MLW reveals bracket for 2025 Opera Cup tournament

MLW has revealed the full slate of first-round matches for the 2025 Opera Cup tournament.

The 16-competitor tournament began at MLW’s tapings in New York City at the end of June and will continue to play out through November at events in the Los Angeles, Dallas, and Chicago areas. The field of competitors includes talent from MLW along with CMLL and NJPW wrestlers like Mistico, Ultimo Guerrero, Volador Jr., KUSHIDA, Satoshi Kojima, and more.

Here are the matchups that will be taking place in the opening round:

Bracket A —

  • Mistico vs. Ikuro Kwon
  • Ultimo Guerrero vs. Esfinge
  • Austin Aries vs. KUSHIDA
  • Paul London vs. Okumura

Bracket B —

  • Volador Jr. vs. Titan
  • Zandokan Jr. vs. Blue Panther Jr.
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. Bobby Fish
  • Bishop Dyer vs. Anthony Greene

Dyer is former WWE wrestler Baron Corbin, who just won the MLW Tag Team titles with Donovan Dijak last week.

Aries returned to MLW as a commentator earlier in 2025 and will be competing for the promotion for the first time in nearly six years.

Since the Opera Cup was introduced to MLW in 2019, it has been won by Davey Boy Smith Jr., Tom Lawlor, Davey Richards, and Mistico. The winner is presented with the Opera Cup trophy.

“It’s a proving ground — not just for glory, but for legend,” MLW wrote.

Matches will begin airing on MLW’s Blood & Thunder special on August 9, which will be broadcast on the promotion’s YouTube channel as well as beIN Sports.