MLW Roundup: Battle Riot airs tonight, KC Navarro signs, more!

MLW fans, get hyped. Fresh televised action returns tonight. Insanity and chaos are on the menu for Battle Riot. 40 men will be whittled down to 1 winner to earn a shot at the MLW World Heavyweight Championship.

The first order of business is the best piece of MLW news to report this week. Battle Riot will air live on beIN SPORTS tonight (Saturday, July 24, 2021) at 10 pm ET. Don’t have beIN SPORTS on your television? Don’t fret. MLW will also be airing the Battle Riot on YouTube tonight at 10 pm ET.

Battle Riot is MLW’s equivalent to the Royal Rumble. The official preview explains the rules:

The rules are simple: this is a no disqualification bout, meaning weapons ARE permitted. A new man enters every 60 seconds. Elimination is by pinfall, submission or throwing a wrestler over the top rope… and the winner gets a title shot anytime, anywhere! The challenger has the key to unlock an instant title shot against whoever the champion is.

31 of 40 participants have been announced. The list includes Davey Richards, Daivari, Kit Osbourne, Ross Von Erich, Marshall Von Erich, Aramis, King Mo, Bu Ku Dao, Alex Kane, Alexander Hammerstone, King Muertes, Richard Holliday, Zenshi, Lee Moriarty, TJP, Gringo Loco, Kevin Ku, Arez, Mads Krugger, Gino Medina, Myron Reed, Savio Vega, Calvin Tankman, Josef Samael, Ikuro Kwon, Simon Gotch, Tom Lawlor, Jordan Oliver, KC Navarro, EJ Nduka, and LA Park. In addition, the preview teases rumors that Cesar Duran (alias Dario Cueto) will be in attendance.

The main story to be told in the Battle Riot match is Hammerstone’s quest for a world title shot at champion Jacob Fatu. Contra Unit sheik Josef Samael has declined Hammer’s efforts to get that match. Winning the Battle Riot is Hammerman’s golden ticket, which Samael can not deny. Contra Unit will be out in full force. They better have a trick up their sleeve, because Hammerstone is looking more jacked, juicier, and tanner than ever.

Other favorites to keep an eye on are Tom Lawlor and LA Park as previous Battle Riot winners, MLW World Middleweight Champion Myron Reed, and King Muertes. Davey Richards has the credibility to make a huge splash with a win in his MLW debut. Prime underdogs are the Von Erichs as legacy babyfaces, Calvin Tankman as Heavyweight Hustle, and the 6’8” EJ Nduka.

In other MLW news, the Von Erich brothers are officially requesting their tag title rematch. Ross and Marshall lost the belts to LA Park & Hijo de LA Park due to ridiculous shenanigans. The Von Erichs had chosen to defer an immediate rematch to focus on business with the nefarious hooligans known as Team Filthy.

KC Navarro signed with MLW. He was brought in for the Battle Riot show and must have impressed the brass. Navarro is 22 years old. He is a three-time champion (CZW Wired, SWF Cruiserweight, WHAT) and was ranked 348 in the PWI 500 for 2020.

MLW is attempting to boost their worldwide footprint. They held a conference call with promoters from Mexico, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Points of discussion were Super Series events, the Opera Cup, and talent exchanges. Speaking of the Opera Cup, preparations for the tournament to return in 2021 are underway. Chicago, New York, Boston, Baltimore, and Toronto are being considered as host sites.

Check out a Battle Riot report from Cagesider East Coast Mike (here), who attended the show live. No results or surprises were revealed in the review.

Who are you picking to win the Battle Riot? Who is your underdog? Who are you hoping to see as surprise entrants?