MLW National Openweight Championship

The MLW National Openweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion Major League Wrestling (MLW). The title was unveiled on April 18, 2019.[1][2] The title's openweight nature, a division more common in Japanese professional wrestling, means that both heavyweight and middleweight wrestlers are eligible to challenge for it.

MLW National Openweight Championship
Official belt design (2019–present)
Details
PromotionMajor League Wrestling (MLW)
Date establishedApril 18, 2019
Current champion(s)Rickey Shane Page
Date wonSeptember 3, 2023
Statistics
First champion(s)Alexander Hammerstone
Most reignsAll champions (1)
Longest reignAlexander Hammerstone
(865 days)
Shortest reignJohn Hennigan
(89 days)
Oldest championJohn Hennigan
(43 years, 97 days)
Youngest championAlex Kane
(28 years, 16 days)
Heaviest championRickey Shane Page
(282 lb (128 kg))
Lightest championDavey Richards
(202 lb (92 kg))

History
The inaugural champion Alexander Hammerstone

On April 18, 2019, Major League Wrestling (MLW) announced the creation of the MLW National Openweight Championship, a division more common in Japanese professional wrestling, since MLW already had a middleweight division.[3][4] Also announced was a four-man single-elimination tournament that would culminate on June 1 with the crowning of the first champion.[5] The tournament to crown the inaugural champion was later advertised on MLW Fusion, while being announced four wrestler to participate in the tournament, which was announced on May 4 by MLW Fusion's Executive Producer Salina de la Renta.[6][7] The title was unveiled on May 17.[8] On June 1 at Fury Road, Alexander Hammerstone defeated Brian Pillman Jr. in the finals of the tournament to become the inaugural MLW National Openweight Champion.[9][10]

Inaugural championship tournament
Fusion
(May 4, 2019) 		Fury Road
(June 1, 2019)
      
Alexander Hammerstone Pin
Gringo Loco 4:55
Alexander Hammerstone Pin
Brian Pillman Jr.
Rich Swann Pin
Brian Pillman Jr. 6:44

Reigns

As of October 25, 2023, there have been six reigns between six champions and one vacancy. Alexander Hammerstone was the inaugural champion. Hammerstone's reign is the longest at 865 days, while John Hennigan's reign is the shortest at 89 days. Hennigan was also the oldest champion when he won it at 43 years old, while Alex Kane was the youngest champion at 28 years old.

Rickey Shane Page is the current champion in his first reign. He defeated Jacob Fatu at Fury Road (2023) on September 3, 2023, in Philadelphia, PA.

Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
+ Current reign is changing daily
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
1 Alexander Hammerstone June 1, 2019 Fury Road Waukesha, WI 1 865 Hammerstone defeated Brian Pillman Jr. in the finals of a four-man tournament to become the inaugural champion. [11]
— Vacated October 13, 2021 — — — — Hammerstone relinquished the title after winning the MLW World Heavyweight Championship. [12]
2 Alex Kane November 6, 2021 War Chamber Philadelphia, PA 1 229 Kane defeated Myron Reed, Alex Shelley, A. C. H. and Zenshi in a five-way ladder match to win the vacant title. [13]
3 Davey Richards June 23, 2022 Battle Riot IV New York City, NY 1 198 [14]
4 John Hennigan January 7, 2023 Blood and Thunder Philadelphia, PA 1 89 Hennigan won the title as Johnny Fusion, but began using his real name thereafter. [15]
5 Jacob Fatu April 6, 2023 War Chamber Queens, NY 1 150 [16]
6 Rickey Shane Page September 3, 2023 Fury Road Philadelphia, PA 1 52+ [17]


References
  1. "MLW to crown inaugural National Openweight Champion". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. 18 April 2019.
  2. "MLW Fusion: Openweight Championship Semifinals Begin".
  3. MLW.com (18 April 2019). "MLW launches National Openweight Championship; Milwaukee to host finals on June 1". MLW: Major League Wrestling®.
  4. "MLW FUSION REPORT: TABLES MATCH AND MORE". Pro Wrestling Insider. April 28, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  5. "MLW NEWS AND NOTES – PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com.
  6. "MLW TO PRESENT LIVE BEIN SPORTS BROADCAST SATURDAY JUNE 1st". Pro Wrestling Torch. May 14, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  7. "MLW Fusion Results (5/4/19". WrestleZone. May 4, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  8. "OFFICIAL MLW: FUSION TV PREVIEW FOR TOMORROW – PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com.
  9. "OFFICIAL MLW FURY ROAD PREVIEW, DAVEY BOY SMITH JR. UPDATE AND MORE – PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com.
  10. "MLW Fury Road live results: National title tournament finals". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. June 1, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  11. Jason Powell (June 5, 2019). "Powell's MLW Fusion TV Review: Fury Road live special with Teddy Hart vs. Jimmy Havoc for the MLW Middleweight Title, Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Alex Hammerstone to become the first MLW National Openweight Championship, Myron Reed vs. Gringo Loco". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  12. Mike Johnson (October 13, 2021). "MLW National Openweight Championship Championship Vacant, War Chamber match set". PWInsider. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  13. Haulotte, Kellie (November 6, 2021). "** SPOILERS ** MLW War Chamber Taping". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  14. Jason, Josh (June 23, 2022). "MLW Battle Riot IV spoilers: Former WWE NXT wrestler debuts Additionally, a former Impact World Champion returned to the company". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  15. NASON, JOSH. "Two titles change hands at MLW Blood & Thunder TV taping There are new champions following Saturday's show". www.f4wonline.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  16. CAREY, IAN. "MLW War Chamber spoilers: New champions crowned". Www.f4wonline.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  17. Powell, Jason (September 3, 2023). "MLW "Fury Road" results: Powell's review of Alex Kane vs. Willie Mack for the MLW Heavyweight Championship, Jacob Fatu vs. Rickey Shane Page in a Weapons of Mass Destruction match for the MLW National Openweight Title". prowrestling.net. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
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