MLW News...

 

Major League Wrestling Reveals 2025 Opera Cup Brackets MLW, CMLL, NJPW stars set to clash in prestigious tournament across NYC, Dallas, LA, and Chicago

NEW YORK — Major League Wrestling (“MLW”) today revealed the official brackets for the 2025 Opera Cup, featuring 16 of the top fighters from MLW, New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). The tournament will unfold across four major U.S. cities — New York City, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Chicago — with opening round matches beginning August 9 at MLW: Blood & Thunder, airing nationwide on beIN SPORTS and streaming worldwide on MLW’s YouTube Channel. 2025 Opera Cup Brackets The tournament is divided into two sides: Bracket A and Bracket B. Bracket A Místico vs Ikuro Kwon Último Guerrero vs Esfinge Austin Aries vs KUSHIDA Paul London vs Okumura Bracket B Volador Jr. vs Titán Zandokan Jr. vs Blue Panther Jr. Satoshi Kojima vs Bobby Fish Bishop Dyer vs Anthony Greene As MLW’s international alliances strengthen, the 2025 Opera Cup promises a world class field blending legacy, global talent, and rising stars in a battle for wrestling’s most enduring prize. A Tournament Like No Other Dating back to the 1880s, the Opera Cup is recognized as the oldest tournament in the sport of professional wrestling. As organized American sports emerged, the world’s finest grapplers converged on the grand opera houses of the era to compete in what quickly became the most prestigious tournament of its time. Wrestling legends such as William Muldoon, Leo Pardello, George Hackenschmidt, and Stu Hart all won the Opera Cup, forever linking their names to its unmatched legacy. The tournament became a crucible where greatness was forged and immortality was claimed. In 2019 the Opera Cup was revived by Major League Wrestling to once again showcase the pinnacle of the sport. Today, a new generation of fighters journeys to MLW to dance with destiny and battle for the historic trophy. From lucha libre icons to Japanese strong-style legends and MLW’s fiercest competitors, the 2025 Opera Cup brings together the past, present, and future of the sport in one defining tournament. Today, the Opera Cup lives on through Major League Wrestling, where a new generation of grapplers steps onto the grand stage to dance with destiny. From lucha libre icons to Japanese strong-style masters, and MLW’s fiercest warriors, each seeks to claim the “classic” and secure their legacy in the annals of the sport. MLW President Cesar Duran, the mastermind behind the 2025 tournament, shared: “The Opera Cup is where history meets now. It’s a proving ground — not just for glory, but for legend.” The road to the Opera Cup finals begins August 9. Who will rise? Who will fall? One will carve their name into history. The 2025 Opera Cup kicks off August 9 at MLW: Blood & Thunder on beIN SPORTS and MLW’s YouTube Channel. Additional rounds will take place in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Chicago, with match announcements and ticket information to be revealed at MLW.com. Major League Wrestling and Panini America Announce  Exclusive Trading Card Partnership Landmark licensing partnership begins this summer. NEW YORK – JUNE 30, 2025 – Major League Wrestling (MLW), one of the fastest-growing wrestling leagues in the U.S., and Panini America, the world’s largest sports and entertainment collectibles company, announced today a multi-year exclusive partnership. As part of the agreement, Panini becomes the official trading card, memorabilia, and collectible sticker partner of MLW.   The partnership begins with Panini commemorating some of the most memorable moments from “MLW Summer of the BEASTS” which took place in New York City on Thursday, June 26, by launching products on its Instant Card platform at www.paniniamerica.net. Additional MLW products from Panini will be available later this year at mass retailers including Walmart and Target, in hobby stores nationwide, as well as on Panini’s website.   “As MLW’s global presence continues to grow, partnering with Panini – the worldwide leader in collectibles – is the perfect next step,” MLW Founder and CEO Court Bauer said. “With the world’s top-ranked fighters throwing down in front of sold-out crowds, MLW is built on iconic moments. Now, thanks to Panini, fans can collect those moments and own a piece of the fight."   With a roster of high-octane talent and a rapidly expanding international footprint, MLW is continuing to build momentum among media and fans alike. This partnership with Panini marks the league’s first entry into officially licensed trading cards and collectibles, giving fans a new way to connect with the action inside – and outside – the ring.   “We are looking forward to this new partnership with MLW, as MLW continues to grow and expand internationally – we are positioned well to help them reach wrestling fans on a global basis and bring trading cards to wrestling fans,” said Mark Warsop, Panini America CEO.   About Major League Wrestling  Major League Wrestling (MLW®) is a sports media holding company, offering television content, action figures, apparel, live events, and ancillary entertainment. MLW operates live events in major markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas.   One of the fastest growing wrestling leagues today, MLW programming is available in over 60 countries worldwide, including on beIN Sports in the U.S. and Ayozat TV on SKY in the United Kingdom. MLW premium live events stream monthly live online. MLW events showcase top ranked professional wrestling, with fighters representing countries around the world.   For more information visit MLW.com and follow MLW on X, Instagram and YouTube.   About Panini America Panini America is a subsidiary of The Panini Group, established over 60 years ago in Modena, Italy with subsidiaries throughout Europe, Latin America and the United States. Panini is the world leader in officially licensed collectibles and is the most significant publisher of collectibles in the U.S., with official licenses for NFL, NFLPA, NBA, NBPA, MLW, NASCAR, FIFA, LIV Golf, the Professional Fighters League, College, Disney, and other key properties from many other licensors. Panini is also the exclusive trading card and sticker partner of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Elite 11 and Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.   Panini has distribution channels in more than 150 countries and employs a staff of over 1,200. For more information visit us at www.paniniamerica.net, www.paninigroup.com or http://blog.paniniamerica.net/. You can also follow Panini America on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

MLW-CMLL Azteca Lucha 2025 results

Azteca Lucha

No.	Results	Stipulations	Times[13]
1	Los Depredadores (Magnus and Rugido) (c) defeated Los Divinos Laguneros (Blue Panther Jr. and Dark Panther) by pinfall	Tag team match for the MLW World Tag Team Championship[9]	13:21
2	Alex Hammerstone defeated Satoshi Kojima by pinfall	Singles match[10]	12:18
3	Atlantis and Esfinge defeated Guerrero Maya Jr. and Hechicero by pinfall	Tag team match[11]	11:44
4	Último Guerrero (c) defeated Bárbaro Cavernario and Zandokan Jr. by pinfall	Three-way match for the MLW National Openweight Championship[12]	10:24
5	Matt Riddle (c) defeated Donovan Dijak (with Saint Laurent) by submission	Singles match for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship[8]	14:29
6	Místico defeated Templario and Ikuro Kwon by pinfall	Three-way match[6]	11:29
(c)  – the champion(s) heading into the match

MLW Kings of the Colosseum 2025 results and more news...

 

MLW Kings of the Colosseum 2025 results 

Kings of Colosseum

No.	Results	Stipulations	Times[23]
1	Mads Krule Krügger defeated Akira, Brett Ryan Gosselin, Matthew Justice and Mr. Thomas[a]	Gravity Gamble match for an MLW World Heavyweight Championship match contract[14]	19:24
2	Los Guerreros de la Atlantida (Atlantis and Atlantis Jr.) defeated Los Divinos Laguneros (Blue Panther and Dark Panther) by pinfall	Tag team match[21]	9:07
3	Delmi Exo defeated Janai Kai (c) by pinfall	Title vs. Hair match for the MLW World Women's Featherweight Championship[16]	7:10
4	Donovan Dijak (with Saint Laurent) defeated Kenta by pinfall	Singles match[18]	9:27
5	Averno defeated Máscara Dorada and Esfinge by submission	Three-way match[22]	11:45
6	Matt Riddle defeated Satoshi Kojima (c) by pinfall	Singles match for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship[12]	10:43
(c)  – the champion(s) heading into the match

Reload (January 23)

No.	Matches*	Stipulations
1	Místico (c) vs. Bárbaro Cavernario	Two out of three falls match for the MLW World Middleweight Championship[9]
2	Tom Lawlor vs. Minoru Suzuki	Singles match[24]
3	Paul London and Paul Walter Hauser vs. The Andersons (Brock Anderson and C. W. Anderson)	Texas Tornado match[25]
4	Virus vs. Neón	Singles match[26]
5	Bobby Fish vs. Ariel Dominguez	Singles match[27]
6	Persephone vs. Alejandra Quintanilla	Singles match[28]
7	Okumura vs. TBA	Singles match[29]
8	Hechicero vs. TBA	Singles match[30]
(c)  – the champion(s) heading into the match *Card subject to change

MLW SuperFight 6: Matt Riddle to Defend World Heavyweight Championship in Triple Threat Match Tickets available at MLWLive.com

Tickets Available at MLWLive.com & Ticketmaster. ATLANTA, GA – Major League Wrestling (MLW) today announced Matt Riddle (champion) vs. Satoshi Kojima vs. Alex Kane in a Triple Threat for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship at MLW SuperFight 6 on Saturday, February 8 at Center Stage in Atlanta, GA and presented live on YouTube.   Grab tickets at http://www.MLWLIVE.com and at Ticketmaster starting at $15. SuperFight 6 officially has its main event - and it promises to be nothing short of historic as the last three MLW World Heavyweight Champions collide for the coveted title: reigning champion Matt Riddle, Satoshi Kojima, and Atlanta’s own Alex Kane. Fresh off his monumental victory at Kings of Colosseum (watch), where he dethroned Satoshi Kojima, Matt Riddle wasted no time in setting the tone for his reign as champion. In a stunning post-event press conference, Riddle declared, “I’m going into business for myself.” Bypassing SuperFight 6 executive producer Eric Bischoff in recognizing Alex Kane’s overdue rematch for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship, Riddle extended the challenge to Kane as his first title defense, citing MLW’s Open Door policy, given Bischoff fired Kane in December. But the press conference took an unexpected turn when Satoshi Kojima, moments removed from his 337-day reign as champion, stormed in to demand his rematch. As one of the most celebrated champions in MLW history, Kojima wants nothing more than to become a 3-time champion. Without hesitation, Riddle accepted Kojima’s challenge, officially setting the stage for a blockbuster triple threat main event at SuperFight 6. This one-fall-to-a-finish title bout brings together three of the most dominant champions in MLW history: Matt Riddle: The newly crowned champion is already proving to be a fearless and brash competitor. Will his reign be one for the ages or a fleeting moment in MLW’s storied legacy? Satoshi Kojima: Widely regarded as the greatest champion in history, Kojima’s record-breaking 337-day reign and legendary matches have solidified his place as one of the most beloved wrestlers in MLW history. Alex Kane: The hometown hero and former champion who made headlines by dethroning Alex Hammerstone via choke out, Kane held the title for an impressive 210 days and is now looking to reclaim gold on home turf. SuperFight 6 sets the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable night of fights. Fans will witness whether Matt Riddle’s reign is built on bold, decisive victories—or if it’s cut short by two of MLW’s most dominant forces. Don’t miss this historic showdown! Join us live on February 8 at Center Stage in Atlanta to see if Matt Riddle can defy the odds or if a new champion will emerge in what promises to be one of the most epic title fights in MLW history. Stay connected with MLW.com for updates on match announcements and other exciting news leading up to SuperFight 6!

Bring your signs as MLW TV trucks will be rolling up for a live broadcast streaming broadcasting worldwide! SuperFight 6 live on YouTube card (10pm ET start) MLW World Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat Matt Riddle (c) vs. Satoshi Kojima vs. Alex Kane beIN SPORTS card (7pm CT local start) TBA PLUS: Special Meet & Greets from 6-6:30pm with TBA! Card subject to change. *** SPECIAL 7PM START TIME FOR TICKET HOLDERS *** Tickets start at $15 at Ticketmaster and http://www.MLWLive.com.  Tickets will also be available day of show at the box office unless the event sales out in advance. General Public Doors Open: 5:30 p.m. with a special bell time of: 7:00pm. DAY OF EVENT INFO 5:30 p.m.: Early entry for front row ticket holders 6:00 p.m.: Doors open for general public (all ticket holders) 7:00 p.m.: Showtime MORE ABOUT CENTER STAGE Located in the heart of Atlanta, originally “Theatre Atlanta”, Center Stage was built in 1966. An iconic live performance venue in Midtown celebrating over five decades hosting music, comedy, wrestling, boxing, eSports, film and television recordings, and private events. Center Stage is located at 1374 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. PARKING 1360 Peachtree Street Garage (reserve in advance) 1374 West Peachtree Street Garage  1372 Peachtree Street Garage MARTA AND RIDESHARE MARTA Arts Center Station (Red & Gold Lines) Distance: 0.2 miles along West Peachtree Street Uber / Lyft / Taxi: For your safety, please use 17th Street (b/w West Peachtree St & Spring St) BACK to MLW: Kushida returns to Major League Wrestling The Time Splitter has returned! During Kings of Colosseum, it was revealed that KUSHIDA, one of the most celebrated Japanese junior heavyweights in modern wrestling, is back in Major League Wrestling.  Known for his lightning-fast technical prowess and high-flying innovation, KUSHIDA has amassed incredible success in NJPW, where he is a 6-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and 2-time Best of the Super Juniors winner, solidifying his legacy as one of Japan’s most electric junior heavyweights. Fans can watch Kings of Colosseum, free in full now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMvI0mbfPdI.  About Major League Wrestling Major League Wrestling (MLW®) is a sports media holding company, offering television content, action figures, apparel, live events, and ancillary entertainment. MLW operates live events in major markets throughout the United States and Mexico, including New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Tampa. One of the fastest growing wrestling leagues today, MLW programming is available in over 60 countries worldwide, including MLW Fusion on beIN Sports in the U.S. and Ayozat TV on SKY in the United Kingdom. For more information visit MLW.com and follow MLW on X, Instagram and YouTube. MLW Returns to Dallas-Fort Worth with FIGHTLAND on September 13 Tickets on sale this Tuesday at 10 a.m. CT Dallas-Fort Worth, TX – January 9, 2025 – Major League Wrestling (MLW) is thrilled to announce its return to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex on Saturday, September 13, with the highly anticipated FIGHTLAND live signature event. TV trucks will roll up for an action-packed night of MLW wrestling at the NYTEX Sports Centre, a 2,400 seat multi-purpose arena in North Richland Hills, TX. Fans of Major League Wrestling can expect an unforgettable evening featuring world-class athletes, CMLL luchadores, and championship showdowns. Tickets for FIGHTLAND go on sale this Tuesday, January 14, starting at 10 a.m. Central. Tickets start at just $10, ensuring that fans of all ages can experience the excitement of MLW live. Set a reminder to get your tickets at MLWTexas.com and Eventbrite! Don’t miss your chance to witness the hard-hitting action and electrifying energy that has made MLW one of the hottest promotions in the world. Be part of history as MLW takes over the NYTEX Sports Centre for an unforgettable night. Event Details: Event: MLW: FIGHTLAND Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025 Venue: NYTEX Sports Centre, North Richland Hills, TX Tickets: On sale Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 10 a.m. Central at MLWTexas.com Starting Price: $10 Bring your signs as MLW TV trucks will be rolling up for a live broadcast streaming broadcasting worldwide! FIGHTLAND live on YouTube card (10pm ET start) TBA beIN SPORTS card (7pm CT local start) TBA Card subject to change. Tickets start at $10 at MLWTexas.com and Eventbrite.   Tickets will also be available day of show at the box office unless the event sales out in advance. No refunds or exchanges. For the latest information on bouts for this event, please visit www.MLW.com. All bouts are subject to change. *** 7PM START TIME *** DAY OF EVENT INFO The schedule for the event is as follows: 5:30 p.m.: Early entry for front row ticket holders 6:00 p.m.: Doors open for general public (all ticket holders) 7:00 p.m.: Showtime MORE ABOUT THE NYTEX SPORTS CENTRE The NYTEX Sports Centre is a 2,400 seat multi-purpose arena in North Richland Hills, Texas. The venue offers modern facilities, parking and easy accessibility.  The NYTEX Sports Centre provides the highest quality service makes the venue a premier event destination. The venue is located at: 8851 Ice House Drive, North Richland Hills, TX 76180 PARKING Adjacent paved lots provide ample parking.