MLW Slaughterhouse explained

Slaughterhouse
Promotion:Major League Wrestling
Date:October 14, 2023
Venue:2300 Arena
City:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Liveevent:y
Lastevent:Fury Road
Nextevent:Fightland
Event:Slaughterhouse
Lastevent2:First
Nextevent2:2024

MLW Slaughterhouse was a professional wrestling event produced by Major League Wrestling (MLW), which took place on October 14, 2023, at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was MLW's third live special produced for FITE, with additional matches being taped for future episodes of MLW Fusion.

The event also featured the MLW return of Tom Lawlor after a two-year sabbatical, who then later announced that he had signed with MLW.

Production

Background

On May 2, 2023, a new partnership between MLW and FITE was announced, in-which the promotion would produce live events for FITE+ subscribers. MLW would subsequently announce four upcoming FITE+ specials on July 8, 2023, with Slaughterhouse announced to be taking place on October 14,[1] [2] at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[3]

Storylines

The card consisted of matches that result from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches, with results predetermined by MLW's writers. Storylines were played out on MLW Fusion, and the league's social media platforms.[4]

As part of MLW's "Open Door Policy", several outside talents will appear at the event. Names include Japanese legend Minoru Suzuki.[5] [6]

At Fury Road, Salina de la Renta returned to MLW as the first guest of "Sessions by Saint Laurent," resurrecting her Promociones Dorado stable. During her appearance, she teased the prospect of a new client, which she promised to reveal at Slaughterhouse.[7] On October 3, MLW announced that de la Renta will also accompany NWA World Historic Welterweight Champion Rocky Romero in a Winner Takes All match against MLW World Middleweight Champion Akira.[8]

For the past year, Alex Kane and Davey Boy Smith Jr. had been involved in a feud, stemming from Kane being revealed as the man who stole the Opera Cup trophy from Davey Richards. On the August 16 episode of Fusion, a newly heel Smith would defeat Tracy Williams to win the 2023 Opera Cup tournament, which would grant him a title opportunity of his choosing.[9] Several weeks later on the September 14 episode, MLW World Heavyweight Champion Kane was holding a press conference when Smith's promoter, Mister Saint Laurent, challenged Kane to a title match at Slaughterhouse on behalf of Smith.[10] The following week, Bomaye Fight Club backer Don King announced that Kane accepted the challenge.[11] [12] However, on October 12, MLW announced that Boy Smith Jr. is injured and has been repleaced by Tom Lawlor.[13]

For several weeks on Fusion, B3cca has repeatedly targeted MLW World Women's Featherweight Champion Delmi Exo in an attempt to gain a title opportunity, which included hitting the champion with a guitar. At Fury Road, B3cca got that opportunity after defeating Maki Itoh in a number one contender's match.[14] On September 26, MLW announced that Exo will defend the featherweight championship against B3cca at Slaughterhouse.[15] However, on October 1, MLW announced on their website that B3cca had to withdraw from the match due to other commitments. A "phantom challenger" would be set to replace her at Slaughterhouse.[16]

In the ongoing rivalry between The Calling and The Second Gear Crew (SGC), on the September 22 episode of Fusion, Mance Warner of the latter group called out The Calling for a Chamber of Horrors match. Later in the night, MLW World Middleweight Champion Akira and Matthew Justice faced off, but it ended in a no contest. Following the bout, Akira's Calling stablemates Cannonball and MLW National Openweight Champion Rickey Shane Page came out and attacked Justice. Warner and 1 Called Manders of the SGC tried to intervene, but were put down by The Calling, with Page putting Warner through a table.[17] A few days later on September 27, MLW announced that the Chamber of Horrors match will happen between The SGC (Warner and Justice) and The Calling (Cannonball and Talon) at Slaughterhouse.[18] Additionally, on the September 28 episode of Fusion, it was announced that Page will defend the National Openweight Championship against Manders in a Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal match.[19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MLW Announces Four FITE+ Specials. Jeremy. Lambert. Fightful . July 8, 2023 . September 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230803201138/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/mlw-announces-four-fite-specials. August 3, 2023. live.
  2. Web site: MLW Announces Upcoming Schedule On FITE+, Four Specials Confirmed. Tessier. Colin. July 8, 2023 . September 5, 2022. Wrestlezone. https://web.archive.org/web/20230709210316/https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1386070-mlw-announces-upcoming-schedule-on-fite-four-specials-confirmed. July 9, 2023. live.
  3. Web site: MLW Slaughterhouse 2023 Tickets Now On Sale. Jeffrey. Harris. 411Mania. September 5, 2023.
  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: Minoru Suzuki to make MLW debut at Slaughterhouse. Ian. Carey. . September 4, 2023 . September 5, 2023.
  6. Web site: Minoru Suzuki debuts Oct 14 in Philly. Major League Wrestling. September 6, 2023 . September 15, 2023.
  7. Web site: Salina is BACK!. Major League Wrestling. September 3, 2023 . September 15, 2023.
  8. Web site: CMLL vs. MLW title match signed for Oct 14. Major League Wrestling. October 3, 2023 . October 3, 2023.
  9. Web site: Fusion Recap: Fatu vs. RSP, Tracy Williams vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. In Opera Cup Finals. Major League Wrestling. August 17, 2023 . September 23, 2023.
  10. Web site: Fusion Recap: Salina De La Renta Strikes Back. Major League Wrestling. September 14, 2023 . September 23, 2023.
  11. Web site: Ravens. Andrew. MLW Announces Double Main Event For Slaughterhouse 2023. E Wrestling News. September 21, 2023. September 21, 2023.
  12. Web site: Double main event revealed for Oct 14. Major League Wrestling. September 20, 2023 . September 23, 2023.
  13. Web site: Tom Lawlor returns, challenges Alex Kane for World Title Saturday in Philly. Major League Wrestling. October 12, 2023 . October 12, 2023.
  14. Web site: MLW "Fury Road" results: Powell's review of Alex Kane vs. Willie Mack for the MLW Heavyweight Championship, Jacob Fatu vs. Rickey Shane Page in a Weapons of Mass Destruction match for the MLW National Openweight Title. prowrestling.net. Jason. Powell. September 3, 2023. September 26, 2023.
  15. Web site: World Featherweight Title Fight signed for Slaughterhouse. Major League Wrestling. September 26, 2023 . September 26, 2023.
  16. Web site: BREAKING: Phantom Challenger replaces B3CCA in Exo Title Fight. Major League Wrestling. October 1, 2023 . October 1, 2023.
  17. Web site: Fusion Recap: The Calling Continues To Cause Chaos. Major League Wrestling. September 27, 2023 . September 22, 2023.
  18. Web site: Enter the Chamber of Horrors at Slaughterhouse. Major League Wrestling. September 27, 2023 . September 27, 2023.
  19. Web site: Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal signed for Slaughterhouse. Major League Wrestling. October 2, 2023 . October 3, 2023.