Fightland (2023) was a professional wrestling event produced by Major League Wrestling (MLW). It took place on November 18, 2023, at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was the fifth event under the Fightland chronology. The event streamed live on FITE, with additional matches taped for future episodes of MLW Fusion.

Fightland (2023)
Promotional poster of the event
PromotionMajor League Wrestling
DateNovember 18, 2023
CityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Venue2300 Arena
Event chronology
← Previous
Slaughterhouse
Next →
One Shot
Fightland chronology
← Previous
2022
Next →
2024

Production

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Background

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MLW Fightland was first held in 2018 as a television taping for MLW's weekly program, MLW Fusion. On May 2, 2023, a new partnership between MLW and FITE was announced, in which the promotion would produce live events for FITE+ subscribers. MLW would subsequently announce four upcoming FITE+ specials on July 8, 2023, with Fightland announced to be taking place on November 18, at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; making it the first edition to air live.[1][2]

Storylines

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The card will consist of matches that result from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches, with results predetermined by MLW's writers. Storylines are played out on MLW Fusion, and the league's social media platforms.[3]

On the October 26 episode of Fusion, Salina de la Renta, who served as executive producer of the show that night, announced that Alex Kane will defend the MLW World Heavyweight Championship against Jacob Fatu.[4] Additionally, she also announced a "Lucha Rules" tag team match in conjunction with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), where MLW World Middleweight Champion Rocky Romero will team with Bárbaro Cavernario to face potential middleweight contender Ichiban and Máscara Dorada.[5]

For the past several months, The Second Gear Crew (Mance Warner, Matthew Justice, and 1 Called Manders) have been feuding with Mister Saint Laurent's World Titan Federation, ever since MSL betrayed his former client Microman and aligned with Davey Boy Smith Jr.. At Fury Road, Warner faced MSL's newest client Matt Cardona in a No Holds Barred Kiss My Foot match in a losing effort. He was then forced to kiss MSL's foot rather than Cardona's, but instead bit the foot of MSL in retaliation.[6] On November 1, MLW announced a rematch between Warner and Cardona, this time in a Loser Leaves MLW match.[7]

The World Titan Federation also recently began a feud with Alex Kane's Bomaye Fight Club, stemming from Slaughterhouse where Matt Cardona interrupted Kane after he had retained over Tom Lawlor (a substitute for Davey Boy Smith Jr. who was pulled from the show for emergency surgery). Lawlor then attacked Kane and his BFC teammates Mr. Thomas and O'Shay Edwards, before confirming his alignment with the WTF.[8] On October 31, MLW announced a tag team match for the Fusion taping, where Thomas and Edwards will face Lawlor and a new mystery member of the WTF.[9]

In the ongoing feud between the Second Gear Crew and The Calling, The SGC's Matthew Justice and 1 Called Manders challenged The Calling's Akira and Rickey Shane Page for the MLW World Tag Team Championship in a tables match. The match ended in a no contest when Justice and Akira went through a stack of tables at the same time.[10] The two teams continued to brawl afterward, with Mance Warner and the rest of The Calling joining in. The SGC would challenge The Calling to a ladder match for the titles at Fightland, which was accepted and made official by MLW on November 6.[11]

Results

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No.Results[19]StipulationsTimes[20]
1FTWasted Youth (Dylan McKay and Marcus Mathers) defeated Lucky 13 and Austin Luke, and The Mane Event (Jay Lyon and Midas Black)Three-way tag team match[12]5:01
2FTZayda Steel defeated Gia ScottSingles match[13]3:31
3FTTony Deppen (with The Dirty Ass Bastards (TJ Crawford and Griffin McCoy)) defeated Nolo KitanoSingles match[14]5:51
4FTJimmy Lloyd defeated TalonThumbtacks Pit of Deathmatch[15]7:28
5FTKevin Blackwood defeated TJ Crawford (with Griffin McCoy)Singles match[16]3:27
6FTJosh Bishop won by last eliminating Matthew Justice[Note 1]Battle royal[17]11:01
7FTJanai Kai (c) (with Salina de la Renta) defeated Tiara James and Delmi ExoThree-way match for the MLW World Women's Featherweight Championship[18]4:58
8FTRickey Shane Page (c) defeated AkiraSingles match for the MLW National Openweight Championship4:22
9FTWorld Titan Federation (Alexander Hammerstone, Josh Bishop and Tom Lawlor) (with Mister Saint Laurent) defeated The Bomaye Fight Club (J Boujii, Mr. Thomas and O'Shay Edwards) (with Alex Kane)Six-man tag team match[9]8:00
10The Second Gear Crew (Matthew Justice and 1 Called Manders) defeated The Calling (Akira and Rickey Shane Page) (c)Ladder match for the MLW World Tag Team Championship[11]12:20
11Matt Cardona (with Mister Saint Laurent) defeated Mance Warner by pinfallLoser Leaves MLW match[7]8:09
12Ichiban and Máscara Dorada defeated Bárbaro Cavernario and Rocky Romero (with Salina de la Renta) by pinfallLucha Rules tag team match[4]11:56
13Alex Kane (c) (with Mr. Thomas) defeated Jacob Fatu by submissionSingles match for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship[4]48:00
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
FT – the match was taped for a future broadcast of Fusion
  1. ^ Other participants in the match: Brett Ryan Gosselin, Griffin McCoy, Ichiban, Kevin Blackwood, Love, Doug, Good Brother #3, Mr. Thomas, Nolo Kitano, O'Shay Edwards, TJ Crawford, Tom Lawlor, Tony Deppen, and Yoscifer El.

References

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  1. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (July 8, 2023). "MLW Announces Four FITE+ Specials". Fightful. Archived from the original on August 3, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  2. ^ Tessier, Colin (July 8, 2023). "MLW Announces Upcoming Schedule On FITE+, Four Specials Confirmed". Wrestlezone. Archived from the original on July 9, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  3. ^ Grabianowski, Ed (13 January 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c "3 promotions, 1 match at FIGHTLAND". Major League Wrestling. October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  5. ^ "Fatu vs Kane World Title Fight main events FIGHTLAND". Major League Wrestling. October 26, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  6. ^ Powell, Jason (September 3, 2023). "MLW "Fury Road" results: Powell's review of Alex Kane vs. Willie Mack for the MLW Heavyweight Championship, Jacob Fatu vs. Rickey Shane Page in a Weapons of Mass Destruction match for the MLW National Openweight Title". prowrestling.net. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Fatu vs Kane World Title Fight main events FIGHTLAND". Major League Wrestling. November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  8. ^ Ravens, Andrew (October 15, 2023). "MLW Slaughterhouse 2023 Results: Chamber Of Horrors, World Title Match". Wrestling Headlines. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Lawlor & Mystery Man vs Bomaye Fight Club Nov 18 in Philly". Major League Wrestling. October 31, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  10. ^ "Fusion Recap: The Calling Clash With SGC In A Tables Match For World Tag Team Titles". Major League Wrestling. November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Ladder Match for Tag Titles at FIGHTLAND". Major League Wrestling. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  12. ^ "Wasted Youth debut in triple threat Nov 18". Major League Wrestling. November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  13. ^ "Zayda vs. Gia Scott this Saturday in Philly". November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "Tony Deppen vs. Nolo Kitano signed for Saturday". November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  15. ^ "Thumbtacks Pit of Death Match in Philly Nov 18". Major League Wrestling. November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  16. ^ "GRUDGE! Blackwood vs. Crawford Nov 18". Major League Wrestling. November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  17. ^ "Battle Royal added to tomorrow in Philly". November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  18. ^ "3-Way World Featherweight Title Fight Nov 18". Major League Wrestling. November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  19. ^ Has Pizzazz, Manolo (November 20, 2023). "MLW Fightland recap & reactions: World champ Alex Kane & Jacob Fatu battle for over 45 minutes". cagesideseats.com. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  20. ^ "MLW Fightland 2023". Cagematch. November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
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