MLW Never Say Never (2019)

{{short description|2019 Major League Wrestling professional wrestling event}}{{Infobox Wrestling event

|name=Never Say Never (2019)

|image=

|tagline=

|promotion=Major League Wrestling

|date=July 25, 2019

|date_aired=

|venue=Melrose Ballroom

|city=New York, New York

|attendance=

|liveevent=y

|lastevent=Kings of Colosseum

|nextevent=War Chamber

|event=Never Say Never

|lastevent2=2018

|nextevent2=2021

}}

Never Say Never (2019) was a professional wrestling event produced by Major League Wrestling (MLW), which took place on July 25, 2019, at the Melrose Ballroom in New York City, New York. The event was a television taping for future episodes of Fusion on beIN Sports. It was the third event in the Never Say Never chronology.

Fourteen professional wrestling matches were taped at the event with most of the matches airing on future episodes of Fusion. In the main event, Jacob Fatu successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Tom Lawlor. In other prominent matches on the card, L.A. Park defeated Jimmy Havoc in a New York City Street Fight, Teddy Hart retained the World Middleweight Championship against MJF and Alexander Hammerstone retained the National Openweight Championship against the debuting Savio Vega. The event also featured the MLW debut of Spirit Squad (Kenny and Mikey) as they competed against The Von Erichs (Marshall and Ross) in a losing effort.

Production

=Background=

In July 2017, Major League Wrestling resumed promoting events for the first time since the promotion's original closure in 2004. The success of these events lead MLW to secure a television deal with beIN Sports for a new program, MLW Fusion, which debuted on April 20, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://mlw.com/upcoming-events/|title=EVENTS|date=17 April 2017|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=https://mlw.com/2018/04/18/how-to-watch-mlw-fusion-on-bein-sports-starting-this-friday/|title=How to watch MLW Fusion on beIN SPORTS starting this Friday|date=18 April 2018|publisher=}}

On April 9, 2019, it was announced on MLW's website that the third edition of Never Say Never would take place on July 25 at the Melrose Ballroom in New York City.{{cite web |title=MLW returns to NYC this July; Tickets on sale this Monday |url=https://mlw.com/2019/04/09/mlw-returns-to-nyc-this-july-tickets-on-sale-this-monday/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=13 July 2021 |date=April 9, 2019}}{{cite web |title=July 25: Never Say Never |date=12 April 2019 |url=https://mlw.com/july-25-never-say-never/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=13 July 2021}}

=Storylines=

On March 26, it was announced that LA Park would take on Jimmy Havoc in a New York City Street Fight at Battle Riot II.{{cite web |title=Dream Match signed: LA Park vs. Jimmy Havoc set for April 5 |url=https://mlw.com/2019/03/26/dream-match-signed-la-park-vs-jimmy-havoc-signed-for-april-5/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=13 July 2021 |date=March 26, 2019}} However, Havoc withdrew from the match due to his injury. The match was later set for Never Say Never.{{cite web |title=DREAM MATCH SIGNED FOR NYC: LA PARK VS. JIMMY HAVOC SET FOR JULY 5 |url=https://mlw.com/2019/07/01/dream-match-signed-for-nyc-la-park-vs-jimmy-havoc-set-for-july-5/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=13 July 2021 |date=July 1, 2019}}

On June 12, it was announced that Austin Aries would be returning to MLW at Never Say Never.{{cite web |title=Austin Aries signs on for July 25 NYC match |url=https://mlw.com/2019/06/12/austin-aries-signs-on-for-july-25-nyc-match/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=13 July 2021 |date=June 12, 2019}} It was later announced that Aries would take on Ace Austin at the event.{{cite web |title=Austin Aries wants MLW gold; battles Ace Austin in NYC middleweight showdown July 25 |url=https://mlw.com/2019/07/12/austin-aries-wants-mlw-gold-battles-ace-austin-in-nyc-middleweight-showdown-july-25/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=13 July 2021 |date=July 12, 2019}}

On June 18, it was announced that Savio Vega would make his MLW debut.{{cite web |title=Savio Vega is coming to MLW |url=https://mlw.com/2019/06/18/savio-vega-is-coming-to-mlw/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=13 July 2021 |date=June 18, 2019}} Billed as the Caribbean Heavyweight Champion, Vega was supposed to take on Alexander Hammerstone for the latter's National Openweight Championship.{{cite web |title=National Champion Alex Hammerstone battles Caribbean Champion Savio Vega July 25 in NYC |url=https://mlw.com/2019/07/17/national-champion-alex-hammerstone-battles-caribbean-champion-savio-vega-july-25-in-nyc/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=13 July 2021 |date=July 17, 2019}}

On June 21, it was announced that Timothy Thatcher would be making his MLW debut.{{cite web |title=Timothy Thatcher debuts July 25 in NYC |url=https://mlw.com/2019/06/21/timothy-thatcher-debuts-july-25-in-nyc/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=13 July 2021 |date=June 21, 2019}} It was announced on July 9 that Thatcher would be taking on Davey Boy Smith Jr. in the former's MLW debut at Never Say Never.{{cite web |title=Davey Boy Smith grapples with Timothy Thatcher July 25 in NYC |url=https://mlw.com/2019/07/09/davey-boy-smith-grapples-with-timothy-thatcher-july-25-in-nyc/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=13 July 2021 |date=July 9, 2021}}

On June 30, it was announced that Zenshi would be making his MLW debut at Never Say Never.{{cite web |title=Decorated South American luchador heading to MLW |url=https://mlw.com/2019/06/30/decorated-south-american-luchador-heading-to-mlw/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=13 July 2021 |date=June 30, 2019}}

At Kings of Colosseum, Jacob Fatu defeated Tom Lawlor to win the World Heavyweight Championship. On July 10, Lawlor invoked his rematch clause against Fatu with the rematch set for Never Say Never.{{cite web |title=Lawlor invokes rematch clause; title match set for July 25 in NYC |url=https://mlw.com/2019/07/10/lawlor-invokes-rematch-clause-title-match-set-for-july-25-in-nyc/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=13 July 2021 |date=July 10, 2019}}

On July 11, it was announced that Bestia 666 and Rey Horus would compete in a match at Never Say Never.{{cite web |title=Bestia 666 vs. Rey Horus signed for July 25 NYC return |url=https://mlw.com/2019/07/11/bestia-666-vs-rey-horus-signed-for-july-25-nyc-return/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=13 July 2021 |date=July 11, 2019}}

The ongoing rivalry between The Hart Foundation and The Dynasty continued as it was announced that Teddy Hart would defend the World Middleweight Championship against MJF and Brian Pillman Jr. would take on Richard Holliday.