Alex Hammerstone only sees one positive about being forced into a Texas Death Match.
Hammerstone spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard ahead of MLW Fightland, where he will compete in a Texas Death Match against Matthew Justice. The former MLW World Champion compared using weapons to teenage backyard wrestlers. Despite his feelings on the stipulation, Hammerstone said it won’t save Justice, a hardcore match specialist, from getting his ass kicked.
“I think it is trash. I think death match wrestling is for losers who can’t wrestle between the ropes very well. Relying on weapons, and chairs, and tables, and ladders, and jumping off balconies — that’s what teenagers doing backyard wrestling do,” he explained. “So, being a professional who wants to wrestle in the ring, I was not very happy to see that we’re in a Texas Death Match.
“The only thing I’m happy about is that there are no rules that are going to stop me from beating Matthew Justice into a bloody pulp,” he added. “So, you know, you’ve got to take the good with the bad. It’s definitely a match that favors him. But he can have all the handicaps in the world in his corner, I’m still going to whoop his ass.”
Alex Hammerstone reacts to Mud Show Matt’s ‘Greener Pastures’ dig
During the build to their match, Justice claimed he “bleeds MLW.” Justice also called out Hammerstone, ripping him for walking away for “greener pastures” when he left MLW and joined TNA in 2023. However, Hammerstone pointed out that he helped build MLW into what it is today, claiming that while his work still speaks for itself, “Mud Show Matt” is a joke.
“Well, with what I have given to MLW, there are bricks of Alex Hammerstone that have built that company. And when I left, those bricks still were there. People are still finding out about the company through Hammerstone. Whether I’m on the roster or not, I have some of the most talked-about matches in that company’s history. I have one of the most memorable championship reigns in that company’s history. I did that.
“So, yeah, he could stick around, and do what? Be the guy that falls off the ladder? Oh, he’s bleeding MLW? No. He’s a f*cking joke,” Hammerstone said. “So, it’s like, I built parts of that company that are still standing. He’s done nothing worth remembering. He’s a sideshow act that is part of the greater spectacle.”
People are finally talking about Matthew Justice in MLW — because of Hammerstone
Alex Hammerstone took Justice’s “greener pastures” dig in stride. He pointed out that fans still talk about his resume, calling out his feud with Jacob Fatu and his time in The Dynasty, in particular. However, nobody was talking about Justice in MLW, at least not until he picked a fight with Hammerstone.
“So, he wants to say I left for greener pastures? Yeah, cool. The thing is, while I was gone, people are still talking about me as the face of MLW,” Hammerstone said. “People aren’t talking about him, or now they are. Because he’s wrestling me. This is the most talked-about match Matthew Justice has ever had in MLW. And, yeah, I left. I was there for five years. I did everything I thought I could do at the time. And I went to try some new things. And guess what? I’m back.
“I’m still afforded the opportunity to try new things. And the landscape has changed to a degree. Even in MLW, there’s a whole new world for me to explore. I’m never just content. I can’t just stay and feel like I’m doing the same thing over and over again. Now that the cycle of pro wrestling has changed things, MLW is fresh and it’s got a whole new set of talent for me. It’s got a whole new set of obstacles for me. It’s got a whole new path for me to carve out. So, yeah. He can say what he says. He can have his opinion. But it’s wrong. And that’s all there is to it.”
MLW Fightland takes place on Saturday, September 13, at the Nytex Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, Texas. The event will also stream live on YouTube. Check out our full interview with Alex Hammerstone below:
