Major League Wrestling today announced a World Heavyweight Title Fight: Jacob Fatu vs. Brian Pillman Jr. for MLW: Zero Hour at the NYTEX Sports Centre in the greater Dallas/Ft. Worth area on Saturday, January 11. The event will be a MLW FUSION TV taping for beIN SPORTS.
Following a brilliant showing in the Opera Cup, Brian Pillman Jr. has secured a title fight against CONTRA’s Samoan Smashing Machine, Jacob Fatu. A Championship clash between 2 of wrestling’s great families goes down next Saturday when MLW returns to Dallas/Fort Worth for a stacked card and TV taping.
There has been unfinished business between CONTRA Unit and the remaining members of the Hart Foundation. CONTRA Unit struck fast and with violence late last year when they took out Teddy Hart. Now young Brian Pillman readies for retribution and his first world title shot as he looks to conquer the seemingly unconquerable in the 300-pound Fatu.
Pillman, who along with Davey Boy Smith Jr., have vowed payback on CONTRA Unit, campaigned for a title match following his breakout performance in the 2019 Opera Cup. Matchmakers agreed that Pillman’s ranking in MLW’s top 10 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated warranted consideration for a championship bout. Now, official, Pillman will look to do what eluded his father: win the World Championship. Can the 2018 Rookie of the Year dethrone the undefeated World Champ?
Signed thus far for Zero Hour:
- NO ROPES BARBED WIRE MATCH: Jimmy Havoc vs. Mance Warner
- WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. Brian Pillman Jr.
- GRUDGE MATCH: Ross Von Erich vs. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor
- NATIONAL OPENWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT: Alex Hammerstone (c) vs. Aerostar
- NO HOLDS BARRED FIGHT: Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Simon Gotch
- MJF vs. Marshall Von Erich
- Savio Vega vs. Richard Holliday
- TRIPLE THREAT TAG TEAM MATCH: Drago & Puma King vs. Injustice vs. Hijo de LA Park & Taurus (presented by Salina de la Renta)
- Gino “El Intocable” Medin vs. Septimo Dragon (w/ Konnan)
- THE DEBUT OF… Erick Stevens
HEY. I’m spending the next year living in Japan.
DDT has made me a better professional wrestler. I want to see how much better I can be.
My last show in the U.K. will be February at the Frog & Bucket for @SCHADENGRAPS
Love xo https://t.co/wlHXyLNLbq
— Chris Brookes クリス・ブルックス (@OBEYBrookes) January 3, 2020
During Friday’s Dramatic Dream Team (DDT Pro) event, Chris Brookes wrestled his final match of this tour. However, the SCHADENFREUDE member announced he will be moving to Japan for a year to go full-time with the company he firmly believes has helped mould him into a better professional wrestler.
The British grappler debuted for DDT Pro this past June and has since made a huge name for himself over in Japan with matches against the likes of Konosuke Takeshita, Tetsuya Endo, and The Moonlight Express (MAO and “Speedball” Mike Bailey). He unsuccessfully challenged for both the KO-D Openweight Championship and the KO-D Tag Team Championships (alongside Masahiro Takanashi), while also entering block A in the recent D-Ou Grand Prix.
In the UK, Brookes has always been one of the biggest names on the scene. As part of the SCHADENFREUDE group in Fight Club: Pro (FCP), he became a 2-time Tag Team Champion with Kid Lykos and then with Kyle Fletcher, as well as being a one-time FCP Champion. The group have also started up their own promotion, SCHADENFREUDE & Friends, based in Manchester.
i’m delighted to announce that i’ve joined BJW on a full time basis. my first stint here was ridiculously fun, and i can’t wait to see how 2020 plays out. ☺️ pic.twitter.com/O2nGUcB0m5
— DREW PARKER ??? (@drewparker341) January 3, 2020
After Chris Brookes with DDT Pro and Lucas Steel with AJPW, Drew Parker is the next UK wrestler who signed with a major Japanese company in 2020. Drew Parker today announced that he will be moving to Japan and has signed full time with Big Japan Pro Wrestling for 2020.
Drew Parker has been making a name for himself in the UK, not only can he go in the ring but he has also become a very good deathmatch wrestler, wrestling such style all over the UK against the likes of Jimmy Havoc, Clint Margera, Mikey Whiplash, Rickey Shane Page and more. He has made a name for himself in companies such as ATTACK!, Fight Club Pro, TNT, HOPE and Progress Wrestling.
Parker, 22, made his Big Japan Pro Wrestling debut at BJW Death Match Kings on 4th January 2019. Drew was then brought back to Japan in May 2019 where he has stayed since (apart from surprise ATTACK appearance on 21st December 2019), wrestling for BJW and also other companies over there.
Feature image courtesy of MLW