Openweight title match added to MLW Blood & Thunder tapings
A new title match is set for MLW’s first television tapings of 2022.
National Openweight Champion Alex Kane will put his title on the line against Calvin Tankman at MLW’s Blood & Thunder tapings in Dallas on Friday, January 21. The tapings are being held at Gilley’s Dallas.
This will be Kane’s first title defense since becoming MLW National Openweight Champion. He won the championship by defeating Alex Shelley, Myron Reed, Zenshi, and ACH in a five-way ladder match at November’s War Chamber tapings.
The National Openweight Championship was vacant going into that ladder match. Alex Hammerstone voluntarily relinquished the title after becoming MLW World Heavyweight Champion. He defeated Jacob Fatu in a title vs. title match at Fightland last October.
The feud between Kane and Tankman began when Tankman refused to join up with Kane and King Mo. Kane was an alternate in the 2021 MLW Opera Cup and tried to take Tankman’s spot by attacking him. When Tankman faced TJP in the semifinals, interference by Kane and his new cornerman Mr. Thomas led to Tankman losing.
Kane announced last month that he was leaving American Top Team and starting the Bomaye Fight Club with Mr. Thomas. There was also an angle last month where Tankman was arrested after attacking Mr. Thomas in the parking lot.
Here’s the updated card for the Blood & Thunder tapings:
- Texas Tornado match: MLW Tag Team Champions 5150 (Slice Boogie & Danny “Limelight” Rivera) defend against Marshall & Ross Von Erich
- Jacob Fatu vs. Mads Krugger
- Rok-C vs. Miranda Gordy
- Davey Richards vs. ACH
- MLW National Openweight Champion Alex Kane defends against Calvin Tankman