Fightland: Previewing MLW’s Chicago Debut Tomorrow Night
MLW continues its surge in growth as it barrels into Chicago’s Cicero Stadium on Thursday night. The show, which will be pieced out as episodes of MLW Fusion each week, is headlined by a huge tag team main event – Lucha Bros, Pentagon Jr and Rey Fenix, will defend the World Tag Team Titles against Los Parks, LA Park and Hijo de LA Park.
As the final matches from October’s Fury Road taping in New York City roll out to MLW Fusion, another blockbuster show is set as the promotion plants its flag in Chicago. MLW has been steadily gaining in exposure as it stretches its legs from Orlando throughout Florida and beyond. MLW CEO Court Bauer has already teased that the roster will be reloaded in 2019, but will that also lead to new cities hosting landmark shows?
For now, we can only speculate on what a new year will bring, but we can be sure of what tomorrow night will bring. Two huge title matches sit atop a ridiculously stacked card featuring the debut of one of the founders of Los Ingobernables, Rush, as well as the debuts of Ace Austin and Ace Romero, while Stokely Hathaway makes his official MLW return.
Let’s break down the card from top to bottom with what you can expect from MLW Fightland!
Credit: MLW.com
MLW World Tag Team Titles: Lucha Bros (c) vs Los Parks
The rivalry between Konnan and Salina de la Renta kicked off with a bang as the lucha libre legend convinced Pentagon Jr and Rey Fenix to abandon Promociones Dorado for his own camp. Since then, de la Renta and Konnan have been at one another’s throats week after week. De la Renta has undoubtedly found herself with the upper hand as Low Ki successfully defended the MLW World Heavyweight Title against Rey Fenix, while LA Park defeated Pentagon Jr at War Games.
Konnan has gained a small modicum of revenge with a quick win from his new charge Puma King at the hands of Ricky Martinez. Still, this is a match to lose for de la Renta’s crew – by taking the titles away from Penta and Fenix, she solidifies herself as the top manager in MLW with all but the World Middleweight Title in her possession.
Can Konnan and the Lucha Bros finally put the feud to rest and walk away with a decisive victory over the father-son duo in Chicago?
Credit: MLW.com
MLW World Heavyweight Title: Low Ki (c) vs Shane Strickland
Low Ki has been dominant as champion since somewhat unexpectedly defeating Strickland for the title this past July. Since the loss, Strickland has been on a downward spiral at worst and disconnected from the main event scene at best.
Before he could even enter the War Games match in September, Strickland was jumped by rival Sami Callihan on his way to the ring. Callihan’s team would go on to lose the match due in part to a miscommunication with Callihan and Jimmy Havoc, but Strickland would play no part in the victory.
At Fury Road in October, Strickland battled Tom Lawlor in a matched billed as “The Battle of the Aces” to see who would lead MLW into the future. Despite interference from Low Ki and de la Renta targeting Lawlor, Strickland would find himself tapping out to the leader of Team Filthy’s choke as the World Heavyweight Champion and his business partner looked on.
For Low Ki, this is an opportunity to silence any doubts about his reign as MLW World Heavyweight Champion. By coming away with a second victory over Strickland, the champion puts Swerve in his rearview mirror as he looks onward toward the challenge of Tom Lawlor.
For Strickland, a victory would mean a rise back to the top of the card in MLW and a chance at further redemption with a future title shot looming in the balance for Tom Lawlor. In any event, this match is must-win for both fighters.
Credit: MLW.com
Chicago Street Fight: Tom Lawlor vs Sami Callihan
Sami Callihan has been little more than a gun for hire for Salina de la Renta – and he’s been extremely good at that job. Not only was Callihan able to remove Shane Strickland from the picture at War Games, he continued on to remove Jimmy Havoc from MLW completely at Fury Road.
The latter was driven by his own desires, but Callihan would soon pick up the mantle for Promociones Dorado by attacking Low Ki’s future World Heavyweight Title challenger, Tom Lawlor, before a would-be press conference in Chicago for Fightland.
Callihan has essentially been unstoppable in Major League Wrestling as he has stifled MVP, Strickland and Havoc on his path of destruction. Can he add Lawlor to the list, or will Filthy finally be the one who knocks Callihan down a peg or two as he looks to build momentum toward an MLW World Heavyweight Title shot at Superfight in February?