MLW Open Draft

The MLW Open Draft was a professional wrestling draft used by the American professional wrestling promotion Major League Wrestling (MLW) to refresh its roster as the promotion will begin touring live amidst the COVID-19 pandemic on July 10, 2021, marking the first time that live ticketed fans will be attending an MLW event since AAA vs MLW in March 2020.[1] Wrestlers were selected in MLW among seven rounds and the draft began on May 20, 2021 and concluded on July 1, 2021.[2]

MLW Open Draft
General information
SportProfessional wrestling
Date(s)May 20–July 1, 2021
Overview
LeagueMajor League Wrestling
TeamsAzteca Underground
Contra Unit
Injustice
The Dynasty

Background

On the May 5, 2021 episode of Fusion, Alicia Atout announced that an open draft would be taking place on MLW's website and official YouTube channel where various wrestlers from the MLW roster and free agents from various promotions in Japan, Mexico and the independent circuit would be drafted on the MLW roster in order to refresh the roster.[3][4] On the season finale of Fusion on beIN Sports, former Lucha Underground authority figure Dario Cueto was revealed to be "El Jefe", who sacrificed Salina de la Renta for not paying him his dues for providing financial assistance to Renta's group Promociones Dorado. This would explain de la Renta's legitimate departure from MLW.[5][6][7] The new stage name of Cueto would reveal to be "Cesar Duran" and he would begin representing his own faction called Azteca Underground.[8] It was announced that the draft would begin on May 20.[9]

Selections

The first round of the open draft began on May 20 with various wrestlers being drafted in various rounds including members of the MLW roster and new employees.

Round 1 (May 20)
Davey Richards
Wrestler(s):Unit:
Marshall and Ross Von ErichMain unit[10]
Gino Medina
King MuertesAzteca Underground[11]
Davey RichardsFree agent (new signee)[12][13]

Round 2 (May 27)
Wrestler(s):Unit:
Gringo LocoMain unit[14]
King MoTeam Filthy[14]
Tom Lawlor
Alex KaneAmerican Top Team[15]

Round 3 (June 3)
Savio Vega
Wrestler(s):Unit:
Savio VegaMain unit[16]
Zenshi
Lee MoriartyFree agent[17]
AramísAzteca Underground[18]

Round 4 (June 10)
Wrestler(s):Unit:
Calvin TankmanMain unit[19]
Mads KrüggerContra Unit[19]
ArezAzteca Underground[20]

Round 5 (June 17)
E. J. Nduka
Wrestler(s):Unit:
TJPMain unit[21]
Violence is Forever (Dominic Garrini and Kevin Ku)Team Filthy[21]

Round 6 (June 24)
Wrestler(s):Unit:
Ikuro Kwon, Josef Samael and DaivariContra Unit[22]
Bu Ku DaoMain unit[22]
E. J. NdukaFree agent[23][24]

Round 7 (July 1)
Wrestler(s):Unit:
Jordan OliverInjustice[25]
Kit OsbourneTeam Filthy[25]
Matt CrossAzteca Underground[26][27]

Round 8 (July 10)
Wrestler(s):Unit:
Danny Rivera5150[28]
Slice Boogie5150[29]
Dr. Julius Smokes5150[30]

References
  1. "🚨 MLW to return with crowds July 10". Major League Wrestling. April 21, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  2. "Inaugural Open Draft kicks off Thursday". Major League Wrestling. May 18, 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  3. "Alicia Atout with BREAKING NEWS tonight on FUSION". Major League Wrestling. May 5, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  4. Jeremy Thomas (May 5, 2021). "MLW Announces Open Draft, Will Take Place Online". 411Mania. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  5. Jason Powell (May 5, 2021). "MLW Fusion Results: Powell's review of the season finale featuring Lio Rush vs. Myron Reed for the MLW Middleweight Championship, El Jefe's arrival, Laredo Kid vs. Gringo Loco, Richard Holliday in action". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  6. "🚨 Azteca Underground's El Jefe REVEALED!". Major League Wrestling. May 6, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  7. Marc Middleton (May 7, 2021). "Salina De La Renta Confirms Her MLW Departure, Comments On Possibly Going To WWE". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  8. Justin Barrasso (May 13, 2021). "MLW's Court Bauer on Azteca Underground: 'We're Very Excited to Show Where This Goes Next'". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  9. "Supershow the Game to sponsor 2021 Open Draft". Major League Wrestling. May 12, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  10. "2021 Open Draft Round 1 Results". Major League Wrestling. June 3, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  11. "Muertes signs multi-year deal with MLW". Major League Wrestling. June 3, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  12. Joseph Currier (May 20, 2021). "DAVEY RICHARDS JOINS MLW ROSTER, WILL DEBUT THIS JULY". WON / F4W. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  13. "Davey Richards signs with MLW". Major League Wrestling. May 21, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  14. "2021 Open Draft Round 2 Results". Major League Wrestling. May 27, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  15. "Alex Kane signs with MLW". Major League Wrestling. May 28, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  16. "2021 Open Draft Round 3 Results". Major League Wrestling. June 3, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  17. Josh Nason (June 3, 2021). "MLW ADDS LEE MORIARTY & ARAMIS FOR NEW SEASON, OPERA CUP TO RETURN". F4W / WON. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  18. "Aramis signs multi-year deal with MLW". Major League Wrestling. June 4, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  19. "2021 Open Draft Round 4 Results". Major League Wrestling. June 10, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  20. "Arez drafted by Cesar Duran". Major League Wrestling. June 10, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  21. "2021 Open Draft Round 5 Results". Major League Wrestling. June 17, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  22. "MLW Open Draft Round 6 results: EJ Nduka joins the promotion". Daily DDT. June 25, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  23. "EJ Nduka signs with MLW". Major League Wrestling. June 24, 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  24. Justin Barrasso (June 25, 2021). "Physically Imposing EJ Nduka Ready to Make His Mark in MLW After WWE Release". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  25. "2021 Open Draft Final Round Results". Major League Wrestling. July 1, 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  26. "Matt Cross returns to MLW". Major League Wrestling. July 1, 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  27. Josh Nason (July 1, 2021). "MATT CROSS JOINS MLW FOR NEW SEASON, TWO OTHERS RETURNING". WON / F4W. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  28. "5150's Rivera signs with MLW". Major League Wrestling. September 8, 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  29. "Slice Boogie of 5150 inks deal". Major League Wrestling. September 10, 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  30. "Dr. Julius Smokes signs with MLW". Major League Wrestling. September 12, 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
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