Austin Aries Targets MLW Openweight Title at 48 as He Prepares to Face 65-Year-Old Blue Panther
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 19
Austin Aries Targets MLW Openweight Title at 48 as He Prepares to Face 65-Year-Old Blue Panther
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 19
Summary
Saturday’s MLW Fusion will feature 48-year-old Austin Aries challenging 65-year-old Blue Panther for the MLW National Openweight Championship, with Aries saying he expects to leave with the belt.
Aries said the title shot is one of his biggest since returning to the ring, and framed it as proof he can still perform at a high level after nearly three years away.
Last year’s return began as a physical test after commentary work rekindled his interest; Aries said matches in the Opera Cup and against Paul London showed he still had “plenty left in the tank.”
Aries, now back full-time with MLW, said staying relatively healthy 26 years into his career convinced him to keep wrestling as long as he enjoys it and promoters keep booking him.
MLW’s broader pitch, he said, is accessibility—free viewing on YouTube and other platforms, plus tickets starting at $15—alongside a roster mixing veterans, international talent and crossover names.