Opening from the sports desk

Ed: “Fans, welcome back to the sports desk. This time we’re looking at two very different corners of the wrestling world—Major League Wrestling and Women Of Wrestling—both grinding away with TV, streaming, and live dates. Before we get into Fusion and WOW Superheroes, let’s start with the headlines that set the tone for the week.”

Headlines

Kevin Knight and his dream of working in AEW

Kevin Knight said that getting to work in AEW feels like a “dream come true.” He talked about watching the company from the outside, wanting to be part of that environment, and now feeling like he’s finally on the stage he’d been chasing—sharing rings with people he grew up studying and proving he belongs at that level.

Kevin Knight on AEW/WWE tribalism

Knight also addressed the “tribalism” between AEW and WWE fans, saying he doesn’t see the point in picking sides when the real win is that there’s more wrestling for everyone. He emphasized how important it is for Black talent to support each other across promotions, not get dragged into fan wars, and focus on lifting each other up wherever they’re working.

Bully Ray on Motor City Machine Guns and Team 3D breaking up

Bully Ray explained that the feud with the Motor City Machine Guns was a major catalyst for the Team 3D breakup storyline. He said working with Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin pushed him and D‑Von to rethink what they were doing, and that the creative tension and chemistry in that program helped lead to the angle where Team 3D split, giving all four guys more room to grow as singles and as characters.

Gordon: “Dreams realized, tribal lines questioned, and a legendary team reshaped by a rivalry—that’s the backdrop for MLW and WOW this week.”

Major League Wrestling (MLW)

Ed: “Let’s start with MLW, where Fusion remains the flagship and the promotion leans hard into factions, title fights, and hybrid styles.”

MLW Fusion — September 17, 2026 (weekly TV)

⭐ MLW Fusion — Tubi Premiere

Opera Cup begins, a major MLW debut lands, and Stardom’s H.A.T.E. makes a violent statement.

🎭 Opera Cup Opening Round: Austin Aries def. Tracy Williams

The show kicked off with the National Openweight Champion stepping into the spotlight and reminding the audience he’s not a nostalgia act — he’s still very much in the fight. Aries told the crowd that people talk about him like he’s yesterday’s news, and he’s out to prove otherwise by taking the Opera Cup on top of everything else he’s already done.

Williams pushed him hard, trapping Aries in multiple submissions and drilling him with a turnbuckle DDT variation. Aries escaped the STF by biting Williams’ arm, knocked him to the floor with a neckbreaker, and finished the match with a corner dropkick into a brainbuster. The Openweight Title wasn’t at stake.

🌏 The Good Brothers Check In From Sri Lanka

A taped message from Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows showed the MLW World Tag Team Champions defending their belts overseas. Anderson also hyped CJ Gallows’ upcoming MLW singles debut, saying fans won’t have to wait long to see him in action.

🎭 Opera Cup Opening Round: Odyssey Jones def. Okumura

Odyssey Jones made his MLW debut in his hometown, facing Contra Unit’s Okumura with Ikuro Kwon lurking at ringside. Commentary emphasized Jones’ size and the company’s renewed focus on super heavyweights.

Okumura nearly stole the match with a Koji Cutter, but Jones crushed him with a splash to advance. Afterward, Jones told Rich Bocchini that New York was his house and this tournament was his to win.

🔥 MLW Women’s World Champion Shotzi Blackheart Ambushed by H.A.T.E.

Shotzi sat down for an interview about the growing list of challengers circling her title. Before she could finish, Stardom’s Saya Kamitani and Rina — representing H.A.T.E. — stormed in and attacked her, with Kamitani whipping the champion.

Shotzi’s mindset before the ambush: “When everything around you feels like it’s falling apart, you sit down, keep your circle tight, pick your drink carefully, and enjoy the chaos.”

📞 Killer Kross Calls Josh Bishop

MLW World Heavyweight Champion Killer Kross was shown on the phone with Josh Bishop discussing MLW’s idea to pair them against Mistico and Aries at Fightland. Kross joked that his neck still hurts from being chokeslammed repeatedly. Bishop agreed to team up and suggested setting their opponents on fire — Kross reminded him that the match isn’t no‑DQ.

🎭 Opera Cup Opening Round: Trevor Lee def. Mistico (Count‑Out)

Trevor Lee, the Southern Crown Champion, went nearly the full 20‑minute limit with Mistico, who was chasing a third straight Opera Cup victory. Both men unloaded their arsenals — Lee with a sliding forearm, backbreaker, and German suplex; Mistico with a suicide dive, mid‑air hurricanrana reversal, Spanish fly, and rapid‑fire kicks.

Late in the match, a masked figure appeared at ringside. Commentary identified him as Austin Aries wearing Mistico’s stolen mask. As Mistico climbed the ropes, Aries yanked the referee out of the ring and dropped Mistico with a brainbuster on the floor. The official counted Mistico out.

Lee clearly didn’t want to advance that way, but he moves on to face Aries in the next round.

Aries grabbed a mic afterward: “Mistico won’t be taking the Opera Cup this year. That leaves one man to finish the job — Austin Aries.”

Mistico and Aries are still scheduled to team at Fightland against Kross and Bishop.

🎭 Opera Cup Bracket Update

Advancing so far:

• Diego Hill
• LeBron Cozone
• Austin Aries
• Odyssey Jones
• Trevor Lee

Aries vs. Lee is confirmed for the second round. Remaining first‑round matches weren’t addressed on this episode.

📺 Programming Notes

MLW Fusion streams Thursdays at 8 PM ET on Tubi. Fightland airs next week. If Fusion doesn’t appear on the homepage, search “MLW Fusion” in the Tubi app or site.

Gordon: “The pattern is clear: MLW uses Fusion to keep its title scene busy and its factions constantly colliding.”

Women Of Wrestling (WOW)

Ed: “On the other side, WOW Superheroes continues to be built around characters, rivalries, and a very clear good‑vs‑evil presentation.”

WOW Superheroes — September 19, 2026 (syndicated TV)

Credit: wowe.com

“Nigel Zane and David McLane welcomed WOW legend, EZ Rider, to the Official WOW Podcast this week to talk wrestling, comedy, and in-ring injuries. Growing up in South Philly with six brothers, EZ was no stranger to wrasslin, rough housing, and talking trash. EZ showed up to a WOW tryout cutting harsh promos while swinging around a real baseball bat, and fit right into Thug’s motorcycle gang, Harley’s Angels. As a member of the original WOW roster, EZ feuded with “The Real Deal” Selina Majors, sending Majors to the hospital for a broken leg, and crossed paths with former WOW World Tag Team Champions Caged Heat!

EZ Rider on fighting Caged Heat for the tag team titles: “What a fight, what a match…we really took it out of each other… I remember leaving and they had to cut my jeans off ‘cause my knee had blown up…anything could’ve happened…we both fight dirty.”

EZ Rider on Selina Majors breaking her finger: “She hit me with a chair and broke my pinky. She took the chair from me…I’m a street fighter, when I feel a chair coming at me, my brain goes a different direction”

David McLane went on to tell a story about the first ever all female professional wrestling pay-per-view, WOW Unleashed. After the event had concluded, he expected his business partner, Jeanie Buss, to have left the building and gone home. To his surprise, McLane went backstage and found Buss, the LA Laker’s part owner, talking to EZ Rider and Charlie Davidson at one in the morning! Jeanie Buss regards that memory as the moment she truly saw all that women’s wrestling could be, launching her historic partnership with David McLane that keeps WOW: Women Of Wrestling on household televisions across the world to this day.

EZ Rider on Jeanie Buss stepping into an on-camera roll for WOW’s season 5: “I think it’s amazing, I think it’s’ great…[Buss] is the only female who has an NBA title…perfect for WOW: Women Of Wrestling…it’s incredible”

David and Nigel dive into EZ Rider’s extensive comedy career, highlighting her shows with fellow comedian, Andrew Dice Clay. David shared a story about preparing to see EZ perform in Vegas on his birthday, and eating an unsuspecting brownie in his hotel room, only to find out too late that it was a 300mg marajuana brownie! McLane struggled through the next several hours, but shook off his daze when EZ Rider took time out of her show to shout out David for his birthday. David stood up in the crowd, soaked in the applause, but has sworn off pot ever since.”

Gordon: “WOW’s strength is clarity—every character has a lane, every match has a story, and the weekly show keeps those threads moving.”

News & rumors around MLW and WOW

Ed: “Let’s tie these promotions into the wider conversation.”

• MLW: Talk continues about MLW’s role as a bridge between indie and TV—how it gives wrestlers a chance to work longer matches with storylines while still feeling like a touring independent. Rumors often swirl about which MLW names might be on the radar for AEW, WWE, or Japan.
• WOW: WOW’s chatter tends to focus on visibility—syndication deals, streaming options, and how the promotion can keep expanding its audience while staying true to its superhero branding.

Gordon: “Both companies are fighting for space in a crowded ecosystem—MLW with its hybrid fight feel, WOW with its character‑driven women’s roster.”

Closing segment — Everything Indy Wrestling (Facebook group)

Ed: “And we’ll close at the grassroots level, with the Facebook group Everything Indy Wrestling:

• Show plugs and posters: Members regularly share flyers for upcoming indie cards—local promotions, charity shows, and regional tours.
• Match clips and photos: Short video clips, entrance shots, and ringside photos from recent events are common, often highlighting breakout performances or wild spots.
• Discussion threads: Fans and wrestlers alike post about standout matches, travel stories, and recommendations for promotions to watch or work with.”

The 3 most recent posts: Zoey Serrano won the Rising Stars Women’s Championship, tonight. Banger Zone Wrestling featured a table spot, but this was at Watermania so the table was floating in a swimming pool. Finally, Thrash Wrestling was in Oliver, British Columbia at the Oliver Fire Hall, featuring their champion Ginha, Zombie Killer Mentallo & Japanese star, Blankey Maho.

Gordon: “In other words, it’s the living bulletin board for the scene—where the next MLW or WOW star might be getting their reps right now.”

Ed: “From the sports desk to the smallest indie ring, that’s your snapshot of MLW, WOW, and the conversations shaping wrestling this week.”