MLW is in the mood to riot!
Major League Wrestling starts 2026 with the Battle Riot VIII event on January 29 from Kissimmee, Florida. Battle Riot is MLW’s version of a hardcore Royal Rumble with a world title shot as the prize. The fight league revealed the first four contestants, and they are all decorated former champions.
The first name on the list is Alexander Hammerstone. Hammer is a former MLW world heavyweight champion and former MLW national openweight championship. He is also a past winner
of the Battle Riot in 2021.
The next name is Karl Anderson. This Good Brother needs no introduction as a former tag team champion in WWE, TNA, NJPW, and beyond.
The third name announced is Matthew Justice. He will bring the hardcore element into play. Justice has tasted gold as a former MLW national openweight champion and former MLW world tag team champion with Manders.
Three is a crowd, four is a party. The party animal for Battle Riot will be Kushida. He will turn back time as a former champion in NJPW, ROH, and NXT to blast into the future with world title aspirations in MLW.
That is 4 wrestlers out of 40 for Battle Riot VIII.
Previous Battle Riot winners include Tom Lawlor, LA Park, Hammerstone, Jacob Fatu, Alex Kane, and Matt Riddle (twice).
Who is your early pick to win the MLW Battle Riot? Which surprises would you like to see?
