IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #77
Date: September 28, 2019
Location: Nytex Sports Center, North Richland Hills, Texas
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

The Dallas stretch continues with the fallout from last week’s pretty good show. We are in need of a new #1 contender to the World Title and with SuperFight on the horizon, they might need to pick up the pace a little bit. If nothing else we have something here between Teddy Hart and Austin Aries over the Middleweight Title. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Aries attacking Hart last week and knocking him cold with a brainbuster onto the apron.

Opening sequence.

Injustice says they need to look out for themselves because no one else will.

Injustice vs. Gringo Loco/Air Wolf

Myron Reed/Kotto Brazil for Injustice. Reed still has his chest protector and the referee finds a chain on Brazil during the weapons check. With that out of the way, Jordan Oliver slips Reed some brass knuckles. Hang on though as the referee finds the knuckles and gets rid of them before we get started. Brazil sunset flips Loco to start and gets stomped in the back for his efforts. Loco drops a standing moonsault for two and then sends him flying into the corner off an overhead belly to belly suplex. Wolf comes in and chops Reed in the chest protector for a bit of an “are you kidding me” look.

The rapid fire changes continue with Brazil sweeping Loco’s legs so Reed can drop a leg and take over. Brazil gets whipped into the corner for an uppercut to Loco and a dropkick gets two. The pace picks up a bit with Wolf getting in a kick to the head from the apron, allowing Loco to hit a belly to back faceplant. Wolf gets knocked off the apron so Loco electric chairs both of them at once (with Kotto on Reed’s shoulders as Reed is on Loco’s shoulders for a crazy visual). Since Brazil is dead, Wolf comes in (with a crowd shot that sees Brazil go from one side of the ring to the other) and gets the easy pin at 7:44.

Rating: D+. Oh yeah they had to edit something out of the ending because the ending came out of nowhere after a legitimate scary landing. That could have gone FAR worse and that’s a scary thought given how bad it looked in the first place. It wasn’t a good match in the first place as Injustice can only do so much in the ring, though Loco is an awesome performer with some great charisma.

Post match Injustice beats up the referee to blow off some steam.

Mance Warner’s uncle is here to watch the main event. Blood is promised, though Mance tells his uncle (named Moon Man) to no drink too much because they’re going out after the show.

Dominic Garrini is still coming.

During the break, Injustice attacked more referees.

Brian Pillman Jr. isn’t happy with Austin Aries injuring Teddy Hart. He’ll do something about it next week.

Salina de la Renta doesn’t want to talk strategy for the Bunkhouse Brawl.

The SuperFight Control Center tells us nothing new.

The Von Erichs are at a children’s hospital visiting the sick kids. The Dynasty shows up to say they should buy the place and turn it into a casino. MJF: “OH SNAP IT’S THE VON ERICHS! And you’ve got shoes on!” Their plans don’t sit well with the Von Erichs, so Holliday talks about trying to make the economy boom. His coffee is slapped out of is hands. MJF: “This isn’t the 1980s!”

Timothy Thatcher vs. Douglas James

James is a martial artist, though he’s rather small. They go with the grappling to start with the bigger Thatcher getting the better of it until we hit an early standoff. Neither can get very far with a grab of the leg so it’s a quick slugout with James taking him down by the leg this time around.

Back up and James scores with a clothesline to set up some kicks to the chest, only to have Thatcher pick the leg again. The chinlock doesn’t last long as James tries a cross armbreaker to no avail. Some gutwrench suplexes give Thatcher two but James is right back with a few superkicks for two. James tries a frog splash but hits knees, allowing Thatcher to grab a Fujiwara armbar for the tap at 9:01.

Rating: C+. I liked this one rather well as it showed a different style than most of what you get around here. That’s the kind of thing that can help keep things feeling fresh, which doesn’t happen enough at times. Thatcher is someone who looks good every time he’s out there and I could go with seeing him in a higher profile role.

Post match they exchange respect, with Thatcher offering to train with him. With that out of the way, Thatcher wants Tom Lawlor at SuperFight.

Jimmy Havoc promises to do bad things to Warner and licks a pitchfork.

Warner has the interviewer draw some items he’ll be using in the Bunkhouse Brawl. He isn’t happy with her artistic skills but the violence will tell the story.

Jimmy Havoc vs. Mance Warner

Bunkhouse Brawl, meaning anything goes. Havoc pulls out a shovel so Warner turns his back on him in a rather dumb move. The fight starts on the floor with Jimmy throwing a bail of rather abrasive hay at his head. Warner sends him head first into a whiskey barrel and it’s time to choke with a bull rope. Jimmy gets in a shovel shot to the head to take over, but because it’s a long match that’s only good for two back inside.

A rake across the head (with an actual rake) has Warner in trouble and allows the announcers to debate rake as a noun and verb. Warner gets in a poke to the eye and a rake to the face for two, meaning it’s time for a door. A pumpkin to the head misses as Warner throws it into the crowd by mistake, allowing Havoc to bust out the staple gun. With Warner down, it’s time for the second pumpkin….and Jimmy staples Mance’s tongue to said pumpkin. Rich: “WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT???”

Warner breaks it off and DDT’s Havoc onto the pumpkin, which gets stuck. The running knee to the pumpkin gets two as Tony is very confused. Some chairs are set up in the middle with a door laid on top of them, only to have Havoc Death Valley Drive him through another door in the corner. Now Warner’s tongue is stapled to the door over the tables. Havoc goes up but Warner rips the staple out and throws a pumpkin at him. A superplex through the table sets up the lariat to give Warner the pin at 11:39.

Rating: D+. I know I’m not the target audience for a match like this but I was in the same line of thinking of Tony here: at some point it gets ridiculous with stuff like stapling a tongue to a pumpkin. This just didn’t work very well as it was an entertaining enough brawl, but it came off as more silly than violent at times, which missed the point.

Post match Havoc pulls out some barbed wire to hit Warner in the head and draw some blood. The wire goes into Warner’s mouth with Havoc pulling back until referees break it up.

Overall Rating: C-. This was a good example of the hybrid idea behind the series but it was also an example of what happens when the matches just aren’t all that good. It wasn’t a terrible show by any means and they set up/advanced some stuff, but I wasn’t all that impressed throughout the show. SuperFight is starting to sound good though so they’re going in the right direction overall.

Results

Gringo Loco/Air Wolf b. Injustice – Electric chair to Brazil

Timothy Thatcher b. Douglas James – Fujiwara armbar

Mance Warner b. Jimmy Havoc – Lariat

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:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #73
Date: August 31, 2019
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Rich Bocchini

This show is all about the World Title, which is the case for the first time in far too long. Tonight we’ll be seeing Jacob Fatu defending the World Title against Tom Lawlor in Lawlor’s rematch after dropping the title. Fatu hasn’t done much with the title since winning it in the first place so maybe they can get things back to normal tonight. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with Fatu promising to finish what he started with Lawlor and finish him for good.

Opening sequence.

Injustice vs. Zenshi/Air Wolf/Gringo Loco

Injustice would be Myron Reed/Jordan Oliver/Kotto Brazil, who promise to get justice. Oliver and Loco start things off with Oliver holding up one of his signs. Loco flips away instead before catching Oliver in a Regal Roll. A standing moonsault gets two and it’s Wolf coming in for the first time. Oliver sends him to the apron so Wolf chops him from there for a change.

Zenshi’s standing moonsault gets two and everything breaks down, allowing Wolf to slam Oliver. That lets Loco springboard off of the back of Brazil (in a fireman’s carry) for a Swanton. Injustice bails to the floor but pull most of the good guys outside. That lets Brazil hit a suicide dive onto Wolf and it’s time for the parade of dives. Back in and Zenshi’s slingshot splash gets two on Oliver but Reed and Brazil take Loco down.

It’s Wolf in trouble with Reed forearming him in the face, allowing the villains to keep taking turns. Wolf hits a Pele out of the corner though and it’s a hot tag to Zenshi to clean house. A 619 over the top rope sets up a double slingshot faceplant sets up a hard suplex on Reed. Brazil dives in way late for the save but thankfully the referee slowed down his count.

Oliver and Zenshi head outside and it’s Reed hitting a running cutter to the floor (sweet) to take Zenshi out. Back in and Reed pulls out some brass knuckles but Loco takes them away and gets in a shot of his own. Brazil kicks them away from Loco and hits a middle rope X Factor. Reed adds a slingshot cutter to Wolfe and it’s a standing Sliced Bread from Brazil for the double pin on Wolf at 10:03.

Rating: B. This was a lot of fun with both teams doing a bunch of crazy stuff. It was the kind of entertaining cruiserweight match that you can almost always make work because the talented people are allowed to go out there and fly around. It helps when you have a bunch of people who aren’t huge stars as you can make some new stars with a match like this.

Mance Warner has been bailed out of jail.

War Chamber rundown. The main event will air the next week on TV.

Kevin Von Erich talks about his sons having the family heart, which they’ll do in Dallas. Ross and Marshall promise to dethrone Contra.

Dominic Garrini is coming.

Video on Alexander Hammerstone’s recent trip to Pro Wrestling Noah.

Hammerstone is training and isn’t worried if he might have a match against Davey Boy Smith Jr. at Super Fight. Georgia Smith is on a treadmill and says she and Davey lifted that much weight when they were kids. The weight is increased and muscles flare.

MLW World Title: Jacob Fatu vs. Tom Lawlor

Fatu is defending and Josef Samael handles his introduction. Whomever has the gold controls the league so Contra is in charge of everything. They slug it out before Lawlor can even get inside and it’s a high crossbody to put Fatu down. A superkick is blocked and Lawlor takes him down with a discus lariat. Fatu gets dropped with an enziguri into a belly to back for two as Lawlor is very fired up here.

The first Samoan drop gives Fatu two and it’s time for the slow beatdown in the corner. A running headbutt hits Lawlor in the ribs and Fatu bites him for a bonus. We get a lot of walking around from the champ, allowing Lawlor to hammer away in the corner. Fatu superkicks him right back down though and a handspring moonsault crushes Lawlor again. A running kick misses though and Fatu gets caught in the ropes, allowing Lawlor to hammer away.

Hold on though as Lawlor needs to go after Samael, allowing Fatu to hit a heck of a suicide dive. Back in and the pop up Samoan drop doesn’t quite work, allowing Lawlor to grab a sleeper. That’s switched into a choke so Fatu slams him into the corner for the break. Fatu tries to charge once too often though and goes head first into the post. Lawlor pulls him off the corner for an airplane spin into a Death Valley Driver and a near fall of his own.

Some YES Kicks….just wake Fatu up again so Lawlor hits a running clothesline to the back of the head but can’t quite follow up. An exploder suplex sends Fatu hard into the corner and a big boot makes it worse, only to have Samael get in a spike shot. The double jump moonsault to the back retains the title at 15:13.

Rating: B. These guys beat each other up and while the finish wasn’t clean, it did a very good job of making me think that Lawlor could pull off the upset. Fatu is the kind of monster we don’t see very often around here and it was good to see him destroy someone. At the same time though, it’s kind of awkward to go from a pinfall in the World Title match to the War Chamber in a week. Kind of weird booking there but it came after a good match.

Post match Samael and Simon Gotch come in for the beatdown, drawing out the Von Erichs for the big brawl. The Von Erichs come in for the save but Ikuro Kwon is out to beat the good guys down. This brings out Low Ki to make the real save, becoming the fourth member of Team Lawlor.

Overall Rating: A-. This was all that you could have asked for with a pair of rather good matches and a big reveal at the end. That being said, this one did seem to be a little less important, even with the World Title on the card. It has been devalued so much by everything else going on and while Fatu is still awesome, the whole thing feels like it was secondary to stuff like the Hart Foundation vs the Dynasty. Very good show either way though and that’s what MLW has been needing.

Results

Injustice b. Zenshi/Air Wolf/Gringo Loco – Assisted standing Sliced Bread to Wolf

Jacob Fatu b. Tom Lawlor – Double jump moonsault

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:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #66
Date: July 13, 2019
Location: Cicero Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Jim Cornette

It’s the fallout show from Kings of Colosseum and the big story if Jacob Fatu of Contra winning the World Title in pretty decisive fashion. That means one of those “new era” shows, but that’s not all for tonight. We also have the Dynasty challenging the Hart Foundation for the Tag Team Titles in a ladder match which has a lot of potential. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a preview of the ladder match, with Cornette calling it the most dangerous match in MLW. Moreso than WarGames/War Chamber?

Opening sequence.

Ace Austin vs. Air Wolf

Rematch from a few weeks ago when Wolf won. They fight over a lockup to start and Austin goes straight for the mask like any heel against a luchador. A headlock takeover takes Austin over with a headlock and a crucifix gets two. The pinfall reversal sequence is on with neither being able to get very far and Wolf can’t hit a springboard Downward Spiral.

Austin misses a kick to the face as well so it’s a spinning headscissors instead. Wolf’s running kick to the chest gets two but Austin kicks him in the chest to send Wolf outside. A belly to back onto the barricade makes it even worse for Wolf and it’s time to grab the cane. That goes nowhere so Austin hits a sliding kick to the face and tugs at the mask again. Again you don’t do that so Wolf gets in a shot but seems to slip off the top when trying something.

Thankfully Austin’s hand was on his chest so they can call it a shove, which is better than nothing (good save by commentary too as they say Wolf’s ankle might have been hurt). Back in and Wolf runs the corner for a Pele before going up top. Austin throws a playing card at the referee though and pulls out the cane to knock Wolf out of the air. The Fold finishes Wolf at 7:18.

Rating: C+. This had some moments but I’m surprised they had Wolf get pinned so soon after giving him a big push. Austin winning is fine though as I’ve been a fan of his since he debuted. Setting up a rubber match is a cool idea and this is the kind of a company that could give them a chance to do it right.

We look back at Fatu winning the World Title last week.

Ricky Martinez is begging Salina de la Renta for one more shot at Low Ki when Jimmy Havoc calls. It’s Mance Warner though, who seems to have taken LA Park’s golden ticket. Martinez is sent to get it back.

We get a longer look at the World Title match.

Ariel Dominguez vs. Low Ki

This one could hurt. Low Ki knees him in the chest for the knockout at 17 seconds. Dominguez did better than I thought.

The Dynasty was at their holiday compound and Hammerstone was training in the sun while the other two decided they just needed to climb. MJF snaps that he is NOT afraid of heights but he needs to talk to them. See, Holliday deserves more so MJF is giving him the spot in the ladder match. MJF and Aria Blake go off to ahem, get some lunch.

Martinez calls Salina and is spying on Warner. Actually it’s a big box, which Martinez beats on but finds that it’s empty. Martinez goes away and Warner comes in to say one more down.

Post break Salina is freaking out about Warner when Konnan comes in to gloat. There are some more people coming to MLW to deal with her.

Post entrances for the main event, LA Park is locked behind a gate, leaving Warner to punch Hijo de LA Park with a chain. That leaves Salina to run away from a stalking Warner.

Tag Team Titles: Hart Foundation vs. Dynasty

The Foundation is defending in a ladder match and it’s Teddy Hart/Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman/Richard Holliday. Cornette is right there to explain the Freebird Rule, which is usually explained but not with the exact history behind the idea. The Harts hammer away to start and it’s already time for the chair shots to the ribs. A suplex onto the chair has Holliday in more trouble but he’s fine enough to post Hart right back.

Air Pillman drops MJF but Holliday is back in to jump Pillman from behind. Hart comes back in with Project Ciampa to Holliday, sending the Dynasty outside to grab a ladder. Said ladder is dropkicked into their faces, leaving Pillman to corkscrew dive onto both of them. Hart’s Asai moonsault hits all three of them and can someone take away the air horn from the squeeze happy fan? MJF shoves Hart off the ladder and into the ropes but can’t bring himself to climb very fast.

Aria Blake tries to go up instead but opts for a crossbody, which hits MJF by mistake. MJF gets sent into the ladder in the corner and then gets catapulted face first into the ladder for a bonus. Holliday is back in with a lifting swinging suplex to Pillman, followed by dropping Hart onto the ladder in the corner. A double suplex sends Hart into the ladder again but stop for some posing. The ladder is set up but the Dynasty stops to argue over who is going up.

Holliday shoves him away and goes up but MJF stops to smirk, allowing Hart to pull Holliday down for a big crash. Pillman hits a superkick and Death Valley Driver on MJF before pulling the ladder down for some reason. The Dynasty gets low bridged and Stunned on the top rope, leaving Hart to hit a hanging DDT/piledriver. A Canadian Destroyer hits MJF and it’s time to bridge a board between some chairs. That means a corkscrew moonsault through MJF through the wood, though Hart comes up injured as well.

Cue Hammerstone to pull Pillman off the ladder for a buckle bomb and everyone is down. Holliday suplexes Hart onto the steps and here’s Davey Boy Smith Jr. to powerslam Hammerstone onto (not through) the table. Holliday and Pillman climb at the same time but Blake climbs onto Pillman’s back. He elbows her down (without seeing who it was), allowing Holliday to chair Pillman down. That’s enough for the win and the titles at 17:26.

Rating: B. There were some spots where they went on a little long but what we had here was quite entertaining with everyone looking good and showcasing themselves well. The Hart Foundation had to lose some of their gold at some point so having the Dynasty win the titles made a lot of sense. It was an awesome match too and that’s what you go for with a spotfest like this.

Overall Rating: B+. Rather strong show here with all of the matches working well and a big title change at the end. What matters most here is keeping the momentum rolling after last week’s special, which tends to be one of the hardest things to pull off. Now keep doing it with some different talent and everything should be fine.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #61
Date: June 8, 2019
Location: Waukesha County Expo Center, Waukesha, Wisconsin
Commentators: Jim Cornette, Rich Bocchini

It’s back to the regular show after last week’s Fury Road special. That makes for something a little less important but possibly better as they don’t have to feel like they’re under so much pressure. The big stories out of last week are the continuation of the Dynasty vs. the Hart Foundation and Tom Lawlor vs. Contra. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Alexander Hammerstone winning the inaugural National Openweight Title over Brian Pillman Jr. last week.

Hammerstone was at his training facility earlier while an unnamed blonde held the title. He talks about where all of Pillman’s hard work got him but says Richard Holliday and Maxwell Jacob Friedman chose to follow around him. Hammerstone picks up Rich Bocchini to show off his strength and draw some screaming.

Opening sequence.

We look back at Contra attacking Lawlor, who wants revenge instead of an arrest.

Kotto Brazil vs. Richard Holliday

Holliday has the rest of the Dynasty with him, including Aria Blake, who I forgot was a thing around here. Friedman and Hammerstone head to the back though and it’s only two on one. Note that we’re just over eight minutes into the show at the opening bell and we’ve already had a recap and a segment. Why is that so hard for other companies to pull off? The cocky Holliday shoves Kotto down to start and then hammers him into the corner for a bonus.

Kotto’s bad eye is still all messed up for a rather disturbing visual. Holliday cuts off a comeback with a right hand to the ribs but Brazil springboards over him. A guillotine choke is countered into a suplex though as Holliday is getting to show off a lot more than usual here. Kotto finally gets in a Stunner as Cornette wants to know if Kotto is related to Bobo. A top rope kick to the chest has Holliday in more trouble but a heck of a clothesline cuts him off again. Holliday hits a gutwrench powerbomb for the pin at 5:15.

Rating: C-. This was a rather nice squash from Holliday, who doesn’t get to show what he can do all that often. He looked rather good in the ring here though and that’s a bright spot for his future. At some point you need to be able to do more than just stand around in a suit so letting him have a showcase match like this is a smart move. At the same time you have Kotto, who the fans still love because he’s easy to get behind. That’s a valuable person to have and Kotto plays the role well.

We look at last week’s title match and what we just saw.

Air Wolf vs. Ace Austin

They trade headlocks to start, followed by Austin’s quickly reversed armbar. Wolf hits a hurricanrana and it’s a standoff as we hear about Salina de la Renta possibly recruiting him, which could be interesting. A dropkick puts Austin on the floor but Austin is ready for the obvious dive. Wolf gets shoved off the top and out to the floor, allowing Austin to hit a dive of his own. After some fans call Wolf a fake luchador, he’s fine enough to smack Austin in the head on the way back in.

Austin goes right back to the arm though and Wolf can’t keep anything going. A dropkick sends him into the corner and Wolf has to check his teeth underneath the mask. Wolf gets tied in the Tree of Woe but he’s able to avoid a top rope splash. A snap German suplex and a swinging butterfly suplex give Wolf two and it’s time to start kicking at the chest.

Austin is back with a kick to the head though and a spinning suplex gets two on Wolf. Back up and a hard clothesline turns Wolf inside out but Austin is down as well. Wolf spins up for a kick to the head but gets crotched on top. That’s not the biggest problem in the world though as Wolf shoves Austin down and hits….I think a top rope Downward Spiral for the pin at 10:38.

Rating: C+. I’m not huge on the guy but they’re trying something with Wolf and that’s a good idea. He’s got a long way to go, but pushing someone by giving them wins is the way to go and wins over names like Fenix are going to make the fans buy into him. This was a nice match with some extra time and that made it feel a lot more important. Not bad at all here.

Myron Reed protested outside the arena earlier today.

Salina de la Renta is in charge of next week’s show and already has a main event set: Mance Warner vs. Sami Callihan in a falls count anywhere loser leaves MLW match.

The next live special is Kings of Colosseum with a main event of Tom Lawlor defending the World Title against Jacob Fatu. Now that could be very interesting.

An intense Lawlor says he’s been beaten up before and now Contra has cut him as well. He signed up for a beating but not to be stabbed in his back. Now he wants to take care of Contra and he’s found some guys to help deal with him. That would be the Von Erichs and it’s time to clean this place up. That…..could go a few different ways.

Callihan and Warner dub themselves the Midwest Mega Powers but they like to fight each other. Next week, they’re going to make Cornette want to quit because it’s going to get that violent. They don’t seem to agree on who is going to win though and THEY TURN THEIR HATS AROUND. Sami pulls out a staple gun, though Mance is more worried about it being sanitary.

Low Ki is ready for Ricky Martinez, who is officially on his list.

Contra talks about being ready for Lawlor and the Von Erichs. Violence is promised.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

The rest of the Dynasty is here but Smith is on his own. Friedman bails to the floor at the bell and we hit the stall button for over a minute until Smith pulls him inside. The beating is on as the announcers talk about drugging people. Smith skins the cat and hits a big boot for two but has to stop and yell at Hammerstone. That’s enough of a distraction to let Friedman wrap the leg around the post to take over.

Friedman is smart enough to talk to the referee, allowing Holliday and Hammerstone to stay on the leg. We settle down to Friedman cannonballing onto the leg but Smith pulls him down into a leglock due to some rather high level grappling skills. A cross armbreaker is broken up as well and Friedman uses a Holliday distraction to choke with the scarf. Holliday tries it again so Friedman gets a shirt but Smith takes it away and chokes this time.

Unfortunately this time the referee catches him so Smith has to go with an enziguri for a Flair Flop. The Contra logo pops up on the screen and we come back with Smith hitting a top rope superplex for two. The powerslam gets the same and a jumping Tombstone knocks Friedman silly. Instead of covering though he hits a Swan Dive for two, with Holliday putting the foot on the rope.

Cue Brian Pillman Jr. to finally take care of Holliday but Friedman gets in a chop block. The Sharpshooter is broken up but Smith has to go after Hammerstone. Friedman’s rollup with feet on the ropes gets caught as Teddy Hart comes out to take care of Hammerstone. Friedman yells at the referee and gets shoved into the running powerslam to finally finish Friedman at 11:30.

Rating: B-. The story worked well though there was a little too much going on here. Smith’s knee was fine enough at the end, though I can buy him powering through and being able to muscle someone as small as Friedman up for the win. It also makes sense that Smith was fine when the Harts came out to even the odds so while it makes sense, it was a little too messy.

We cut to the back where Contra has attacked Lawlor again, plus Lawlor’s training partner Ariel Dominguez. Josef Samael throws fire at the camera to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This felt like a show where they covered everything to be covered in a good way. Above that though, I want to see where the stories are going so now I have a reason to keep watching. MLW has been on a nice little role at the moment and I’m liking then more every week. That’s a good place to be in and if they can keep it up, they should be fine.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #57
Date: May 11, 2019
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Jim Cornette

Things are starting to wrap up in this taping cycle and we’re coming up on a few big matches. Last week saw Salina de la Renta running things and a tease of a big fight with Sami Callihan but it wound up being Mance Warner instead. Therefore, there is a good chance we’ll be seeing Callihan going after Salina again soon. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Barrington Hughes/Ace Romero vs. Contra, which sounds like a sacrifice in the making.

Opening sequence.

Air Wolf vs. Rey Fenix

Wolf looks rather terrified and the announcers pick up on it. They shake hands to start with Fenix taking him to the mat for a hold that isn’t going to go anywhere. That’s reversed into a double arm crank from Wolf so Fenix flips up to his feet without much trouble. Fenix does a series of flips to get out of a wristlock and Wolf isn’t sure what to do here. They chop it out until Wolf gets in his first big(ish) offense with a springboard wristdrag.

Fenix is right back with his own armdrag to put Wolf on the floor but he’s right back in with a hurricanrana of his own. The big dive to the floor takes Fenix down again as he can’t figure out what to do with Wolf. Back in and Fenix’s rolling cutter is countered into a German suplex. Another German suplex gives Wolf two and a springboard Downward Spiral gets the same.

Fenix finally rolls through for a hard dropkick and they’re both down. Wolf gets tied in the ropes for a rope walk kick to the face as I want to throttle the fan with the air horn. That’s fine with Wolf, who is right back with a butterfly suplex into a DDT for two. Fenix catches him on top with a kick to the head but the Black Fire Driver is countered into a cradle to give Wolf the big upset at 9:48.

Rating: B-. That’s not the biggest surprise as the idea here was to give Wolf a rub before Fenix goes to MLW full time. Wolf hasn’t impressed me all that much yet but giving him some wins like this is a good idea, even if they don’t happen very often. Fenix brought him up a lot and that’s why they were put together.

Austin Aries is coming soon. Does he have to?

We look at Salina de la Renta’s problems with Sami Callihan and Mance Warner last week.

Salina isn’t happy with Mance, who she thinks does things to chickens. Next week, she wants Promociones Dorado vs. Callihan/Warner.

Barrington Hughes vs. Jacob Fatu

If there is any justice in the world, this should be about a minute long. Hughes knocks him into the corner for a splash but gets superkicked in the face. Something like a Whisper in the Wind (remember that Fatu is pushing 300lbs) finishes Fatu in 33 seconds. EXACTLY what it should have been.

The Hart Foundation is in a nice car and thank the Lucha Bros for dropping the titles. They don’t think much of MJF for a variety of reasons. As for Brian Pillman, he’ll gain a lot from competition, like a match against Rich Swann in the National Title tournament.

Alexander Hammerstone is looking forward to facing Gringo Loco in the tournament but he’s thinking about the celebration when he wins the title. MJF has even rented an elephant so Grandpappy Hammer and Weird Uncle Gary Hammer can come celebrate. He promises to win but leaves to take a call about the elephant.

We get the first Fury Road Control Center. We’ll see the tournament final to crown the first National Champion as well as the debuts of Ross and Marshall Von Erich.

Tom Lawlor is ready for Avalanche, because Tom is the only abominable snowman anyone needs to worry about.

Ariel Dominguez vs. Bryan Idol

Idol has some muscle on a somewhat small frame. Ariel gets sent into the corner for a running knee and a butterfly suplex into the same corner makes it even worse. A swinging layout Rock Bottom gets two as the not huge Idol is throwing around the tiny Dominguez. Idol gets two more off a shoulder breaker but misses a moonsault. That’s enough for Dominguez to hit a dropkick and tornado DDT, setting up a kick to the chest for two. A springboard tornado DDT into a small package (eventually as it was several covers before Dominguez tied the legs up) finishes Idol at 4:09.

Rating: D+. They lost me here as Dominguez is just too small and doesn’t do enough crazy athletic stuff to make up for it. The level of suspension of believe necessary for wrestling is very high at times and I can live with a lot, but this was just a bit too far. It’s not a bad match but I didn’t believe it and that’s a problem.

We look at Salina’s challenge again.

Warner and Callihan are in for the match. Warner’s eyes bugging out the whole time makes it that much better. Oh and it’s going to be a tag team fight instead of a match. I think that was already understood. They get in a bit of an argument over thumbs and kneepads going up and down.

Salina talks to Low Ki about his contract but Low Ki doesn’t like the promoter becoming the feature attraction. She even calls him Mr. Silvestri (his real name) to show you how serious it is.

National Title Tournament Semifinals: Gringo Loco vs. Alexander Hammerstone

The rest of the Dynasty lets Hammerstone do this one himself as the fans are way into Loco. Hammerstone powers him down to start as Loco is a little tentative to start. Loco gets thrown away again but manages to flip away for a standoff. The fans let Hammerstone know that he can’t do that and a running hurricanrana to the floor frustrates him even more.

Rating: C-. The botch was a one off miss as the rest of the match was perfectly fine. Hammerstone winning is the only call they had and a match against Pillman (or Swann) for the title could be rather entertaining. It’s clear that Hammerstone is a star in the making and pushing him like this is the only thing that can be done with him at the moment.

Post match Hammerstone says he’s a win away from the title because he’s no longer a prospect. Now, he’s the future champion.

Overall Rating: C. This wasn’t bad as they build towards the tournament and some stuff in the coming weeks, though the idea of another title when some of them don’t even make it onto the show doesn’t do much for me. I’m not sure how it’s going to go, but having so much stuff going on is going to become a problem. The show was good enough, but I’m worried about what’s coming in the future. Just stop doing so much stuff and let the stuff you have work well.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #54
Date: April 20, 2019
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Jim Cornette

You can see some stories coming into focus at the moment and that makes for some interesting stories. Tonight’s main event is Mance Warner vs. Sami Callihan, which should be a good way to go. Well maybe not good but at least a fun brawl. The problem is the main events are getting more and more brawl based and that can only last for so long. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Air Wolf/Rey Horus vs. Lucha Bros

Pentagon swears at Wolf in Spanish and we’re ready to go, allowing Cornette to rant about how much he can’t stand traveling in New York. Fenix and Wolf trade arm holds on the mat until a springboard armdrag sends Fenix outside. Pentagon superkicks Wolf down but Horus grabs an armdrag on Pentagon to take over again. Wolf and Horus’ dives are blocked by stereo kicks to the face and the fight heads outside with Fenix chopping Horus against the barricade.

Some more keep Wolf in trouble and Pentagon even takes the glove off to make it even better. The Bros unload with the superkicks, including a double shot to a kneeling Wolf. The flipping wheelbarrow splash gets two on Horus so it’s back to the chops between Wolf and Horus. A quick springboard Downward Spiral takes Fenix down so Pentagon comes back in for another superkick.

The Pentagon Driver gets two with Horus making the save this time around. Horus dives into a kick to the ribs but is fine enough to grab a Spanish Fly for two more. Not to be outdone, Fenix hits the spinning kick to the head, setting up the Black Fire Driver for another near fall. The Bros have had it though and it’s a double superkick into the spike Fear Factor for the pin at 7:43.

Rating: C+. Oh like this was going to be anything other than good. The Bros are one of it not the best tag team in the world today and they make anyone with them look that much better. Air Wolf has gotten so much better since his debut and while he’s still not great, he’s turned into someone who can have a good match against anyone. Having it be against the Lucha Bros just made it really easy.

Video on Contra vs. Tom Lawlor.

Salina de la Renta won’t say when LA Park will cash in his title shot because it doesn’t make sense to say when they’ll go for the title. She calls Sami Callihan a warthog so here’s Sami to break up the press conference.

Ace Romero vs. Josef Samael

The fight starts on the ramp with Samael already bailing. A chop has no effect on the huge Romero but kicking the ropes as he gets inside certainly does. Some crossface shots keep Romero in trouble but he drops backwards onto Samael for the breather. Romero goes up top and gets slammed down, with the crash knocking the referee off his feet. To go really old school, Samael loads up the boot and kicks Romero in the face for the pin at 3:13.

Rating: D. Romero is a monster but Samael shouldn’t have been selling that much in one of his first matches. The team is an awesome group but Samael isn’t the most thrilling guy in the world. Believe it or not he’s a former NWA World Champion, which thankfully hasn’t been mentioned yet. You can figure out why it’s a good idea on your own.

Post match the beatdown is on until Barrington Hughes comes in and gets beaten down as well.

Lawlor says if Contra wants to be famous, come after the champ. He’ll face any combination of them face to face, man to boys. It’s time to remind people how filthy he can be, and he has friends coming.

We look at LA Park winning Battle Riot II.

We look back at Sami going after Salina earlier tonight.

Ricky Martinez comes up to Sami and the fight is on in the stairwell.

We look back at the Hart Foundation stealing the Dynasty’s car.

We see the Harts inside the car, with smoking and cats doing various cat things. They imply that something is in the glove compartment and also suggest that MJF did various, uh, favors, to get into the Dynasty. Hart: “With those tight pants of his.”

Gringo Loco vs. Puma King

How many times can we see this match? Loco dives over him to start, setting up an anklescissors for no effect. Cornette goes into his regular explanation of why luchadors roll around so much as they flip to a standoff. Puma won’t shake hands, instead going with a spinebuster and low superkick. The top rope hurricanrana sends Loco to the floor for the springboard dive.

Back in and King hits what looked to be a low blow but Loco is fine enough for a springboard cutter for two of his own. King hits a heck of a pop up powerbomb and goes up top, only to get caught in a super Spanish Fly for two more. Puma grabs a superplex and rolls into a second but the third is blocked. The top rope hurricanrana is countered into a tiger bomb to give Loco the pin at 6:53.

Rating: C-. The match was fine but it feels like we’ve seen this one a few times now. The point of this show is to mix the styles up but having the two people who wrestle a similar style doesn’t work over and over. It was entertaining, but I rolled my eyes when I saw who was going to be involved.

Salina has a proposition for Mance Warner if he’ll take care of Sami for her. Warner turns the hat around but his granddaddy Mad Dog taught him what happens if you lay down with women like him. He’ll pass on those fleas. Salina: “Well….uh….your genitalia has fleas!”

The Dynasty drinks Red Bull with MJF saying they’re not firing on all cylinders. The losses have been flukes and they want to take the Hart Foundation down. We get a group cheer, but Hammerstone doesn’t seem convinced.

Sami Callihan vs. Mance Warner

After Cornette gets in a shouting match with Callihan, the brawl is on in a hurry. They fight to the floor with Sami choking against the barricade but the first eye poke gets Mance out of trouble. Beer can shots to the head keep Sami down but he finds a chair and drives it into Warner’s throat. A suplex on the floor (after several block attempts) just wakes Warner up so Sami gives him another one onto an open chair.

As tends to be the case in every MLW main event, countouts and DQ’s aren’t a thing as Mance sends Sami to his knees off a chop. They head inside with a chair being thrown in and the bell rings….which seems to be a mistake. Mance uses the distraction to chair Sami in the back as the announcers get in an argument about Sami being a guest on Cornette’s podcast. Sami gets creative by tying Mance up with his own suspenders and wrapping a chair around his neck. Warner is back up with a Bionic elbow but the drop toehold sends the chair into the throat again.

That doesn’t seem to do too much damage as Mance sits him in the corner and hits a headbutt. Sami is right back with a Tombstone through the open chair….for two. If that’s not going to be the finish, don’t do the spot. A table (with only one leg) is brought in and set up in the corner with Sami spearing him through it for one. Back up and Sami spits in his face so it’s a lariat into the knee to the face for two more. Mance loads up something in the corner but Ricky Martinez and Hijo de LA Park run in to jump him for the DQ at 10:05. Yes a DQ after all that.

Rating: C. The near falls were ridiculous here but the problem is that it was another brawl in the main event. That has been the case way too many times lately and it’s getting really repetitive. Warner not losing is a help, but he needs to get a pin in one of these matches at some point.

Post match Sami makes the save and it’s a handshake between Callihan and Warner. They keep brawling with Part and Martinez to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. I liked most of the show but it’s starting to feel repetitive around here. It seems that almost every show is nearly the same and a lot of the feuds are going longer than they should. It’s still an entertaining show and doesn’t feel long at all, but they need something fresh in here to keep things going.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #51
Date: March 30, 2019
Location: Cicero Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Jim Cornette, Rich Bocchini

It’s the last show in Chicago before we head up to New York for Battle Riot. The problem is this show doesn’t really do much to build towards its specials, meaning it’s not going to be much more than a regular episode. That’s not the worst thing in the world though and this week will feature Teddy’s Hart’s open challenge for the Middleweight Title. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Salina de la Renta sends El Hijo de LA Park somewhere to give someone whatever he wants for an advantage in Battle Riot.

Opening sequence.

We open with a preview of Battle Riot, a two hour special.

Recap of Teddy Hart getting arrested and Dynasty destroying Brian Pillman Jr. last week.

Ariel Dominguez vs. Daga

Low Ki is on commentary due to ripping off Daga’s ear a few months back. The fans are behind Daga as the much smaller Ariel spins out of a wristlock. A headlock works a bit better for Daga and a dropkick puts Dominguez down, getting the fans right back into it. Some running forearms keep Daga in control and the announcers talk about Konnan. Dominguez gets thrown into the air for a big crash to the mat and a running kick to the face gets two.

Dominguez finally gets in a pair of elbows to the face and a springboard tornado DDT gets a delayed two (Low Ki: “COVER HIM! COVER HIM!”). Daga gets sent outside for a dive, with Dominguez barely being able to take him down. Back in and Daga gets some knees up, followed by a right hand to the face to really take over again. A heck of a release German suplex drops Dominguez again and a single arm implant DDT gives Daga the pin at 7:49.

Rating: C-. Dominguez has a lot of fire but he’s small enough that it’s really hard to believe that he could actually pull something like this off. Daga is a bigger star both figuratively and literally, making this feel longer than it needed to. Low Ki vs. Daga should be fine for a hard hitting brawl, and listening to Low Ki is far more fun than it should be.

Post match referees have to break up Daga and Low Ki.

Last week Salina and LA Park’s victory interview was interrupted by Mance Warner, who was beaten down for his efforts.

Myron Reed has accepted the open challenge for the Middleweight Title because he wants a chance. Reed gets straight to the point: he’s taking the belt and heating up Major League Wrestling.

The Hart Foundation isn’t happy with the Dynasty and Teddy promises to throw them into a furnace like coal to keep the fire going.

Ricky Martinez vs. Air Wolf

This is Air Wolf’s (a masked 19 year old from Minneapolis) debut. An early hurricanrana has Martinez in trouble and a springboard dropkick sends him outside. There’s a good looking no hands dive and a Salina distraction doesn’t work, allowing Wolf to kick him in the head. He tries to get just a bit too high flying though and Martinez takes him off the barricade, setting up the Madison Rayne faceplants back inside.

Martinez hits an old Bobo Brazil kick to the head, followed by the Tully Blanchard slingshot suplex and you know Cornette is right there with the historical names. A neckbreaker gets two but Wolf is back with a series of kicks and a 619 over the bottom rope. Wolf’s slingshot DDT is more of a slingshot armdrag though Martinez looks a little dead. Back up and Wolf gets caught on top, allowing Martinez to hit a pop up knee for the pin at 6:26.

Rating: D+. Wolf had some nice stuff but he never really popped in a way that made me care about him. That being said, at 19 years old he’s in need of a lot more ring time so the extra polish is going to help him a lot. Martinez is still very good as a midcard heel like this and he’s a perfect fit as Salina’s muscle.

Recap of Contra’s attacks.

Dynasty is happy with destroying the Hart Foundation (though MJF isn’t happy with Hammerstone’s arm around his shoulder) because they were all frauds. Pillman’s necklace shattered last week because it was cheap, but diamonds like them are forever. They’re going to win Battle Riot.

Battle Riot Control Center with WXW’s Avalanche Robert Dreissker, Jimmy Yuta, Rey Horus, Kotta Brazil, Ricky Martinez, Lance Anoa’i, Myron Reed, Richard Hollday, Rich Swann, Jordan Oliver, Leo Brien, Michael Patrick and Dan Severn, among all the other previously announced names. That’s looking pretty good, though I still feel bad about the destruction of the Dirty Blondes.

Tom Lawlor isn’t sure what to make of Jimmy Havoc but he wants revenge for Havoc being the last man to defeat him. Havoc might as well check into the hospital right now because Lawlor is putting him down and he’s staying there.

Daga wants a rematch with Low Ki and he’s going to kill him.

Salina is on the phone with whomever she sent El Hijo de LA Park to help but Hijo isn’t there yet. LA Park says he’s got this.

Middleweight Title: Teddy Hart vs. Myron Reed

Reed is challenging and Hart is still banged up with bad ribs. We hit the posing on the ropes and Reed bails to the floor as the early stalling continues. They finally lock up over a minute in and Hart grabs the arm to put Reed in trouble. A shoulder drops Reed again but it’s a nipup in short order. Hart goes with the strength in the form of a snap powerslam, which bangs up his own ribs even worse.

Project Ciampa makes it even worse on Reed, though again with the same problem for Hart. The Arabian Press gets two but Reed finally gets smart by going after the heavily taped ribs. Sometimes just kicking a guy in the bandages over and over is the best strategy. Hart can’t come back with a German suplex so Reed hits him in the ribs to keep control. A Codebreaker gives Reed two more and Hart gets thrown outside, followed by a whip into the barricade.

Back in and a top rope splash gets two but Reed spends too much time yelling at the referee and gets taken down for an armbar. The ribs flare up again though and Hart has to let go, instead heading up top. That’s delayed as well and it’s a dropkick into a super hurricanrana for two. Reed walks into something like a hammerlock fisherman’s DDT but the Lionsault hits knees. The kickout means another argument with the referee, allowing Hart to grab a backslid of all things for the pin to retain at 10:59.

Rating: C+. There was a story here and the injury was the only way to make you believe that Reed had a chance. Hart and the Hart Foundation are one of the hottest acts in the company and it’s a good idea to have him overcoming the odds here. It was almost nothing but waiting around until the ending with Hart winning, and really that’s just fine.

Overall Rating: C. This was all it needed to be with a completely watchable show in the vein of a good Ring of Honor episode. They didn’t do much for Battle Riot but that’s the kind of show where one match is going to be more than enough to make the card work. Now just do that show right and we can get on to the stuff they’ve been setting up over the last few weeks.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6