To kick off MLW Battle Riot VII in LA, it’s none other than the NEW league president Cesar Duran, and sure enough El Jefe has a surprise…
It’s the RETURN of Alex Hammerstone! The crowd is ballistic as Hammer grabs the mic and stakes his claim once again for the MLW World Championship, targeting the title holder himself, Matt Riddle! YBH may be ready to RIOT tonight!
Joe Dombrowski is joined tonight by Austin Aries at the commentator booth as the world renowned athlete is ready to help call the action!
MATCH 1
Atlantis, Atlantis Jr. & Star Jr. vs. Ultimo Guerrero, Barbaro Cavenario & Magnus
What a way to kick off Battle Riot as this trios match is action packed and unpredictable! Aries takes exception to the ref’s decision making, but it’s ultimately Atlantis Jr. getting the victory for his team!
WINNERS: Atlantis, Atlantis Jr. & Star Jr.
MATCH 2
HIMAWARI vs. Janai Kai
Janai Kai clearly has an added incentive tonight as she’s not fond of “actresses turned fighters” but she sure got her fair share of a fight. HIMAWARI showed her unique style against Kai, but the dominant Kick Demon proved why she held the title so long and gets the win.
WINNER: Janai Kai
We see Mads Krugger. He’s not in the Battle Riot event tonight, but that doesn’t mean he’ll not take a spot. He wants to make certain Los Angeles feels CONTRA’s wrath!
Next up, is Sessions With Saint Laurent as he introduces his guests the Filthy Bros. Clearly there is no love lost between MSL and Tom Lawlor, but World Champ Matt Riddle makes it known he’s ready for anyone and everyone. Suddenly, both Lawlor and Riddle are ganged up on by Dijak and the debuting Bishop Dyer! MSL reveals he has signed Dyer to a contract so now he’s got TWO skyscrapers on his side!
MATCH 3
Templario vs. Hechicero vs. Esfinge
Although the World Middleweight Champion Mistico cannot compete, Templario, the man who pinned him, can. This three-way fight has a big battle feel, but it’s Templario who keeps the momentum cooking and he gets the victory in front of Mistico, who is at ringside!
WINNER: Templario
Post-fight, Joe interviews Mistico. Duran reveals that the champ will be out several weeks with an injury, but there’s bigger news: Mistico states he’ll be moving up in divisions and therefore will vacate the MLW World Middleweight Championship! However, Ikuro Kwon interrupts, attempts to mist Mistico, but gets Duran instead! Kwon runs off with the Middleweight Championship!
We see that all of MSL, Dyer and Dijak are on a unified front. MSL believes that Riddle is fighting through two broken ribs and his new tandem aims to do more damage!
MATCH 4
MLW Women’s World Featherweight Championship
Shoko Nakajima vs. Delmi Exo (c)
Nakajima is one of Japan’s most celebrated and decorated wrestlers and she’s making her debut on behalf of TJPW as that fight promotion and MLW have forged an ongoing relationship. However, the relationship in the ring is TENSE as Nakajima and Exo pull out all stops! Nakajima is a world class fighter and is Exo a little in over her skis?
Sure enough, she is and Nakajima makes the most of her opportunity to get the win and become the new World Featherweight Champion!
WINNER and NEW MLW MLW Women’s World Featherweight Champion: Shoko Nakajima
It’s main event time.
MAIN EVENT
MLW Battle Riot VII
By the “luck of the draw” it’s Hammerstone who starts things off against RAJ DHESI!
The surprises kept coming too as we got Chris Adonis as one of the other 37. Hammerstone gives an extremely impressive run as it took a group effort by top talent to finally get him out after lasting over 35 minutes!
The story of the Riot was the target on the World Champ with broken ribs. It felt to be dire straits for Riddle as it was down to Mads Krule Krugger, Dijak and Dyer against Matt. However, number 40 was none other than Rob Van Dam!!
With RVD’s help, Riddle rolled through everybody as the duo took out each adversary one by one. It was down to RVD and Riddle as RVD catches Matt with a Rolling Thunder! RVD climbs up top for the Five-Star Frog Splash but Riddle gets up and shoves RVD off. Riddle does the unprecedented and RETAINS!
WINNER and STILL MLW World Heavyweight Champion: Matt Riddle