Court Bauer Gives Update On MLW’s Return, Working Relationship With NJPW
Major League Wrestling CEO Court Bauer recently spoke to Sports Illustrated about its new deal with streaming site DAZN, Tom Lawlor working New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and when the promotion will return to putting on shows.
Check out highlights below:
On when MLW will return:
I will wait until we are sure it’s safe to return. We’re doing that for our fans, our athletes, and our crew, and all of their families. We do not want to put anyone at harm. We’ll see what the NBA looks like once they go live with their season, and we’re seeing what is happening with WWE. This [battle with COVID] is far from the rearview mirror. Our decision to proceed will be dictated by science and experts in the medical world. Until we know it’s safe, we’re going to be as judicious as possible.
Why DAZN was the right partner for them:
MLW has always been positioned as a combat sport, so it is a perfect fit for DAZN. They have over eight million subscribers globally. That’s a partner that fits us like a glove.
If MLW has a working relationship with NJPW:
All I can say is that the arrangement was worked out office-to-office as opposed to independently. I’m a big fan of what New Japan is doing, and we’ll see where this relationship can take us.
Tom had a talk with New Japan and they explained the process of sterilizing the rings and testing, and I left it up to Tom whether he wanted to pursue this. There was no pressure, and we let him know that. A lot of our talent have been performing elsewhere during this pandemic. I always caution them to take all the safety measures possible for themselves and their families.
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