.png) | |
| Major League Wrestling | |
| Company type | Holding[1] |
| Industry | |
| Founded | April 7, 2002; 23 years ago (2002-04-07) (original); July 2017; 8 years ago (2017-07) (revival) |
| Founders | Court Bauer |
| Headquarters | |
Key people | |
| Products |
|
| Services | Licensing |
| Owner | Court Bauer |
| Divisions |
|
| Subsidiaries | MLW Media, LLC |
| Website | mlw |
Major League Wrestling (MLW)[4][5] is an Americanprofessional wrestling promotion based inNew Rochelle, New York. The promotion was founded in 2002 inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, by formerWWE writer Court Bauer.[6][7] The promotion markets its product as "Hybrid Wrestling", with its roster featuring a mix of different wrestling styles.[8]
The promotion originally ran live events until 2004, with these events seen on the television series,MLW Underground TV. MLW returned to promoting events in July 2017, and resumed weekly television programming with the premiere ofMLW Fusion in April 2018.
Following the closures and acquisitions ofWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW) andExtreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) by theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF, now known as the WWE) in 2001, Major League Wrestling (MLW) was founded in 2002.[citation needed] Shortly after its founding, the promotion spent three months moving their headquarters fromPhiladelphia toNew York.[9] MLW styled itself as an alternative toWWE'ssports entertainment, following in the tradition of ECW.[10]
In 2003, MLW again moved their base of operations toFlorida, and negotiated a deal withSunshine Network to air a television series titledUnderground TV, which ran between April 7, 2003, and February 14, 2004.[9] The series was hosted byJoey Styles, later replaced byKevin Kelly, and consisted of pre-taped matches from prior events. Furthering MLW's ties to ECW, the promotion highlighted many former ECW talents, such asSabu,Terry Funk,Shane Douglas, andSteve Corino. This led to criticism of MLW for being an imitation of ECW in comparison toRing of Honor, another Philadelphia-founded promotion that launched five months prior to MLW's formation.[9][11]
After shuttering in 2004[citation needed], Major League Wrestling would return in 2011[citation needed] as a podcast network, initially focused on producing broadcast and digital content relating to theprofessional wrestling industry.[12] Many prominent professional wrestling figures have appeared on the network, including formerWWE andWCW starsKevin Sullivan,Jim Duggan,MVP, current WWE executiveBruce Prichard, former WCW and currentAEW commentatorTony Schiavone, former WCW and WWE managerJim Cornette, and former WCW President and WWE executive[13]Eric Bischoff.
In 2017, MLW announced that it would once again be promoting wrestling events. Tickets for their first event,MLW One-Shot, went on sale on July 21, 2017.[14] In the same year, MLW announced it would run more shows in Orlando in 2018.[15] Given the success of their independent outings, MLW was able to secure a television deal withbeIN Sports for a new program, titledMLW Fusion, which debuted on April 20, 2018, onbeIN Sports USA.[16] Their first episode featuredPentagon Jr. againstFenix as the main event.[17]
In July 2018, the inauguralBattle Riot would air as aFusion television special.[18] MLW began introducing contracts as part of their growth strategy.[19] In August, the promotion started a working agreement with Mexican-based promotionLucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA).[20][better source needed] On September 19, it was announced that MLW expanded its partnership with beIN Sports to airFusion inSpanish.[21]
In October, MLW announced a Halloween-themed,Fusion television special,[22] and announced the signings ofPCO and Richard Holliday as full-time members of the roster on October 18.[23] It was also reported that Court Bauer and several MLW executives would travel toMonaco for Sportel, with intentions of making a big push internationally.[23] Also announced was a project between MLW and Spiff TV.[23]
On November 8, 2018, MLW held aFusion television taping, namedFightland, in Chicago at Cicero Stadium. Bauer claimed that the event drew the highest attendance in MLW history, shattering the previous attendance record of 1,536 people for the June 20, 2003 event,Hybrid Hell, in Florida.[24][25] On November 29, Bauer announced thatFusion would be broadcast live on beIN Sports on December 14. This coincided with their two-day television tapings in Miami: "Never Say Never" and "Zero Hour"; the live episode was an hour of "Zero Hour"'s events.[26][27][28]
MLW continued to air liveFusion specials throughout 2019, includingSuperFight in February andIntimidation Games in March.[29] The company brought former managerJim Cornette on as a color commentator starting March 2, 2019.[30] He continued to work for the company forRise of the Renegades,Battle Riot II, andFury Road.[30] He also worked unofficially in anagent-like role for the company. This includes coaching younger talent on their television presentation and promos.[31] In addition to SuperFight and Intimidation Games,Rise of the Renegades andBattle Riot II were all revealed to have sold out.
In April 2019, MLW would move their operations into a corporate office building inNew Rochelle, New York.[32] On April 18, MLW announced the creation of a new title: theMLW National Openweight Championship, with the inaugural champion to be crowned duringFury Road inWaukesha, Wisconsin.[33] In June 2019,International Wrestling Association (IWA-PR) ownerSavio Vega was brought in as an on-air talent and backstage agent. This working relationship resulted in the use of theIWA Caribbean Heavyweight Championship in MLW storylines.[34] On August 18, 2019, MLW teased the formation of its women's division, later announcing its official launch on October 18, 2019.[35][36] The division's first official match would be later held atMLW Blood and Thunder on November 9, 2019.[37][38]
On July 5, it was announced that MLW would hold its firstpay-per-view event,Saturday Night SuperFight, which would be held on November 2.[39][40] On July 26, MLW announced a working agreement with Japanese-based promotionPro Wrestling Noah, which would include a talent-exchange agreement and content collaboration between the two promotions.[41][42] On August 8, MLW announced that they had reached a new deal withFITE TV to carry MLW pay-per-view events, with the first event being Saturday Night SuperFight.[43] Four days later, MLW announced a working relationship with Mexican-based promotionThe Crash Lucha Libre termed as a "strategic alliance".[44] On August 23, MLW and The Crash announced they would co-promote their first event on October 5 at the Auditorio Fausto Gutierrez inTijuana,Mexico.[45]
On February 1, 2020, MLW announced a working relationship with Japanese promotionDragon Gate (DG), which would include a talent-exchange between the two promotions.[46]
AfterAAA vs MLW on March 13, 2020, MLW would take a six-month hiatus due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. On April 21, MLW announced they had begun digitizing the 2003–2004 tape library, including the complete run ofMLW Underground TV.[47] On April 30, MLW announced a limited series titledMLW Anthology to air on Bein Sports starting May 16, 2020.[48][49] Following the last episode ofFusion on May 9, 2020, a new digital spinoff series titledPulp Fusion would launch on MLW'sYouTube channel beginning on May 29, 2020.[50]
On June 9, 2020, MLW reached a new media rights deal to stream their programming onDAZN.[51] CEO Court Bauer also announced during the same month that reruns ofMLW Underground TV would air on Bein Sports throughout the summer.[52]
In August 2020, MLW announced thatFusion TV tapings will resume in October of that year.[53] On September 10, it was announced thatMLW Fusion would move to Wednesday nights onfubo Sports Network.[54] On October 10, it was revealed thatFusion would return on November 18 at 7pm EST and new episodes would also premiere on MLW's YouTube channel on the same night.[55]
In October 2020, MLW announced a "strategic alliance" with IWA-PR for the "celebration of inter-promotional events, direct support to the events of each of the companies and collaboration in other types of promotions".[56] MLW would also began incorporating story elements from the now-defunct Lucha Libre promotion and television drama,Lucha Underground, into an angle involving IWA-PR. Talent formally associated withLucha Underground were brought into MLW as part of the "Azteca Underground" stable.[57][58]
In April 2021, MLW announced a television deal withVice TV.[59] A block of MLW programming, including reruns ofFusion, began airing on Saturdays starting May 1.[60] The agreement would further expand when it was announced on September 17 that Vice would airMLW Fightland as a television special on October 7.[61]
On the April 21, episode ofMLW Fusion, Bauer announced that MLW's "new season" would begin with their July 10, 2021 event at the2300 Arena inPhiladelphia, later revealed to beBattle Riot III, and it would be their first event since the pandemic to have a live audience in attendance.[62][63][64] On April 29, 2021, MLW announced a partnership withRevolution Pro Wrestling.[65]
In June 2021,Wrestling Observer reported that MLW had ended its deal with DAZN.[66] it was also reported that MLW had begun taping content inLos Angeles for a spinoff series that would "resembleLucha Underground", with plans to film vignettes in the summer and matches in the fall.[67] It would later be revealed on August 4, 2021, that MLW had signed a deal to produce a new series centered around Azteca Underground, featuring a different roster from that seen onMLW Fusion.[68] In an update duringWrestling Observer Radio on November 1, 2021, Meltzer reported that tapings for the series were cancelled because MLW was unable to secure a TV deal.[69]
On July 7, 2021, it was announced thatShimmer Women Athletes co-founderDave Prazak had joined MLW to help relaunch its women's division; later to be announced in September as theMLW Women's Featherweight division.[70][71]
During the television 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.[72][73][74] Initially announced to air in August,Fusion: Alpha was later announced as "a new season and series from MLW" to premiere on September 22 on MLW's YouTube channel, and would air on Saturdays and Mondays on Bein Sports.[75][76][77]
On December 7, 2021, MLW announced a new "anthology mini-series" titledMLW Azteca to premiere on Thursday, January 6, 2022, on MLW's YouTube channel andFITE TV.[78][79]
On January 11, 2022, MLW filed ananti-trust lawsuit againstWWE, accusing them of interfering in television and streaming deals and poaching talent. Through the lawsuit, it was disclosed that a streaming deal withFox Corporation-ownedTubi was terminated due to WWE allegedly threatening to pull their programming from the siblingFox broadcast network. The suit also alleges that WWE pressured Vice TV to withdraw from negotiations with MLW.[80][81] In February 2023, the lawsuit was dismissed due to a lack of "sufficient facts to plausibly allege a relevant antitrust product market" and that their "allegations are insufficient to plausibly allege a relevant product market." MLW was given 21 days to file an amendment to their lawsuit.[82][83]
On July 5, 2022, MLW announced a new broadcast deal with Ayozat TV in theUnited Kingdom.[84] Two days later, MLW announced an expanded agreement withbeIN Sports USA to carry the promotion's programming on BeIN Sports Xtra, both through its FAST channel and across itsover-the-airtelevision station affiliates, on Friday nights.[85]
On October 11, 2022, MLW announced a partnership withstreaming platform Pro Wrestling TV (PWTV), bringing the promotion's programming library to the service. The partnership began on November 3, with the premiere of theBattle Riot IV event.MLW Fusion would return for a new season the following week on November 10.[86]
On January 20, 2023, MLW announced a new broadcast deal withReelz in the United States, with a new weekly flagship show titledMLW Underground Wrestling premiering on February 7.[87]
In February, Reelz reached an agreement withNBCUniversal-owned streaming servicePeacock for the network's programming and live feed to be carried on the service. However, due to a pre-existing exclusivity agreement with WWE, MLW programming wasblacked out on Reelz's live feed on the service. On February 28, it was reported byVariety that MLW's deal with Reelz would conclude after 10 weeks.[88][89] However, in a statement made to PWInsider, the network confirmed that "No decisions have been made by MLW or REELZ and we are both committed to a good outcome for MLW, its fans and REELZ."[90] On March 7, MLW filed an amended lawsuit against WWE, citing WWE's alleged interference with the promotion's deal with Reelz.[91]
In March 2023, MLW reached an agreement with the Premier Streaming Network to distributeMLW Underground Wrestling outside of the U.S.[92]
On May 2, 2023, a new partnership with FITE was announced, in-which MLW would produce live specials for subscribers to FITE+. The first event under this deal wasNever Say Never on July 8. It would be MLW's first live broadcast since the 2019Saturday Night SuperFight pay-per-view event, which was also carried by FITE.[93]
On the August 24, 2023 episode ofFusion, MLW announced a new partnership withNew Japan Pro Wrestling would begin atFury Road on September 3, 2023.[94]
On December 11, 2023, MLW and WWE reached a settlement in the former's antitrust lawsuit.[95] MLW's lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice on December 26, 2023.[96] It would later be revealed in a 10-K filing ofTKO Group Holdings, the holding company created by that year's merger of WWE and theUFC, that they had paid $20 million to MLW.[97]
In December 2023, SE Scoops reported that MLW was "overhauling" their front office.[98]
In January 2024, MLW would revamp their event schedule to air two events every month; a live, premium event for Triller TV+ subscribers; and a free,taped, TV special for Bein Sports and MLW's YouTube channel.[99]
MLW Azteca Lucha, the promotion's first event to take place at Cicero Stadium since Saturday Night SuperFight in November 2019, would break MLW's all-timebox office record with the announcement that tickets were sold out on April 29.[100]
During the same month, MLW announced in a Community post on their YouTube channel that they had launched a membership program, later to be known as the "MLW Standard Pass". Subsequentially, past uploads from MLW's weekly programming library, and several full match videos, became paywalled.[101][102] Ahead ofBattle Riot VI on June 1, it was reported that MLW would be moving its streaming events to theirYouTube channel as part of the rollout of its membership program. This subsequently ended the promotion's partnership with TrillerTV.[103]
On June 26, 2024, David Marquez (founder ofChampionship Wrestling and theUnited Wrestling Network) was announced as MLW's new head of production. It was also announced that David Sahadi (who previously worked forTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling) has joined MLW's production crew.[104]
In the beginning, MLW would hold one show a month, originally from theViking Hall inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania. By the end of 2002, MLW began running two shows a month and, in 2003, multiple shows in a weekend were held in New York. The first time MLW left New York was December 20, 2002, forKing Of Kings from the War Memorial Auditorium inFort Lauderdale, Florida. The promotion primarily held events inFlorida prior to closing its doors in 2004.[105]
MLW initially held shows in Florida since their revival in 2017. Soon after the debut ofMLW Fusion in 2018 onbeIN Sports USA, the promotion would once again resuming touring, returning to New York later that year.[106][107][108][109] On September 18, 2018, MLW announced their debut inChicago.[110] On October 19, 2018, MLW announced that they would return to Florida to make theirMiami debut.[111]
From Fall 2020 until 2021, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, MLW would return to Gilt Nightclub in Florida to tape their programmingbehind closed doors.[112] From July to December 2021, MLW programming was taped at the2300 Arena from the promotion's home base in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[72] The promotion would resume a regular touring schedule later that year, beginning withtheir second joint show withThe Crash Lucha Libre in December.[113][114]
Matches and segments from the 2022Fightland event that were originally taped forFusion were later repurposed for the promotion's new weekly series,MLW Underground Wrestling, which premiered on February 7, 2023 onReelz.[115][116][117]
From late 2022, and throughout 2023, MLW would predominantly host events from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. At the end of 2023, MLW would cease airing weekly television programming. Beginning atOne Shot on December 7, 2023, select matches would be taped during MLW's live events, and later air as part of television specials produced for Bein Sports and MLW'sYouTube channel.[99]
In 2018, after the promotion was revived, MLW signed some talent to exclusive contracts.[118] It also gave MLW power over the performers' dates. Their wrestlers are allowed to perform for other promotions but have to prioritize MLW events.[118] MLW's roster mainly consists ofindependent contractors who have also appeared in other promotions.
MLW has working relationships withRevolution Pro Wrestling,New Japan Pro-Wrestling,Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling andConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre.
As of November 23, 2025.
| Championship | Current champion(s) | Reign | Date won | Days held[119] | Location | Notes | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLW World Heavyweight Championship |  | Mads Krule Krügger | 1 | September 13, 2025 | 71+ | North Richland Hills, Texas | Defeated previous championMatt Riddle andDonovan Dijak in athree-way match atFightland, which also served as Krügger's Gravity Gramble cash-in match. | [120] |
| MLW National Openweight Championship | .jpg) | Blue Panther | 1 | September 21, 2025 | 63+ | Mexico City, Mexico | DefeatedUltimo Guerrero at aConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre event. | [121] |
| MLW World Middleweight Championship | .jpg) | Templario | 1 | September 13, 2025 | 71+ | North Richland Hills, Texas | DefeatedIkuro Kwon to win the vacant title. Previous champion.Místico vacated the title after announcing his intention to move up to the heavyweight division. | [120][122] |
| Championship | Current champion(s) | Reign | Date won | Days held | Location | Notes | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLW World Tag Team Championship |   | The Skyscrapers (Bishop Dyer andDonovan Dijak) | 1 | June 26, 2025 | 150+ | Queens, New York | DefeatedLos Depredadores (Magnus andRugido) atSummer of the Beasts. | [123] |
| Championship | Current champion(s) | Reign | Date won | Days held[119] | Location | Notes | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLW World Women's Featherweight Championship |  | Shoko Nakajima | 1 | April 5, 2025 | 232+ | Long Beach, California | DefeatedDelmi Exo atBattle Riot VII. | [124] |
| Championship | Date introduced | First champion(s) | Date retired | Final champion(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLW World Junior Heavyweight Championship | September 19, 2003 | Sonjay Dutt | February 14, 2004 | Sonjay Dutt | Dutt defeatedChristopher Daniels in a tournament final to become the inaugural (and sole) champion. Dutt was no longer listed as champion after MLW stopped promoting events; the championship was not brought back after MLW's promotional return. |
| MLW Caribbean Heavyweight Championship | June 15, 2019[a] | Savio Vega[b] | January 6, 2023 | Octagón Jr. | The championship ceased being listed on MLW.com after it was declared vacant by theInternational Wrestling Association (IWA-PR) on January 6, 2023. The championship continues to be defended in IWA-PR as the "IWA Puerto Rico/Caribbean Heavyweight Championship". |
| Accomplishment | Latest winner(s) | Date won | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Riot | Matt Riddle | April 5, 2025 | Long Beach, California | Last eliminatedRob Van Dam to retain the MLW World Championship |
| Opera Cup | Mistico | September 14, 2024 | Atlanta, Georgia | DefeatedKenta in the finals of a sixeteen-man single elimination tournament. |
