Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 17

MLW Showcases 2 World Champions as Alliances With 3 Promotions Deepen Global Roster

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 17

MLW Showcases 2 World Champions as Alliances With 3 Promotions Deepen Global Roster

Q: With STARDOM's stars invading MLW, who will be the first to challenge Shotzi's 'Ballsy Badass' championship reign?

Saya Kamitani appears to be the most likely first challenger to Shotzi’s MLW Women’s World Championship reign. That reading comes from MLW’s new alliance with STARDOM and the way Kamitani has been presented in the rollout. MLW announced the arrivals of Kamitani and RINA as part of the partnership, but Kamitani has been framed more prominently: she is a former World of Stardom champion, was described as arriving to make an “immediate impact,” and has already been integrated quickly into MLW programming. The available reporting also shows that Kamitani and RINA have already crossed paths with Shotzi in a taped tag match, teaming against Shotzi and Lady Frost. That makes both women early threats in the title picture, but Kamitani’s résumé and positioning make her the stronger candidate to be the first singles challenger. At the same time, it is important to note that MLW had not formally announced a singles title match in the provided material. So the evidence points to Kamitani as the likely first challenger, rather than confirming an official championship bout. Based on the current information, Saya Kamitani is the best-supported answer.

Q: Can Shotzi leverage her MLW championship and the new STARDOM alliance to finally achieve her dream of a Japan tour?

Yes. Shotzi appears well positioned to use her MLW title reign and MLW’s new alliance with STARDOM to finally secure the Japan tour she has wanted for years. The key factor is status. Shotzi is not just another signing; she is MLW’s Women’s World Champion and has openly said she wants to prove she can be the face of a company’s women’s division. That makes her an obvious candidate to represent MLW abroad, especially in a partnership built around talent exchange and creative collaboration. The STARDOM alliance gives that ambition a realistic pathway. MLW and STARDOM have said the deal is meant to move talent between the U.S. and Japan, and it is already active: STARDOM wrestlers Saya Kamitani and RINA have debuted in MLW. That shows the relationship is not just promotional language but an operating pipeline. Shotzi has also made clear that Japan is a personal goal, not a vague possibility. She has said she was booked for a Japanese tour in 2018 but had to miss it after breaking her ankle just before departure. She reacted enthusiastically to the STARDOM deal and specifically said she hopes it leads to a STARDOM run and a chance to go to Japan representing MLW. Nothing is guaranteed until dates are announced, but the ingredients are now in place: championship credibility, company backing, and a live partnership with Japan’s top women’s promotion. That makes this the strongest opportunity of Shotzi’s career to finally make that tour happen.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 17

MLW’s current roster spotlights champions across divisions, led by Killer Kross as world heavyweight champion, Shotzi as women’s world champion, and Blue Panther as national openweight champion.
3 international alliances—with CMLL, New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Stardom—help MLW bring in talent from around the world, adding names such as Místico, Kushida, Templario and Titán.
Notable roster names also include Matt Riddle, Scarlett Bordeaux, Donovan Dijak, Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson and Satoshi Kojima, giving the promotion a mix of established U.S. and international acts.
MLW airs its weekly show, "MLW Fusion," on Saturdays on YouTube, using that platform to showcase a roster built around titleholders and cross-promotional ties.