Battle Riot (sequentially known as Battle Riot I) was a

professional wrestling Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to Real life, real- ...

event Event may refer to: Gatherings of people * Ceremony, an event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion * Convention (meeting), a gathering of individuals engaged in some common interest * Event management, the organization of eve ...

produced by

Major League Wrestling Major League Wrestling (MLW) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in New Rochelle, New York. The promotion was founded in 2002 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by former WWE writer Court Bauer. The promotion markets its product as ...

(MLW) that took place on July 19, 2018 at the Melrose Ballroom in

New York City, New York New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural harb ...

. The event aired as a special episode of MLW's television program, '' Fusion'', on July 27 on

beIN Sports beIN Sports ( ) is a Qatari multinational network of sports channels owned and operated by the media group beIN. The network has played a major role in the increased commercialization of Qatari sports. Its chairman is Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and its ...

. It was the first event under the Battle Riot chronology. Eleven matches took place at the event with three matches airing at the Battle Riot special on July 27 while other matches were taped for future episodes of ''Fusion''. The

main event In sports, a card lists the matches taking place in a title match combat-sport event. Cards include a main event match and the undercard listing the rest of the matches. The undercard may be divided into a midcard and a lower card, according to ...

was the first-ever 40-man Battle Riot match, with the winner earning a future title shot for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Tom Lawlor Thomas Joseph Lawlor (born May 15, 1983) is an American professional wrestler, retired mixed martial artist and podcast host. He is signed to both New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was the inaugural and longest reigning NJPW Strong Openw ...

won the match. The event also featured a match between

Maxwell Jacob Friedman Maxwell Tyler Friedman (born March 15, 1996), better known by the ring name Maxwell Jacob Friedman and the shortened epithet MJF, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and actor. , he is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW ...

and Joey Ryan to determine the inaugural World Middleweight Championship.

Production

Background

In July 2017,

resumed promoting events for the first time since the promotion's original closure in 2004. The success of these events lead MLW to secure a television deal with

for a new program, '' MLW Fusion'', which debuted on April 20, 2018. On May 7, 2018, MLW announced that it would hold an event at the Melrose Ballroom in

New York, New York New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural harb ...

on July 19 which would be a television taping of ''Fusion'', marking the return of MLW to New York after 2002. On May 31, MLW announced that the first-ever 40-man Battle Riot match would take place. The eponymous Battle Riot match is based on

WWE World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...

Royal Rumble match The Royal Rumble match is a professional wrestling match based on the classic battle royal match in which a number of wrestlers (traditionally 30) aim at eliminating their competitors by tossing them over the top rope, with both feet touching the ...

, where 40 participants participate and a new participant enters the match at every 60 seconds. Eliminations occur by pinfall, submission or being thrown over the top rope. The winner will be awarded a

MLW World Heavyweight Championship The MLW World Heavyweight Championship is a world heavyweight championship owned and promoted by Major League Wrestling (MLW). It is the promotion's principal championship. The championship was established on June 15, 2002 at the Genesis and was ...

opportunity at any place and time of his choosing. It was announced that Battle Riot would air as MLW's first two-hour television special on July 27 on beIN Sports.

Storylines

The card consisted of matches that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed

villains A villain (also known as a " black hat", "bad guy" or "baddy"; The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p.126 "baddy (also baddie) noun (pl. -ies) ''informal'' a villain or criminal in a book, film, etc.". the feminine form is villai ...

heroes Heroes or Héroes may refer to: * Hero, one who displays courage and self-sacrifice for the greater good Film * ''Heroes'' (1977 film), an American drama * ''Heroes'' (2008 film), an Indian Hindi film Gaming * ''Heroes of Might and Magic'' ...

, 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 were played out on MLW's television program '' Fusion''. On June 12, MLW announced that the first-ever Battle Riot match would take place at the namesake event on July 19 and John Hennigan, Kevin Sullivan, A. C. H. and

Davey Boy Smith David Smith (27 November 1962 – 18 May 2002) was an English professional wrestler best known for his appearances in the United States with the World Wrestling Federation under the ring names Davey Boy Smith and The British Bulldog. Smith ...

were announced as the first four participants of the match. In the upcoming weeks, more participants were added into the match including Pentagon, Jr., Barrington Hughes, Jake Hager, Jimmy Yuta, PCO,

Lance Anoa'i Lance Sterling Anoa'i (born February 15, 1992) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the NXT (WWE brand), NXT WWE brand extension, brand. He previously wrestled in Major League Wre ...

, Swoggle,

Konnan Charles Ashenoff (born Carlos Santiago Espada Moises; January 6, 1964),''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'', Dave Meltzer, ed., May 10, 2010, issue.Sims, Steve"Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame/Founded by Dave Meltzer - Konnan". Accessed August 1, 2016. On ...

Sami Callihan Samuel Alton Johnston (born September 1, 1987), better known by the ring name Sami Callihan, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and promoter. He is signed to Major League Wrestling (MLW) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestlin ...

, Joey Ryan, Jason Cade,

Jimmy Havoc James McAhren (born 19 March 1984) is a British former professional wrestler best known under the ring name Jimmy Havoc. He is known for his work with Progress Wrestling, Defiant Wrestling, Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW), Major League W ...

Brody King Nathan Troy Blauvelt (born March 17, 1987), better known by his ring name Brody King, is an American professional wrestler, singer, and actor. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of the Hounds of Hell and is a form ...

Low Ki Brandon Silvestry (born September 6, 1979) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Low Ki. He is known for his time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, TNA Wrestling, Ring of Honor and Major ...

, Headshrinker Samu, Rey Fenix,

Homicide Homicide is an act in which a person causes the death of another person. A homicide requires only a Volition (psychology), volitional act, or an omission, that causes the death of another, and thus a homicide may result from Accident, accidenta ...

, Simon Gotch, Vandal Ortagun, Leo Brien and Michael Patrick. On June 28, MLW announced that the first-ever

World Middleweight Champion Championship recognition 1884–1910 Champions were recognized by public acclamation. A champion in that era was a fighter who had a notable win over another fighter and kept winning afterward. Retirements or disputed results could lead to a cha ...

would be crowned in a match between

and Joey Ryan at Battle Riot. On July 16, MLW announced that Myron Reed would be making his MLW debut at Battle Riot against Kotto Brazil.

Event

The first match that aired at Battle Riot took place between Kotto Brazil and Myron Reed. Brazil executed a running backflip three-quarter facelock inverted DDT for the win. Next,

and Joey Ryan competed in a match for the new

MLW World Middleweight Championship The MLW World Middleweight Championship is a professional wrestling Professional wrestling championship#Weight class championships, championship created and promoted by the United States, American professional wrestling promotion Major League Wres ...

. MJF poked Ryan in the eyes and nailed a shoulderbreaker to win the match and become the inaugural World Middleweight Champion. The main event was the inaugural 40-man Battle Riot match, where eliminations would occur by pinfall, submission or tossing the competitor over the top rope and the winner would be earning a future

opportunity. Pentagon, Jr. and Rey Fenix competed as the first two entrants of the match.

entered the match last at #40.

(#5),

(#30), Jake Hager (#38) and John Hennigan (#40) were the last four participants. Lawlor choked out Callihan to eliminate him and Hager tossed Morrison over the top rope which led to Lawlor and Hager becoming the final two participants of the match. Lawlor eliminated Hager by tossing him over the top rope to win the Battle Riot.

Aftermath

The feud between Team Filthy and Stud Stable which had begun before Battle Riot escalated due to Tom Lawlor's elimination of Jake Hager to win the Battle Riot. Hager defeated Team Filthy member Simon Gotch on the August 3 episode of ''Fusion''. On the August 17 episode of ''Fusion'', Lawlor challenged Hager to a match in the Jungle MMA Gym but Stud Stable manager Col. Robert Parker instead put Parrow in the match, whom Lawlor defeated. On the August 31 episode of ''Fusion'', Lawlor defeated Hager to end the feud. As a result of winning the Battle Riot, Lawlor announced on the October 19 episode of ''Fusion'' that he would cash in for his World Heavyweight Championship title shot against Low Ki at SuperFight on February 2, 2019, which Lawlor would win. The feud between MJF and Joey Ryan continued after Battle Riot as the team of MJF and Aria Blake defeated Ryan and the debuting

Taya Valkyrie Kira Renée Magnin-Forster (born October 22, 1983), better known by her ring name Taya Valkyrie, is a Canadian professional wrestler, fitness competitor, and Model (people), model. She is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where she is one-half ...

in a

mixed tag team match Much like the singles match, tag team professional wrestling matches can and have taken many forms. Just about any singles or melee match type can be adapted to tag teams; for example, hardcore tag team matches are commonplace. Tag team ladder ...

on the September 21 episode of ''Fusion''.

Results

Battle Riot match entrances and eliminations

References

External links

Battle Riot I
at Cagematch
Battle Riot 2018
at

{{MLWPPV, Battle Riot Battle Riot 2018 in professional wrestling July 2018 in the United States Professional wrestling shows in New York City 2018 American television episodes 2010s American television specials 2018 in New York City