MLW announces trading card partnership with Panini

Major League Wrestling and Panini are joining forces in a new deal that makes Panini the exclusive trading card partner of MLW.

The multi-year partnership was announced in a press release today. Per the agreement, Panini will now become the “official trading card, memorabilia, and collectible sticker partner of MLW.” Panini also has deals with sports leagues like the NFL, NBA, and FIFA, and they once had a brief relationship with WWE before WWE reunited with Topps/Fanatics as its trading card partner.

“As MLW’s global presence continues to grow, partnering with Panini – the worldwide leader in collectibles – is the perfect next step,” MLW’s Court Bauer said. “With the world’s top-ranked fighters throwing down in front of sold-out crowds, MLW is built on iconic moments. Now, thanks to Panini, fans can collect those moments and own a piece of the fight.”

Moments from last week’s MLW Summer of the Beasts event are being made available as instant cards through Panini’s website. Later this year, MLW products will be available at stores like Walmart and Target, in hobby stores nationwide, and on Panini’s website.

“We are looking forward to this new partnership with MLW, as MLW continues to grow and expand internationally – we are positioned well to help them reach wrestling fans on a global basis and bring trading cards to wrestling fans,” said Mark Warsop, the CEO of Panini America.

MLW currently airs its shows for free live on YouTube. Actor Paul Walter Hauser, who competes for MLW in addition to serving as an executive producer of the promotion, recently said they have had discussions for a TV or streaming deal but are not going to rush into anything.

“I can’t say too much because we’re still figuring stuff out, obviously. But we’ve had a couple of offers and we’ve had discussions and we’re just trying to figure out what makes the most sense for everybody,” Hauser said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “Because it’s one thing for somebody to throw you some money, it’s another to find people that understand and like the product. So, like, we’re kind of looking for somebody who actually likes wrestling and understands the product and wants to see it grow exponentially. Not get some kind of cheapo buyout just to have it up off of YouTube.”

The next event on MLW’s calendar is Fightland 2025 in North Richland Hills, Texas on September 13.