Fusion #99
Date: February 29, 2020
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: AJ Kirsch, Rich Bocchini

We’re off to a new taping cycle and that means some big things are in store. This time around that means we have the return of LA Park, who is teaming up with his son to face Contra. I know Park isn’t the biggest deal to a lot of fans but he has a strong reputation around here and that could help things. Let’s get to it.

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

Contra is ready to take things worldwide and tonight they’re conquering the Parks.

Opening sequence.

AJ Kirsch tries to bring Mance Warner to the ring but it’s the Dynasty (minus Maxwell Jacob Friedman) instead. Richard Holliday, with the Caribbean Title, says that Kirsch failed to entertain the fans but they need to be educated instead. Therefore, it’s time for Rich Talk, so Holliday makes it clear that the fans are breathing rarefied air. He puts over Alexander Hammerstone as the most dominant champion in MLW, allowing Hammerstone to call the fans fat.

Hammerstone brags about Gino Medina and says he’s ready to crush Konnan, who comes out to interrupt. Konnan talks about how great the fans are in Philadelphia before starting with the insults. He only offered Gino a spot because of Gino’s father so violence is threatened, only to have Mance Warner, Savio Vega and Logan Creed cut them off. Warner sees a problem in the Dynasty stepping to Konnan like this so let’s have a six man tag instead. The fight is on and ring the bell.

Savio Vega/Mance Warner/Logan Creed vs. Dynasty

Konnan is on commentary and it’s a big brawl to start. With everyone else on the floor, Creed chokes on Holliday, who manages to knock him down to one knee. Hammerstone and Medina take Holliday’s place but can’t beat him down. We settle down to Hammerstone and Creed starting things off, with Creed getting choked in the corner to slow him down for the first time. Hammerstone pulls him into the corner again so Medina can choke this time.

A heck of a release German suplex drops Creed but he pops back up with a clothesline. The hotish tag brings in Vega for the spinwheel kick but the Dynasty is back in to take over. Everything breaks down and Creed hits a double chokeslam on Hammerstone and Medina. Vega is sent into the post but Creed dives onto Medina and Hammerstone, with Warner being smart enough to step to the side. In the melee, Holliday hits Vega with the Caribbean Title and steals the pin at 5:59.

Rating: D+. I’m not sure what they were going for here as Warner would seem to be the one that they wanted to push, but this was far more about Creed than anyone else. It wasn’t much of a match either, but the Dynasty winning is fine, especially with Vega taking the fall. The Dynasty vs. Warner/Creed is good, though they’re going to need someone other than Vega if they want it to work.

Post match Konnan sneaks in and hits Medina with the slap jack. The losers and Konnan consume beer.

Post break Konnan is still in the ring but here’s Injustice to interrupt him. Jordan Oliver says it’s awesome that Konnan is almost as old as the building and you can see the dust falling off of his face. These people like Konnan but they like trash too so that doesn’t mean much. Konnan laughs it off and says Oliver would be traded around prison for some Cinnabons. Cue Brian Pillman Jr. with a chair to chase off Injustice.

Injustice vs. Zenshi/Laredo Kid

Pillman is on commentary and it’s Oliver/Kotto Brazil for Injustice with Myron Reed at ringside. Hold on though as Injustice has to undergo an extensive check for weapons. Kid and Zenshi jump them to start with Zenshi and Oliver officially starting. Oliver gets launched over the top so Zenshi can dive onto both Oliver and Myron Reed. Back in and Kid hits a Michinoku Driver for two but Reed pulls Kid down for a crotching against the post. Kid gets taken into the corner and sent head first into the middle buckle.

A German suplex out of the corner gets two but Kid pops Oliver upside the head so Zenshi can come in with a backflip kick to Brazil’s head. Kotto is right back with a Code Red out of the corner with Zenshi having to make a save. Zenshi tornado DDTs Oliver to the floor but Brazil is right back with a baseball slide to Zenshi’s face. Back in and a slingshot Stunner sets up a crucifix bomb to finish Kid at 6:38 (with a double pin, which the referee doesn’t mind).

Rating: C+. It was rather fast paced throughout and that’s what you want out of something like this. Jordan is one of the most unintentionally entertaining performers outside of the ring but he can back it up in the ring. They didn’t bother with anything but flying around the ring like crazy here and that’s what they should have done.

Post match Injustice goes after Pillman but Kid and Zenshi get up for the save without Pillman having to do a thing. Kid even counts the pin on Reed and holds up the title.

Tom Lawlor and Team Filthy can’t believe that people in Texas are so annoyed at the Texas flag being used in various ways. They don’t like anything Texas related, including Texas toast or Walker Texas Ranger. If the Von Erichs love Texas so much, why do they have Hawaii on their trunks? Lawlor agrees that Erick Stevens is a mercenary but they have formed a bond. The Von Erichs are more hat than cattle so Team Filthy is taking them out.

Video on LA Park vs. Jacob Fatu from Superfight.

Killer Kross is still coming. The interesting thing at this point is which promotion he debuts for first.

Injustice isn’t happy with Pillman interfering when he can’t even make 205 Live. Reed: “You’re fat bro.” They have their own crazy white boy and they’ll be watching Pillman vs. Jimmy Havoc next week.

Jimmy Havoc is ready to give Pillman a lethal dose of acid rain.

The Von Erichs swear revenge against Team Filthy.

Intimidation Games is coming, with AAA’s Pagano making his debut.

King Mo doesn’t like Low Ki.

Los Parks vs. Contra Unit

Lumberjack match and it’s Simon Gotch/Josef Samael for Contra. The Parks do their chair dance but Contra jumps them from behind to start. Some chair shots to the back keep the Parks down and it’s time to choke in the corner. The Parks are back with a double dropkick to the floor so the lumberjacks can blow off some steam. Back in and the Parks use the chairs to take over but Samael and Park clothesline each other down. Hijo tells Gotch to hit him so the slugout is on.

A hurricanrana puts Gotch into the corner and it’s a charge from Park. That lets Hijo swivel his hips a bit but Samael pulls out the spike to stab Hijo down. Now they bother to settle down to a regular tag match with Samael stomping at Hijo and yelling at Park. Hijo is sent outside and this time the lumberjacks just throw him back inside. A Backstabber gets Hijo out of trouble and the hot tag brings in Park to beat up both of them. The spear hits Samael and Hijo gets Gotch’s spike. Gotch is knocked cold and Hijo moonsaults onto the lumberjacks, leaving Park to flip dive onto Gotch for the pin at 9:04.

Rating: C. The lumberjacks didn’t change much here and that’s always a possibility in a match like this. The Parks still don’t keep my attention most of the time but they kept it short and chaotic enough to make it better. It’s fine to have them back, but they’re not exactly a thrilling team in the first place.

Overall Rating: C+. They’re setting up some things for the future and I’m looking forward to seeing what that is going to mean in the future. The wrestling was hit and miss here and as can be the case, that’s not the most important thing on an MLW show. I’m curious to see where things go from here and Intimidation Games could be good, depending on what they put together for it.

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

Fusion #87
Date: December 7, 2019
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: AJ Kirsch, Rich Bocchini

We’re still down in Florida and things got a little more interesting last week with Tom Lawlor turning on the Von Erichs. That should give you a big feud on its own and we should be in for some intense revenge on the way to their next big show. The rest of the show should be fun as well, which tends to be the case around here. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at Lawlor turning on Ross Von Erich last week so Jacob Fatu could retain the World Title.

Opening sequence.

Battle Royal

Myron Reed, Kotto Brazil, Jordan Oliver, Richard Holiday, Gringo Loco, Leo Brien, Timothy Thatcher, Zenshi, Douglas James, Grogan, Barrington Hughes, Savio Vega, Ricky Martinez, Dr. Dax, Dominic Garrini, Unknown

Alex Hammerstone is on commentary and there are a lot of people not named included here. Hughes gets ganged out to start and it’s time to fight against the ropes for some teased eliminations. Zenshi makes some awesome saves as Grogan and Brien brawl in the corner. Martinez and Brazil have a staredown but Grogan glares at both of them.

Oliver tries to make peace so Grogan gets rid of Oliver, Reed, Martinez and Brazil in a row. Vega and Brien eliminate each other and Zenshi gets rid of one of the unnamed members of American Top Team. Zenshi walks on his hands to avoid an elimination and it’s another unnamed entrant being tossed. Holiday powerbombs the other Top Team member and dump shim too.

Zenshi gets tossed as well, only to have Garrini get rid of Holiday. Grogan tosses Garrini and we’re down to Grogan, Thatcher, James and Loco. Everyone goes after Grogan to start and it’s Loco being thrown out first. James follows him in a hurry and we’re down to two, with Thatcher uppercutting away. Thatcher’s armbar has no effect and it’s a big boot to give Grogan the win at 9:15.

Rating: D. It wasn’t anything of a match but it made Grogan look like a monster, which is entirely the point. Battle royals are great ways to go about doing something like this and Grogan looked dominant enough. I’m not sure how much muscle the Dynasty needs given Hammerstone but at least Grogan looks different enough to make a difference.

We look at Myron Reed winning the Middleweight Title by means of a fireball from Contra.

Zero Hour is coming.

We look at Lawlor’s heel turn again.

Lawlor joins us via satellite for a sitdown interview. He was tired of the Von Erichs taking all of the glory, like they’ve done for thirty years. Lawlor has no loyalty to them or to Contra, but his options are open. Maybe he can even reform Team Filthy, but what matters is that the camera focuses on him, like it should.

The Opera Cup is back next week.

Savio Vega vs. Leo Brien

They’re fighting in a swamp because….I have no idea really. They hit each other with a cowbell and then Vega hits him in the head with a branch. Vega pulls at his mouth but takes a cowbell to the head for two. The brawling continues as Bocchini accurately asks “WHO CAME UP WITH THIS???” Some choking with the bullrope sets up a spinwheel kick to give Vega the pin at 4:38.

Rating: F. What the heck did I just watch??? Who thought this was a good idea and why in the world was it allowed to air? And Vega gets the win? I don’t remember the last time I’ve had this many questions from such a short match but this was downright confusing, not to mention quite the waste of television time. I’d love some more information on this because it’s a heck of a bizarre choice.

The Von Erichs aren’t happy with Lawlor but they aren’t done with him either.

ACH is coming back. I’m not sure how well that is going to go.

We see the last few minutes of Von Erich vs. Fatu in case you didn’t get the idea of the heel turn yet.

Buy merch!

Event ads.

Video on the AAA partnership.

Hart Foundation vs. Contra Unit

Brian Pillman Jr./Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Ikuro Kwon/Simon Gotch here. Kwon and Pillman start things off with some shoving as the mind games are on early. Pillman takes him down for the quickly broken chinlock before having to spin out of a wristlock. A kick to the face from the mat puts Kwon down but Pillman….I think slips and collides with the rope so Kwon can take over. Gotch comes in for a suplex and then a belly to back version to mix it up a bit. Pillman comes back on Kwon and carries him over to Smith for the tag in something you don’t see too often.

That means the VERY delayed vertical suplex (Rich to AJ: “Can you do that?” AJ: “Uh…..sure?”) and it’s already back to Pillman, which seems a little soon. Pillman can’t do his own vertical suplex as Kwon slips out and Gotch comes back in to kick him between the shoulders. The chinlock goes on for a bit until Pillman fights up and brings Smith back in. House is cleaned, including a big boot to Gotch as everything breaks down. Pillman superkicks Kwon and the springboard Hart Attack finishes Gotch at 10:06.

Rating: C. Perfectly watchable match here as the Harts get a somewhat surprising win. You don’t expect the big villains to lose like this but it makes sense to give the Harts some more momentum. I’m not sure what is next for the team with Teddy Hart gone, but they could at least be fine with the two man group.

Overall Rating: D+. I’m still not past that swamp deal but that’s another story. This wasn’t a very good show with the main event being the only decent thing on the whole card. We did get an explanation from Lawlor which is always appreciated but other than that, I’m not sure what to say about this show. Not terrible, but they seemed to be trying desperately to fill in their time this week.

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

Fusion #49
Date: March 16, 2019
Location: Cicero Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Jim Cornette, Rich Bocchini

We’re still in Chicago and that’s a good thing at the moment. The last few shows have been entertaining and there’s a good chance that this is going to be more of the same. In this case we’re going to have the Hart Foundation looking for revenge on Maxwell Jacob Friedman and Richard Holliday, who recently attacked Teddy Hart. Let’s get to it.

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

We recap Contra’s actions to date, including last week’s destruction of Ace Romero.

Opening sequence.

El Hijo de LA Park vs. Puma King

Mance Warner sits in on commentary, which is one of the best things possible around here. As Cornette gives us a lucha history lesson, they trade a bunch of rolls and flips as Warner suggests punching someone in the face. A running hurricanrana sends Park to the floor for a middle rope dive. That’s enough time for Cornette and Warner to talk about Warner’s hometown of Bucksnort, Tennessee, with Cornette being more than comfortable with the southern hick style of humor.

Salina de la Renta trips Puma to the floor and that means a suicide dive from Park. A chair to the back has Puma in more trouble and a Salina distraction lets Park low blow him with a chair. There’s a whip with a TV cord as Cornette is wondering how we haven’t had a DQ yet. Fair enough. Back in and King hits a tilt-a-whirl slam as we hear about Mance’s cigar smoking grandmother running a speakeasy.

King grabs some chairs of his own, one of which goes between Park’s leg and gets crushed by another (Mance: “He done broke it off!”). Code Red gives Park two and King’s powerbomb gets the same. Puma heads up but gets chaired in the back (with the chair breaking) to tie him into the Tree of Woe.

That’s broken up with an anklescissors and a Rick Rude hip swivel of all things. Puma gets caught with a super Spanish Fly for two and there’s a belly to back kneeling piledriver. Instead of covering though, Park goes outside and spits at Warner. Mance spits right back and hits him with Cornette’s racket, leaving King to hit a top rope Codebreaker into la majistral for the pin at 10:08.

Rating: B-. Good action, funny commentary and a build towards next week. Throw in Salina and I’m not sure what else you could ask for in a match like this. Cornette fitting right in there with Warner helped too and I had a really good time here. They also didn’t stay too long, which can be a problem with matches like this (or and kind actually).

Warner high fives Puma post match.

MJF and Holliday combine to imitate Teddy Hart before saying they’re winning the titles.

Teddy Hart says they’ll retain while Brian Pillman trains in a pool.

Another look at Contra Unit.

Last week’s call from the head physician was in fact a fake. That makes sense.

Tom Lawlor doesn’t care what the doctors have to say. They’re great at their job but they don’t know what’s in a fighter’s heart. So they’re not a cardiologist. Lawlor wants any of the Contra Unit. He’s going to end their time in MLW before it gets off to a start. As usual: good energy but needs coaching.

Contra Unit vs. Chico Adams/Vertigo Vera

Jacob Fatu/Josef Samael for Contra here and they jump the jobbers before the bell. We get some more details of the team, including that Fatu is part of the Anoa’i family is considered the black sheep, meaning he didn’t train with them and doesn’t speak to them. The Samoan drop plants Adams and Josef brings in the spike for the DQ at 1:13.

Post match Fatu hits a pair of springboard moonsaults (he’s got some size to him too so that’s impressive stuff). The nearly required fireball goes into the other jobber’s face and the medics finally come in. We also get the jobbers’ names as they’re being taken out, though Fatu isn’t done and hits a third moonsault to Adams as he’s on the stretcher. Fans start throwing things into the ring and we go to a test pattern to make things even better. Rather impressive squash here and Contra look like monsters and it got even better with the post match stuff.

Battle Riot II Control Center with LA Park, Sami Callihan, El Hijo de LA Park, Fenix, Brian Pillman Jr., Gringo Loco, and newcomer Ken Kerbis being added to the namesake match.

Salina de la Renta and LA Park say he’ll win Battle Riot.

Jimmy Havoc needs to return already.

Quick recap of MJF and Holliday injuring Teddy Hart a few weeks back.

Here are MJF and Holliday for the main event with Friedman mocking the fans for not speaking English. He looks down at the mat to talk to Stu Hart and says Teddy has ruined the Hart Family legacy. The only legacy that matters now is the Dynasty’s.

Tag Team Titles: Hart Foundation vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman/Richard Holliday

Friedman and Holliday are challenging and it’s Teddy/Davey Boy Smith Jr. defending though Teddy is very banged up. We’re not ready to go just yet though as MJF has to shove Brian Pillman on the floor first. The bell rings and MJF bails to the floor as the stalling continues. Holliday joins him before taking the tag and we finally get the first contact after over a minute in.

MJF gets knocked off the apron, leaving Holliday to get sunset flipped into a belly to back suplex from Smith. The delayed vertical suplex makes it even worse for Holliday and the top rope moonsault connects, though it hurts Hart’s bad ribs. A shot to the ribs is enough to put Teddy in trouble though and now MJF is willing to come in for some stomping. Teddy bails to the floor and a whip into the barricade bangs up the ribs even more, with Cornette nearly getting knocked over in the process.

Back in and Holliday puts on a Sharpshooter (BECAUSE OF COURSE HE DOES) with Smith making a quick save. Friedman comes in with the hanging piledriver into an abdominal stretch, with an assist from the apron of course. Teddy gets out and, just because of course, snaps off a headscissors into a Canadian Destroyer. That’s enough for the tag off to Smith and it’s time to clean house. A tiger suplex gets two on MJF and a Batista Bomb gets the same. The Doomsday Destroyer is loaded up but here’s Alexander Hammerstone of all people to chair down the Harts for the DQ at 11:00.

Rating: C+. Not too bad here and I’m rather interested in the Hammerstone deal. It didn’t make a ton of sense to have three Harts against two villains and adding in a monster to cancel out Davey is a good move. Friedman and Holliday didn’t feel like threats to the titles but putting that kind of muscle with them changes things and extends the feud’s life. Smart idea there, and even better since Hammerstone didn’t have anything to do.

Post match the beatdown is on (with Cornette calling MJF a dyslexic masseuse because he rubs you the wrong way) with the Harts being cleared out to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. I had a good time with this show as they started taking care of some of the new stars they have around. With some of the bigger companies lurking around the MLW talent, new stars need to be presented and that’s what they did here. Nice show, and with Battle Riot coming up, there’s another chance to set things up. I like Hammerstone and Warner getting pushes and stories, so hopefully the smart booking continues.

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