MLW’s fifth annual Fightland supercard comes live from the famous Philadelphia 2300 Arena this Saturday on FITE+. In the past, the Fightland main events have felt like huge heavyweight clashes. Boxing-like spectacles between two distinct heavyweight figures colliding for the world championship.
Four diverse matches show the range of MLW’s hybrid product: luchador action; weapon-fueled violence; storyline crescendos and hard-hitting heavyweight battles. Here is a preview of the 2023 edition of MLW Fightland.
FIRST. TIME. EVER.#MLWFightland
🗓Nov 18 📍Philly
🎟https://t.co/qFqQJOUqM3 📺@FiteTV+ pic.twitter.com/HqoaBBcUef— MLW (@MLW) November 15, 2023
Lucha Rules Tag Match: Rocky Romero and Bárbaro Cavernario with Salina de la Renta vs. Ichiban and Máscara Dorada
Wrestlers from three promotions (New Japan Pro Wrestling, CMLL, and MLW) collide in one ring. Since Salina de la Renta returned to MLW, Ichiban has gotten himself in the bad books of the “Empresaria”. Now Ichiban faces two representatives of Salina’s Promociones Dorado. Representing Salina will be Rocky Romero and Bárbaro Cavernario.
Rock Romero, the New Japan star and double champion holding both the CMLL Historic Middleweight Championship and MLW Middleweight Championship. Ichiban poses a threat to Romero’s MLW Middleweight Championship. Rocky will want to stop the 2023 Draft Pick and top-ranking middleweight contender from being able to challenge for his MLW championship.
Bárbaro Cavernario, one of CMLL’s most barbaric luchadores will want to claim another scalp and make his presence felt stateside. Both men will want to inflict pain on Ichiban and his chosen partner, the debuting Máscara Dorada!
Máscara Dorada is only 21 years old and has two years of experience, yet he has had several standout matches in CMLL. The two young, promising técnicos will bring an array of high-flying offense to their opponents.
Loser Leaves MLW: Matt Cardona with Mister Saint Laurent vs. Mance Warner
Over the summer, the animosity between the World Titan Federation’s promoter, Mister Saint Laurent, and Mance Warner has only worsened. Every time the Crown Jewel has tried to get revenge for Warner knocking him out has failed.
At Fury Road, Matt Cardona debuted as the newest member of the WTF, beating Warner in a Kiss My Foot match. When Laurent’s stinking toes were shoved in his face, Warner opened wide and bit deep. Drawing blood and a chunk of flesh from Laurent’s foot!
The rivalry has escalated to the point that the man where the man who loses must leave MLW. It’s a battle of contrasts as the Southern Psychopath takes up the sports entertainer. However, Cardona knows how to play dirty given his time in GCW.
The self-appointed nickname of “King of the Death Match” also has the WTF’s support while Warner’s Second Gear Crew mates are busy elsewhere.
The result might look like a foregone conclusion given Cardona has an MLW World Heavyweight Championship One Shot. However, Warner has experience of sending fighters packing from MLW in Loser Leaves matches. In April 2020, Warner shoved into a Uber a cocky upstart, the devil himself, Maxwell Jacob Friedman.
Ladder Match for the MLW World Tag Team Championships: The Calling (Akira and Ricky Shane Page (c) vs. The Second Gear Crew (Matthew Justice and 1 Called Manders)
A seven-month feud has escalated through various forms of violence including mangled chairs, flaming tables and an electrocution in a Chamber of Horrors match at MLW Slaughterhouse.
After an inconclusive ending to their recent tables match, the Second Gear Crew challenged the card-carrying creators of carnage to put the champions on the line again. This time they will be hung above the arena floor with the first team to pull down the championship with be the MLW World Tag Team Champions.
The no disqualification nature of the bout will mean The Calling will be free to run interfere. Both members of SGC are fully aware given they referenced this in their promo from MLW Fusion 189. Will they have something violent prepared?
Things have not been cohesive with Akira and Ricky Shane Page. Signs of disagreement, possible descension have shown both in and out of competition. Raven has been missing for a while. Will The Calling’s leader play a role in the match’s outcome at MLW Fightland?
Main Event for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship: Alex Kane (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
“Iron sharpens iron.”
This match will determine who is the most dominant force and top dog in MLW.
Jacob Fatu has picked up high-profile wins over Minoru Suzuki, Calvin Tankman, and John Henigan. Fatu is still the longest-reigning champion in MLW World Champion in history. The “Samoan Werewolf” held the championship for 819 days losing the championship at MLW Fightland two years ago Alexander Hammerstone.
Fatu is nicknamed the “most dangerous man on the planet”, highlighting his aggressive and brutal capacity for violence. Fatu will be the champion’s toughest challenge to date.
The leader of the BOMBAYE Fight Club, Alex Kane has had an incredible year tapping and choking out opponents, including the former MLW World Heavyweight Champion, Alexander Hammerstone, the man who beat Fatu for the gold. Kane is a world-class grappler who intends to take Fatu to Suplex Island.
Yet Kane has not faced an opponent like Fatu before. A victory for either man would be a seismic statement to any future challenges for the title.
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