War Chamber (2023)
{{short description|Major League Wrestling event}}
{{Infobox Wrestling event
|name=War Chamber (2023)
|image=File:MLW_War_Chamber_2023.webp
|caption= Promotional poster of the event
|tagline=
|promotion=Major League Wrestling
|date= April 6, 2023
|date_aired= April 18, 2023
|venue=Melrose Ballroom
|city=Queens, New York
|attendance=
|liveevent=y
|lastevent=Super Series
|nextevent=Battle Riot V
|event=War Chamber
|lastevent2=2021
|nextevent2=2024
}}
War Chamber (2023) was a professional wrestling supercard event produced by Major League Wrestling (MLW), which took place on April 6, 2023, at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York. It was the third event under the War Chamber chronology, and featured the opening of the 2023 Opera Cup.
The event was a television taping for MLW Underground Wrestling, with the main event airing as a special episode on April 18, 2023.
Production
=Background=
War Chamber is a professional wrestling supercard event produced by Major League Wrestling (MLW). The first War Chamber event was held on September 7, 2019, as replacement for MLW WarGames, which was discontinued after WWE acquired the rights to the name of the namesake WarGames match.{{cite web |author1=Mike Johnson |title=WWE ACQUIRES RIGHTS, TRADEMARK TO WARGAMES FROM MLW |url=https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=124181 |website=Pro Wrestling Insider |accessdate=3 December 2019 |date=February 15, 2019}} On December 2, 2022, MLW announced that War Chamber will take place on April 6, 2023, from the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York.{{cite web |title=NYC to host War Chamber April 6 |url=https://mlw.com/2022/12/02/nyc-to-host-war-chamber-april-6/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=December 2, 2022 |access-date=December 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2022/12/02/nyc-to-host-war-chamber-april-6/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/mlw-returning-new-york-city-april-2023-war-chamber-event|title=MLW Returning To New York City In April 2023 For War Chamber Event|last=Russell|first=Skyler|date=December 2, 2022 |access-date=December 23, 2022|publisher=Fightful|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/mlw-returning-new-york-city-april-2023-war-chamber-event|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}}
=Storylines=
The card consisted of matches that result from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built 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 main show, MLW Underground Wrestling, as well as MLW's social media platforms.{{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}}
Through MLW's "Open Door Policy" several free agents would be signed to compete at the event. Names include former Ring of Honor (ROH) star Mandy León{{cite web |title=Mandy León debuts April 6 in NYC |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/04/mandy-leon-debuts-april-6-in-nyc/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=March 5, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/03/04/mandy-leon-debuts-april-6-in-nyc/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}} and Japanese wrestler Shigehiro Irie.{{cite web |title=Kane vs. Shigehiro Irie signed for April 6 NYC |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/09/kane-vs-shigehiro-irie-signed-for-april-6-nyc/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=March 9, 2023 |access-date=March 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/03/09/kane-vs-shigehiro-irie-signed-for-april-6-nyc/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}}
==War Chamber==
For the past several weeks, various members of the MLW roster would be mysteriously assaulted in the backstage area, with the only sign of the attacker(s) being a calling card with the initials "AO." On the February 28 episode of MLW Underground Wrestling, the mysterious attackers would make their first in-person appearance, attacking Lince Dorado, Microman, and Mister Saint Laurent.{{cite web |title=Underground Recap: Hennigan Hunts Davey Richards For National Openweight Gold |url=https://mlw.com/2023/02/28/underground-recap-hennigan-hunts-davey-richards-for-national-openweight-gold/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=February 28, 2023 |access-date=March 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/02/28/underground-recap-hennigan-hunts-davey-richards-for-national-openweight-gold/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}} The following week, a video package aired revealing the identities of the attackers, who would be dubbed "The Calling:" Raven, Rickey Shane Page and Akira.{{cite web |title=Calling Card Attackers finally REVEALED |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/08/calling-cart-attackers-finally-revealed/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=March 8, 2023 |access-date=March 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/03/08/calling-cart-attackers-finally-revealed/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}} On the March 21 Underground Wrestling, after MLW World Heavyweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone successfully defended his title against Jacob Fatu, he would be ambushed by The Calling, which featured many more masked henchmen. Later that night, while the Second Gear Crew (Mance Warner, Matthew Justice, and 1 Called Manders) were having an interview on the entrance ramp, the Calling's video feed would briefly interrupt them.{{cite web |title=Underground Recap: Alex Hammerstone vs. Jacob Fatu 2, Billie Starkz Battles Taya Valkyrie |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/21/underground-recap-alex-hammerstone-vs-jacob-fatu-2-billie-starkz-battles-taya-valkyrie/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=March 21, 2023 |access-date=March 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/03/21/underground-recap-alex-hammerstone-vs-jacob-fatu-2-billie-starkz-battles-taya-valkyrie/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}} The week after that, Hammerstone would meet with the Second Gear Crew in a bar, recruiting them to help him battle the Calling (Raven, Page, Akira, and Dr. Cornwallus) in a War Chamber match.{{cite web |title=War Chamber match signed for NYC |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/28/war-chamber-match-signed-for-nyc/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=March 28, 2023 |access-date=March 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/03/28/war-chamber-match-signed-for-nyc/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}}
==Opera Cup==
{{Main|Opera Cup (2023)}}
On March 23, MLW announced on their website that the Opera Cup tournament would return, with the first round taking place at War Chamber.{{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/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=March 23, 2023 |access-date=March 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/03/23/opera-cup-kicks-off-in-nyc-april-6/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}} On March 24, MLW announced that former ROH World Television Champions Tony Deppen and Tracy Williams would face off in the first round of the tournament.{{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/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=March 24, 2023 |access-date=March 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/03/24/tracy-williams-vs-tony-deppen-nyc-april-6/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}} The next day, the previously announced match between Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Calvin Tankman was promoted to an Opera Cup first round match.{{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/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=March 25, 2023 |access-date=March 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/03/25/dbs-vs-tankman-now-opera-cup-stage-1-bout/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}}
Results
{{Professional wrestling results table
|times =
|match1 = Akira (with Raven) defeated Lince Dorado (c) and Lio Rush
|stip1 = Three-way match for the MLW World Middleweight Championship{{cite web |title=Lio Rush vs. Lince Dorado signed for NYC April 6 |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/15/lio-rush-vs-lince-dorado-signed-for-nyc-april-6/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=March 15, 2023 |access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/03/15/lio-rush-vs-lince-dorado-signed-for-nyc-april-6/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}}
|time1 = 6:11
|match2 = The Samoan SWAT Team (Lance Anoa'i and Juicy Finau) (c) (with Jacob Fatu) defeated The FBI (Little Guido and Ray Jaz) and The Mane Event (Jay Lyons and Midas Black)
|stip2 = Three-way tag team match for the MLW World Tag Team Championship{{cite web |title=SST vs FBI vs Mane Event signed for Thurs in NYC |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/31/sst-vs-fbi-vs-mane-event-signed-for-thurs-in-nyc/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=March 31, 2023 |access-date=March 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/03/31/sst-vs-fbi-vs-mane-event-signed-for-thurs-in-nyc/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}}
|time2 = 5:48
|match3 = Ken Broadway defeated TJ Crawford
|stip3 = Singles match{{cite web |title=SST vs FBI vs Mane Event signed for Thurs in NYC |url=https://mlw.com/2023/04/04/ken-broadway-vs-tj-crawford-in-nyc-this-thursday/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=April 4, 2023 |access-date=April 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/04/04/ken-broadway-vs-tj-crawford-in-nyc-this-thursday/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}}
|time3 = 6:00
|match4 = Davey Boy Smith Jr. defeated Calvin Tankman
|stip4 = 2023 Opera Cup Tournament First Round match
|time4 = 10:29
|match5 = Delmi Exo defeated Taya Valkyrie (c) (with John Hennigan)
|stip5 = Singles match for the MLW World Women's Featherweight Championship{{cite web |title=Taya Valkyrie vs. Delmi Exo signed for April 6 in NYC |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/03/taya-valkyrie-vs-delmi-exo-signed-for-april-6-in-nyc/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=March 3, 2023 |access-date=March 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/03/03/taya-valkyrie-vs-delmi-exo-signed-for-april-6-in-nyc/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}}
|time5 = 8:43
|match6 = Sam Adonis (with John Hennigan) defeated Willie Mack
|stip6 = Singles match{{cite web |title=Willie Mack vs. Sam Adonis signed for Thursday NYC return |url=https://mlw.com/2023/04/03/willie-mack-vs-sam-adonis-signed-for-thursday-nyc-return/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=April 3, 2023 |access-date=April 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/04/03/willie-mack-vs-sam-adonis-signed-for-thursday-nyc-return/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}}
|time6 = 5:38
|match7 = Billie Starkz defeated B3cca
|stip7 = Singles match{{cite web |title=Billie Starkz vs B3CCA signed for NYC April 6 |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/13/billie-starkz-vs-b3cca-signed-for-nyc-april-6/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=March 13, 2023 |access-date=March 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/03/13/billie-starkz-vs-b3cca-signed-for-nyc-april-6/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}}
|time7 = 8:38
|match8 = Jacob Fatu defeated John Hennigan (c) (with Taya Valkyrie)
|stip8 = Singles match for the MLW National Openweight Championship{{cite web |title=John Hennigan vs. Fatu title fight signed for 4/6 NYC |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/06/john-hennigan-vs-fatu-title-fight-signed-for-4-6-nyc/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=March 5, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/03/06/john-hennigan-vs-fatu-title-fight-signed-for-4-6-nyc/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}}
|time8 = 14:13
|match9 = Mandy León (with Raven) defeated Clara Carreras
|stip9 = Singles match{{cite web |title=Mandy León vs. Clara Carreras April 6 in NYC |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/20/mandy-leon-vs-clara-carreras-april-6-in-nyc/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=March 20, 2023 |access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/03/20/mandy-leon-vs-clara-carreras-april-6-in-nyc/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}}
|time9 = 4:21
|match10 = Alex Kane (with Mr. Thomas) defeated Shigehiro Irie
|stip10 = Singles match
|time10 = 7:16
|match11 = Tracy Williams defeated Tony Deppen
|stip11 = 2023 Opera Cup Tournament First Round match
|time11 = 11:42
|match12 = Microman (with Mister Saint Laurent) defeated The Beastman (with Kim Chee)
|stip12 = Singles match{{cite web |title=BEASTMAN vs. Microman in NYC April 6 |url=https://mlw.com/2023/03/28/beastman-vs-microman-in-nyc-april-6/|publisher=Major League Wrestling |date=March 28, 2023 |access-date=March 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619113915/https://mlw.com/2023/03/28/beastman-vs-microman-in-nyc-april-6/|archive-date=June 19, 2022|url-status=live}}
|time12 = 2:23
|match13 = The Calling (Rickey Shane Page, Delirious, Akira, and Dr. Cornwallus) (with Raven) defeated Alexander Hammerstone and The Second Gear Crew (Mance Warner, Matthew Justice, and 1 Called Manders)
|stip13 = War Chamber match
|time13 = 27:30
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{2023 MLW events}}
{{MLWPPV|War Chamber}}
Category:Major League Wrestling shows
Category:2023 in professional wrestling
Category:April 2023 in the United States