed medical attention,” he wrote, later saying Hammerstone challenged LA Park to a fight backstage but he pretended he didn’t understand English.
The senior Park was set to appear against Fatu in the main event of the Azteca Underground show the next day, but was replaced by Bestia 666 in the Azteca Apocalypto match instead.
Footage from both Thursday and Friday’s TV tapings will air over the next few months on MLW Fusion. Due to the firing, it appears unlikely the brawl will ever make air.
Joe Dombrowski and Rich Bocchini welcomed us to Charlotte, North Carolina, and ran down tonight’s card: a Stairway To Hell match between Jacob Fatu and Mads Krugger, the return of Gangrel and Killer Kross, and the announcement from Cesar Duran on whether or not he is stripping Alex Hammerstone of the MLW Heavyweight title.
Killer Kross defeated Budd Heavy
Kross made light work of cult favorite Heavy by dropping him on his head with a Saito suplex, hitting a running forearm to the back of the head and causing a referee stoppage by hammering the back of Heavy’s head and neck with repeated forearms.
Kross gave Heavy two free shots at the start of the match before dropping him with a big boot while Heavy revved up for a third shot.
Hopefully, Kross stays around for a while as he will give the main event scene a nice shake-up with some fresh matches. The last time we saw Kross was a one-off appearance in the middle of the Von Erichs vs. Team Filthy feud before he signed with WWE for his run in NXT.
– We were then going to hear a joint announcement from Duran and Richard Holliday regarding Hammerstone’s World title but as Holliday was entering through the curtain, Hammerstone jumped him and they brawled to the back.
– To make up for the lost time, we cut to Los Parks for their latest culinary infomercial from their family restaurant. An unhappy customer questioned them on their chili sandwich and Los Parks beat him down before asking us to give them a good review on Yelp.
Gangrel defeated Gnarls Garvin
Garvin got on the mic, asked for an opponent, and got one in the returning Gangrel.
Gangrel was walking gingerly on his left leg but put in a good amount of time and can still do what he needs to have a decent match. There was no fire entrance, goblet, “red viscous liquid” or his fantastic Brood theme, but he still had the mannerisms and the fangs of the old 1999 Gangrel.
This started as a walk and brawl in and out of the ring, but the interest cranked up when Gangrel started using his circular sickle knife to cut away at Garvin’s forehead. We then got the announcement that is was no disqualification — thank goodness or Gangrel would have felt like a fool.
That was the beginning of the end for Garvin as after some more punishment to his busted open forehead by Gangrel’s fangs, he missed a top rope splash and was hit with Gangrel’s Impaler DDT to give the returning star the win.
– TJP walked in on Duran while he was on his phone talking about an investigation into his actions. He wanted to carry some gold instead of these “indie darlings,” so Duran granted him a Middleweight title shot. This angered EJ Nduka who was listening in to the conversation. Nduka demanded a shot at 5150 after they attacked him and spray-painted him, so Duran granted that match, too.
Duran then had to quickly leave as he got word Hammerstone was chasing Holliday around the building. The camera cut to the chase as Holliday was trying to call Alicia Atout for a way out, but Hammerstone ripped his shirt off and continued the chase.
– Savio Vega was then shown sneaking into Duran’s unattended office, pocketing some cash and releasing Micro Man from a suitcase.
Mads Krugger defeated Jacob Fatu in a Stairway to Hell match
A Baklei War Club and Maliliu Cane (Singapore cane wrapped in razor wire) hung high above the ring.
This started at 100 mph as the near seven-foot Krugger dove through the ropes and took out Fatu who was holding a ladder on the outside. Fatu came back and hit a big Samoan drop before hitting his impressive handspring moonsault while a ladder laid on top of Krugger.
Krugger beat down Fatu for a while, but Fatu reversed a whip and sent Krugger upside down and headfirst into a ladder in the corner. Give him credit: Krugger had his crazy bumping boots on tonight.
Fatu headbutted Krugger off the top of the ladder and brought his cane into action. A few shots to the back and the head had Krugger busted open.
After a commercial break, Fatu hit a chair-assisted coast to coast onto Krugger as the stunts and bumps continued to the delight of the crowd.
Fatu set up a table in the center of the ring but as wrestling law goes, he who sets up a table goes through said table. Both climbed a ladder in the corner and Krugger superplexed Fatu through his own table.
Fatu fought back and looked to have the match firmly in his control after a superkick and a uranage. But former CONTRA teammate Ikuro Kwon passed Krugger his club to use and Fatu was knocked out. He was then on the receiving end of a reverse tree slam to give the win to Krugger.
After the match, Krugger said CONTRA was reborn and he will build it in his image. As he finished talking, Fatu took him out with a chair shot before officials and referees pulled them apart, so look for this feud to continue.
– Backstage, Hammerstone was still chasing Holliday. The champion caught him and ripped his pants off this time. Holliday somehow escaped Hammerstone’s clutches and ran from the building in his underwear into a waiting limousine with Atout.
Next week:
MLW Tag Team Champions 5150 defend against EJ Nduka & a mystery partner
Jacob Fatu and LA Park will collide in an Azteca Apocalypto match over WrestleMania weekend.
MLW announced the match Wednesday for its Azteca Underground show on Friday, April 1 from Dallas, Texas. It is a rematch from MLW Saturday Night SuperFight in November 2019 when Fatu successfully retained the MLW World title.
Fatu vs. Park is the first bout confirmed for the event.
The show will take place at a special 2 PM local start time from Gilley’s in Dallas. MLW is also advertising that the event will be an immersive experience that includes separate meet and greets with Duran and Micro Man. Ticket holders will also have the opportunity to tour Duran’s office.
A pre-show Azteca treasure hunt has also been announced.
After more than a year of rumors, MLW finally launched their Azteca brand earlier this year with several weekly TV episodes that were filmed in Mexico. MLW Azteca featured several of their own stars (Alexander Hammerstone, Richard Holliday, EJ Nduka) in addition to El Hijo del Vikingo, Rey Horus, Pagano and more.
For the third straight week, MLW Fusion emanated from Dallas, Texas.
Things kicked off with a backstage promo featuring Mads Krugger. He said that his opponent tonight, Jacob Fatu, is not the monster he was treated like while in Contra Unit. Krugger plans on teaching him what a true monster looks like.
– Emilio Sparks tried to ask EJ Nduka some questions about Richard Holliday and Hammerstone. After pushing Sparks up against a wall, Nduka said that he and Hammerstone are good with each other.
Aramis, El Dragon and Micro Man defeated Gino Medina, Mini Abismo Negro and Arez
Trios action opened things up as Mister Saint Laurent came out to make a special introduction for the mystery competitor set to team with El Dragon and Aramis. After building up the announcement for several moments (and several weeks leading up to this), he introduced Micro Man. The 23 year-old luchador has wrestled for CMLL previously and is billed at 3’3″.
MSL then joined the commentary team where he continued to praise Micro Man.
Mini Abismo Negro, Medino and Arez squared off with Aramis and El Dragon in the early moments before Micro Man tagged in for the first time. He immediately hit an armdrag and a bulldog on Negro. Medina then came in and just kicked Micro Man in the head which allowed the rudos to go on offense for a period.
The rudos eventually had Micro Man 3-on-1 as Arez lifted him up in an electric chair position. Aramis and Dragon then hit a pair of poison ranas on Medina and Abismo. They then superkicked Arez, and Micro Man gave him a poison rana. Shortly after, Micro Man hit a pair of headscissors on Abismo as the crowd chanted his name.
Medina got the rudos back into briefly until El Dragon hit him with a backbreaker/face plant combo. Shortly after, Aramis gave Medina a ride in a helicopter spin before dropping him into a sit-out power bomb. The move made Aramis dizzy, however, and Arez tossed him out of the ring.
Arez then missed a moonsault to the outside which allowed the tecnicos back on offense. Micro Man then took advantage and hit the Micro Bomb (springboard splash) on Medina for the win.
After the match, Medina refused to be interviewed and shoved Rich Bocchini.
– In the back, 5150 were celebrating last week’s win over Los Parks. They talked about having traveled to Dallas to take on the Von Erichs but the former tag champions couldn’t even show up to their own homecoming. The brothers tested positive for COVID-19 shortly before the taping.
– nZo’s two-month suspension has expired after he was put on ice for attacking KC Navarro at last November’s tapings in Philadelphia. Navarro was then announced to be facing Ho Ho Lun next week.
– Clips of interviews with both Calvin Tankman and MLW National Champion Alex Kane aired. Kane said he’s going to focus on Tankman’s knee when they go head-to-head while Tankman promised to take his daughter out for lobster after he wins.
– Footage of Gino Medina attacking Aramis in the back and leaving him a bloody mess aired. Medina appeared to still be frustrated over what happened in the trios match earlier.
– A video package featuring clips of Hammerstone and Davey Richards talking about their MLW title match in Charlotte on Saturday aired.
Jacob Fatu defeated Mads Krugger
Krugger and Fatu brawled on the entrance ramp before the bell. Krugger backdropped Fatu over the barricade and into the crowd. Fatu then hit a dive onto his opponent from atop a stanchion shortly after. They eventually found their way into the ring and the bell rang to start the match.
Fatu got the early advantage and hit a spear going into break. When we returned, Fatu was laying into Krugger with strikes. Krugger then hit a superkick and a pop-up samoan drop for a two count.
Krugger hit a chokeslam backbreaker to retake control. He landed a suicide dive and motioned to the back which brought out another former Contra Unit member, Ikuro Kwon. Kwon missed an enziguri and hit Krugger by mistake. Fatu then hit a moonsault onto a standing Krugger and got the three count.
After the match, Krugger attacked Fatu from behind and Kwon joined in the beatdown. Fatu fought back and ended up clearing the ring, landing a dive to the outside on top of both of them. Security came out to break things up but both Krugger and Fatu took them out and resumed brawling with each other throughout the venue.
– We then cut backstage to a scene in Cesar Duran’s office. Holliday and Alicia Atout came in and Holliday revealed that Duran had promised him a title shot. Duran said he always keeps his promises but Richards is already scheduled for the next title shot. He said that if something were to happen to Richards, Holliday would be the next in line. Holliday found that interesting and the show came to a close.
Next week:
MLW National Openweight Champion Alex Kane vs. Calvin Tankman in a title match
MLW World Middleweight Champion Tajiri vs. Myron Reed vs. Matt Cross vs. TBA in a fatal 4-way title match
A grudge match is the latest addition to the card for MLW’s SuperFight tapings.
MLW has announced that Jacob Fatu and Mads Krugger will face off in a Stairway to Hell match at SuperFight on Saturday, February 26. It’s being advertised as part of a double main event for the tapings.
The other main event for SuperFight is Alex Hammerstone defending his MLW World Heavyweight Championship against Davey Richards.
MLW wrote about the Stairway to Hell stipulation:
2 weapons will hang high above the ring as two monsters of the mat vow to maim each other as CONTRA’s civil war hits Charlotte. Both combatants will wage war as they attempt to climb the ladder and grab either weapon and unleash hell on their adversary.
Each combatant has submitted their weapon of choice for the Stairway to Hell match.
The 7-foot masked mercenary has selected a Baklei war club. The club, a resourceful instrument of pain, was acquired by Krugger during his stint competing in illegal Baklei prize fights in the South African underworld.
A Maliliu Cane has been selected by Jacob Fatu as his weapon, which will be placed above the ring along with Krugger’s prior to the start of their colossal clash. Reportedly, a Maliliu Cane is a spiky, long bamboo stick, which has evolved into a dangerous street weapon wrapped in razor wire.
Contra Unit imploded when Fatu and Krugger got into a brawl after losing last November’s War Chamber match to Hammerstone, Richard Holliday, EJ Nduka, Savio Vega & Jeff Cobb. Krugger blamed Fatu for Contra’s loss.
The SuperFight tapings are being held at the Grady Cole Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Pro wrestling legend Ricky Steamboat will be appearing at the tapings and — in storyline — is the matchmaker for the show.
Alex Kane will also defend his MLW National Openweight Championship in a fatal four-way match against Calvin Tankman, Matt Cross, and ACH at SuperFight.
A match between former CONTRA Unit teammates has been added to MLW’s Blood & Thunder show in January as former MLW Champion Jacob Fatu will take on Mads Krugger.
Fatu and CONTRA Unit imploded during last year’s War Chamber match loss to Alexander Hammerstone’s team. Fatu and Krugger had a pull-apart brawl after the match that also included other CONTRA team members that saw fans take Fatu’s side.
The Friday, January 21st event in Dallas, Texas, will be a TV taping for MLW Fusion Alpha: episodes of which will air after the new MLW Azteca mini-season that starts this week concludes.
Here’s what’s been announced thus far:
Jacob Fatu vs. Mads Krugger
MLW Tag Team Champions 5150 vs. Von Erichs in a Texas tornado title match
ROH Women’s Champion Rok-C vs. Miranda Gordy in a non-title match
Davey Richards vs. ACH
Ho Ho Lun, The Saito Brothers, Mini Abismo Negro and others will be in action
A new MLW digital series will be making its debut later this week.
MLW announced today that a series called “DEC0DED” will premiere on the promotion’s YouTube channel at 8 p.m. Eastern time this Thursday. The series will be an “all access look at your favorite athletes, moments and people from the world of MLW.”
The first episode of DEC0DED will focus on former MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu.
“DEC0DED, a new Major League Wrestling project by filmmaker Bobby Hennes will premiere this Thursday on MLW’s YouTube channel,” MLW wrote. “Jacob Fatu will be the subject of the first DEC0DED as viewers take an all access journey alongside The ‘Most Dangerous Man on Planet Earth’ as he embarks on a new chapter in his career while reflecting on his family and journey thus far.”
Fatu lost the MLW World Heavyweight Championship to Alex Hammerstone at Fightland this October. After November’s War Chamber match, Contra Unit imploded when Mads Krugger blamed Fatu for the stable’s loss to Hammerstone, Richard Holliday, EJ Nduka, Savio Vega & Jeff Cobb.
MLW will return with new in-ring content when its Azteca Underground series launches on YouTube and Fite TV on Thursday, January 6.
MLW has revealed two matches for next Wednesday’s edition of Fusion: Alpha, including one for the World title.
Before his historic title vs. title clash with National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone on next Thursday’s Fightland Vice TV special, MLW Champion Jacob Fatu will defend against Matt Cross. The match will serve as Cross’ MLW singles debut while also being Fatu’s eleventh championship defense.
Cross demanded the match with new matchmaker Cesar Duran the past two weeks and was granted his wish.
After announcing the creation of the Women’s Featherweight Championship last week, MLW will also hold only their second women’s match in company history next week as Willow Nightingale will face one half of the Sea Stars in Ashley Vox. There has yet to be a formal tournament announced as of yet.
Also set for next week: Rivera and Slice Boogie of 5150 will take on Middleweight Champion Myron Reed and Jordan Oliver of Injustice as their rivalry begins to get heated up.
MLW announced Thursday that Jacob Fatu will defend his World title against top challenger and National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone in a title vs. title match on October 2nd.
The match will be the main event of Fightland, set for October 2nd in Philadelphia, PA. The show will also be a MLW Fusion TV taping and the second of three straight events MLW is holding at the 2300 Arena.
Fatu has been champion since July 2019 when he defeated Tom Lawlor for the title. Since then, he’s defended the title ten times, last beating Matt Cross at the Battle Riot III tapings in July.
Hammerstone earned the shot by winning the Battle Riot III match held in July, continuing a long-running storyline of chasing Fatu for the title. He’s the inaugural Openweight Champion, having won the title in June 2019 in a tournament final over Brian Pillman Jr. He has 15 title defenses since then, last defeating Lawlor at the July tapings.
Two championship matches are set for the Wednesday, March 3 episode of MLW Fusion.
MLW has announced that MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu will defend his title against Jordan Oliver on the March 3 edition of Fusion. Fatu’s Contra Unit stablemates Simon Gotch & Daivari will also challenge for Los Parks’ MLW Tag Team titles on that episode.
Fatu attacked Injustice (Oliver & Myron Reed) as they came to the ring to face Gotch & Daivari on this week’s Fusion. The match never got underway as a brawl between Contra Unit and Injustice broke out. Reed took out Contra Unit with a dive to the outside, then Reed gave Fatu a superkick in the ring and Oliver jumped off the middle rope and hit a cutter on Fatu. Reed called Oliver the next MLW World Heavyweight Champion and Oliver said he wants Fatu’s title.
Fatu has been MLW World Heavyweight Champion since July 2019.
Los Parks (LA Park & El Hijo de LA Park) won the MLW Tag Team titles from Marshall & Ross Von Erich last month. In storyline, Salina de la Renta was the executive producer of that Fusion episode and made Tom Lawlor the special guest referee. Lawlor favored Los Parks throughout the match.
“Filthy Island” is the theme of next week’s MLW Fusion. An Aztec Jungle Fight with Mil Muertes facing Savio Vega has been added to that show. It will also feature Low Ki vs. King Mo in a no holds barred fight, Rocky Romero in action, and Dominic Garrini vs. “Mauna Loa.” Team Filthy claimed that Mauna Loa is a 14-time Polynesian Pacific Champion.
Title matches have been announced for the next two weeks of MLW Fusion episodes.
– MLW Tag Team Champions Marshall & Ross Von Erich will defend their titles against Los Parks on MLW Fusion next Wednesday (January 13). Tom Lawlor will be the special guest referee for the match.
In storyline, the Tag Team title match was made by Salina de la Renta as the executive producer of next week’s MLW Fusion episode. De la Renta said Los Parks haven’t been the same since they left her side, but she cut a deal with LA Park for Park and his sons to re-join Promociones Dorado if she could get them a title match.
The Von Erichs have been MLW Tag Team Champions since November 2019. They retained their titles against The Dirty Blondes (Leo Brien & Michael Patrick) in a Texas Tornado Bunkhouse match at this week’s Kings of Colosseum event.
– The MLW World Heavyweight Championship will be on the line as Jacob Fatu defends against ACH on the MLW Fusion episode that premieres on Wednesday, January 20.
Fatu has been MLW World Heavyweight Champion since July 2019 and most recently retained the title against Davey Boy Smith Jr. in November. CONTRA Unit’s Fatu, Simon Gotch, and Daivari attacked Injustice’s Myron Reed and Jordan Oliver at Kings of Colosseum.
ACH took part in MLW’s 2020 Opera Cup tournament and made it to the semifinals before losing to Lawlor.
A World title match will headline MLW’s return to new in-ring action.
MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu will defend his title against Davey Boy Smith Jr. on the Wednesday, November 18 episode of MLW Fusion. The episode is the first show of MLW’s “The Restart.”
Fusion is airing on the fubo Sports Network and YouTube on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Eastern time. The show will also be available on demand via DAZN and will air on beIN Sports at 10 p.m. Eastern on Saturdays.
Prior to last month’s closed set tapings for The Restart, MLW had been on hiatus since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an interview with DAZN, MLW’s Court Bauer hyped the Fatu vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. match: “This title fight was set to headline our July PPV this past summer, which would’ve been in Philly. When the pandemic hit, all of our matchmaking went out the window, but what stayed was the appetite for this big fight. The fans wanted it. Fatu and DBS wanted it. I wanted to go big and conceptually deliver a premium level event for free for The Restart. This isn’t a match that’s ever been done before, so what bigger main event can you kick things off with than this?”
Bauer also spoke about what else fans can expect from the November 18 episode of Fusion: “I’m going to stack that fight card. We’re going to add another title bout, maybe two. We’ve upgraded our production and one of the things I really like about The Restart is we’re bringing wrestling back to that smoke-filled arena vibe. There’s a raw, primal feeling when you have that hazy look and two guys are going to war in the ring. It’s cinematic. It draws you into the action more. Visually it adds a layer of authenticity that a sterile, over-produced, over-lit arena that looks like a Times Square can’t touch. As for the remainder of 2020: it’s all about the Opera Cup. This will be a big tentpole annual event for us. It’s a privilege to be entrusted with hosting and promoting the grand tournament, which dates back over 100 years. There’s a lot of history in that cup. Literally. It was made in 1915. We had it restored last year by the same folks that handle the Stanley Cup. It’s a true piece of history in the making every year when we roll it out for the tournament.”
