Major League Wrestling has continued to evolve over the years, establishing its own identity in an increasingly competitive professional wrestling landscape. From showcasing established names to providing opportunities for rising talent, MLW has worked to build a product that stands apart from the rest of the industry.
With the promotion preparing for Saturday’s SuperFight event in Chicago, there is no better time to look at how far MLW has come and where it hopes to go next.
Ahead of the event, I had the opportunity to speak with MLW owner Court Bauer about the company’s evolution, what he is most proud of during its growth, and the areas where he believes the promotion can continue to improve.
When asked to reflect on where MLW was a few years ago compared to where it stands today, Bauer was given the opportunity to discuss the accomplishments that mean the most to him while also looking ahead at what he wants the company to accomplish moving forward.
“The culture has changed really a lot in the locker room, this year,” Bauer tells PWPonderings’ Scott Mitchell. “The dynamics between the locker room and the front office is like a family. It’s really turned into a family. I think in year’s passed it was kind of a little bit more of a mercenary energy back there. It was like, ‘Oh, I’m here for x amount of time,’ or ‘Come in, do what I have to do, and leave.’ Now, you walk in, you feel it, and it feels like you’re at a family reunion, or high school. It feels like your hanging together before class. It’s a really fun energy. It brings a smile on my face when I see it. So, culture is everything. Whether it’s a sports team or a company, especially in wrestling. It’s really an awesome culture. There’s locker room leaders that contribute to that. There’s the front office that contributes to that. It’s the momentum that also helps. When you’re selling out shows, that’s always a positive. I’ve had shows you know, back then, I remember one time, the first time we ran the War Memorial in 2002. Dusty Rhodes is looking through the curtains, and I booked Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes, and Steve Corino, and I’m like, ‘This is going to be a sellout, I don’t have to do anything. This is easy.’ We look out there, there’s like 200 or 300 fans in a 1500 seat place. Dusty looks through the curtain with his granny glasses at the tip of his nose and he goes, “there are good nights, and there are bad nights. This is not a good night.’ I was like ‘ugh’ but you learn from those opportunities that you whiff on. That night, Terry, Dusty, Funk, took me back and over as Dusty dunked big double treat cookies into a beer and we watched an NBA game, they dropped a lot of knowledge about how to do this the right way. Maybe, that didn’t quite, I didn’t absorb that knowledge necessarily day one, but over time you get there. Again, it’s about persistence and resilience. So, this year has been great because we really, the product in the ring has leaped forward, it’s been exceptional. That’s a credit to the talent, the agents, the producers, the production team. You feel the great front office, the great staff, the great locker room, it’ll bounce right. So, this year has been a great year for us. Very transformative from the deal making end, to the in-ring product. I love being able to produce this one our show every week on Tubi, and it’s building to this big tentpole on pay-per-view and giving that live window. So, it’s like we have this cohesive content play where you can watch weekly, and everything pushes you to something that will give you this satisfying climax with the grudge match, the title match, the big match. So, it feels like MLW has done a lot of growing this year and I’m really proud of that.”
That perspective is particularly important as MLW continues to navigate an industry filled with major players. With WWE, AEW, TNA, and numerous independent promotions competing for viewers, talent, and attention, establishing a recognizable identity is more important than ever.
MLW has continued to carve out its own space by embracing different wrestling styles and bringing together talent from across the world. The promotion has provided a platform for established performers while also giving emerging names opportunities to reach a larger audience.
That combination has helped MLW maintain its place in the wrestling conversation, particularly for fans who enjoy seeing a variety of wrestling styles and personalities represented under one banner.
Saturday’s SuperFight event in Chicago represents another opportunity to build on that foundation. Chicago has a rich professional wrestling history and a passionate fanbase, making it an important destination for any promotion looking to make an impression.
For Bauer and MLW, the focus extends beyond delivering one successful event. SuperFight is another chance to showcase the company’s current product while continuing to build toward its future.
Every promotion wants to grow, but sustaining that growth while maintaining an identity is an entirely different challenge. As MLW continues to develop its roster, expand its reach, and look for new opportunities, the next chapter could be an important one for the company.
With SuperFight taking place Saturday, MLW has another opportunity to show wrestling fans exactly where it stands today and provide a glimpse of where it wants to be tomorrow.