Tag: mlw battle riot viii

New World Middleweight Champion crowned at MLW Battle Riot VIII

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

KUSHIDA has defeated Templario at MLW Battle Riot VIII to become the new MLW World Middleweight Champion.

In the final moments of the match, KUSHIDA dropped Templario with a leg hook brainbuster to secure the victory and the title.

After the match, Ikuro Kwon confronted KUSHIDA. However, instead of going after the new champion, Kwon attacked the defeated Templario. Following this, Kwon handed KUSHIDA a CONTRA shirt.

While the 42-year-old initially hesitated, he later accepted the shirt, signifying his heel turn and alliance with CONTRA.

The victory marked KUSHIDA’s first Middleweight Title reign. Before this, Templario’s title run lasted for 138 days (ending when the match was taped on January 29th, 2026). Throughout his title reign, he made three successful title defenses.

MLW Battle Riot VIII results

  • Shotzi Blackheart defeated Priscilla Kelly
  • Scarlett Bordeaux defeated Aleah James
  • Austin Aries defeated Trevor Lee
  • The Good Brothers defeated Mark and Joe Coffey
  • Diego Hill defeated Adam Brooks
  • Karissa Rivera promo
  • Zamaya defeated Carolina Cruz
  • Alex Hammerstone defeated Bishop Dyer
  • KUSHIDA defeated Templario for the MLW World Middleweight Championship
  • Battle Riot – Killer Kross entered at number 1 and won the match, becoming the new MLW World Heavyweight Champion.

MLW raises stakes of Battle Riot match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

MLW has raised the stakes of Battle Riot VIII by announcing that the World Heavyweight Championship will now be on the line.

It was confirmed today that Mads Krule Krugger will enter the January 29 Battle Riot match and put his MLW World title up for grabs. The annual 40-man battle royal usually determines a future challenger for the belt, but this will be the second straight year the title itself has been defended. Matt Riddle retained in Battle Riot VII in 2025 before later dropping the championship to Krugger.

The Battle Riot is also set to include Alex Hammerstone, Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, Killer Kross, KUSHIDA, Templario, Bishop Dyer, Donovan Dijak, Adam Brooks, Ikuro Kwon, Okumura, Matthew Justice, Paul London, Mr. Thomas, Diego Hill, Jesus Rodriguez, Anthony Greene, Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey, and Austin Aries.

Since the Battle Riot was introduced in 2018, it’s been won by Tom Lawlor, LA Park, Hammerstone, Jacob Fatu, Alex Kane, and Riddle (twice).

This year’s event is taking place in Kissimmee, Florida and will air live on MLW’s YouTube channel.

MLW Battle Riot VIII (Thursday, January 29) —

  • 40-person Battle Riot match for MLW World Heavyweight Championship (no DQ battle royal, eliminations occur by pinfall, submission, or being thrown over the top rope)
  • MLW Middleweight Champion Templario defends against Kushida

Former WWE NXT faction members to make MLW debut in Battle Riot

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Two members of former WWE NXT faction Gallus are set to debut for MLW this month.

Scottish brothers Joe & Mark Coffey are the latest entrants confirmed for MLW Battle Riot VIII, a 40-man battle royal that’s being held in Kissimmee, Florida on January 29. It’s an anything goes Royal Rumble-style match where eliminations occur by pinfall, submission, or being thrown over the top rope. The winner earns a future shot at the MLW World Heavyweight Championship that is currently held by Mads Krule Krugger.

Both Coffey brothers (and their Gallus faction mate Wolfgang) were released by WWE in May 2025. They spent time in both NXT UK and NXT while with WWE, with Mark Coffey being a former NXT UK Tag Team Champion and Heritage Cup Champion. Joe & Mark are both free agents and are taking bookings internationally.

Among the other Battle Riot participants will be Alex Hammerstone, Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, Killer Kross, KUSHIDA, Templario, Bishop Dyer, Donovan Dijak, Adam Brooks, Ikuro Kwon, Okumura, Matthew Justice, Paul London, Mr. Thomas, Diego Hill, Jesus Rodriguez, and Austin Aries.

MLW’s YouTube channel is broadcasting the Battle Riot event live. So far, only two matches have been announced for the card:

MLW Battle Riot VIII (Thursday, January 29) —

  • 40-person Battle Riot match for future MLW World Heavyweight Championship shot
  • MLW Middleweight Champion Templario defends against Kushida

Kushida to challenge for MLW Middleweight title

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Kushida has the chance to win his first-ever MLW gold later this month at Battle Riot VIII.

The promotion has announced an MLW Middleweight Championship match between Templario and Kushida for the January 29 Battle Riot event. The show is being held in Kissimmee, Florida and will be broadcast live on MLW’s YouTube channel.

A decorated junior heavyweight, Kushida has held titles in NJPW and WWE but has yet to win an MLW championship. The company has become his wrestling home in the United States. He is still under contract with NJPW and is a coach at their dojo in Los Angeles. He will be holding a seminar at the dojo on February 1.

Templario — a star for CMLL — has been MLW Middleweight Champion since September with three successful defenses.

The Battle Riot card will be headlined by a 40-man battle royal where the winner earns a future shot at MLW World Heavyweight Champion Mads Krule Krugger. In addition to their title bout, Kushida and Templario will both be competing in that match. Alex Hammerstone, Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, Killer Kross, and Bishop Dyer (the former Baron Corbin) are among the other entrants.

MLW Battle Riot VIII (Thursday, January 29) —

  • 40-person Battle Riot match for future MLW World Heavyweight Championship shot
  • MLW Middleweight Champion Templario defends against Kushida

MLW reveals location for next Battle Riot event

Posted on by Joseph Currier

MLW’s next Battle Riot event will be held in the Orlando area in January 2026.

The promotion announced today that Battle Riot VIII will take place at the Osceola Heritage Park Events Center in Kissimmee, Florida on Thursday, January 29. The show is in partnership with Don Gato Tequila, an alcohol brand that’s owned by Hollywood star Danny McBride.

Considered MLW’s biggest event of the year, Battle Riot is headlined by MLW’s version of a Royal Rumble. The Battle Riot is a 40-person battle royal where eliminations can occur via pinfall, submission, or being thrown over the top rope. The MLW World Heavyweight Championship — currently held by Mads Krule Krugger — will be defended in the match.

Past Battle Riots have been won by Tom Lawlor, LA Park, Alex Hammerstone, Jacob Fatu, Alex Kane, and Matt Riddle (twice).

Tickets for Battle Riot VIII are going on sale on Wednesday, November 19 at 10 a.m. Eastern time. The show will be a homecoming for MLW, which held its initial events in Orlando after the promotion relaunched in 2017.

“Whenever we announce the location of a big event, we get so much feedback telling us to come back to Orlando,” MLW’s Court Bauer told the Orlando Sentinel. “We’ve been to Miami/Fort Lauderdale, we’ve been to Tampa, but still we hear ‘come back home’ to Orlando from fans who are loud and proud about it.”

MLW and Don Gato Tequila are also partnering together for a live special that will be held in Charleston, South Carolina next Thursday (November 20).