Lance Anoa’i Discusses Departure from MLW – In a recent development, Lance Anoa’i has opened up about his departure from MLW (Major League Wrestling). On October 29, Lance confirmed that MLW had granted his release.
His association with MLW dates back to 2019, and in 2022, he joined forces with Juicy Finau to form The Samoan Swat Team alongside Jacob Fatu. Together with Juicy, Lance had previously secured the MLW World Tag Team Championship. However, despite this accomplishment, they had not competed for the company since MLW Never Say Never in July.
Speaking with Steve Fall for WrestlingNewsCo, Lance Anoa’i was asked to describe his experience with MLW.
“My experience with MLW was awesome. I always did one-offs since 2018. I was never under a contract, but I’d been with them on and off since 2018. My first match with them was against MJF in Orlando, Florida. Then I wrestled Rich Swann, [and] I wrestled Myron Reed. I enjoyed all the opportunities they gave. I have been the only MLW superstar to compete in every single Battle Riot. I held the MLW Tag Team Championships with my cousin Juicy Finau. Jacob was also there. Just being in the building with them, in the same company, it just livened it up. We brought the party to MLW. I loved every opportunity they gave me,” Anoa’i said.
Lance Anoa’i was then asked to explain why he asked for his MLW release.
“So the release was asked for because I was traveling, I was in Japan. I told them when I was getting back from Japan. They had no dates for me, they had nothing for me. Nothing was planned. I knew once I dropped the tag straps, I wasn’t sure what was gonna happen. But since they didn’t give me no dates or anything, no vision, because at first, when we signed, the vision was The Samoans versus The Von Erichs, The Samoans versus 5150, the SATs. It was a big tag division, and then slowly it started chopping down. It was The Samoans versus FBI, who was a great tag team also. We still wrestled great tag teams. But they pitched a good selling looks to us when we were there, and then slowly everything just started dying off, and then we started dying off, and I said, ‘Hey, man, right now, I’m in Japan, but I don’t want my value to go down. I’m enjoying it, travel back and forth, I don’t want no conflicts with Japan and MLW.’ They granted me as many tours as I want with Japan, and they granted that for me. But just more of the freedom. Maybe a possibility, man. We just be able to throw it up [makes Bloodline sign]. But who knows? [laughs] I just wanted that freedom, mainly for right now. Especially with my family being at the top of the best company there is. I missed a few opportunities being with MLW on A&E, I missed possibility of being on the Tribal Court they were doing, with bringing in the family. I missed that opportunity. Now, I can do it all. I can be at extra work, I can be at tryouts. Nothing’s stopping me now, so I’m just ready to go.”
Anoa’i was asked whether fans will see more additions to The Bloodline. He noted that WWE wanted him, Jacob Fatu, and other members of the family for the Tribal Court segment, but they were unable to do it due to their MLW contracts.
“So the tribal court, they wanted a lot of us. They asked for my grandfather, my dad, my uncles, me, Jacob, they wanted us all. Unfortunately, due to our contracts and everything, we weren’t able to. But that’s okay. We weren’t able to, and we just carried on. Now, we just don’t know. Time will tell. IMPACT looks very strong right now, or January, they become TNA again. AEW looks awesome. You just never know. That’s the life of the freedom.”
Anoa’i was then asked whether there were other opportunities with WWE while he was in MLW. Fall noted that it would seem like MLW would want their stars on WWE programming to get more exposure. Anoa’i responded by saying that he pitched that,but MLW shot them down.
“Very true, and we pitched that point, and we got shut down. We don’t know why. It is what it is. But we just ran with it. They even did the A&E special, filming my whole family at our family reunions, and we weren’t allowed to be in any of it. So there was just a few missed opportunities, and hopefully, it just comes right back around, and everybody will be able to see how big our family is still growing. I’m not the only one left. There’s still a lot of guys. Jacob Fatu is my cousin. His brother, Journey. Solo’s already in there. Zilla Fatu, who’s Umaga’s son. We’re all going. We’re all young and hungry and ready to achieve and follow our family’s footsteps and just keep the Bloodline going,” Anoa’i said.
Lance Anoa’i Discusses Departure from MLW
