Major League Wrestling’s two-hour season premiere of MLW Fusion aired Saturday night from sold out Orlando, marking the show’s return to weekly television after more than two years off the air. The broadcast streamed free on YouTube at 6:05 p.m. ET before the beIN SPORTS airing at 10 p.m. ET.
The headline development of the night: Matt Riddle has signed an open contract to challenge MLW World Heavyweight Champion Killer Kross, a contract that Kross unveiled at a press conference that also featured MLW CEO Court Bauer, Danny McBride, and Scarlett Bordeaux.
Full Results
Shotzi def. Priscilla Kelly
Killer Kross press conference: Kross announced an open contract for any challenger to sign. Hammerstone was visibly unhappy upon learning someone had already signed it. Matt Riddle was later revealed as the signee.
Scarlett def. Aleah James
The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) brawled with The Skyscrapers (Donovan Dijak and Bishop Dyer) backstage
Austin Aries def. Trevor Lee
Austin Aries called out MLW National Champion Blue Panther following his victory
Matt Riddle signed the open contract to face Killer Kross
The Good Brothers def. Joe Coffey and Mark Coffey; The Skyscrapers taunt the Good Brothers with the MLW Tag Team Titles, sparking another brawl
Diego Hill def. Adam Brooks
Danny McBride appeared at the MLW Fusion press conference alongside Don Gato
CONTRA Unit aired a video showing Mads Krugger being “killed”
ZAMAYA def. Carolina Cruz
Alex Hammerstone def. Bishop Dyer
Shotzi Calls Out Shoko Nakajima
Shotzi defeated Priscilla Kelly in a match with the MLW Women’s World Championship on the line as a future stipulation. Afterward, Shotzi called out champion Shoko Nakajima to set the stage for a coming title program. MLW had billed the match as a collision between two undefeated competitors, with the winner moving closer to Nakajima’s championship.
The Killer Kross Press Conference and the Riddle Signing
Kross held his first press conference as MLW World Heavyweight Champion, flanked by Court Bauer, Danny McBride, and Scarlett Bordeaux. An open contract was presented, available to any challenger willing to sign it. Hammerstone was not pleased to learn someone had already beaten him to it. The segment concluded with the reveal that Matt Riddle had signed, setting up Riddle versus Kross for a future date.
The open contract format delivered on MLW’s stated intention for the premiere. The company positioned Kross’s first act as champion as a challenge to the entire locker room.
Austin Aries Beats Trevor Lee, Goes After Blue Panther
Austin Aries handed Trevor Lee a loss in what MLW had advertised as one of the featured bouts of the night, with both men billed as key additions to the new season’s title picture. After the victory, Aries directed his attention toward MLW National Champion Blue Panther, calling him out and signaling where he wants to go next.
Good Brothers vs. The Skyscrapers: Two Brawls
The Good Brothers arrived in MLW with brawls coming from multiple directions. They got into it with The Skyscrapers (Donovan Dijak and Bishop Dyer) backstage before the match, then defeated the Coffey Brothers (Joe and Mark Coffey) in their in-ring debut. The Skyscrapers, who are the reigning MLW World Tag Team Champions, returned to taunt Gallows and Anderson with the belts after the match, sparking another confrontation. The title picture in the tag division was drawn clearly in the opening episode.
CONTRA, Danny McBride, and ZAMAYA
CONTRA Unit aired a video depicting Mads Krugger being “killed,” delivering on their promise of a manifesto for the new season. Danny McBride appeared at a separate press conference with Don Gato, continuing the ongoing storyline teased throughout the premiere’s build. ZAMAYA picked up a win over Carolina Cruz in her MLW debut.
Hammerstone closed the show with a win over Bishop Dyer, setting himself up as a major contender in the heavyweight picture while Dyer’s Skyscrapers remain involved in the tag title scene.
Court Bauer on the Return of the 6:05 Time Slot
Court Bauer framed the premiere in the context of the show’s historical significance earlier in the week: “6:05 is sacred ground. That time slot belongs to the history of this sport as made famous by legendary Ted Turner. We’re not just bringing back a weekly show — we’re planting our flag and celebrating wrestling’s southern soul. MLW Fusion is back, it’s free, and it’s built for the fans who remember what Saturday night wrestling felt like.”
The next MLW events are June 11 in New York City and June 12 and 13 in Philadelphia.
