Pro wrestling star Alex Hammerstone focuses on winning MLW's Battle Riot as he fights through scrutiny

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Alex Hammerstone will try to accomplish a feat in Major League Wrestling (MLW) only one other person has ever done in the history of the promotion – win the Battle Riot match twice.

Hammerstone won the 41-man event in 2021. It was the third iteration of the match in the company’s history. He entered the ring as the 35th competitor and came out on top. Later that year, he defeated Jacob Fatu for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship.

MLW announced Hammerstone as the first participant for Battle Riot VIII, which will take place on Jan. 29 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida.

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Alex Hammerstone returned to Major League Wrestling in April 2025 at Battle Riot VII. (MLW)

"The goal is to win," he told Fox News Digital in an interview on Monday. "I won it once before and that was the match that ultimately led to me becoming MLW world champion. Obviously, that was a huge highlight of my career, and coming back to the company, I don’t want to come back and just hang out in the middle of the pack. I want to raise back up to the top and if the Battle Riot is the vehicle to get me there, then all expectations are winning."

Hammerstone made a surprise return to MLW at this year’s Battle Riot back in April after being with TNA Wrestling for a few years.

He called the crowd reaction to his return "very gratifying."

"In wrestling, there’s always a feeling of, ‘What have you done for me lately?’ and ‘You’re only as good as your last match.’ Especially after having such a period of time where I was faced with so many struggles whether it was injuries and surgeries and being out and feeling,