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MLW announced:
Can Hammerstone win his second Battle RIOT and secure a title shot?
ORLANDO, FL – Major League Wrestling (MLW) today announced Alex Hammerstone as the first participant in MLW Battle RIOT VIII on Thursday, January 29 at the Osceola Heritage Park Events Center in Kissimmee, FL.
Buy tickets starting at $10 as part of MLW’s fan Appreciation Night at http://www.MLWLive.com and Ticketmaster.
Alex Hammerstone’s history with the Battle RIOT is etched in silver and scar tissue. In 2021, he conquered Battle RIOT III, a career-defining triumph that launched him into what many still regard as the biggest world championship showdown in MLW history that fall. Hammerstone would go on to dethrone Jacob Fatu and seize the MLW World Title, cementing himself as one of the most dominant, decorated forces MLW has ever seen.
After stepping away from the league for a period, Hammerstone made a seismic return at Battle RIOT VII in Los Angeles this past April. Entering as a surprise participant, he shocked the wrestling world and detonated a new chapter in his career—one driven by bitterness, fury and a burning belief that he is bigger and better than everything and everyone in his path. Since that night in LA, Hammer has activated an inner destroyer mode, tearing through the competition and leaving analysts, wrestlers, and oddsmakers aligned on one point: he may be the man to beat in 2026.
And that’s before a single other participant has even been announced.
The Battle RIOT remains one of MLW’s most unpredictable and chaotic traditions. 40 participants enter in 1 minute intervals. Eliminations occur by pinfall, submission, or being thrown over the top rope. Weapons, wild cards, and surprise entrants are all fair game. Alliances form and collapse within minutes. The last competitor standing earns the ultimate prize: a future shot at the MLW World Title.
Hammerstone’s entry raises the question that will loom over Central Florida until the final bell: Can Hammerstone win his second Battle RIOT and once again propel himself into a world title showdown?
Fans will find out on Thursday, January 29 when the gates open, the countdown clock hits zero, and the RIOT erupts once again.
Grab your seats at MLWLive.com and Ticketmaster! Don’t miss MLW’s return to the Orlando metro area for the first time in six years!
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