MLW Fusion

2018–2020

Major League Wrestling announced their partnership with beIN Sports on March 30, 2018, in which the network would air a weekly television series.^[11] Subsequently, MLW announced their television tapings would take place at Gilt Nightclub in Orlando, Florida.^[12][13][14] MLW Fusion aired on Friday nights beginning on April 20, 2018.^[15] On September 19, MLW announced a deal for the show to be streamed through FITE TV,^[16] and to air on beIN Sports in Spanish.^[17]

On November 29, MLW announced that Fusion would be broadcast live for the first time on its December 14 episode, during MLW's Zero Hour event.^[18][19][20] Since then the company continued to air periodic live specials.

In January 2019, Fusion added its first international broadcast partner, EGO TV in Israel.^[21] In February 2019, MLW announced that Fusion would be moving from Friday to Saturday nights.^[22]

After the conclusion of the MLW vs AAA Super Series on the May 9, 2020, episode, Fusion went on a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A spinoff series, titled Pulp Fusion, was uploaded weekly on MLW's YouTube channel in the interim beginning on May 29, 2020.^[23]

"The Restart", Fusion: Alpha, and Azteca (2020–2022)

On September 10, MLW announced that Fusion would move to Wednesday nights on fubo Sports Network.^[24] On October 10, they revealed Fusion would return on November 18 at 7pm EST and new episodes would also premiere on MLW's YouTube channel on the same night.^[25] With the move to YouTube and Fubo Sports, Fusion abandoned its original year-round, weekly format; a special "season finale" aired on May 5, 2021.^[26][27]

During the premiere of Battle Riot III on July 24, 2021, MLW announced a new season of Fusion to air on "a new home" in the Fall, and a new, four-part mini-series titled MLW Fusion: Alpha (stylized as MLW Fusion: ALPHA) to lead into the new season.^[28][29][30] Initially intended to air in August, Fusion: Alpha was later re-announced on September 6, 2021, as "a new season and series from MLW" to premiere on September 22 on MLW's YouTube channel, and would also air on Saturdays and Mondays on Bein Sports.^[31][32][33] Beginning October 19, 2021, Fusion: Alpha also streamed on FITE TV.^[34]

On December 7, MLW announced that the series finale of Fusion: Alpha would air on December 15, 2021,^[9][10] though the final episode would instead air on December 16.^[35] MLW also announced a new "anthology mini-series" titled MLW Azteca, which was taped during the MLW Azteca/The Crash show in December 2021. The series premiered on Thursday January 6, 2022, on MLW's YouTube channel and FITE TV, and aired for five episodes.^[9][10]

2022–2023

During the January 27, 2022, episode of MLW Azteca, MLW announced that Fusion would return for a new season on February 10.^[36][37] On the June 23 episode, they announced that the current season would end with the Kings of Colosseum special on July 14, 2022.^[38] During the finale, MLW announced that Fusion would return for a new season in the Fall.^[39]

On October 11, 2022, MLW announced a partnership with streaming platform Pro Wrestling TV (PWTV), bringing the promotion's programming library to the service beginning November 3. The new season of Fusion premiered on PWTV on November 10.^[40] On January 20, 2023, MLW announced a broadcast deal with U.S cable channel Reelz to produce a new flagship show titled MLW Underground Wrestling, which premiered on February 7 and featured matches and segments that were originally taped for Fusion.^[41] Following its premiere, BeIN Sports ceased airing Fusion, and the show's February 9, 2023, episode was postponed.^[42][43]

On the April 11 episode of Underground Wrestling, MLW announced that Fusion would return and feature the 2023 Super Series.^[44] On May 11, MLW's website revealed that the new season of Fusion would premiere on Bein Sports and Bein Sports Xtra in the U.S and Canada, on Friday, May 26.^[45] The following day, MLW announced that the season would air first on the MLW YouTube channel, beginning on Thursday, May 25.^[46][47] On May 16, 2023, they announced that Fusion would also be included with a FITE+ subscription, as part of a larger partnership between MLW and FITE announced on May 2.^[48] MLW announced on May 24, 2023, that MLW Fusion would return to BeIN Sports on June 16; airing Fridays on BeIN Sports Xtra, and Saturdays on Bein Sports in the U.S and Canada.^[1] Fusion instead returned to BeIN Sports on Saturday June 24, 2023.^[49]

Following the 2023 Fusion season finale, MLW revamped their event schedule to air two events every month; a live, premium event for Triller TV+ subscribers, and a free, taped special for Bein Sports and MLW's YouTube channel.^[50]

Filming locations

Initially, Fusion had been taped at Gilt Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. In May 2018, MLW announced they would be holding television tapings at the Melrose Ballroom in New York City, New York on July 19, marking the first time tapings were held outside the state of Florida.^[51] Subsequent tapings have been held at various venues around the United States.

From Fall 2020 until 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MLW returned to Gilt Nightclub to tape their programming behind closed doors.^[52] From July to December 2021, MLW programming was taped at the 2300 Arena from the promotion's home base in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[28]

Special episodes

Commentators

International

In addition to the U.S., MLW Fusion also airs on BeIN Sports in Canada and Puerto Rico. As of 2022, Fusion is currently carried by StarTimes and Wataaa Fight Channel outside of North America, Fight Klub Poland, and MBC in Mauritius.^[76]

On July 5, 2022, MLW announced a new broadcast deal with Ayozat TV in the United Kingdom.^[77]