IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #79
Date: October 12, 2019
Location: Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, Mexico
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, AJ Kirsch

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

Salina de la Renta ran into the Dynasty, who insulted luchadors in general. She didn’t want to hear it because Richard Holliday’s father (Holliday: “Lawyer SLASH father!”) took care of the Von Erichs. A challenge is issued for the Dynasty to face the Parks, which is code for the Von Erichs couldn’t make the show due to visa/travel issues.

Opening sequence.

Oraculo vs. Black Danger vs. Ricky Marvin

This is billed as a trios match, which usually means a six man tag. Oraculo gets beaten down to start and his leg gets wrapped around the rope. The comeback attempt is cut off with a short DDT and a dropkick to the floor, only to have the villains (I think?) beat him up out there as well. Back in and Oraculo ducks a clothesline to knock Danger down, meaning it’s time to start the dives, including a springboard cutter to Marvin.

That’s it for the alliance as Marvin rolls them both up at the same time for two before going after Danger’s knee. Another cutter gets two on Oraculo and Danger hanging piledrives Marvin to put him outside. Danger hits a double underhook piledriver to plant Oraculo but he’s right back up with a Canadian Destroyer, because you can just pop back up from a double underhook piledriver. Marvin gets dropkicked out of the air, leaving Danger to get sent shoulder first into the post. Oraculo’s 450 finishes Danger at 6:24.

Rating: C. Completely watchable triple threat here with Oraculo playing a fine face and the other two doing the standard double teaming until it breaks down into a fight. It’s nothing that we haven’t seen before, but it worked out well enough. One notable part here was AJ on commentary, as he sounded as natural as you can get with charisma, insight and good analysis. I could go for more of him in the future.

Low Ki talks to Brian Pillman Jr. about Austin Aries, who does not worry about his emotions. Pillman is trying to get into a chess game he isn’t ready for, but Pillman says Low Ki knows nothing about him.

The Dynasty isn’t happy about being in Tijuana, but Hammerstone has been buying a lot of….something from a pharmacy. Hammerstone: “It’s legal in Tijuana!”

Salina promises that LA Park is bringing her the World Title. Promociones Dorado is building everything but here’s Josef Samael to interrupt. He knows that she has a lot to offer and suggests that she join Contra before having to deal with the violence. She chooses violence and here’s Jimmy Havoc. Jimmy: “I heard the word violence mentioned and when I hear that word, I tend to turn up.” Havoc wants a member of Promociones Dorado vs. a member of Contra in a Tijuana street fight. Samael says he’ll do it himself.

National Openweight Title/Crash Heavyweight Title: Alexander Hammerstone vs. Rey Horus

Both Hammerstone’s National Openweight Title and Horus’ Crash Heavyweight Title are on the line. The rest of the Dynasty gets ejected and it’s Hammerstone driving Horus into the corner to start. The stomping has Horus down and a pumphandle suplex puts him on the floor. Horus gets dropped face first onto the apron as the dominance is on in full so far. Hammerstone throws him back inside but Horus is right back with a suicide dive.

A springboard Fameasser gives Horus two but Hammerstone blasts him with a lariat to get a breather. Some choking in the corner lets Hammerstone pose and we hit the chinlock. That doesn’t last long so Horus knees his way out of the delayed suplex. Hammerstone heads outside and bails so Horus hits the awesome flip dive over the corner. Back in and Horus hits a high crossbody for two but Hammerstone snaps off a bicycle kick. A German suplex into a sitout powerbomb gives Hammerstone two and it’s time to yell at the referee.

Horus is right back with a springboard tornado DDT for two of his own so he yells at the referee as well. Things keep going badly for the referee, who gets crushed with a splash in the corner. A reverse F5 looks to finish Horus but there’s no count. Hammerstone chairs Horus and wakes the referee up to count the delayed two and the frustration is strong again. Hammerstone’s powerbomb is countered into a Code Red for two more and Horus adds the 450, only to have the Dynasty come in for the DQ at 13:37.

Rating: C+. They overdid it a bit with the ref bump and chair shot before the DQ but this was a rather snazzy match up until that point. Horus has always been a fun high flier and Hammerstone is the kind of power guy that would make Vince McMahon smile for days. Good stuff here and they meshed well together.

Post match Horus gets beaten down.

Gino Medina is coming.

SuperFight Control Center, with Injustice vs. Gringo Loco/Septimo Dragon/Puma King being added to the card.

Tag Team Titles: Dynasty vs. Los Parks

Los Parks (El Hijo de LA Park and LA Park Jr. instead of Sr. this time) are challenging and under lucha rules because of course. Hold on though as MJF has the mic, which he always should. MJF declares his support for the wall between Mexico and America before handing the mic to Holliday, who talks about his boy Donald. El Hjio de LA Park swears a lot and gets the fans to cheer for Mexico.

Hijo and MJF start things off as the announcers talk about Hammerstone accepting another title defense for the team. MJF takes him into the corner to start and then bails outside as the stalling is on early. Back in and Holliday takes Hijo down and MJF is already posing on the apron. Park comes in for a dropkick and crotch chop to Holliday but MJF gets in a knee to the back so Holliday can take over.

MJF comes back in and chokes away while the referee is busy dealing with Park. The beating continues as Park is messing with MJF’s scarf. A running poke to the eye keeps Hijo down and a double slingshot suplex makes it worse. The champs strut and gyrate into a Paisan elbow for two. Apparently tired of getting beaten up, Hijo gets over and makes the tag to Park so house can be cleaned. A flapjack into a splash gets two on Holliday and it’s a pair of suicide dives to take the champs down again. Park gets sent into the barricade though and it’s the Market Crash to finish Hijo at 8:51.

Rating: C-. It was watchable and MJF is one of the best heels in the world today (and Holliday is completely underrated) but the match was completely forgettable and nothing you need to see. I do like having the younger Parks instead of the older version as the star power doesn’t overcome the ample gut/need for brawling all the time, but it’s not like they’re some hidden gem. It was fine, but don’t go out of your way.

Overall Rating: D+. This show deserves a bit asterisk as there were a lot of travel/visa issues that messed things up. Those kinds of things are beyond MLW’s control for the most part and what we got was far from a disaster. Slaughterhouse should be fun and the road to SuperFight has been rather good. Also, the crowd was announced as being over 5,000 people so well done on getting to be in front of that many people (even if the Crash had a lot to do with drawing it). Not a very good show, but there were some external factors.

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 #78
Date: October 5, 2019
Location: Nytex Sports Center, North Richland Hills, Texas
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

It’s time to go back to the middleweight division as Brian Pillman Jr. is out for revenge after Austin Aries took out Teddy Hart last month. We seem to be gearing up for Aries vs. Hart at SuperFight in just under a month, which should be a heck of a match. Other than that, we could be in for a variety of things on this one. Let’s get to it.

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

Magnus/Septimo Dragon vs. LA Park/El Hijo de LA Park

Even Rich seems impressed with Salina and….well yeah. We get some respect shown before the match but the Parks turn on them in a hurry to start the beatdown. Septimo gets chaired in the back and Magnus is crotched on the barricade. Back in and Septimo gets whipped with the weightlifting belt, followed by some running splashes in the corner.

Magnus gets in a headscissors to put the Parks on the floor for the slingshot corkscrew dive. Septimo’s corkscrew springboard moonsault drops them again as Rich is trying to figure out who is who. Back in and a Swanton gives Septimo two and Salina is nervous. The Parks are whipped into each other but LA knocks both of them down with shots to the face. Hijo hits a super Spanish Fly for two on Septimo as everything breaks down again.

Park hits a heck of a dive off the top to crush Magnus, who somehow isn’t dead. A cutter gives Magnus two as we settle down into a regular tag match for a change. Hijo and Septimo come back in to strike it out and the latter hitting a GTS. A kick to the head drops Hijo but he’s right back up with a very fast Canadian Destroyer for his own two.

Park comes back in and goes shoulder first into the post, with Salina having to pull the referee out to break up a count. That leaves Hijo to hit a Backstabber on Septimo, who is right back up with a suicide dive onto Hijo. Back in and Magnus hammers on Park, who splashes the referee by mistake. Salina gets in a heck of a low blow on Magnus and the referee pops up to count the pin at 13:56.

Rating: C. There were some good looking dives and spots but it is almost impossible to take Park seriously with that huge gut. It also doesn’t help when Park is never going to lose and it gets a little hard to get into his matches. I know he’s a legend and all that but he wouldn’t be the one I would expect to be the star of the promotion.

Contra takes over the feed and airs a video on how Jacob Fatu is going to crush Salina and Park because Contra is a cause.

We look back at Austin Aries taking out Teddy Hart two weeks ago. Teddy has gotten his own doctor to clear him and he’s here tonight.

The Von Erichs are coming for the Tag Team Titles next week.

The Dynasty isn’t happy with the contract they have been offered.

It’s time for the SuperFight Control Center with Tom Lawlor vs. Timothy Thatcher and Alexander Hammerstone vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. for the Openweight Title added.

Dominic Garrini vs. Ariel Dominguez

This is Garrini’s debut and he is in a fighting gi. Garrini drives him into the corner so Dominguez goes to the let, meaning he has to fight out of a quick armbar attempt. A gutwrench suplex sends Dominguez down again and this is looking one sided. Something like a Bubba Bomb sets up a cross armbreaker to make Dominguez tap at 1:49. Exactly what it should have been.

Post match Garrini says that was a start so send him all of the grapplers, including Tom Lawlor and Timothy Thatcher.

Lawlor has blown off a media event this week but has no problem with Thatcher calling him out. He’ll knock Thatcher out.

Jimmy Havoc will be producing the Halloween special. Makes sense. It’s going to be called Slaughterhouse and we get a trailer.

MLW is raising money for Samu, who underwent a liver transplant.

Gino Medina is coming.

We look back at Injustice being cheated out of a win last week and attacking everyone as a result.

Injustice complains about everything that happened and promises to continue the fight. Jordan Oliver should never, ever be allowed to speak.

Austin Aries vs. Brian Pillman Jr.

The fans are behind Pillman here. Pillman tells Aries to slap him in the face so Aries spits in his hand but gets kicked in the ribs, allowing Pillman to put Aries’ spit in his own face. A clothesline puts Aries on the floor and Pillman hits an ax handle from the apron for a bonus. Aries sends him into the barricade though and the missile dropkick (good looking one too) gets one back inside.

Things slow down a bit with Aries picking his spots and striking away, including the hard shots in the corner. The brainbuster is broken up but Aries manages a neckbreaker across the middle rope for two. The chinlock goes on until Pillman fights up and snaps off a powerslam to get a breather. Aries is right back up with a suplex into the Last Chancery, sending Pillman into the ropes in a hurry. A superkick puts Aries on the floor but the suicide dive is broken up with an uppercut. The running corner dropkick sets up the brainbuster to finish Pillman at 8:10.

Rating: C+. The ending wasn’t shocking at all as Aries is just flat out better than Pillman at this point. Aries has been a very good in-ring performer for a long time now and Pillman is just a few steps removed from being a rookie. The good sign though is he hung with Aries here and put in a solid showing, even if he had no chance of winning.

Post match Aries says he’s been calling out Teddy Hart because he wants the Middleweight Title. Unless Teddy is planning on sending out his army of cats, get out here and answer the challenge. Cue a ticked off Teddy for the brawl to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Just a show here, but what matters is the set up for SuperFight. They’re making that seem like their biggest show ever and that’s exactly what it should be. The show is going to be on pay per view and they would be crazy to not put their biggest effort ever into it. The card is looking good too and that’s a good sign for the show, which needs to be a big hit.

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 #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 #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:

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 #74
Date: September 7, 2019
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Rich Bocchini

We’re coming up on War Chamber and that could mean one of two things. We could be seeing a big preview of the upcoming special or we could be seeing a nothing, filler show that just kills off a week before we get to what matters. Or it could be a combination of both, which is likely going to be the case. Let’s get to it.

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

Konnan arrives and gets jumped by Promociones Dorado, with Salina de la Renta taking her phone back.

Apparently each match is going to be from a different location this week.

Jordan Oliver vs. Gringo Loco

From Chicago. Oliver says Loco acts like he can do whatever he wants, just like all the cops out here. While sounding like he’s about 10 years old, Oliver describes himself as young and dumb. Oliver jumps him before the bell and knocks Loco outside for a beating from Myron Reed. Back in and the stomping continues as we hear about Reed’s issues growing up. Loco dropkicks the leg out and hits a standing moonsault to the back. The handspring back elbow sends Oliver outside but he’s right back in for a big boot to the floor.

That means a suicide dive from Oliver and the chinlock goes on. Back up and Loco reverses a springboard hurricanrana into a sitout powerbomb and the fans wake up in a hurry. A split legged moonsault gives Loco two but it’s a thumb to the eye to slow Loco down. Oliver hits a pop up Stunner into a small package for two, only to have Loco enziguri him outside. The big flip dive drops Oliver and he claims a shoulder injury. The goldbricking is clear here but the distraction lets Reed hit Loco with a chair to give Oliver the pin at 7:43.

Rating: C. The flips were nice but this felt like it had two ending sequences and they should have wrapped it up after the Stunner. That’s part of the problem with matches like this: they just keep going for the sake of continuing, even when there isn’t a need to. It was a fine cruiserweight style match and Loco still gets a reaction so it’s hard to ask for much more.

War Chamber preview.

Low Ki says the question is whether his partners can trust him. The bigger question is if they can’t at this time. Their history is behind them and now he will go to war with them.

Richard Holliday vs. Brian Pillman Jr.

From New York. Before the match, Holliday calls it a conspiracy that the Hart Foundation really runs MLW. It’s no coincidence that Dynasty sounds so much like destiny, because they are the only true thing around here. Pillman chops away to start so Holliday does the same to keep us even early on. A dropkick (without full extension) and a dropkick put Holliday on the floor but he sweeps the leg to drop Pillman on the apron.

Back in and the heelish offense begins with a knee to the head getting two. Pillman misses an armdrag and gets kicked in the head as the announcers put over the idea that Pillman is making rookie mistakes. Holliday gets two off a swinging neckbreaker but misses a lariat, meaning the comeback is on. A victory roll and powerslam give Pillman two each but Holliday is right back with a Death Valley Driver for his own near fall.

With that not working, Holliday brings in a chair, which the referee grabs. The referee takes forever to get rid of the chair, allowing Pillman to throw his Rookie of the Year award to Holliday and drop to the mat (including holding his head for a bonus). That’s not enough for a DQ so Pillman kicks him low and grabs the straitjacket neckbreaker for the pin at 7:10.

Rating: D+. Not a great match but this feud has carried the promotion for a long time now. You can throw any combination of these two teams together and have a solid match so it’s not like this was a stretch. Pillman needs a lot more experience but he’s clearly very athletic and can do the basics more than well enough, meaning the match wasn’t terrible by any means. Not terrible, but there was a bit too much crammed in near the end.

Dominic Garrini is coming.

Buy our merch!

We recap last week’s World Title match with Contra costing Tom Lawlor his chance to get the title back. The big brawl was on after the match with Low Ki making the save to become the fourth member of Team Lawlor.

The Von Erichs don’t trust Low Ki but they’re willing to go to war with him. Contra’s reign of terror ends in Texas.

Mance Warner will deal with Salina de la Renta later because it’s all about Jimmy Havoc right now. He couldn’t drink while he was in the cell so he thought of ways to hurt Havoc. Warner has a blueprint of pain and he’s coming to f*** Jimmy up.

Show ads.

Lawlor is ready for War Chamber no matter how banged up he is. It is his destiny to make sure Contra doesn’t walk out on his own. He doesn’t know if Low Ki is trustworthy but he knows Low Ki is coming to cut off the snake’s head. After that, Lawlor is ready to take care of business.

N-1 Victory Tournament: Alexander Hammerstone vs. Go Shiozaki

From Nagoya, Japan in Pro Wrestling Noah and Hammerstone’s National Openweight Title isn’t on the line. They lock up to start as the arena is eerily silent (I get the culture aspect of it but it’s always jarring by comparison). Hammerstone takes him down by the leg but gets reversed into a headlock, which goes to a standoff. Shiozaki’s shoulder has no effect so Hammerstone tells him to do it again. A chop nearly has Hammerstone keeling over so he shoulders Go to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Shiozaki hitting a delayed suplex for two so Hammerstone kicks him in the face. A pair of German suplexes give Hammerstone two, only to have Shiozaki come back with a heck of a lariat. They forearm it out and then chop it out for a change of pace until Hammerstone hits the swinging sitout Rock Bottom (inaccurately called the Nightmare Pendulum) for two. Hammerstone can’t hit a Burning Hammer but can get a boot up in the corner. A powerbomb, with a VERY delayed count, gives Hammerstone two, followed by the Nightmare Pendulum (the real one) to finish Shiozaki at 12:44.

Rating: B-. This was the kind of match that Hammerstone needed. You can only get so much out of having him beat up smaller guys and Savio Vega so switching in someone as good as Shiozaki makes a lot of sense. I know Hammerstone isn’t going to win the tournament or anything like that but he got to showcase himself here, which makes both he and MLW look good.

Contra promises to win the War Chamber to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. I liked this show well enough as they had a nice mix of stuff. That being said, it wasn’t a show that you need to watch and you’re better off just taking the week off and getting ready for next week’s big showdown. They hyped up War Chamber rather well and the original stuff here was good enough. Nice show, but pretty skippable.

Results

Jordan Oliver b. Gringo Loco – Chair shot from Myron Reed

Brian Pillman Jr. b. Richard Holliday – Straitjacket neckbreaker

Alexander Hammerstone b. Go Shiozaki – Nightmare Pendulum

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 #72
Date: August 24, 2019
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

We’re on the road to Dallas and War Chamber, meaning things should start picking up around here. That being said, it’s picking up at some odd spots as the World Champion is in the big team gimmick match and everything else has been the focus of the show. It has made for a different direction around here and that’s not exactly a great thing. Let’s get to it.

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

Mance Warner has been arrested on unspecified charges. More later.

Opening sequence.

Promociones Dorado may know something about Warner being arrested so we’ll be hearing from them later.

Hijo de LA Park vs. Zenshi

Salina de la Renta is at the police station giving her statement on Warner (who was arrested for aggravated assault over last week’s chainsaw incident) so Park is on his own here. Zenshi is from Chile and we’ve seen him before. Park starts with the hip swivel so Zenshi flips over him and it’s time for an exchange of evading. Zenshi slides to the floor and gets caught with the suicide dive for the first major contact. The 619 on the apron doesn’t have much effect on Hijo, who sends him into the barricade and gets in a powerbomb onto the apron.

Back in and a release German suplex gives Park two but Zenshi sends him hard into the corner. That means a diagonal Coast to Coast (that’s a new one, albeit in a smaller ring), which made me think “there’s no way he’s doing that” and then he did it). Hijo is right back with a Code Red Canadian Destroyer for his own two and a pop up powerbomb for the same. Back up and Zenshi hits an awkward looking running flip cutter (think a running headscissors but with a cutter) for the pin at 5:58.

Rating: C-. Zenshi has talent but needs some more experience and a little bit more time to get established. That Coast to Coast looked awesome and the spinning cutter could work as a finisher, but he needs to hit it faster and snappier. It’s always cool to see some fresh stars though and with the AEW crew leaving sooner rather than later, this is what they need to be doing.

Post match Park hits him with a chair ala his dad.

The Hart Foundation is ready for Maxwell Jacob Friedman tonight.

Buy MLW gear! How did it take that long to get to something like this?

There will be an MLW/The Crash show in October. Nothing wrong with that.

Video on Low Ki’s run of knockout wins.

Low Ki, now a middleweight, wants a shot at Teddy Hart and the Middleweight Title. As for Contra, they’re about to be introduced to his professional presence.

Contra warns Tom Lawlor about coming after Fatu again. Fatu says this isn’t a podcast or the octagon, so the beating is coming. The Von Erichs haven’t been forgotten either and will get what is coming to them in the War Chamber. Maybe after that we can do something with the title again, because the thing has almost been forgotten since Fatu won it.

Saturday Night Super Fight is coming.

Salina de la Renta and Jimmy Havoc (I guess last week wasn’t Loser Leaves MLW) don’t want to talk about Mance Warner but they’ll be waiting for him when he comes back.

War Chamber Control Center with nothing new. They might want to add some more stuff as the show is in less than two weeks.

The Von Erichs and Tom Lawlor are ready for War Chamber but won’t reveal their fourth member. Is there really any secret about it being Low Ki at this point?

Lawlor is ready for his rematch next week because Fatu stole his title. He didn’t steal Lawlor’s warrior heart though so Lawlor is ready for another fight.

Alexander Hammerstone won a match in Japan.

The Dynasty is happy with all of their gold and Holiday has made a pillow saying “Life If Beauty Full”. They talk about the people they don’t like (fat people, ugly people and Brian Pillman Jr.) and are ready for their matches with the Harts. Hammerstone is ready to conquer Germany and they put their fists together.

Some big shows are coming up.

Austin Aries is coming for the Middleweight Title. That’s becoming the hot division and that’s how you do it: have people talk about wanting the belt. Tonight alone, we’ve heard Low Ki, Austin and MJF talk about wanting the title, plus a middleweight match. That’s how it works and it works here too.

Middleweight Title: Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Teddy Hart

Hart is defending and Aria Blake is with Friedman (whose belt is HUGE). Before the match, MJF has a mic but we need to stop for a lot of booing. He talks about being smarter than everyone and being better than Bret Hart, because he never lost the Middleweight Title. That’s enough to bring out Teddy (with Mr. Velvet of course) and we’re ready to go. Well after a pose off with the fans being quite a bit more behind Teddy.

They shake hands and hug but a quick spank is too much for MJF. Hart is a bit friendlier with Project Ciampa as the announcers compare the history of the two stables. Back up and Teddy snaps the arm around the ropes, setting up the Dungeon DDT for two. Aria gets up for a distraction so Teddy literally kicks her to the floor. Serves her right, though she might have just wanted some information on buying a cat.

With MJF on the floor, Hart loads up the Asai moonsault but Blake gets in the way. That earns her a seat in a chair but Hart walks into a superkick to put the champ in trouble. MJF tosses him into the post before it’s time to go back inside. This time Hart gets in a shot to the knee but gets sent into the buckle to slow things right back down. The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by a belly to belly into the corner for two on the champ. Hart is back up with Code Red for two and a running Canadian Destroyer rocks MJF again.

The springboard Arabian moonsault to the floor drops MJF again, followed by a rather nice top rope DDT. The moonsault elbow gets two but a lower version hits raised knees and they’re both down again. MJF hits something like a curb stomp onto the turnbuckle and, say it with me, puts on the Sharpshooter. With that broken up, MJF hits the Heat Seeking Driver for two and can’t believe the kickout. Blake throws in a shoe (honestly) and the distraction lets her get in a low blow but the referee ejects her before a cover. That’s enough of a distraction for Hart to hit the super Canadian Destroyer to retain at 12:00.

Rating: B-. This was almost every Hart match you’re going to find: a lot of flips and rather exciting, but very little in the way of selling, storytelling or anything associated. That being said, why would you want something like that in a Hart match? The point here was to have Hart do his thing and MJF cheat a lot but come up short. Hart won’t hold the title forever and whoever beats him is going to get quite the rub.

Overall Rating: C-. The main event was good but I wasn’t feeling this one for the most part. The World Title situation continues to be a sore spot as there is nothing going on with the title and it is starting to show. Instead, the Middleweight Title is what matters most these days and while that is fine, it feels like a step down from the World Title. It’s like the Harts vs. the Dynasty and Salina vs. Konnan are all that matters around here and if that’s the case, they’re going to be in trouble sooner rather than later.

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 #71
Date: August 17, 2019
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

Things are starting to get interesting again around here as we’re getting ready for the War Chamber in Dallas and then the big pay per view debut after that. What matters now is that Contra has its fourth member so Tom Lawlor and the Von Erichs need their own help. That could present some interesting options which is the right idea. Let’s get to it.

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

Mance Warner has a new way to deal with Salina de la Renta and has a chainsaw to cut down Ricky Martinez. There is no way this combination is going to end well.

Opening sequence.

Salina is in the ring to open things up. She wants to talk about Ricky Martinez so here he is in person, now billed as the greatest Cuban athlete of all time (a shot at Konnan).

Ricky Martinez vs. Mance Warner

Ricky crotches him on the ropes on the way in and scores with a springboard dropkick. Mance’s comeback is cut off by an RKO for two but Warner says bring it on. Some slaps to the face fire Mance up so Ricky is right back with a one knee Codebreaker for two. Martinez gets headbutted out of the air though and it’s kneepad up, kneepad down. The running knee sets up the lariat for the pin on Martinez at 2:17. Warner needed the win.

Post match Mance opens a beer but Salina spits in his face. Salina walks off so Mance throws the beer in Martinez’s face.

Richard Holliday is in his hotel room and brags about all the gold the Dynasty has. An unseen woman comes in and gets his attention.

We look at Savio Vega being injured by the Night Terror (yes Night Terror) Pendulum, which may be banned.

We look at Marshall Von Erich being blinded by Contra.

Marshall, wearing sunglasses, says he will be at War Chamber and he’s bringing Kevin Von Erich with him.

Salina doesn’t want to talk about Martinez when Konnan comes in to taunt her with the phone. He teases using her credit cards to order dinner and laughs off her threats of calling the cops, presumably due to what is on the phone. There has to be something illegal going on here.

Teddy Hart is smoking in a bathroom with his cats running around. Brian Pillman Jr. brings in Alexander Hammerstone’s jacket and relieves himself on it.

Austin Aries vs. Ace Austin

Tony realizes how annoying the name similarities are going to be, with Rich wanting to know WHO BOOKED THIS. Welcome to my life man. Aries goes for the arm to start but has to jump over Ace in the corner. A cartwheel sets up a clap around Ace’s ears as I try to not say Austin whatsoever. The middle rope elbow to Ace’s seated back gets one but Ace throws a card at him for a distraction. The boot choking begins in the corner and Ace slowly kicks him in the back.

Ace crotches him into the Tree of Woe and it’s time to choke at Aries, with Ace counting along with the referee. Aries gets in a jawbreaker and slugs away, followed by the fivearm to stun Ace. The suicide dive sends Ace into the barricade but he rolls away before the 450. A low blow sets up Ace’s rollup for two but Aries is right back with the brainbuster for the pin at 8:45.

Rating: C+. I like Ace a lot and Aries is still as consistent of a performer as you’ll find around here so the match was quite watchable. It’s pretty clear that Aries is coming for the Middleweight Title and a win at the pay per view wouldn’t shock me. It makes sense to give someone like him that kind of a rub as he brings prestige to the title, meaning it’s a bigger deal when someone beats him for the title. Good match here with Ace hanging in there with the established star.

Post match Aries says he’s coming for the Middleweight Title.

Hammerstone isn’t happy with the jacket situation. Aria Blake shows up with the jacket, which is now ruined.

Come to house shows!

A kickboxer has signed with MLW and will debut on September 7.

MLW is partnering with Mars Labs to enhance viewing experience.

War Chamber Control Center, which will include a celebration of Gary Hart.

LA Park vs. Jimmy Havoc

Loser Leaves MLW street fight. Park plays his chair so Jimmy plays his jacket, the former of which goes upside Jimmy’s back. Havoc comes back with some armdrags (Tony: “IN A STREET FIGHT!”) as Rich thinks Havoc could use some peanut butter sandwiches. The trashcan is brought in for a shot to La Park’s head….and let’s bring in the staple gun. Before we get there though, it’s some metal signs to the head, followed by a big, table sized piece of wood.

Havoc superkicks a chair into his face/chest as Salina is not looking happy at ringside. As Tony talks about wanting Salina to throw him in her pool (uh…..), Havoc and Park chop it out at ringside. Back in and Havoc hits a middle rope double stomp for two but Park is back with a shot to the face. A running knee to the head gives Park a delayed two and it’s Tree of Woe time.

The board is put in front of Havoc’s face for a running basement dropkick so the referee makes sure Havoc isn’t dead. That means another board, with Park bridging it over some chairs and laying Jimmy on top. There is no way this can end well and Park’s top rope double stomp goes through the table. Back in and Havoc chairs him on top, setting up a superplex for two.

The staple gun is used on Park’s head and then on the crotch, which the fans find rather sick. You don’t do that to a large skeleton man though and Park powerslams him onto four chairs for two (Rich on the kickout: “WHAT???”). Park goes up for a corkscrew moonsault (which is like a small car flying at you), followed by a spear through the chairs to get rid of Havoc at 12:42.

Rating: D+. This was a very good example of what is wrong with having Park as this mega star: there was no reason to believe that Havoc was winning, which would be the case whether or not this was a way to write him off for AEW. The match was your usual garbage brawl and Park’s offense was somewhat noteworthy given his size, but I’ve seen these people do something similar so many times now and it didn’t impress me again here.

Post match Salina tells them to shake hands and promises that Konnan and Warner aren’t taking her down. Neither will the World Champion (you knew they were going to deal with Contra eventually) but here’s Warner to interrupt. He comes through the crowd with the chainsaw and Promociones Dorado runs to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This show did a good job with Mance Warner, who needed a chance to look stronger for a change. He wins occasionally but a lot of the time he comes off as more of a nuisance than a threat. That was different this week and that’s the best thing that could happen to him. Other than that the show just kind of came and went, but having a show that just holds the fort until we get to Dallas is an acceptable result.

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 #70
Date: August 10, 2019
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

We’re still in New York and things have been staying interesting around here as we move towards the first pay per view. Last week’s big story saw Davey Boy Smith Jr. getting a bit annoyed at his sister Georgia for dating Alexander Hammerstone. I’m not sure what to expect from that this week but it should be another fun one. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Rey Horus vs. Bestia 666

They lock up to start with Bestia getting slowed down by a wristlock. Horus flips out of the same thing from Bestia and then grabs a springboard armdrag for two. A dropkick sends Bestia outside but they switch places so Bestia can hit the suicide dive. Some chops keep Bestia in control and a superkick gives him two. Horus is back with a headscissors to the floor and there’s the big running flip dive to keep Bestia down.

Back in and they chop it out until Horus has to hurricanrana his way out of a powerbomb attempt. A running Spanish Fly gives Horus two but Bestia is right back up with a superkick for the same. Horus’ super victory roll is blocked so he settles for an armdrag off the top instead. Back up and Bestia crotches him on top, setting up a kneeling MuscleBuster for the pin at 9:37.

Rating: C. They did the flying stuff well here and Bestia gets to look like more of a monster for whomever he gets to face in his next major match. It’s not the most common thing to have someone in MLW wrestle on back to back weeks so they clearly plan on doing something significant with Bestia.

Post match Salina de la Renta says she is the greatest promoter of all time, unlike that fake legend like Konnan. She wants her phone back so here’s Konnan to interrupt. He offers to let her feel the phone, setting up a classic THAT’S ENOUGH. Tonight Savio Vega is getting an Openweight Title match but according to the phone, Savio isn’t getting a bonus payment that he was owed. Cue Savio to rip up his Promociones Dorado contract and leave with Konnan.

The Dynasty is in a penthouse, which was paid for by the closing of an orphanage. Maxwell Jacob Friedman comes in with the Gift Train, meaning that Hammerstone and Holliday get new Rolexes. Friedman brings up the Hart Foundation but Hammerstone is tired of hearing about them. They mock Teddy Hart for his drug habits and it’s a group hug. They all leave in tears. Ok then.

The Hart Foundation hasn’t forgotten the Dynasty and practice standing moonsaults on their hotel bed.

The Opera Cup, a tournament that took place for over fifty years but hasn’t been awarded in over seventy years, is coming back.

Contra introduces us to their newest member: Ikuro Kwon, a pit fighter from Singapore. He’s the one who blinded Marshall Von Erich last week.

We get the War Chamber Control Center with a rundown of the War Chamber rules.

Ross Von Erich had a role in Hobbs and Shaw. Good for him.

We look at Marshall being blinded last week. It’s still an awesome heel move.

Tom Lawlor and Ross Von Erich talk about Marshall being in Hawaii to see an eye specialist. Lawler promises to get revenge on Contra.

MLW is partnering with the Crash in Mexico.

Mance Warner has his white board to explain his game plan against Promociones Dorado. His first step: draw trees. Second step: grab a chainsaw and cut the board in half, just like he’s going to cut down Salina’s boys. He didn’t actually cut it up, but Mance having a chainsaw isn’t going to go well.

Contra Unit vs. Jay Sky/Ariel Dominguez

It’s Samael/Gotch for the team here. Gotch suplexes Dominguez down and Samael puts on a camel clutch for the tap at 30 seconds. Now that’s a squash.

Post match Samael uses the spike to carve up Dominguez’s mouth.

Video on War Chamber.

Long recap of the Konnan/Salina phone issue. Next week it’s LA Park vs. Jimmy Havoc in a Loser Leaves MLW match to give Konnan his first demand.

Also next week: Mance Warner vs. Ricky Martinez.

National Openweight Title: Alexander Hammerstone vs. Savio Vega

Vega is challenging and is here alone while Hammerstone has the rest of the Dynasty with him. Friedman even does a good strut on the floor before the bell. Feeling out process to start with Hammerstone shoving him into the corner and getting chopped back for his efforts. That doesn’t work with Hammerstone, who knocks Vega right back down, only to miss a charge into the corner. Hammerstone knocks him down again and the stomping commences.

A powerslam gives Hammerstone two and it’s off to a front facelock. Hammerstone kicks him in the face for another knockdown as this is just above a sparring session so far. A missile dropkick misses and the slow motion comeback is on with Vega kicking him in the chest. Hold on though as Friedman removes a turnbuckle pad, with Hammerstone whipping Vega into the steel. The Nightmare Pendulum (with Vega landing on his feet for a bad looking (yet understandable) botch) retains the title at 7:41.

Rating: D. Yeah this was bad. I’m not sure what else you can really expect from the fifty five year old Vega against a monster like Hammerstone but there wasn’t much else they could do. I know Vega is a bigger deal in Puerto Rico and is certainly a name some people will remember, but the match was a waste of Hammerstone’s time.

Post match Brian Pillman Jr. comes out to steal Hammerstone’s jacket as Vega is checked on to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. I wasn’t feeling this one as the wrestling was barely anything worthwhile and the big reveal was the name of a previously unknown man. We’re coming up on some bigger shows down the line but this one felt like a bunch of quick news bits with wrestling sprinkled in. They can do better and I’m thinking this is just a one off misfire.

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 #69
Date: August 3, 2019
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

Things are getting wild around here with all kinds of things going on. That has made for some interesting setups and the nice thing is MLW has gotten a lot better at paying those things off. If they can do that again, we could be in for a nice setup as they head towards their first pay per view in the fall. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Bestia vs. Mance Warner last week as Mance loses another battle in the war against Salina de la Renta. The rather wild Von Erichs vs. Contra match gets a look as well.

Opening sequence.

Jimmy Yuta vs. Low Ki

Yuta drives him into the corner….and gets kicked in the head for the knockout at 30 seconds. Longer than usual for Low Ki lately.

Post match Low Ki says he’s got a lot of unfinished business.

Tom Lawlor is ready to go to war with Contra in the War Chamber.

Contra says bring it on, but it’s four on four. The match has since been confirmed as WarGames under a different name.

It’s time for the War Chamber Control Center. The only match set so far is the namesake match, meaning we hear the WarGames rules again, though you can win by pinfall or submission. That just sounds awesome no matter how you slice it.

We look back at Warner vs. Salina de la Renta and company.

Konnan has some demands for Salina. First up: he wants Jimmy Havoc vs. LA Park, loser leaves MLW. Both Salina and Havoc aren’t happy but the match is made. That sounds like writing Havoc off for AEW.

The Dynasty is at a car dealership and don’t like being told to wait. They like MJF’s watch and threaten a Yelp review for taking so long. It turns into a discussion of Teddy Hart failing the Wellness Policy, meaning he can’t cash in his rematch for the Tag Team Titles. Hammerstone freaks out over a Wellness Policy but they’ll get him some clean liquid.

MLW is going to be working with Pro Wrestling Noah.

Here are the Spirit Squad (Mikey/Kenny) to say they’re here because they earned it instead of their open name. That means an open challenge, which isn’t going to end well.

Spirit Squad vs. Von Erichs

The fight is on in a hurry with the Von Erichs beating them down while the music is still playing. A double dropkick and the threat of the Claw send the Squad bailing to the floor. The music keeps playing as it’s a double noggin knocker on the floor. We take a break and come back with Marshall beating up the Squad on his own and dropkicking Mikey to the floor. There’s a powerslam and a good looking moonsault for two on Kenny, followed by a claw slam/belly to back suplex combination for the pin at 5:25. They needed a break in this match? The music played through the entire match.

Post match here’s Contra for the brawl, with the Von Erichs holding their own for a good while. Cue a mystery man to spray mist in Marshall’s eyes as Contra has a fourth member. What a great time to mention that Marshall has a newborn. It worked in Mid-South.

Gringo Loco vs. Zenshi

This is from the Chicago tapings due to Low Ki’s match going so short. They flip around to start with Gringo shoving him away and saying not so fast. Zenshi climbs the ropes and gets a sunset flip for no count. A shooting star misses and Zenshi says bring it. Loco misses an enziguri as Jordan Oliver and Myron Reed are protesting in the crowd.

With Loco on the floor, Zenshi flips over the top, handstands on the apron until Loco gets to his feet, and then headscissors him down. We spend a good while looking at a replay and then a crowd shot (I can’t imagine the botch in there) before seeing Zenshi hit a bottom rope 450 for two. Zenshi tries a moonsault but gets caught in the Tombstone for the pin at 3:50.

Rating: C. This was fine for a quick filler with some exciting flips and that’s all it was supposed to be. Sometimes you can have something that is little more than a popcorn match and that’s what we got here. Loco is popular with the crowd and it’s easy to see why. It did its job and didn’t try to do anything else, which is how it should have gone.

We look at Marshall being blinded again.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. doesn’t want to talk about Alexander Hammerstone and his Georgia. Instead he’s ready for Timothy Thatcher tonight and knows it’s going to be strong style catch wrestling. Smith’s technique is too strong for Thatcher and ignores a question about Georgia. Brian Pillman Jr. comes in and seems to have a plan.

Timothy Thatcher vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.

They slap hands to start and it’s a slow pace to get things going. Davey throws him off of a headscissors on the mat and it’s time for some early grappling. Smith gets a hammerlock and you can see Thatcher playing this out in his head as he tries to find a way out. The hold is reversed into a half crab, with Thatcher’s eyes bugging out. That’s broken up so Thatcher kicks at the leg and grabs it again, this time sending Smith over to the ropes.

More kicks to the leg set up a belly to belly to put Davey back in the middle, setting up a legbar. With the grappling not working so well, Davey headbutts his way to freedom but can’t get a cross armbreaker. Thatcher switches into an ankle lock with a grapevine as the counters continue. Davey slaps the mat (not a tap) and turns it over into a Sharpshooter, sending Thatcher to the ropes for a change. They slug it out (Tony: “Like two rams butting heads on the side of the Rocky Mountains!” How long has he had that one saved up for?) until Thatcher gets two off a small package.

Another pinfall reversal sequence gives us some slick two counts and it’s time for a breather. Back up and Smith rolls some German suplexes, followed by a tiger suplex (Thatcher’s “OH DANG” look when he knows he can’t block it is great) for two. They fight over arm holds with Thatcher not being able to get a cross armbreaker this time. Smith isn’t having this and rolls out into a Crossface for the tap at 14:46.

Rating: B. This was almost all technical mat work, which is all the more impressive given Smith’s size and power. It makes him look like a complete package and all the more dangerous, which he’ll have to be to go after Hammerstone. Thatcher looked incredible as well, making me wonder why he hasn’t gotten a job in a big company yet. He isn’t the most interesting looking but there’s always a role for someone with his style.

Georgia comes out to interview Davey, who is thankful to the fans. He knows Georgia wants to keep her silence on Hammerstone but Hammerstone is playing her. Smith promises to use a crossface chickenwing on Hammerstone to become Openweight Title.

Overall Rating: B+. There are times where you just get the Fusion concept and this was one of those nights. You got enough of everything to make for a fun show which absolutely flew by. It was a knockout, an energetic squash, a lucha match and a technical clinic. That made for a very easy show to watch while stories were advanced and stuff was set up for the future. Well done all around and one of the best put together shows they’ve had to date.

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