Court Bauer Explains Signing Tessa Blanchard For MLW

MLW founder Court Bauer disclosed that his promotion came close to securing a major television deal with Paramount in 2025. Bauer told Wrestling Observer Radio that Paramount had been in discussions with MLW before the Skydance acquisition occurred. The proposed agreement was under government review for clearance at the time.

Talks between MLW and Paramount began around the time of MLW's Los Angeles event. Bauer said the sides met in April 2025 and the negotiations advanced quickly. The deal was largely outlined with MLW placed on standby through June and July while awaiting final approval.

Under the planned pact, MLW programming would have launched in the fall of 2025 as a live weekly series. Staff levels were set to increase to support the ambitious weekly live schedule. Bauer noted that the company had personnel prepared to execute the project.

One MLW representative received a golden parachute and was informed he would not continue with the arrangement after the merger. Jesse Siskal, who had been a key figure guiding the discussions from the Skydance side, later departed for Redbird Capital. Siskal was described as one of the founding individuals highlighted by Ellison in the Skydance launch.

Bauer recounted waking up to a Variety report announcing the UFC deal with Paramount. He reached out to Siskal, who explained that the UFC agreement had been negotiated at a high level without prior awareness from their team. Siskal told Bauer that strategies shifted following the UFC-Paramount pact.

Bauer stated the two sides never reached signed contracts. He described the outcome as simply another day in the business while noting MLW had reached the one-yard line on the potential deal. The revelation came prior to the August 2025 announcement of the UFC-Paramount partnership that will place all UFC events on Paramount+.