At MLW War Chamber, Matt Riddle will put his NJPW World Television Championship up for grabs.
Riddle vs. Kosei Fujita for the NJPW World TV title is now set for MLW War Chamber in St. Petersburg, Florida on Friday, March 29. The 21-year-old Fujita, an NJPW wrestler, is making his MLW debut in the match.
It was previously announced that Riddle would face Timothy Thatcher in a non-title match at War Chamber. That match will still be happening in St. Petersburg on March 29, but it will instead be part of the MLW television taping portion of the War Chamber event. Riddle vs. Fujita will be airing live on the War Chamber broadcast on TrillerTV+.
In storyline, Riddle decided to have two matches at War Chamber as part of his quest to earn an MLW World Heavyweight Championship shot. Satoshi Kojima currently holds that title.
Riddle won the NJPW World TV title from Hiroshi Tanahashi this February. His first title defense was in MLW against Bad Dude Tito.
Here’s the updated War Chamber card:
Triller TV+ live broadcast —
War Chamber match: Team MLW (Satoshi Kojima, Okumura, Matthew Justice & 1 Called Manders) vs. World Titan Federation (Tom Lawlor, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Richard Holliday & Josh Bishop)
NJPW World Television Champion Matt Riddle defends against Kosei Fujita
MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion Janai Kai defends against Unagi Sayaka
AJ Francis vs. Alex Kane
Mads Krugger goes to war against MLW
TV taping —
War Chamber match: The Calling (Sami Callihan, Rickey Shane Page, Cannonball & Talon) vs. Raven, AKIRA, Jimmy Lloyd & Jake Crist
Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher are renewing their rivalry in MLW.
It was announced today that Riddle vs. Thatcher will take place at MLW War Chamber 2024 on Friday, March 29. The show is being held at The Coliseum in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Riddle and Thatcher have been opponents dating back to their time in EVOLVE. Their rivalry later carried over into NXT, including Thatcher defeating Riddle in the first-ever Fight Pit match in 2020.
After being released by WWE in September 2023, Riddle returned to MLW this January. He was previously part of MLW’s roster in 2017-2018.
“With his sights set on cleaning out the division and capturing the coveted MLW World Heavyweight Title, Riddle is prepared to confront any obstacle in his path, and Timothy Thatcher is no exception,” MLW wrote.
This is Thatcher’s first match for MLW since July 2023.
War Chamber 2024 will air live on TrillerTV+ on March 29. Here’s what’s been announced for the broadcast so far:
War Chamber match: Team MLW (MLW World Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima, Okumura, Matthew Justice & 1 Called Manders) vs. World Titan Federation (Tom Lawlor, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Richard Holliday & Josh Bishop)
It was announced today that MLW War Chamber 2024 will take place from the Coliseum in St. Petersburg, Florida on Friday, March 29. The show will stream live on TrillerTV+.
Aside from closed set shows during the pandemic era, this will be MLW’s first event in Florida since 2019. Tickets are going on sale this Friday (January 5) at 10 a.m. Eastern time.
MLW has yet to announce the participants for this year’s War Chamber match. It’s a WarGames-style match where the top of the cage is surrounded by barbed wire. The match has the following rules:
A coin toss determines which team enters first.
It’s one-on-one for five minutes in stage one.
The winner of the coin toss comes out for two-on-one.
Alternating teams have wrestlers enter every two minutes.
Once all of the wrestlers are in the War Chamber, the match can be won by submission, surrender, or pinfall.
In last year’s War Chamber match, The Calling (Rickey Shane Page, Akira, Delirious & Dr. Cornwallis)defeated Alex Hammerstone & Second Gear Crew (Mance Warner, 1 Called Manders & Matthew Justice).
MLW’s next event is Kings of Colosseum from Philadelphia this Saturday.
Jacob Fatu is getting a National Openweight Championship shot at MLW’s next set of television tapings.
It was announced today that John Hennigan (the former John Morrison) will defend his National Openweight title against Fatu at MLW War Chamber on Thursday, April 6. The show is taking place at the Melrose Ballroom in New York City.
This will be the first time Hennigan and Fatu have ever faced each other one-on-one. They took part in a triple threat match against each other for indie promotion All Pro Wrestling in 2019.
At MLW Blood & Thunder this January, Hennigan won the National Openweight Championship from Davey Richards. That match aired on MLW Underground last week.
Fatu is a former MLW World Heavyweight Champion but has never held the National Openweight title.
Here’s the updated card for the War Chamber tapings:
MLW National Openweight Champion John Hennigan defends against Jacob Fatu
MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie defends against Delmi Exo
MLW is bringing its version of the WarGames match to New York City in 2023.
It was announced today that MLW War Chamber 2023 will take place at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York on Thursday, April 6. The event will be a television taping for MLW Fusion.
Tickets for the show are set to go on sale at 10 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, December 8.
War Chamber matches pit two teams of four against each other inside of a steel cage that has barbed wire at the top. The teams who will be competing in the 2023 edition of the match have yet to be announced.
The rules for the match are listed below:
A coin toss determines which team enters first.
The match is one-on-one for five minutes in stage one of the War Chamber.
The winner of coin toss comes out for two-on-one.
Alternating teams have wrestlers enter every two minutes.
Once all combatants are in the War Chamber, victory is won by submission, surrender, or pinfall.
MLW’s War Chamber match made its debut in 2019 and also took place in 2021. In the 2021 version of the match, the team of Alex Hammerstone, EJ Nduka, Richard Holliday, Jeff Cobb & Savio Vega defeated Contra Unit.
A briefcase full of cash will be on the line at MLW’s War Chamber tapings.
It was announced today that Aramis vs. Arez will take place at the War Chamber tapings, with the winner getting a briefcase full of cash from MLW’s Cesar Duran (formerly known as Dario Cueto in Lucha Underground). The War Chamber tapings are being held at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday, November 6.
Aramis vs. Arez is a rematch from this July’s Battle Riot tapings, which was the show where both wrestlers made their MLW debuts. Aramis defeated Arez in that meeting.
Aramis and Arez were also both involved in the four-way match for the MLW Middleweight Championship at Fightland earlier this month. Tajiri pinned Myron Reed in that match to win the title.
Here’s the updated lineup for the War Chamber tapings:
War Chamber match: Alex Hammerstone, Richard Holliday, EJ Nduka, and a partner vs. Contra Unit (Jacob Fatu, Mads Krugger, Josef Samael & Ikuro Kwon)
The 2021 Opera Cup finals
Ladder match for the vacant MLW National Openweight Championship: Alex Shelley vs. Myron Reed vs. Zenshi vs. Alex Kane vs. a wildcard entrant
Homicide vs. LA Park
Willow Nightingale vs. Holidead
Aramis vs. Arez (winner receives a briefcase full of cash from Cesar Duran)
Team Hammerstone and Contra Unit are going to war at November’s MLW television tapings.
MLW has announced that Alex Hammerstone, Richard Holliday, EJ Nduka, and a partner will face Contra’s Jacob Fatu, Mads Krugger, Ikuro Kwon & Josef Samael in a War Chamber match at next month’s TV tapings in Philadelphia. The tapings are being held at the 2300 Arena on Saturday, November 6.
Hammerstone defeated Fatu to win the MLW World Heavyweight Championship at Fightland last week. On this Wednesday’s episode of Fusion: Alpha, Samael said Fightland wasn’t the end and the final battle between Hammerstone and Contra is in sight. Samael challenged Hammerstone to face Contra in a War Chamber match. Hammerstone responded by accepting the challenge.
Later in the episode, Kwon tried to attack Hammerstone but was taken out by Nduka. Nduka said he’s tired of Contra’s nonsense, and Hammerstone offered Nduka a spot on his War Chamber team.
The War Chamber is MLW’s version of a War Games match. It features a cage with barbed wire on top of it.
Here are the rules for the War Chamber match:
A coin toss determines which team enters first.
1-on-1 for 5:00 in stage 1 of the War Chamber.
The winner of the coin toss comes out for 2-on-1.
Alternating teams have wrestlers enter every 2 minutes.
Once all combatants are in the War Chamber, victory is won by submission, surrender or pinfall.
A War Chamber match will officially headline MLW’s return to Texas next month.
MLW announced today that the Von Erichs and Team Filthy will face off in a War Chamber match at next month’s television tapings in North Richland Hills, Texas. The tapings are taking place at the NYTEX Sports Centre on Saturday, September 11.
In storyline, Marshall & Ross Von Erich issued the challenge for the War Chamber match and Tom Lawlor accepted. Each team will have four members for the match. MLW hasn’t revealed who Marshall & Ross Von Erich will be teaming with.
Marshall, Ross, Lawlor & Low Ki defeated Contra Unit in a War Chamber match in 2019. Lawlor then turned against the Von Erichs later that year and has been feuding with them since.
The War Chamber is MLW’s version of a War Games match. The War Chamber cage has barbed wire on top of it. The rules for the match are:
A coin toss determines which team enters first.
One-on-one for five minutes in stage one of the War Chamber.
The winner of coin toss comes out for two-on-one.
Alternating teams have wrestlers enter every two minutes.
Once all combatants are in the War Chamber, victory is won by submission, surrender or pinfall.
“Filthy” Tom Lawlor, Low Ki, Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich (w/ team captain Kevin Von Erich) defeated CONTRA Unit (MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, Ikuro Kwon & Simon) Gotch in the MLW War Chamber.
Leo Brien debuted a new look and gimmick.
LA Park will cash in his golden ticket for a shot at Fatu’s MLW World title at the MLW Saturday Night SuperFight PPV in the Chicago area on November 2.
Full Recap —
From the sold-out NYTEX Sports Centre in Texas, MLW Fusion opened with a video package hyping up the War Chamber main event.
Leo Brien defeated Brandon Banks (1:27)
Brien has a new look and gimmick: a wild, rough-house, cowbell-swinging throwback — he is even throwing in some Berzerker style barks to add to his crazed in-ring style.
The match was short, sharp, and to the point. Brien hit a big boot, used a biel across the ring by the ears, and followed up with a running powerslam called the Oklahoma Stampede to get the win.
Brien looked good here, and you could see him facing off against the likes of Mance Warner, LA Park, and Tom Lawlor in the future. Hopefully this restart will be the start of big things for him.
– LA Park and Salina de la Renta stormed the ring at the end of the match. They slapped Banks around and laid out the referee with a chair. Park set up said chair in the corner and rested his legs on the downed official to listen to de la Renta.
De la Renta introduced her destroyer, “the greatest wrestler in the history of Mexican sports, the greatest luchador in lucha libre,” LA Park. She announced that Park will cash in his golden ticket for a shot at the MLW World Heavyweight Championship at the MLW Saturday Night SuperFight pay-per-view. It’s taking place in Cicero, Illinois on November 2.
– Teddy Hart had a recorded message from a Calgary hockey rink. He said he takes wrestling seriously as a sport due to his upbringing in ice hockey. He said nothing gets him going more than the thought of going to Dallas to beat up MJF and Richard Holliday.
– We had a great recorded promo from the Von Erichs. It was intertwined with old archive footage of the Dallas Sportatorium and pictures of the Von Erich family. The family was at the site of the Sportatorium as Kevin Von Erich was talking about all his memories being back there. Ross & Marshall Von Erich said they had never been there before as they didn’t want to go without their dad.
Tom Lawlor, Low Ki, Ross Von Erich & Marshall Von Erich (w/ team captain Kevin Von Erich) defeated CONTRA Unit (MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, Ikuro Kwon & Simon Gotch in the MLW War Chamber (30:19)
They followed the traditional War Games rules with two competitors starting and the coin toss winning team gaining the one-man advantage throughout the alternating entrances. The finish could only take place when all eight wrestlers were in the ring and you could win by pinfall, submission or surrender.
It was a single ring cage with no roof, but barbed wire circled the top of the cage to stop anyone from entering or exiting.
Simon Gotch and Marshall Von Erich were in first and fought for the first five minutes. Kevin Von Erich came out with Marshall and got a huge ovation from the Dallas crowd. Marshall had a quick start, but they slowed it down soon to pace themselves for the long match ahead.
Josef Samael was out for CONTRA next. After another brief flurry from Marshall, CONTRA used the advantage to break him down. They stayed in control until Tom Lawlor came out to even the odds.
Lawlor and Marshall immediately had the advantage — but after only two short minutes, MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu came in for CONTRA. Marshall and Lawlor went straight for him, but Fatu ended up catching Lawlor off the top with a Samoan drop and slamming Marshall with a big uranage.
Fatu hit his handspring moonsault on both his opponents, kicking and squashing Lawlor against the cage before moonsaulting on Marshall. Samael bit Lawlor’s ear for good measure.
Low Ki evened the odds next. On arriving, he slammed the cage door on Samael — a little nod to the Dallas history with the Freebirds and Von Erichs. In the corner, he slammed elbows to the top of Gotch’s head, but CONTRA soon took back control.
Their advantage increased with their fourth and final member entering the ring. Ikuro Kwon went straight to Low Ki and they exchanged kicks and strikes — hopefully we will see them facing off in the future. Low Ki can bring a freshness to this feud and create some new matchups.
We were told Ross Von Erich was suffering from the flu as the countdown to his arrival started. Ross entered like a house on fire as the Von Erich theme song blasted around the arena. He floored Gotch, Samael, and Kwon as Marshall Claw slammed Gotch. Samael was bleeding heavily from the door shot from Low Ki earlier.
Ross reversed a pop-up powerbomb with a hurricanrana on Fatu, but the champion came back and remained strong. He choked Ross with his wrist tape soon after.
With all competitors in there, the match broke down into a hard-hitting exhausting brawl. Lawlor eventually got the champion down in the corner and hit a basement dropkick for a two count.
Marshall slammed Fatu and then dropped Kwon on top of him for good measure. Samael mouthed off at Kevin through the cage but was battered by Marshall for his trouble.
Fatu had Ross up for a Samoan drop, but Marshall applied the Claw. It was only briefly though, as the champion fought out and spun Ross around so he kicked his brother in the head. Fatu then successfully hit his big pop-up Samoan drop.
Samael and Ki climbed the cage and Samael had his face rammed into the barbed wire. A masked CONTRA member tried to climb the cage on the outside, but Kevin pulled him off and applied the Claw to take him down.
Lawlor came close to being pinned: He had Samael in a rear-naked choke, but Samael broke the hold when he jabbed his spike into Lawlor’s hand. Kwon then sprayed mist into Lawlor’s eyes and Fatu hit him with a superkick and triple-jump moonsault. Low Ki made the save at the last moment with a double foot stomp on Fatu.
Marshall saved his brother from a Gotch piledriver. He applied the Iron Claw, then pulled Gotch to the corner. Ross went underneath and lifted Gotch on his shoulders. Marshall — still applying the Claw — went to the top rope and they slammed Gotch to the middle of the ring. They pinned Gotch and picked up the win to the delight of the Texas crowd.
Kevin Von Erich joined Lawlor, Low Ki, Marshall, and Ross in the ring to celebrate.
Next Week —
MLW Tag Team Champions The Dynasty (MJF & Richard Holliday) defend their titles against The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) in a two-out-of-three falls match.
MLW was at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, Texas on Saturday night for their War Chamber set of television tapings.
– The Spirit Squad (Kenn Doane & Mike Mondo) won a tag match
– Dominic Garrini defeated Ariel Dominguez
– It was announced that LA Park is cashing in his golden ticket to challenge for Jacob Fatu’s World Heavyweight Championship at MLW’s Saturday Night SuperFight pay-per-view on November 2. LA Park got the golden ticket by winning this year’s Battle Riot match.
– Leo Brien won a squash match
Brien is one half of The Dirty Blondes.
– Gringo Loco & Air Wolf defeated Injustice (Myron Reed & Kotto Brazil w/ Jordan Oliver)
Injustice attacked referees after the match.
– Austin Aries defeated Brian Pillman Jr.
MLW is building to Aries challenging for Teddy Hart’s Middleweight title.
– Mance Warner defeated Jimmy Havoc in a Bunkhouse match
– There was a ceremony where the late Gary Hart was celebrated with a lifetime achievement award.
– Timothy Thatcher defeated Douglas James
– Mega Danger defeated Ace Austin
– Los Parks (LA Park & El Hijo de LA Park) defeated Septimo Dragon & Magnus
– Jordan Oliver defeated Zenshi
Injustice continued to attack referees after, with Gringo Loco then making the save.
– MLW Tag Team Champions The Dynasty (MJF & Richard Holliday) defeated The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) in a two-out-of-three falls match
The Hart Foundation lost after Aries got involved, furthering the build to him getting a Middleweight title match.
– Tom Lawlor, Ross Von Erich, Marshall Von Erich & Low Ki (w/ Kevin Von Erich) defeated Contra Unit (Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, Simon Gotch & Ikuro Kwon) in a War Chamber match
Low Ki has officially been confirmed for MLW’s War Chamber match.
MLW has announced that Low Ki will team with Tom Lawlor, Ross Von Erich & Marshall Von Erich as they take on Contra Unit (Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, Simon Gotch & Ikuro Kwon) in a War Chamber match at this Saturday’s television tapings. The tapings are taking place at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, Texas.
Kevin Von Erich will be in Lawlor, Ross, Marshall & Low Ki’s corner for the match.
The show-closing angle on this week’s MLW Fusion episode saw Low Ki make a save for Lawlor, Ross & Marshall and even the odds against Contra Unit. That came after Samael helped Fatu retain the World Heavyweight Championship against Lawlor in the main event.
The War Chamber match has War Games-style rules and can be won by pinfall, submission, or surrender once everyone has entered.
Here’s the updated lineup for Saturday’s War Chamber tapings:
Tom Lawlor, Ross Von Erich, Marshall Von Erich & Low Ki (w/ Kevin Von Erich) vs. Contra Unit (Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, Simon Gotch & Ikuro Kwon) in a War Chamber match
MLW Tag Team Champions The Dynasty (MJF & Richard Holliday) defending against The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) in a two-out-of-three falls match
Mance Warner vs. Jimmy Havoc in a Bunkhouse match
Austin Aries vs. Brian Pillman Jr.
LA Park & El Hijo de LA Park vs. Septimo Dragon & Magnus
A Bunkhouse match is the latest addition to the lineup for MLW’s War Chamber television tapings.
MLW announced today that Mance Warner will face Jimmy Havoc in a Bunkhouse match at the tapings. They’re taking place at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, Texas on Saturday, September 7.
MLW described the stipulation for the match: “Wrestlers can fight all over the arena and use whatever they want as weapons are legal! Just make sure to bring your cowboy boots, a durable pair of jeans and a 6-pack of whoop ass as that’s what it will take to win this wild southern stipulation match.”
Warner vs. Havoc is part of the ongoing storyline between Warner and Salina de la Renta. The MLW Fusion episode that aired on August 17 ended with Warner chasing de la Renta, Havoc, and LA Park away with a chainsaw.
Here’s the updated card for War Chamber:
Tom Lawlor, Ross Von Erich, Marshall Von Erich, and a partner (w/ Kevin Von Erich) vs. Contra Unit (Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, Simon Gotch & Ikuro Kwon) in a War Chamber match
MLW Tag Team Champions The Dynasty (MJF & Richard Holliday) defending against The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart & Davey Boy Smith Jr.)
Mance Warner vs. Jimmy Havoc in a Bunkhouse match
Austin Aries vs. Brian Pillman Jr.
LA Park & El Hijo de LA Park vs. Septimo Dragon & Magnus
MLW has announced another match for next month’s War Chamber television tapings.
Austin Aries will face Brian Pillman Jr. at the event. It’s taking place at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, Texas on Saturday, September 7.
Since returning to MLW in June, Aries has won matches against Adam Brooks and Ace Austin. MLW appears to be building to Aries challenging for Teddy Hart’s Middleweight Championship.
Pillman Jr. is part of The Hart Foundation with Teddy Hart & Davey Boy Smith Jr. At July’s Kings of Colosseum tapings, The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart & Pillman Jr.) lost the MLW Tag Team titles to The Dynasty (MJF & Richard Holliday) in a ladder match.
Teddy Hart & Smith Jr. are challenging MJF & Holliday for the Tag Team titles in a two-out-of-three falls match at War Chamber. The show will be headlined by Tom Lawlor, Ross & Marshall Von Erich, and a partner facing Contra Unit (Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, Simon Gotch & Ikuro Kwon) in a War Chamber match.
Kevin Von Erich will be in Lawler, Ross & Marshall’s corner for the match. The late Gary Hart will also be honored at the War Chamber tapings.
Editor’s note: This article references spoilers from MLW Fusion episodes that have yet to air.
Kevin Von Erich is returning to Texas for next month’s MLW War Chamber event.
MLW has announced that Kevin will be appearing at their television tapings at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills on Saturday, September 7. He’ll be in the corner of his sons Marshall & Ross as they team with Tom Lawlor to take on Contra Unit in a War Chamber match.
The War Chamber match will be four-on-four. One partner for Lawlor, Marshall & Ross has yet to be officially revealed, though it appears to be Low Ki based on MLW’s last set of tapings. They’ll be facing Contra’s Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, Simon Gotch & Ikuro Kwon.
The match has War Games-style rules and can be won by pinfall, submission, or surrender once everyone is in the ring.
Marshall & Ross Von Erich debuted for MLW in June after signing multi-year deals with the promotion.
MLW Tag Team Champions The Dynasty (MJF & Richard Holliday) defending their titles against The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) in a two-out-of-three falls match has been announced for the War Chamber tapings. MLW will also posthumously honor Gary Hart that night.
MLW will be posthumously honoring Gary Hart at their Dallas area television tapings next month.
It was announced today that Hart will be “posthumously recognized for his contributions to Dallas and professional wrestling” at MLW’s War Chamber TV tapings in North Richland Hills, Texas on Saturday, September 7. Hart’s sons Jason and Chad will be in attendance for the tribute.
“I personally owe a debt of gratitude to Gary,” MLW’s Court Bauer said. “Without Gary Hart’s presence in my life as a mentor, there is no Major League Wrestling today. It is long overdue that he be honored in the city he helped to put on the map in this great sport.”
The tapings are taking place at the NYTEX Sports Centre and will be headlined by a War Chamber match, with Tom Lawlor, Ross Von Erich, Marshall Von Erich, and a partner facing Contra Unit (Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, Simon Gotch, and the group’s newest member that debuted on last week’s MLW Fusion episode).
The War Chamber match has War Games-style rules and can be won by pinfall, submission or surrender once everyone is in the ring.
