The Opera Cup tournament is underway in MLW, and the field received a last-minute injection of championship talent from NJPW.
MLW revealed the Opera Cup bracket with one mystery spot.
Here's the official 2024 Opera Cup bracket! #MLW @betonline_ag
— MLW (@MLW) June 23, 2024
: https://t.co/EKVrhlUh3g pic.twitter.com/5NVzDMy23K
That mystery turned out to be the debut of Kenta in MLW. Kenta has held several championships during his career in NJPW and Pro Wrestling Noah.
KENTA vs. Bobby Fish set for MLW Blood & Thunder in St Petersburg, FL on July 12
— MLW (@MLW) June 24, 2024
MLW today announced KENTA vs. Bobby Fish in round 1 of the Opera Cup at MLW Blood & Thunder’24, from the Coliseum in St. Petersburg, FL on Friday, July 12.
Grab tickets at… pic.twitter.com/jH6H3V2RPF
Matchups for the opening round of the Opera Cup include:
- Kenta vs. Bobby Fish
- Akira vs. Ikuro Kwon
- Timothy Thatcher vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
- Tom Lawlor vs. Jake Crist
- Mistico vs. Magnus
- Okumura vs. Atlantis Jr.
- Alex Kane vs. Mr. Thomas
- Bad Dude Tito vs. Danny Jones
Prognosticating the favorites leads to a stacked final four with Kenta, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Mistico, and Alex Kane. The Bulldog is a two-time Opera Cup winner, the luchador is the biggest star in CMLL and also holds the MLW World Middleweight Championship, and the Suplex Assassin is a former MLW world champion. Drama in the ring should be high.
A pair of contests aired on the MLW Anniversary ‘24 special, and the rest of the opening round bouts are expected to be taped at the Blood & Thunder event on July 12 in St. Petersburg, FL.
On the Anniversary show, Davey Boy Smith Jr. advanced past Timothy Thatcher. Catch wrestling turned into a slug fest. A series of roll-ups transitioned to a German suplex battle. Thatcher worked the left arm for much of the fight. When he tried to finish with an armbar, the Bulldog countered for a side slam. Smith cracked Thatcher with a stiff strike to the jaw, and that created the opportunity to close with a tiger bomb.
Akira bested Ikuro Kwon. The Contra soldier started strong with a brutal neckbreaker in the first minute. Both men delivered a fair amount of offense. Akira saved the best for last with a Spanish Fly kimura off the turnbuckles. Kwon kicked out on the cover, so Akira blasted a strike to the back of the head. The Death Fighter finished with the Death Penalty slam.
Davey Boy and Akira advance to the quarterfinals.
Share your thoughts on the Opera Cup tournament in MLW.
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