Never Say Never (2023) Explained

Never Say Never (2023)
Promotion:Major League Wrestling
Date:July 8, 2023
Venue:2300 Arena
City:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Liveevent:y
Lastevent:Battle Riot V
Nextevent:Fury Road
Event:Never Say Never
Lastevent2:2021
Nextevent2:2024

Never Say Never (2023) was a professional wrestling event produced by Major League Wrestling (MLW) that took place on July 8, 2023, at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the fifth event under the Never Say Never chronology, MLW's first event to be aired live since 2019, and their first live special produced for FITE+ subscribers.

In addition to the live broadcast, eleven of the matches on the card were taped for future episodes of MLW Fusion.

Production

Background

Never Say Never is a professional wrestling supercard event produced by Major League Wrestling (MLW) that was first held in 2017 as a television taping for MLW's weekly program, Fusion.On the May 2, 2023 episode of MLW Underground Wrestling, it was announced that the 2023 edition of Never Say Never would take place on July 8, 2023, at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] [2]

Also on May 2, 2023, a new partnership between MLW and FITE was announced, in-which MLW would produce live events for FITE+ subscribers. Never Say Never would be the first event to air as part of this agreement. It will be MLW's first live broadcast since the 2019 Saturday Night SuperFight pay-per-view event, which was also carried on FITE, and the first to air live.[3]

Storylines

The card will consist of matches that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches, with results predetermined by MLW's writers. Storylines are played out on MLW's television programs, Underground Wrestling and Fusion, and the league's social media platforms.[4]

As a part of MLW's "Open Door Policy," several free agents are scheduled to appear at the event. This includes former WWE wrestler Gene Snisky,[5] independent wrestler Ichiban,[6] and the MLW return of Timothy Thatcher.[7] Additionally, on June 30, MLW announced the return of the MLW Open Draft, with the first two rounds taking place at Never Say Never.[8]

At Battle Riot V, Alex Kane won the titular match to earn a guaranteed match for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship.[9] [10] A few weeks later on the May 2 season finale of Underground Wrestling, it was announced that Kane would challenge champion Alexander Hammerstone for the title at Never Say Never.[1] [11] [12]

Since Battle Riot V, The Samoan SWAT Team (Jacob Fatu, Lance Anoa'i, and Juicy Finau) began feuding with The Calling (Raven, Rickey Shane Page, and Akira), when Fatu eliminated every member of the Calling before he and Page eliminated each other. The two would continue brawling with each other in the back and by the entranceway.[9] On the May 2 episode of Underground Wrestling, The Calling would attack Fatu as he made his entrance, putting Fatu out of action for some time.[13] On June 1, MLW announced that Anoa'i and Fatu will defend their MLW World Tag Team Championship against Page and Akira of the Calling in a Fans Bring the Weapons match.[14]

On June 14, MLW announced that B3cca would have a live concert at Never Say Never.[15]

On June 20, wXw Women's Champion Ava Everett called out MLW World Women's Featherweight Champion Delmi Exo to a title vs. title match in the future.[16] Two days later, MLW announced on their website that Exo and Everett will face off at Never Say Never, with both titles on the line.[17]

On the June 15 episode of Fusion, after Sam Adonis had won his match, Mance Warner was having an interview on the entrance ramp. Adonis, not fond of his celebration being cut by a live interview, tried demeaning Warner by bringing up their past history in the Battle Riot, to which he was met with beer spat in his face by Warner. From there, Adonis' partner John Hennigan jumped Warner from behind, dragging him into the ring while Adonis went backstage. Adonis would later emerge with a leather strap, using one of the looped ends to choke Warner across the top rope.[18] Two weeks later, Adonis would defeat Warner in a Country Strap match.[19] Later in the show, a furious Warner challenged Adonis to a "Country Whipping Match," where both men would be armed with leather straps that they can use to whip their opponent with. Adonis accepted the challenge, and the match was made official for Never Say Never.[20]

The Second Gear Crew (Mance Warner, Matthew Justice, and 1 Called Manders) also found themselves feuding with The Calling, stemming from when the latter beat the former and Alex Hammerstone at War Chamber.[21] Additionally, Justice was supposed to take part in the Battle Riot, but an attack by The Calling forced Manders to take his place.[9] As a result, MLW announced that The Second Gear Crew (Justice and Manders) will face The Calling's Delirious and Dr. Cornwallis in a tag team match on July 8.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Colin. Tessier . Alex Hammerstone To Defend MLW World Heavyweight Title Against Alex Kane At MLW Never Say Never 2023 . Fightful . May 2, 2023 . May 2, 2023.
  2. Web site: Colin. Tessier . MLW Underground Results (5/2): Alex Hammerstone In Action, B3CCA vs. Brittany Blake . Fightful . May 2, 2023 . May 2, 2023.
  3. Web site: MLW Never Say Never To Air Live On FITE TV On July 8. Fightful. May 2, 2023. May 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/mlw-never-say-never-air-live-fite-tv-july-8. June 19, 2022. live.
  4. Web site: How Pro Wrestling Works. Grabianowski. Ed. HowStuffWorks. 13 January 2006 . Discovery Communications. March 5, 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20131129050844/http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm. November 29, 2013.
  5. Web site: Snisky promises pain July 8 . . May 23, 2023 . May 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/05/23/snisky-promises-pain-july-8/. June 19, 2022. live.
  6. Web site: Snisky promises pain July 8 . . May 25, 2023 . June 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/05/25/ichiban-debuts-july-8-in-philly/. June 19, 2022. live.
  7. Web site: Timothy Thatcher returns July 8 . . June 22, 2023 . June 2, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/06/02/timothy-thatcher-returns-july-8/. June 19, 2022. live.
  8. Web site: Open Draft'23 begins LIVE July 8 on FITE+ from Philly . . June 30, 2023 . June 30, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/06/30/open-draft23-begins-live-july-8-on-fite-from-philly/. June 19, 2022. live.
  9. Web site: MLW Underground results: Battle Riot V 40 superstars battle it out for a MLW title shot.. Figure Four Online. Iain Oliver. May 2, 2023 . April 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://www.f4wonline.com/news/mlw/results/mlw-underground-results-battle-riot-v. June 19, 2022.
  10. Web site: Battle Riot V Recap: Alex Kane Goes The Distance . . May 14, 2023 . April 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/04/26/battle-riot-v-recap-alex-kane-goes-the-distance/. June 19, 2022. live.
  11. Web site: MLW reveals main event for Never Say Never live special. SB Nation. Manolo Has Pizzazz. May 2, 2023 . May 2, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://www.cagesideseats.com/2023/5/2/23708989/mlw-main-event-never-say-never-live-special. June 19, 2022.
  12. Web site: Hammerstone vs. Kane World Title Fight signed for Never Say Never . . May 14, 2023 . May 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/05/03/hammerstone-vs-kane-world-title-fight-signed-for-never-say-never/. June 19, 2022. live.
  13. Web site: Underground Recap: The Calling Continues To Cause Chaos . . June 22, 2023 . May 2, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/05/02/underground-recap-the-calling-continues-to-cause-chaos/. June 19, 2022. live.
  14. Web site: SST vs Calling at Never Say Never . . June 2, 2023 . June 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/06/01/sst-vs-calling-at-never-say-never/. June 19, 2022. live.
  15. Web site: B3CCA sings LIVE at Never Say Never . . June 22, 2023 . June 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/06/14/b3cca-sings-live-at-never-say-never/. June 19, 2022. live.
  16. Web site: Forbidden Door opens in women's division . . June 22, 2023 . June 20, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/06/20/forbidden-door-opens-in-womens-division/. June 19, 2022. live.
  17. Web site: MLW Title vs wXw Title match set for July 8 . . June 22, 2023 . June 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/06/22/mlw-title-vs-wxw-title-match-set-for-july-8/. June 19, 2022. live.
  18. Web site: Fusion Recap: Two New Champions Crowned In NYC . . June 29, 2023 . June 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/06/16/fusion-recap-two-new-champions-crowned-in-nyc/. June 19, 2022. live.
  19. Web site: Fusion Recap: Alex Kane's 'Big Apple Grapple 2' . . June 30, 2023 . June 29, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/06/29/fusion-recap-leather-strap-match-alex-kanes-big-apple-grapple-2/. June 19, 2022. live.
  20. Web site: Country Whipping Match LIVE on FITE+ July 8. . June 29, 2023 . June 29, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/06/29/country-whipping-match-live-on-fite-july-8/. June 19, 2022. live.
  21. Web site: War Chamber Recap: The Calling Battles Hammerstone & Second Gear Crew . . July 2, 2023 . April 18, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/06/29/fusion-recap-leather-strap-match-alex-kanes-big-apple-grapple-2/. June 19, 2022. live.