IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #73
Date: August 31, 2019
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Rich Bocchini

This show is all about the World Title, which is the case for the first time in far too long. Tonight we’ll be seeing Jacob Fatu defending the World Title against Tom Lawlor in Lawlor’s rematch after dropping the title. Fatu hasn’t done much with the title since winning it in the first place so maybe they can get things back to normal tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with Fatu promising to finish what he started with Lawlor and finish him for good.

Opening sequence.

Injustice vs. Zenshi/Air Wolf/Gringo Loco

Injustice would be Myron Reed/Jordan Oliver/Kotto Brazil, who promise to get justice. Oliver and Loco start things off with Oliver holding up one of his signs. Loco flips away instead before catching Oliver in a Regal Roll. A standing moonsault gets two and it’s Wolf coming in for the first time. Oliver sends him to the apron so Wolf chops him from there for a change.

Zenshi’s standing moonsault gets two and everything breaks down, allowing Wolf to slam Oliver. That lets Loco springboard off of the back of Brazil (in a fireman’s carry) for a Swanton. Injustice bails to the floor but pull most of the good guys outside. That lets Brazil hit a suicide dive onto Wolf and it’s time for the parade of dives. Back in and Zenshi’s slingshot splash gets two on Oliver but Reed and Brazil take Loco down.

It’s Wolf in trouble with Reed forearming him in the face, allowing the villains to keep taking turns. Wolf hits a Pele out of the corner though and it’s a hot tag to Zenshi to clean house. A 619 over the top rope sets up a double slingshot faceplant sets up a hard suplex on Reed. Brazil dives in way late for the save but thankfully the referee slowed down his count.

Oliver and Zenshi head outside and it’s Reed hitting a running cutter to the floor (sweet) to take Zenshi out. Back in and Reed pulls out some brass knuckles but Loco takes them away and gets in a shot of his own. Brazil kicks them away from Loco and hits a middle rope X Factor. Reed adds a slingshot cutter to Wolfe and it’s a standing Sliced Bread from Brazil for the double pin on Wolf at 10:03.

Rating: B. This was a lot of fun with both teams doing a bunch of crazy stuff. It was the kind of entertaining cruiserweight match that you can almost always make work because the talented people are allowed to go out there and fly around. It helps when you have a bunch of people who aren’t huge stars as you can make some new stars with a match like this.

Mance Warner has been bailed out of jail.

War Chamber rundown. The main event will air the next week on TV.

Kevin Von Erich talks about his sons having the family heart, which they’ll do in Dallas. Ross and Marshall promise to dethrone Contra.

Dominic Garrini is coming.

Video on Alexander Hammerstone’s recent trip to Pro Wrestling Noah.

Hammerstone is training and isn’t worried if he might have a match against Davey Boy Smith Jr. at Super Fight. Georgia Smith is on a treadmill and says she and Davey lifted that much weight when they were kids. The weight is increased and muscles flare.

MLW World Title: Jacob Fatu vs. Tom Lawlor

Fatu is defending and Josef Samael handles his introduction. Whomever has the gold controls the league so Contra is in charge of everything. They slug it out before Lawlor can even get inside and it’s a high crossbody to put Fatu down. A superkick is blocked and Lawlor takes him down with a discus lariat. Fatu gets dropped with an enziguri into a belly to back for two as Lawlor is very fired up here.

The first Samoan drop gives Fatu two and it’s time for the slow beatdown in the corner. A running headbutt hits Lawlor in the ribs and Fatu bites him for a bonus. We get a lot of walking around from the champ, allowing Lawlor to hammer away in the corner. Fatu superkicks him right back down though and a handspring moonsault crushes Lawlor again. A running kick misses though and Fatu gets caught in the ropes, allowing Lawlor to hammer away.

Hold on though as Lawlor needs to go after Samael, allowing Fatu to hit a heck of a suicide dive. Back in and the pop up Samoan drop doesn’t quite work, allowing Lawlor to grab a sleeper. That’s switched into a choke so Fatu slams him into the corner for the break. Fatu tries to charge once too often though and goes head first into the post. Lawlor pulls him off the corner for an airplane spin into a Death Valley Driver and a near fall of his own.

Some YES Kicks….just wake Fatu up again so Lawlor hits a running clothesline to the back of the head but can’t quite follow up. An exploder suplex sends Fatu hard into the corner and a big boot makes it worse, only to have Samael get in a spike shot. The double jump moonsault to the back retains the title at 15:13.

Rating: B. These guys beat each other up and while the finish wasn’t clean, it did a very good job of making me think that Lawlor could pull off the upset. Fatu is the kind of monster we don’t see very often around here and it was good to see him destroy someone. At the same time though, it’s kind of awkward to go from a pinfall in the World Title match to the War Chamber in a week. Kind of weird booking there but it came after a good match.

Post match Samael and Simon Gotch come in for the beatdown, drawing out the Von Erichs for the big brawl. The Von Erichs come in for the save but Ikuro Kwon is out to beat the good guys down. This brings out Low Ki to make the real save, becoming the fourth member of Team Lawlor.

Overall Rating: A-. This was all that you could have asked for with a pair of rather good matches and a big reveal at the end. That being said, this one did seem to be a little less important, even with the World Title on the card. It has been devalued so much by everything else going on and while Fatu is still awesome, the whole thing feels like it was secondary to stuff like the Hart Foundation vs the Dynasty. Very good show either way though and that’s what MLW has been needing.

Results

Injustice b. Zenshi/Air Wolf/Gringo Loco – Assisted standing Sliced Bread to Wolf

Jacob Fatu b. Tom Lawlor – Double jump moonsault

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

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

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IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Kings Of Colosseum
Date: July 6, 2019
Location: Cicero Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Jim Cornette

We’ve got another live show here and so far, the success rate for these has been pretty good. The shows tend to run a bit longer than a regular episode of Fusion, but that should probably be the case when the show is supposed to be bigger. The main event is MLW World Champion defending against Jacob Fatu in a match that could go either way. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a preview of tonight’s show, which doesn’t look bad.

The opening video looks at the major matches with no commentary.

National Openweight Title: Alexander Hammerstone vs. ???

This is Hammerstone’s Star Spangled Banner Challenge and the Dynasty is out in full force. Before anyone answers the challenge, Hammerstone says he represents a true American hero, unlike those dastardly Harts back there. That’s why he’s a fighting champion so he wants opponents from all corners of the world. He wants the cream of the crop, but he’s the creamiest of them all.

It’s Kotto Brazil answering the challenge and Cornette knows this one is going to hurt. Maxwell Jacob Friedman joins commentary and he rants about his microphone being off, meaning he throws the headset down and leaves in a huff as only he can. And now he’s back with the headset working, which Friedman blames on Court Bauer being scared of how great he is at commentary. Brazil starts fast with a middle rope spinning forearm as Friedman has Aria Blake sit on his lap so they can talk about whatever, ahem, pops up.

Kotto kicks at the ribs but gets shoved away and eats a bicycle kick. Hammerstone tosses him over his head with ease and a second toss cuts Brazil off again. The Nightmare Pendulum is broken up though and Brazil nails his tornado DDT. A missile dropkick puts Hammerstone down and a frog splash gets two. Richard Holliday offers a distraction though and a very delayed vertical superplex plants Brazil. The Nightmare Pendulum retains the title at 5:39.

Rating: C. Brazil has grown on me tremendously with a great version of fighting from underneath and making me believe that he could pull off the miracle. Hammerstone continues to be a monster who looks like he could be a big star no matter where he is and that’s an impressive deal for the future. Both guys looked good here, even in a short one.

Post match the Dynasty puts the American flag around Hammerstone and Friedman brags about him. Friedman isn’t done though and calls out the Hart Foundation for a Tag Team Title shot.

Cornette and Bocchini talk about the World Title match and how bad it would be if Fatu won.

Simon Gotch talks about how Contra attacked Tom Lawlor the last time they were here. A clean shaven Lawlor jumps him from behind and asks if Fatu is ready.

We get a quick look at Frank Gotch vs. George Hackenschmidt in 1911.

MLW will be on pay per view on November 2, including four title matches.

Myron Reed vs. Rey Horus

Reed has Jordan Oliver in his corner. Hold on as Reed needs to bail to the floor again as he and Oliver don’t think much of the fans. Reed gets in a shot to the face to start but a leg lariat takes him down. Back up and some running from Horus sends Reed outside for another breather. Reed’s headlock doesn’t work very well as Horus snaps off a running hurricanrana.

Oliver grabs Horus’ leg though, allowing Reed to duck a clothesline and kick Horus in the head. That’s enough to send Horus outside for a stomping from Oliver, which the referee somehow misses. Even commentary is ranting about how blind he must be to let that happen. Horus is right back up with a rope walk armdrag to send Reed outside, followed by a backdrop to send an invading Oliver onto him. For some reason the referee won’t let Horus dive so he dives over the referee instead.

Back in and Reed hits a running dropkick in the corner but a middle rope legdrop to the back of the neck gives Horus two. Something like a Stundog Millionaire drops Horus and Reed nails a springboard 450 for two of his own. A quick Spanish Fly gives Horus two more as the back and forth continues. Oliver offers a distraction though and Reed nails a springboard uppercut (the Louisville Slugger) for the pin at 8:42.

Rating: B-. This was the usual rather entertaining cruiserweight match as the roster knows how to do a match like this in their sleep. What matters though is they’re bringing in a lot of the lesser known names (like Reed) to see what they can do and develop some new stars. Good, fun match here and a great showcase on a live show like this.

The Hart Foundation agrees to defend against the Dynasty, but it’s in a ladder match with Brian Pillman and Teddy Hart defending. Pillman can’t believe he’s getting the chance and promises to make his family proud. I don’t see this ending well.

Cornette is in the ring for a live Jim Cornette Experience with Salina de la Renta. We hear some of her accolades, including the Female Entrepreneur (which she can’t pronounce) of the Year in Puerto Rico. Cornette brings up LA Park’s upcoming World Title shot, but that information is confidential. With that out of the way, Cornette asks about Konnan coming back with some fresh talent to go after Salina and company.

Well since Konnan isn’t here and doesn’t have his superstars anymore, he isn’t very good at his job. And he can’t please a woman. Cue Konnan to offer to show how pleasing he can be right now before switching over to some Spanish. He has a new crop of luchadors coming after Salina, which she calls typical Konnan. Apparently she has a secret that can humiliate Konnan and end his career once and for all. If he wants it to come out, keep trying her. Salina leaves and Konnan hits the catchphrase.

We look at Lawlor attacking Gotch again.

Dr. Wagner Jr. is coming.

The Dynasty is down with Pillman being involved but aren’t sure about the ladder part.

The show is being extended and we’ll see the end of the World Title match no matter what.

We look back at Contra attacking Lawlor and nearly causing a riot in Chicago.

We run down the tale of the tape for the World Title match and look at all the former World Champions, including from the old days of the promotion.

MLW World Title: Tom Lawlor vs. Jacob Fatu

Fatu is challenging and there are no Von Erichs to back Lawlor up. There’s also no Gotch with Fatu but Josef Samael is here. In case that isn’t enough, Salina is watching from the front row. After the Big Match Intros, we’re finally ready to go. Lawlor’s shots to the face don’t do much as Fatu sends him to and knocks him off the apron for a big crash. A whip into the barricade has Lawlor in trouble and he gets choked with the camera cord to make it even worse.

Back in and Fatu knocks him down again and a slam keeps Lawlor in trouble. Fatu’s middle rope headbutt misses and Lawlor goes straight for the choke, which is tossed away with ease. The second and third attempts slow Fatu down but he’s fine enough to drive Lawlor back first into the corner. The double springboard moonsault misses and a Samael distraction backfires as Lawlor gets in a low blow. Fatu misses his seated senton as Cornette is trying to get over how the low blow didn’t even take Fatu down.

That lasts all of two seconds as Fatu pops up and says bring it on so Lawlor grabs a guillotine choke. That’s switched into a DDT attempt but Fatu handstands his way out of it and busts out a handspring moonsault because of course he can do that. A missed charge in the corner lets Lawlor hammer away but it’s a superkick into the pop up Samoan drop. The double springboard moonsault gives Fatu the pin and the title at 7:58.

Rating: C+. This felt like an old Vader match or for something more modern, a Brock Lesnar squash as Lawlor threw everything he had at Fatu and couldn’t make a dent in him. That’s the kind of dominant performance that you need as Lawlor was the unstoppable force and got destroyed here, with Fatu looking like the new king of the monsters. It’s a good move, as Contra needed to win something and they did that in a big way.

Salina grabs her phone and leaves.

Contra celebrates as commentary panics to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. They’re getting better at these big matches and Fatu winning is the best thing that they could do. That man is an absolute gem and it’s a matter of time before he gets signed to a big company. I don’t know how long MLW can keep him around but my goodness this was a great performance. The rest of the show worked very well too and I’m looking forward to seeing where things go. The other day I saw someone ask when MLW surpasses Ring of Honor. They’re not there yet, but how much further is it?

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #64
Date: June 29, 2019
Location: Waukesha County Expo Center, Waukesha, Wisconsin
Commentators: Jim Cornette, Rich Bocchini

It’s another Contra show here and that means things could get interesting again. This time around it’s Josef Samael vs. World Champion Tom Lawlor as Lawlor gets ready for his showdown with Jacob Fatu for the World Title next week. Samael is the designated fall guy so you can probably guess what is coming tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a video from Contra, threatening to destroy Lawlor tonight.

Opening sequence.

Marshall and Ross Von Erich come to commentary to say they’ll have Lawlor’s back.

Adam Brooks vs. Austin Aries

The hometown boy Aries now has a thicker beard and is in the long tights this time. Aries catches a kick to the leg to start and takes Brooks to the mat as we go with some amateur stuff. Brooks gets a hammerlock but Aries reverses into a front facelock. A hard armdrag puts Brooks back down and it’s a basement dropkick to send him outside. Brooks sends him into the corner and hits a sliding dropkick of his own.

A springboard Stunner gives Brooks two and a low superkick keeps Aries down on the floor. Back in and Aries gets in a shinbreaker into a belly to back suplex to put Brooks in trouble. Some knees to the head keep Brooks down and Aries hits the middle rope elbow to Brooks’ seated back. The neckbreaker over the ropes sends Brooks to the floor but the suicide dive is blocked with a forearm.

Brooks gets in a slingshot DDT but can’t follow up. Aries is right back with the Horns of Aries (Last Chancery) until Brooks makes the rope. Brooks sends him to the apron but dives into a Death Valley Driver onto the apron, with Cornette going into a rant about how dangerous that is. He’s right you know. The 450 hits Brooks’ knees though but his Swanton hits Aries’ knees. A discus forearm sets up the brainbuster to give Aries the pin at 12:00.

Rating: C+. Aries may not have the best backstage attitude but he is one of the best in-ring performers around today. You’re all but guaranteed to get a watchable (at worst) match and he’s a good hand to have around here. He can do just about anything from carry the World Title to feud for the midcard or Middleweight Title. That’s a very valuable asset to have and Aries is someone who can do it.

Post match Aries is interviewed by says don’t interrupt the fans, who continue their AUSTIN ARIES chants. Aries talks about how he doesn’t put his life on social media but that doesn’t mean he’s been sitting at home. This is professional wrestling instead of sports entertainment or cosplay wrestling. He is the last real magician of professional wrestling because he can make everyone believe.

That’s why he’s here in MLW, which is the only place that follows the weight limits. He’s been the World Heavyweight Champion several times but he hasn’t been a heavyweight a day in his life. Aries is a middleweight, and that’s bad news for Teddy Hart. I’m more than down for that.

We look back at the Dynasty attacking Teddy Hart and stealing his Tag Team Title last week.

The Dynasty was in Martha’s Vineyard at a house Richard Holliday’s dad bought after he shut down an orphanage. Alex Hammerstone is going for a Hogan tan. Holliday: “87 or 91?” Oh and they’re the Tag Team Champions because possessions is nine tenths of the law. MJF and Aria Blake leave to go, ahem, fix her nails.

Samael is out for Lawlor’s blood before Jacob Fatu takes the title.

Savio Vega is coming.

We look back at last week’s wild six man tag and the wilder post match brawl.

Jacob Fatu vs. Ariel Dominguez/Sam Black

Fatu jumps them both while the music is still playing. An overhead belly to belly sends Dominguez flying and a superkick drops Black. A crazy high pop up Samoan drop plants Dominguez and it’s the double springboard moonsault (perfect) for the pin at 1:20. Fatu looked outstanding here.

Post match the beatdown is still on with the rest of Contra running in to take both jobbers out.

Salina de la Renta doesn’t want to talk about a goat f***** (uncensored) like Mance Warner. With her voice changing, she talks about how she knows how hard it is for men to see a 22 year old woman in control.

Kings of Colosseum rundown, with an open challenge from Hammerstone, Myron Reed vs. Rey Horus and a live Jim Cornette Experience with Salina.

Mance Warner is looking forward to the 4^th of July and promises to take care of Salina and Promociones Dorado. It’s time to start headhunting and the fireworks are starting when he comes after the team. The beer goes down and the hat goes around as Mance promises to have blood running down his hands. After he mows his lawn that is. Rather good promo from Mance here, who sounds like he is speaking as himself every time.

Tom Lawlor vs. Josef Samael

Non-title and Salina (in a completely different outfit and with her hair done differently) is watching in the back with Ricky Martinez. The fight starts fast with Lawlor knocking him down but getting chopped in the corner. That’s fine with Tom, who comes back with shots of his own with one big one knocking Samael outside. Lawlor sends him into the barricade and post and is even smart enough to block the low blow on the way back inside.

Samael manages to get in a whip to send Lawlor throat first into the ropes and the champ is in trouble. One heck of a clothesline blasts Lawlor and we hit the camel clutch. With that not going far enough, Samael pulls Lawlor’s head against the post. Lawlor comes back with a suplex and we cut to the back to see the Von Erichs fighting the rest of Contra. Back in the arena, Samael’s spike gets caught in the turnbuckle so Lawlor spinwheel kicks him down. Lawlor grabs the spike and shoves the referee down for the DQ at 7:50.

Rating: C. This was all it needed to be. They didn’t need to do anything more here other than keep Lawlor fighting and have Contra cause more chaos. It’s clear that Fatu is the real star of the team and that’s the reason why he’s getting the big title shot against Lawlor. I can’t imagine that match goes to a finish, but the ending could be interesting.

Post match the brawls are still on in the back and in the arena to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. It says a lot when a minute long squash pushed the show that much further up the line but Fatu looked that impressive. What mattered here was getting things ready for the big title match at Kings of Colosseum. Couple that with the first steps towards Aries vs. Hart and things are looking up around here. This place has gotten rather good in a hurry and they’re getting ready to move up on the list of best promotions around at the moment. Not bad for a company that really relaunched fifteen months ago.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #57
Date: May 11, 2019
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Jim Cornette

Things are starting to wrap up in this taping cycle and we’re coming up on a few big matches. Last week saw Salina de la Renta running things and a tease of a big fight with Sami Callihan but it wound up being Mance Warner instead. Therefore, there is a good chance we’ll be seeing Callihan going after Salina again soon. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Barrington Hughes/Ace Romero vs. Contra, which sounds like a sacrifice in the making.

Opening sequence.

Air Wolf vs. Rey Fenix

Wolf looks rather terrified and the announcers pick up on it. They shake hands to start with Fenix taking him to the mat for a hold that isn’t going to go anywhere. That’s reversed into a double arm crank from Wolf so Fenix flips up to his feet without much trouble. Fenix does a series of flips to get out of a wristlock and Wolf isn’t sure what to do here. They chop it out until Wolf gets in his first big(ish) offense with a springboard wristdrag.

Fenix is right back with his own armdrag to put Wolf on the floor but he’s right back in with a hurricanrana of his own. The big dive to the floor takes Fenix down again as he can’t figure out what to do with Wolf. Back in and Fenix’s rolling cutter is countered into a German suplex. Another German suplex gives Wolf two and a springboard Downward Spiral gets the same.

Fenix finally rolls through for a hard dropkick and they’re both down. Wolf gets tied in the ropes for a rope walk kick to the face as I want to throttle the fan with the air horn. That’s fine with Wolf, who is right back with a butterfly suplex into a DDT for two. Fenix catches him on top with a kick to the head but the Black Fire Driver is countered into a cradle to give Wolf the big upset at 9:48.

Rating: B-. That’s not the biggest surprise as the idea here was to give Wolf a rub before Fenix goes to MLW full time. Wolf hasn’t impressed me all that much yet but giving him some wins like this is a good idea, even if they don’t happen very often. Fenix brought him up a lot and that’s why they were put together.

Austin Aries is coming soon. Does he have to?

We look at Salina de la Renta’s problems with Sami Callihan and Mance Warner last week.

Salina isn’t happy with Mance, who she thinks does things to chickens. Next week, she wants Promociones Dorado vs. Callihan/Warner.

Barrington Hughes vs. Jacob Fatu

If there is any justice in the world, this should be about a minute long. Hughes knocks him into the corner for a splash but gets superkicked in the face. Something like a Whisper in the Wind (remember that Fatu is pushing 300lbs) finishes Fatu in 33 seconds. EXACTLY what it should have been.

The Hart Foundation is in a nice car and thank the Lucha Bros for dropping the titles. They don’t think much of MJF for a variety of reasons. As for Brian Pillman, he’ll gain a lot from competition, like a match against Rich Swann in the National Title tournament.

Alexander Hammerstone is looking forward to facing Gringo Loco in the tournament but he’s thinking about the celebration when he wins the title. MJF has even rented an elephant so Grandpappy Hammer and Weird Uncle Gary Hammer can come celebrate. He promises to win but leaves to take a call about the elephant.

We get the first Fury Road Control Center. We’ll see the tournament final to crown the first National Champion as well as the debuts of Ross and Marshall Von Erich.

Tom Lawlor is ready for Avalanche, because Tom is the only abominable snowman anyone needs to worry about.

Ariel Dominguez vs. Bryan Idol

Idol has some muscle on a somewhat small frame. Ariel gets sent into the corner for a running knee and a butterfly suplex into the same corner makes it even worse. A swinging layout Rock Bottom gets two as the not huge Idol is throwing around the tiny Dominguez. Idol gets two more off a shoulder breaker but misses a moonsault. That’s enough for Dominguez to hit a dropkick and tornado DDT, setting up a kick to the chest for two. A springboard tornado DDT into a small package (eventually as it was several covers before Dominguez tied the legs up) finishes Idol at 4:09.

Rating: D+. They lost me here as Dominguez is just too small and doesn’t do enough crazy athletic stuff to make up for it. The level of suspension of believe necessary for wrestling is very high at times and I can live with a lot, but this was just a bit too far. It’s not a bad match but I didn’t believe it and that’s a problem.

We look at Salina’s challenge again.

Warner and Callihan are in for the match. Warner’s eyes bugging out the whole time makes it that much better. Oh and it’s going to be a tag team fight instead of a match. I think that was already understood. They get in a bit of an argument over thumbs and kneepads going up and down.

Salina talks to Low Ki about his contract but Low Ki doesn’t like the promoter becoming the feature attraction. She even calls him Mr. Silvestri (his real name) to show you how serious it is.

National Title Tournament Semifinals: Gringo Loco vs. Alexander Hammerstone

The rest of the Dynasty lets Hammerstone do this one himself as the fans are way into Loco. Hammerstone powers him down to start as Loco is a little tentative to start. Loco gets thrown away again but manages to flip away for a standoff. The fans let Hammerstone know that he can’t do that and a running hurricanrana to the floor frustrates him even more.

The running flip dive is countered with a kick to the head but Loco is fine enough to get two off a top rope moonsault press. Hammerstone crotches him on top though…where something is botched so badly that they shoot the crowd, which gasps at whatever we can’t see. Hammerstone superplexes him down and hits the Nightmare Pendulum for the pin at 4:56.

Rating: C-. The botch was a one off miss as the rest of the match was perfectly fine. Hammerstone winning is the only call they had and a match against Pillman (or Swann) for the title could be rather entertaining. It’s clear that Hammerstone is a star in the making and pushing him like this is the only thing that can be done with him at the moment.

Post match Hammerstone says he’s a win away from the title because he’s no longer a prospect. Now, he’s the future champion.

Overall Rating: C. This wasn’t bad as they build towards the tournament and some stuff in the coming weeks, though the idea of another title when some of them don’t even make it onto the show doesn’t do much for me. I’m not sure how it’s going to go, but having so much stuff going on is going to become a problem. The show was good enough, but I’m worried about what’s coming in the future. Just stop doing so much stuff and let the stuff you have work well.

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