In July 2017, Major League Wrestling 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 beIN Sports for a new program, MLW Fusion, which debuted on April 20, 2018.[4][5]
On May 7, 2018, MLW announced that it would hold an event at the Melrose Ballroom in New York, New York on July 19 which would be a television taping of Fusion, marking the return of MLW to New York after 2002.[6] 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's Royal Rumble match, 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 opportunity at any place and time of his choosing.[7][8] It was announced that Battle Riot would air as MLW's first two-hour television special on July 27 on beIN Sports.[9]
Storylines
The card consisted of matches that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed 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 were played out on MLW's television program Fusion.[10]
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 MLW World Heavyweight Championship opportunity. Pentagon, Jr. and Rey Fenix competed as the first two entrants of the match. Jimmy Havoc entered the match last at #40. Tom Lawlor (#5), Sami Callihan (#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.[23] 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.[24] On the August 31 episode of Fusion, Lawlor defeated Hager to end the feud.[25] 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,[26][27] which Lawlor would win.[28]
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 in a mixed tag team match on the September 21 episode of Fusion.[29]
