Opera Cup 2024 begins, Manders vs. Krugger in Bull Rope Match

It’s Major League Wrestling’s 22nd anniversary and the league is celebrating big time in Atlanta with an expanded lineup!

But before that, Atlanta must first pass Sessions With Mister Saint Laurent, but luckily his guest was Paul Walter Hauser. Hauser noted that Atlanta has a wrestling history before things became tense between the interviewer and interviewee. However, the moment was stopped with a chair shot from Filthy Tom Lawlor!

CONTEST 1
Adam Priest vs. Bobby Fish

Upstart Adam Priest made his singles debut and was more than just game for this match. He’s clearly done his homework on veteran Bobby Fish. Fish was ready for an attack, but Priest dodged many of his moves and got his share of the attack. However, a corner exploder suplex was enough to stop him for the 1-2-3.

WINNER: Bobby Fish

Bobby Fish has a solid win under his belt and will compete in the 2024 Opera Cup, where he and 15 other men will compete to earn the right to hoist the cherished trophy! One of those names is two-time winner Davey Boy Smith Jr.

DBS walks away with MSL hyping up its client, traveling to Atlanta and claiming Smith will be an unparalleled three-time Opera Cup champion. However, he must be ready for ‘The Sweet Scientist’, Timothy Thatcher.

CONTEST 2
Round 1: Opera Cup
Davey Boy Smith Jr. against Timothy Thatcher

The styles between Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Thatcher go together like PB&J and this opening round match is no different. Thatcher is hard and relentless in his attack as he focuses on breaking down DBS by targeting his arm. It has kept the third-generation star from using the powerslam, but like Thatcher, DBS is very durable. Coincidentally, he drops Thatcher with a huge sit-out powerbomb for the pinfall win.

WINNER and PROGRESS: Davey Boy Smith Jr.

After the game, Davey Boy Smith attempted to sing the Canadian national anthem before telling Atlanta they didn’t deserve it. However, the third time is the charm for his Opera Cup run.

However, the competition has a big announcement: KENTA is participating in the Opera Cup! And his opponent in the first round? Bobby Fish!

Backstage we see AKIRA with Okomura and the MLW World Champion Satoshi Kojima. AKIRA has his pup Kota with him and promises that he will eliminate CONTRA Unit member Ikuro Kwon in the Opera Cup.

CONTEST 3
MLW National Openweight Championship
Jake Crist vs. bad guy Tito

This is a match between David and Goliath and Crist’s slingshot is his speed and athleticism. However, Tito is quite dominant in this fight based on his strength and the numbers game. Salina de la Renta and Jesus Rodriguez are at ringside as the ‘ring announcer’ gets a shot at Jake. That all finally comes into play at the end of the match, when Crist hits a quick, spinning back kick to Tito’s ear. Rodriguez jumps onto the apron and runs to the outside, Brett Ryan Gosselin, he grabs Crist by the neck and drops him over the top rope. Tito then hits his Steiner Screwdriver finisher for the 1-2-3!

WINNER and STILL MLW National Openweight Champion: Bad Dude Tito

Backstage, David Marquez talks to Cesar Duran, who says he hasn’t been a part of Salina’s life as a father to make her stronger. That makes him a good father who cares. Marquez questions that tactic and Duran becomes confrontational.

MLW Original CW Anderson is in the crowd for all the anniversary action as the crowd salutes one of the Extreme Four Horsemen.

We go back to Marquez, who overtakes Matt Riddle. The winner of Battle Riot isn’t sure when he’ll cash in his golden ticket, but everything comes to a halt when Sami Callihan steps in to ambush him. The two rivals start fighting and the feed is cut off!

Bobby Fish is on commentary for the next fight as he looks to explore the Opera Cup bracket.

CONTEST 4
Round 1: Opera Cup
Ikuro Kwon vs. AKIRA

Styles do indeed create fights and the two styles of Kwon and AKIRA mirror each other. This fight is very tough because Kwon has AKIRA’s number in many of the exchanges. The Death Fighter is startled by a monkey in the corner, sending AKIRA into the ring post! Kicks, suplexes and submissions are in full force as AKIRA tries to keep Kwon on the ground. He manages to do that with an impressive kick and punch sequence before locking in an ankle lock. Kwon’s resilience is on display, but an eventual death penalty is good enough to get the pinfall victory!

WINNER and PROGRESS: AKIRA

We switched to Filthy Tom Lawlor, who was asked about his actions against Hauser. Lawlor said Hauser did this to himself because he pretended to be a professional wrestler and gave the credited actor a “fat pud!” mentions. We later find out that Hauser was taken to a local hospital in Atlanta.

We see more footage of Riddle and Sami continuing to fight backstage as order is restored!

CONTEST 5
MLW World Middleweight Championship
Star Jr. vs. Mistico (c)

Before the fight begins, Mistico offers a handshake out of respect and Star. Jr. obliges. This battle is a symphony of athleticism as both luchadors have scouted each other well. Mistico hits a nice arm drag and headscissors to catch Star Jr. to show why he is indeed a champion. Atlanta sings to Mistico as he performs a beautiful headscissors.

Star Jr. finally turns the tide on him with a big boot in the ring and hits a hard slam to put Mistico down. However, Mistico eventually puts Star down with his spinning Fujiwa armbar.

WINNER and STILL MLW World Middleweight Champion: Mistico

After the fight, Star Jr and Mistico shake hands again before Mistico is interviewed at the top of the ramp. He expresses his love for middleweight gold and love for MLW fans!

CONTEST 6

Miyu Yamashita vs. Jazzy Yang vs. Dani Jordyn

It’s a full circle moment for this match since Jazzy Yang is Jimmy Yang’s daughter. At 21, she makes her Major League debut, just like Yang did 22 years ago! Yang is in the crowd to watch his daughter compete and she has tough competition with Yamashita and Dani Jordyn.

Jazzy shows her grit as she takes offense to Yamashita and hits a beautiful spinning leg kick. Jordyn gets a close win before Yamashita attacks Jordyn. She throws Yang out and focuses on Dani. However, Yang gets more involved when she catches both women on the outside with a top rope dive!

Miyu manages to isolate Jordyn again as she catches her with a powerful postural adjustment and stops Dani for the 1-2-3!

WINNER: Miya Yamashita

Cameras follow Sami Callihan as he finally separates from Riddle and issues one final challenge to The Super King of Bros: he wants every type of match at Blood & Thunder! Will Riddle accept it?

MLW is taking the time to honor the legendary Gary Juster, who has promoted fights and helped produce many wrestling shows over the years. Juster is humbled and grateful for the honor! #ThanksGary!

MAIN EVENT
Bull Rope Competition
1 Called Manders vs. Mads Krule Krugger

Manders wastes no time in this fight as he takes it to Krugger and introduces the bull rope violence quite quickly. Krugger’s bloodlust may be second to none as he happens to hang Manders on the ropes with the Bullrope!

The violence increases as a table is set up in the middle of the ring and Krugger may be planning to choke Manders through it while he is on top. Manders bites Krugger’s forehead and pushes the monster through the table! Manders gathers enough strength to attack Krugger and catch him with a big lariat! Kruger is OUT and Manders goes to cover him, but Krugger grabs him by the throat. Manders ramps up the adrenaline and starts to HAMMER Krugger with the cowbell. Manders traps Krugger in the rope and pulls his armrest down, ready for another lariat, but Janai Kai comes in with a hard roundhouse kick! Kruger hits a reverse full nelson and scores Manders for the 1-2-3!

WINNER: Mads Krule Krugger

After the fight, Kruger has some ritual violence in store for Manders, as he buries his head in a bucket in front of the CONTRA insurgents and even nails him with the bully!

CONTRA starts dragging Manders backstage as Matthew Justice runs in to save his Second Gear Crew companion, but is cut off at the pass by Ikuro Kwon and Minoru Suzuki! Manders is dragged away by Krugger!

We finally see Salina meet Duran and even though she’s late with a Father’s Day gift, it’s a gift nonetheless: Salina is PREGNANT! Duran seems happy to be a grandfather as the anniversary show ends!