Major League Wrestling (MLW) announced today it has signed the reigning World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu to a new long-term multi-year contract. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed. “This is where I wanted to be all along. CONTRA in MLW: this is my home,” Fatu said. The deal, which ties the “Samoan Smashing Machine” for the next several years to the league, goes into effect immediately.
“Fatu has been a revelation in the sport with a breakout year and has shown all the attributes we look for in a champion,” stated MLW CEO and founder Court Bauer. “We are excited to know that Fatu is someone we can build around, and we look forward to seeing him fight under the MLW banner for years to come.”
Fatu took MLW by storm earlier this year with high profile victories over some of the league’s top-ranked wrestlers en route to dethroning “Filthy” Tom Lawlor on July 6 in Chicago. Representing CONTRA Unit, Fatu, alongside Josef Samael, Ikuro Kwon and Simon Gotch have dominated MLW since the self-described global dealers in violence first raided the league.
Fatu will next compete for the league on December 5 at the Opera Cup hosted by the Melrose Ballroom in New York City.
MLW yesterday announced MJF vs. Alex Hammerstone in an opening-round match for the 2019 Opera Cup tournament at the Melrose Ballroom in New York City on December 5. The event will be a MLW FUSION TV taping for beIN SPORTS.
For the first time ever, the Dynasty will clash as the Burberry-wearing New York loudmouth MJF wrestles his fellow Dynasty team member and reigning National Openweight Champion Alex Hammerstone in a match that could forever alter the relationship between the two elitists.
All week, Richard Holliday and his father/lawyer have attempted to derail the Opera Cup match. MLW ultimately prevailed with the Hart family getting their wish of having the Dynasty fight each other in the historic opening round of the Opera Cup.
The Phoenix powerhouse has been stacking wins since marching into MLW earlier this year. Defeating the Hart Foundation and collecting the National Openweight Championship has put Alex Hammerstone in the rarified air as one of the most dominant forces in MLW.
MJF, who has been in the league for 2 years has enjoyed a reign as both the World Middleweight Champion and as World Tag Team Champions with fellow Dynasty member Richard Holliday. MJF has been a fierce challenger since joining the league in October 2017.
The December 5 MLW event will feature the return of the Opera Cup tournament after a 71-year hiatus. Featuring 4 opening round bouts, the league has invited some of the best wrestlers from around the world to compete in this one-night single-elimination tournament.
With Holliday, Hammerstone and MJF forming the Dynasty in the spring, the trio of elitists has been virtually unstoppable while entangled in a bitter feud with the Hart Foundation. Now, the Hart family may have the last laugh, given their influence on matchmaking for the Opera Cup. Will the Dynasty crumble? Will the Dynasty endure and take home the Opera Cup? Find out LIVE in New York City. Buy your tickets today at www.OperaCup.com.
Matches signed thus far:
- OPENING ROUND OPERA CUP: MJF vs. Alex Hammerstone
- OPENING ROUND OPERA CUP: TJP vs. Brian Pillman Jr.
Here are this week’s AEW rankings for male wrestlers, female wrestlers and tag teams.
All pics courtesy of AEW and MLW