KUSHIDA Wins World Middleweight Title at MLW Battle Riot VIII

KUSHIDA is the new MLW World Middleweight Champion, capturing the title at Thursday’s MLW Battle Riot VIII before joining CONTRA. Thursday night’s broadcast featured KUSHIDA challenging Templario for the latter’s Middleweight Championship. The match saw KUSHIDA pick up the win, pinning Templario with a leg hook brainbuster to win the title.

Following the match, Ikuro Kwon confronted KUSHIDA but then turned and attacked Templario. KUSHIDA joined in before Kwon gave him a CONTRA shirt, and he put it on to join the alliance.

The win marks KUSHIDA’s first run with the MLW World Middleweight Championship and his first title reign in MLW. He made his return to the promotion in January of last year. Templario’s title reign ends at 138 days; he won the then-vacant championship at MLW Fightland in September by defeating Kwon.

MLW is set to hold its first taping for the relaunch of MLW: Fusion on Saturday. You can see highlights from the match below.

The match was one of two shown on the Battle Riot VIII broadcast, also including the titular battle royal match.

If you're not watching MLW Battle RIOT VIII, you are missing out!@YoSoyTemplario vs. KUSHIDA

FREE ▶️ https://t.co/CpTat0A3ND pic.twitter.com/bvbRr414DR

— MLW (@MLW) February 6, 2026

https://twitter.com/MLW/status/2019580300255244384

"WHAT IS THIS???"

KUSHIDA just joined @The_IkuroKwon in CONTRA!!!

▶️ https://t.co/CpTat0A3ND pic.twitter.com/TC283vbKsB

— MLW (@MLW) February 6, 2026