Major League Wrestling Fusion – February 15, 2020: It Is Forever
IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling
Fusion #97
Date: February 15, 2020
Location: NYTEX Sports Center, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: AJ Kirsch, Rich Bocchini
I could go for the theme being forever. This is a special edition of the show as the Dynasty is running things, meaning we can get that sweet theme song over and over. All of the team is in action tonight, including Richard Holiday/Maxwell Jacob Friedman challenging the Von Erichs for the Tag Team Titles. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
We get a Dynasty opening sequence. Like it would be anything else.
Rich has to read an intro prepared by the Dynasty, including referring to the viewers as “consumers”.
We look at Mance Warner not being too high on the Dynasty. As a result, Warner has been banned from the “permises”, as it says on the flier.
We look at Gino Medina joining the Dynasty.
Septimo Dragon vs. Gino Medina
Richard Holliday is on commentary and Septimo (not an actual dragon according to the graphic) has Konnan in his corner. Gino gets sent to the floor in a hurry and it’s a moonsault from the apron, followed by a suicide dive for a bonus. Back in and they flip over each other before missing kicks to the head. That means an early stand off and the fans are rather pleased. Dragon hurricanranas him to the floor before walking on his hands to avoid another kick.
Another headscissors gets pushed off with Dragon crashing into the ropes for two. The chinlock goes on to keep Dragon down but he fights up and hits a big top rope armdrag. Medina rolls outside to get in Konnan’s face but Dragon breaks it up with a top rope Asai moonsault. Back in and a kick to the face sets up a standing Spanish Fly for two on Medina. A springboard tornado DDT gets the same but Medina is right back with a small package with a foot on the ropes for the pin at 6:48.
Rating: C. Pretty entertaining lucha match with the usual collection of flips and dives, though I’m not sure how interesting Medina really is. He looks good in the suit and sounds like a good idea but I’ve yet to see the big match/moment from him. Granted he doesn’t exactly have a long resume and it’s not like he’s been awful by any stretch.
Post match Holliday comes in for the beatdown with Medina stealing the mask. Konnan makes the save with a slapjack.
Here’s what’s coming in the Tag Team Title match, as written by the Dynasty.
Mance Warner is locked out because he didn’t meet the dress code.
Warner says that’s not going to work.
Erick Stevens is still coming and actually gets here next week.
National Openweight Title: Alexander Hammerstone vs. Aerostar
Hammerstone is defending and Konnan is on commentary to talk about everyone coming up from Mexico. Aerostar starts fast by running the ropes for a middle rope dropkick. Hammerstone gets low bridged to the floor and we take a break. Back with Aerostar having shrugged off a bunch of power moves during the break and hitting a corkscrew crossbody for two.
The Nightmare Pendulum is countered into a small package for two (with Konnan complaining about the speed of the count, as he should). Hammerstone crotches him on top and that means a delayed superplex for two, with Hammerstone’s face perfectly switching from smug to angry. A German suplex drops Aerostar on his head but a powerbomb is reversed into the Canadian Destroyer for two. With nothing else working, Hammerstone pulls the mask off for the pin at 8:10.
Rating: B-. The action was better here with Hammerstone showing off the power rather well. Aerostar got to fight back with the flying and lucha stuff, though I’m not wild on both masks being ripped off in a row. At least it was two different forms of cheating for the actual falls, but this one felt repetitive after what we saw fifteen minutes ago.
We get another Filthy Does Dallas video with Tom Lawlor and Dominic Garrini standing on the grounds where the Sportatorium formerly stood. As expected, they relieve themselves on the ground.
Warner promise to wreck things.
Killer Kross is coming.
We recap the Death Squad jumping the Hart Dynasty with the Von Erichs making the save.
Jacob Fatu tells Cima to bring it.
Cima will bring it in three weeks on episode #100.
Davey Boy Smith Jr. and the Von Erichs share a family history because Stu Hart trained Fritz Von Erich. They have each others backs and Davey is watching Tom Lawlor.
Warner isn’t allowed in but buys off the security guard with beer because MJF is an a******.
LA Park is coming back.
Video on the Dynasty’s dominance.
Tag Team Titles: Dynasty vs. Von Erichs
The Dynasty is challenging but after their entrance, they step off to the side without coming down the aisle. We get some old school flower gifts for the Von Erichs but the Dynasty run in from behind for the opening bell. The champs get sent into the barricade and they head inside for the first time with Ross being chopped in the corner. Boot choking abounds and Holliday gets two off a neckbreaker.
Ross’s legs are wishboned and MJF shouts about how Marshall is RIGHT THERE if Ross can get over to him. Ross manages to escape but Holliday pulls Marshall off the apron. The Paisan elbow gets two and MJF’s suplex is good for the same. Holliday’s gets the third near fall in a row with MJF demanding a faster count. The chinlock goes on for a bit before MJF wants a double suplex. Ross counters into a double neckbreaker though and the hot tag brings in Marshall to clean house (albeit at a bit of a slow pace).
A Cannonball in the corner sets up a standing moonsault for two as everything breaks down. Ross hits a big dive onto MJF, leaving Marshall to take Holliday up top. That just means a Market Crash to set up MJF’s top rope splash. Ross dives over the referee (cool visual) for the save as Hammerstone comes to the ring. Cue Warner to chair him down though, drawing out Medina for the brawl to the back. A double dropkick puts Holliday on the floor and the Claw/belly to back suplex combination finishes MJF to retain the titles at 12:38.
Rating: C+. They went with the formula stuff here as the fans wanted to cheer the Von Erichs. It’s true that they’re very green but there is something about them that makes fans get behind them. This is the kind of place where they can gain experience and working against a good (albeit also young) team like the Dynasty is going to help that out a lot.
Overall Rating: B. I had a good time with this one as they had a nice theme going throughout the night. The Dynasty is still one of the best things going in MLW and it’s a shame that MJF is going away soon (if not after this). Warner vs. the Dynasty is a good idea, if nothing else for the culture clash, and maybe we can get some fresh blood near the top of the card. Good show here, with the presentation making it work.
Results
Gino Medina b. Septimo Dragon – Small package with a foot on the ropes
Alexander Hammerstone b. Aerostar – Rollup
Von Erichs b. Dynasty – Claw/belly to back suplex combination to Friedman
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:
http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at: