Kings of Colosseum (2022)

The first Kings of Colosseum event was held on July 6, 2019, and aired live as a special episode of MLW's weekly television series, Fusion.[1][2][3] On January 31, 2022, MLW announced that the third Kings of Colosseum would take place on May 13 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[4]

The card will consist of matches that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed 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.[5]

As part of MLW's "Open Door" Policy, the promotion will announce several free agents for Kings of Colosseum, including the MLW returns of former MLW World Middleweight Champion Lio Rush[6] and Taya Valkyrie.[7] Debuts include former WWE wrestler Lince Dorado.[8] Additionally, May 13 marks the 20th anniversary of MLW's first event, Genesis, and to commemorate, former MLW alumni will make appearences at Kings of Colosseum.[9] This includes Los Maximos (Joel, Jose, and Wil Maximo)[10] and ECW alum The Sandman.[11]

After Alexander Hammerstone retained the MLW World Heavyweight Championship against Pagano in a falls count anywhere match on the February 10, 2022 Fusion season premiere, he would be joined by his Dynasty stablemate Richard Holliday, and MLW interviewer Alicia Atout. As Atout would try and conduct an interview with Hammerstone, she suddenly gave Hammerstone a low blow before Holliday attacked him as well. Atout would then give the championship to Holliday before the two kissed, with the two officially turning heel, and the latter disbanding The Dynasty in the process.[12] On the following episode, Holiday explained he was only pretending to be Hammerstone's friend.[13] It was further revealed at the end of the February 24 episode of Fusion that Holiday had been working with MLW matchmaker/Azteca Underground owner Cesar Duran to defeat Contra Unit (including joining "The Hammerheads" team against Contra at the 2021 War Chamber match) in order to help the latter gain more power in MLW in exchange for a world title shot. In an attempt to get his title match, Holliday & Atout put a bounty on 2021 Opera Cup winner Davey Richards - who earned a title match against Hammerstone at SuperFight - on the March 4 episode of Fusion, after Duran informed Holiday that there is a provision if Richards were to be injured.[14] There, Hammerstone helped Richards fend off Homicide, The Saito Brothers (representing All Japan Pro Wrestling), and King Muertes[15] before the former successfully retained the title against the latter on the March 10 Fusion SuperFight special. After the match, however, Holliday attacked Hammerstone and left him bloodied.[16] Duran threatened to strip Hammerstone of the World Heavyweight Championship, as he had not been heard from since the attack, but Hammerstone would return to attack Holliday on the March 24 episode of Fusion.[17][18] At Azteca Underground, Holliday, Muertes & Mads Krügger defeated Hammerstone & The Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich) in a Trios Match.[19] On April 6, it was announced that the former teammates would finally have a one-on-one match, when Hammerstone defends the World Heavyweight Championship against Holliday at Kings of Colosseum.[20]

Former Contra Unit teammates Jacob Fatu and Mads Krügger became embroiled in a heated feud after the dissolution of the group at War Chamber[21] The two would eventually face off in a Grudge Match on the February 24, 2022 episode of Fusion, where Fatu was victorious.[22] However, Fatu and Krügger would have another match, this time a Stairway to Hell Match on March 24. There, Krügger picked up the win.[23] Onn April 13, MLW.com announced that Fatu and Krügger will finish their rivalry at Kings of Colosseum in a Weapons of Mass Destruction Match, where weapons will be hidden inside military crates, which the two are free to break open and use whatever weapons are inside.[24]

At Blood & Thunder, The Von Erichs were scheduled to challenge MLW World Tag Team Champions 5150 (Danny Rivera & Slice Boogie), but a positive test for COVID-19 forced the Von Erichs to back out.[25][26] As a storyline excuse, 5150 attacked The Von Erichs with steel chairs backstage.[16] 5150 would later defeat replacements Los Parks (El Hijo de L.A. Park & L.A. Park Jr.) in a ladder match at the event to retain.[27] 5150 would go on to lose the tag team titles on the April 1 episode of Fusion to the team of EJ Nduka & Calvin Tankman, collectively known as Hustle and Power.[28] Two weeks later, while Rivera was insulting the city of Dallas, he was confronted by The Von Erichs, only for the latter to be attacked by original LAX member Hernandez.[29] The two teams would face off in a Bunkhouse Brawl, with The Von Erichs coming out on top. On April 28, MLW announced a three-way tag team match for the MLW World Tag Team Championship, with Hustle and Power defending against The Von Erichs and the team of Rivera & Hernandez at Kings of Colosseum.[30]

On March 5, MLW announced on their website the official creation of the MLW Women's Featherweight Championship,[31] with the inaugural champion to be crowned at a later date.[32] On April 21, MLW announced that the championship will be decided at Kings of Colosseum, when dominant force Holidead faces the returning Taya Valkyrie.[33]