IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

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

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

Ariel Dominguez vs. Daga

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ricky Martinez vs. Air Wolf

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

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

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

Recap of Contra’s attacks.

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

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

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

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

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

Middleweight Title: Teddy Hart vs. Myron Reed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #50
Date: March 23, 2019
Location: Cicero Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Jim Cornette, Rich Bocchini

We’re still in Chicago and that means things are getting interesting as we move closer to Battle Riot over Wrestlemania weekend. Unfortunately that makes these shows a bit dead, which is rather appropriate given that we’ll be seeing a Death Match this week between LA Park and Mance Warner, who hopefully is as entertaining in the ring than he is on the mic. Let’s get to it.

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

Cops have arrested Teddy Hart for vandalizing his car. In a nice bit of trickeration, you can’t see the cops and only see a red light on a door. Maxwell Jacob Friedman and Richard Holliday show up to laugh as Brian Pillman Jr. freaks out. Davey Boy Smith Jr. goes to bail Teddy out of jail.

Opening sequence.

Myron Reed vs. Gringo Loco

Reed comes out saying FREE SWANN. Loco is the hometown boy and even more popular than usual. We get a long weapons check on Reed before he takes Loco down with a wristlock. Flips and nipups give us a standoff so Reed forearms him in the face. Loco is back up with a flip off the middle rope and a pull of Reed’s leg gives us another standoff. Cornette can’t figure out how to describe Loco but thankfully Reed kicks Loco in the head to give commentary a new focus. A headscissors sends Loco to the floor but he’s right back in for a powerbomb into a piledriver.

Loco isn’t done as he nails a Spanish Fly for a double knockdown, allowing the announcers to talk about Battle Riot. A missed baseball slide sends Reed to the floor for a big flip dive. Back in and Loco gets crotched on top, setting up a springboard hurricanrana that nearly spikes Loco on his head. Reed’s springboard 450 gets two and it’s time to yell at the referee. That’s enough of a distraction for a springboard cutter from Loco into a Spiral Tap for the pin at 7:21.

Rating: B-. More lucha fun here, which they do quite well in this company. They’ve got a little something with the build towards Swann’s return and that’s one of the best things that could happen to them. You need stories to keep people’s attention and that’s what we had here. Nice match here too as Loco is still very over with the crowd.

Post match Reed slaps the referee down, likely earning himself a suspension of his own.

Mance Warner talks about going into the bosses’ office and swinging a chair until he got a match with Los Angeles Park. He’s got a plan for this match:

1. Light beers

2. Eye poke

3. Kneepad up, kneepad down

That adds up to the pay window and he’s going to take Park’s mask.

Battle Riot Control Center with the announcement of Jimmy Havoc challenging Tom Lawlor for the World Title. Smart move as Havoc was the last person to beat him. Also added to the Battle Riot: Mance Warner, Daga, Air Wolf and Barrington Hughes.

MJF and Holliday laugh their heads off at Teddy Hart’s mugshot and think it would make a great shirt. Or even better: on a billboard in Calgary.

We get a video from Contra Unit to explain their actions. On March 2, they took up their arms because they’re a global organization: the Crusaders of Nihilistic Terror Revolutions Armada. They’re here to infiltrate and take the gold because they’re international dealers in violence and business is good.

Ace Romero promises to make Contra pay the consequences.

Alexander Hammerstone vs. Brian Pillman Jr.

Hammerstone has MJF/Holliday with him while Pillman is on his own. Before the match, MJF grabs the mic and says he has a PSA for all of us: Hart is in jail again because he’s white trash. Pillman hits the ring and starts fast with some armdrags as MJF jumps on commentary to talk about killing the Hart Foundation. Cornette: “Now I know how people felt about me thirty five years ago.” Hammerstone sends him face first into the buckle to take over but Pillman shoulders him in the corner.

A running slap to the face gets on Hammerstone’s nerves and it’s a spinebuster to take Pillman down again. We hit the chinlock for a bit before Pillman is back up for a strike off. A crossbody gives Pillman one and a snap powerslam gets the same. MJF offers a distraction though and Pillman gets dropped throat first across the top rope as a result (nice touch with Pillman’s dad’s throat issues). The Nightmare Pendulum finishes Pillman at 5:21.

Rating: C-. Not too much here though Pillman got in some offense to keep it from being a squash. Hammerstone vs. Smith should be a heck of a match between two monsters and that’s a great thing to build towards. They’ve got something with Hammerstone and I think they know it this time around.

Post match the beatdown stays on with Hammerstone tearing up Pillman’s chains while Pillman is forced to watch.

Tom Lawlor is at his fight camp and promises to keep it out of Jimmy Havoc’s hands. I like this UFC/MMA style training stuff as it’s become a theme for Lawlor, which makes a lot of sense.

Mance Warner vs. LA Park

Death Match with the ring announcer saying Mance is from Buckshot, Tennessee rather than Bucksnort. Salina de la Renta even mocks the old Park dance from WCW. Warner puts the American flag on the ropes to make him even more popular but Park has his own fans too. They stare each other down and trade struts until the first eye poke has Park on the floor. The fight heads outside with Park being sent into the barricade as the announcers debate Park’s weight.

Park heads into the crowd with Warner dragging him right back, along with a table. Back in and Warner uses a chair for a springboard tornado DDT as Park can’t get anywhere so far. There’s the running knee to the head and Warner blasts Park with a few stick shots. Park gets sat in a chair for some headbutts, which stagger Warner even more. Another running knee is blocked though and it’s a belly to back suplex to drive Warner through a chair. They head outside again with Park putting him on the table….which breaks before anything can be done.

That’s fine with Park, who hits a running backsplash onto Warner onto the broken table. Since he’s apparently environmentally conscious, Park powerslams him through what’s left of the table again. Back in and Park whips him with a belt, which Warner seems to like. Warner takes off his suspenders and it’s time for a whip off. With that not working very well, they switch to punches and chops with Warner getting knocked down to one knee.

Park clotheslines him down for two and it’s time to bring in a bunch of chairs, plus a big piece of wood (because tables aren’t good enough). Said wood is bridged between the chairs and a top rope backsplash sends Warner through. The rest of the wood is broken over Warner’s head (great visual) and a suicide dive against the barricade keeps Warner in trouble. Warner takes forever to get back inside and the delayed cover gets two. A tornado DDT gives Warner two of his own, with Cornette wondering how a rope break is possible when anything else is legal.

Warner hits the eye poke and pelts a chair at Park’s head for two more. Park pelts a chair right back at Warner and we look at the replay, during which Park does something off the top that we don’t see and commentary doesn’t explain. That feels really out of place in a promotion that is usually far better in that area. The spear finishes Warner at 18:38.

Rating: B. This felt like the brawl that it needed to be and it never came close to feeling like a nearly twenty minute match. I still don’t get the appeal of LA Park (the appeal in America that is, as he’s a mega star in Mexico) but him beating Warner is far from something worth getting annoyed over. Warner is going to be fine with that great talking ability and the match was a good brawl.

Overall Rating: B. Nice stand alone show here as we get closer to Battle Riot. The problem is that, just like last year, Battle Riot itself is getting almost no build because no one is talking about winning the thing. Most of the roster is going to be involved so it wouldn’t be hard to have some quick promos about the match. Maybe the show itself will be better, but they’re not doing a great job of making me want to see it.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

El Hijo de LA Park vs. Puma King

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

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

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

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

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

Warner high fives Puma post match.

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

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

Another look at Contra Unit.

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

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

Contra Unit vs. Chico Adams/Vertigo Vera

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

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

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

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

Jimmy Havoc needs to return already.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #48
Date: March 9, 2019
Location: Cicero Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Jim Cornette

We’re officially done with Intimidation Games, meaning the still World Champion Tom Lawlor seems to be done with Low Ki. He’s just getting started with Contra though, the group which debuted last week to attack Lawlor in a heck of a beatdown. This could get interesting as we go forward. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s steel cage title match and Contra’s ensuing debut and beatdown. That splash off the cage still looked great.

Opening sequence.

Battle Riot Qualifying Match: Ace Austin vs. DJZ

On his way to the ring, Ace talks about the respect he has for DJZ but tonight is about going to Battle Riot. Ace’s slight of hand magic is a rather nice touch, though that might just me being a lifelong fan of magicians. They fight over arm control to start as Cornette is mocking DJZ’s shaved head. Austin sends him outside, cartwheels over him on the apron, and scores with a dropkick to keep DJZ in trouble. A quick superkick gets DJZ a breather but Austin sticks the landing on a whip over the barricade.

Back in and DJZ knocks him into the corner but the rolling DDT is countered into a jawbreaker. Austin anklescissors him off the top and nails a spinning middle rope Fameasser for two. DJZ is fine enough to nip up into a dropkick (always cool to see) and a knee to the head gets two more, with Cornette being shocked by the kickout. A springboard in the corner doesn’t work so well for Austin as he gets powerbombed down in a big crash. DJZ rolls towards him though but gets caught with the Fold (running Blockbuster) for the pin at 6:00.

Rating: C+. Austin has caught my eye both here and in Impact and he’s definitely someone worth keeping around. He has a different enough style and the magic/cards thing is a unique enough gimmick. Let him stick around places like this to get some experience on the bigger stages and see where he can go from there. Fun opener, as is the case around here more often than not.

Salina de la Renta doesn’t like Mance Warner and Fred Yehi being loud and it gets worse when Warner spills beer on her.

Jimmy Havoc is still coming back.

We look back at Contra attacking Lawlor again.

Rich talked to the doctor on the phone but can’t get any update on Lawlor due to privacy issues. He then goes on to list off all of Lawlor’s injuries because the doctor doesn’t know what privacy means. The doctor sounded rather weird and while I don’t think they’re going for one, it sounded like an impostor for the sake of an angle.

Simon Gotch, of Contra, is ready to beat up Ace Romero for costing him $20,000.

Alex Hammerstone is on the phone with someone and says he’s in. He gets mad at the camera being there but does say he’s in Battle Riot (sounded like something different from the phone call).

We look at Rich Swann losing it a few weeks ago and attacking Rich.

Alexander Hammerstone vs. Isaias Velasquez

Hammerstone’s music is very loud, to the point where it sounds like they’re intentionally trying to drown out commentary. Velasquez goes at him in the corner to start and scores with a jumping knee to little effect. Attempts at an Irish whip and an armdrag go nowhere and an enziguri just annoys Hammerstone. Velasquez does manage to knock him outside, where Hammerstone hits a Last Ride onto the apron. Back in and a scary t-bone suplex drops Velasquez on his head, followed by a rather delayed superplex. The Nightmare Pendulum finishes Velasquez at 3:45.

Rating: D+. They’ve got something with Hammerstone, who looks more and more like Sid Vicious every time I look at him. Hammerstone looked awesome here and could be a star around here for a long time. That’s one of the best things about MLW at the moment: they’re building up this lesser known talent and turning them into something, which is how you grow an audience.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman and Richard Holliday are on their way to an after party but don’t like what they find and yell a lot. They’ll chill during a joy ride in their new car.

Warner and Yehi share another beer when El Hijo De LA Park comes up to get in a fight with Warner, likely at Salina’s orders. Brian Pillman Jr. comes up and finishes Warner’s beer.

The Battle Riot Control Center announces Low Ki, Teddy Hart and Ace Romero for the match.

The Hart Foundation is ready for MJF and Holliday next week.

Salina rants about Warner and calls Ricky Martinez to deal with him.

We look back at Gotch issuing an open challenge and losing $20,000 to Romero.

Ace Romero vs. Simon Gotch

Romero wastes no time in shouldering Gotch down in a single big shot. A suicide dive (Cornette: “Looks like a flying bus!”) drops Gotch again but he’s fine enough to kick Romero down back inside. The fans are more interested in finding out what happened to Gotch’s shaved mustache. More kicks to the leg and head drop Romero in the corner but Gotch would rather go outside and yell at commentary. Back in and Romero starts swinging but Contra comes in for the DQ at 3:55.

Rating: D+. There’s something about Romero that draws you to him, which you don’t get from most big guys. I like watching him and they did the smart thing here by not having him lose to Gotch. At the same time you don’t want Gotch losing his first match as part of (and probably leader of) the new group. The time didn’t do them any favors, but they did the right thing.

Post match the beatdown is on with a railroad spike to the head busting Romero open. The three of them beats Romero down even more and put coins over his eyes. Romero gets covered with the flag as a fan tries to jump the barricade. Contra finally gets out of the ring and leaves to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This show was all about focusing on the new stars and it did very well in that regard. There’s more than enough interesting and unknown talent who look like people who could turn into stars down the line. Couple that with building up the return of Lawlor to go to war with Contra and you could have some very good shows going forward.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #46
Date: February 22, 2019
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Matt Striker, Rich Bocchini

Things have gone well in Philadelphia so far and there’s a good chance that’s going to be the case again here. This time around we have the debut of the rather redneck Mance Warner, which could go in a variety of ways. Other than that we have what should be some awesome lucha as Rey Horus faces Aerostar. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the end of last week’s show with Richard Holliday and Maxwell Jacob Friedman attacking Teddy Hart and possibly breaking his rib.

Opening sequence.

Lance Anoa’i vs. Rich Swann

Swann was suspended last week but is wrestling while on appeal. Before the match, Swann thanks the fans for being by his side and walking step by step with him. The announcers suggest that a concussion has turned Swann a little more evil, which is kind of a stretch of a story. Swann loads up the test of strength which turns into the dance, as it tends to do. A big kick to the head staggers Lance, who is right back with a backdrop which sends Swann into a 450.

The Samoan drop sends Swann outside for the big flip dive, followed by the CONTRA sign popping up again, which still isn’t acknowledge by commentary. Back in and Swann rakes the eyes (must be the concussion again) before ripping at the face. A pull of the hair gets a four count, with Swann explaining the rules to the referee like a villain should. An abdominal stretch keeps Lance in trouble, naturally starting the comeback a few seconds later.

Swann gets caught with a Stinger Splash into a running hip attack in the corner for two. A Rock Bottom doesn’t work as well as Swann slips out and hits a Lethal Injection for one. Swann kicks him in the head but Lance is right back with one of his own. The 450 misses though (nice one too despite Lance being bigger than a cruiserweight) and Swann grabs a rollup with a hand on the ropes for the pin at 7:07.

Rating: C-. Swann’s heel run is going better than I was expecting it to as he’s rather easy to dislike. At the same time, Lance was more impressive than usual here, as he isn’t the most thrilling guy in the world most of the time. With the right amount of time, both of these guys could become something interesting around here.

Tom Lawlor says it doesn’t matter how Low Ki is training for their cage match because Low Ki is coming into his world. The blackout is coming in Chicago, just like the Contra logo pops up again here.

We look at the Friedman/Holliday attack again.

Friedman talks about beating Hart down like a dog and paying off Holliday in a smart move. They both come from good families who aren’t filled with drugs, meaning Friedman is just better. He’ll prove that when he takes the Middleweight Title back.

Mance Warner has the interviewer hold a white board so he can write his plan for tonight:

1. Light beer

2. Eye pokes

3. Knee pad up, knee pad down

4. Lariats

Mance wants anyone who wants to get in the ring with the Mancer because he’s going to keep getting those W’s. He’s got some strong charisma.

Video on Aerostar.

Jimmy Yuta vs. Mance Warner

Yuta’s mask even lights up ala Mustafa Ali. Warner chops and swings away in the corner and seems to like it when Yuta hits him back. Yuta’s Octopus Hold is quickly broken up and Warner drops him with a windup headbutt. Yuta knocks him to the apron and joins him out there, where Warner asks him to hang on a second. For some reason Yuta does and Warner DDTs him on the apron. The first eye poke connects but Yuta is right back up with a suicide dive. Back in and something like an Angle Slam gives Yuta two so Warner headbutts him. The kneepad goes up and down to set up a knee trembler, setting up a lariat for the pin at 5:31.

Rating: C+. Warner isn’t exactly polished but he’s a lot of fun and does exactly what you would expect from him. He does feel like an old southern brawler and the entertaining promos are going to be more than enough to carry him. I liked what I saw here and he beat a big enough name to mean a little something. Well done here.

Davey Boy Smith talks about his love of cats and dogs. Teddy Hart says he’s trained in a shoot world and would love to see Smith choke Brock Lesnar out. They’ve saved all of their money over the years and are here for the gold.

Intimidation Games Control Center, featuring a bunch of names being announced but no new matches.

Video on Rey Horus.

Aerostar vs. Rey Horus

They fight over the armdrags to start and get the required covers with no counts. Double flip ups give us a standoff until Horus slides to the floor for the sole purpose of taking a dive from Aerostar. Back in and Aerostar hits a top rope corkscrew crossbody as Striker has literally not stopped talking about how important lucha libre is for the last two minutes. Horus sends him outside for the big running flip dive over the ropes for two back inside.

Aerostar kicks him in the head and hits a top rope reverse shoulder block (that’s a new one) for two of his own. Horus slams him in front of the corner but Aerostar shoves him outside for the running springboard flip dive. Back in and Aerostar hits a rolling cutter but Horus snaps off a Spanish Fly. Aerostar heads up top but gets pulled down with a super victory roll to give Horus the pin at 7:35.

Rating: B-. Entertaining luchaing here but nothing that we haven’t seen done much better time after time. It’s the kind of thing that is going to work every time though because these matches are very exciting, with those dives always looking crisp. It worked for a main event on the go home show and the fans liked it so well done on all accounts.

Salina de la Renta says she doesn’t speak Spanish so the interviewer asks to see Low Ki in English. That’s not happening either because Low Ki is training with some UFC fighters. When asked if they can talk to LA Park, she remembers that she can’t speak English and yells in French.

One more Contra logo wraps things up.

Overall Rating: C+. This wasn’t your traditional go home show and that’s ok, though Intimidation Games is looking like a far cry from SuperFight. That being said, it helps when you have more than a handful of matches announced in advance, though the cage match alone should carry things. Warner’s debut was fun and it was a good main event so this was a really easy sit for just under an hour.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #45
Date: February 15, 2019
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Matt Striker, Rich Bocchini

We’re still in Philadelphia and it’s time for a title to be on the line. In this case that would be the Middleweight Title, which should be a fun match between Maxwell Jacob Friedman challenging Teddy Hart. This promotion has become a home for the Hart Foundation, which is quite the odd development. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with what looks like a fan created Hart Foundation music video. Not a bad one either.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. explains where he got a custom made Egyptian wool shirt in Japan. He offers a lot of praise for Japan in general and is working on his Japanese. A fan, who I believe was very prominently featured during Sandman’s entrance last week, comes in so some flirting can ensue.

Opening sequence.

Earlier this week, Salina de la Renta posted a video on Instagram making fun of Tom Lawlor and the fans (or marks as she calls them). She’s fine after the loss because Low Ki has a guaranteed rematch, which he’ll be using at Intimidation Games.

Ace Austin vs. Rich Swann

Swann is freshly heel and talks about bringing the party with him wherever he goes. They go basic to start with Austin working on an armbar as a random graphic pops up, saying CONTRA. It’s not acknowledged, which makes things a little more interesting. Some armdrags have Swann down and it’s time to for the rapid fire near falls into stereo dropkicks for a standoff. Swann lays on the top rope for a breather but Austin drop toeholds him down for a kick to the back.

Something off the top is shoved down though with Austin crashing onto the bare floor. A chop off goes to Austin back inside and a springboard spinning kick to the face gets two. Austin goes up and hits a top rope Vader Bomb for….the pin at 5:40? That was weird as the referee didn’t seem ready to count and even stopped at two before the three went down. Odd indeed.

Rating: C. It was fun while it lasted as both guys are talented with Austin being a nice surprise who has come out of nowhere. Swann as a heel has some potential too as you know he can do everything needed in the ring. He wasn’t going to get very far as smiling face though so this is a nice change.

Post match Swann beats up the referee and says that was two. Bocchini gets beaten up for trying an interview and Swann goes after the announcer as well, drawing some hard booing.

Ariel Dominguez vs. Alexander Hammerstone

This is Hammerstone’s debut and Dominguez is still rather small. Hammerstone growls about how he’s anything but normal and the future has arrived. Dominguez gets choked into the corner to start and an armdrag is blocked with raw power. There’s a Brogue kick to knock Dominguez silly and Hammerstone throws him with a German suplex. Hammerstone grabs a pumphandle and walks him around the ring before tossing Dominguez with a suplex.

The fans chant ONE MORE TIME but Hammerstone goes for a delayed vertical instead, allowing Dominguez to slip out. You don’t do that to Hammerstone though as it’s a hard clothesline to drop Dominguez. The Nightmare Pendulum (Hellevator) finishes Dominguez at 2:36. Hammerstone was impressive here and a lot better than when I saw him a few years ago.

Lawlor vs. Low Ki II is a cage match. The Contra thing pops up again as this is being announced. Also announced for the show: Taurus/Laredo Kid vs. the Lucha Bros.

Mance Warner is a very southern guy who has a bunch of nicknames while drinking light beer and talking about the semi truck engine he rented for the weekend. He’s certainly a fast talker.

Here’s MJF for his title shot but first, he needs to call Philadelphia white trash for liking ECW. As for Hart, the fans cheer for him even though MJF never lost the title. Why aren’t they chanting for him instead? Hart can come out here tonight and face him one on one because MJF is ready to prove that he’s the better man.

Middleweight Title: Teddy Hart vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

Hart is defending and has his cat Mr. Velvet with him. MJF won’t shake hands so Teddy goes to the corner for some posing instead. They switch places and Hart pulls the trunks down in a funny bit. Friedman sends him outside in a heap and kicks the rope for a low blow on the way back in. Why that isn’t a DQ isn’t made clear but Friedman suplexes him down into a headlock. Yes a headlock not a chinlock. That stays on for a lot longer than you might expect until Hart fights up and walks MJF’s back into the sunset flip for two.

The top rope Lionsault is good for the same and Hart goes with the right hands to the face. Hart spends too much time talking though and gets his arm stomped, followed by the hanging piledriver for two. The Fujiwara armbar goes on and MJF even bites the hand to make it worse.

Hart makes the rope so MJF puts him on top, where Hart pulls his trunks WAY up for some pain. The ref gets bumped and a hammerlock DDT plants MJF for no count. With Hart checking on the referee, MJF grabs a chair but gets kicked low because Hart is a good bit more intelligent. The electric chair Backstabber sets up the corkscrew Lionsault to retain the title at 11:13.

Rating: C. Nice enough match here as Friedman is your classic cruiserweight heel: stays on the ground and works a lot of submission holds, which is an idea that has worked forever. Fans are going to cheer for someone like Hart because of the flips and don’t want to see MJF keeping it on the mat, while also being such a jerk. They kept it simple here but did it well, which is a lot better than doing something complicated and messing it up.

As Teddy comes through the curtain, Richard Holliday jumps him as MJF comes in to say it’s his belt. It seems that we have a payoff as the double beatdown ends the show.

Overall Rating: C+. I liked this show as, just like last week, they didn’t focus on the main event scene and instead pushed their other stories to keep them interesting. It makes for a good show with Hammerstone looking rather impressive. Keep doing what they’re doing and things will be fine.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-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 #44
Date: February 8, 2019
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Matt Striker, Rich Bocchini

We’re done with SuperFight and now we’re on the way towards Intimidation Games because MLW is actually making some steps forward around here. Tom Lawlor won the World Title in a very short match, which might have been due to time constraints. Fair enough, though you can imagine the rematch coming from here. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at SuperFight, which was a rather snappy little show.

Opening video.

Myron Reed vs. DJZ

They fight over arm control to start with no one getting anywhere. Reed bails into the ropes, followed by a cartwheel to stay away. DJZ gets a bit more serious with a dropkick into a jawbreaker to put Reed in some early trouble. A trip to the floor lets DJZ hit a suicide dive, followed by a nice slingshot splash back inside. Reed is right back up with a dive of his own (no hands) before going with a chinlock to slow things down. Reed: “He’s going to sleep!” Then why are you not using a sleeper? Young whippersnapper.

The comeback doesn’t take very long (I guess DJZ wasn’t very sleepy) as DJZ grabs a jumping neckbreaker. Reed is right back with the springboard cutter and DJZ’s tornado DDT is shoved off. An O’Connor roll is reversed into another one and Reed grabs the tights for the pin at 6:26.

Rating: C. Perfectly watchable showcase match for both guys here with DJZ suddenly being a somewhat respected name. Reed is someone who needs a lot more ring time but you can see the potential inside of him. A little more time for both guys is going to do them some good though they’re doing well enough here.

The Hart Foundation answers some questions about Valentine’s Day. Brian pleads the fifth about which girlfriend he’ll spend the holiday with, though he’s known for stacking them up like pizza. Teddy asks about his cats and uses a certain word. The solution to spicing up a twenty five year marriage: leave. Davey is indeed single and fills out his shorts. Finally: no hair, though they do like these beIN Sports sunglasses. This was funnier than it had any right to be.

Gringo Loco vs. Puma King

These guys are both rather popular. They start with the flipping that doesn’t make any actual contact and covers for some far falls. Of course it’s a standoff, which certainly pleases the fans. Puma takes over in the corner but we stop to dance, because dance breaks have made it to MLW. Loco flips forward to get a breather and they trade hurricanranas. One of them sends Loco outside and Puma is right after him with a dive. Back in and King nails a superkick, followed by more dancing.

They run the ropes and for no logical reason, King bails outside, setting up a flip dive from Loco. Back in and a spinning Vader Bomb gets two but King is right back with a top rope Codebreaker. Gringo catches him on top though and a springboard cutter gets two. Puma’s Code Red gets the same and it’s time to fight on the corner at the same time. The required super Spanish Fly finishes King at 7:38.

Rating: C+. Yeah this worked and they did exactly what was advertised here. They flew around, hit big spots and played to the crowd. Really, what else were they supposed to do? The match was entertaining and didn’t overstay its welcome, which is a great result for a TV match like this.

Tonight: the future of the Lucha Bros is revealed.

MJF doesn’t want to hear about Teddy Hart’s redemption because he doesn’t get it. Why are we praising someone who messed up in the first place? Where is the praise for MJF, who never did anything wrong? He’s never been to jail or done drugs, so now it’s time for him to get back the title he never lost.

Tommy Dreamer says Brian Pillman Jr. is coming into his house tonight. He has a mystery partner and because he’s been around for so long, he had about 2000 people to pick from. It’s going to be Sandman and I don’t know why they don’t just say so.

Jimmy Havoc is coming back.

Brian Pillman Jr./??? vs. Tommy Dreamer/???

Street fight for what should be obvious reasons. Before the partners are revealed, Pillman grabs a mic and says the smart marks have been waiting for him to have a microphone in this arena. Without saying much, he announces Davey Boy Smith Jr. as his partner. Well he had two realistic options and he picked one of them. Dreamer’s partner is of course Sandman, who comes through the entrance in a visual that feels completely wrong.

The first spit of a beer lets us start things off in a brawl, as it certainly should be. They actually get inside with Sandman falling down off an elbow drop attempt. We settle down to Dreamer getting kicked in the back to put the Harts in control, allowing Pillman to hit a good looking dropkick. The delayed suplex gets the fans to cheer against the ECW guys for a change, though Sandman’s swearing brings them back.

Smith hurts his head off a headbutt attempt and walks into a DDT, allowing the hot tag to Sandman. Everything breaks down and Dreamer hits his cutter on Smith as Sandman has found a cane. The slow chase is on and Dreamer finds some chairs. Pillman goes underneath the ring and finds….the Blue Meanie. The distraction lets Sandman get in the first cane shots to Pillman but Sandman gets dropped. Back in and Dreamer gets powerbombed through the chairs for a pin at 8:08.

Rating: D+. I’m not sure why I didn’t mind this as much as the Ring of Honor match from Sandman. Maybe it’s how serious that was treated compared to this, but for some reason this was a lot more acceptable. For one thing Sandman wasn’t doing much here and that’s best for everyone. His entrance is still cool and that’s why you bring him in. Not a very good match, but the ending was the right call.

Dreamer and Sandman get the heroes’ farewell.

Next week: MJF vs. Hart for the Middleweight Title.

The Lucha Bros say they’ll be around MLW. They’ll fight anyone anywhere anytime because they’re the best tag team in the world.

Tom Lawlor staggers out of a strip club, seemingly still drunk from last night with the title. That was funny.

Overall Rating: C. This one really did fit the idea of a fusion of a bunch of styles and that’s a good idea. You had three different matches on here and it made for a very breezy show. As usual, MLW is good at being able to go through a bunch of stuff without having any of them seem weak or unimportant. It keeps things fresh and that was the case here.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-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: WWE

Fusion #42
Date: February 1, 2019
Location: Scottish Rites Temple, Miami, Florida
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Rich Bocchini

So because I’m not allowed to get caught up with all the shows I’ve missed over the last month, there’s this show, which aired the night before their big SuperFight special and isn’t even on their YouTube page. I can’t find a single mention of this show on their site either, but for the sake of completion, let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ricky Martinez vs. Fred Yehi

Well if I just have to deal with more Salina. Yehi muscles him over with an early German suplex and hits some loud strikes in the corner. A running kick to the head makes it even worse as it’s all Yehi so far. Martinez goes simple by ax handling him in the back of the head, followed by a dropkick to the side of the head for two. A pop up knee to the face keeps Yehi in trouble and Martinez does the Madison Rayne faceplants into the mat. Yehi blocks the last one though and pops up with a brainbuster for two of his own. Back up and Martinez gets in a quick poke to the eye, setting up a rollup for the pin at 3:57.

Rating: D+. This was a weird one as they were setting up a back and forth match and then just ended it out of nowhere. What we got was good enough and both guys are capable of having a rather nice match, but instead they went with the short form idea. Martinez going after the eye ties into his feud with Kotto Brazil, but they could have expanded this one by a good while.

Video on Tom Lawlor vs. Low Ki.

Low Ki is in Orlando and talks about everyone he’s beaten as champion. You get to the top based on skill instead of who you train with and Lawlor will find that out tomorrow night.

We see clips of Low Ki’s reign of terror, including winning the title, taking Fenix’s mask, ripping off Daga’s ear and stabbing Konnan.

SuperFight Control Center, including the matches taking place in the upcoming weeks.

Lawlor is tired of hearing all the talk from Low Ki and Salina so on Saturday, it’s time to fight. He still can’t talk very well, but he’s certainly trying.

We look at Lawlor’s path to the title, starting with Battle Riot and wins over Jake Hager, Shane Strickland and Sami Callihan.

Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Tommy Dreamer

Empty Arena match taped earlier in the day. Pillman comes through the stands and brags about being trained in Calgary, which brings Dreamer up the steps for some very un-PG language as the fight begins. Pillman sends him head first into a wall and into what looks like a closet where Dreamer gets hit with a metal sign. Back down the steps we go and Dreamer gets a chain put in his mouth.

Dreamer is back up with a trashcan to the head as a referee asks if Brian wants to quit. Uh, the lack of an audience doesn’t mean there aren’t rules here. Could we have some control here people? They fight outside with Dreamer being sent into a wall and calling down some steps. They choke each other a lot until Dreamer suplexes him on some grass.

It’s time to head back inside again and they wind up in a kitchen, with Dreamer getting both mayonnaise and a door stop to the head. A low blow gets Dreamer out of trouble and Pillman starts to beg off from the threat of a light tube to the head. Pillman crawls out of the ring and says thank you as the fight ends at about 6:45.

Rating: D. What am I supposed to say about this? It wasn’t a match by any traditional definition and it wasn’t particularly good as they didn’t do anything that hadn’t been done before. The ending means we’re not done yet and for lack of a better term, Dreamer won. This felt like they had an initial idea but didn’t bother to figure out where it was going to go in the end.

One last rundown for SuperFight wraps us up.

Overall Rating: D+. This was the most skippable show the company has ever had as it was more or less their version of a Kickoff Show. I can understand why it wasn’t immediately uploaded to their YouTube page because it’s not like anything on here was meaningful in the slightest. It’s not the worst show in the world and it did a nice job of setting up the main event, but this might as well have been some kind of special instead of a regular show.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-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 #41
Date: January 25, 2019
Location: Scottish Rite Temple, Miami, Florida
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

It’s the go home show for SuperFight and that could make for an interesting show. MLW doesn’t have a ton of experience with stuff like this and therefore the track record is hard to guess. The big story continues to be the build towards Tom Lawlor’s World Title shot against Low Ki, so expect something from that tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

In Memory of Dr. Rex Bacchus.

We look back at Low Ki and Black Friday Management taking out various people over the last several months, mainly thanks to Sami Callihan. Now Lawlor has laid out Callihan, so Salina de la Renta is sending LA Park after Callihan, which is tonight’s main event.

Opening sequence.

We run down the top matches at SuperFight.

Kotto Brazil vs. Vandal Ortagun

This is Brazil’s return after an eye injury that means he’s now wearing an eye patch. Ortagun doesn’t waste time in jumping Brazil and knocks him outside in a hurry. That means a kick to the chest to slow Ortagun down again and there’s the suicide dive into the barricade. What looked to be a running Sliced Bread is blocked and Ortagun snaps the patch into his eye like a true villain.

A hard whip into the corner keeps Brazil in trouble but he snaps off a German suplex for a breather. Another bridging version gets two and a springboard spinning splash is good for the same. Ortagun slams him right back down to cut things off again, only to walk into a Code Red. Back up and an RKO into the running Sliced Bread finishes Ortagun at 7:52.

Rating: C. Brazil isn’t too bad in the ring at all and plays a very good undersized underdog. The eye patch is a good way to build even more sympathy and then winning the match clean helps pay it off. At the same time you have Ortagun, who is a perfectly serviceable jobber to the stars.

Post match Ricky Martinez, the guy who injured Brazil in the first place, runs in and beats Brazil down. He even steals the eye patch.

We look back at Brian Pillman Jr. beating Tommy Dreamer in a Singapore cane match. Brian wants a rematch in any kind of match.

Dreamer calls in and says he’ll fight Pillman in a mystery partner tag match in Philadelphia.

Barrington Hughes vs. Ace Romero

Hughes is the hometown boy and Romero is the smaller of the two at 400lbs. They take their time locking up and it’s the big shoulder that goes nowhere. Romero dropkicks him into the corner….and here’s Rob Parker to say hold on there fat boys. These two shouldn’t be in the ring because there’s a pie eating contest down the street. Cue the Dirty Blonds to jump both of them at 2:15….and we have a tag match.

Dirty Blonds vs. Ace Romero/Barrington Hughes

Running corner splashes set up stereo World’s Strongest Slams to finish the Blonds at 53 seconds. What else do you want me to say here?

Mance Warner is still coming.

Next week it’s Dreamer vs. Pillman in an Empty Arena match.

Pillman and Teddy Hart hold cats and see fear in the Lucha Bros’ eyes. Then it’s time to train, which means downing a protein drink and pointing at a cat.

SuperFight rundown with Striker doing his usual, shall we say, verbose hyping.

Sami Callihan mocks Salina de la Renta for her cause because all Sami cares about is money. He’s taken everyone out and he’ll take out LA Park tonight.

Video on Lawlor vs. Low Ki.

Low Ki mockingly congratulates Lawlor for making it to SuperFight. He hints at Lawlor going through a divorce for the sake of his career before moving on to talking about his reputation for taking things too far. Maybe in Philadelphia he should take things too extreme instead. They got off the personal issues so fast that it seemed to be part of a different promo. Low Ki’s delivery was great as usual though.

Sami Callihan vs. LA Park

Falls Count Anywhere which apparently means hardcore. Salina is here with Park to make things more interesting. Before we get a bell, Park lays the Mexican flag on the mat and bows to it as the stalling is strong here. They shove and chop each other to start with Callihan opening his vest so Park can chop harder. The chops actually break the skin and Callihan starts crying. Park splashes him in the corner, stops to strike the dance, and gets two off a clothesline.

They head outside with Park putting him in a chair for the huge suicide dive, which is rather impressive given his size. One heck of a trashcan shot keeps Callihan in trouble but he blocks another dive with a trashcan shot. Park loses his belt and Sami blasts him with it a few times before daring to mock the strut. A beer to the mask looks to set up the running start lariat but Callihan gets tossed over the barricade instead.

Park turns part of the barricade into a ramp with a trashcan on top, setting up a suplex to put Callihan in even more trouble. Some chairs (the ones that don’t move rather than the usual folding kind) are thrown inside but Park stops to cover for two. They fight out of the arena and into the lobby with another trashcan shot giving Park two more. It actually goes outside the building for a few moments without much happening, meaning it’s time to go back into the arena.

Back inside and the referee gets bumped but is fine enough to count two off Park’s headbutt. The referee shouts about his ankle being injured and Park shouts a lot, followed by a powerslam for two with the referee stopping at two due to the pain. Park jumps the referee but a low blow gives Callihan a perfectly fine two. It’s time to set up some chairs next to each other but Park blocks a powerbomb and spears Sami through them for the pin at 13:37.

Rating: C+. This was a lot of fun with a good effort to hide the fact that Park is little more than a brawler in a cool costume at this point. Callihan losing over and over again is interesting, though he’s the kind of guy who doesn’t need to win all the time anyway. At least we got some entertaining brawling here and that’s all this was going to be.

Overall Rating: C. Not too bad here, though it was the definition of a filler show that had no real purpose other than being one last show before SuperFight. I’m looking forward to seeing the big show, even with the most obvious main event result they could have. Now just deliver with the rest of the show and everything will be fine. Completely watchable show this week, but nothing worth going out of your way to see.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-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 #39
Date: January 18, 2019
Location: Scottish Rite Temple, Miami, Florida
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

We’re two weeks away from Super Fight and you can see the big main event coming from here. That’s not a bad thing in this case as there’s a heck of a title match on the horizon. Other than that there are some other matches to look forward to, though the build hasn’t gotten as far with them. Let’s get to it.

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

Here’s Shane Strickland, who still won’t leave this place, to open things up. He hates Miami, but MLW paid him a fortune to be here because they need Swerve. Shane is tired of being treated so badly, but here’s Rush to interrupt. The microphone is hard to understand but Strickland jumps him and we’re off to a match.

Shane Strickland vs. Rush

Shane knocks him to the floor and the cockiness is strong to start. Rush goes back first into the post and they head back inside for some stomping in the corner. As Shane chokes, the announcers do a rather nice job of explaining his story of being the fallen star of MLW. That’s the right story and it’s an interesting one. Rush fights up but a running dropkick to the knee cuts him right back down.

The fans think Swerve sucks as he puts on a leg lock to keep Rush in trouble. Something like an STF doesn’t last long for Shane so he goes with kicks to the chest instead. Rush gets up again and takes it to the floor, this time with a whip to send Shane into the barricade. They fight into the crowd with a trashcan being pelted off of Shane’s head. Back in and another shot to the chest lets Rush pose tranquilo style.

Another chop makes Shane cringe but the fans want UNO MAS. The Rush Driver is countered and it’s off to the slugout. Shane gets in a head fake for a shot to the face in a clever move, which makes you realize what MLW saw in him as he really is that good. They trade no sold German suplexes with Shane grabbing a rolling DDT for two. Rush gets in his own big shot with a superplex for two more, followed by a bridging fisherman’s suplex for the same.

Rating: B-. This was more of a story based match than anything else, though the wrestling was certainly good enough to make the match watch. The idea here was more about Shane losing to the new star and establishing that he was completely done and there is no coming back. Of course I’ve said that before and he keeps coming back, so maybe there’s one more match for him.

Opening sequence, seventeen minutes into the show.

Mance Warner is still coming.

We look back at Tom Lawlor destroying Sami Callihan last week, possibly murdering him with a hammer.

Salina de la Renta promises to send LA Park after Sami Callihan for being such a screwup.

Ariel Dominguez vs. Ace Romero

Barrington Hughes is on commentary, which thankfully isn’t an overly common act around here. Huge vs. tiny here with Dominguez getting thrown down like he’s not even there. Aries gets tossed a few more times but manages to avoid a sitdown splash. Some running clotheslines have little effect so Romero slams him down and drops an elbow/splash (it was hard to tell) for the pin at 1:50.

Hughes and Romero stare each other down.

Brian Pillman Jr. is at a playground and talks about wanting to destroy Tommy Dreamer because now he knows how to use his environment.

Low Ki is the greatest World Champion of all time and Tom Lawlor gets to join the list of people who have lost to him.

Ricky Martinez vs. El Gringo Loco

Feeling out process to start with Martinez grabbing an early rollup for two and Loco cartwheeling into a standoff. Things get a little more intense with Martinez hitting a jumping neckbreaker to really take over. The figure four neck lock faceplants into the mat keep Loco in trouble, followed by something like a Pounce to take him down again. Loco is right back up and catches Martinez on top with a super Falcon Arrow. A middle rope cutter gets two as the fans are WAY into this one. Salina pulls Martinez out of the way of Spiral Tap though and Martinez rakes the eyes. A fireman’s carry gutbuster finishes Loco at 5:01.

Rating: C. This was entertaining while it lasted as Loco is the kind of guy who can connect with the crowd. MLW has a good audience where if they get behind a wrestler, that wrestler is over for good. Loco has done that and it should keep him around for a long time to come. Martinez is good as the enforcer and a win like this should help him.

Colonel Parker gives the Dirty Blonds (They’re still around?) a pep talk and threatens problems if they don’t win.

Tom Lawlor is at his training camp and talks about everything he’s done to get here. With everything he’s done, nothing is stopping him from becoming champion, including an undefeated Low Ki. The champ has paid people off to keep the title but there’s no way around him in Philadelphia. Lawlor still sounds like a high school student acting, but he has the intensity and good fire in his eyes.

Super Fight Control Center, which will include the second live special on February 2. That makes a lot of sense. Signed for the show (not clear if this will be on the live portion) is Puma King vs. Gringo Loco, Pillman and Dreamer in a mystery partner tag match (get Sandman ready), Ace Romero vs. Barrington Hughes, the debut of Mance Warner, Aerostar vs. Rey Horus, the World Title match and the Hart Foundation challenging the Lucha Bros for the Tag Team Titles. Good card actually.

Dirty Blonds vs. Hart Foundation

Pillman and Smith for the Harts here. It’s Smith and Leo Brien starting things off as the fans want Pillman. That’s exactly what they get too and a running dropkick in the corner has Leo in trouble. A missed dropkick allows the tag to Michael Patrick to hammer away in the corner and spit a little. The chinlock goes on for a few seconds before Patrick elbows Pillman in the face. Pillman gets up and hits a crossbody for two of his own, allowing the double tag. Smith cleans house on both Blonds and Pillman adds a springboard clothesline. A top rope superplex finishes Brien at 4:50.

Rating: D+. What the heck happened to the Blonds? I liked them as an old school team back in the day and now I’m surprised to see them show up and lose a five minute match. It wouldn’t shock me to see them leave the promotion as there’s no point to keeping them around at this point. The match was fine as a glorified squash, but that’s all it was.

Parker yells at the Blonds for the loss to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This wasn’t much as a stand alone show but it did well as a way to advance the stories going into Super Fight. That’s the kind of show you need heading into the biggest shows of the year and these shows are necessary to bridge the gaps. I like how the Super Fight card is setting up and that’s a good sign with about two weeks to go before the show.