Major League Wrestling (MLW) is reportedly in discussions to sign high-profile professional wrestlers, including former WWE star Aleister Black and independent circuit standout Tessa Blanchard. Austin Aries, the current MLW World Openweight Champion, commented on the significance of these rumored acquisitions for the promotion's evolving standing in the industry.
MLW founder Court Bauer confirmed earlier this month that the company was exploring the possibility of bringing in Blanchard, who has competed in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). Separately, Fightful Select reported that MLW and Black, a former WWE performer, had "preliminary contact," though Black remains a free agent.
Aries stated that MLW's current roster is competitive with any promotion. "I would put it up there against anyone's, any company," he told OutKick. "If you like big men, we've got big men. If you like Lucha Libre and more of a cruiserweight style, we've got that. If you like technical wrestling and pro wrestling, we got that. We've got talented women. We've got a tag division. We've got Contra, which brings a whole different flavor to the show. We’ve got something for everybody."
He believes the interest from top talent indicates MLW's current trajectory. "I think it just goes to show where MLW is positioned right now. I think the business is as strong as it's ever been. I think the roster is as strong as it's ever been," Aries said. "Our distribution right now, every Saturday night you can watch us on a number of platforms, whether it's on our YouTube, whether it's on Veeps, beIN Sports. Now on Mondays, we're on New Japan World. So, we're accessible."
Aries also highlighted MLW's family-friendly approach and affordability for live events. "We’re also family friendly. If you want to bring a family of four to our live events, you're not going to have to remortgage your house to get there," he noted. "So, I think right now MLW is doing a lot of the right things and I think with that, you see talent is drawn to that and willing to have the conversations about coming in and doing something."
MLW airs its flagship show, "Fusion," on Saturday nights across multiple platforms, including its YouTube channel, Veeps, and beIN Sports. The promotion also airs on New Japan World on Mondays.
Aries recently defended his MLW World Openweight Championship in a three-way match against Místico and Averno.