Major League Wrestling Fusion – November 9, 2018: Building Up The Bench
IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling
Fusion #30
Date: November 9, 2018
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Matt Striker, Tony Schiavone
How in the world are we this far into this series already? We’re not quite to Fightland’s tapings yet but things are about to get a lot better in a hurry around here. This week’s main event isn’t too bad either though, as we have Low Ki defending the World Title against Konnan’s latest talent in Daga. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
We open with a recap of Konnan and company vs. Promociones Dorado. That’s the biggest feud in the show’s history so far and a recap like this is nice every now and then.
Opening sequence.
Myron Reed vs. Marko Stunt
They take turns missing each other to start as Striker says Stunt reminds him of Rob Schneider. Reed gets in the first big shot with a jumping enziguri, only to miss a splash in the corner. Stunt scores with a dropkick and a middle rope springboard spinning seated crossbody (that’s a rather descriptive name) gets two. A suplex gets two on Stunt but he nips back up for a knee to the face. Not bad actually.
Stunt tries a suplex but gets caught with a Stundog Millionaire. Reed goes to the ramp for a dive over the top into a cutter (SWEET!) for two but Stunt reverses an F5 into a Canadian Destroyer for no cover. Stunt tries a sunset flip but Reed reverses into one of his own for the pin at 5:10.
Rating: C+. The spots alone here were cool with that running cutter still being a great looking move, though I’m not sure what the point is in having Stunt lose twice. He’s kind of a big deal at the moment and they’re having him lose his first two matches. It’s not like Reed is all that big of a star in the first place so giving Stunt a win might not be the worst idea in the world. Still though, fun little match.
Earlier this week, MJF and Aria Blake were at an autograph signing with Shane Strickland not showing up as planned. A kid came up and got charged for an autograph in a great jerk move.
Salina de la Renta and Low Ki aren’t impressed by Konnan bringing Daga in. Low Ki asks if Konnan has been paying attention as he destroys all of Konnan’s boys. Now Konnan is bringing someone else in and giving him a golden ticket. He’s leading these people to slaughter and it’s going to take a lot of work to get the title off of him.
We look back at Sami Callihan choking out Tom Lawlor a few weeks back.
Sami says anyone he sets his sights on takes him out. It’s been MVP, Strickland and Jimmy Havoc and he’ll take out anyone else that comes after him because he’s for hire. Thumbs up, thumbs down.
Middleweight Title: Jason Cade vs. Jimmy Yuta vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman
Friedman, with Blake, is defending and this is under elimination rules. Yuta goes right at Cade as the bell rings so MJF bails to the floor, leaving Cade to stomp Yuta down. Back up and a paid of suicide dives have Yuta back in control and a standing backsplash gets two on Cade. Everyone gets back in and Cade saves MJF from Yuta with a jumping knee to the head. Yuta can’t quite fight off the double teaming and MJF and Cade can’t figure out if it should be a fist bump or a handshake.
Instead MJF hits Cade by mistake, followed by Cade “accidentally” doing the same to MJF. Yuta is smart enough to clothesline them both and a double missile dropkick puts them down again. A belly to back superplex is countered into a powerbomb from Cade, who hits a Burning Hammer on MJF onto Yuta (always works). Yuta is fine enough to send Cade face first into the middle buckle but MJF is back up with something like an Angle Slam into a faceplant.
Everyone is down so they hit the three way slugout, which actually doesn’t feel like a cliché. MJF pokes them both in the eyes so it’s a double superkick, only to have MJF kick Yuta down as well. Yuta is back up with the Octopus Hold on Cade, plus an ankle lock on MJF (didn’t look great). That’s broken up so Yuta rolls Cade up for the elimination at 7:50. Blake offers a quick distraction though and Cade gives Yuta a low blow into the backslide driver so MJF can retain at 8:53.
Rating: C+. Another rather nice match here as they’re still doing a good job of making the middleweights feel important. Just calling them by a weight class makes it feel like they’re not as important but they’re treated as a big deal and the de facto midcard title. Yuta has grown on me a lot and Cade fits as a heel. MJF stealing the pin to retain the title is fine as well and this was better than I was expecting with all three working well together.
We look back at the Hart Foundation beating down Kevin Sullivan.
Sullivan calls in to say he has a concussion and it’s the most lingering one he’s ever had. He’s doesn’t like Brian Pillman Jr. hanging around the rest of the Harts but thinks there might be some shenanigans at hand. Sullivan has to do something here though, even if it hurts Pillman.
Konnan loves the idea of an unknown (around here at least) like Daga to get a shot at the title in his debut match. He knows Fenix had Low Ki beat until Salina got involved by stealing Fenix’s mask, so tonight Konnan is running interference.
MLW is coming to Miami for Never Say Never and Zero Hour (names of some of their return specials).
MLW World Title: Daga vs. Low Ki
Low Ki is defending and has Salina with him while Daga has Konnan. Feeling out process to start with Daga rolling out of a wristlock. A kick to the chest (from his back) gets Low Ki out of trouble so Daga takes him into the corner and gives him a little slap. That’s enough of the easy stuff for Low Ki, who headbutts him down to take over. Striker gets to drop a bunch of Japanese names as Low Ki gets chopped out to the floor. It’s too early for the big dive (at least Low Ki was smart enough to know it was coming) so Daga goes to the floor for more chops.
A whip into the barricade cuts Daga off though and Low Ki is starting to look more intense. Daga is sat on a chair for a running dropkick to the face as Konnan is looking worried. Well having your guy get kicked in the face should worry you. The reverse chinlock is broken up pretty quickly and Low Ki is holding his leg. It’s fine enough to kick away at Daga but he sends the champ outside in a heap.
That means it’s time for Salina to panic and Daga snaps off a hurricanrana. Some more chops wake Low Ki up so Daga sends him into the corner and puts on something like a Crossface. Cue Ricky Martinez for a distraction so the hold is broken, allowing Low Ki to rip at Daga’s cauliflower ears (FREAKING OW MAN!). The top rope double stomp to the back retains the title at 11:20 as Daga’s ear is gushing blood.
Rating: B-. Good showing from Daga here, even if there was no chance of a title change in what was just a one off title shot. Konnan bringing in a variety of people to go after Low Ki is a cool story and could be leading to him having some big final name. Low Ki has been feeling it as of late and as strange as it may seem, it might be due to the lack of the suit. He looks more serious now and that’s how you want to present the World Champion. Another good match here, which is becoming a trend.
Post match Low Ki calls Tom Lawlor a joke, just like Fenix and Pentagon.
Overall Rating: B. MLW is on a roll right now and this was another solid show with nothing bad and the stories being advanced. They showed more promise here by not having a lot of the big names appear but still putting on an entertaining show. It’s a good sign that they aren’t reliant on the same handful of people to carry a show and that’s going to pay off for them in the long run.
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has it ever been confirmed if the ear tear was a work or if it was legit?