Major League Wrestling is in it for the long haul.
After two successful shows at Gilt Nightclub, the reborn wrestling promotion has set seven dates in Orlando in 2018 that will take it well into next fall, the Sentinel has learned exclusively.
“Tell Mayor Buddy [Dyer] that Orlando has a new pro sports franchise,” MLW CEO Court Bauer told the Sentinel. “We’ve had this in mind since our first show [in October], but if the first show was our baby, now it’s time to not just look cute – it’s time to grow up and see what this kid can do.”
The run continues with Zero Hour, set for Jan. 11 at Gilt. Tickets are on sale now for that show. The new dates, all on Thursday nights, are:
- Feb. 8
- March 8
- May 10
- July 12
- Sept. 6
- Nov. 8
Bauer said attendance rose 32 percent from MLW: One-Shot on Oct. 5 to MLW: Never Say Never on Dec. 7. The business model – which included selling One-Shot for $5 via video-on-demand a few days after the live show – has worked well, Bauer said.
MLW explores full-time return to Florida wrestling scene »
Committing to more dates in Orlando allows fans to get more invested in storylines that progress from show to show, he said.
“You can have a fun time and put on a great show that just hangs out there in the ether,” Bauer said. “We want you to love and hate our guys, though – to buy into what they’re fighting over. That’s what wrestling is, in its purest form.”
To that end, a challenge from Never Say Never has already built a main event for Zero Hour: Matt Riddle and Jeff Cobb vs. Tom Lawlor and a partner to be announced soon.
Seth Petruzelli excited for ring return »
The promotion has used a bevy of wrestlers from the Orlando area, including Seth Petruzelli, Shane Strickland and Santana Garrett, to build a sort of “home team,” and that’s no accident, Bauer said.
“It’s important to have a roster and crew that’s committed,” Bauer said. “It lets fans get behind wrestlers, get to know them, and build rivalries. For example, because of things that happened [at Never Say Never], Priscilla Kelly has issues with both Chelsea Green and Santana Garrett. Those are the kinds of rivalries we can build over time.”
MLW: Zero Hour is set for 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11, at Gilt Nightclub. For more information, visit MLW.com.
Reach Jay at jreddick@orlandosentinel.com or on Twitter @runninjay. For more wrestling news from The Suplex blog, visit orlandosentinel.com/prowrestling.