Fusion #76
Date: September 21, 2019
Location: Nytex Sports Center, North Richland Hills, Texas
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

It’s time for the fallout from last week’s War Chamber, meaning it’s time we get ready for the next World Title challenger. Since the champ’s team lost last week though, odds are we get to wait on that for a little bit. Instead tonight is about the Tag Team Titles, with the Dynasty defending against the Hart Foundation in 2/3 falls match. Let’s get to it.

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

After War Chamber, a bloody Josef Samael says this isn’t over with the Von Erichs. He’s coming for both the kids and David Von Erich himself. Hail Contra.

Opening sequence.

Jordan Oliver vs. Zenshi

The rest of Injustice is at ringside. Oliver flips out of a wristlock to start so Zenshi walks on his hands and armdrags him down instead. Back up and a springboard headscissors doesn’t work on Zenshi, who avoids a dropkick and hits a standing shooting star for two. An Injustice distraction lets Oliver grab a super anklescissors but Zenshi flips out of that too.

Kotto Brazil finally helps Oliver out with a trip so Oliver can chop away in the corner. That’s not slowing him down either as Zenshi comes right back with his own shots, including some to break out of a waistlock. Oliver finally gets in a belly to back for two and a dropkick to the back of the head makes it even worse. Zenshi gets sent to the apron but he’s fine enough to hit a shooting star off the apron to take Reed down.

A kick to the head into a corkscrew splash gives Zenshi two so it’s time for Brazil to yell at the referee. That means there’s no count off of Oliver’s backslide so Zenshi gets up and hits his running spinning cutter. That’s good for two as Reed pulls the referee out, allowing Oliver to hit a Stunner onto the apron. A springboard 450 from Reed, with his chest protector, finishes Zenshi at 7:10.

Rating: C-. Zenshi wasn’t interested in selling much here but it was a smart way to go with Injustice cheating all over the place for the win. It’s not like Oliver is all that interesting on his own so the trio is a better way to go. Not a very good match, but Zenshi can do some cool spots with that running cutter being a highlight.

Post match the beatdown is on until Gringo Loco makes the save with a chair.

Dominic Garrini is still coming.

Savio Vega has been cleared to return after being injured by Alexander Hammerstone. I’m sure four people are thrilled.

Mance Warner is out of jail thanks to his uncle and he’s looking for Jimmy Havoc. They’ll be having a Bunkhouse Brawl where anything goes in the building goes.

Video on the Hart Foundation vs. the Dynasty, which has been going on for a long time, meaning I’ve been tempted to write Hart Dynasty several times now.

Richard Holliday joins us from the gym at 6am….for a tan.

MLW is returning to Orlando.

We look back at War Chamber with the Von Erichs and Tom Lawlor defeating Contra.

The Von Erichs want the Tag Team Titles. Makes sense.

We look back at LA Parka and Salina de la Renta announcing their plans to challenge for the World Title at SuperFight.

Salina and Jimmy Havoc are ready to destroy Jacob Fatu and Mance Warner. By the end of tonight, Jimmy will be drinking Warner’s blood. Salina: “He’s my favorite.”

Tag Team Titles: Dynasty vs. Hart Foundation

Dynasty (Holliday/MJF with Aria Blake) is defending and this is 2/3 falls with Teddy Hart/Davey Boy Smith Jr. for the Harts. Thankfully we get some Big Match Intros, partially because the match deserves it and partially because they had half an hour and eating up some time is a good idea. Tony on seeing MJF on Rosie O’Donnell as a kid: “I never have advocated hitting children. You shouldn’t do it. But I wanted to smack that little son of a b**** in the mouth.”

The Dynasty does Rock Paper Scissors to determine who starts, ala the New Age Outlaws and the Outsiders. Teddy breaks it up and the bell rings so we hit the stall button as the champs walk around on the floor. Hart’s Arabian moonsault takes everyone down and it’s all Harts early. They keep fighting on the floor with Teddy sending MJF face first into the bell, with Tony saying the match just started and making fun of the referee. Pay attention chum. We settle down to Teddy kicking MJF out to the floor as Tony and Rich keep going about the bell not ringing before the fight.

Back in and Hart works on MJF’s arm, including the Rings of Saturn. Somehow MJF manages to shout at a fan while still screaming in pain because he’s that kind of a talent. With Hart in awe of MJF’s abilities, it’s Smith coming in to shove Holliday around. Smith wins a wrestle off and gets two off a headlock takeover. A keylock works a bit better, followed by a release German suplex to send Holliday flying.

That’s enough for the Dynasty to head to the back but they’re dragged back in rather quickly. Everyone gets back inside and an atomic drop has Holliday’s eyes bugging out. Hart gets two off a neckbreaker and a snap powerslam is good for the same. Holliday is back up with a spinning spinebuster for his own two and the champs start taking over. The Paisan elbow gets two and Blake goes to rake the eyes, only to have Teddy bite her fingers in a smart bit.

A reverse tornado DDT gets Hart out of trouble and it’s Smith coming back in to take over. We get what looked to be some miscommunication between Smith and Holliday but Davey hits a powerslam anyway. A top rope headbutt gets two on Holliday and a delayed piledriver is good for the same. Holliday jawbreaks his way to freedom from a sleeper and they collide for a knockdown. MJF shoves him onto Smith….for the first fall at 17:24. Tony: “I never would have believed that.”

We get a thirty second rest period and are told that Warner vs. Havoc is confirmed for next week. MJF hits Smith in the head and gets a rather scary glare, plus some hard rams into the buckle. Hart comes back in for the Canadian Destroyer, followed by Project Ciampa to Holliday. The super Canadian Destroyer sets up the moonsault elbow to tie it up at 20:11.

That lets us hear about Douglas James vs. Timothy Thatcher next week before we come back to Holliday breaking up Hart’s hammerlock DDT. Everything breaks down and Austin Aries comes out to hit Hart with a title belt, followed by a brainbuster onto the apron. Aries asks if he has Hart’s attention and drops the belt in the aisle as Hart is done on the floor. Hart can’t beat the count and the Dynasty retains at 23:46.

Rating: B. This got a ton of time, which is exactly what should be happening in a big match like this with a wrestling based gimmick. I like the ending as well as they set up a big showdown at SuperFight and the feud should be over, allowing the Dynasty to move on to the Von Erichs. It’s a good match and the time flew by, which is always a worry in a match this big and long.

Hart is out cold and has to be carried out to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was all about the big main event and I liked what we got overall. The show was build around one match and that match more than delivered so it’s hart to argue against the whole thing. SuperFight is shaping up and that’s a good sign given how close that show actually is. I liked what we got here and with all of the big shows going on elsewhere, it’s nice to have a good, solid, hour long show for a change.

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:

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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:

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Fusion #55
Date: April 27, 2019
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Jim Cornette, Rich Bocchini

We’re still in New York and that means it’s time for Jim Cornette’s head to continue exploding. The main event this week isn’t your usual violent brawl, as this one is a different kind of brawl. In this case it’s a tables match between the Dynasty and the Hart Foundation, which has been a rather nice feud. Let’s get to it.

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

Richard Holliday and Alexander Hammerstone are leaving the building and find that the Hart Foundation have trashed their car again.

Opening sequence.

The National Openweight Title is coming. Seems to be a midcard title.

Jordan Oliver vs. Kotto Brazil

Oliver takes him into the corner to start so Kotto comes out with a dropkick. Cornette is too busy trying to figure out why Brazil losing an eye in a bar fight isn’t treated as a bigger deal as Kotto hits a dive to the floor. The charge only hits the post though and Oliver goes very evil by going after the good eye. A spinning kick to the face sets up a chinlock but Brazil pops up and hits a hurricanrana.

The Blockbuster into a frog splash gives Kotto two but here are Ricky Martinez and Salina de la Renta for a distraction. Oliver’s Stunner gets two so Brazil hits one of his own to send Jordan to the floor. That means a suicide dive and a second one makes it even worse for Jordan. Martinez breaks up the third so Kotto hits an even better one to take Martinez out. Back in and Jordan hits a springboard cutter (that looked good) for the upset pin at 6:32.

Rating: C-. There was a lot going on here and the ending works fine as Brazil lost thanks to a pair of interferences. The problem though is Jordan looks like he weighs about 110lbs and has arms that Adam Cole would find skinny. The match was the usual entertaining stuff from Kotto, but Jordan’s look was rather distracting throughout.

Avalanche Robert Dreissker is getting a World Title shot at some point in the future.

Avalanche is coming for the title.

The Dynasty has attacked Brian Pillman and Pillmanized his arm in the most poetic attack you can ask for.

Ace Austin vs. Rey Horus

They take their time to start as Cornette talks about how he is under the middleweight limit for the first time in forever. Austin’s headlock doesn’t get him very far so he poses instead, earning himself a dropkick into the corner. Horus starts speeding things up for a few near falls and Austin wants a handshake. Thankfully Horus is smart enough to turn that down but Austin kicks him in the ribs to take over.

A German suplex doesn’t work so Austin hits a belly to back slam and a kick to the head. They head outside with Austin firing off kicks to the chest, followed by knees to the ribs back inside. Since a luchador is involved, Austin has to go after the mask (it’s a requirement) and for once it actually comes off. Horus knocks him off the top though and gets the mask back on but Austin stays on him in the corner.

We get an inset update saying that Pillman is likely out of the main event (Quick, to the point, doesn’t distract from the match that much. Well done.) and come back with Horus hitting a slingshot corkscrew dive to take over. Austin gets posted and kicked in the face as the announcers talk about what it means to lose your mask. The Spanish Fly gives Horus two but Austin kicks him in the face. A double underhook driver gets two but Horus runs the ropes and grabs a super victory roll for the pin at 14:12.

Rating: B. I liked this one a lot but I like both guys so it’s not shocking. Austin looked better here than he has since he started debuting on national shows so he’s definitely moving in the right direction. He was hanging in there with one of the best high fliers around today and the match was a blast. Easily one of the better matches from MLW in quite some time.

We look back at the ending of the first match.

Next week: Salina is in charge.

Salina is ranting on the phone and comes up to Low Ki, who wants to talk about the National Title tournament. She leaves and Low Ki isn’t happy.

Tom Lawlor is ready for Avalanche and hasn’t forgotten about Contra. It’s a great idea to have these promos from the champ every week. Lawlor needs the practice on the mic and the champ should get some kind of attention, even if it’s just forty five seconds, every week. His delivery is getting a little better too.

Hart Foundation vs. Dynasty

Tables match with the Harts coming in at a 3-2 disadvantage. We get through the dueling fan chants before the opening bell to eat up some of the remaining time. Jim: “Rich do you have any naked pictures of your wife?” Rich: “No.” Jim: “Would you like one?” The bell finally rings and Hart jumps MJF from behind, followed by Smith superkicking Holiday. The Harts clear the ring and the fight heads outside with Hart hitting the awesome top rope moonsault.

Hammerstone gets suplexed on the floor and Holiday takes one of his own. Smith takes Holiday inside for some uppercuts and the lifting DDT makes it even worse. MJF and Hammerstone come back in and take the hanging DDT/piledriver combination as the Harts continue to dominate.

A superpowerslam hits MJF and Hart adds the moonsault. Not to be outdone (though he was outdone), Smith adds a top rope headbutt, followed by Hart’s second moonsault for a cover, which Hart thankfully lets go in less than a second. The Dynasty is back in and knocks Smith outside, leaving Hart to take a spike Tombstone. Smith gets back up and grabs a delayed vertical suplex on MJF, at the same time Hammerstone does one to Hart, meaning it’s a suplex off.

Holiday comes back in and the numbers game takes over again. Hart is down on the floor and has to ram his shoulder into the barricade to pop it back into joint. The Dynasty loads up a table but here’s Pillman to even things up a little more, albeit with one good arm. As assisted Canadian Destroyer plants Hammerstone but instead of throwing him through a table, it’s a Doomsday Destroyer to MJF. Holiday uses the delay to come in with a double low blow, allowing Hammerstone to hit the running powerbomb to put Pillman through the table for the win at 11:37.

Rating: C+. The 3-2 stuff was fine and it keeps the Harts looking strong while giving the Dynasty their first big win. This feud has some legs though and the hoss fight between Smith and Hammerstone will be more than enough to keep me entertained. What we got was fun and mainly wrestling instead of brawling, which is long overdue in the main event.

Salina makes Gringo Loco vs. Hijo de LA Park, Daga (“Dumbo”) vs. Low Ki and Pentagon Jr. vs. LA Park for next week.

Overall Rating: B-. Now this was more like it, with a nice mixture of different styles and mostly good action. Throw in a healthy dose of Salina and this was a heck of a show, with a much needed break from the brawling style main event. The stories are getting to grow a little bit and things are becoming more and more entertaining. Check out that Horus vs. Austin match if you get the chance.

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:

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