Opera Cup (2023)

Opera Cup (2023)
The 2023 winner Davey Boy Smith Jr.
VenueSemifinals:
Melrose Ballroom (April 6)
Finals:
2300 Arena (April 8)
LocationSemifinals:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (April 6)
Finals:
Queens, New York (April 8)
Start dateApril 6, 2023 (2023-04-06)
End dateApril 8, 2023 (2023-04-08)
Competitors
Champion
Davey Boy Smith Jr.
← 2021
2024 →

Opera Cup (2023) was the fourth Opera Cup professional wrestling tournament produced by Major League Wrestling (MLW). The first two rounds were held at War Chamber on April 6, 2023, while the finals took place at Battle Riot V on April 8, 2023 (2023-04-08).[1] These matches aired on later episodes of Fusion.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. won the tournament for the second time by defeating Tracy Williams in the final, thus becoming the first two-time winner of the Opera Cup tournament, having won the inaugural tournament in 2019.[2]

Production

Background

The Opera House Cup was annually held as a professional wrestling tournament for nearly fifty years in various cities in the United States until its discontinuation in 1948. Stu Hart won the final tournament and kept the possession of the Opera Cup trophy since then. On July 21, 2019, Major League Wrestling announced that it would be holding an event on December 5 at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York City, New York which would be a set of television tapings of MLW's television program Fusion.[3] On July 24, it was reported that Stu Hart's grandson and MLW wrestler Teddy Hart would be donating an inherited "family heirloom" to MLW.[4] On July 30, MLW.com announced that the family heirloom was Stu Hart's Opera Cup trophy and MLW would be bringing back the Opera Cup tournament on the December 5 supercard, naming it Opera Cup.[5]

On March 22, 2023, it was announced on MLW's official website that the fourth edition of the Opera Cup tournament would occur as a four-man tournament, with the first round matches taking place at War Chamber on April 6.[6]

Storylines

The tournament consists 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. Storylines were played out on MLW's television programs Fusion and Underground Wrestling, social media channels, MLW's social media channel and MLW's YouTube channel.[7]

On March 16, MLW announced that a match would take place between Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Calvin Tankman during the War Chamber television tapings on April 6.[8] Following the announcement of the Opera Cup tournament, it was made a tournament match for the first round of Opera Cup.[9] On March 24, Tony Deppen and Tracy Williams were announced to compete in the other Opera Cup first round match at War Chamber.[10]

Results

Semi-final (April 6)
No.Results[11]StipulationsTimes
1Davey Boy Smith Jr. defeated Calvin TankmanSingles match
(Fusion – July 20)		10:29
2Tracy Williams defeated Tony DeppenSingles match
(Fusion – July 27)		11:42
Final (April 8)
No.Results[12]StipulationsTimes
1Davey Boy Smith Jr. defeated Tracy WilliamsSingles match
(Fusion – August 17)		9:45

Tournament brackets

Semifinals
War Chamber
(April 6) 		Final
Battle Riot V
(April 8)
      
Davey Boy Smith Jr. Pin
Calvin Tankman 10:29
Davey Boy Smith Jr. Pin
Tracy Williams 9:45
Tony Deppen 11:42
Tracy Williams Pin

References

  1. ^ Colin McGuire (April 9, 2023). "4/8 MLW Battle Riot VI spoilers: McGuire's in-person report on the taping for upcoming shows (spoilers)". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Davey Boy Smith Jr. wins the Opera Cup for the second time". Cageside Seats. August 17, 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  3. ^ "MLW SETS RETURN TO NYC LATER THIS YEAR". Major League Wrestling. July 21, 2019.
  4. ^ "TEDDY HART DONATES FAMILY HEIRLOOM TO MLW". Major League Wrestling. July 24, 2019.
  5. ^ "NYC TO HOST FIRST OPERA CUP IN OVER 70 YEARS". Major League Wrestling. July 30, 2019.
  6. ^ "Opera Cup kicks off in NYC April 6". Major League Wrestling. March 23, 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  7. ^ Grabianowski, Ed (13 January 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  8. ^ "Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs Tankman signed for NYC". Major League Wrestling. March 16, 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  9. ^ "DBS vs Tankman now Opera Cup stage 1 bout". Major League Wrestling. March 25, 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Tracy Williams vs Tony Deppen NYC April 6". Major League Wrestling. March 24, 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  11. ^ Ian Carey (April 7, 2023). "MLW War Chamber spoilers: New champions crowned". WON / F4W. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  12. ^ Josh Nason (April 9, 2023). "MLW Battle Riot V spoilers: New title contender, Opera Cup final". WON / F4W. Retrieved 28 September 2023.