On April 18, 2019, Major League Wrestling (MLW) announced the creation of the MLW National Openweight Championship, a division more common in Japaneseprofessional wrestling, since MLW already had a middleweight division.[3][4] Also announced was a four-man single-elimination tournament that would culminate on June 1 with the crowning of the first champion.[5] The tournament to crown the inaugural champion was later advertised on MLW Fusion, while being announced four wrestler to participate in the tournament, which was announced on May 4 by MLW Fusion's Executive Producer Salina de la Renta.[6][7] The title was unveiled on May 17.[8] On June 1 at Fury Road, Alexander Hammerstone defeated Brian Pillman Jr. in the finals of the tournament to become the inaugural MLW National Openweight Champion.[9][10]
Inaugural championship tournament
Reigns
As of September 21, 2024, there have been six reigns between six champions and one vacancy. Alexander Hammerstone was the inaugural champion. Hammerstone's reign is the longest at 865 days, while John Hennigan's reign is the shortest at 89 days. Hennigan was also the oldest champion when he won it at 43 years old, while Alex Kane was the youngest champion at 28 years old.
^MLW.com (18 April 2019). "MLW launches National Openweight Championship; Milwaukee to host finals on June 1". MLW: Major League Wrestling®.
^"MLW FUSION REPORT: TABLES MATCH AND MORE". Pro Wrestling Insider. April 28, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
^"MLW NEWS AND NOTES – PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com.
^"MLW TO PRESENT LIVE BEIN SPORTS BROADCAST SATURDAY JUNE 1st". Pro Wrestling Torch. May 14, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
^"MLW Fusion Results (5/4/19". WrestleZone. May 4, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
^"OFFICIAL MLW: FUSION TV PREVIEW FOR TOMORROW – PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com.
^"OFFICIAL MLW FURY ROAD PREVIEW, DAVEY BOY SMITH JR. UPDATE AND MORE – PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com.
^"MLW Fury Road live results: National title tournament finals". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. June 1, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
^Jason Powell (June 5, 2019). "Powell's MLW Fusion TV Review: Fury Road live special with Teddy Hart vs. Jimmy Havoc for the MLW Middleweight Title, Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Alex Hammerstone to become the first MLW National Openweight Championship, Myron Reed vs. Gringo Loco". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
^Mike Johnson (October 13, 2021). "MLW National Openweight Championship Championship Vacant, War Chamber match set". PWInsider. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
^Haulotte, Kellie (November 6, 2021). "** SPOILERS ** MLW War Chamber Taping". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
^Jason, Josh (June 23, 2022). "MLW Battle Riot IV spoilers: Former WWE NXT wrestler debuts Additionally, a former Impact World Champion returned to the company". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
^NASON, JOSH. "Two titles change hands at MLW Blood & Thunder TV taping There are new champions following Saturday's show". www.f4wonline.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
^CAREY, IAN. "MLW War Chamber spoilers: New champions crowned". Www.f4wonline.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
^Powell, Jason (September 3, 2023). "MLW "Fury Road" results: Powell's review of Alex Kane vs. Willie Mack for the MLW Heavyweight Championship, Jacob Fatu vs. Rickey Shane Page in a Weapons of Mass Destruction match for the MLW National Openweight Title". prowrestling.net. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
^Lambert, Jeremy (May 11, 2024). "Bad Dude Tito Wins MLW National Openweight Title At MLW Azteca Lucha". Retrieved May 12, 2024.
External links
MLW National Openweight Title History at Cagematch.net