Alex Hammerstone Calls MLW Return A No-Brainer, Details How It Lined Up With TNA Exit

Alex Hammerstone is ready to make a great impression and remind MLW fans what he brings to the squared circle.

Hammerstone spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard ahead of his match with Satoshi Kojima at MLW’s Azteca Lucha event. Hammerstone was a cornerstone of MLW for many years, but opted to leave via free agency in 2024. He soon joined TNA, but his stay there was short. Hammerstone announced he’d wrestled his last match for TNA in February 2025, and later returned to MLW as a surprise entrant at Battle Riot VII in April.

Hammerstone shared what motivated him to return to MLW. He kept in touch with MLW owner Court Bauer even after he’d left, but noted the timing of his MLW return felt like the right move.

“The way it kind of lined up was, my contract came to an end. And right around the corner, Battle Riot was going to be in LA. [Court] kind of put those feelers out, like this seems like a perfect thing, it’s lining up. ‘We’d love to have you back. You know, we have nothing but respect for you.’ And I told him I needed some time and eventually we got on the phone and started talking about some ideas and what it could potentially look like.

“We were just on the same page with everything as far as when it comes to presentation and how we want to tell stories. [Also,] how involved I’m going to be in the process, and what kind of opponent, even when it comes down to what kind of commitments we’re locking in. We were very much on the same page of what I needed at that time. So, it got to the point where I was like, ‘Okay, this is a no-brainer.’” 

Alex Hammerstone on his upcoming match at Azteca Lucha against Kojima

Hammerstone previously shared why he left TNA, telling The Takedown on SI‘s Zack Heydorn that he felt like the company stopped caring about him at some point. He confirmed to WrestleZone that his TNA contract was a two-year agreement, with the second year being an option year. TNA called him and told him the option wasn’t getting picked up, which opened the door for his MLW return.

“If they [pick up] that second year, sometimes there’s different stipulations as far as I’m guaranteed a raise for the second year or things like that,” Hammerstone explained. “And right when that second year was coming up, I got a call and got talked on the phone and it was just it’s just not going to work out.” 

Hammerstone plans on giving Kojima a few more lumps

Now that his MLW status is settled, Hammerstone looks forward to stepping in the ring with Kojima, a legend in Japan and a former MLW World Champion. Hammerstone appreciates the dynamic the matchup presents, as they’ve never had an official match before.

“[Kojima] was returning to the company and [won the world title] when I was kind of on my way out. So, we missed each other in that aspect. But like you said, he’s a former multiple-time champion, world-renowned star. It’s definitely going to be a test for me. But, I think it’s going to be more of a test for him. Because, as good as he is, Father Time waits for nobody. And Father Time has kicked my ass in the last couple of years. I’m only 34. So, I imagine he’s got a couple more bruises, and I’m just going to be adding to that.

“Coming back at Battle Riot was great, getting the fan ovation was great. Staying in there, lasting for whatever, close to an hour or whatever, it was phenomenal. But now, I’m in my first singles match. If I sh*t the bed, it sets a very bad precedent for what I’m bringing. I’m really taking this match very seriously.”

MLW Azteca Lucha takes place on Saturday, May 10, and it will air live and free on YouTube. Check out our full interview with Alex Hammerstone below:

The post Alex Hammerstone Calls MLW Return A No-Brainer, Details How It Lined Up With TNA Exit appeared first on Wrestlezone.

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