Storylines
The card will consist of matches that result from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches, with results predetermined by MLW's writers. Storylines are played out at MLW events, and across the league's social media platforms.[5]
Per MLW's "Open Door Policy," several freelancers and wrestlers from other promotions were announced to appear at the event. Names include New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) Kenta, Stardom rookie Hanako and Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (TJPW) star Miyu Yamashita.[6][7][8] TJP, a former MLW talent that is currently signed to NJPW, was announced as an alternate for the Opera Cup tournament.[9] Brock Anderson, the son of Arn Anderson, would also be announced for Summer of the Beasts, teaming with former MLW star C. W. Anderson.[10] On August 22, Paul London, making his first MLW appearance since 2003, was announced for the event.[11]
Contra Unit (Mads Krule Krügger, Ikuro Kwon, and Minoru Suzuki) have been feuding with MLW World Tag Team Champions CozyMax – MLW World Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima and Shigeo Okumura – over the summer. On July 22, it was announced that CozyMax would defend their Tag Team Championships against Kwon and Suzuki at Summer of the Beasts.[12] During the Never Say Never TV special on August 10, 2024 (which was taped at Blood & Thunder on July 12), Contra would attack Okumura backstage before defeating Kojima, Matt Riddle, and Akira in a 6-man tag team match later that night.[13]
