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Major League Wrestling's Zero Hour event in Dallas on Saturday 1/11 drew 1,387 paid with about 1,500 in the building. The promotion saw a ride in advance tickets sold for that event and their pre-sales for the 5/2 return are already well ahead of any previous pre-sale in the Dallas market. The promotion added capacity by 10% in Dallas and still sold out. They were scrambling at the last minute to add additional seats but were striking out as all the rental companies were sold out by the time they were calling, finally finding one last company that could deliver in time. It was seen as a nice problem for the promotion to have. They will have a higher capacity for the May event.
The Dallas event was also the best merchandise night in the history of the promotion with about 40% of the sales coming from Marshall and Ross Von Erich merchandise. Having been at the show, I can attest that the Von Erichs got more of a passionate, "live or die" by them response from fans, particularly women and kids, at the show live than anyone I can remember in a long time at any event. There was a lot of heat on Tom Lawlor and Team Filthy during an angle where they beat down the Von Erich's in Dallas and shoved the Texas flag down Lawlor's pants. One fan got so enraged he grabbed a trash can and flung it at the ring. Other fans were getting in Team Filthy's face in the aisle. It was an ugly scene for a second.
Much like Impact Wrestling over the weekend, MLW had a lot of travel issues getting talents into town due to weather concerns. Basically, anyone who had a Saturday morning flight had problems. Richard Holliday really scored points with the promotion as he was extremely late arriving to Dallas and when he he pulled up the building, he was already in his ring gear. It turned out that Holliday changed into his gear once he landed at Dallas-Lovefield Airport in the bathroom and then ran to the waiting car in his gear. He arrived at the venue just before his match. MLW officials were super high on Holliday for going all out.
On Friday, a car full of MLW officials had to pull over and take shelter due to an imminent tornado warning while they were on the highway, which was a scary scene.
There were no major injuries coming out of the show beyond the usual bruses and scrapes. There was a scary scene where it was thought Aerostar hurt his ankle getting it caught in the ropes but he was OK after being checked out by EMTs.
As you might imagine, there was a lot of high morale over the last week with all the discussion of TV talks. Court Bauer has declined comment on that front. ICM is taking the front and center role in those TV and streaming rights discussions. The promotion remains on BeIN Sport but contractually, now have the right to shop MLW around for a new (or additional) home.
Hijo de LA Park missed the Dallas event due to a visa renewal delay. Had he received the renewal a day earlier, he would have been able to work the show, but it came on the day of the show, too late for travel to be arranged. The promotion didn't want to chance having him travel in without the visa for the obvious political reasons. LA Park is slated back here shortly and his other son, LA Park Jr, is also coming in. The plan had been for LA Park to return in February in order to give him a post-PPV breather after he lost to Jacob Fatu.
The promotion is negotiating with a major entertainment company about holding a live event in Hawaii later this year, likely built around the Von Erichs, who live there. This was something that was originally planned to be MLW's first PPV last year but then when it didn't come together, Chicago became the first PPV market.
Zeda Zhang, who was going to be the top babyface in the fledgling MLW women's division, is out injured so the promotion is taking their time and looking at other potential talents to sign as they build the division. Priscilla Kelly is slated to be the top heel.
While he has wrestled his final match for MLW, MJF will remain on TV for several months as there has been content pre-taped. He's local to MLW HQ so he can always come in if needed to shoot promos. His official deal expires in a few months and at that point, he'll be exclusively locked in with AEW as part of a five year deal.
There are scheduled to be meetings in Japan this week.
Salina de la Renta was not in Dallas. She has also not been on MLW's Spanish language TV of late, with Andres Bermudez filling in. Renta is under a five year deal with the company.
Court Bauer is extremey high on Jordan Oliver's work.
There is nothing to the stories of Teddy Hart's departure being a storyline work.
This Saturday's MLW Fusion on BeIN Sport will feature:
*Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. - Opera Cup Finals.
*MLW Middleweight Champion Myron Reed vs. El Lindaman.
*Savio Vega vs. Gino Medina - NYC Street Fight.
*Lifestyles of the Rich and Dynastic with the Dynasty.
The promotion's next event will be their 2/1 return to the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, featuring:
*MLW Champion Jacob Fatu vs. CIMA.
*Killer Kross debuts vs. Tom Lawlor.
*T-Hawk vs. Alex Hammerstone.
*Erick Stevens vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
*Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Jimmy Havoc.
*LA Park, Low Ki, Mance Werner, The Von Erichs, CONTRA Unit, Douglas James, Zenshi, Injustice, Dominic Garrini, El Lindaman and more slated to appear.
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