AKIRA Wants To Fight Everyone In MLW, Aims To Prove That Deathmatch Wrestlers Are Different Now
AKIRA wants to fight everyone.
AKIRA wants to fight everyone.
AKIRA has become one of the most renowned stars on the independent scene in recent years, particularly in the deathmatch scene. He has wrestled for GCW, Beyond, ICW, C4, and many other promotions. In January, AKIRA signed with Major League Wrestling and made his MLW debut at Blood & Thunder 2023, where he faced Mike Law. Moving forward, he has his sights set on fighting everyone and everyone.
Speaking with PWMania.com, AKIRA discussed signing with MLW and expressed his interest in facing any number of the members of the roster. He named Davey Richards, Jacob Fatu, and current MLW World Heavyweight Champion as a few examples. AKIRA also noted that the company has a diverse roster that features a range of talent.
“Who do I want to fight? The answer is everyone. Sorry for everyone else. I plan to kick you in the head. I plan to break your arm. I plan to put you through barbed wire. That’s just the game. Oh, definitely. I would definitely headbutt Jacob Fatu. I would. Listen, I took a headbutt from one of the craziest dudes on the Indies, Joker. The other wrestlers that were there that night said that somehow that was the worst part of that whole show. They’re like that was the nastiest thing. Hearing that thud and you just laughed in his face. So yes, Jacob Fatu, I want to headbutt you. I want to drive my skull into yours. Then I want you to drive your skull into mine. But once again, you just listed like the craziest roster to me. I mean, you got Davey Richards, Hammerstone, the Billingtons, Davey Boy, Alex Kane, very wide and diverse roster which I pride myself in because I’m [part of ] a very wide and diverse styled wrestler,” AKIRA said.
AKIRA continued by making it clear that, while he might be viewed as a “deathmatch guy”, he can still get the job done as a traditional grappler. He made it clear that he’s happy to compete under any set of rules, as he’s determined to prove that modern deathmatch wrestlers are in a different league now, and they’re not limited by the match type.
“Despite what people might think of death matches when you watch my death match work, and you watch my regular work, people tend to realize ‘Oh, this guy is a traditional grappler this guy will throw you under and then this guy will punch you in the face.’ The answer is yes to all that. I would gladly punch him sir, I would gladly take on any of these guys in any rule set because I know that not only can I hang, I can supersede, I can overcome that. Which is part of my whole mission statement, which is to prove that death match fighters, death match wrestlers aren’t the same as they were 20 years ago. We’re in a different league now,” he said.
When asked whether there’s one competitor he particularly wants to face or if he’s “all in”, AKIRA made it clear that every potential opponent has something interesting about them, so they’re all appealing options. He again highlighted Davey Richards, and he also named Alex Kane. He emphasized that he will gladly fight anyone on the roster.
“I’m all in and they all have something interesting about them. That makes me want to fight them. I mean, Davey Richards, it’s Davey Richards, who doesn’t want to fight Davey Richards who doesn’t want to test himself against the American Wolf? You know? Alex Kane and I could go and have a pure rules match. Guido’s on there. It can happen there. I would love to fight anybody on that roster and in the rule set that they feel they’re comfortable with. And if they dare to step into what I’m comfortable with, which is everything, good luck,” AKIRA said.
MLW posted a letter to the fans ahead of the premiere of MLW Underground. More information is available here.
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Fightful interviewed MLW star Taya Valkyrie, and you can check it out here.
Fightful will have coverage of MLW Underground as it airs at 10 p.m. ET on REELZ.
