In 2024, Major League Wrestling (MLW) is undergoing changes to its programming. The promotion aims to broaden its schedule by presenting one premium live event and one free signature event each month.

The monthly premium live events will be broadcast as part of Trille TV+. For viewers interested in MLW’s free signature events, they can catch them on TV through BeIN Sports and online via MLW’s YouTube channel.

MLW expands 2024 schedule: https://t.co/xsBiWdJ3sH

— MLW (@MLW) January 18, 2024

Recently, MLW made an announcement about returning to its origins in Florida, where the promotion first began over two decades ago. In the upcoming spring, MLW is set to make a comeback with War Chamber, one of its key PLEs, at the Coliseum in St. Petersburg, FL.

In addition to its return to Florida, the company is also marking a comeback to Chicago with its Aztecha Lucha event on Saturday, May 11. This marks MLW’s return to the city for the first time since 2019.

SEScoops had reported back in December 2023 that MLW was gearing up for substantial changes, and this included a comprehensive overhaul of its front office.

On the flip side, MLW was engaged in a legal dispute with WWE in the form of an antitrust lawsuit. The two companies recently settled the lawsuit last month, with the details of the settlement remaining undisclosed.

With the upcoming programming schedule changes, 2024 appears to be an exciting year for MLW. The promotion has added notable names back to its roster such as Matt Riddle, Richard Holliday, Salina de la Renta, Tom Lawlor, and Satoshi Kojima. However, the company experienced a setback as Alex Hammerstone became a free agent. 

MLW Reload

MLW’s inaugural event under the new schedule is Reload, scheduled to air on Saturday, January 20, on both YouTube and BeIN Sports.

Will Ospreay has issued a challenge to Kazuchika Okada for a rematch at Battle At The Valley in a new video promoting NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 18.

Ospreay has a long history with The Rainmaker. He was defeated by the Japanese star at last year’s G1 Climax finals in August. Will turned things around this year and managed to pick up the victory against Okada when the two faced off again in a B block match of the tournament in July.

NJPW has been running an interview series on their YouTube channel to promote the upcoming Tokyo Dome show. The AEW star who will be challenging for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship at the event was the subject to the latest one of these interviews.

Will Ospreay’s Challenge

The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion was asked if the meaning of his upcoming match has changed since he signed with Tony Khan’s promotion.

The leader of the United Empire said that nothing has changed, because he is allowed to do what he was doing with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Ospreay then talked about him and Okada’s “unfinished business” and issued a challenge:

“I am confident going into this match [at Wrestle Kingdom] that I’ll be walking away with this championship,” Ospreay said. “I am that confident in doing it that I am prepared to make a challenge right here for San Jose, I know Okada is on that poster.

And we have so much unfinished business, granted I was able to get that win in G1 and I can finally prove to everybody that I can beat Okada but I’m happy to put this challenge out right here, right now in front of you all. That I wanna face Okada in San Jose.”

Ospreay made it clear that he is still as committed to New Japan Pro Wrestling as ever, and Okada will be the “first perfect defense” after he wins the championship.

“If I’m gonna be moving on to doing some other stuff, I’m still keeping my hands in New Japan. I wanna show everybody that I’m committed, that I’m staying around and that I have aspirations and plans on defending this championship all around the world, and Okada will be the first perfect defense for that.”

Wrestle Kingdom 18 is set for January 4, 2024, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. You can watch it live on NJPW World.

The main event of the show will see SANADA defending his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Tetsuya Naito. Bryan Danielson will face Kazuchika Okada, and David Finlay, Jon Moxley, and Ospreay will fight in a triple threat match to crown the inaugural IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion. 

During her WWE tryout in 2019 at a WWE Performance Center in Enfield, England, AEW wrestler Mariah May received valuable advice from a former WWE trainer.

Appearing on the Talk Is Jericho podcast (via Wrestling Inc.), May revealed that she had three matches and was called for a tryout, initially assuming it was for WWE but realizing it was for NXT UK. “Whereas WWE, I would have signed to that early on because there’s a PC and you’re going to train and stuff,” May said.

During the tryout, Sarah Stock advised her to travel more for experience. Despite WWE’s prior knowledge of her, NXT UK didn’t have a full-time training center, prompting them to recommend gaining more experience through travel due to less frequent training sessions.

“They wanted me to get more experience because with NXT UK, they didn’t have a full-time PC,” she explained. “It was like once every two months or something.”

Following the tryout, Mariah May went on a journey through the independent circuit in both the United States and the United Kingdom. She made appearances in promotions like Revolution Pro Wrestling, Ultimate Pro Wrestling, Combat Zone Wrestling, and several others.

However, her big breakthrough came when she debuted in Japan at World Wonder Ring Stardom in 2022. In this stint, she appeared alongside renowned figures like Mina Shirakawa and Unagi Sayaka. She also played a pivotal role in establishing the Club Venus stable, joining forces with Shirakawa and Xia Brookside. During her tenure, she won the Goddess of Stardom titles alongside Shirakawa. Her association with Stardom ended in September 2023.

Following her Stardom stint, May transitioned to the United States and joined AEW. Her signing was officially revealed on the November 8, 2023 edition of AEW Dynamite. In a segment backstage with RJ City, she was introduced as a passionate fan of Toni Storm, expressing her eagerness to meet her idol. She cited this as her primary motivation for joining AEW.

RELATED: Mariah May, Toni Storm Storyline Inspired By ‘All About Eve’?

Charlotte Flair sustained a major injury during her singles match against Damage CTRL’s Asuka on the Tribute to the Troops edition of SmackDown on December 8. Now we’ve gotten an update on the timetable for her return.

According to a report from PWInsider, Charlotte Flair is scheduled to undergo knee surgery in early January. WWE has projected a nine-month recovery period for Flair, suggesting that her return to the ring may not be until at least October next year.

The injury occurred when Flair tried to execute her signature moonsault outside the ring toward Asuka. The match ended abruptly following interference by Bayley, resulting in Flair’s defeat. Unfortunately, Flair sustained multiple knee injuries during the spot, including tears to her ACL, MCL, and meniscus.

BREAKING: Due to a knee injury that will require surgery, @MsCharlotteWWE will be out of action for approximately 9 months. More details to come.

— WWE (@WWE) December 16, 2023

This unfortunate development means that Charlotte Flair will miss WrestleMania 40 scheduled for April 6-7, 2024, at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Additionally, her absence may extend to events such as Summerslam, Backlash France, and Bash In Berlin. The given timetable means that Flair may be able to make a comeback around the time of Fastlane and Crown Jewel.

Charlotte Flair recently agreed to a contract extension with WWE, reportedly securing her stay with the company for several years. While specific details about the duration and terms of the deal remain a secret, reports suggest a substantial increase in compensation. 

This marks Flair’s new deal one of the most lucrative contracts for a female wrestler in WWE history. As part of the agreement, Flair is set to receive a travel bus, a privilege previously granted to big names like Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes within the company.

RELATED: Charlotte Flair On Crutches at CMLL Event Supporting Andrade El Idolo

Xavier Woods’ recent absence from WWE programming has been attributed to the New Day star being “banged up” and needing time off the road to recuperate and heal. It appears though that his hiatus won’t be a long one.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider is reporting that WWE sources anticipate Xavier Woods to be back soon. The company expects the former champion to be back on road within the first two weeks of January.

However, they have been advised that this is a “tentative” plan, which means that it is subject to change.

The former NXT star was also recently in Birmingham, Alabama, a common destination for celebrities needing surgery. This location often includes visits to Dr. James Andrews’ clinic, renowned for its expertise in orthopedic and sports medicine. Wrestlers frequently seek treatment there for a range of injuries issues.

This visit led to some speculation regarding the extent of Woods’ injury; however, the new report suggests that he’s not dealing with any serious issues. 

Xavier Woods was last seen participating in a Tag Team Turmoil match which aired on the November 27 episode of WWE RAW. Initially, Woods was listed in the lineup for the WWE Holiday Tour live events. He has since been pulled from the loop.

During the December 18 episode of Raw, Woods’ partner Kofi Kingston appeared dressed as Santa Claus for a festive segment. He was ambushed by Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci. Fortunately, Jey Uso came to his aid, leading to a match between Uso and Kaiser, where Uso emerged victorious.

• RELATED: Xavier Woods Thinks AI Will “100%” Kill All Humans

It was reported earlier that Dean Malenko underwent brain surgery for an issue related to Parkinson’s disease.

During his podcast, Grilling JR, Jim Ross revealed this past week that Malenko underwent the surgery and was present at AEW TV tapings.

“I saw Dean Malenko. Malenko’s had some health issues. I saw him there. And he had brain surgery and it stops his shakes form the Parkinson’s and it has, he’s had the surgery. He’s such a sweetheart of a guy,” Ross said.

There was uncertainty regarding the timeline of Malenko’s return after the surgery, leading to various assumptions. However, Mike Johnson of PWInsider clarified that Malenko had undergone surgery towards the end of September.

Given that the surgery took place several months ago, it is reasonable to assume that Malenko has likely recovered by now. He resumed working for AEW at the start of November and wasn’t in the process of recuperating from the surgery since it had taken place months earlier.

Dean Malenko, a wrestling veteran with an extensive career, was highlighted by Ross for his contributions to AEW. Malenko holds a significant behind-the-scenes role wherein he coaches and mentors young performers on the AEW roster, ensuring they deliver strong performances inside the ring.

Ross said that Malenko is an unsung hero, describing him as a valuable asset due to his guidance and coaching within the company. According to Ross, Malenko encourages talents to share their ideas and then assists and coaches them. He praised Malenko’s adeptness in teaching and coaching wrestlers within AEW.

We extend our best wishes to Dean Malenko, hoping for his continued recovery in his battle with Parkinson’s disease.

RELATED:  Dean Malenko On Why He Ended His 18 Year Long Stint With WWE

Mike Santana is going to defend his House of Glory Championship belt against TNA’s Josh Alexander on January 6, 2024 at the Brace For Impact event.

Fightful reported about the news of the match. Alexander is the first challenger of Santana’s title, which he won at The Darkest Hour on December 1 from Matt Cardona, the previous champion.

Fightful has learned that Santana vs. Josh Alexander for the HOG Heavyweight Champion is set for January 6's Brace for Impact show!! pic.twitter.com/czC3P5geif

— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) December 21, 2023

Saturday, January 6th 2024#BraceForIMPACT Tickets Available ??https://t.co/ghjp5frglt pic.twitter.com/iuqmvye9BZ

— House Of Glory Wrestling (@HOGwrestling) December 20, 2023

The Brace of Impact event on January 6 will take place at the NYC Arena. Santana wants to prove his mettle as the champion and wants challengers for his title. Meanwhile, this is former two-time Impact heavyweight champion Alexander’s House of Glory debut.

Also at the event at House of Glory, Mane Event and The ABC will go against each other for the HOG Tag Team Championship, Nolo Kitano will face Gringo Loco will for the HOG Cruiserweight Championship match. Crown Jewel Champion Carlos Ramirez, Women’s Champion Ultra Violette, and Black Taurus are also advertised for the event.

Santana, meanwhile, is very confident about his future. “Spent the last 4 months back in wrestling, warming myself up against some of the best in the game,” he wrote in a post on Twitter. “Now it’s time to officially start this journey and make this the best year of my career. The work begins.”

Spent the last 4 months back in wrestling, warming myself up against some of the best in the game.

Now it’s time to officially start this journey and make this the best year of my career.

The work begins.

Available WORLDWIDE.
MSantanaBookings@gmail.com pic.twitter.com/QykyExpdB6

— Mike SANTANA?? (@Santana_Proud) December 21, 2023

Santana was last seen in AEW in late October on Rampage. Santa was fined by the wrestling company earlier this month for posting a frustrated message on social media about his AEW absence, writing “6 weeks.” He then later posted that he was fined by Bryan Danielson and the AEW Disciplinary Committee.

AEW star Kota Ibushi will not linger in the ring if he feels he’s no longer required.

In an interview with Pro Wrestling NOAH, Ibushi discussed his retirement and various other topics.

Ibushi mentioned that he’s not sure about when he’ll retire. He’s not someone who sets specific years to retire. His only consideration is if he can’t do it anymore or if there’s no more demand from his fans for his matches, then he’ll stop wrestling on his own.

Ibushi sees himself as someone who doesn’t want to stay longer than necessary and will leave when he realizes he’s not needed anymore.

“I am not the type to set my own time frame, so I want to do as much as I can,” Ibushi said. “But… well… if I can’t do it anymore, if there is no more demand, I think it’s the end. If there is no more demand, I ask them to cut me off immediately. I’m the type of person who says that if I find out, I’ll quit immediately.”

Ibushi reflected on the shoulder injury he sustained during the NJPW G1 Climax in 2021, admitting it made him contemplate retirement. He felt restricted in his movements compared to his usual performance level, which concerned him regarding fans’ expectations. Ibushi mentioned that if fans no longer wish to see him perform in that capacity, then it could mark the “end of the road” for him.

“So in my case, it could end tomorrow. It could be a year from now, or it could be ten years from now. I don’t know. When there is no more demand, it’s the end.”

Ibushi has also been involved as a commentator in martial arts broadcasts. He mentioned being a martial arts enthusiast and mentioned receiving frequent offers to provide commentary from the martial arts community.

Ibushi openly discussed his affection for junk food, evident from his social media posts. Despite being 41, he sees himself as still exploring and experimenting with his body, believing there’s more yet to be discovered. 

“The body and mentality are connected. People can’t live in a harsh environment all the time. You have to loosen up somewhere. That’s the only thing that everyone picks up on. That’s why people tend to think that I eat only hamburgers, or that I love junk food, but I eat only junk food,” he added.

Ibushi was last seen in the AEW ring in a Street Fight at AEW Dynamite on November 15, where he teamed up with Paul Wight and The Golden Jets to defeat The Don Callis Family. 

Rhea Ripley’s character evolution is a journey of self-discovery and authenticity.

Female wrestlers were traditionally depicted as conventionally attractive, blonde, and resembling models. Their ring time was limited to barely one minute for wrestling. Ripley initially started with a similar image but later moved in a completely different direction, embracing a goth aesthetic with tattoos, embodying the “Mami” character. In an interview with the Australian newspaper The West Australian, Ripley discussed why she opted for this unique direction instead of following a previously successful path. Ripley recently had an interview with the Australian newspaper The West Australian.

“I think it’s all about being yourself. For me, when I first came in for the first Mae Young Classic, I had the long blonde hair, I smiled way too much, way too bubbly. It wasn’t me. The person that you see today was the person I was back then, but I was trying so hard to be someone else because of obviously, the people that I watched growing up. I thought that’s what they wanted, so that’s what I gave them.”

Ripley said that she didn’t feel comfortable being someone who she isn’t, and this clearly showed with the fact that she wasn’t getting shows and opportunities.

“I didn’t feel comfortable, and after a while, I wasn’t getting put on shows. I wasn’t getting opportunities. I was getting beat down and picked on. They didn’t think that I worked hard enough, but I was just trying to give them what I thought they wanted. But at the end of the day, the best thing you could do is just be confident with the person that you are. So once I decided not to care what people thought about me, I was like I am gonna be myself.”

Rhea Ripley’s evolution to ‘Mami’

This is when Rhea decided to let her personality shine through, and the character that we see today is actually her just growing up and finding herself as a person.

“[I] cut my hair short, and once I did that and I started wearing the long pants with the chains and the studs, changed my persona and came out and was just mean mugging everyone, beating everyone up. ‘This is my brutality,’ it’s not even a joke, it’s what I did. That’s when my career really started rockin’ and rollin’. And the Rhea Ripley evolution that you’ve seen into the Rhea Ripley that you see today it’s just me growing as a person outside of the WWE and I’m just letting it shine through within the WWE sort of thing. So it’s me, and I think that’s what the fans see, and that’s what gravitates them towards Rhea Ripley.”