Opera Cup (2023)

{{Infobox sport event

|name = Opera Cup (2023)

|image = Harry Smith at Stampede cropped.jpg

|event = Opera Cup (2023)

|alt =

|size =

|caption = The 2023 winner Davey Boy Smith Jr.

|date_start = War Chamber (2023)

|date_end = Battle Riot V

|competitors = {{smalldiv|

}}

|venue = Semifinals:
Melrose Ballroom (April 6)
Finals:
2300 Arena (April 8)

|location = Semifinals:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (April 6)
Finals:
Queens, New York (April 8)

|champion = Davey Boy Smith Jr.

|previous = 2021

|next = 2024

}}

Opera Cup (2023) was the fourth Opera Cup professional wrestling tournament produced by Major League Wrestling (MLW). The first two rounds were held at War Chamber on April 6, 2023, while the finals took place at Battle Riot V on {{End date|2023|4|8}}.{{cite web |author1=Colin McGuire |title=4/8 MLW Battle Riot VI spoilers: McGuire's in-person report on the taping for upcoming shows (spoilers) |url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/04/09/4-8-mlw-battle-riot-vi-spoilers-mcguires-in-person-report-on-the-taping-for-upcoming-shows-spoilers/ |website=Pro Wrestling Dot Net |access-date=28 September 2023 |date=April 9, 2023}} These matches aired on later episodes of Fusion.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. won the tournament for the second time by defeating Tracy Williams in the final, thus becoming the first two-time winner of the Opera Cup tournament, having won the inaugural tournament in 2019.{{cite web |title=Davey Boy Smith Jr. wins the Opera Cup for the second time |url=https://www.cagesideseats.com/2023/8/17/23836661/davey-boy-smith-jr-wins-the-opera-cup-for-the-second-time |website=Cageside Seats |access-date=28 September 2023 |date=August 17, 2023}}

Production

=Background=

The Opera House Cup was annually held as a professional wrestling tournament for nearly fifty years in various cities in the United States until its discontinuation in 1948. Stu Hart won the final tournament and kept the possession of the Opera Cup trophy since then. On July 21, 2019, Major League Wrestling announced that it would be holding an event on December 5 at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York City, New York which would be a set of television tapings of MLW's television program Fusion.{{cite web|url=https://mlw.com/2019/07/21/mlw-sets-return-to-nyc-later-this-year/|title=MLW SETS RETURN TO NYC LATER THIS YEAR|publisher=Major League Wrestling|date=July 21, 2019}} On July 24, it was reported that Stu Hart's grandson and MLW wrestler Teddy Hart would be donating an inherited "family heirloom" to MLW.{{cite web|url=https://mlw.com/2019/07/24/teddy-hart-donates-family-heirloom-to-mlw/|date=July 24, 2019|title=TEDDY HART DONATES FAMILY HEIRLOOM TO MLW|publisher=Major League Wrestling}} On July 30, MLW.com announced that the family heirloom was Stu Hart's Opera Cup trophy and MLW would be bringing back the Opera Cup tournament on the December 5 supercard, naming it Opera Cup.{{cite web|url=https://mlw.com/2019/07/30/nyc-to-host-first-opera-cup-in-over-70-years/|title=NYC TO HOST FIRST OPERA CUP IN OVER 70 YEARS|date=July 30, 2019|publisher=Major League Wrestling}}

On March 22, 2023, it was announced on MLW's official website that the fourth edition of the Opera Cup tournament would occur as a four-man tournament, with the first round matches taking place at War Chamber on April 6.{{cite web |title=Opera Cup kicks off in NYC April 6 |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/23/opera-cup-kicks-off-in-nyc-april-6/ |website=Major League Wrestling |access-date=28 September 2023 |date=March 23, 2023}}

=Storylines=

The tournament consists of matches that result from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches, with results predetermined by MLW's writers. Storylines were played out on MLW's television programs Fusion and Underground Wrestling, social media channels, MLW's social media channel and MLW's YouTube channel.{{cite web|title=How Pro Wrestling Works|url=http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm|last=Grabianowski|first=Ed|work=HowStuffWorks|date=13 January 2006 |publisher=Discovery Communications|accessdate=March 5, 2012|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129050844/http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm|archivedate=November 29, 2013}}

On March 16, MLW announced that a match would take place between Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Calvin Tankman during the War Chamber television tapings on April 6.{{cite web |title=Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs Tankman signed for NYC |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/16/davey-boy-smith-jr-vs-tankman-signed-for-nyc/ |website=Major League Wrestling |access-date=28 September 2023 |date=March 16, 2023}} Following the announcement of the Opera Cup tournament, it was made a tournament match for the first round of Opera Cup.{{cite web |title=DBS vs Tankman now Opera Cup stage 1 bout |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/25/dbs-vs-tankman-now-opera-cup-stage-1-bout/ |website=Major League Wrestling |access-date=28 September 2023 |date=March 25, 2023}} On March 24, Tony Deppen and Tracy Williams were announced to compete in the other Opera Cup first round match at War Chamber.{{cite web |title=Tracy Williams vs Tony Deppen NYC April 6 |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/24/tracy-williams-vs-tony-deppen-nyc-april-6/ |website=Major League Wrestling |access-date=28 September 2023 |date=March 24, 2023}}

Results

{{Professional wrestling results table

|caption = Semi-final (April 6)

|results={{cite web |author1=Ian Carey |title=MLW War Chamber spoilers: New champions crowned |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/mlw/mlw-war-chamber-spoilers-new-champions-crowned |website=WON / F4W |access-date=28 September 2023 |date=April 7, 2023}}

|match1=Davey Boy Smith Jr. defeated Calvin Tankman

|stip1=Singles match
(Fusion – July 20)

|time1=10:29

|match2=Tracy Williams defeated Tony Deppen

|stip2=Singles match
(Fusion – July 27)

|time2=11:42

}}

{{Professional wrestling results table

|caption = Final (April 8)

|results={{cite web |author1=Josh Nason |title=MLW Battle Riot V spoilers: New title contender, Opera Cup final |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/mlw-battle-riot-v-spoilers-new-title-contender-opera-cup-final |website=WON / F4W |access-date=28 September 2023 |date=April 9, 2023}}

|match1=Davey Boy Smith Jr. defeated Tracy Williams

|stip1=Singles match
(Fusion – August 17)

|time1=9:45

}}