Tag: mlw

MLW title changes hands during CMLL event

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Blue Panther has won gold.

During CMLL’s Sunday show in Arena Mexico that streamed free online, Blue Panther pinned Ultimo Guerrero with an armdrag off the top turnbuckle to win the MLW National Openweight title for the first time. After the match, Panther’s son celebrated with him, putting the title around his waist. Guerrero shook hands with Panther and placed him on his shoulders as they celebrated in the ring. 

This was the second time the two squared off in Mexico this year for the National Openweight title. They previously met back on August 8, with Guerrero retaining. He had held it since May, defeating Matthew Justice at a CMLL vs. MLW event that also took place in Mexico City.

Panther, 65, has seen newfound popularity in the United States over the last year after he faced Bryan Danielson in a singles match. In the time since, he has made appearances for Ring Of Honor, most recently challenging for the ROH Pure Championship in a losing effort against Lee Moriarty at Supercard of Honor back in July.

Chamber of Horrors World title match set for MLW Slaughterhouse

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The MLW World Heavyweight Championship will be on the line in a stipulation match at Slaughterhouse 2025 next month.

MLW has announced that new World Champion Mads Krule Krugger will defend his title against five other competitors in a Chamber of Horrors match at the Halloween-themed Slaughterhouse event. Matthew Justice, CW Anderson, and Mr. Thomas have been named as three of the challengers, with the other two opponents to be revealed soon.

The Chamber of Horrors is a steel cage match with a variety of weapons.

“Barbed wire. Steel. Weapons hanging like ornaments of destruction. Once you enter… there’s no way out,” MLW wrote. “The Chamber of Horrors has haunted generations of fighters, leaving behind only screams and scars for those foolish enough to step inside. Now the echoes of the past will return — louder, darker, and deadlier than ever before.”

Krugger — the leader of Contra Unit — won the MLW World Heavyweight Championship at Fightland last weekend. The main event of that show was supposed to be Matt Riddle defending the title against Donovan Dijak, but Krule was in possession of a title shot contract that he won at the beginning of the year. Krule cashed in to make it a triple threat, and he went on to pin Riddle and become the new champion.

Slaughterhouse is being held at Thunder Studios Arena in Long Beach, California on October 4. The show will air live on MLW’s YouTube channel for free.

MLW Slaughterhouse 2025 (Saturday, October 4) —

  • Chamber of Horrors match: MLW World Heavyweight Champion Mads Krule Krugger defends against Matthew Justice, CW Anderson, Mr. Thomas, and two more opponents to be announced
  • MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion Shoko Nakajima defends against HIMAWARI
  • Opera Cup 2025 quarterfinal match: Mistico vs. Ultimo Guerrero

AEW star appears on MLW Fightland broadcast

Posted on by Ian Carey

MJF returned to Major League Wrestling on Saturday night.

The former AEW World Champion appeared in a backstage segment at MLW Fightland, interacting with his former Dynasty stablemate, Hammerstone.

MJF said to Hammerstone:

“Hammer, I got to tell you, I love you, brother. Six years ago, Dynasty, we’re on the top of professional wrestling mountain. Six years later, I’m still on top. And I’m saying this with love: You were the Beast of the Summer, you were the King of the Colosseum, and now I’ve had to watch you become a court jester.”

MJF called Hammerstone the best big man in the business and told him to let the old version of himself out. Hammerstone responded that he’s been frustrated by hearing people call for The Dynasty to be put back together. He closed by saying his best days were still ahead of him, and later, as the show was coming to a close, Hammerstone attacked the new MLW World Champion Mads Krule Krugger with a chair.

It’s unclear if the backstage segment was taped earlier, but MJF did appear live on an MLW show earlier this summer, when he attacked Mistico at Summer of the Beasts. MJF is scheduled to wrestle Mistico in a title vs. mask match at CMLL’s 92nd Anniversary show on September 19.

MJF’s appearance comes in around the 27-minute mark of the show, available below:

New MLW World Champion crowned at Fightland

Posted on by Ian Carey

Mads Krule Krugger is the new MLW World Champion.

Krugger defeated Donovan Dijak and Matt Riddle in a triple threat match on Saturday night at MLW Fightland in Dallas. The bout was originally scheduled as Riddle defending against Dijak in a singles match, but Krugger cashed in his Gravity Gamble contract, which he earned by winning a ladder match at Kings of the Colosseum in January, to make it a three-way.

The finish saw Riddle appear to have the match won after hitting Dijak with a Brostone piledriver, but Krugger grabbed Riddle from behind after the move, gave him a full nelson slam, and pinned him for the win. 

Krugger didn’t have long to celebrate the win, however. He was attacked by Dijak after the bell and the two brawled throughout the NYTEX Sports Center. Then just as the show was going off the air, former MLW World Champion Hammerstone appeared and hit Krugger with a chair.

MLW.com wrote about the title change:

“For the first time in four years, CONTRA Unit once again holds the World Heavyweight Championship, a chilling reminder of the international cabal’s ruthless dominance.”

This was the 13th time the MLW World Championship has changed hands and Krugger becomes the 12th wrestler to win the title. 

The full MLW Fightland show is available on YouTube below:

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

Report: MLW releases former WWE producer

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Former WWE producer David Sahadi is no longer working behind the scenes in MLW.

PWInsider reported today that Sahadi has departed MLW, with “rumblings” saying his new position with Real American Freestyle might have played a role in his release. The report notes that it’s not believed that Sahadi was under an exclusive MLW contract.

“We are told that the promotion has opted to move in another direction in terms of production,” PWInsider wrote. “There’s also been rumblings that Sahadi working for Real American Freestyle, the project being overseen by Eric Bischoff, was seen as a conflict of interest while also working with MLW.”

Real American Freestyle is officially launching with its first show taking place in Cleveland on August 30. Alongside Bischoff, Hulk Hogan was supposed to be one of the public faces of the group prior to his passing. It’s an organization that aims to give amateur wrestlers a way to make careers as professionals.

Sahadi is heading up production for Real American Freestyle, which will stream live on Fox Nation.

In MLW, Sahadi had the title of executive producer. He spent more than a decade with WWE starting in the early 1990s, along with later working for TNA Wrestling.

Sahadi recently launched a new podcast named “Beyond The Lens” on Conrad Thompson’s Podcast Heat network. He has a memoir titled “Backstage Pass” set to be released in March 2026.

MLW, which airs on YouTube and beIN Sports, will present its next show on September 13 with Fightland 2025 being held in the Dallas area.

MLW reschedules upcoming event

Posted on by Joseph Currier

MLW is switching up its plans with the promotion no longer coming to the Chicago area this November.

An MLW event named Lucha Apocalypto was originally set to be held at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois on November 15, but it was announced today that the show has been rescheduled to February 7, 2026.

The change comes as MLW revealed this week that it will be running a show in Charleston, South Carolina on November 20 in collaboration with Hollywood star Danny McBride. That event — “MLW x Don Gato: Lucha de los Muertos” — is being presented alongside McBride’s Don Gato tequila brand.

“All tickets previously purchased for the original November date will be honored for the new date. Fans unable to attend on the new date may request a full refund via Eventbrite,” MLW wrote.

“MLW sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience this change may cause but promises an unforgettable night of action-packed wrestling when MLW storms into Cicero Stadium on February 7.”

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

  • Fightland 2025: Saturday, September 13 at NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, Texas
  • Slaughterhouse 2025: Saturday, October 4 at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California
  • MLW x Don Gato: Lucha de los Muertos: Thursday, November 20 at The Charleston Music Hall in Charleston, South Carolina
  • Lucha Apocalypto 2026: Saturday, February 7 at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois

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 partnering with Hollywood star for upcoming event

Posted on by Joseph Currier

MLW is partnering up with a major Hollywood star for an event this November.

On MLW’s Blood & Thunder special that premiered over the weekend, actor/writer Danny McBride made an appearance in a video promoting his Don Gato tequila brand. It’s now been announced that MLW will hold an event in Charleston, South Carolina — where McBride lives — on November 20. The show is titled “MLW x Don Gato: Lucha de los Muertosm.”

“Actor Danny McBride will be involved in the creative elements of a November 20 Major League Wrestling showcase to be held in Charleston and broadcast live in the U.S. via beIN SPORTS and streamed live worldwide on MLW’s YouTube channel,” Variety wrote.

Variety’s report says McBride won’t be wrestling but will likely appear live to promote his tequila.

McBride has created and starred in both “Eastbound and Down” and “The Righteous Gemstones” for HBO, along with featuring in numerous comedy movies and helping write the recent “Halloween” revival trilogy from Blumhouse Productions.

Another Hollywood star — actor Paul Walter Hauser — will be competing at the November 20 event. Hauser is an executive producer of MLW and, while not regularly involved in the promotion’s day-to-day operations, helps contribute to its long-term growth efforts.

“Thanks to Danny McBride for going the extra mile — turns out Don Gato Tequila is a hell of a negotiator,” MLW founder Court Bauer said. “MLW and Don Gato Tequila are the ultimate super team-up, and Charleston — with its deep roots in wrestling — is where our story in the South takes hold.”

Tickets for the November 20 show are set to go on sale on August 19 at 10 a.m. Eastern time.

AEW, NJPW & MLW wrestlers revealed for CMLL International Grand Prix

Posted on by Josh Nason

The field for next month’s CMLL International Grand Prix has been revealed and will include wrestlers from AEW, NJPW, MLW and RevPro.

Announced Wednesday night, the annual 20-man Torneo Cibernetico bout will feature ten CMLL stars vs. a team of ten representing the rest of the world.

“Speedball” Mike Bailey, Rocky Romero, CRU (Action Andretti & Lio Rush), and The Beast Mortos will represent AEW while Taiji Ishimori and TJP will represent NJPW. RevPro’s Michael Oku and Robbie Eagles will also be part of the team as will MLW Tag Team Champion Donovan Dijak.

Bailey will be making his Arena Mexico debut while Mortos and CRU have been on recent CMLL events. It will be Ishimori and Oku’s first match in the venue since June 2024 while Eagles hasn’t appeared there since 2022.

The all-star CMLL side will feature Mistico, Neon, Atlantis Jr., Mascara Dorada, Templario, Volador Jr., Titan, Difunto, Zandokan Jr. and Angel de Oro.

The show takes place on Friday, August 29th from Arena Mexico.

MLW reveals bracket for 2025 Opera Cup tournament

Posted on by Joseph Currier

MLW has revealed the full slate of first-round matches for the 2025 Opera Cup tournament.

The 16-competitor tournament began at MLW’s tapings in New York City at the end of June and will continue to play out through November at events in the Los Angeles, Dallas, and Chicago areas. The field of competitors includes talent from MLW along with CMLL and NJPW wrestlers like Mistico, Ultimo Guerrero, Volador Jr., KUSHIDA, Satoshi Kojima, and more.

Here are the matchups that will be taking place in the opening round:

Bracket A —

  • Mistico vs. Ikuro Kwon
  • Ultimo Guerrero vs. Esfinge
  • Austin Aries vs. KUSHIDA
  • Paul London vs. Okumura

Bracket B —

  • Volador Jr. vs. Titan
  • Zandokan Jr. vs. Blue Panther Jr.
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. Bobby Fish
  • Bishop Dyer vs. Anthony Greene

Dyer is former WWE wrestler Baron Corbin, who just won the MLW Tag Team titles with Donovan Dijak last week.

Aries returned to MLW as a commentator earlier in 2025 and will be competing for the promotion for the first time in nearly six years.

Since the Opera Cup was introduced to MLW in 2019, it has been won by Davey Boy Smith Jr., Tom Lawlor, Davey Richards, and Mistico. The winner is presented with the Opera Cup trophy.

“It’s a proving ground — not just for glory, but for legend,” MLW wrote.

Matches will begin airing on MLW’s Blood & Thunder special on August 9, which will be broadcast on the promotion’s YouTube channel as well as beIN Sports.

MLW announces trading card partnership with Panini

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Major League Wrestling and Panini are joining forces in a new deal that makes Panini the exclusive trading card partner of MLW.

The multi-year partnership was announced in a press release today. Per the agreement, Panini will now become the “official trading card, memorabilia, and collectible sticker partner of MLW.” Panini also has deals with sports leagues like the NFL, NBA, and FIFA, and they once had a brief relationship with WWE before WWE reunited with Topps/Fanatics as its trading card partner.

“As MLW’s global presence continues to grow, partnering with Panini – the worldwide leader in collectibles – is the perfect next step,” MLW’s Court Bauer said. “With the world’s top-ranked fighters throwing down in front of sold-out crowds, MLW is built on iconic moments. Now, thanks to Panini, fans can collect those moments and own a piece of the fight.”

Moments from last week’s MLW Summer of the Beasts event are being made available as instant cards through Panini’s website. Later this year, MLW products will be available at stores like Walmart and Target, in hobby stores nationwide, and on Panini’s website.

“We are looking forward to this new partnership with MLW, as MLW continues to grow and expand internationally – we are positioned well to help them reach wrestling fans on a global basis and bring trading cards to wrestling fans,” said Mark Warsop, the CEO of Panini America.

MLW currently airs its shows for free live on YouTube. Actor Paul Walter Hauser, who competes for MLW in addition to serving as an executive producer of the promotion, recently said they have had discussions for a TV or streaming deal but are not going to rush into anything.

“I can’t say too much because we’re still figuring stuff out, obviously. But we’ve had a couple of offers and we’ve had discussions and we’re just trying to figure out what makes the most sense for everybody,” Hauser said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “Because it’s one thing for somebody to throw you some money, it’s another to find people that understand and like the product. So, like, we’re kind of looking for somebody who actually likes wrestling and understands the product and wants to see it grow exponentially. Not get some kind of cheapo buyout just to have it up off of YouTube.”

The next event on MLW’s calendar is Fightland 2025 in North Richland Hills, Texas on September 13.

MJF attacks Mistico at MLW Summer of the Beasts

Posted on by Josh Nason

For the first time since 2020, MJF returned to MLW in a surprise appearance at Thursday’s Summer of the Beasts, attacking recent rival Mistico.

Mistico, a CMLL regular and former MLW Middleweight Champion, came out with a microphone and was prepared to address what was next for him. As he began to speak, several members of Contra Unit fully clad in black with masks came out to attack him.

After he took them all out, one last member ran out from behind and low blowed him, taking off his own mask to reveal a Mistico mask. He then removed that and it was MJF as the mask was the one he took off Mistico at this month’s AEW Grand Slam Mexico.

MJF then took the microphone after several punches to Mistico, saying he wasn’t through with him and not by a longshot. He said they will wrestle again and when he does, he will beat him within an inch of his life after he makes a mockery of Mexico, his countrymen and CMLL. He did his signature catchphrase and then left as the injured Mistico watched on.

Mistico defeated MJF by DQ in their first match in Arena Mexico with speculation their rematch will come at next month’s All In: Texas.

MJF was part of MLW from 2017 through 2020, holding their Middleweight title and Tag Team titles.

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1938422392440910195

Shotzi wants to prove she can ‘be the face of the company’ in MLW

Posted on by Ian Carey

Shotzi Blackheart is officially part of the MLW roster and wants to prove she can be the face of the company.

On Monday, MLW confirmed Shotzi will make her debut for the promotion at its Summer of the Beasts event on Thursday, June 26 at The Melrose Ballroom in New York. Her appearance on the show was teased last month in a vignette that aired at Azteca Lucha in Chicago on May 10.

Shotzi spoke with the NY Post recently about wanting to be a leader in MLW after not “being given the ball” in WWE.

“I have just huge motivation right now and just huge balls that I want to bring everywhere I go,” she said. “I think with my fire to change and grow and their fire to change and grow, we just work hand in hand.”

“I just floated at WWE and never really got the chance to be the face of the company, like really hold the ball. I was never given it,” Blackheart said. “I want to go in with so much passion. I want to lead the charge. I want to prove to the world that I can be the face of the company. I can go out there and have really awesome promos and have really awesome matches and be a leader, and I want to do that in MLW.” 

Shotzi had been teased for an MLW event in September 2019. However, she didn’t end up appearing on the show as she signed with WWE shortly after. Shotzi told the NY Post that MLW has always been a promotion she wants to work for.

“It’s someplace that I’ve wanted to be for my entire wrestling career,” she said. “Now that I’m finally here, I’m not going to hold back.”

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/1937212153309896829

Shotzi Blackheart Returns to the Independents

Shotzi was part of WWE’s roster cuts revealed on May 2 after being with the company since October 2019. Her first post-WWE match took place on June 6 at a Hoodslam event in Oakland, the promotion where she originally debuted in 2014. She returned to GCW for the first time since 2019 that same weekend and was back with the promotion on Friday night in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she wrestled Atticus Cogar at GCW Bangin in Little Rock.

MLW Summer of The Beasts Lineup

  • MLW World Champion Matt Riddle defends against KENTA
  • MLW National Champion Ultimo Guerrero defends against Alex Hammerstone
  • MLW World Tag Team Champions Los Depredadores vs. TBA
  • KUSHIDA vs. Diego Hill
  • Wakana Uehara vs. Yuki Kamifuku
  • Anthony Greene vs. Brock Anderson
  • Mistico in-action
  • Shotzi Blackheart debuts