World title match to headline return of MLW Fusion

A World title match will headline MLW’s return to new in-ring action.

MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu will defend his title against Davey Boy Smith Jr. on the Wednesday, November 18 episode of MLW Fusion. The episode is the first show of MLW’s “The Restart.”

Fusion is airing on the fubo Sports Network and YouTube on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Eastern time. The show will also be available on demand via DAZN and will air on beIN Sports at 10 p.m. Eastern on Saturdays.

Prior to last month’s closed set tapings for The Restart, MLW had been on hiatus since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an interview with DAZN, MLW’s Court Bauer hyped the Fatu vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. match: “This title fight was set to headline our July PPV this past summer, which would’ve been in Philly. When the pandemic hit, all of our matchmaking went out the window, but what stayed was the appetite for this big fight. The fans wanted it. Fatu and DBS wanted it. I wanted to go big and conceptually deliver a premium level event for free for The Restart. This isn’t a match that’s ever been done before, so what bigger main event can you kick things off with than this?”

Bauer also spoke about what else fans can expect from the November 18 episode of Fusion: “I’m going to stack that fight card. We’re going to add another title bout, maybe two. We’ve upgraded our production and one of the things I really like about The Restart is we’re bringing wrestling back to that smoke-filled arena vibe. There’s a raw, primal feeling when you have that hazy look and two guys are going to war in the ring. It’s cinematic. It draws you into the action more. Visually it adds a layer of authenticity that a sterile, over-produced, over-lit arena that looks like a Times Square can’t touch. As for the remainder of 2020: it’s all about the Opera Cup. This will be a big tentpole annual event for us. It’s a privilege to be entrusted with hosting and promoting the grand tournament, which dates back over 100 years. There’s a lot of history in that cup. Literally. It was made in 1915. We had it restored last year by the same folks that handle the Stanley Cup. It’s a true piece of history in the making every year when we roll it out for the tournament.”