Tom Lawlor Talks MLW Return, Joining WTF To Team With Davey Boy Smith Jr. Instead Of Fighting Him

Tom Lawler opens up about his return to Major League Wrestling.

In 2023, Tom Lawlor returned to MLW as a member of the World Titan Federation.  The group, which is currently looking to take over MLW, features former MLW World Heavyweight Champion Tom Lawlor as one of its cornerstones.

Speaking about his return to MLW as part of WTF in a new interview with FIghtful’s Sean Ross Sapp, Lawlor joked about the mid-90s WWE enhancement talents he patterns himself after as a nod to the aesthetic of WTF being heavily based on New Generation WWE.

“I pattern myself more after the Goon. Actually, T.L. Hopper as well, one of my favorites,” said Lawlor. “I was, if you remember correctly, actually what happened was Davey Boy Smith was set to wrestle Alex King for the MLW World Title and Davey Boy Smith, of course, already partnered up with MSL and I got a call on a two days notice. I’d spoken to MLW in months prior about coming in and coming back and working there again. I was contacted on short notice. I was happy to step in. When I look at the lay of the land, when look at the roster out there, there’s one guy out there I don’t want to get hit by again ever in my life and that’s Davey Boy Smith, Jr. So I thought, ‘Hey, I should team up with this guy.’ I’m getting the opportunity to step in for him in his place, and it’s kind of taken off since then. I’m very happy that he’s made his way back and is healthy and good to go.”

Lawlor spoke in detail about not wanting to step across the ring from Davey Boy Smith Jr. and instead choosing to align with him as a seemingly unstoppable tag team.

“Yes, yeah. I think we probably fought each other, maybe, five or six times in various battles. I’m not kidding when I say if I went up and down that roster, and there’s some hard hitters out there—Matt Riddle, no slouch; Kojima, go watch the lariat this guy throws, just melting Josh Bishop’s face off with a lariat at the last MLW show—and I’m telling you, the one guy that I don’t want to face again is Davey Boy Smith, Jr. So obviously we come from not the same, but similar backgrounds. I dare anyone to find another tag team, two other guys, that can come beat us. I don’t think it’s gonna happen,” Lawlor said.

The World Titan Federation duo of Tom Lawlor & Davey Boy Smith Jr. went on to capture gold as they won the MLW World Tag Team Championships at MLW Intimidation Games, defeating Second Gear Crew’s 1 Called Manders & Matthew Justice.

Next up for Lawlor will be MLW War Chamber in Tampa on March 29. Lawlor will be competing in the titular match and representing WTF alongside Davey Boy Smith Jr., Richard Holliday, and Josh Bishop. They will take on the team of Satoshi Kojima, Matthew Justice, 1 Called Manders, and Okumura in the double-ring, double-cage brawl.

Fans can pick up tickets for the event here. Those not in attendance can watch the event on TrillerTV+.