Austin Aries Wins MLW National Openweight Title at FUSION 200, Spits on Diego Hill After the Match

Austin Aries is a champion again — and he made sure everyone in Chicago knew exactly who he is.

At MLW FUSION 200, held before a sold-out Cicero Stadium crowd, Aries defeated Blue Panther to capture the MLW National Openweight Championship. The title change marked one of the biggest moments of the milestone episode, as Aries seized his opportunity and left the building with gold around his waist.

For Blue Panther, the loss closes the book on a genuinely historic reign. El Maestro Lagunero won the title on September 21, 2025, defeating Último Guerrero at Arena México in Mexico City — a moment that carried the tradition and prestige of lucha libre into MLW’s championship picture. His run spanned borders and represented something larger than any single victory, making his defeat in Chicago all the more significant for the division’s landscape.

But if the title change itself wasn’t enough to define the night, what followed certainly was. After the bell, as Diego Hill checked on the fallen Blue Panther, Aries crossed a line — spitting on Diego in a calculated act of disrespect aimed at both the legend and the next generation standing in his corner. It was a deliberate statement, the kind that ensures this story is far from over.

Aries had spent weeks framing this match as proof that even legends can be outmaneuvered. He made good on that promise. Now, with the National Openweight title in hand and a new rivalry seemingly ignited with Diego Hill, the division enters a fresh and volatile chapter under a champion who clearly has no interest in being liked.

FUSION 200 is available to watch on demand via YouTube and VEEPS.