It’s a new year, and Major League Wrestling is starting with a loaded card. Two huge heavyweight division fights, four championship matches, two interesting stipulation matches, and plenty more.
MLW original, Matt Riddle. It seems that the lawsuit settlement money MLW received from WWE is already in use with “the King of Bros” return.
Given how MLW has put such a strong contest on so early into January, it suggests they have plenty more surprises and huge matches to come. This feels like their mission statement for 2024.
The past MLW specials have had their share of surprises. From the return of Alex Hammerstone at Fightland to Richard Holliday at One Shot, one might question if another free agent might return or debut in Philadelphia. Given Sami Callihan and Satoshi Kojima are returning for the subsequent TV tapings, who is going to step up next for a World Heavyweight Championship match?
Six-man Tag Action
Wasted Youth and Alec Price vs. Tony Deppen, TJ Crawford, and Griffin McCoy.
Tony Deppen has taken TJ Crawford and Griffin McCoy under his wing. With Deppen seemingly done with Kevin Blackwood after Holiday Rush (although the win was under dubious circumstances), he looks to help his proteges get revenge.
The hometown boys of Wasted Youth, Dylan McCay, and Marcus Mathers, are on a roll, having won two three-way tag team bouts in a row. They also have a future MLW World Tag Team Championship shot after beating (but not pinning) Crawford and McCoy and the Mane Event at Holiday Rush.
Joining Wasted Youth is Alex Price. Price has competed sparingly for MLW. However, Price and Deppen are familiar with each other from wrestling in GCW. Also, Price was present when Deppen injured Blackwood. Given the players involved, expect fast-paced and high-impact action.
MLW World Tag Team Championship Match
Second Gear Crew © vs. World Titan Federation (“Filthy” Tom Lawlor and Josh Bishop) with Mister Saint Laurent.
📉 Is the Second Gear Crew in over their heads?
The @MLW tag champs defend their straps against @FilthyTomLawlor and @JoshuaBishop_ THIS SATURDAY at #MLW Kings of Colosseum
LIVE & EXCLUSIVE on #TrillerTVplus
$7.99/mo – START YOUR FREE TRIAL
👉 https://t.co/wwJMMIgnLB pic.twitter.com/HaXveAFDGi— TrillerTV powered by FITE (@FiteTV) January 4, 2024
At Holiday Rush, Josh Bishop, for the second match in a row, beat Second Gear Crew’s Matthew Justice after throwing him through a table. Bishop made his intentions known afterward. He held Justice’s World Tag Team Championship in the air. Later in the night, the fight continued as Bishop fought to the roof with Justice. Then “Filthy” Tom Lawlor and Bishop attacked SCG’s 1 Called Manders and Good Brother 3 to end their world tag team championship defense.
The World Titan Federation has been gunning for gold. Every attempt so far in the heavyweight division has failed. Will the powerhouse of Bishop and the former UFC fighter Lawlor decimate the fighting spirit of the champions? The likelihood is that SGC won’t mind fighting dirty.
You can expect a hard-hitting match. Given Saint Laurent’s presence, will Good Brother 3 be there to neutralize the WTF promoter?
Love is Blind
Love, Doug vs. Brett Ryan Gosling
For months, Love, Doug pursued the “international pop superstar” B3CCA with declarations of his love and affection. For Fusions on Thanksgiving, B3CCA invited Doug to the Thanksgiving Tryst. What Doug assumed might be an acceptance of his feelings from B3CCA. Instead, Doug was violently beaten with a crowbar by Brett Ryan Gosling, B3CCA’s boyfriend.
Love, Doug’s face was left battered, bruised, and broken. There are more humane ways of telling a guy you are not interested.
Love, Doug is the living embodiment of Valentine’s Day with an out-of-control crush monster that repeatedly leads to his heart being stamped on. He’s athletic and entertaining. His opponent, Brett Ryan Gosling, is new to MLW. As the name suggests, his character is that he looks like movie-star Barbie’s Ken, Ryan Gosling.
This will be an entertaining character-driven match with the potential for comedy, given the blindfold stipulation.
Taipei Death Match for the MLW National Openweight Championship
Rickey Shane Page © vs. AKIRA
From comedy to ultra-violence. This will be a bloodletting for the former MLW World Tag Team champions. The former teammates fell out due to AKIRA feeling Rickey Shane Page’s decision to lead The Calling was for RSP’s own goals and ignoring the teachings of Raven.
Both men’s violent streaks are well known in MLW, having competed together in War Chamber and various hardcore stipulation matches.
On Sunday, both men will have their hands taped, coated with superglue, and then dipped into broken glass. This stipulation is fitting for Philly. The first Taipei death match was at ECW’s Hardcore Heaven in 1995. Less than a handful of these matches have been broadcast. So, with both men’s lust for violence, expect adrenaline and agony.
MLW Featherweight Championship
Janai Kai © W/ Salina de la Renta vs. Hyper Misao
Janai Kai has been on a tear since winning the MLW Featherweight Championship. Kai is undefeated. Is Hyper Misao the hero the featherweight division has been holding on for?
Another member of the Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling makes the excursion to America. Don’t let Hyper Misao’s superhero gimmick exterior fool you. The protector of love and peace is a TJPW mainstay, a skilled in-ring competitor who is savvy when it comes to mind games. Whether this is enough to neutralize the threat of Salina de la Renta at ringside, however, is questionable.
This clash of styles is the basis of MLW. This may prove to be Kai’s most challenging defense yet.
MLW World Heavyweight Championship
Alex Kane © W/ Mr. Thomas vs. Richard Holliday W/ Mister Saint Laurent
World Titan Federation Superstar® @mostmarketable goes for gold. Can he beat @Alex_Kane11?
🗓Jan 6 📍Philly #MLW
🎟https://t.co/qFqQJOUqM3 📺@FiteTV pic.twitter.com/xoLfB5WjON— MLW (@MLW) January 3, 2024
Surprisingly not advertised in the main event slot, this world heavyweight championship match is a full circle moment for challenger Richard Holliday. At Kings of Colosseum 2022, Holliday was unable to defeat former best friend Alex Hammerstone for the World Heavyweight Championship. This was Holliday’s last MLW special before he left MLW.
Now back, focused and “more calculated than I have ever been,” Holliday returns to MLW to claim the championship that alluded him, also, back to WTF, who have failed to wrestle the beat from the suplex assassin.
Alex Kane has controlled the heavyweight division since July’s Never Say Never. Kane beat Hammerstone, the man Holliday could not win. Kane has hit the majority of WTF’s stable. At One Shot, Matt Cardona was carried away as he was going to his funeral. He has taken them and many other opponents to Suplex Island. None so far have come out victorious.
Although Holliday has claimed verbal sparring victories on X and then at the official weigh-in this past Wednesday, the champion is at bursting point with rage.
Can Holliday resolve to address his history? Can he succeed where Hammerstone, Lawlor, and Cardona failed? Or will Alex Kane add another list of former MLW pillars he has demolished to his growing resume?
First Time Ever and the Return of the Bro
Matt Riddle vs. Jacob Fatu
Matt Riddle joins #MLW. pic.twitter.com/3fAFTYYHHs
— MLW (@MLW) December 21, 2023
After his WWE release, Matt Riddle returned to the promotion, where he gained notoriety. Riddle faces one of the top heavyweights in MLW history in a first-time-encounter. Facing the longest reigning MLW World Heavyweight Championship, Jacob Fatu will be no warmup match.
Fatu is coming off a significant rebound victory. Completing his trilogy of matches with career rival Alex Hammerstone with a huge win, Fatu wants to maintain his momentum. Like Hammerstone, will Fatu walk the original Bro like a dog?
Matt Riddle’s WWE run ended with controversy. MLW, as a promotion, has never shied away from controversial talent. Former stars include Austin Aries, Low Ki, and Teddy Hart. The promotion gives wrestlers a chance to display their ability in the ring.
As a clash of styles goes, Riddle’s technical MMA offense against the ruthless brawling of Fatu will make this an explosive contest. Whether this is the start of a new feud (perhaps a trilogy?) for either man or a one-and-done, it’s an unpredictable match because of the history and value the company has placed on both men.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
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