MLW Open Draft
{{Infobox sports draft
| name = MLW Open Draft
| sport = Professional wrestling
| dates = May 20–July 10, 2021
| location =
| league = Major League Wrestling
| teams = 5150
American Top Team
Azteca Underground
Contra Unit
The Dynasty
Injustice
MLW
Team Filthy
}}
The MLW Open Draft was a draft used by the American professional wrestling promotion Major League Wrestling (MLW) to refresh its roster in preparation for the promotion's return to live touring following the COVID-19 pandemic. Wrestlers were selected by MLW's various stables (referred to by MLW as "fight teams") among eight rounds, beginning on May 20, 2021, and concluding on July 10, 2021.{{Efn|Although MLW claims the draft picks are conducted by the promotion's stables, the results are actually predetermined by MLW's bookers as the draft is a storyline.}}{{cite web |title=Inaugural Open Draft kicks off Thursday |url=https://mlw.com/2021/05/18/inaugural-open-draft-kicks-off-thursday/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=29 June 2021 |date=May 18, 2020}}
Background
On April 21, 2021, it was announced that MLW would hold their first event with ticketed fans since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic on July 10. This event would mark the first time that live-ticketed fans would attend an MLW event since AAA vs MLW in March 2020.{{cite web |title=🚨 MLW to return with crowds July 10 |url=https://mlw.com/2021/04/21/%F0%9F%9A%A8-mlw-to-return-with-crowds-july-10/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=29 June 2021 |date=April 21, 2021}}
As part of the preparations for the return to live touring, Alicia Atout, on the May 5, 2021 episode of Fusion, announced that an open draft would be taking place on MLW's website and official YouTube channel where various wrestlers from the MLW roster, as well as free agents from various promotions in Japan, Mexico, and the independent circuit, would be drafted by the promotion's stables in an effort to refresh the roster.{{cite web |title=Alicia Atout with BREAKING NEWS tonight on FUSION |url=https://mlw.com/2021/05/05/alicia-atout-with-breaking-news-tonight-on-fusion/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=29 June 2021 |date=May 5, 2021}}{{cite web |author1=Jeremy Thomas |title=MLW Announces Open Draft, Will Take Place Online |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/mlw-announces-open-draft-online/ |website=411Mania |access-date=29 June 2021 |date=May 5, 2021}} Later on the episode, former Lucha Underground authority figure Dario Cueto was revealed to be "El Jefe", the mysterious figure who sacrificed Salina de la Renta for not paying him for providing financial assistance to Renta's group Promociones Dorado.{{cite web |author1=Jason Powell |title=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 |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/05/05/mlw-fusion-results-powells-review-of-the-season-finale-featuring-lio-rush-vs-myron-reed-for-the-mlw-middleweight-championship-el-jefes-arrival-laredo-kid-vs-gringo-loco-richard-holliday/ |website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net |access-date=29 June 2021 |date=May 5, 2021}}{{cite web |title=🚨 Azteca Underground’s El Jefe REVEALED! |url=https://mlw.com/2021/05/06/%f0%9f%9a%a8-azteca-undergrounds-el-jefe-revealed/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=29 June 2021 |date=May 6, 2021}}{{cite web |author1=Marc Middleton |title=Salina De La Renta Confirms Her MLW Departure, Comments On Possibly Going To WWE |url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/05/salina-de-la-renta-confirms-her-mlw-departure |website=Wrestling Inc. |access-date=29 June 2021 |date=May 7, 2021}} The new ring name of Cueto would later be revealed to be "Cesar Duran", with Duran representing his own stable called Azteca Underground.{{cite web |author1=Justin Barrasso |title=MLW’s Court Bauer on Azteca Underground: ‘We’re Very Excited to Show Where This Goes Next’ |url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2021/05/13/court-bauer-mlw-azteca-underground |website=Sports Illustrated |access-date=29 June 2021 |date=May 13, 2021}} Azteca Underground, 5150, American Top Team, Contra Unit, The Dynasty, Injustice, Team Filthy, and MLW were the stables that wrestlers could possibly get drafted to. The draft began on May 20.{{cite web |title=Supershow the Game to sponsor 2021 Open Draft |url=https://mlw.com/2021/05/12/supershow-the-game-to-sponsor-2021-open-draft/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=29 June 2021 |date=May 12, 2021}}
Selections
The first round of the open draft began on May 20 with various wrestlers, including both members of the MLW roster and free agents, being drafted in the succeeding rounds. The final round concluded on July 10 at Battle Riot III.{{cite web|url=https://mlw.com/2021/07/08/open-draft-to-conclude-at-battle-riot/|title=Open Draft to conclude at Battle Riot|work=Major League Wrestling|accessdate=March 1, 2023}}
=Round 1 (May 20)=
File:Davey Richards 2013.jpg]]
=Round 2 (May 27)=
=Round 3 (June 3)=
File:Savio Vega with a Los Boricuas flag.jpg]]
=Round 4 (June 10)=
=Round 5 (June 17)=
| class="wikitable"
|+ | |
| Wrestler(s) | Fight team |
|---|---|
| TJP | MLW{{cite web |title=2021 Open Draft Round 5 Results |url=https://mlw.com/2021/06/17/2021-open-draft-round-5-results-match-announced-for-battle-riot/ |publisher=Major League Wrestling |access-date=29 June 2021 |date=June 17, 2021}} |
| Violence is Forever (Dominic Garrini and Kevin Ku) | Team Filthy |
=Round 6 (June 24)=
=Round 7 (July 1)=
=Round 8 (July 10)=
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://mlw.com Major League Wrestling official website]
{{Major League Wrestling}}