Tag: opera cup 2021

MLW notes: Opera Cup finals set, Tajiri title match set for next Fusion

Posted on by Skylar Russell

Coming off Thursday’s edition of MLW Fusion, both the Opera Cup finals and the next few weeks of MLW programming are now set.

In the remaining Opera Cup semifinal, TJP defeated Calvin Tankman to advance to the tournament finals against Davey Richards which will take place on this Wednesday’s Fusion: Alpha. TJP defeated Alex Shelley in the first round while Richards defeated Tom Lawlor and Bobby Fish to advance.

Two more matches were also announced for next week as KC Navarro will face Warhorse and the Sea Stars (Ashley Vox & Delmi Exo) will take on the Top Dogs (Davienne & Skylar) in women’s tag team action.

MLW also announced that on the December 8th Fusion: Alpha, Middleweight Champion Tajiri will defend his title against Atsuki Aoyagi while former WWE star nZo will make his promotional debut. The title match will be taped this weekend during an All Japan Pro Wrestling show.

Bobby Fish to face Lee Moriarty in first round of MLW Opera Cup

Posted on by Joseph Currier

MLW has revealed a new first-round matchup for this year’s Opera Cup tournament.

Bobby Fish will face Lee Moriarty in the opening round of the Opera Cup at MLW’s Fightland tapings at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday, October 2. The match will be Fish’s MLW debut.

Fish was released by WWE during a round of NXT roster cuts this August.

Moriarty’s MLW debut took place at July’s Battle Riot tapings. Earlier this month, Moriarty accepted a contract offer from AEW during a taping for AEW Dark: Elevation.

The opening round and semifinals of the Opera Cup will be held at the Fightland tapings. The finals will take place at MLW’s tapings at the 2300 Arena on Saturday, November 6.

Tom Lawlor vs. Davey Richards is also set for the first round of the Opera Cup. Alex Shelley, TJP, Calvin Tankman, and Matt Cross are the other wrestlers who will be taking part in the eight-man tournament.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lawlor were the winners of MLW’s first two Opera Cup tournaments.

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

Fatu vs. Hammerstone and the four-way Middleweight title match will air on Vice TV as part of a one-hour Fightland special on Thursday, October 7.

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

Alex Shelley becomes final entrant in MLW Opera Cup tournament

Posted on by Skylar Russell

MLW announced Wednesday that Alex Shelley is the eighth and final entrant in this year’s Opera Cup tournament.

The 19-year veteran Shelley will be making his promotional debut as the tournament kicks off on October 2nd in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The 38-year-old recently made his return to pro wrestling at September 3rd’s GCW/Black Label Pro 3 Cups Stuffed show. In January, he was scheduled to participate in Impact’s Hard To Kill main event six-man tag, but had to pull out and temporarily step away from wrestling due to COVID-19 protocols with his full-time career.

Shelley joins seven other participants in this year’s tournament that includes TJP, Calvin Tankman, Matt Cross, Bobby Fish, Lee Moriarty, Davey Richards and last year’s winner and former MLW Champion Tom Lawlor. 

According to MLW’s website, brackets and first round matchups for the tournament will be announced in the coming days. While the opening round and semifinals will take place on October 2nd, the finals will happen the following month in their November return to Philadelphia for Intimidation Games.

Lee Moriarty added to MLW Opera Cup tournament

Posted on by Josh Nason

MLW announced that Lee Moriarty will be entering this year’s Opera Cup tournament.

Moriarty made his promotional debut in July’s Battle Riot III and also worked a match against Calvin Tankman during that night’s taping which has yet to air. He signed a deal with AEW last week following his Dark: Elevation match with Daniel Garcia in Cincinnati, Ohio, and also worked Ring of Honor’s Death Before Dishonor on Sunday.

The Opera Cup will kick off on October 2nd at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with the finals taking place in November in the same venue. On Monday, Bobby Fish was announced as the sixth man in the tournament and with Moriarty’s inclusion, that leaves one man left. The other five entrants are Tom Lawlor, TJP, Calvin Tankman, Matt Cross and Davey Richards.

The Fightland-themed event will also feature World Champion Jacob Fatu vs. National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone in a title vs. title match.

Bobby Fish to make MLW debut in Opera Cup tournament

Posted on by Josh Nason

Bobby Fish will return to action next month for MLW as he will make his debut in the 2021 Opera Cup tournament.

Sports Illustrated first reported the news Monday.

The 44-year-old Fish was released by NXT in August along with twelve other wrestlers that included Bronson Reed and Mercedes Martinez. While he did return for an indie group this past weekend, this will be his first non-NXT action since August 2017.

It wasn’t reported as to whether Fish signed a contract.

The Opera Cup will kick off on October 2nd at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with the finals taking place in November in the same venue. Last week, they named the first five entrants of the eight-man field: Tom Lawlor, TJP, Calvin Tankman, Matt Cross and Davey Richards. The remaining two will be announced in the weeks ahead.

The Fightland-themed event will also feature World Champion Jacob Fatu vs. National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone in a title vs. title match.

MLW announces first five entrants in 2021 Opera Cup tournament

Posted on by Josh Nason

MLW announced the first five entrants into this year’s Opera Cup tournament which kicks off on Saturday, October 2nd in Philadelphia, PA.

Former MLW Champion and last year’s winner Tom Lawlor leads the group, joined by Davey Richards, Calvin Tankman, TJP and Matt Cross.

Richards made his promotional debut at their July TV tapings which also marked Cross’ MLW return. Tankman and TJP were a part of the last MLW season. 

The final three entrants in the eight-man tournament and the entire bracket will be revealed in the next few weeks. The finals will be held at November 6th’s Intimidation Games, also in Philadelphia.

MLW revived the Opera Cup in 2019 after a 71-year hiatus. In its day, the tournament was held around the world in various locations. Stu Hart won what was then the final tournament in 1948. Former roster member Teddy Hart donated the trophy to the company and the cup itself and tournament were restored in 2019 with Davey Boy Smith Jr. winning.

MLW announces Opera Cup’s return for October in Philadelphia

Posted on by Skylar Russell

Major League Wrestling has announced the return of the Opera Cup.

The eight-man tournament will make its return at the upcoming Fightland/Fusion TV taping in Philadelphia, PA, on Saturday, October 2nd.

Both the opening round and semifinals will take place on October 2nd while the finals will take place on November 6th, also in Philadelphia, at Intimidation Games. Both shows will emanate from the historic 2300 Arena with no participants yet to be announced.

The Opera Cup was brought back to wrestling in 2019 after a 71-year hiatus with Davey Boy Smith winning that year’s tournament.

Before its return, the tournament was held around the world in multiple places and boasted winners like George Hackenschmidt, Stu Hart and others. After Hart won the Cup in 1948, it was retired and went into the possession of the Hart family. Teddy Hart eventually donated it to MLW in 2019 which helped reignite the format.

Former MLW World Champion Tom Lawlor won the 2020 tournament.