Background
Battle Riot is an annual event produced by Major League Wrestling that was first held in 2018 as a television taping for MLW Fusion . The event is named after the Battle Riot match, a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner. The match begins with two participants in the ring, who are then eliminated by either pin, submission, or going over the top rope and having both feet touch the venue floor. The declared winner of the Battle Riot match receives a "golden ticket", which they can redeem for a future MLW World Heavyweight Championship title shot anytime and anywhere; however, this year, the World Heavyweight Championship will be on the line in this Battle Riot.
On November 13, 2025, MLW announced that Battle Riot VIII would take place on January 29, 2026, at the Osceola Heritage Park Events Center in Kissimmee, Florida. [1] On January 26, MLW announced that the event will air on tape delay on February 5. [2]
Storylines
The card consisted of matches that result from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches, with results predetermined by MLW's writers. Storylines were played out at MLW events, and across the league's social media platforms. [3]
Following an overwhelming response from fans online, MLW announced on January 19 that current MLW World Heavyweight Champion Mads Krule Krügger would defend his title in the Battle Riot match. This marks only the second consecutive time that the title would be on the line in the match. [4]
