SuperFight (2023) explained
SuperFight (2023) was a professional wrestling supercard event produced by Major League Wrestling (MLW), which took place on February 4, 2023, at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the fourth event under the SuperFight chronology, and features wrestlers from MLW's partner promotion, Dragon Gate.
Originally a television taping for MLW Fusion, matches and segments from the event would also air on the promotion's new series, MLW Underground Wrestling.[1] [2]
Production
Background
On January 9, 2023, MLW announced that it will be holding SuperFight at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 4, 2023.[3]
Storylines
The supercard will consist of matches that result from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches, with results predetermined by MLW's writers.[4] Storylines are played out on MLW's main show, MLW Fusion, as well as the league's social media platforms.
Per MLW's "Open Door Policy," several independent wrestlers and free agents would be signed to appear at the event. Names include New England–based women's wrestler B3cca.[5] The event will also feature the return of former MLW World Middleweight Champion Lio Rush.[6]
As part of MLW's partnership with Dragon Gate, Open the Dream Gate Champions Natural Vibes (Big Boss Shimizu and Kzy) will defend their titles at SuperFight.[7] Their opponents would be revealed as The FBI (Little Guido and Ray Jaz) on January 26.[8]
At Battle Riot IV, Jacob Fatu last eliminated Real1 to win the titular match, earning a future MLW World Heavyweight Championship match at the time and place of his choosing.[9] A few months later at Fightland, Fatu officially declared that he would challenge for the title, currently held by Alexander Hammerstone – who won the title from Fatu – at SuperFight. Hammerstone would confront Fatu thereafter and accepted his challenge, before the two men got into a pull-apart brawl.[10] The match would be officially announced on MLW's website on January 11, 2023.[11]
On the December 2, 2022, episode of Fusion, Alex Kane revealed he was in possession of the Opera Cup Trophy, which we now know he had stolen from Davey Richards the previous January.[12] A month later at Blood and Thunder, Kane defeated Davey Boy Smith Jr., who accused him of stealing the trophy in the first place.[13] On January 25, MLW announced that Kane and Smith will wrestle again at SuperFight in a no ropes catch wrestling match.[14]
Notes and References
- Web site: Rice. Lynette. Reelz Becomes Official U.S. Home For Major League Wrestling. Deadline Hollywood. January 20, 2023. January 20, 2023.
- Web site: MLW Underground Results (2/28): John Hennigan vs. Davey Richards, Billie Starkz In Action. Fightful. February 28, 2023. March 6, 2023.
- Web site: Tickets on sale this Tuesday for MLW SuperFight'23 in Philly. Major League Wrestling. January 9, 2023. January 12, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/01/09/tickets-on-sale-this-tuesday-for-mlw-superfight23-in-philly/. June 19, 2022. live.
- 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.
- Web site: B3CCA makes debut Feb 4 in Philly. Major League Wrestling. January 12, 2023. January 12, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/01/12/b3cca-makes-debut-feb-4-in-philly/. June 19, 2022. live.
- Web site: Lio Rush looking for a fight Feb 4 in Philly. Major League Wrestling. January 18, 2023. January 18, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/01/18/lio-rush-looking-for-a-fight-feb-4-in-philly/. June 19, 2022. live.
- Web site: MLW to host DRAGONGATE title match Feb 4 in Philly. Major League Wrestling. January 13, 2023. January 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/01/13/mlw-to-host-dragongate-title-match-feb-4-in-philly/. June 19, 2022. live.
- Web site: MLW to host DRAGONGATE title match Feb 4 in Philly. Major League Wrestling. January 26, 2023. January 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/01/26/natural-vibes-vs-fbi-for-dragongate-belts-feb-4-in-philly/. June 19, 2022. live.
- Web site: MLW Battle Riot IV spoilers: Former WWE NXT wrestler debuts Additionally, a former Impact World Champion returned to the company.. Figure Four Online. Josh. Jason. June 23, 2022. January 6, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20211129053818/https://www.f4wonline.com/news/mlw/mlw-battle-riot-iv-spoilers-former-wwe-nxt-wrestler-debuts. November 29, 2021. live.
- Web site: MLW Fightland 2022 Results: Title Change, Sam Adonis Debuts. Wrestle Zone. Bill. Pritchard. October 31, 2022. January 6, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20211129053818/https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1327086-mlw-fightland-2022-results-title-change-sam-adonis-debuts. November 29, 2021. live.
- Web site: Hammerstone vs. Fatu to main event SuperFight in Philly. Major League Wrestling. January 11, 2023. January 11, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/01/11/hammerstone-vs-fatu-to-main-event-superfight-in-philly/. June 19, 2022. live.
- Web site: Fusion Recap: Hammerstone Battles Bandido In World Title Fight. Major League Wrestling. December 2, 2022. January 25, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2022/12/02/fusion-recap-hammerstone-battles-bandido-in-world-title-fight/. June 19, 2022. live.
- Web site: MLW: Blood & Thunder Taping Results (SPOILERS). 411 Mania. Bill. Pritchard. January 8, 2023. January 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20211129053818/https://411mania.com/wrestling/mlw-blood-thunder-taping-results-spoilers/. November 29, 2021. live.
- Web site: No Ropes Catch Wrestling Match! DBS vs. Kane in Philly. Major League Wrestling. January 25, 2023. January 25, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/01/25/no-ropes-catch-wrestling-match-dbs-vs-kane-in-philly/. June 19, 2022. live.