New MLW World Heavyweight Champion Mads Krule Krugger is doing things the only way he knows how, the monster way.
In a recent interview with SlamWrestling.net, the Lyons, GA native spoke on the quick turnaround between becoming champion and defending it against five challengers at Slaughterhouse on October 4 in Long Beach, CA.
“Right now it’s going to be me, CW Anderson, Mr. Thomas and Matthew Justice.” Two more competitors will be announced closer to the date.
Krugger cashed in his Gravity Gamble contract during the title match between former champion Matt Riddle and his challenger Dijak.
The 6’10 Krugger is no stranger to being larger than life.
“I see it when I go to shows, especially with the character. It’s that look on their faces when you walk out in the show. Even walking to an airport with with nothing, you know, people are still staring, people looking. ‘What does this guy do? He’s got to do something.’ So, you know, when you add that with the character and the mask, and just the way I present it. It really, it’s, it’s fascinating.”
This is nothing new to the 40-year-old champion. Even in his childhood, Krugger identified with wrestlers that were larger than life themselves, bringing a familiarity to his ring presence now. “NWA was kind of the thing here. So early on, obviously Sting, that was my hero as a kid. But as I started getting older, I kind of started attracting to Vader, Sid Vicious, and Undertaker. I was a bigger kid, so I knew I was going to be bigger.”
Even when he chose to become a professional wrestler, he sought the advice of wrestlers like Jimmy Rave and other Georgia natives who were in the sport. Luke Gallows was a big help to Krugger when he returned to wrestling in 2012 after a four-year hiatus.
“This local scene where I was at, nobody really knew how to grow. It just wasn’t a known thing because everybody was just kind of here doing the same couple of shows in this area. So that’s kind of why I stepped away,” he reflected. “I knew in my mind I wasn’t getting better. I knew I wasn’t going anywhere.”
Influences like Gallows were instrumental in mentoring Krugger when he returned to pursue wrestling again in 2012.
Krugger’s stature unsurprisingly follows him outside of the ring as well.
“I get that conversation and have that conversation every week of my life, you know, with a complete stranger. It just happens. I end up next to somebody sitting in an airport or a restaurant or something, and that conversation always happens.”
As for Contra Unit, Krugger and Ikuro Kwon are currently the only members. Krugger sees this as an opportunity to redesign the faction.
“Put a new coat of paint on it, as we like to say in wrestling, right? Make it different. Jacob Fatu, he created something special in that group, and I do not and will not attempt to try to replicate what he did, because I’m not him, and he’s not me. I think that’s a good thing.”
Respecting the founder of the faction, Krugger still feels it best to go about the faction in his own way.
“So now it needs to be something different. It’s going to look different, feel different, and and I’m excited to see where that goes.”
Before he molds Contra Unit to what he sees it as, the MLW Heavyweight Champion will have to deal with five opponents all vying for the belt.
MLW presents Slaughterhouse on October 4. Tickets can be purchased here.
RELATED LINKS
- Sept. 18, 2025: Chamber of Horrors returns: MLW world title on the line
- Mads Krule Krugger socials: Instagram * Tiktok * X
- MLW press release
