Austin Aries Pursues Third Title Defense, Confident in Willingness to Win at Any Cost

Austin Aries stands as the reigning Major League Wrestling Openweight Champion after defeating Blue Panther at the Lucha Apocalypto event, a joint production with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre earlier this year. The veteran performer told OutKick that his title reign has reinforced a personal philosophy: strategic shortcuts and tactical advantages are legitimate paths to victory. Aries believes his decades-long career demonstrates a consistent willingness to employ whatever methods necessary when championship gold is on the line.

In his interview, Aries reflected on a fundamental lesson he said he learned through his wrestling tenure and observations of the broader world. He contended that conventional wisdom about dishonesty leading to failure misrepresents reality, arguing that most positions of wealth and power are achieved through deception and exploitation. Applying this worldview to his approach in the ring, Aries stated he will not hesitate to use underhanded tactics if they contribute to retaining his championship status.

Aries has already defended the Openweight Championship once successfully against Diego Hill while continuing regular appearances in CMLL competition. On Saturday night during MLW “Fusion,” he faces a significantly more complex challenge: a three-way match featuring Místico and Averno, both formidable competitors with established history together. Místico elevated the stakes by converting what was originally a one-on-one bout into the multi-competitor format.

Aries suggested that the animosity between his two challengers could provide tactical advantages he might exploit during the bout. He maintains that Místico initiated the escalation and now must compete in an unpredictable environment where traditional single-competitor strategy becomes obsolete. The title defense will air on YouTube, beIN Sports, and Veeps.