Major League Wrestling presented its “Symphony of Horrors” special on Saturday night, streaming for free on the company’s YouTube account. The event included multiple championship bouts, the completion of the Opera Cup Semifinals, and several physical altercations that set matches for the promotion’s Lucha de los Muertos event in Charleston on November 20.
The broadcast opened with Matt Riddle arriving at the building and confronting MLW President Cesar Duran. Riddle demanded an immediate title shot, asking, “How come I’m not getting a title shot immediately? I already beat like half the roster, and I’m still playing your games, your matchmaking is worse than Brock Lesnar, brother”. Duran informed Riddle that he would instead be tested, forcing him to team with his rival, World Heavyweight Champion Mads Krule Krüger. Riddle accepted, responding, “That’s easy money. I’ll beat him when you might as well call me riddle the gold collector. Bro”.
The show’s first match saw the MLW National Openweight Championship on the line in a three-way match, as new champion Blue Panther defended against fellow legend Atlantis and Los Depredadores’ Rugido. Panther and Atlantis worked together at times to neutralize Rugido. After the match, Blue Panther retained his championship, forcing Rugido to submit to a Fujiwara Armbar.
Next, Shotzi competed in a Women’s Lightning Match against Brittany Brooks. During her entrance, a promo from Priscilla Kelly aired, who stated, “I was here when the foundation MLW was built on was poured, and I am coming home to burn the whole house down to ashes. Chauncey will be my first act of arson”. MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion Shoko Nakajima was seen looking on from the crowd as Shotzi picked up the victory with a pinfall after hitting a Senton. Her post-match time was interrupted when a “mystery assailant” in a cloak and basket attacked her from behind. Later, Shotzi was seen backstage looking for her attacker. “Where are you? I know you’re in here. Come on, you chicken,” Shotzi yelled. “I’m not waiting until Charleston. I want you now. I’m gonna find you, Priscilla, and you’re dead. Come on, Priscilla, I’m gonna get you”.
An announcement came via a self-shot promo from The Good Brothers. “Let’s do this ourselves. It’s what we do,” Doc Gallows began. “We have held tag team gold on every continent, every major company, eight times. World Tag Team Champions, the Skyscrapers, two big men we’re very familiar with, Bishop Dyer, Donovan Dijak Skyscrapers or not, we have the power of the tequila running through our veins, and it’s gonna be the recipe. It’s a magic killer, 123, uno, dos tres and the just too sweet, and then a couple of shots, not for Carl because he’s sober, but for Don Gato and me”.
The third contest was a “Scramble 5” match. The bout featured Diego Hill, Magnus, Okumura, Stigma, and Ikuro Kwon. The action concluded when Diego Hill hit a cutter on Ikuro Kwon for the pinfall victory. Post-match, Hill was embraced by his mentor, Blue Panther.
The MLW World Tag Team Championship match followed, as The Skyscrapers (Donovan Dijak & Bishop Dyer) defended against the pairing of Matt Riddle and MLW World Heavyweight Champion Mads Krule Krüger. Alex Hammerstone, who has an ongoing issue with Riddle, came to the commentary table and told Joe Dombrowski, “This match has Matt riddle, who low blowed me. This match has Matt screw who has the World Championship. I think I have plenty to be interested in sitting here ringside, maybe that’s the last stupid question”.
The match, which began as a brawl before the bell, saw Riddle and Krüger briefly come to blows. Hammerstone, explaining his new attitude, said, “My path is on a different freaking level”. The bout ended in a disqualification when Hammerstone left his post to attack Riddle. This led to a brawl between all five men. Krüger, who was bleeding, put Donovan Dijak through a table at ringside.
The altercation continued later in the show as Krüger and The Skyscrapers brawled again. This was interrupted by Brock Anderson, who attacked the World Champion. In a separate promo, Anderson had explained his motivations: “The moment you took it upon yourself, the strap seat up, my family, my blood in that electric chair. You signed your own bounty pal… All you are is a swelt up goof hiding behind a mask… I ain’t asking anymore. I’m demanding now… November, Charleston, South Carolina… We’re going to do it the Anderson way, in a bunkhouse match”. Following the brawl, Cesar Duran made the match official: “Okay, I’ll give him to you on a bun house match in Charleston”.
The MLW World Middleweight Championship was also defended as Templario took on the veteran Virus. After a match featuring technical wrestling, Templario retained his title, pinning Virus after a powerbomb variation. After the match, Ikuro Kwon appeared in a promo, holding Don Gatto’s stolen brass knuckles. “I Cesar. I’m only gonna say this once, November 20 in Charleston. Make It Right,” Kwon demanded. “I want a rematch. I demand a rematch with temporal for the middleweight title I had that match won, and you decide to get involved”.
The first Opera Cup Semifinal of the night featured Satoshi Kojima, accompanied by Okumura, facing Volador Jr., who had Los Depredadores (Magnus and Rugido) in his corner. Los Depredadores were involved, attacking Kojima on the floor and later pulling the referee out of the ring to break up a pinfall after Kojima hit his Lariat. Volador Jr. took advantage of the distraction, hitting a Frankensteiner on Kojima to secure the pin and advance to the finals.
The main event was the final Opera Cup Semifinal, pitting defending champion Mistico against Austin Aries. Don Gato was at ringside for the match. Before Mistico’s entrance, Aries cut a promo, telling the crowd, “You see this whole system only works if you’re sick, you’re stupid and you’re sad… which is why you love Mistico, the mask, the flips, the illusion… I’m going to beat Mystico. I’m going to win the Opera Cup, and I will do anything it takes to make sure that happens… So Mistico, get your ass out here”.
Aries repeatedly targeted Mistico’s neck, which was injured at Slaughterhouse. Aries hit two Brainbusters on the arena floor, attempting to win by count-out. Mistico managed to beat the 20-count both times. Aries then spit in the referee’s face and appeared to arm himself with a foreign object. Mistico, who had previously broken a count-out on Aries, avoided the object and locked in La MÃstica, forcing Aries to submit. Mistico was met by Don Gato after the match and will now face Volador Jr. in the Opera Cup Finals in Charleston.
MLW: Symphony of Horrors Full Results
MLW National Openweight Championship: Blue Panther (c) def. Atlantis and Rugido via submission
Lightning Match: Shotzi def. Brittany Brooks via pinfall
Scramble 5 Match: Diego Hill def. Magnus, Okumura, Stigma, and Ikuro Kwon via pinfall
MLW World Tag Team Championship: The Skyscrapers (Donovan Dijak & Bishop Dyer) (c) def. Matt Riddle & Mads Krule Krüger via Disqualification
MLW World Middleweight Championship: Templario (c) def. Virus via pinfall
Opera Cup Semifinal: Volador Jr. def. Satoshi Kojima via pinfall
Opera Cup Semifinal: Mistico def. Austin Aries via submission
