Alex Kane has won the 2023 Battle Riot.
On the April 25 episode of MLW Underground, Major League Wrestling aired Battle Riot V, which was taped on April 8 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 40-man Battle Riot match is similar to a battle royal, as competitors can be eliminated via pinfall, submission, or by going over the top rope. The winner of the bout earns a future match for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship, and they can cash it in at the time of their choosing.
Alex Kane entered the match first, and he ultimately went the distance; the former MLW National Openweight Championship won the match by last eliminating Davey Boy Smith Jr. via submission. The final four competitors were Kane, Smith Jr., John Hennigan, and Shigehiro Irie. Smith Jr. and Kane were then the final two. With the win, Kane broke the record for the longest time spent in a Battle Riot. He also made history by emerging victorious after entering the match first.
He caught him!! @Alex_kane11 is YOUR 2023 Battle Riot winner!!!#BattleRiotV @ReelzChannel #MLWUnderground @betonline_ag pic.twitter.com/yrR4pENhmW
— WAR CHAMBER on REELZ TUESDAY (@MLW) April 26, 2023
The past winners of the MLW Battle Riot are Tom Lawlor, LA Park, Alex Hammerstone, and Jacob Fatu. Lawlor and Hammerstone successfully cashed in their title shots, but Park and Fatu lost their matches. Hammerstone is the reigning MLW World Heavyweight Champion; he beat Fatu to win the gold at MLW Fightland 2021.
Kane commented on the victory and called Hammerstone a placeholder.
I am the face of @MLW. Hammerstone is just a placeholder always has been. https://t.co/CXrpmA3LRw
— ALEX KANE on REELZ TV -- (@Alex_kane11) April 26, 2023
As of this writing, it's unclear when Kane will use his title shot. Fightful will provide more information as it becomes available.
Check out our coverage of the April 25 episode of MLW Underground here.
Catch up on past MLW results and other events using Fightful's results section.
