| MLW Fusion | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Professional wrestling |
| Created by | Court Bauer |
| Starring | MLW roster |
| Opening theme | “Zero F*cks” by VIOLENT IDOLS[1] |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 7 |
| No. of episodes | 194 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Sean O'Heir Nelson Sweglar[2][3] |
| Camera setup | Multicamera setup |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company | GPW Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | beIN Sports USA(2018–2023) Fubo Sports Network(2020–2021) YouTube(2020–2022; 2023) Pro Wrestling TV(2022–2023) |
| Release | April 20, 2018 (2018-04-20) – December 14, 2023 (2023-12-14) |
| Related | |
| MLW Underground TV (2003–2004) MLW Fusion: Alpha (2021) MLW Azteca (2022) MLW Underground Wrestling (2023) | |
MLW Fusion is an Americanprofessional wrestlingstreaming television program produced byMajor League Wrestling (MLW) that premiered on April 20, 2018.[4][5][6][7][8] Originally airing onbeIN Sports USA,Fusion moved to MLW'sYouTube channel in 2020; with beIN Sports now airing replays on Saturdays. From November 10, 2022, to February 2, 2023, the series would stream on Pro Wrestling TV.
A thirteen-part mini-series, titledMLW Fusion: Alpha (stylized asMLW Fusion: ALPHA), aired from September 22 to December 16, 2021. A second mini-series,MLW Azteca, aired from Thursday January 6 to February 3, 2022.[9][10]
Major League Wrestling announced their partnership withbeIN Sports on March 30, 2018, in which the network would air a weekly television series.[11] Subsequently, MLW announced their television tapings would take place at Gilt Nightclub inOrlando, Florida.[12][13][14]MLW Fusion aired on Friday nights beginning on April 20, 2018.[15] On September 19, MLW announced a deal for the show to be streamed throughFITE TV,[16] and to air on beIN Sports inSpanish.[17]
On November 29, MLW announced thatFusion would be broadcast live for the first time on its December 14 episode, during MLW'sZero Hour event.[18][19][20] Since then the company continued to air periodic live specials.
In January 2019,Fusion added its first international broadcast partner,EGO TV inIsrael.[21] In February 2019, MLW announced thatFusion would be moving from Friday to Saturday nights.[22]
After the conclusion of theMLW vs AAA Super Series on the May 9, 2020, episode,Fusion went on a hiatus due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. A spinoff series, titledPulp Fusion, was uploaded weekly on MLW'sYouTube channel in the interim beginning on May 29, 2020.[23]
On September 10, MLW announced thatFusion would move to Wednesday nights onfubo Sports Network.[24] On October 10, they revealedFusion would return on November 18 at 7pm EST and new episodes would also premiere on MLW'sYouTube channel on the same night.[25] With the move to YouTube and Fubo Sports,Fusion abandoned its original year-round, weekly format; a special "season finale" aired on May 5, 2021.[26][27]
During the premiere ofBattle Riot III on July 24, 2021, MLW announced a new season ofFusion to air on "a new home" in the Fall, and a new, four-part mini-series titledMLW Fusion: Alpha (stylized asMLW Fusion: ALPHA) to lead into the new season.[28][29][30] Initially intended to air in August,Fusion: Alpha was later re-announced on September 6, 2021, as "a new season and series from MLW" to premiere on September 22 on MLW's YouTube channel, and would also air on Saturdays and Mondays on Bein Sports.[31][32][33] Beginning October 19, 2021,Fusion: Alpha also streamed onFITE TV.[34]
On December 7, MLW announced that the series finale ofFusion: Alpha would air on December 15, 2021,[9][10] though the final episode would instead air on December 16.[35] MLW also announced a new "anthology mini-series" titledMLW Azteca, which was taped during theMLW Azteca/The Crash show in December 2021. The series premiered on Thursday January 6, 2022, on MLW's YouTube channel andFITE TV, and aired for five episodes.[9][10]
During the January 27, 2022, episode ofMLW Azteca, MLW announced thatFusion would return for a new season on February 10.[36][37] On the June 23 episode, they announced that the current season would end with theKings of Colosseum special on July 14, 2022.[38] During the finale, MLW announced thatFusion would return for a new season in the Fall.[39]
On October 11, 2022, MLW announced a partnership withstreaming platform Pro Wrestling TV (PWTV), bringing the promotion's programming library to the service beginning November 3. The new season ofFusion premiered on PWTV on November 10.[40] On January 20, 2023, MLW announced a broadcast deal with U.S cable channelReelz to produce a new flagship show titledMLW Underground Wrestling, which premiered on February 7 and featured matches and segments that were originally taped forFusion.[41] Following its premiere, BeIN Sports ceased airingFusion, and the show's February 9, 2023, episode was postponed.[42][43]
On the April 11 episode ofUnderground Wrestling, MLW announced thatFusion would return and feature the2023 Super Series.[44] On May 11, MLW's website revealed that the new season ofFusion would premiere on Bein Sports and Bein Sports Xtra in the U.S and Canada, on Friday, May 26.[45] The following day, MLW announced that the season would air first on the MLW YouTube channel, beginning on Thursday, May 25.[46][47] On May 16, 2023, they announced thatFusion would also be included with a FITE+ subscription, as part of a larger partnership between MLW and FITE announced on May 2.[48] MLW announced on May 24, 2023, thatMLW Fusion would return to BeIN Sports on June 16; airing Fridays on BeIN Sports Xtra, and Saturdays on Bein Sports in the U.S and Canada.[1]Fusion instead returned to BeIN Sports on Saturday June 24, 2023.[49]
Following the 2023Fusion season finale, MLW revamped their event schedule to air two events every month; a live, premium event for Triller TV+ subscribers, and a free, taped special for Bein Sports and MLW's YouTube channel.[50]
Initially,Fusion had been taped at Gilt Nightclub inOrlando, Florida. In May 2018, MLW announced they would be holding television tapings at the Melrose Ballroom inNew York City, New York on July 19, marking the first time tapings were held outside the state ofFlorida.[51] Subsequent tapings have been held at various venues around theUnited States.
From Fall 2020 until 2021, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, MLW returned to Gilt Nightclub to tape their programmingbehind closed doors.[52] From July to December 2021, MLW programming was taped at the2300 Arena from the promotion's home base inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania.[28]
| Episode | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| beIN Sports USA (2018–2020) | ||
| Battle Riot[53] | July 27, 2018 | Featured the first everBattle Riot match |
| WarGames | September 14, 2018 | Featured theWarGames match |
| Fright Night[54] | October 26, 2018 | Featured the first "Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal" match |
| MLW Fusion Live[55] | December 14, 2018 | First ever live broadcast |
| Christmas Day Special[56] | December 25, 2018 | Featured PCO and Brody King's last match in MLW. The special wasn't included in the series' official episode count.[57] |
| SuperFight[58] | February 2, 2019 | Special live broadcast |
| Intimidation Games | March 2, 2019 | Special live broadcast |
| MLW Fusion presented by Salina de la Renta | May 4, 2019 | FirstFusion episode hosted bySalina de la Renta.[59] |
| Battle Riot II | April 5, 2019 | Special live broadcast featuring theBattle Riot match |
| Fury Road | June 1, 2019 | Special live broadcast |
| MLW Fusion presented by Salina de la Renta | June 15, 2019 | SecondFusion episode hosted bySalina de la Renta.[60] |
| Kings of Colosseum | July 6, 2019 | Special live broadcast |
| War Chamber | September 14, 2019 | Featured the War Chamber match |
| Jimmy Havoc's Slaughterhouse | October 19, 2019 | Fusion episode hosted byJimmy Havoc.[61] |
| "Saturday Night SuperFight" pre-show | November 2, 2019 | The live pre-show toMLW Saturday Night SuperFight |
| MLW Fusion on Thanksgiving | November 28, 2019 | FeaturedJacob Fatu vsRoss Von Erich for theMLW World Heavyweight Championship[62] |
| Opera Cup opening round | December 14, 2019 | The beginning of the 2019 Opera Cup.[63] |
| MLW Fusion presented by The Dynasty | February 15, 2020 | Fusion episode hosted byThe Dynasty.[64] |
| Fusion 100 | March 7, 2020 | The 100th episode ofMLW Fusion[65] |
| AAA vs MLW | April 18, 2020 | The beginning of the Super Series withLucha Libre AAA Worldwide.[66] |
| Fubo Sports Network /YouTube (2020–2021) | ||
| The Restart | November 18, 2020 | The return ofFusion after a hiatus due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. |
| Opera Cup opening round | November 25, 2020 | The beginning of the 2020 Opera Cup.[67] |
| Kings of Colosseum | January 6, 2021 | Special broadcast |
| Salina de la Renta'sMLW Fusion | January 13, 2021 | ThirdFusion episode hosted bySalina de la Renta. |
| Filthy Island | February 17, 2021 | Special episode ofFusion held in Hawaii atTom Lawlor's Filthy Island. |
| Never Say Never | March 31, 2021 | Special broadcast |
| Season Finale | May 5, 2021 | Features the first appearance ofAzteca Underground'sCesar Duran.[68] |
| Fusion: Alpha | ||
| Opera Cup opening round | October 13, 2021 | The beginning of the 2021 Opera Cup.[69] |
| War Chamber | November 17, 2021 | Special broadcast[70] |
| MLW Fusion on Thanksgiving 2021 | November 25, 2021 | Featured theladder match for the vacantMLW National Openweight Championship[71] |
| YouTube (2022) | ||
| Season Premiere | February 10, 2022 | FeaturedAlexander Hammerstone vsPagano in aFalls Count Anywhere match for theMLW World Heavyweight Championship.[72] |
| SuperFight | March 10, 2022 | Special broadcast |
| Intimidation Games | April 28, 2022[73] | Special broadcast |
| Rise of the Renegades | June 9, 2022[74] | Special broadcast; matches were taped atMLW Azteca Underground on April 1, 2022. |
| Kings of Colosseum | July 14, 2022[38] | Season Finale |
| Pro Wrestling TV (2022–2023) | ||
| Season Premiere | November 10, 2022 | FeaturedMyron Reed vs.La Estrella vs.Lince Dorado vs.Arez for theMLW World Middleweight Championship. The first episode ofFusion to air on Pro Wrestling TV |
| MLW Fusion on Thanksgiving 2022 | November 24, 2022 | FeaturedAlexander Hammerstone vsRichard Holliday in aFalls Count Anywhere match for theMLW World Heavyweight Championship[75] |
| YouTube (2023) | ||
| Season Premiere | May 25, 2023 | Start of the2023 Super Series in Tijuana, Mexico. |
| Salina de la Renta'sMLW Fusion | October 26, 2023 | FourthFusion episode hosted bySalina de la Renta. |
| MLW Fusion on Thanksgiving 2023 | November 23, 2023 | FourthFusionThanksgiving special |
| Season Finale | December 14, 2023 | FeaturedRickey Shane Page vsAkira for theMLW National Openweight Championship |
The wrestlers featured on Major League Wrestling take part in scriptedfeuds andstorylines. Wrestlers are portrayed as eithervillains orheroes in the scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match.
| Commentators | Dates |
|---|---|
| Tony Schiavone and Rich Bocchini | January 11, 2018 (2018-01-11) – July 19, 2018 (2018-07-19) August 3, 2019 (2019-08-03) – October 7, 2019 (2019-10-07) |
| Tony Schiavone and Rich Bocchini/Matt Striker | July 19, 2018 (2018-07-19) – February 23, 2019 (2019-02-23) |
| Rich Bocchini andJim Cornette | March 2, 2019 (2019-03-02) – July 27, 2019 (2019-07-27) |
| Rich Bocchini and A.J. Kirsch | October 14, 2019 (2019-10-14) – May 23, 2020 (2020-05-23) |
| Rich Bocchini and Saint Laurent | November 18, 2020 (2020-11-18) – March 24, 2021 (2021-03-24) September 22, 2021 (2021-09-22) – October 6, 2021 (2021-10-06) October 20, 2021 (2021-10-20) |
| Ray Flores and Saint Laurent | March 31, 2021 (2021-03-31) – May 5, 2021 (2021-05-05) |
| Rich Bocchini and Joe Dombrowski | October 13, 2021 (2021-10-13) – January 5, 2023 (2023-01-05) |
| Joe Dombrowski and Matt Striker | January 12, 2023 (2023-01-12) – February 2, 2023 (2023-02-02) June 8, 2023 (2023-06-08) – December 14, 2023 (2023-12-14) |
| Joe Dombrowski and Christian Cole | May 25, 2023 (2023-05-25) – June 1, 2023 (2023-06-01) |
MLW Fusion originally aired on Friday nights in the United States onBeIN Sports. In February 2019, the show moved to Saturday nights.
On November 18, 2020, new episodes ofFusion moved to Wednesday nights onfubo Sports Network and MLW'sYouTube channel, with BeIN Sports now airing replays on Saturday nights.
With the premiere ofMLW Azteca on January 6, 2022, MLW programming moved to Thursdays nights on YouTube;Fusion would return on February 10 of that year.
On November 10, 2022,MLW Fusion moved to Pro Wrestling TV, continuing to air on Thursday nights.
On May 25, 2023,Fusion returned to MLW's YouTube channel, and also began airing onFITE for FITE+ subscribers.
| Channel | Time slot | Years |
|---|---|---|
| BeIN Sports USA | Friday 8:00pm | April 20, 2018 - February 2019 |
| Saturday 9:00pm | February 2019 – May 2020 | |
| Fubo Sports Network | Wednesday 7:00pm | November 18, 2020 – May 5, 2021 |
| YouTube | Wednesday 7:00pm | November 18, 2020 – May 5, 2021 |
| Thursday 8:00pm | February 10, 2022 – July 14, 2022 | |
| Thursday 8:00pm | May 25, 2023 – December 14, 2023 | |
| Pro Wrestling TV | Thursday 8:00pm | November 10, 2022 – February 2, 2023 |
In addition to the U.S.,MLW Fusion also airs on BeIN Sportsin Canada and Puerto Rico. As of 2022,Fusion is currently carried byStarTimes and Wataaa Fight Channel outside of North America, Fight Klub Poland, and MBC in Mauritius.[76]
On July 5, 2022, MLW announced a new broadcast deal with Ayozat TV in theUnited Kingdom.[77]
