Fans of independent wrestling promotion MLW (Major League Wrestling) will be happy to hear that they’ve announced a new streaming partnership. Founder Court Bauer spoke with Sports Illustrated to discuss their new deal with Pro Wrestling TV, which will begin Nov 3.

MLW began back in 2002 and ran until 2004 before shuttering its doors for a while. A revival for the promotion took place in 2017, and their weekly series Fusion can be viewed on MLW’s YouTube channel. Initially, the program began its run on FITE TV, with a Spanish-language broadcast available on beIN Sports.

Bauer stated,

“Pro Wrestling TV is our new home for streaming. It kicks off in November with Battle Riot IV. We’re bringing our weekly series, Fusion, and we have some big projects coming in 2023. It’s so important to be on a streaming service that is free for viewers. Now, on PWTV, people will be able to access our specials and our weekly show, and it’s all going to be free. We’ll still have a linear presence on cable, as well as our long-term partner with beIN Sports, which we’ll be sharing more about soon. Over time, our entire catalog will be available on PWTV. Since it dates back 20 years, we’ll be migrating it over in batches. You’ll be able to watch CM Punk from 2002, as well as Jacob Fatu and Microman from 2022.”

Pro Wrestling TV’s president Brandon Blackburn added, “The acquisition of MLW is our biggest to date. We both share the same passion of creating something of real value for the pro wrestling fan. More original content is going to arrive in 2023, so we’re looking to build with MLW and help bring them to new heights.”

Pro Wrestling TV (PWTV) launched earlier this year. Currently, the streaming service offers content from Lucha Libre AAA and Maria Kanellis’ Women’s Wrestling Army. MLW’s “Battle Riot” event from this past June will mark the promotion’s premiere on the platform, which featured current WWE performers Karrion Kross and Scarlett. Reportedly, PWTV will air exclusive content of the duo’s departure from MLW when the promotion debuts.

Bauer added, “We’re loading up our episodes and making sure we give the fans everything we have. There is a lot happening on this platform, and we’re excited to be part of it.”

Source: EWrestlingNews

Major League Wrestling (MLW) has confirmed a significant partnership that may take the promotion to “new heights.”

As reported by Sports Illustrated, MLW have partnered with Range Sports, a division of Range Media Partners best known for its successes in the film, television, and music industries. The company, headed up by its president Will Funk — former Executive Vice President of WarnerMedia — is set to develop content opportunities “around a high-growth property” in MLW. Notably, Funk played a key role in bringing All Elite Wrestling to Turner Sports, now owned by WarnerMedia. Funk will aim to utilize his vast resources within Range Sports and through their partners in an attempt to elevate MLW. Funk made it clear that his priorities right now for MLW will be to find a distribution partner, the right brand partners, and to seek out “the right talent to weave into MLW so it receives increased exposure.”

“With so much disruption in the content space, live sports are increasingly valued,” MLW CEO Court Bauer said. “Range has the resources to take Major League Wrestling to new heights by creating strategic partnerships that enrich and ensure our continued momentum … Range has created a true dream team in the entertainment and sports space, so this is a great opportunity for MLW. Right now, we’re airing in over 60 countries. The goal is to extract maximum value across television, sponsor sales, event touring, and our full portfolio. We want to grow our windows and that is driven by live broadcasts.”

In July, MLW and BeIN Sport announced that the organization’s content would be broadcast on the free streaming and over-the-air channel beIN Sports XTRA. There is currently no word on if the Range Sports deal will affect this agreement. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Court Bauer’s MLW promotion has the slogan “the world of MLW never stops.” And for the first part of 2022 that was true, as MLW ran tapings in Dallas, Texas, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, Charlotte, North Carolina, and most recently Philadelphia and New York City for their Kings of Colleseeum and Battle Riot IV tapings. Those tapings were expected to hold the promotion over until their next set of tapings, which were scheduled for Chicago in July and El Paso, Texas in August.

Only this time, the world of MLW has stopped for the time being. Prior to the Battle Riot IV tapings in June, the promotion announced that the Chicago tapings in July would not occur, with MLW offering refunds and citing the reasons for cancelation as developments on the promotion’s new TV deal, in addition to their existing ones. Now today, it has emerged that MLW will go a second month without taping any television.

According to PWInsider, MLW has now canceled their TV tapings for August 27 in El Paso, Texas later this month, though the show will still take place as a house show. PWInsider also obtained an email from MLW’s Jared St. Laurent to talent no longer set for the El Paso show, notifying them of the change so they could open up dates for bookings that weekend. 

St. Laurent attributed the cancelation to the “lucha promoter” MLW was working with and claimed the promoter would not be bringing in as many talents as previously promised. St. Laurent also informed pulled talents they’d still receive half of their pay for the show, stating it was “a token of MLW’s appreciation.” He also acknowledged the frustration of these canceled TV tapings, while again stating MLW was working on finalizing a new TV deal.

PWInsider noted that MLW World Champion Hammerstone and former champion Jacob Fatu would be among the talents still scheduled for the house show and that it’s unknown if footage will be taped. As of this writing, MLW’s next TV taping is scheduled for September 18 in Atlanta, Georgia, with it being planned as a live broadcast.

Source: Wrestling Inc.