Fightland (2021)

Fightland (2021) was a professional wrestling supercard event produced by Major League Wrestling (MLW), which was held on October 2, 2021 and was the third event under the Fightland chronology. Matches from the event were taped for MLW programming; the main card aired as a one-hour special on October 7, 2021 on Vice TV, while other matches would air as part of the mini-series, MLW Fusion: Alpha, on MLW's YouTube channel and BeIN Sports USA.[1]

Fightland (2021)
Promotional poster featuring Alexander Hammerstone and Jacob Fatu
PromotionMajor League Wrestling
DateOctober 2, 2021
(aired October 7, 2021)
CityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Venue2300 Arena
Tagline(s)The Most Anticipated Title Fight of the Year
Event chronology
← Previous
Battle Riot III		 Next →
War Chamber
Fightland chronology
← Previous
2020		 Next →
2022

Sixteen professional wrestling matches were contested at the event. The main event was a no disqualification title vs. title match, in which Battle Riot winner Alexander Hammerstone cashed in his Golden Ticket opportunity against Jacob Fatu, with both Hammerstone's National Openweight Championship and Fatu's World Heavyweight Championship on the line. Hammerstone won the match to end Fatu's two-year long title reign in what was also Fatu's first loss in MLW. On the undercard, Tajiri made his MLW debut against Myron Reed, Arez and Aramis for Reed's World Middleweight Championship in a four-way match, which Tajiri won.[2]

Production

Background

The show featured wrestling matches that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.[3]

In April 2021, MLW announced a television deal with Vice TV.[4] A block of MLW programming, including reruns of MLW Fusion, began airing on Saturdays starting May 1.[5] On September 17, 2021, it was announced that Vice TV would air Fightland on October 7, following a new episode of its original documentary series, Dark Side of the Ring. As an expansion of the channel's professional wrestling programming, and their previous agreement with MLW, Fightland marks the first wrestling event to air on Vice.[6]

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 weekly television program, Fusion, and the league's social media platforms.[7]

The main storyline heading into Fightland was the feud between MLW National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone and MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu of Contra Unit. At the end of the AAA vs. MLW Super Series on the May 10, 2020 episode of Fusion, Contra Unit attacked various wrestlers and staff before ultimately taking over MLW headquarters (a storyline explanation for MLW's hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic).[8] Hammerstone was among members of the MLW roster seen taking back MLW headquarters in a video uploaded to MLW's YouTube channel on October 29, 2020.[9][10] Hammerstone campaigned for a World title shot throughout 2020 and into 2021, as he was ranked #1 in MLW by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.[11] At the end of the April 21, 2021 episode of Fusion, Hammerstone once again challenged Fatu to a title match.[12] The following week, on the penultimate episode of the season, Contra leader Josef Samael denied the challenge on Fatu's behalf, claiming that he ultimately controls who gets to fight him.[13] On June 10, 2021, it was announced that Battle Riot III will take place on July 10, and that Hammerstone would be the first entrant.[14] Hammerstone would ultimately win the titular match, earning a World title match against Fatu.[15] On September 1, 2021, Hammerstone revealed he will face Fatu at Fightland, and put his own National Openweight title on the line in a Title vs. title match.[16][17]

On August 31, it was announced on MLW's website that Tajiri would be making his MLW debut at Fightland.[18] On September 16, it was announced that Myron Reed would defend the World Middleweight Championship against Tajiri, Arez and Aramis in a four-way match at Fightland.[19]

Results
No.Results[20][21]StipulationsTimes
1Mads Krügger defeated Dr. Dax (with Holidead)Singles match0:38
2Mads Krügger defeated Budd HeavySingles match0:22
3Alex Kane (with King Mo) defeated WarhorsePrize fight challenge5:42
4Calvin Tankman defeated Matt Cross2021 Opera Cup quarter-final match[22]8:15
5Bobby Fish defeated Lee Moriarty2021 Opera Cup quarter-final match[23]12:20
6Davey Richards defeated Tom Lawlor via submission2021 Opera Cup quarter-final match[23]11:41
7TJP defeated Alex Shelley2021 Opera Cup quarter-final match[22]14:47
8Los Parks (L.A. Park, L.A. Park Jr., and El Hijo de L.A. Park) vs. 5150 (Homicide, Slice Boogie, and Rivera) (with Dr. Julius Smokes and Konnan) ended in a no contestTrios match[24]5:11
9Nicole Savoy defeated HolideadSingles match[23]8:06
10Tajiri defeated Myron Reed (c), Arez and AramisFour-way match for the MLW World Middleweight Championship.[23]11:14
11Calvin Tankman defeated Alex KaneSingles match—
12King Muertes (c) (with Karlee Perez) defeated Tom LawlorCasket match for the IWA Caribbean Heavyweight Championship11:51
13EJ Nduka, Richard Holliday, Savio Vega, The Blue Meanie, Warhorse and Zenshi defeated Beastman, Gino Medina, Ikuro Kwon, KC Navarro, Kevin Ku and King Mo (with Kim Chee)12-man elimination tag team match[25]13:15
14Davey Richards defeated Bobby Fish2021 Opera Cup semi-final match12:09
15The Sea Stars (Ashley Vox and Delmi Exo) defeated Willow Nightingale and Zoey SkyeTag team match4:45
16Alexander Hammerstone (National) defeated Jacob Fatu (World) (with Josef Samael)Title vs. Title No Disqualification match for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship and MLW National Openweight Championship[23]16:21
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

References
  1. "Vice TV To Air MLW Fightland As Their First Pro Wrestling Special". Wrestling Inc. September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  2. Brie Coder (October 7, 2021). "MLW Fightland Results: Alex Hammerstone & Jacob Fatu Collide In A Title Vs. Title Match". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  3. Grabianowski, Ed. "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  4. "MLW Announces New TV Deal With Vice TV". Wrestling Inc. April 19, 2021.
  5. "Exclusive: MLW On Vice TV Premiere Date Revealed". Wrestling Inc. April 21, 2021.
  6. "Vice TV to Air 'MLW Fightland,' Channel's First-Ever Pro-Wrestling Event (Exclusive)". The Wrap. September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  7. Grabianowski, Ed. "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  8. Jason Powell (May 10, 2020). "Powell's MLW Fusion TV Review: AAA and MLW Super Series concludes with Los Parks vs. Psycho Clown, Psicosis, and Nino Hamburguesa, Davey Boy Smith Jr. calls out Jacob Fatu, Dynasty searches for the "Meth Gator"". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  9. 🚨 MLW strikes back at CONTRA; #TheRestart set, YouTube October 29, 2020
  10. "MLW Restart Date Revealed". Wrestling Inc. October 29, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  11. Pulp FUSION | August 6, 2020
  12. "MLW Fusion Results (4/21): TJP Vs. Bu Ku Dao, Hammerstone Holds A Press Conference, More". Wrestling Inc. April 21, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  13. "MLW Fusion Live Results (4/28): Tom Lawlor & Marshall Von Erich Clash In The Main Event". Wrestling Inc. April 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  14. "MLW Announces Battle Riot III & More Round 4 Open Draft News". Wrestling Inc. June 10, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  15. Oliver, Iain (July 24, 2021). "MLW Battle Riot III results: A new World title challenger is crowned". Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  16. "🚨 Hammerstone challenges Fatu for title!". MlW.com. September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  17. "Fatu vs. Hammerstone signed for FIGHTLAND". MlW.com. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  18. "Tajiri debuts at FIGHTLAND Oct 2". Major League Wrestling. August 31, 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  19. "4-Way World Middleweight Championship bout added to FIGHTLAND". Major League Wrestling. September 16, 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  20. Johnson, Mike (October 2, 2021). "HISTORY IS MADE: COMPLETE MLW FIGHTLAND SPOILER RESULTS FROM PHILADELPHIA, PA". pwinsider.com. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  21. Lee, Joseph (October 2, 2021). "Taping Results For MLW Fightland (SPOILERS)". 411mania.com. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  22. "Alex Shelley's MLW Debut Match Announced For Fightland". Wrestling Inc. September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  23. "Bobby Fish's MLW Debut Match Announced For Fightland". Wrestling Inc. September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  24. "TRIOS Match! Los Parks vs 5150 this Saturday". MLW.com. September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  25. "12-man Survival Tag signed for Saturday". MLW.com. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
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