MLW Azteca
{{Infobox wrestling PPV series
|name = MLW Azteca
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|alt =
|promotions = Major League Wrestling
|firstevent = MLW Azteca/The Crash show
|lastevent = MLW Azteca Underground
|featuredmatches =
}}
MLW Azteca is a professional wrestling supercard event produced by Major League Wrestling (MLW). Its concept is based on story elements from the defunct Lucha Libre promotion and television drama, Lucha Underground, and has been described as a spiritual successor to the latter.{{Cite web|url=https://solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com/new/99163-richard-holliday-king-muertes-mlw-battle-riot-iii|title=MLW confirma su primer combate para Battle Riot III|date=18 June 2021}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2021/05/13/court-bauer-mlw-azteca-underground|title=MLW: Court Bauer on Azteca Underground and the company's future|date=May 13, 2021|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}
History
Since October 2020, MLW had been incorporating story elements from Lucha Underground into its programming. Talent formerly associated with Lucha Underground were brought into MLW as part of the "Azteca Underground" stable.{{Cite web|url=https://solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com/new/99163-richard-holliday-king-muertes-mlw-battle-riot-iii|title=MLW confirma su primer combate para Battle Riot III|date=18 June 2021}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2021/05/13/court-bauer-mlw-azteca-underground|title=MLW: Court Bauer on Azteca Underground and the company's future|date=May 13, 2021|magazine=Sports Illustrated}} The stable would later become the central focus of the MLW Fusion: Alpha mini-series, which premiered on September 22, 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/mlw-results/mlw-battle-riot-iii-results-new-world-title-challenger-crowned-347891 |title=MLW Battle Riot III results: A new World title challenger is crowned |last=Oliver |first=Iain |date=July 24, 2021 |work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}}{{Cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/07/24/mlw-battle-riot-results-powells-review-of-the-battle-riot-iii-match-for-a-shot-at-the-mlw-heavyweight-championship-new-mlw-series-fusion-returning-to-a-new-home-in-the-fall/|title=MLW Battle Riot Results: Powell's review of the Battle Riot III match for a shot at the MLW Heavyweight Championship, new MLW series, Fusion returning to a new home in the fall|date=2021-07-24|website=Pro Wrestling Dot Com}}[https://mlw.com/2021/07/27/mini-series-fusion-alpha-announced/ Mini-series Fusion: ALPHA announced MLW.com]
On November 8, 2021, MLW announced that it would be holding its second co-promoted event with The Crash, and the first Azteca-branded event, at the Auditorio Fausto Gutierrez Moreno in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico on December 3.{{cite web|url=https://mlw.com/2021/11/08/mlw-azteca-the-crash-super-card-announced/|title=MLW AZTECA • THE CRASH Super Card Announced|work=Major League Wrestling|date=November 8, 2021|accessdate=December 1, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/mlw-news/mlw-crash-lucha-libre-announce-co-promoted-december-tapings-358831|title=MLW, Crash Lucha Libre announce co-promoted December tapings|date=November 8, 2021|publisher=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|access-date=2021-11-09}} The event was taped for the MLW Azteca mini-series, which aired from January 6, to February 3, 2022 on MLW's YouTube channel.{{cite web |url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/12/mlw-azteca-premiere-date-and-details-revealed/|title=MLW Azteca Premiere Date And Details Revealed
|date=December 7, 2021|publisher=Wrestling Inc}}[https://mlw.com/2021/12/07/mlw-azteca-anthology-mini-series-coming/ MLW AZTECA anthology mini series coming]
The second Azteca event, entitled MLW Azteca Underground, was held on April 1, 2022 at Gilley's Dallas in Dallas, Texas.{{cite web |author1=Robert DeFelice |title=MLW Brings Azteca Underground To Dallas During WrestleMania Weekend |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/mlw-brings-azteca-underground-dallas-during-wrestlemania-weekend |website=Fightful |access-date=February 5, 2022 |date=February 4, 2022}} It served as a television taping for MLW Fusion, with several matches airing as part of its special Rise of the Renegades episode.
On December 12, 2023, MLW announced that it would be holding a third event, MLW Azteca Lucha, on May 11, 2024, at the Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois.{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1428647-mlw-returns-to-chicago-for-first-time-since-2019-for-azteca-lucha|title=MLW Returns To Chicago For First Time Since 2019 For Azteca Lucha|last=Pritchard|first=Bill|publisher=WrestleZone|date=December 12, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/mlw-returning-chicago-azteca-lucha-event-may-11-2024|title=MLW Returning To Chicago With AZTECA LUCHA Event On May 11, 2024|last=Tessier|first=Colin|publisher=Fightful|date=December 12, 2023}} The event will stream live on Triller TV, as part of an overall deal with MLW to air live monthly events for TrillerTV+ subscribers.{{cite web|title=MLW Never Say Never To Air Live On FITE TV On July 8|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/mlw-never-say-never-air-live-fite-tv-july-8|website=Fightful|date=May 2, 2023|access-date=May 23, 2023}} Additional matches were taped for Fury Road, which aired as a television special on Bein Sports USA and on MLW's YouTube channel as part of the promotion's expanded event schedule.{{cite web|title=MLW Expands Schedule, Adding One Free Signature Event A Month|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/mlw-expands-schedule-adding-one-free-signature-event-month|website=Fightful|date=February 27, 2024|access-date=March 6, 2024}}
Dates and venues
| class="wikitable" style="margin: 0 auto"
|style="background:#FBB; width:2em"| |Aired Live |
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!# !Event !Date !City !Venue !Main event | |||||
| 1 | MLW Azteca/The Crash show | December 3, 2021 | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | Auditorio Fausto Gutierrez Moreno | Pagano and Alexander Hammerstone vs. King Muertes and Taurus in a Apocalypto tag team match |
| 2 | MLW Azteca Underground | April 1, 2022 | Dallas, Texas | |Gilley's Dallas | Jacob Fatu vs. Bestia 666 in a Azteca Apocalypto match{{cite web |title=Fatu vs. LA Park Apocalypto Match signed for April 1 in Dallas |url=https://mlw.com/2022/03/09/fatu-vs-la-park-apocalypto-match-signed-for-april-1-in-dallas/ |website=Major League Wrestling |access-date=March 9, 2022 |date=March 9, 2022}} |
| style="background: #FBB;"
|3 | MLW Azteca Lucha | May 11, 2024 | rowspan=2|Cicero, Illinois | rowspan=2|Cicero Stadium | Místico (c) vs. Bárbaro Cavernario for the MLW World Middleweight Championship |
| style="background: #FBB;"
|4 | Azteca Lucha (2025) | May 10, 2025 | Mistico vs Templario vs Ikuro Kwon in a Triple Threat match |