Never Say Never 2021
Date: March 31, 2021
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Ray Flores, Jared St. Laurent

This is pretty much it for me with MLW, as they have lost so much of what made them special now that they hare back after the pandemic hiatus. There is little here that interests me, including the main event of Jacob Fatu defending the World Title against newcomer Calvin Tankman. Let’s get to it.

Jacob Fatu says Calvin Tankman is going to be just another body on the count.

Calvin Tankman says he is different and you can’t play games with him.

Opening sequence.

Simon Gotch vs. Jordan Oliver

Gotch has beaten/beaten up Oliver a few times now. They go to the mat to start with Gotch working on the legs in a smart move. The chinlock goes on as commentary talks about how balanced Contra is between all of its members. Gotch takes him to the mat again with something like a reverse Koji Clutch. That’s broken up in a hurry with Jordan nailing some forearms to the floor but something like the Coffin Drop misses back inside.

With Oliver down, Gotch hammers away with the bandanna around his hand, followed by some choking for a bonus. A kick to the ribs gives Gotch two and an armbar sends Oliver over to the rope. Some knees to the back keep Oliver down as this has been one sided so far. Oliver manages to fight up with a DDT and a running forearm. A clothesline puts Gotch down and the top rope cutter is enough to give Oliver the pin at 9:14.

Rating: C. Just a match here as they are setting up the Injustice vs. Contra trilogy for the night. MLW seems to see quite a bit in Oliver though I’m not sure how far he is going to be able to do. Oliver can talk and is decent enough in the ring, but he looks like he is about fifteen years old and that is going to cause some issues.

Video on Calvin Tankman.

Josef Samael isn’t sweating Tankman or Injustice.

Dragon Gate is coming. Cool.

Daivari vs. Myron Reed

They slug it out to start and Reed throws him outside for a suicide dive. Daivari sends him into a wall and they fight up the stage. Reed backdrops his way out of a piledriver attempt and hits a quick dive to take over again. It’s time to go back inside where Daivari gets smart by going after the leg.

The Figure Four goes on so Reed grabs the rope and comes up with a jawbreaker. Reed goes to the apron and hits a quick Fameasser over the middle rope. Back in and Daivari snaps off a powerslam for two before stealing and putting on Reed’s chest protector. The frog splash misses so Reed hits a springboard cutter and takes the protector back, setting up a 450 to finish Daivari at 8:05.

Rating: C. Reed continues to be someone who seems like he could go somewhere as a face, though I’m not sure how likely that is after such a long reign as the Middleweight Champion. I like his charisma though and this felt like an important win over a somewhat more established name. Daivari and Contra will be fine, so they had the right winner here.

Alex Hammerstone is ready to face Mil Muertes in two weeks because he is ready to take his title back.

We get a split screen interview with Gino Medina and Richard Holliday, though Holliday gets in an argument with Alicia Atout first. Gino wants to kick Holliday in the head and Atout mentions how much cologne Holliday wears. Holliday does not like being compared to a Ken doll and they insult each other so much that Atout calls them petty. Atout also announces a Caribbean Title match between the two of them on April 14. Works for Medina.

Another Calvin Tankman video.

We see Tankman attacking Jacob Fatu to set up the title match.

We will get a medical update on Bu Ku Dao in two weeks.

MLW World Title: Jacob Fatu vs. Calvin Tankman

Fatu, with Daivari, is defending and Tankman might have had food poisoning earlier this week. They trade shoulders to start and Fatu is knocked hard out to the floor. That just makes Fatu mad so Tankman hammers away at him even more. Tankman kicks him into the corner but Fatu nails a headbutt.

A springboard clothesline (dang) and a superkick drop Tankman, followed by a Samoan drop for two. The unwrapped wrist tape goes around Tankman’s throat and the reverse Cannonball gives Tankman two more. We hit the nerve hold (of course), which doesn’t last long as Fatu lets go for a running headbutt instead. Tankman is right back up for a slugout and knocks Fatu outside again.

Back in and Fatu kicks him in the head, setting up a handspring moonsault for two more. Tankman is back with a spinning backfist and a hard clothesline gets another near fall. Daivari comes in for a distraction though and Fatu hits Tankman with the flat. The double jump moonsault retains the title at 10:44.

Rating: C+. The ending holds back what was otherwise a pretty good hoss fight, with Tankman giving Fatu everything he could but ultimately getting stopped by a flag pole. I would hope that they could come up with something a little bit better than that a distraction into a weapon shot. It’s just so basic and that is not the kind of feeling I want for a main event title match.

Overall Rating: C. Yeah I’m done. This was every problem with MLW rolled into one: more of the same stories which feel like they go on forever, what could have been some great matches reduced to just pretty good and nothing that I’m going to remember. MLW was a heck of a fun company at one point but they have lost that almost completely and now they have lost me watching their show, at least for the time being.

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Fusion #125
Date: March 17, 2021
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Jared St. Laurent

We’re almost to Never Say Never with a pair of shows left before the big event. It’s also another double title show this week as Lio Rush defends the Middleweight Title and Los Parks defend the Tag Team Titles. Hopefully things can pick up a bit around here but I’m not sure if I would get my hopes up. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with Injustice and Contra fighting in the back. Los Parks get involved too and referees try to break it up.

Opening sequence.

Middleweight Title: Lio Rush vs. Brian Pillman Jr.

Pillman Jr. answered an open contract for the shot and does not look thrilled to be here. Feeling out process to start with Pillman shoving him down. A shoulder doesn’t do much for Pillman (who seems to be in his dad’s Four Horsemen tights) so he catches a charging Rush with a dropkick to better avail. Rush snaps off a headscissors to the floor and Pillman is in trouble for the first time. An uppercut to the back of the head gives Rush two and he elbows Pillman in the face for the same.

We hit a waistlock on the mat until Pillman elbows his way to freedom. Pillman gets in a few kicks of his own and snaps off a powerslam for two. A suplex takes a bit too long though and Rush kicks him in the face to send him outside. Back in and a kick to the head looks to set up the Final Hour but Pillman catches him on top. Pillman manages the superplex though and they’re both down. Rush is back up with the springboard Stunner into the Final Hour to retain at 9:17.

Rating: C+. Pillman got in more than I was expecting here but there was far from any real drama. The match did work well though, mainly because Rush defending the title makes it feel important. AEW has done a nice job at making the Middleweight Title feel important and that is not something easy to pull off. Nice match here.

Injustice’s Tag Team Title shot will now be a triple threat, also including Contra.

Alex Hammerstone doesn’t like Mil Muertes stealing his title last week. He knows Salina de la Renta is about as evil as you can get but she is most dangerous around old men with big bank accounts. Anyway, Mil Muertes holding a title doesn’t make him a champion so if he has the guts, let Hammerstone make him the main of 1001 deaths.

The Von Erichs want Team Filthy in any way they can get them.

Salina de la Renta, holding the National Openweight Title, says El Jefe wants violence.

Here’s the Top 10:

10. Jordan Oliver

9. Gino Medina

8. Myron Reed

7. Richard Holliday

6. Mads Krugger

5. Calvin Tankman

4. Mil Muertes

3. Low Ki

2. Tom Lawlor

1. Alex Hammerstone

Mil Muertes vs. Parrow

Salina de la Renta is here with Muertes. Neither goes anywhere off an exchange of shoulders so Muertes kicks him in the knee and grabs a low DDT. Muertes chops away in the corner and drops Parrow with a clothesline as we see Bu Ku Dao down in the back. They head outside with Parrow being driven back first into the apron but he drops Muertes back inside. There’s a backsplash for two on Muertes, who is right back with a powerslam for two. The Downward Spiral finishes Parrow at 4:19.

Rating: C-. It was a power match with two big men hitting each other rather hard for a few minutes. Muertes is on his way to a big feud with Alex Hammerstone and it wouldn’t shock me to see him win the title given where they might be going with the Aztec Underground. The match wasn’t great but it did what it was supposed to do so well done on that front.

Bu Ku Dao is still down and his match with TJP might be off.

Video on Calvin Tankman, who is coming for the World Title.

It’s off to the Never Say Never Control Center, with Jordan Oliver vs. Richard Holliday and Myron Reed vs. Daivari being added.

Mads Krugger promises to end Alex Hammerstone. I think he does at least as the audio was hard to understand.

Tom Lawlor is ready to beat up the Von Erichs and ACH in a chain match next week. Simple and to the point here.

Tag Team Titles: Injustice vs. Los Parks vs. Contra

Los Parks are defending, anything goes and it’s Daivari/Simon Gotch for Contra. The fight is on before the champs get to the ring but LA Park is out in a hurry to swing the chair. The violence is on fast with all of the usual greatest hits of weapons making appearances. We settle down to Reed kicking Daivari in the face for two but Hijo chairs Reed in the head. The champs lay Oliver out but everyone is pulled outside to keep up the violence.

The Parks get to double team Gotch this time though, including Park hammering away at Gotch’s head. Back up and Park wins a slugout with Gotch with a kick to the face and a poke to the eye. Park’s dance sets up the Octopus but Oliver wastes no time in making a save. Oliver hits the big dive onto the Parks but Hijo is back up with a dive onto Daivari. Park spears Gotch to retain the titles at 6:45.

Rating: C. It was another crazy brawl, which is probably designed to protect the Parks. They didn’t stop with the action, but the match felt completely thrown together, which is not the best way to go. There were some nice dives but this didn’t feel special in any way as it came off more like putting a title match on the show for the sake of having a title match.

Overall Rating: C. That’s your standard Fusion: nothing too bad, nothing too good, nothing too memorable. The only difference is this one was about ten minutes shorter, which is hardly the highest level of praise. Never Say Never needs to be good or at least have something big go down, because the promotion feels so lifeless these days and it is showing badly.

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Fusion #121
Date: February 10, 2021
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Jared St. Laurent, Rich Bocchini

It’s time for a big night as we have a title vs. title match. This time around it’s the AAA Cruiserweight Champion Laredo Kid vs. MLW Middleweight Champion Lio Rush with both championships on the line. I’m not sure how that is going to go but at least it feels like a big deal. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video sets up the title match. As it should.

Opening sequence.

ACH vs. Brian Pillman Jr.

For the second time in a row, Pillman doesn’t get an entrance, which doesn’t bode well for his future around here. ACH’s ribs are still banged up but here’s Team Filthy to watch on the stage. Pillman is smart enough to go for the ribs but ACH chops him into the corner without much effort. A dropkick sends Pillman outside as Team Filthy gets a little bit closer. Back in and Pillman elbows him down, setting up a bodyscissors to keep ACH’s ribs in trouble.

ACH slips out and tries a surfboard, sending Pillman straight over to the ropes. More knees to the ribs cut off ACH again but he kicks the knee out for a breather. Team Filthy is at ringside now as ACH wins a slugout but gets backdropped down. Pillman heads up top but ACH runs the corner and kicks him down. The brainbuster finishes Pillman at 5:53.

Rating: C. The wrestling was perfectly fine but you can pretty much tell that Pillman is either done trying here or checked out mentally as he wasn’t exactly on fire here. At the same time, he might as well have been any warm body given how commentary sounded, as there was no reference to his history with the company or much about how good he is in the ring. ACH going over is fine, but Pillman feels like an MLW zombie at the moment.

Post match Team Filthy comes in to jump ACH but the Von Erichs run in for the save. After the ring is cleared, ACH and the Von Erichs say don’t mess with Texas.

We hear Salina de la Renta talking about the owner of Azteca Underground wanting to buy the IWA in Puerto Rico.

Savio Vega says IWA isn’t for sale because the company is for the fans.

We look back at Los Parks retaining the Tag Team Titles last week through some shenanigans.

Zenshi vs. Calvin Tankman

Zenshi’s legsweeps just make Tankman glare at him and a kick to the head doesn’t do much more. Tankman shows him how to do a dropkick and there’s a spinebuster for two on Zenshi. A big toss sends Zenshi flying for two but he avoids a running shooting star press. Zenshi’s running shooting star connects for two and he kicks Tankman to the apron.

Tankman blocks a posionrana to the floor (because no) and a flying shoulder drops Zenshi with ease. One heck of a clothesline gets two on Zenshi but he slips out of the Tankman Driver. Some kicks to the head put Tankman on the ropes and there’s a 619. Zenshi goes up top but Tankman pulls him out of the air and hits the Tankman Driver for the pin at 5:52.

Rating: C-. Above all else, Tankman beating someone with a bit of stature is going to mean more for him. Zenshi might not be the biggest star around here but he’s a name, and that’s the kind of win Tankman can use. This helped him out a bit and while he needs a lot more ring time and polish, he’s something worth keeping an eye on and that’s a good sign.

We look back at Alex Hammerstone beating up a fake Mads Krugger last week and then getting beaten down by the real one.

Josef Samael says Mads Krugger is training for his next mission and promises to destroy Injustice.

Video on Contra vs. Injustice.

Earlier today, Lio Rush was ready for the big main event title vs. title match. He pays the cameraman to get his bag.

We get a sitdown interview with Richards Holliday over the recent referee issues. Holliday insists that there is nothing to the fact that the referee is disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy or that there was a lot of money placed on the match. People like gambling you see. A lot of arguing ensues and we’re done.

Here’s the Top Ten:

10. Laredo Kid

9. Daivari

8. Myron Reed

7. Mil Muertes

6. Richard Holliday

5. Mads Krugger

4. Lio Rush

3. Low Ki

2. Tom Lawlor

1. Alex Hammerstone

Contra vs. Injustice

It’s Simon Gotch/Daivari for Contra but hold on as here’s Jacob Fatu to jump Injustice from behind. Myron Reed fights back and it’s a superkick into a middle rope cutter to put Fatu down. Believe it or not, Injustice stands tall.

It’s time for the Filthy Island Control Center.

Rocky Romero will be on the show.

Dominic Garrini will face Mauna Loa (who doesn’t have a photo).

Salina de la Renta doesn’t like the idea that Savio Vega thought the offer was optional, so next week it’s Savio vs. Mil Muertes in a Jungle Fight.

Also, it’s Low Ki vs. King Mo in what sounds like the main event.

Jacob Fatu gets a World Title shot on March 3. Oh that’s going to hurt.

AAA Cruiserweight Title/MLW Middleweight Title: Laredo Kid vs. Lio Rush

Winner take all (though the ring announcer makes it sound like it’s just Rush defending, despite everything else saying it’s title for title). Feeling out process to start with Rush being sent outside in a hurry. Back in and Rush does his always cool running of the ropes while sliding to Kid’s side over and over. Rush heads outside again but this time Kid kicks him down to take over. A side slam gets two and a running kick to the head puts Rush on the floor again.

Back in and Rush fires off some right hands to the head, followed by an uppercut to the back gets two. There’s a suplex for the same and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up but Laredo misses a spinning middle rope crossbody. The double arm crank goes on for a bit but Kid is back up with a Michinoku Driver into a moonsault for two. Kid slaps on a nasty leglock, followed by a running neckbreaker to drop Rush again. Rush is right back with a springboard Stunner and the Final Hour connects for the pin and both titles at 10:25.

Rating: C. This didn’t exactly live up to the hype as they just had a match and then Rush hit his finisher to win. I’m not sure how big of a deal this is as the AAA Title doesn’t have a ton of meaning up here. It’s a cool thing to be able to say for MLW and does make the partnership feel more important, but the match wasn’t exactly thrilling.

Rush brags to end the show. Given the lack of the AAA Title being announced at the beginning or at the end, I wonder if this is one of those phantom title changes that won’t be acknowledged in Mexico.

Overall Rating: C. I’m getting rather bored by MLW as they have completely lost the ability to stick the landing. I don’t remember the last time they had a huge match that felt like it ended on a big note. Everything feels like it just ends with as little fanfare as possible and that gets a little tiring. I’m not sure what MLW can do to fix things, but they need to do something sooner or later because it’s not quite working all that well these days.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #108
Date: May 2, 2020
Location: Auditorio de Tijuana, Tijuana, Mexico
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, AJ Kirsch

MLW took over the Super Series last week and this time around it’s Injustice’s chance to win some titles. The big main event is for the AAA Trios Titles, which could be a heck of a match as Injustice can do well in the ring. I’m not sure what to expect from this show but it should be rather energized. Let’s get to it.

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

Injustice knew they’d get here and they’re ready to win some gold.

Opening sequence.

Black Destiny/Fantastick/Rayo Star vs. Mocho Cota Jr./Tito Santana/Carta Brava Jr.

This is not part of the Super Series. Destiny and company have an unnamed woman with them. And no it’s not that Tito Santana. Cota and company headscissors the other three to the floor setting up the triple dives to put everyone down. Fantastick hurricanranas Brava into the corner as commentary does that annoying thing where they don’t say who is who in a match where a lot of fans aren’t familiar with the wrestlers.

A Code Red gets two on Santana and it’s Cota coming in to dropkick Star. Everything breaks down with Star getting catapulted into a chair shot to the head (well the arms in front of the head so it’s not as bad). Star gets thrown over the barricade and through a bunch of chairs, followed by a double basement dropkick to the masked face.

Back from a break with Brava hitting an Alberto double stomp on Fantastick for two with Star making the save. A crucifix bomb hits Star with Destiny making her own save. Destiny grabs the Lethal Injection for two on Cota as everything breaks down one more time.

A dropkick and Canadian Destroyer give Cota and company a triple near fall, leaving Destiny to put Brava on the barricade. The suicide dive crushes him so Santana and Cota take out Fantastick and Santana with their own suicide dives. The unnamed woman goes up top for a corkscrew dive onto Fantastick and Star. Back in and a frog splash finishes Star at 10:55.

Rating: C+. It was fun and the kind of lucha match that often works but there is only so much that I can get out of six guys I don’t know doing spot after spot. These guys are talented but commentary didn’t seem to know who they were for the most part and that made things even more confusing. Still though, nice opener, as it needed to be.

We recap Richard Holliday taking the Caribbean Title from Savio Vega.

Holliday and Alexander Hammerstone go to Savio Vega’s childhood house (it’s yellow), which Holliday has purchased. He has the Caribbean Title and the title to the house, making him Richie Two Titles. They don’t like the smell around here though so they’re out.

We look at Injustice jumping Brian Pillman Jr.

Pillman wants Jordan Oliver in a hair vs. hair match.

Video on Jinetes del Aire.

And now, more Cooking With LA Park, plus his sons for some bonuses. It’s pork day, and Park wants Psycho Clown to pay attention because Park has the recipe for PAIN. After a promo on Pagano coming to MLW, Park is ready to cook. We start with a hint of blubber but hold on because Park needs to rant about the clowns embarrassing America. With that heating up, it’s time to fry the father of Psycho Clown: Super Porky.

The sons have cut up the “tomatoes, onions and other gimmicks”, allowing Park to yell about Psycho Clown needing to work hard in MLW. We flash forward to the sons talking about how the family eats like champions. Park adds the sausage, bacon and pork, followed by the chopped steak. As that cooks, Park talks about how the Parks want all the MLW titles. Their next target is Konnan, who is bringing the clowns for the Parks to conquer.

Now they add salt, pepper and garlic, the latter is good for the blood pressure of obese wrestlers. Park adds in more sausage, which is WAY better than American sausage you see. Onions and tomatoes are added and, after that cooks a bit, it’s time for tomato juice and water. Finally it’s the seasoning cubes and flour tortillas…..and the feed cuts out. This was over twelve minutes long and hilarious with Park having to stop for one rant about Pagano and Psycho Clown after another. And now I’m hungry.

Video on the Super Series. MLW is up 4-2, meaning AAA can only tie.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. wants Jacob Fatu because the title match is coming. If Fatu can survive a running powerslam, it’s the Crossface to make Smith champion.

Video on Injustice.

We look at the Hammerstone vs. Mance Warner brawl from two weeks ago.

Warner doesn’t like Holliday buying Savio’s house but he’ll deal with him later. As for Hammerstone, he can get all the candy he wants in Mexico but he’s still got knees that can be hit with a baseball bat. He doesn’t care how big Hammerstone is because he has heart. This is for the people at home and he isn’t quitting. They’ll fight soon.

Dan Lambert is suing Low Ki for wrecking the press conference last week.

AAA Trios Titles: Jinetes del Aire vs. Injustice

Jinetes (Myzteziz Jr./Octagon Jr./Vikingo) are defending and Injustice throws tortillas to the crowd. It’s a superkick off to start with Reed and Vikingo being the only ones left standing. Vikingo goes up top for a rope walk hurricanrana but Reed flips to his feet for a nice counter. Vikingo flips out of Reed’s hurricanrana so Oliver is back up to kick Vikingo in the face. Myzteziz is back in for a knee to Oliver’s face and a springboard corkscrew plancha. Octagon and Brazil come in for the flip off until the champs come in to triple team Brazil in the corner.

Vikingo pops Brazil into the air for a heck of a missile dropkick from Octagon (that was awesome) for two as Reed makes the save. A Codebreaker into a wheelbarrow suplex into a shooting star press gets two on Reed with Oliver making the save this time around. That leaves Oliver to get beaten up for a change until Reed and Oliver comes back in to bail him out.

A double spinebuster/German suplex combination plants Myzteziz and it’s a neckbreaker into a backbreaker for two on Vikingo. The champs are sent outside again and a big suicide dive hits Octagon. Myzteziz and Vikingo are back in for their own dives, followed by the springboard corkscrew dive from Octagon for a bigger crash.

Back in and two of the three 450s miss with the third one hitting knees to give Brazil two. Oliver gets an ugly German suplex on Vikingo and Brazil hits a big flip dive to take him out again. Reed hits the great running over the top cutter on Octagon to the floor, leaving Myzteziz to get caught in a double Crossface/Boston crab combination.

Cue Brian Pillman Jr. to spit beer in Brazil’s face so the champs are back up with superkicks. Pillman isn’t done as he takes the chair away from Brazil, leaving Vikingo to hit an Asai moonsault. Myzteziz adds a big dive of his own, followed by Octagon hitting an inverted Swanton for the pin to retain at 13:45.

Rating: B. This was similar to the opener but with more talented people who can work this style a lot better. They didn’t stop for the entire match and that made for a good showcase of everyone. Injustice looked like they could hang with the champs the entire time until the interference (which made perfect sense here) and it was a success for everyone involved. Nice stuff here.

MLW – 4

AAA – 3

Overall Rating: B-. I know it wasn’t a big title defense or anything all that important, but what mattered here was that something in the end felt somewhat important. It also helped that there was some solid action and storyline advancement throughout the night. That and LA Park and company cooking, which was one of the funniest things I’ve seen in MLW since it got started. Nice show here, though getting back to normal will be nice….whenever that is.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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IMG Credit: Major League Wreslting

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

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

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

Savio Vega/Mance Warner/Logan Creed vs. Dynasty

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

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

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

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

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

Injustice vs. Zenshi/Laredo Kid

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

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

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

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

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

Video on LA Park vs. Jacob Fatu from Superfight.

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

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

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

The Von Erichs swear revenge against Team Filthy.

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

King Mo doesn’t like Low Ki.

Los Parks vs. Contra Unit

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

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

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

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

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #95
Date: February 1, 2020
Location: NYTEX Sports Center, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: AJ Kirsch, Rich Bocchini

The Dallas shows continue and for the first time in forever, they won’t include Mance Warner vs. Jimmy Havoc. The big story seems to be the slow build towards Davey Boy Smith vs. Jacob Fatu for the World Title, which could be a heck of a match. There are other things going on at the same time though, including a Middleweight Title match this week. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the Hart Foundation vs. Contra, which would be a lot better if Teddy Hart was still around.

Davey Boy Smith is ready to take out Simon Gotch tonight in a no ropes match, with a win coming by knockout or tap out. Gotch can pick his own execution.

Opening sequence.

We look back at Injustice getting in an argument with Konnan last week, setting up tonight’s Middleweight Title match with Drago challenging Myron Reed.

Simon Gotch vs. Davey Boy Smith

The ropes are gone and you win by knockout or tap out only. Gotch has Josef Samael with him. Smith takes him down and gets ground control with a side choke but Gotch spins out and forces Smith out to the floor. Back in and they exchange kicks to the legs until Smith grabs the head and spins him down to the mat. A headlock takeover into an armbar keeps Gotch in trouble so he counters with a headscissors.

That’s broken up in a hurry and it’s another standoff. Smith takes him down again but gets hit in the head a few times to break that up. A top wristlock has Gotch in more trouble and Smith elbows him in the head to make it even worse. Back up and Gotch slugs away so Smith tells him to do it harder. That’s what Smith does and Gotch goes down in a heap. Gotch takes him down for a change though and kicks at the leg.

That doesn’t get him very far either though as Smith reverses into a cross armbreaker. Samael makes a save from the floor though and Gotch can go back to the ankle. Now it’s Smith getting up again for some more hard forearms, only to get pulled down into a kneebar. Smith powers up again with some belly to back suplexes into a Saito suplex, which is good enough to give Smith the knockout win at 8:03.

Rating: C. Your mileage is going to vary here as it might not have been the most thrilling match in the world but it did a great job of making Smith look like a machine. What matters here is making him look like a threat to the indestructible Jacob Fatu and that might be where we’re going sooner rather than later. Say over Wrestlemania weekend?

Alexander Hammerstone is back from a tour of Japan and has a sponsorship deal with a Japanese soda company. He’s rather happy with the 10,000 Yen payday….until Richard Holliday explains that he’s making about $91. It doesn’t matter though as they’ll get his lawyer/father to get them on more shelves to make the Dynasty more money.

We look back at Mance Warner defeating Jimmy Havoc in their final showdown.

Warner is off to celebrate and then he wants some gold. Like the National Openweight Title.

Video on the Team Filthy Dojo, which is open for business again.

And now, Filthy Does Dallas, which means Tom Lawlor and Dominic Garrini go to a western store so they can look like real cowboys. Not like those fake Von Erichs you see.

Middleweight Title: Myron Reed vs. Drago

Reed is defending and has the rest of Injustice with him. Oliver thinks we’re in Houston but it doesn’t matter considering this place looks just like Oklahoma. They run the ropes to start with Drago flipping over him and trying a backsplash, only to injure himself on the chest protector. Reed hits an enziguri and two knees to the chest out of the corner connecting for two. A dragon sleeper goes on but Dragon backflips his way to freedom.

That earns him a belly to back suplex and a slingshot legdrop for two from Reed. Drago launches him to the floor where Injustice makes a catch, allowing Drago to hit a dive onto all three of them in a big crash. Back in and Drago hits a powerbomb, followed by another one for two. Oliver comes in so Drago superkicks Reed to the floor and hits a running Canadian Destroyer to take Oliver down. Another distraction lets Kotto Brazil get in a low blow and Reed hits a springboard 450 to retain at 4:44.

Rating: C. Drago got to showcase himself here in a failed attempt but there is only so much you can do when you are down three to one. They’re doing a nice job of setting Reed up as someone who could be a rather annoying heel champion, meaning someone could take the title from him in a big moment. Nice match, though the cheating was the way things should go.

Low Ki is ready to face King Mo, when Mo and his trainer Dan Lambert come in. Mo brings up that he knocked out Low Ki’s trainer to take some steam away.

Air Wolf has been attacked.

Contra is ready to end the Hart Foundation.

Air Wolf was attacked by members of Contra’s Death Squad.

We recap the Von Erichs vs. the Dynasty, setting up tonight’s main event.

Marshall Von Erich vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

Tom Lawlor is on commentary, and MJF has Alexander Hammerstone and Gino Medina with him. Before the match, MJF says the Von Erichs, just like everyone here and tonight, another member of the family goes six feet under. Points for having the guts to go there. Hold on though as Medina and Hammerstone are ejected before the bell. The fans are behind Marshall and Lawlor seems to hate it.

They lock up and go all the way outside without letting it go. The lockup stays on and they even get back inside for a standoff. Friedman offers a handshake and Marshall actually falls for it, only to come back with an armdrag and a dropkick. The threat of a Claw sends MJF bailing to the floor but Marshall chops the post by mistake. MJF puts the fingers inside the turnbuckle hook and pulls on the other arm to take away the Claw.

Back in and MJF hammers away for two before cranking on the hands again. A knee drop to the hand makes it even worse as MJF is rather good at working on an arm/hand. Marshall powers up and gets in an overhead belly to belly to put them both down. A dropkick puts MJF in the corner and Marshall hits a Cannonball for a bonus.

Marshall powerslams him for two but MJF hides behind the referee before the Claw can go on. The injured hand hits the buckle so MJF takes him down into a Fujiwara armbar with a pull on the fingers. A long crawl allows a rope break and Marshall knocks him down again, setting up a moonsault for two. Cue the rest of the Dynasty for a distraction so MJF can grab a rollup with feet on the ropes for two more. Marshall is right back up with the Claw for the tap at 10:30.

Rating: C+. They told a simple story here as MJF gets to show off his ability to take someone down by a body part. It works well every single time and that’s what happened here. Marshall gets to make a comeback win and look like a hero, which is the right way to go in Dallas. Solid match, though it’s also MJF’s last match in MLW. There’s a chance that he’ll be in a vignette or two soon enough to write him off, but he belongs on a bigger stage.

Post match Lawlor tries to bring in a chair but Marshall fights him, plus the Dynasty, off at the same time to end the show. We do get a mention from commentary that Ross is off on a promotional appearance so they did cover that rather large problem (well done).

Overall Rating: B-. There was a different energy to this show and it felt like the concept they’re shooting for: a good mix of everything that they can offer. That makes the show a lot more fun to watch and that’s what I was feeling here. It felt like a better blend instead of focusing on one or two stories and it makes for a more entertaining show. Good stuff here and I could go for more like this.

Results

Davey Boy Smith Jr. b. Simon Gotch via knockout

Myron Reed b. Drago – Springboard 450

Marshall Von Erich b. Maxwell Jacob Friedman – Claw

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 #94
Date: January 25, 2020
Location: NYTEX Sports Center, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: AJ Kirsch, Rich Bocchini

It’s barbed wire night and that means it can only be two people involved. Yes somehow we’re getting another violent match between Mance Warner and Jimmy Havoc, two guys who I liked at one point and now never want to see again. Maybe this can wrap it up and we can move on to ANYTHING else, but for some reason I have my doubts. Let’s get to it.

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

AJ Kirsch is in the ring to welcome us to the show but here’s Contra to cut him off. During their entrance, we see a still photo of the team attacking Davey Boy Smith Jr. at an NHL event over the weekend. Josef Samael goes big by referencing the Kennedy assassination by saying the MLW Camelot falls here as well. The Hart Foundation has a history of tragedy and we hear about Contra throwing a fireball at Teddy Hart back in November. Cue Davey Boy Smith Jr. down the aisle and Brian Pillman Jr. (in disguise, through the crowd for no apparent reason) to clear the ring.

Opening sequence.

Here’s everything you just saw.

Quick preview of the rest of the show.

Earlier today, Konnan was talking about how AAA is coming to MLW but before he can answer a question about Gino Medina, Injustice interrupted him with their usual insults. Konnan isn’t impressed and wants some more respect so Oliver swears a lot. Konnan hopes Oliver is never in prison because he would get traded for some Cinnabons.

Injustice vs. Drago/Puma King vs. Taurus/Low Rider

Fallout from said backstage segment and it’s Kotto Brazil/Jordan Oliver for Injustice. As a bonus, next week it’s Drago vs. Myron Reed for the Middleweight Title. They actually go a full eight seconds with the formality of having people on the apron before everything goes nuts. Low Rider hits a springboard double armdrag on Drago and King and that’s about as good as I can do with the play by play in something like this. Rider kicks King in the face and adds a springboard flip dive onto Injustice, leaving Taurus to clean house inside.

Taurus powerslams Drago into King in the corner and then spears King in half. Injustice comes back in for the save and it’s Rider being sent hard into the corner, setting up an assisted sitout powerbomb to give Brazil two. A double belly to back suplex doesn’t work so King tags Rider on the back (Seriously?) to come in and plant Brazil. King powerbombs Jordan and it’s a Backstabber into a dropkick to make it worse. It’s Taurus back in to clean house again until King launches Drago into a hurricanrana.

Cue Myron Reed for a distraction to cut Drago off, allowing King to DDT Taurus for two. Now it’s Injustice getting to clean house, including a suicide Stunner from Oliver to King. Rider is back up with a springboard Codebreaker to Brazil, with Taurus blasting him with a clothesline to make it worse. A powerbomb/Backstabber combination destroys Oliver and Taurus plants Brazil on the apron. Drago catapults Rider into a cutter from King, who then flip dives onto Taurus. The Dragon’s Tail (spinning, twisting rollup) pins Rider at 7:30.

Rating: C+. This was exactly what it should have been with everyone getting a chance to shine and the #1 contender picking up the pin over someone who got to shine throughout. They shouldn’t have tried to do anything but go nuts with lucha stuff here and we got a good, fun and logical match out of it.

Video on Mance Warner vs. Jimmy Havoc with Mance recapping everything and wanting to destroy Havoc once and for all.

Fightland is coming.

Buy merch!

We look back at Davey Boy Smith Jr. winning the Opera Cup.

Smith is proud of his win and hopes Stu Hart is proud of him. This is the first of many accomplishments for him and he’s coming for the World Title.

Contra’s Josef Samael saw fear in Smith’s eyes earlier when he looked at Simon Gotch. Therefore, how about Smith vs. Gotch in a no ropes match where you only win by submission or knockout?

Chandler Hopkins vs. Low Ki

Hopkins is a country boy who has wrestled in AAA. They stare at each other for a bit to start until Ki cranks on the arm for a bit. That’s broken up and Hopkins works on a hammerlock of his own, only to have Ki pull him into the corner for a hard kick to the chest. A chop and headbutt in the corner put Hopkins in the corner for some pain. Ki shoves off the running hurricanrana attempt but Hopkins pops back up and hits a hurricanrana driver. Hopkins’ rolling Downward Spiral gets two but he misses a shooting star. Ki dropkicks him into the corner and sits on Hopkins’ back for a choke with his boot for the win at 5:47.

Rating: C. This was a lot better than I would have bet on and Hopkins got to impress a lot more than you would have expected. That’s one of the places where MLW gets to shine: bringing in some unknown names and showcase them like this. Maybe Hopkins can turn into something, but what matters is he was given a chance here.

Low Ki shows some post match respect.

Smith accepts Gotch’s challenge. He’s still not a great promo though and a mouthpiece wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Tom Lawlor brags about new student Dominic Garrini and talks about how he’ll be hurting people. Garrini points out that he’s been here before but ignore everything he has done before because everything is new. Oh and Lawlor has brought a sponsor back: Condom Depot.

Erick Stevens is still coming.

The Fightland Control Center announces Alexander Hammerstone defending the National Openweight Title against T-Hawk, Killer Kross vs. Tom Lawlor and Low Ki vs. King Mo.

We look back at the Von Erichs winning the Tag Team Titles from the Dynasty at Saturday Night SuperFight.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman is impressed by Marshall Von Erich’s lineage but Marshall isn’t all elite. Oh and Mance Warner is an inbred who needs to watch his match next week.

We look at the first barbed wire match in MLW history, back in 2003 between Terry Funk and Steve Corino.

Jimmy Havoc and Priscilla Kelly aren’t scared of the barbed wire match because Jimmy loves hurting people. He enjoys blood and wouldn’t mind drinking Mance’s.

The Von Erichs crush apples to show what is happening to MJF next week.

Parental guidance is suggested for the following..

Mance Warner vs. Jimmy Havoc

The ropes have been replaced by barbed wire and Jimmy has Priscilla Kelly. Rich calls this the final encounter, which is the best news anyone could hear. Even the announcers have gloves on in case the wires break. Havoc has his baseball bat and Warner has the chair but both weapons shots miss. They pause before hitting the wire though and it’s already time to tease the wire to the head.

Havoc discus punches Warner but gets sent into the wire anyway. A few whips into said wire make it worse and Warner grabs the chair again. Warner hits him in the back but Havoc is right back with a suplex into the wire. Havoc drives it into Warner’s head before downgrading things a bit with a staple gun shot to the head. Warner’s shirt is ripped off and then stapled to his back, only for Havoc to rip it right back off.

To mix things up a bit, Havoc busts out some bolt cutters and cuts off a piece of the wire. The already bleeding Warner gets the wire wrapped inside of his mouth to draw even more blood. Havoc hits him in the head with the barbed wire bat and there’s a stomp to make it worse. Warner tries to fight back but gets flipped off. That’s fine with Warner, who hits him low with the bat. Havoc grabs the staple gun to stab Warner between the legs (both commentators: “Right in his bucksnorts!”).

Not that it matters again as Warner spinebusters him on the side of a chair (egads) and brings in some extra boards. That takes too long though as Havoc Death Valley Drivers him through a board for two. Warner chokeslams him through a board bridged between two chairs for two more. The wire around the arm looks to set up a lariat but Kelly gives Havoc powder. It goes into Havoc’s eyes of course though and the barbed wire lariat….doesn’t even get a cover. Instead, Warner piledrives him onto a bunch of stuff for the pin at 10:37.

Rating: C+. This was the kind of thing that made sense for the story, even though I wasn’t wild on what they were doing. It was how they should have gone here though as you can’t go from violence to non-violence, especially with the way these two go. What mattered here was it felt like the ending and there is no reason for them to come back again. I’m not big on the violence, but at least it worked for what it was supposed to be.

Overall Rating: B-. Good show for the most part here with three matches that were all at least decent. The best thing here though was that some times wrapped up and it felt like we were actually getting somewhere for a change. That hasn’t been the case in a long time now and hopefully we can go somewhere else going forward. Fightland looks good and things can start up in the next few weeks. This wasn’t too bad though and if we’re really done with Havoc vs. Warner, things are looking up.

Results

Drago/Puma King b. Taurus/Low Rider and Injustice – Dragon’s Tail to Rider

Low Ki b. Chandler Hopkins – Seated choke with boot

Mance Warner b. Jimmy Havoc – Piledriver onto a chair

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

Fusion #88
Date: December 14, 2019
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: AJ Kirsch, Rich Bocchini

It’s tournament time as MLW is dusting off the Opera Cup. Now you may not have heard of the Opera Cup but that could be because it hasn’t been around in about seventy years. Stu Hart was the most recent winner but Davey Boy Smith Jr. had possession of the trophy and is willing to put it up in this tournament. Tonight starts the opening round so let’s get to it.

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

We open with Injustice in the ring ranting about something but their microphone gets cut. Apparently they’re mad about not being in the Opera Cup tournament, though they are alternates. They have a seat in the ring in protest but here’s King Mo, scheduled for the opening match, to interrupt. With Mo’s manager Dan Lambert on commentary, Mo is ready to fight here’s ACH to even things up a bit and I think you know where this is going.

ACH/King Mo vs. Injustice

It’s Jordan Oliver/Kotto Brazil for the team. Injustice jumps them from behind to start in a hurry but ACH sends Brazil into Oliver as we settle down into something a little more structured. Some dropkicks have Injustice in even more trouble and a double hiptoss to Brazil makes it even worse.

ACH comes back in but gets pulled to the floor so Injustice can take over for the first time. Oliver holds ACH in the corner, setting up Brazil’s running shot to the face. A front facelock cuts off ACH’s charge to the corner and things slow back down a bit. Brazil grabs a Sharpshooter to send ACH over to the ropes and it’s a hard clothesline to drop Oliver. The hot tag brings in Mo and it’s time to clean house in a hurry.

Brazil is smart enough to cut that off in a hurry with a hurricanrana into an enziguri from Oliver. Not that it matters though as Mo spears both of them at once as everything breaks down. ACH kicks away, including a basement dropkick to Brazil. A Stinger Splash/enziguri combination sets up a sitout gutwrench powerbomb to Brazil. Mo slaps on a kneebar to make Brazil tap at 10:35.

Rating: C. I’ve never been a fan of Mo but he has looked great so far in MLW, mainly because he is coming off as a mixed martial artist who is learning to wrestle rather than a mixed martial artist who is doing wrestling between fights. ACH looked good as well, but that’s always the case when he’s in the ring and not ranting about various things.

Here are the Opera Cup brackets:

Davey Boy Smith Jr.

Low Ki

Alex Hammerstone

Maxwell Jacob Friedman

Timothy Thatcher

Richard Holliday

Brian Pillman Jr.

TJP

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Konnan and Gino Medina had a meeting.

The Dynasty has some coffee but it’s GIFT TRAIN time! They are ready for the greatest Hanukkah SLASH Christmas ever. MJF has actually gotten Holliday the giant Air Pods and Holliday is in tears. They’re not connected to Blu-Tooth but Holliday has a present for MJF: Max Mini, as in a miniature version of MJF (not a mini luchador cameo alas). MJF isn’t pleased and has Hammerstone get rid of him. These guys are still gold together.

Video on the Opera Cup.

Opera Cup First Round: Timothy Thatcher vs. Richard Holliday

Holliday shoves him in the face to start and that’s just not a good idea as he’s quickly suplexed down. Thatcher starts pounding away but a suplex into a swinging neckbreaker (the 2008, because it’s a recession for Thatcher) gives Holliday a breather. Thatcher shrugs off some shots to the head though and grabs a half crab. That’s switched into an ankle lock so Holliday rolls him into the corner.

Some forearms to the chest rock Holliday again but he scores with a quick DDT. A backbreaker and spinebuster give Holliday two more and he’s getting frustrated. Thatcher grabs a spinning butterfly suplex for two of his own and he takes Holliday up. That means a spinning 2008 to drop Thatcher….but he pulls Holliday into a Fujiwara armbar for the fast tap at 10:03.

Rating: C+. This took some time to get going but what matters is Thatcher winning while Holliday also looked good. I know MJF has the talking abilities and Hammerstone looked great with all the power, but Holliday is a very polished performer of his own. I could go for more of him on his own, along with more Thatcher wins.

Salina de la Renta talks to Gino Medina as well.

Mance Warner wants a Prince of Darkness (blindfold) match with Jimmy Havoc. Fine, just END THIS already.

Zero Hour ad, featuring Jimmy Havoc vs. Mance Warner in a barbed wire match. So yeah we have at least two more matches.

The Von Erichs vent to their dad about Tom Lawlor. Kevin says he’s been there with a bunch of people turning on him over the years and it’s always about money. Go get revenge in the ring.

Josef Samael says Ikuro Kwon is on a special mission in Japan so Contra soldiers around the world are rising up.

The Strong Hearts are coming from OWE and want Contra. Remember when these people were supposed to be a big part of AEW?

Opera Cup First Round: TJP vs. Brian Pillman Jr.

Pillman works on the arm to start so TJP spins around a lot and grabs an anklescissors to take over. A headlock takeover works a bit better for Pillman, so TJP gets on his own shoulders….and crawls out to make Pillman look a little foolish. They both miss big kicks to the head and that means a standoff for some applause from the crowd.

A headscissors puts Pillman on the floor and a springboard slingshot dropkick knocks him silly. Back in and TJP starts some rapid fire kicks to the chest, setting up a Muta Lock to make it worse. That’s quickly countered into a chinlock so TJP lets go in a smart move. TJP slips out and cranks on the arm but Pillman grabs a powerslam for two of his own. A tornado DDT plants Pillman but TJP can’t follow up.

Air Pillman is broken up with a kick to the floor and the kneebar has Pillman in even more trouble. With Pillman getting too close to the ropes, TJP switches over to an STF but that’s broken up as well. Some kicks to the arm and ribs have Pillman rocked again so he comes back with a superkick. TJP grabs the Detonation Kick but Pillman ducks, setting up the Dire Promise for the pin at 13:24.

Rating: C+. That’s one of Pillman’s best singles matches to date, though some of that is likely due to being in there against TJP. What matters is the fact that he had the match he needed to have and it looked pretty good in the process. Pillman is still very young in his career and getting in ring time against quality competition like this is the best thing that he can do. The athleticism is there and if he can get everything else going for him, he’s going to be more than fine.

Overall Rating: B-. This is one of those matches where they set things up and just had some nice wrestling throughout. Yeah it helps when you have a tournament, but in addition to the wrestling, you also have various factions and groups lining up. Some of them seem interested in going after Contra too, which is the point of a show: going after the World Title. I know that sounds simple, but sometimes going simple is the best thing they can do. Nice show here, and one of the better they’ve had in some time.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

Fusion #86
Date: November 28, 2019
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: AJ Kirsch, Rich Bocchini

This is a special show with MLW running a special Thanksgiving edition. That’s a good idea, and it seems to be serving as this week’s Fusion anyway. It’s all about the World Title with Jacob Fatu defending against Ross Von Erich, who is substituting for his injured brother Marshal. It isn’t clear who attacked Marshall, but there is a good chance we’ll find out tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with an old ad about Thanksgiving before Contra takes over to say this is going to be their night.

Opening sequence.

Injustice vs. Zenshi/Gringo Loco

Elimination rules with Kotto Brazil and Jordan Oliver for Injustice. Before the match, Oliver says that he usually doesn’t like Thanksgiving but he’s feeling hungry tonight. He’s hungry for money, but also for justice. Myron Reed gets thrown out at the bell so Zenshi and Loco are free to double spinebuster Oliver. A split legged moonsault gets one on Oliver and Zenshi backflips into a seated pose.

That leaves Loco to hit a big dive to the floor, allowing Zenshi to hit a slingshot corkscrew Swanton. A cartwheel moonsault gives Loco two on Oliver and it’s Brazil getting in a cheap shot from the apron. Brazil gets two off a Backstabber and we hit the reverse chinlock. Loco, sporting a bloody nose, is tripped back down so Oliver can hit a springboard elbow to the back of the head.

A springboard 450 gives Brazil two but Loco is up for the tag a few seconds later. That means Zenshi can come in with a 450 clothesline (that’s a new one) to Oliver. A Pele and running shooting star take Brazil down, setting up a middle rope 450. Loco’s Swanton gets two and Zenshi’s insane diagonal flipping Coast to Coast makes it even worse.

Oliver takes Loco down though and it’s Brazil’s By Any Means Necessary (running Sliced Bread) for the pin on Zenshi at 8:16. Loco is back up with a Tombstone to eliminate Brazil at 9:11 though and it’s down to one on one. But wait, as Oliver suddenly realizes he has a knee injury, allowing Reed to run back down for a distraction. Oliver is back up with the middle rope cutter to finish Loco at 9:48.

Rating: C-. The elimination rules were just a detail here and a needless detail at that. It’s a nice nod to history and all that jazz but could you come up with something that made it work a bit better? Injustice has completely surprised me though as there was no reason to believe they would be anything special but they’re actually quite a nice act with some surprises in them.

King Mo is ready to beat up Ricky Martinez.

Interviewer Kaci Lennox looks for Priscilla Kelly in the bowels of the building….and eventually gets jumped by Kelly instead. The Mandible Claw knocks Kaci out and the cameraman takes a beating of his own.

Video on King Mo.

King Mo vs. Ricky Martinez

We haven’t seen Martinez in a bit and I miss that music, though that might be because he normally has Salina with him (not this time). Mo does get a star’s reception so there’s a little something there at least. They talk trash to start and Martinez gets chased to the apron, where he manages to snap Mo’s throat across the top. A springboard is speared out of the air though and it’s a gutwrench powerbomb into a kneebar to make Martinez tap at 1:42. Well that worked, and I’ve never been anything close to a Mo fan before.

We look back at last week’s Falls Count Anywhere match with Mance Warner beating Jimmy Havoc, only to have the feud continue because it can never end.

Warner tells Havoc not to mess with him again because he got a W against Havoc last time. Then Havoc went after him again so Warner isn’t about to forgive Havoc. It’s always an eye for an eye, which Warner says over and over.

Video on Jacob Fatu.

Various shows are coming.

Next week: a battle royal and the return of Salina de la Renta.

Tom Lawlor gives Ross Von Erich a pep talk, calling himself part of the family.

MLW World Title: Ross Von Erich vs. Jacob Fatu

Fatu is defending and it’s Tom Lawlor and Josef Samael as the seconds. They take their time to start with Fatu shoving him around, followed by a swinging collar and elbow to send Ross flying again. Ross’ dropkick works a bit better but he runs into an uppercut to stop that offense cold. Fatu misses a backsplash and Bronco Buster though, allowing Ross to snap off a Cannonball.

The kickout sends him outside though and Fatu takes over again with a superkick. A heck of a headbutt sends Ross to the apron and Samael gets in his required cheap shot. The nerve hold goes on and does so again after a quick break. Fatu’s sitout powerbomb gets two more as he’s surprised that Ross is hanging in there. A crossbody gives Ross a breather and some Sling Blades have Fatu down again.

There’s a missile dropkick to put Fatu on the floor where Lawlor thinks about a cheap shot but stops himself. Fatu gets taken down again by a suicide dive and it’s the Claw back inside. With Fatu in trouble, he falls over the top for the break and they’re both down on the floor. It’s Fatu up first and taking things into the crowd to keep destroying Ross.

Back to ringside and the chop hits post but what was supposed to be a superkick (more like a hip strike) sends Ross into the referee. For some reason that earns the referee a running Umaga attack in the corner, followed by the pop up Samoan drop to Ross. The moonsault connects for no count because, you know, Fatu ended the referee. Even Samael doesn’t see the logic in that one.

Fatu’s Stinger Splash hits post and Ross nails the spinning high crossbody. Samael’s chair is dropkicked into his face so Lawlor picks it up….and hits Ross in something that isn’t the biggest surprise. After some profanities about the Von Erichs, Lawlor leaves so Fatu can hit the double jump moonsault and retain at 14:58.

Rating: C. The match dragged a lot at times but Ross hung in there well enough to get to the heel turn. There wasn’t much of a reason to believe that a title change was possible so it was all about getting to a pretty obvious heel turn. That worked well enough too and it’s about as good of a main event as you could get in this situation. Fatu continues to be a monster and the more I see of him, the more you can feel WWE drooling.

Overall Rating: C-. The biggest problem here is the opener as it really didn’t add anything of feel special in the slightest. The main event came off as a big deal and had the angle to close the show so that’s a positive, as is the very effective King Mo debut. Overall, the show felt mostly special, but there is nothing you need to watch, which holds things back a good bit. Fatu is becoming the special attraction though because someone built like that shouldn’t be able to do those things.

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