IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #80
Date: October 19, 2019
Location: Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, Mexico
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, AJ Kirsch

This is a special show with Jimmy Havoc’s Slaughterhouse, meaning it’s basically a Halloween special. That means a bunch of violence and fighting, which is hardly the worst thing in the world. It makes sense to throw something like this out there for a change, but at the same time it doesn’t mean as much if you do that kind of violence so often. Let’s get to it.

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

We look at the Dynasty retaining the Tag Team Titles last week.

The Von Erichs know the Dynasty is scared of them and need to act like champions. The title match is still taking place in Chicago at SuperFight, in a Texas Tornado match for the Tag Team Titles. I’m not sure how much these two should be allowed to talk without some more practice.

We get a special Slaughterhouse themed intro, with Jimmy Havoc talking about being willing to bleed.

Havoc promises a lot of blood and violence, which he certainly likes. First up, Josef Samael vs. a member of Promociones Dorado in a Tijuana street fight. Havoc himself will be in a three way against Damian 666 and Savio Vega, where he takes the torch of being the best hardcore wrestler in the world.

Los Haraganes vs. Triple Amenaza

That would be Animal/Demencia/Silver Star vs. Star Boy/Arandu/Zarco and I’m going to be lost in this one. Los Haraganes hit dives before the bell (I think) and we starts fast (as you would have had to expect). This is apparently a hot feud and it’s a big brawl as commentary admits the cameras are probably going to miss things.

One of the Haraganes (the announcers are reading cards about later in the show from Havoc) hits a middle rope gordbuster to set up a frog splash to set up a double stomp low blow for no cover on….well I have no idea actually as none of these people have anything to identify them. Commentary starts paying attention to the match as it’s Star Boy being hung in the ropes for a guillotine legdrop from Silver Star. Arandu comes in and gets reverse monkey flipped into a double dropkick as we take an early break.

Back with the match having settled down a bit for a chop off between Demencia and Zarco. Or maybe it’s Arandu as the commentary seems to be split. Ok now it’s 2-1 Zarco, who takes over with more chops and a dropkick into the corner. Animal comes in but his monkey flip attempt is blocked with a dropkick from Arandu. More changes without tags (legal but a bit confusing) ensue but hang on as Contra hacks the feed.

Contra talks about how Mexico has had violence before but never the global dealers in violence. They’re coming for Salina de la Renta and Promociones Dorado. We come back with Star Boy getting one off a double underhook piledriver. There are some weapons piled up on the floor and the crowd seems to have lost some energy during the break. Star Boy is put on top and getting super hurricanranaed right back down as Animal isn’t pleased with the referee.

Arandu comes in for two off a spinebuster and a hanging swinging neckbreaker gets the same. It’s off to a seated abdominal stretch of all things but Silver Star makes a quick save. A somewhat messy sitout powerbomb gives Silver Star two and the announcers aren’t pleased with the speed of the count. Everything breaks down (you knew that was coming) and it’s a springboard armdrag to send Zarco into (not through) a table at ringside. Star Boy and Arandu miss dives to go through the tables (or at least close to it), leaving Zarco to get triplebombed for the pin at 13:34 (on another VERY slow count).

Rating: C. I have no idea how to rate something like this as it was entertaining, but at the same time there was so much going on and I had no idea who was what or how this was supposed to go. It was entertaining enough but you could feel the crowd not caring and that took a lot out of the match. Not bad though.

Post match Los Haraganes beat up the referee for the slow counting. Fair enough.

Gino Medina is coming.

Brian Pillman Jr. has some fun with a young lady by the pool and isn’t worried about Low Ki. Jokes are made about Low Ki’s amazing voice.

Salina de la Renta comes up to see Havoc and brings El Hijo de LA Park to represent Promociones Dorado in the street fight. Josef Samael jumps Hijo to break up the argument and the fight is on.

El Hijo de LA Park vs. Josef Samael

It’s a street fight outside in the back with Samael knocking him around and sending Park into some fences before nailing some crossfaces to the head. An argument with the referee lets Park fight back and slams him through a big piece of wood. Samael gets sent head first into a door but comes right back with punches and headbutts. Cue Simon Gotch and Ikuro Kwon to jump Park as Salina rants on the phone for someone to get over here now. Park is left laying and I’m not considering this a match as it was more of a long brawl to set up the big beatdown. Nothing to see here in other words.

Mance Warner knows he and Jimmy Havoc love barbed wire so we’ll have a Stairway To Hell match at SuperFight. Hang the barbed wire above the ring and get a ladder so you can be even more violent.

Havoc was having fun until he heard from Warner. He’s studied the Stairway To Hell match (from ECW, not named here) and Warner is going to regret that challenge.

The SuperFight Control Center doesn’t add anything new but the card does look pretty good.

The Dynasty sings God Bless America because they’re so glad to be back home. Richard Holliday brings up his lawyer/father (MJF: “JUST CALL HIM YOUR FATHER!”) and they talk about trying to get out of the Texas Tornado match. Maybe he could get it turned into a Dynasty Tornado match. As MJF tries to wrap his head around that, they decide to just go on the yacht. Well only after MJF cuts Holliday off from any more coffee.

Savio Vega vs. Damian 666 vs. Jimmy Havoc

Hardcore and it makes perfect sense to have Havoc main event his own show. Salina is here with Damian and wants some revenge on Havoc. Damian and Vega double team Havoc to the floor to start before Vega knocks Damian down in a hurry. It’s time for the cookie sheet from Havoc but Vega brings in a kendo stick and the trashcan. Vega grabs a chair but gets whipped over the back by Damian’s belt.

Everyone heads to the floor to keep hitting each other before Vega takes Damian back inside for a whip into a chair. Havoc busts out the thumbtacks onto a chair, which he gets knocked onto for the painful comedy spot. Vega goes off with the revolving trashcan lid shots and slams Havoc onto the chair for two.

We get the required table, which has a broken leg before it is even set up. They get the table stood up and Havoc crotches Savio on top. The superplex through the table plants Vega (and makes the table explode) but Havoc makes the save and hits the Acid Rainmaker to finish Vega at 9:48.

Rating: C-. It was a pretty paint by numbers hardcore match and that’s all well and good for what they had here. Savio and Damian are both in their fifties and it makes more sense to have the weapons instead of trying to do a regular match. It made sense to have Havoc get a win here and the match felt fast enough so it’s hard to get too mad about a hardcore match on a hardcore themed show.

Post match Damian gets a Rainmaker of his own. Damian’s son Bestia makes the save.

Overall Rating: D+. This wasn’t the worst thing and having it as a theme show worked well enough. The Tijuana crowd works better than most MLW crowds, if nothing else just for the amount of people there alone. The violence deal was fine for the Halloween season and it was nice to mix things up a little bit. Sometimes you need to change things around and even though this wasn’t great, it was nice of them to go in a different direction.

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: AEW

Dynamite
Date: October 9, 2019
Location: Agganis Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Jim Ross, Excalibur

It’s the second week and that means we are in for something that might be more important than the debut episode. You can have as good of an opener as you want, but if you don’t get the fans to stick around, it isn’t going to matter all that much. The ratings and audience are going to be interesting after this week so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

The announcers welcome us to the show.

Video on Private Party vs. the Young Bucks, the first match in the Tag Team Title tournament.

Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Young Bucks vs. Private Party

Private Party weigh 27 ounces of vodka cranberry and come from a place you need an invitation to. Isaiah Kassidy and Nick Jackson start things off with neither being able to hit a superkick. Nick spits his gum in Kassidy’s face so Kassidy flips out of an atomic drop attempt. Kassidy gets caught in a backbreaker/flipping neckbreaker combination to put the Bucks in control. A dive misses though and Kassidy hits a Lionsault to take him down.

Marc Quen comes in and starts busting out his own dives to a BIG reaction (as he deserves). A 450 gets a VERY close two on Matt but Nick is back in to start the Superkick Party. Nick sunset bombs Kassidy, with the powerbomb onto the ramp for a nasty landing. Back in and a powerbomb/Sliced Bread #2 combination gets two on Marc, setting up the Sharpshooter to work on the back even more.

With Kassidy down, it’s a top rope double stomp/backbreaker combination for two more on Quen. A spear gets two more on Quen as Kassidy gets pulled back off the apron. Quen gets over for the tag a few seconds later though and Kassidy comes in with a missile dropkick. He comes up holding his back but is fine enough to hit a double hurricanrana. Matt rolls the northern lights suplexes to bang up the back quite a bit before suplexing Quen at the same time for two.

The buckle bomb/kick to the head in the corner sets up another Sharpshooter, with Nick adding a facebuster. The tap seems near but Kassidy rapid fire crawls over for the tag. Quen makes a blind tag though and it’s the hurricanrana into the cutter (Gin and Juice) to rock Matt. The perfect shooting star press gets two on Nick and that should have been the finish. The Meltzer Driver is loaded up but Kassidy breaks up the springboard, allowing Quen to roll Matt up for the pin at 13:47.

Rating: B. They had one too many false finishes in the end though I’m happy with Private Party winning. That could have gone either way though, as you can either give Private Party the rub now or give the rub to whoever beats the Bucks in the finals. As long as the Bucks didn’t win though, as there was no need for that to happen. Good match too, with Private Party looking like an incredibly polished team right out of the box.

Post match Private Party celebrates in the crowd all through the commercial.

Here are Chris Jericho and his whole group of friends for a chat. Jericho takes credit for all of Dynamite’s success last week and gets a thank you chant. That’s not what he wants though and he says that we are now. Yes they’re still together and yes they have a name. Jericho introduces the team, starting with the sexy Spanish god Sammy Guevara. Now Sammy is on his list. Then you have Santana and Ortiz, who are going to be nastier than ever before, which Jericho likes. Jericho: “Viva la raza.” Nice touch on Eddie’s birthday.

Then we have Jake Hager (which Jericho pronounces as Hagar) so we get a WE THE PEOPLE. Jericho: “We the people sucks and it’s dead and buried. It was a bad idea from bad creative and all that’s dead and gone.” Jericho brags about Hager’s undefeated MMA record and he’ll fight any boxer, fighter, wrestler, bare knuckle fighter or whatever. The team is dubbed the Inner Circle and they are taking over.

Jericho goes on to Cody, who is part of a family Jericho never liked. Dusty was a jerk, he’ll beat up Dustin and he’ll beat the s*** out of Cody at Full Gear. That promo is going to get people talking and it’s a good thing to have a big story going on like this. Good stuff here, though they better be able to back up the shots at WWE.

Darby Allin vs. Jimmy Havoc

The winner gets a shot at Jericho for the title next week. During the entrance, Havoc says he likes the pain and the violence. Darby grabs a quick cradle for two and dropkicks Havoc into the corner. A bottom rope suplex doesn’t work as Havoc bites the fingers and Falcon Arrows Allin out to the floor in a big crash.

Havoc starts working on the fingers before choking in the corner to cut off a comeback attempt. A suplex puts Allin on the floor and we take a break. Back with Allin being Death Valley Driven into the corner and stomped in the head to keep him down. The Acid Rainmaker is broken up with a bite to Havoc’s fingers and it’s a knockdown into the Coffin Drop for the pin at 10:02.

Rating: C-. I wasn’t feeling this one as Allin didn’t do much for most of the match, came back and hit his finisher for the win. What bothers me a bit more than that though is AEW talking about how they want to incorporate win/loss records and that puts Allin at 2-2-1. It’s not a big deal, but they might want to work on that if they want records to matter that much.

Bea Priestly/Sakura vs. Britt Baker/Riho

Riho starts with Sakura and charges into a powerslam, only to pop back up with a dropkick. Her back is banged up and Sakura blocks a slam without much effort. A very screaming surfboard works on the back even more and it’s off to Priestly, who gets in a fight with Baker on the floor.

Riho is down in the corner so Sakura goes outside to help with a double suplex. A Riho dive takes them down though and we take a break. Back with Baker in trouble until Riho sneaks in for a double stomp to Sakura. Baker’s swinging neckbreaker gets two on Sakura and it’s off to the Rings of Saturn. Baker adds the Mandible Claw at the same time for the tap at 8:45.

Rating: C. I’m trying to care about the women’s division but Baker is the kind of star who can be a big deal based on every aspect you could want. Priestly feels like a good villain and Sakura is fine enough. Riho….it’s not a complete miss but there are just better options to pick from other than her. Maybe I’m just not enough of a wrestling fan to get it, but it’s not working just yet.

We see a video of the Best Friends hugging.

The Best Friends are in the front row and asked about how they’re doing. They defer to Orange Cassidy, who gives them a thumbs up.

Jon Moxley vs. Shawn Spears

Tully Blanchard is with Spears and Pac is on commentary. Moxley gets right in his face and chops away before dropping Spears with a clothesline. Spears bails to the floor so Moxley knees him in the back and chokes away, with Tully’s interference not working whatsoever. As JR wonders how that isn’t a DQ, Moxley jumps off the apron with a forearm to the face but gets sent into the steps. The fight on the floor continues (they’ve been out there a long time now) with Spears Death Valley Drivering him into the barricade for a double knockdown.

Back from a break with Spears putting on a half crab but Moxley breaks it up in a hurry. Moxley sends him outside again for back to back suicide dives and scores with a running knee for two. The slugout it on but the Paradigm Shift is countered into the fireman’s carry backbreaker. Another fireman’s carry is countered into the Paradigm Shift to give Moxley the pin at 12:44.

Rating: C. I still don’t get it with Spears, though he is better than he was in WWE. He’s just a guy at this point and the chair stuff feels out of place after the Cody feud wrapped up. Tully is a cool addition, but it doesn’t matter if the guy keeps losing. It’s far from too late for him, but he didn’t shot me much here.

Post match here’s Kenny Omega, carrying a barbed wire bat and a barbed wire broom. He throws Moxley the bat but Pac runs down with a chair shot to the back of Omega’s head. Moxley looks at Omega but drops the bat and walks away.

Dustin Rhodes/Hangman Page vs. Chris Jericho/Sammy Guevara

Hager is here with Jericho and Guevara. One good sign: I can already recognize Jericho’s music after the first few notes. Impact took years to make that happen and still have a lot of trouble making it work. Dustin goes after Jericho on the floor to start and gets in a posting with a thud. We settle down to Page fall away slamming Sammy and handing it back to Dustin for a hard whip into the corner.

A belly to back toss sets up Page’s running shooting star press with Jericho having to make a save. Guevara gets in a knee though and fireman’s carry drops Page onto the top turnbuckle for two. Back from a break with Jericho posing until Page gets in a hard shot to the face. Sammy is right there to block a tag though and Jericho slaps Page in the face. The Lionsault hits knees though and Page scores with the big lariat, allowing the hot tag to Dustin.

Everything breaks down and Dustin dives onto Jericho and Sammy with Page adding a moonsault to the floor. Hager runs Page over though, leaving Dustin to hit a Code Red for two on Jericho. The powerslam takes Sammy down but the referee checks on him, allowing Hager to save Jericho from Shattered Dreams. Jericho hits the Judas Effect for the pin at 13:57.

Rating: C+. The extra time helped a bit here and they did a good job of making Hager look like the monster. That’s the key here as everyone (save for Sammy) is pretty established and they need to make Hager stand out as a monster. This was the standard idea of taking parts of a stable and letting them fight, which is always going to work just fine.

Post match Hager goes after Page, who pelts a chair at Hager’s head. They fight to the back and the lights go out. It’s Cody laying out Sammy with Cross Rhodes but here are Santana and Ortiz to take Cody out. Maxwell Jacob Friedman runs out as well and teases turning on Cody, only to chair the Inner Circle down. Cue the Young Bucks for the real save and the fans are rather pleased. Jericho escapes but Allin skateboards down and beats Jericho up to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This was another good outing, though a step down from last week. That has to be expected though after last week’s big debut, which isn’t going to be the norm. It’s a good idea to slow things down for a week while still making things seem like a big deal. I’m curious to see where things go with some of these stories and that’s a nice feeling. The wrestling itself wasn’t bad at all here and the atmosphere is still what matters most around here. It felt big and if they can do that when it’s not even a big show, they’re in a solid spot two weeks in.

Results

Private Party b. Young Bucks – Victory roll to Matt

Darby Allin b. Jimmy Havoc – Coffin Drop

Britt Baker/Riho b. Bea Priestly/Sakura – Rings of Saturn/Mandible Claw combination to Sakura

Jon Moxley b. Shawn Spears – Paradigm Shift

Chris Jericho/Sammy Guevara b. Dustin Rhodes/Hangman Page – Judas Effect to Rhodes

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #77
Date: September 28, 2019
Location: Nytex Sports Center, North Richland Hills, Texas
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

The Dallas stretch continues with the fallout from last week’s pretty good show. We are in need of a new #1 contender to the World Title and with SuperFight on the horizon, they might need to pick up the pace a little bit. If nothing else we have something here between Teddy Hart and Austin Aries over the Middleweight Title. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Aries attacking Hart last week and knocking him cold with a brainbuster onto the apron.

Opening sequence.

Injustice says they need to look out for themselves because no one else will.

Injustice vs. Gringo Loco/Air Wolf

Myron Reed/Kotto Brazil for Injustice. Reed still has his chest protector and the referee finds a chain on Brazil during the weapons check. With that out of the way, Jordan Oliver slips Reed some brass knuckles. Hang on though as the referee finds the knuckles and gets rid of them before we get started. Brazil sunset flips Loco to start and gets stomped in the back for his efforts. Loco drops a standing moonsault for two and then sends him flying into the corner off an overhead belly to belly suplex. Wolf comes in and chops Reed in the chest protector for a bit of an “are you kidding me” look.

The rapid fire changes continue with Brazil sweeping Loco’s legs so Reed can drop a leg and take over. Brazil gets whipped into the corner for an uppercut to Loco and a dropkick gets two. The pace picks up a bit with Wolf getting in a kick to the head from the apron, allowing Loco to hit a belly to back faceplant. Wolf gets knocked off the apron so Loco electric chairs both of them at once (with Kotto on Reed’s shoulders as Reed is on Loco’s shoulders for a crazy visual). Since Brazil is dead, Wolf comes in (with a crowd shot that sees Brazil go from one side of the ring to the other) and gets the easy pin at 7:44.

Rating: D+. Oh yeah they had to edit something out of the ending because the ending came out of nowhere after a legitimate scary landing. That could have gone FAR worse and that’s a scary thought given how bad it looked in the first place. It wasn’t a good match in the first place as Injustice can only do so much in the ring, though Loco is an awesome performer with some great charisma.

Post match Injustice beats up the referee to blow off some steam.

Mance Warner’s uncle is here to watch the main event. Blood is promised, though Mance tells his uncle (named Moon Man) to no drink too much because they’re going out after the show.

Dominic Garrini is still coming.

During the break, Injustice attacked more referees.

Brian Pillman Jr. isn’t happy with Austin Aries injuring Teddy Hart. He’ll do something about it next week.

Salina de la Renta doesn’t want to talk strategy for the Bunkhouse Brawl.

The SuperFight Control Center tells us nothing new.

The Von Erichs are at a children’s hospital visiting the sick kids. The Dynasty shows up to say they should buy the place and turn it into a casino. MJF: “OH SNAP IT’S THE VON ERICHS! And you’ve got shoes on!” Their plans don’t sit well with the Von Erichs, so Holliday talks about trying to make the economy boom. His coffee is slapped out of is hands. MJF: “This isn’t the 1980s!”

Timothy Thatcher vs. Douglas James

James is a martial artist, though he’s rather small. They go with the grappling to start with the bigger Thatcher getting the better of it until we hit an early standoff. Neither can get very far with a grab of the leg so it’s a quick slugout with James taking him down by the leg this time around.

Back up and James scores with a clothesline to set up some kicks to the chest, only to have Thatcher pick the leg again. The chinlock doesn’t last long as James tries a cross armbreaker to no avail. Some gutwrench suplexes give Thatcher two but James is right back with a few superkicks for two. James tries a frog splash but hits knees, allowing Thatcher to grab a Fujiwara armbar for the tap at 9:01.

Rating: C+. I liked this one rather well as it showed a different style than most of what you get around here. That’s the kind of thing that can help keep things feeling fresh, which doesn’t happen enough at times. Thatcher is someone who looks good every time he’s out there and I could go with seeing him in a higher profile role.

Post match they exchange respect, with Thatcher offering to train with him. With that out of the way, Thatcher wants Tom Lawlor at SuperFight.

Jimmy Havoc promises to do bad things to Warner and licks a pitchfork.

Warner has the interviewer draw some items he’ll be using in the Bunkhouse Brawl. He isn’t happy with her artistic skills but the violence will tell the story.

Jimmy Havoc vs. Mance Warner

Bunkhouse Brawl, meaning anything goes. Havoc pulls out a shovel so Warner turns his back on him in a rather dumb move. The fight starts on the floor with Jimmy throwing a bail of rather abrasive hay at his head. Warner sends him head first into a whiskey barrel and it’s time to choke with a bull rope. Jimmy gets in a shovel shot to the head to take over, but because it’s a long match that’s only good for two back inside.

A rake across the head (with an actual rake) has Warner in trouble and allows the announcers to debate rake as a noun and verb. Warner gets in a poke to the eye and a rake to the face for two, meaning it’s time for a door. A pumpkin to the head misses as Warner throws it into the crowd by mistake, allowing Havoc to bust out the staple gun. With Warner down, it’s time for the second pumpkin….and Jimmy staples Mance’s tongue to said pumpkin. Rich: “WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT???”

Warner breaks it off and DDT’s Havoc onto the pumpkin, which gets stuck. The running knee to the pumpkin gets two as Tony is very confused. Some chairs are set up in the middle with a door laid on top of them, only to have Havoc Death Valley Drive him through another door in the corner. Now Warner’s tongue is stapled to the door over the tables. Havoc goes up but Warner rips the staple out and throws a pumpkin at him. A superplex through the table sets up the lariat to give Warner the pin at 11:39.

Rating: D+. I know I’m not the target audience for a match like this but I was in the same line of thinking of Tony here: at some point it gets ridiculous with stuff like stapling a tongue to a pumpkin. This just didn’t work very well as it was an entertaining enough brawl, but it came off as more silly than violent at times, which missed the point.

Post match Havoc pulls out some barbed wire to hit Warner in the head and draw some blood. The wire goes into Warner’s mouth with Havoc pulling back until referees break it up.

Overall Rating: C-. This was a good example of the hybrid idea behind the series but it was also an example of what happens when the matches just aren’t all that good. It wasn’t a terrible show by any means and they set up/advanced some stuff, but I wasn’t all that impressed throughout the show. SuperFight is starting to sound good though so they’re going in the right direction overall.

Results

Gringo Loco/Air Wolf b. Injustice – Electric chair to Brazil

Timothy Thatcher b. Douglas James – Fujiwara armbar

Mance Warner b. Jimmy Havoc – Lariat

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

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

Ricky Martinez vs. Mance Warner

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

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

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

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

We look at Marshall Von Erich being blinded by Contra.

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

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

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

Austin Aries vs. Ace Austin

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

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

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

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

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

Come to house shows!

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

MLW is partnering with Mars Labs to enhance viewing experience.

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

LA Park vs. Jimmy Havoc

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fury Road
Date: June 1, 2019
Location: Waukesha County Expo Center, Waukesha, Wisconsin
Commentators: Jim Cornette, Rich Bocchini

We’re FINALLY done with the Wrestlemania weekend tapings and tonight it’s a live special with the finals of the National Openweight Title tournament to crown an inaugural champion. Throw in a Middleweight Title match and we have a nice little show here. Hopefully it can turn into a good big show, but I’m not getting my hopes up. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s show with Contra dominating a lot of the roster.

Opening sequence.

World Champion Tom Lawlor is not here yet, either due to weather or traffic issues.

Myron Reed vs. Gringo Loco

Reed has his mouth taped and is holding up the JUSTICE sign again. Rich rants about Reed being checked for weapons despite never having one….and then the referee doesn’t check him anyway, making it a moot point. Loco goes outside early on and it’s a big flip dive to take him down. Back in and Loco starts the flips before dropkicking Reed’s legs out for a nice looking counter.

Reed’s hurricanrana is countered with a cartwheel and Reed is rather stunned. A jumping enziguri hits Reed’s raised arm but puts him down on the apron anyway, only to have him knock Loco down with a forearm. The slingshot legdrop gets two on Loco and it’s time for Reed to get cocky. We hit the chinlock to slow things down but Loco is right back up. Then he’s right back down after missing a moonsault, leaving Reed to charge….right into a running Liger Bomb for two.

A super Falcon Arrow (or a “super Falcon Arrow slam thing” according to Cornette) gets two more but since Reed somehow survived that, it’s a springboard cutter for two on Loco. The springboard 450 is good for the same but the referee accuses Reed of pulling out a foreign object. Since there’s nothing there, Reed has to hit a Stundog Millionaire to block a suplex. Another accusation from the referee has Reed annoyed so Loco grabs a spinning Tombstone for the pin at 8:35.

Rating: C+. Reed is an uninteresting character in an interesting story if that makes sense. It might be something that has been done before but it’s a story that can work well. Loco is becoming a cult favorite but he’s a cult favorite who can have some entertaining matches. This worked well and kept the story going so well done.

Post match Reed pulls out some brass knuckles to knock Loco silly.

Salina de la Renta will be executive producing another episode of Fusion on June 15.

We take a quick look at the Crusher, the Man Who Made Milwaukee Famous. Next week, he gets a statue in Milwaukee.

Tom Lawlor still isn’t here so he can’t be interviewed.

National Openweight Title: Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Alexander Hammerstone

For the inaugural title. Pillman’s hair is now bleached blond, which doesn’t work that well for him. Before the match, Maxwell Jacob Friedman says Brian Pillman Sr. would be sick at the sound of his own son. With the seconds gone, Pillman dodges early on and ducks a right hand, setting up a few chops. Forearms in the corner have Hammerstone in trouble and a running dropkick makes it worse. Hammerstone responds by kicking him in the face as the fans try to get behind Pillman again.

Pillman avoids a suplex though and dropkicks him out to the floor for a mostly missed dive. A running start around the ring gets Pillman swung into the barricade and a powerbomb onto the apron stays on Pillman’s back. Hammerstone runs him over back inside and there’s a hard whip into the corner. A little trash talking lets Pillman hits a superkick for two, followed by a spinning high crossbody for the same. The Swanton misses though and the Nightmare Pendulum makes Hammerstone the champion at 8:07.

Rating: C+. They did what they could do here as Pillman isn’t ready for the big epic match. The ending was the right call though as Hammerstone winning gives the Dynasty vs. Hart Foundation feud a little more life. That and Hammerstone is a monster and they would be nuts to have him lose so early. Just give us Smith Jr. vs. Hammerstone and I’ll be happy.

Post match Hammerstone says he was putting in the work while Pillman was riding his dad’s coattails. Now this title is Dynasty.

Austin Aries is still coming. Maybe in his hometown of Milwaukee?

The announcers are cut off by a video with the Contra feed. Contra seems to have taken over the production truck and we see a video of the team attacking Tom Lawlor.

Lawlor is bound and gagged but they take the tape off and choke him with it instead. They want him to learn that they can take anything at any time, including Lawlor’s hair, which is quickly cut.

The announcers apologize for making us see that, including the levels of violence shown. That’s not even the most violent thing Contra has done.

We recap the main event with Jimmy Havoc wanting to end Teddy Hart’s career resurgence.

Middleweight Title: Teddy Hart vs. Jimmy Havoc

Hart is defending and both guys bring chairs, though this isn’t billed as No DQ. We get some Big Match Intros to stretch things out a little bit longer. Hart wastes no time in moonsaulting for no reason other than to show off a bit, which draws a charging Havoc into the corner. Some chair shots to the ribs are perfectly fine with Cornette saying we have relaxed rules due to Hart being involved.

Hart forearms him down for two and it’s time to work on the arm as the announcers talk about all the weather and technical issues that have taken place today. We take a break and come back with Hart hitting a Backstabber, followed by a powerbomb Backstabber. The moonsault gets two more as we hear about Tom Lawlor staggering up to the ticket window and asking for help, though we won’t be seeing it. They head to the apron with Havoc trying an RKO onto a chair, with Hart’s face not getting anywhere near the thing.

Somehow Hart is busted anyway and Havoc goes with the paper cuts between the fingers and on the mouth. A suplex onto a piece of barricade makes it even worse for Hart and it’s time to head back inside. The chair is set up in the corner but, of course, Hart manages to reverse a whip to send Havoc into it instead.

Havoc reverses a super hurricanrana and gets the Sharpshooter (IT’S BECAUSE TEDDY IS RELATED TO BRET HART AND THIS HAS TO BE INCLUDED IN EVERY HART MATCH IN THE HISTORY OF EVER!!!), sending Hart over to the rope. As Cornette tries to figure out why that works in a match with weapons, Havoc hits a Canadian Destroyer but misses the Acid Rainmaker. Hart grabs a Canadian Destroyer of his own and it’s the lifting hammerlock DDT onto the chair to retain the title at 11:33.

Rating: C-. I wasn’t feeling this one as the weapons didn’t add anything and they really didn’t add anything to the match. Hart isn’t exactly a hardcore guy and it was just Havoc doing the short form version of his greatest hits. It’s not terrible and Hart’s weird charisma makes things work, but I could have gone for something rather different.

Post match the Dynasty comes in to beat down Hart, drawing out the Hart Foundation for the big brawl to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. For a live special, this worked quite well and would make me want to see what happens next. That’s exactly the point of something like this and I liked what I was seeing for the most part. There was no blow away match but I don’t think there really needed to be. What we got was good, though I’m more interested in where this is going than where it is here.

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

Battle Riot II
Date: April 5, 2019
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Jim Cornette

This is the big live Wrestlemania weekend show and that means we have a major battle royal, which worked well enough last year. I’m not sure what to expect this year as they’ve barely announced any stories for the match, though we do know a good chunk of the lineup. The winner gets a title match at any point they want so at least there’s a big prize. Let’s get to it.

Note that I actually watch this show regularly so for once I know what’s going on. For those of you who are new, I’ll mention names and characters where they matter.

We open with a list of most of the people in the match. It worked for the old Royal Rumbles so this is fine.

The announcers run down the card, which includes a pair of title matches to go along with Battle Riot.

Middleweight Title: Teddy Hart vs. Ace Austin

Austin is challenging and this could be good as the Harts are crazy popular around here. The Dynasty (MJF, Alexander Hammerstone and Richard Holliday) is watching from ringside. As Cornette rants about travel in New York, we start with the guys shoving each other and slowly slugging it out. A rather early Project Ciampa gives Hart the first big advantage with Austin rolling out to the floor. An overhead belly to belly on the floor makes it even worse for Austin and the springboard moonsault off the barricade keeps Austin down. Austin gets crotched against the post and Teddy heads over to steal some of the Dynasty’s champagne.

Of course it goes into MJF’s face and it’s Austin coming back with a kick to the face from the apron. Back in and Austin kicks him in the head a few times before slamming him head first into the mat. Austin takes way too long coming off the top and gets crotched, though he’s fine enough to do the same thing to Hart to block the super Canadian Destroyer. A spinning kick to the face drops Hart again and a spinning top rope Fameasser gets two. Austin gets knocked off the top again though and it’s a super Canadian Destroyer into a regular Canadian Destroyer to retain the title at 6:54.

Rating: C+. Hart wasn’t exactly sweating here, which is kind of annoying as I like Austin a lot and could see him going somewhere. That being said, this wasn’t the place for some big, epic title defense so going with the quick match here with Hart hitting his usual stuff and winning definitively in the end was fine.

Post match Hart rhymes about Alexander Hammerstone, in red, seeing Ted, meaning he’ll be dead. He shoves Richard Holliday but gets a champagne bottle to the head.

Minoru Tanaka vs. Myron Reed

Reed has Rich Swann with him as they continue to claim MLW is treating them unfairly. Tanaka is a big star in Japan and the current GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion. Reed bails straight to the floor to start where Swann offers some advice. Back in and Tanaka works on the arm before going with a standard dropkick to keep Reed in trouble. Swann’s cheap shot from the floor lets Reed score with an enziguri though and we take a break.

We come back with Tanaka’s missile dropkick putting Reed in trouble again as Cornette goes over the history of Japanese wrestling. Reed uses the rope to get out of the cross armbreaker and Stuns his way out of a suplex. A slingshot cutter gives Reed two more but Tanaka rolls him up into a cradle for the pin at 8:48.

Rating: C. Nice little match here with Tanaka looking very good and polished as you would have expected him to. He’s the kind of import that works very well on a special show like this. Reed’s jumping cutters always look great and he got in some offense against the much more polished name.

Video on Contra, a terrorist style stable who have looked awesome in limited appearances.

Promociones Dorado (major heel stable run by Salina de la Renta, an awesome witchy manager) draw their Battle Riot numbers with Salina not being happy with how long it takes. The guys seem pleased when Sami Callihan comes in demanding his money from Salina. He’ll see them tonight. As they leave, Mance Warner (feuding with the group) comes in and steals one of the good numbers, replacing it with a worse one.

We recap Jimmy Havoc vs. Tom Lawlor. Havoc was the last man to defeat him in MLW and now Jimmy is back to win the World Title.

Brian Pillman Jr. is happy with his number when Salina comes in and tries to buy it. Pillman would rather talk about her chest and Salina gives up.

MLW World Title: Jimmy Havoc vs. Tom Lawlor

Lawlor (a former UFC fighter) is defending and this is a street fight. Havoc jumps him before the bell and we lose a camera but Lawlor snaps off a release German suplex to take over. A Death Valley Driver out of the corner stops Lawlor and Havoc pelts a chair at him for two. It’s time to bring in a table (a board in this case) with Lawlor hitting him in the head and bridging the table between the ring and the barricade.

Some kicks to the chest have Havoc in trouble but he avoids a chair and takes Lawlor down again. The chair gets thrown at Lawlor’s head again but hang on as Havoc needs to yell at the fans, allowing Lawlor to send him into the table. They steal a horn from the crowd and Cornette gets in a few horny jokes. More tables and another chair are sent inside but Lawlor grabs a pumphandle suplex.

A charge hits chair though and Havoc gets two off a DDT. Havoc throws in four chairs and bridges a table between them as Cornette has just about had it with the hardcore stuff. Two more chairs are sets up on top of the table but a hurricanrana is countered into a powerbomb through everything for two. Lawlor sets up a table in a corner but gets sent to the floor before he can use it. Havoc finds a staple gun and that’s just too much for Cornette, especially as it’s used to break up a Figure Four on the floor.

Lawlor is busted open and Havoc licks the blood off, setting up another staple into the head. The referee gets beaten down and there’s a Death Valley Driver through the door for no count. A belly to back faceplant onto some chairs gets a very delayed two from a fresh referee. With nothing else working, Lawlor knees a chair into Havoc’s head twice in a row to retain at 13:13.

Rating: C-. As is usually the case with hardcore matches, your individual mileage may vary. I’m more in the Cornette camp, though he was the completely wrong choice to call something like this because he can’t stand this kind of thing because it’s not wrestling. Now to be fair I’m really not a fan of the staple gun and licking the blood and all that stuff. It comes off like it’s all Havoc knows how to do and with the story not exactly being a violent one, it felt out of place.

Salina tries to buy a rookie’s number but that isn’t happening. Her goons come in and steal it instead.

Video on last year’s Battle Riot.

The announcers preview the match.

Battle Riot

40 man Royal Rumble (with pin/submission/over the top eliminations) with one minute intervals and the winner gets a World Title shot whenever they want. Also, no commercials for a nice bonus. Maxwell Jacob Friedman is in at #1 and says he isn’t shaking because the other thirty nine men in the back are shaking in their own boots. Dan Severn (of Dan Severn fame) is in at #2 and MJF panics in a hurry. The eye poke doesn’t work to start and it’s a belly to belly suplex to send MJF flying.

Hijo de LA Park is in at #3 as the intervals are already going fast. A dropkick puts Severn down but he’s back up to suplex a gyrating Hijo. Air Wolf is in at #4 and it’s a springboard armdrag to take Hijo down as the announcers talk about Teddy Hart being sent to the hospital, meaning he’s out of the match. Severn gets MJF into the corner and it’s Minoru Tanaka in at #5.

We get a weird yet cool slugout between Severn and Tanaka until Jordan Oliver (newcomer) is in at #6. With no one doing anything, Rey Fenix is in at #7 as they need to get rid of a few people. A rolling dropkick hits Hijo and the multiple springs springboard wristdrag have Wolf in trouble. Severn and Tanaka team up on MJF and it’s Pentagon in at #8. Kicking and chopping go around the ring and it’s a standoff with Fenix.

Avalanche (an Austrian from WXW) is in at #9 and Oliver’s high crossbody bounces off of his chest. Well you deserve that if you try to hit someone named Avalanche. MJF offers him money and that seems to be a business deal as Tanaka is on the floor but not eliminated. MJF does manage to get rid of Fenix for the first elimination so Pentagon gives him a beating. Ace Romero (400lbs) is in at #10, giving us MJF, Severn, Hijo, Wolf, Tanaka, Oliver, Pentagon, Avalanche and Romero at the moment. A Pounce eliminates Oliver and Hijo eliminates Pentagon in an upset.

Ken Kerbis (the newcomer who Salina tried to buy earlier) is in at #11 and it’s Romero and Avalanche doing the big man showdown. As Severn and Tanaka hook holds on MJF at the same time, Leo Brien is in at #12. Tanaka gets rid of Severn to a chorus of booing as Severn (61) looked good for about twelve minutes. Michael Patrick (Brien’s partner) is in at #13 but they can’t get rid of Avalanche. Tanaka gets rid of Brien and it’s Gringo Loco in at #14. A top rope cutter hits Romero as the fans are way into Loco, as always. MJF gets rid of Hijo and Tanaka makes Patrick tap to a kneebar.

Kotto Brazil is in at #15 with a slingshot spear and a frog splash to Loco. There’s a standing Sliced Bread to Kerbis and it’s Rey Horus in at #16. A springboard crossbody gets two on Brazil with Loco making the illogical save. One heck of a pop up tornado DDT hits Loco and MJF steals the two count. Romero eliminates Kerbis and it’s Rich Swann in at #17. Superkicks and running Swantons abound but Horus rips the tape off of Swann’s mouth to start the slugout.

Myron Reed is in at #18 for the second back to back partners in a row. Thankfully Reed gets in his running cutter over the top for the always cool visual. Reed and Swann dropkick Tanaka out as they’re getting better at keeping the ring from getting too full. Avalanches eliminates Loco and it’s the nearly 500lb Barrington Hughes in at #19. Reed’s springboard crossbody bounces off of Romero and Hughes, meaning an easy elimination.

It’s Ace Austin in at #20, giving us MJF, Avalanche, Romero, Brazil, Horus, Swann, Hughes and Austin at the halfway point (I must have missed Wolf going out). A bunch of people get together to get rid of Hughes with Swann celebrating, earning himself the big elbow from Romero for the elimination. Jimmy Yuta is in at #21 as Avalanche is gone. Yuta superkicks Austin out and MJF is dropkicked through the ropes for a breather.

Jacob Fatu of Contra is in at #22 but here are Simon Gotch and Josef Samael through the crowd to clean house. A gas can to the head has Brazil in trouble and everyone but Romero is stacked up for the least connecting moonsault I’ve ever seen. Thankfully Fatu drops a backsplash to make up for some of it. The gas is poured on three guys and a lighter is pulled out, drawing in security to prevent the murder.

Fatu isn’t having that and hits the moonsault onto Yuta and Horus before leaving, seemingly eliminating himself. As usual, Contra is the best thing going around here with Fatu looking like a star. MJF comes in and steals pins on Reed, Yuta and Horus in the most perfect thing he could have done. Brian Pillman Jr. is in at #23 for a showdown with MJF. A superkick gets rid of MJF (Bocchini: “BRIAN PILLMAN YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE!”) and it’s Davey Boy Smith Jr. at #24. They shake hands but Romero is back up to prevent them from having to fight.

The double teaming works just fine though and Romero is out as Konnan and LAX (as in all three) are in at #25, #26 and #27 (I think?). Smith tosses Santana and Ortiz as Low Ki is in at #28. Konnan just leaves as Ki fights back with a springboard kick to both Harts. LA Park is in at #29 for the fourth or fifth instance of partners/stable mates in consecutive numbers. Park brings in a step stool as we hear about Fatu being arrested for fighting with the NYPD.

Emil Sitoci (Dutch wrestler from WXW) is in at #30 and hits a moonsault onto Pillman. That gives us Smith, Pillman, Ki, Park and Sitoci for a rather international grouping. Daga is in at #31 and goes straight for Low Ki (who nearly ripped his ear off a few months ago) with stomps and choking in the corner. Blue Meanie is in at #32 and it’s a bunch of eye pokes until Smith suplexes him down. Alexander Hammerstone (a monster freak of nature) is in at #33 to kick Pillman out and Sami Callihan (with the bat) is in at #34 to a big reaction. Callihan bats Meanie in the head for the pin, followed by Ki and Sitoci being tossed.

A running big boot eliminates Holliday but Hammerstone kicks Smith out to get us down to four. Callihan mocks Park’s dance and gets kicked in the face by Hammerstone but Park breaks up a cover on Warner for some reason. Warner and Hammerstone go to the apron with an eye poke getting rid of Hammerstone but Callihan gets rid of Warner, leaving us with Callihan vs. Park. Sami is ready so Park hits a spear and tosses Callihan out for the win at 47:13.

Rating: B-. It was better than last year’s as they didn’t have as many random entries, though having the wrestling world in town for the show helped out with that. Park winning is….weird, as he’s undefeated in MLW and makes sense as a #1 contender but he was just one of the people in the match for the second half of the match. Other than the spear at the end, I don’t remember anything he did the whole way through.

The rest of the match was pretty good with Contra looking like stars. It was a great way to keep them from being eliminated, though the gas can was a little much. They kept things moving well enough, even if forty people is a little much. This would have been better with just thirty entrants, though I can get why forty sounds better. Overall not bad, and it felt like a major event for a special show.

In a press conference, Tom Lawlor says he’ll fight anyone from any country and he’s ready for Contra. Speaking of Contra, here they are to lay him out, with the handcuffs still on Fatu’s wrists.

Overall Rating: B-. Overall this was almost all about the Battle Riot as the other three matches just kind of happened. It’s an entertaining two hours (or close to it) with MLW knowing how to do their bigger shows well, as usual. They were smart to go with so many people as it offered a little bit of everything and might make some people come back next time. Good show, though it still wasn’t quite at that top level that they have trouble hitting.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Progress Wrestling

Progress Chapter 76: Hello Wembley
Date: September 30, 2018
Location: Wembley Arena, London, England
Attendance: 4,750
Commentators: Glenn Joseph, Daria Black

As mentioned: I’ve never watched the show so there are going to be angles, stories and plot points I don’t know. Hopefully commentary can explain these things.

There was a pre-show battle royal but since I don’t know most of the people involved (and can’t find it), we’ll get on to the regular show.

Progress owner Jim Smallman (whose book I bought while in England and need to read) is in the ring and nearly in tears. He can’t believe they’re here but he and his fellow owners are a tiny piece of what happens here. What matters are the wrestlers and the people who said bring it on when they said they were running this arena. Fans: “You deserve it!” Smallman: “I don’t deserve it. I’m a horrible human being.”

He’s a wrestling fan too and can’t wait to watch a lot of wrestling tonight and he knows the fans are going to show the world why British wrestling is the way it is. In something he apparently asks every time, he asks if fans have seen the show before (Smallman: “S*** that’s a lot.”) and how many are watching for the first time.

After a request for some applause for everyone in the aforementioned and aforeshow battle royal, Smallman says the only rule is to have fun while being considerate of the people around you. The rule around here is simple and the crowd shouts it for him: “DON’T BE A D***!” The fans chant something at the referee and it has to do with cheese. I’m not sure I want to know what that means so it’s time for the first match. To give you an idea of how different this place is: there were about eight F bombs in this speech. You don’t see that in America too often.

Matt Riddle vs. Mark Haskins

This is Riddle’s last independent match and he had already wrestled for NXT at this point. Haskins has a woman named Vicky with face paint, limited clothing and a baseball bat with nails in it ala Lucille from the Walking Dead. The fans sing some song about Riddle which sounds like they’re saluting the King of Bros. Haskins, who is clearly a rather mean man, shakes hands without much enthusiasm.

The grappling exchanges takes it to the mat with the bigger Riddle trying to fight out of a headlock. Back up and Riddle can’t quite get a cross armbreaker so he has to slip out of a Sharpshooter attempt. Riddle goes for the arm again but it turns into an exchange of covers. They both try kicks to the ribs and both catch the other before setting them down on the mat. Riddle strikes a martial arts pose and says bring it so Haskins takes a boxing stance and flips him off.

An exchange of kicks to the thigh goes to a draw but Riddle knocks him to the floor. They switch places though and Haskins scores with a suicide dive. Riddle puts him on the apron for more kicks to the chest but gets caught in a legbar. Back in and Haskins switches to some knees to the head for two, followed by something like a reverse Koji Clutch. Riddle is right back with a knee to the face and a German suplex. Some running forearms in the corner give Riddle two and it’s off to some YES Kicks, with Haskins telling him to go harder.

Haskins is fine enough to grab Riddle for two off a Samoan driver but his Sharpshooter is kicked away. Riddle is right back with a fisherman’s buster and a cradle tombstone gets two. In what feels like a change of pace but something he could pull off, Riddle heads up top but gets superplexed right back down in the big crash. Riddle is up first but Haskins does an Undertaker sit up, only to get powerbombed back down.

That means a knee to the face but a fireman’s carry is reversed into a Canadian Destroyer (How do you even do that?). Haskins scores with a top rope double stomp for a very close two but Riddle knees him in the face two more times. Riddle grabs his hand for something but Haskins pulls him into a pumphandle driver (Made In England) for what feels like a big upset at 17:16.

Rating: B. This was a great choice for an opener as Riddle is one of the top stars around here and someone who is going to get a great reaction no matter what he does. They had a really entertaining match and beat each other up, with some of those spots being things that should have been knockouts but here were just transitional stuff. That’s fine for something this big though and I had a great time watching both of them.

Post match Haskins won’t shake his hand because he wants a hug. Riddle’s happy face is hilarious in the way only he can pull off.

Smallman thanks Riddle for everything he’s done for the company over the years.

Women’s Title: Jinny vs. Millie McKenzie vs. Toni Storm

Jinny is defending and I’ve been looking forward to this as her reputation outside of NXT UK is rather strong. She also comes out with three women (collectively known as the House Of Couture (might have misheard that) and one of them is Nina Samuels) in her corner. Storm gets the heroine’s welcome, as you have to expect.

Jinny is booed out of the building and goes right after Toni to start. Millie gets sent outside early and it’s a brawl between the other two. Toni kicks her in the chest and hammers away but gets taken down by Millie. A swinging neckbreaker drops Jinny to send her outside but it’s too early for Storm Zero on Millie. The House offers a double distraction though and Jinny is back in with the double clothesline.

Millie gets sent outside again and the beatdown is on as commentary plays up the idea that she’s the odd woman out as Jinny and Toni want to kill each other. Toni is right back with a German suplex to Jinny but walks into a spear. Another spear to Jinny is reversed into a belly to belly into the corner and they’re all down. The House goes after Toni but here are Laura Di Mateo and Candyfloss for the save because we don’t have enough people at ringside yet. The three people actually in the match slug it out with right hands and headbutts.

Millie is up first and German suplexes Jinny twice in a row, followed by a German suplex to both of them at once. That’s only good for two each so Jinny gives them both Downward Spirals into the middle buckle. Toni is right back up with running hip attacks in the corner and a piledriver to Millie on the apron makes it even worse. Back in and Toni piledrives Jinny as well, drawing in the House. Laura and Candyfloss come in for the staredown….and Laura decks her. That means a Rainmaker for Toni and Jinny is thrown on top to retain at 8:30.

Rating: B-. I was digging this one and it could have been a lot longer than it was. The turn at the end felt like a big deal and probably something that I would have liked more if I knew who these people were. All three looked good here and you could feel the hatred between Jinny and Toni. Pinning someone who would go on to win the Mae Young Classic looks even more impressive in retrospective and I could go for this Jinny being around in NXT UK.

Post match the announcers panic because Laura is Jinny’s former assistant. The new House poses but Jordynne Grace (a near monster) comes in and wrecks everyone, as Jinny and Laura bail to the floor. Good debut after a good angle.

Atlas Title: Trent Seven vs. Doug Williams

Williams is defending and this is the over 205lb title. Kind of odd but ok then. Also, if Williams loses, he retires. One thing I like a lot: commentary doesn’t talk during entrances. You don’t have to say something all the time and it’s nice to just let things breathe once in awhile. They shake hands to start and Williams takes him to the ropes for the traditional head shake.

An exchange of wristlocks goes to the mat with Trent grabbing a headscissors. Williams flips out and grabs the ankle in a nice display of skill that feels like it belongs in someone’s last match. Trent takes him down into a choke but Williams reverses into one of his own. To show the difference in the generations, Seven dances out and grabs a second choke. Back up and Trent misses a crossbody as Williams casually steps to the side. A DDT drops Williams though and it’s time for some chops in the corner.

Williams is right back with a kick to the head and we hit the chinlock. The comeback is cut off with a belly to belly and Williams nails a top rope back elbow. An exploder suplex into the corner gets two but Rolling Chaos Theory is reversed into a piledriver to give Seven two. Rolling Chaos Theory works just fine the second time and Williams goes up.

The superplex from Seven is broken up and Williams powerbombs him down, setting up another piledriver for two more. Seven is back up with a Burning Hammer (nearly dropping Williams) for two of his own so Seven unloads with chops. That just earns him another Rolling Chaos Theory but Seven slips out of another attempt and hits a crossbody for the pin and the title at 14:16.

Rating: C+. Good match which felt like a sendoff for Williams, which was exactly the case. Williams is a big name and having him go out while putting someone over is the right idea, especially someone like Seven who is one of the bigger names around. The suplexes looked good and Williams didn’t look old, which is always a worry in a match like this. It’s a fitting sendoff and I can go with something like that happening at such a big show.

Post match Seven hugs him and lets Williams have the ring as the locker room comes out to applaud.

We recap Jimmy Havoc vs. Paul Robinson. They used to be partners but Robinson beat the heck out of him, sending Havoc away for over a year. Havoc came back and was in a #1 contenders match against Will Ospreay when Robinson, the referee, attacked him, saying that Robinson was the beast that Havoc had been searching for. Time for a crazy violent match.

Jimmy Havoc vs. Paul Robinson

Anything goes and Havoc, carrying an ax, is painted white. Havoc goes right at him and hits a Rainmaker in the first ten seconds as they’re not wasting time. They’re on the floor in a hurry as you had to know was coming. A door to the back keeps Robinson in trouble and Havoc crotches him on the barricade for mean measure. Robinson comes back with a chop and Havoc just stares at him ala Sting to Flair.

Havoc pelts a chair at Robinson’s head and then throws another at his back. It’s time for an ironing board (of course) and Havoc powerbombs him through it for a good looking crash. Robinson finds a barbed wire bat and cuts open Havoc’s chest. Of course the head is next because we need some serious blood. They actually go inside again for a change of pace with Robinson bringing the door for some extra fun. He also brings in a staplegun to give Havoc some fresh holes in his head.

Robinson follows it up by stapling a shirt to Havoc’s chest but Havoc rips them out and flips Robinson off. Now that just doesn’t seem like a good idea. It’s frying pan time but Havoc no sells a shot to the head. I mean, after the staples that’s not the biggest stretch. A shot to Robinson’s head works a bit better and there’s the Death Valley Driver through the door. Robinson gets sat in the corner for a staple to the crotch but pops back up (make your own jokes) and breaks a light tube over Havoc’s head.

The broken tube is stabbed into Havoc’s back (egads man) and of course it’s time for the thumbtacks. Havoc shrugs off the glass in his back (of course) and hits another Death Valley Driver onto the tacks for two. Robinson is busted as well as Havoc grabs a bunch of light tubes, one of which he headbutts into Robinson’s head. Havoc puts out more light tubes but gets slammed off the top onto them, followed by a middle rope backsplash onto the tubs onto Havoc’s chest.

A curb stomp onto the tacks gets two on Havoc as Robinson’s back is COVERED in blood. Robinson bridges another tube between two open chairs but Havoc saves himself with another Rainmaker. Havoc stomps him face first through the tube and hits another Rainmaker for the pin at 13:45.

Rating: F. This wasn’t wrestling and I can’t stand watching it. They spent the entire second half of the match with the light tubes and that stuff just gets old after…oh about two seconds. I know this stuff has its fans, but I’m just not the right audience for it. This wasn’t as bad as some of the death match nonsense you see elsewhere, but I could still go for never seeing it again.

Robinson slowly walks out, as he should.

Show ads.

Smallman is back in the ring and we seem to have skipped intermission. Apparently the owners of the arena came up to the Progress bosses and told them that they’ve brought in the best wrestling atmosphere ever. They were given a special plaque saying that it was the biggest British independent wrestling show in over thirty years. They’ve also set a Progress attendance record with 4,750 people.

The fans agree that this is Progress and Smallman sends us to a video announcing the Super Strong Style 16 tournament. This brings out the injured former World Champion Travis Banks, who has won the tournament before. He wants in next year and is the first man to get involved with next year’s tournament. Smallman seems fine with this.

Tag Team Titles: Thunderbastard

So this is basically a Royal Rumble tag match and the culmination of a round robin tournament. The idea is the teams are going to be introduced in the order they finished in the tournament with the team with the best record entering last. There will be two teams to start and another is added every two minutes with eliminations via pinfall, submission or disqualification. Flamita and Bandido are defending, despite not even being in the tournament to start as they won the titles while it was taking place. Got all that? I’m not sure I do so I might need some notes later.

Since Flamita and Bandido didn’t get any points in the tournament, they start again Sexy Starr (David Starr and Jack Sexsmith), the latter of whom seems to be romantically involved. Starr even kisses him before the Big Match Intros. Sexsmith is introduced as the Pansexual Phenomenon and we get Starr’s full entrance (complete with about fifteen different names, which he usually says himself). In an odd visual, the referee is taller than all four wrestlers.

They take turns flipping and rolling around to start and it’s a very early standoff. Starr and Sexsmith fail at nipups in a funny bit so the champs help them up and we get some nice handshakes. Flamita doesn’t let go of Sexsmith’s hand though and drops to a knee, throwing in a little spank for…fun I guess? Starr is furious and hits him right in the mask as Sexsmith tries to calm things down. The champs start in with the superkicks and double moonsaults to take over until M&M (Connor Mills and Maverick Mayhew) are in third. This is going to get messy in a hurry isn’t it?

Mayhew wastes no time in hitting a double springboard spinning wristdrag on Flamita but Sexy Starr gets back up, only to be sent into each other. Mills throws Mayhew into a DDT for two on Starr and it’s time for everyone to chop everyone. With that going nowhere, Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher, who is only 18, and Mark Davis) are in fourth. I’ve seen these guys before and they’re quite good.

The Aussies start cleaning house and a sitout Michinoku Driver gets two on Starr. Sexsmith’s weak chops have no effect so a right hand knocks him into the corner. With the Aussies in full control, the Anti-Fun Police (Chief Deputy (not Pete) Dunne and Los Federales Santos Jr., a rather big guy, in a gimmick that is exactly what it sounds like) are in fifth. The much bigger Santos runs Davis over on the floor) and hit stereo enziguris on M&M. Flamita and Bandido get in some kicks to knock Santos down (in the big, slow fall that it should be) and the ring is cleared.

Davis comes back in and spears both champs but they send him outside in short order. The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake) are in sixth and come in through the crowd with Gibson doing the same promo he’s done on every NXT UK show so far. The fans are all over Gibson until Flamita and Bandido take them out with dives. Somehow that doesn’t have much effect and Gibson is right back up with the mic still in hand. M&M comes back in to clean house though and a discus forearm rocks Drake.

As the Calimari Thatch Kings (Chris Brookes, sporting a bad shoulder, and Timothy Thatcher) are in seventh, the Ticket to Mayhem (a reverse powerbomb into a Codebreaker) finishes Mills for the first elimination at 10:35. A belly to belly suplex puts Gibson down and the Kings slap on stereo holds to put the Veterans in trouble.

Those are broken up and Fletcher comes in as the complete insanity of this match continues. Davis kicks people in the face but gets pulled down into a Fujiwara armbar. Fletcher is caught in a kneebar at the same time as the 198 (Flash Morgan Webster and Wild Boar Mike Hitchman) are in eighth to complete the field.

The 198 starts cleaning house and Webster hits a Swanton onto Thatcher’s back for two. Hitchman throws Sexy Starr onto of each other and drops a backsplash for two of his own. Dunne and Santos remember they’re in this match and come back in for Fun is Over (an elevated Codebreaker, because Codebreakers are awesome) on Webster. The crazy eyed Thatcher grabs Santos and putting him down with one slap. A double underhook Jackhammer gets two on Dunne with Santos making a save.

The Aussies are back in for a slam/cutter for two on Brookes but the Vets come in to take them down as well. Flamita and Bandido come in to take care of Gibson and a wheelbarrow throw into a moonsault gives Flamita two. A slightly assisted STANDING PHOENIX SPLASH gives Bandido the same (egads man) as Thatcher has Santos in a kneebar on the floor. The kickout means a LOUD “STAND UP IF YOU HATE GIBSON” chat, which is always cool.

Sexy Starr comes back in for a German suplex/top rope double stomp combination (the Climax, because of course) for two on Flamita. Hitchman comes back in for a Rikishi Driver to pin Sexsmith and get us down to six. You know, because twelve people are easier to keep track of than fourteen. The Kings come back in with Thatcher and Hitchman having a hard slugout. Thatcher gets the better of it and goes outside to hold people for the big series of dives. Santos dives onto everyone but Dunne breaks up Bandido’s dive because that would be fun.

The fans demand fun so Bandido hits a backflip fall away slam onto everyone else, which certainly seems to meet the fun requirement. Santos comes back in but gets choked by Webster. Dunne makes the save with a top rope Backstabber but gets caught in a pop up powerbomb from Hitchman. One heck of a whip package piledriver finishes Dunne to get us down to five at 22:33.

Davis comes in and chops away at both Kings and Fletcher adds a superkick to Thatcher. Close Your Eyes (a piledriver with Davis pulling Brookes up from the mat to drop him on his head) gets rid of the Kings at 23:49, leaving us with the 198, the Aussies, the Veterans and Bandido/Flamita. Speaking of the Veterans, they’re back in with stereo Shankley Gates, which are reversed into some holds from the 198. The champs come in for the save (Why?) and the ref gets bumped. In this match???

The lack of one referee (there was a second on the floor for obvious reasons) lets Hitchman use Webster’s helmet on Bandido to give Webster the pin at 25:09, guaranteeing us new champions. The fans immediately cheer for the Aussies as the 198 throw the mostly dead Davis back inside. Fletcher makes a fast save though and the Fidget Spinner (basically a double AA) finishes Webster at 26:16, leaving us with the Aussies vs. the Veterans. Well that’s the best way to get the fans to cheer for one team.

The slugout is on with the Veterans getting the better of things, only to have Gibson take a quick Fidget Spinner for two. Fletcher can’t believe it and Drake saves Gibson from taking another one. Davis gets pulled to the floor and sent into the steps, leaving Fletcher to get taken down for some stomping.

A Doomsday Device is countered into a victory roll for two but Gibson catches Fletcher with a Codebreaker (this show has made me sick of that move). Drake’s 450 gets two and the Veterans are stunned this time. It’s Davis coming back in for the save though and a kick to the face rocks Drake. With Gibson being knocked outside, a Fidget Spinner out of an electric chair finishes Drake to give us new champions at 31:27.

Rating: B. Well that was a blast. It takes a lot to keep something like this coherent and entertaining at the same time but they managed to pull it off here. They had sixteen people in the match around here and everyone got a chance to shine. The Aussies were crazy popular at the end and these fans would take two years off the back end of their lives to see Gibson lose. This was a hard one to pull off but they made it work in rather impressive fashion.

We recap Pete Dunne vs. Ilja Dragunov. Some European promoter named Christian Michael Jakobi (CMJ) didn’t like the idea of Dunne being considered the best independent wrestler in Europe and the challenge was on. CMJ has called Pete a silly little boy so I don’t see this going well.

Pete Dunne vs. Ilja Dragunov

Non-title. CMJ is here and even trips on his way to the ring. The fans aren’t interested in hearing from him but he wants something more. He’s here to see the change that comes with Ilja defeating Dunne to become the best wrestler in all of Europe. Ilja is rather intense looking, though then again so is Dunne. They get in each others faces during the Big Match Intros and the slugout is on as soon as possible. Dunne hits the first clothesline and it’s time to work on the arm.

Ilja is right back with a dropkick and a backsplash to send Dunne outside. A dive takes Dunne down as well but he’s fine enough to hit the X Plex onto the apron. Ilja’s arm gets stomped on the steps but a second attempt misses, allowing Ilja to get in a shot to the face. There’s a suplex off the steps to put Pete in more trouble as we get some more backstory on CMJ and Dunne: apparently CMJ dismissed Dunne as someone not good enough years ago and now he’s trying to prove himself right. Works for me. Back in and Ilja hits a heck of a chop before getting a little cocky.

Dunne hits a forearm to send Ilja into the corner and a middle rope dropkick takes him down. The kneebar goes on and is quickly switched into an ankle lock but Ilja kicks him off. That’s fine with Dunne, who comes back with a Liger Bomb of all things for two. Ilja catches him on top for a superplex and tries to roll into something else, only to get caught in another X Plex. Some running clotheslines have Dunne in trouble and a powerbomb gets two.

Dunne grabs him by the ears and noes (because….well why not really) but gets caught with another chop. An enziguri staggers Ilja but he catches Dunne with a hard clothesline as Dunne still can’t get a step ahead of him. Back up and Ilja unloads on him with strikes and an enziguri but can’t knock Dunne off his feet. The snap German suplex and Bitter End get two so Dunne stomps away at his head…and Ilja spits at him. That earns him even more stomps so Ilja reverses and drives elbows into the head.

They trade a series of headbutts and both guys go down in a heap apiece. With both of them sitting up they slap it out until Dunne bites on the fingers. The referee breaks it up so CMJ can get in a belt shot to drop Dunne. Ilja goes Coast to Coast for two but Dunne punches him down and snaps CMJ’s fingers. A second Coast to Coast is punched out of the air and a second Bitter End gets two more. Ilja nails a torture rack into a flipping facebreaker and the Torpedo Moscow (running headbutt)…but Dunne pops up and snaps his fingers for the tap at 18:43.

Rating: B. This had some very strong moments but never got all the way to the point I think they were shooting for. Dunne continues to be the big star around here and it’s a great sign to see that he does this in both America and England. Ilja is a great performer as well and will be a star when he gets to be around here a few more times. It was good enough for the big showdown with Dunne wanting to prove himself and Ilja was great as a dragon to slay.

Post match they sit down and stare at each other for a handshake.

We recap Eddie Dennis vs. Mark Andrews. They used to be partners and best friends until the much bigger Dennis turned on him. Apparently Dennis was angry at Andrews for taking the spotlight in an eight man scramble match, even though Andrews told him to get the win after they took out James Drake together. That was broken up and Andrews won the match a few seconds later.

The two of them had been friends for years and it may have been cool to steal a fall like that before, but now it’s about Andrews costing him his financial future. Andrews still wouldn’t fight his friend, even as Dennis brought up a bunch of past history between the two of them from years ago. Dennis even spat on him but couldn’t get Andrews to fight. This has been built for over eight months as Dennis still hasn’t gotten Andrews to agree to the match.

Andrews is only doing it to stop Dennis and finally snapped, talking about how Dennis gave up on wrestling and got a job as a teacher before crawling back to them to get back in wrestling. Dennis called him out for being a user, like using their friend Dunne to get over in wrestling and then using wrestling to get his band over. That’s enough for both of them and tonight it’s Tables, Ladders and Chairs.

This was a GREAT video and maybe even the best non-WWE one I’ve ever seen. The story feels epic and I want to see these two guys fight, even though I knew nothing about their issues five minutes ago. That’s the sign of a very well told story and this feels like the real main event tonight, as I think it’s supposed to be.

Eddie Dennis vs. Mark Andrews

TLC and the winner gets a future title shot. Andrews punches him to the floor to start and hits a suicide dive as they fight up the aisle. That means it’s time to start in with the weapons, including Andrews cracking him in the back with a chair. The first ladder (which is only about five feet tall) is brought in but Dennis uses it to drive Andrews into the corner. Dennis drops a ladder on Andrews’ back but gets sent face first into one to cut him off.

A hurricanrana over the ladder has Dennis on the apron but he kicks a charging Andrews in the face. Stundog Millionaire on the apron knocks Dennis off the apron…and not through the table. Dennis is right back up with a powerbomb and the table STILL won’t break. Egads man. A running Razor’s Edge bomb doesn’t break it either as this is starting to get entertaining. With that not working, Dennis pulls out a huge ladder but stops to drop Andrews on the apron.

Dennis sets up another table next to Super Table but Andrews takes him down with a dive. Back in and Dennis is fine enough for a Razor’s Edge buckle bomb before wedging a chair into the corner. Another Razor’s Edge is countered into a hurricanrana into the chair and it’s time for a third table. Dennis catches him on top and tries a superplex, only to be reversed into a Canadian Destroyer onto the table…AND THAT DOESN’T BREAK EITHER! We get what sounds like a BOTCHAMANIA chant, which really doesn’t make a ton of sense. I know the tables were supposed to break, but what looks more painful: the table just breaking or the person hitting the table and stopping on what seems to be a hard surface?

Since Andrews should be somewhat dead, Andrews sets up the big ladder in the ring…which he’s going to need to reach the contract that is WAY too high up. Dennis catches him on the ladder and knocks him off the top, sending Andrews back first into a ladder in the corner. Well it’s probably softer than the tables. With the contract in his grasp, Dennis comes back down instead and pulls out another table, setting it up on the floor.

Another big ladder is pulled out but Andrews dropkicks it into Dennis’ chest. Andrews climbs the ladder for the big Swanton….and the ladder just slips out from underneath Dennis instead of breaking. That earns a TABLE chant and it’s kind of hard to argue against that one. Back in and Dennis spits at him so Andrews kicks him down and loads up another table to a big reaction.

Some chair shots keep Dennis down and Andrews goes up, only to have him get off the table and climb as well. The reverse inverted DDT off the ladder FINALLY breaks the table, drawing in some streamers from the crowd. Fans: “F*** YOU TABLE!” That’s enough for Dennis to climb up and win the title at 18:43.

Rating: B. It was entertaining, but there was almost no way they were living up to that awesome video. These guys beat each other up, but it didn’t help to have the table being the star of the match. Seriously, English tables are apparently the strongest things in wrestling. Anyway, this didn’t quite have the level of violence and intensity that it was going for. You can only do so much with that level of anticipation though and it held them back here. Still though, really entertaining with some good looking spots from Andrews.

Post match Andrews gets the hero’s sendoff.

We recap Tyler Bate vs. Walter (yes I know it’s capitalized), which is a clash of styles and sizes. Walter is a huge monster who says that while Bate is the Big Strong Boy, he’s the Big Man. Bate walks around here like a Conor McGregor knockoff and needs to grow up. Bate says that he’s the Big Strong Boy and he’s going to throw Walter around and become champion because he can.

Progress World Title: Walter vs. Tyler Bate

Walter is defending and gets played to the ring by a live violinist in a nice touch. A headlock sends Bate flying and Walter lets him go on the apron. Bate isn’t sure what to do so Walter takes him down by the arm instead. That’s spun out of and Bate scores with a dropkick. For some reason Bate agrees to a test of strength and is quickly taken down with another headlock. The fans are split here but seem to be more behind Bate. A slam doesn’t work for Bate but he ducks a chop (Walter’s signature).

Bate flips out of a German suplex and shoulders him to no avail. A slam makes the shoulder work (wrestling logic is weird) and Walter is knocked out to the floor. Back in and Bate goes after the leg but Walter chops him out of the air. That sets up the big chinlock with Walter smothering the much smaller Bate. Walter cranks on both arms and even stomps on Bate’s head to really crush him. Bate slips out so Walter turns him inside out with a chop, sending Bate out to the floor.

Back in and Walter lays on him a bit before laying Bate across the top rope and standing on his face. Bate’s right hands have almost no effect and Walter knees him in the face for good measure. A hurricanrana sends Walter to the floor but he catches the suicide dive and hits another chop. Somehow Bate is able to hit a vertical suplex and they’re both down on the floor. Now the suicide dive works a bit better and Bate has Walter in trouble for the first time.

The slugout goes to Bate and there’s the airplane spin to freak the fans out all over again. A pair of lariats puts Walter on his knees but he turns Bate inside out with one of his own. Bate slips out of a superplex attempt but can’t hit the Tyler Driver 97. Instead Walter dropkicks him into the corner and gets two off a powerbomb. Some more chops have Bate in trouble but he kicks at the leg and clotheslines Walter down. That means the deadlift German suplex for two and it’s time to slap it out again.

This one goes badly for Bate, as Walter takes him down into a heck of an STF. Bate makes a rope so Walter hits a dropkick to send him flying (great visual) into the corner. A top rope splash gives Walter two and Walter is spent. Bate’s sleeper has Walter in more trouble until he just drops back to break it up. As usual, the simple ideas often work best.

They climb the same corner and this isn’t going to end well. Bate manages an exploder superplex from the top and it’s an airplane spin torture rack of all things to keep Walter rocked. The camera shot going wide for that was awesome as Bate spinning the giant over his head looked great.

The Tyler Driver 97 gets two but Spinal Tap misses and Walter grabs the rear naked choke. Bate stands up (of course he does) and drops back for the break (with Walter looking stunned as he goes down). The hold goes on again but this time Bate backflips out of the corner for two. The THIRD choke only gets two arm drops so Walter hits the Fire Thunder Driver to retain at 30:15.

Rating: A-. Oh yeah that worked. I’m really not sure about Walter retaining as they had the place rocking on those near falls at the biggest show the company has ever had and the title change would have made a lot of sense, especially with the little guy overcoming the monster. At the same time though, this was a Rocky style story with Bate wanting to prove that he was more than a goof as he went the distance and took Walter to the brink. In that regard, this was an incredible story with Walter expecting to dominate but having to survive in the end. That’s the first Walter match I’ve ever seen and it certainly delivered in a big way.

Post match Seven and Dunne check on Bate as Walter literally clutches his title. We get the big show of respect and Walter says we’ll do this again. Bate is a little frustrated to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. While it might have been a hair too long, this was a very entertaining show with nothing bad (I’m leaving the Havoc match off as that’s more me not being a fan of the style than anything else) and a great main event. I get the appeal of this place as it feels like a very fun wrestling promotion with some incredible talent (though talent you can see elsewhere) and good stories. It’s a lot more entertaining than NXT UK, as this had the emotions and stories with the good characters, most of which are completely lacking on the WWE side. I could go for some more of this stuff and the whole thing was a lot of fun.

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

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #28
Date: October 26, 2018
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Matt Striker, Tony Schiavone

I know it’s a little early but it’s time for the Halloween special. In this case, that means a flashback to days of Halloween gone by, including a Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal. That has the potential to be something great or something awful, but since we don’t have WCW running things and forgetting to rig the wheel (seriously), we should be fine. Let’s get to it.

Earlier this week, Sami Callihan attacked Tom Lawlor and choked him with a baseball bat as Low Ki taunted Lawlor with the title. Turning Lawlor face isn’t the worst idea in the world as the fans already love him.

Opening sequence, although with a theme of violence as this is the Halloween episode.

Matt and Tony are in costumes with Matt as a crab and making horrible ocean puns. Tony….I have no idea.

Richard Holliday vs. Joey Ryan

Hang on though as Joey needs to offer the fans his lollipop and then oil himself down. Tony: “….yeah.” Holliday knees him in the ribs but stops to shout at the fans with Tony calling him out for being stupid. There’s the required knee injury off the atomic drop to Ryan but Holliday is fine enough for a belly to back suplex. A dropkick cuts Ryan off again and we hit the chinlock.

Holliday lets that go and starts a Garvin Stomp because I can’t escape that man. Since that’s such a horrible move, Ryan pops back up with some right hands but the superkick is blocked. They hit heads and Holliday nearly falls into Ryan’s crotch but stops for a rollup instead. Holliday’s double underhook backbreaker and a suplex into a swinging neckbreaker gets two but Joey is right back with a pumphandle suplex. Sweet Tooth Music is enough to finish Holliday at 4:55.

Rating: D+. Not too much to see here with Ryan getting a win over someone you would think the promotion would want to push. That being said, Ryan has barely won anything around here so having him get a pin here keeps some of his credibility. This was more shtick than the wrestling and there’s nothing wrong with that, especially in a more toned down version from Ryan.

Konnan gives Sammy Guevara a pep talk. Sammy leaves and here are Salina de la Renta, Low Ki and Ricky Martinez. They laugh at the idea of Konnan losing all the time so Konnan promises to bring in Daga to fight Low Ki. That’s fine with Low Ki, who Konnan calls the ex-champ.

Jimmy Havoc won the coin toss and gets to spin the wheel. The wheel lands on Spinner’s Choice so he looks over his options. Nothing sticks out on the list though so he’ll just do everything at once. Uh….I’m not sure how that’s going to work but I have a feeling it’ll be a generic brawl.

PCO vs. LA Park

Makes sense for a Halloween show and Park has Salina with him. Tony says he gets a chill down his spine just looking at Salina and….well yeah. To put it mildly, Park looks like he’s put quite a bit of meat on his bones. PCO shouts a lot and shoves Park into the corner so it’s time for the knees dance. Park shouts what sounds like some rather vulgar statements in Spanish (the words “your mother” were used). That’s not cool with PCO and Park is chokeslammed down.

The moonsault (with PCO landing on his own head) gets two and a suicide dive sends Park into the barricade. They chop it out on the floor with PCO getting the better of it and ramming him into various things. Back in and PCO stomps away but Park dances a bit and hits a running clothesline for two. A knee sends PCO outside and there’s the suicide dive. Park grabs a chair but opts to whip him with a camera cable instead.

Back in and a few belt shots to the back have PCO in trouble as the announcers get into PCO’s bizarre Frankenstein character. PCO gets up and hits a powerbomb, followed by a knee to the mask for two. With Park on the apron, PCO tries a Swanton of all things and lands with a SICK thud, only to stand up as Park hits a big dive of his own. Park throws him back in and finishes with a spear (with Park showing more energy than at any part of the match) for the pin at 10:40.

Rating: C+. I get why people like PCO but I’m really not sure I get the appeal of Park. I know he’s a legend in Mexico, but in America he’s a fatter version of that guy who used to do the chair dance in WCW. Why you would push him hard anymore isn’t clear to me, but I guess legendary status will get you a long way.

Post match Park speaks Spanish and Salina says it was him thanking the fans and wanting a Tag Team Title shot for himself and his son. This takes longer than it needs to, but does include fans throwing in money.

Callihan doesn’t care what Havoc picked and is ready to kill him.

Fightland Control Center. Now confirmed: Lawlor vs. Callihan in a street fight.

Earlier this week, Stokley Hathaway was seen for the first time after being kidnapped about six months ago. Whoever did it was careless and he escaped, so now he can be back at Fightland. That’s rather odd.

We look at Havoc spinning the wheel again.

Jimmy Havoc vs. Sami Callihan

Anything goes and, in theory at least, Havoc will bring everything that could be used in the other matches on the wheel. Sami comes out with a baseball bat because he doesn’t trust Havoc’s choice of weapons. Jimmy doesn’t bring anything with him but pops Sami in the face while he says the catchphrase. They’re on the floor in a hurry with Jimmy setting up a chair and pulling out a dog collar. That’s not enough as he also grabs a staple gun, which takes WAY too long, allowing Sami to get in a few shots.

Sami chops the post though, allowing Jimmy to poke him in the eye. A running start sets up another poke to the eyes and Havoc staples him in the chest (which is heavily covered so that shouldn’t hurt). Back in and Havoc tries a sunset flip (a wrestling move) but gets stapled in the head and underneath the arm. Striker: “Tetanus for everybody!” Sami grabs a chain and doesn’t like the fans telling him to tie his shoes so he throws one of them up the air. The shoe, not the fan.

Havoc goes back to the vicious by stapling Sami’s crotch for a near fall. After stapling Sami’s foot, Jimmy literally pours salt in the wound. Havoc finds a body bad and an urn (Paul Bear impression covered by Striker) but the ashes are knocked into his face. The Cactus Piledriver gives Sami two so he puts a shoe on his hand and hits (Or kicks?) Havoc in the face. Havoc gets put in the body bag but sits up and spits at him, earning himself a second Cactus Piledriver for the pin at 10:41.

Rating: C+. This was a good brawl but rather disappointing given what they could do. We’ve seen Havoc do the paper cuts before and while that’s still good, it’s not as good as it could have been. Callihan winning was the obvious choice as he has a lot bigger stuff to get to in the future, but this should have been about five levels wilder to get where they should have gone.

Overall Rating: C. For a Halloween show, I’ve seen worse. They thankfully didn’t go with the corny stuff like pumpkins everywhere and that’s appreciated. MLW tends to be more serious than not and I’m glad they didn’t switch things up for the sake of the holiday. It’s a fine show and the big matches were watchable, though they’ve done better multiple times before.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-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

Never Say Never
Date: December 12, 2017
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 250
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

I’m still at it with these one off shows that MLW ran before they got a full time TV show. This is their second such show after a pretty good first edition. A few months have passed and there isn’t much to preview here as there wasn’t much set up to build towards a second show. If most of the cast is back though, this should be fun. Let’s get to it.

The opening video has a Christmas theme with places at a table set for various wrestlers. Jimmy Havoc is there with a glass of wine to say Happy Christmas. That was creepy in a way.

Opening sequence.

Tom Lawlor vs. Matt Riddle

Well this could be good. It’s almost weird seeing Lawlor with clean looking hair. Feeling out process to start as they trade some light punches with neither going anywhere. Some grappling goes the same way with Lawlor holding him up against the ropes. Riddle takes him down into a rear naked choke but Lawlor makes the rope in short order. Some heavy forearms in the corner keep Lawlor in trouble so his unnamed corner men take him to the floor for a much needed breather.

Lawlor is right back with a triangle choke but Riddle gets out again so it’s a release German suplex, with Riddle bouncing back to his feet first. That’s fine with Lawlor as he throws Riddle with another German suplex, this time for two. Riddle pops up again and hits a jumping knee to the face, setting up the Bro To Sleep (that’s so corny that it’s awesome) into a bridging German suplex for two more.

A backsplash gives Riddle another two but Lawlor t-bones him down. Lawlor’s piledriver is countered into a backdrop driver with Riddle holding him on his back and dropping down (cool) but Lawlor is right back with a Tombstone for one. Riddle starts striking away and picks him up for a Tombstone of his own, only to slam Lawlor down onto his back instead. Lawlor slaps on a Fujiwara armbar and rolls into a double arm crank. That goes nowhere so he tries a cross armbreaker, with Riddle rolling out and elbowing him in the face. The rear naked choke goes on and Lawlor flips the fans off before passing out at 14:56.

Rating: B. They played to their strengths here but it’s so strange to see Lawlor take a clean fall. He would go on to become one of the top stars in the promotion and having Riddle just beat him like this is very strange. Riddle wouldn’t be around long though as he was all but destined to be in WWE. Given his look and skill level so soon into his career, it really was just a matter of time.

Post match Lawlor’s corner men interrupt Riddle’s interview so he beats them up too. Riddle says if Lawlor wants to bring in his bros, Riddle can bring in his buddy Jeff Cobb for a tag match next month. Lawlor doesn’t say anything.

MVP is ready for his match tonight when Stokely Hathaway comes in to make an offer. That’s not cool with MVP, which doesn’t work for Hathaway. MVP basically tells him not to do anything stupid and to be wise.

Saieve Al Sabah vs. Mike Parrow

Fallout from last time when Parrow powerbombed him. Saieve jumps him before the bell but gets shoved away with ease. Some snap jabs work a bit better, though for all of three seconds as Parrow suplexes him down. One heck of a clothesline knocks Saieve out of his show (dang) and a big toss sends him outside for a great looking bump. Parrow powerbombs him into the post, followed by a fall away slam into the corner for two more. Saieve gets in a shot to the knee and pulls out some brass knuckles. The powerbomb is broken up with right hands to Parrow’s head to give Saieve the pin at 3:38.

Rating: D+. Saieve’s bumping looked great but the booking didn’t work very well. Parrow dominated him but then loses in the last few seconds after Saieve gets in two or three shots? I’ve never been a fan of that kind of booking and the knuckles finish didn’t felt way out of place. Parrow looks awesome though and that’s going to keep him around for a good while.

Dirty Blonds vs. Seth Petruzelli/Rhett Giddins

The Blonds are a southern team with some size to him while Petruzelli is the striking coach at the WWE Performance Center. Another pre-bell attack (with Tony pointing out how common they’ve been tonight) doesn’t work for the Blonds as stereo superkicks put them on the floor. Giddins starts with Leo Brien (partner of Michael Patrick) with both guys taking their time early on. Brien shoulders the heck out of him but Giddins pops back up for a slam.

That means a breather on the floor, where they take Petruzelli off the apron. Giddins gets choked down and Petruzelli gets knocked off the apron again. The Blonds take turns beating on Giddins as Tony is having a great time listing off the old southern wrestlers that have inspired them. A chinlock doesn’t last very long so Patrick knees Giddins back down. The diving tag attempt is broken up again with Petruzelli being pulled down for the third time.

We hit the nerve hold for a bit but Giddins fights up and kicks him in the face. A discus punch and rolling out of the way of an elbow are enough for the tag to Petruzelli, who receives almost no reaction whatsoever. Petruzelli barely gets to do anything before a low blow cuts him down. Giddins comes back in off a blind tag and a hard clothesline finishes Brien out of nowhere at 8:28.

Rating: D. I wasn’t feeling this one, even though I like the Blonds quite a bit. Giddins looked good but it felt like they were limiting Petruzelli’s in-ring time. That made for a weird match and the ending felt really sudden. This was easily the weakest thing that they’ve done so far but maybe it was just a one off.

Barrington Hughes, a 400lb+ monster, warms up with a huge meal of pizza, burgers and fries. He’d like his privacy though and tells the cameras to leave.

Barrington Hughes vs. Andrew Merlin

Trash talk, elbow to the head, seated senton to crush Merlin at 22 seconds. Bocchini: “Maybe nine seconds?” I didn’t know King Kong Bundy was now wrestling as Barrington Hughes.

Chelsea Green, who is scheduled to face Santana Garrett, has been attacked by a woman we can’t see.

Vandal Ortagun vs. Jimmy Yuta

Ortagun used to be in NXT on the Florida circuit. They trade chops to start as we hear about Yuta currently being a student. You don’t hear that every day. Ortagun gets dropped onto his face for a running kick as the announcers talk about Ortagun’s time in NXT. It’s so weird hearing Tony talk about modern wrestling. A chop block cuts Yuta down and it’s time for the Ric Flair knee work package.

The leg gets wrapped around the middle rope and there’s a dragon screw leg whip for two. Yuta fights up and hits a backdrop, followed by a rollup into a superkick. Thankfully Tony explains that the knee injury prevented it from being at full strength because he knows how to do his job. Ortagun takes him down by the knee again and the half crab goes on. Yuta grabs the rope and is right back with a Blue Thunder Bomb. The top rope elbow is enough to finish Ortagun at 6:21.

Rating: C. Yuta has grown on me a lot over the last few months and there’s potential in there to be a perfectly good high flier. He’s got a good look and can wrestle a pretty good match. That’s not bad for someone so young. Ortagun is a good choice for a spot like this as he’s got the experience to make anyone look good, which is what you want for someone young like Yuta. Nice match here.

Jimmy Havoc and Darby Allin are ready to hurt Shane Strickland and John Hennigan in the main event. A lot of blood is promised.

Santana Garrett vs. Leva Bates

Bates is better known as Blue Pants and she dances to the ring. She’s also not the person who attacked Chelsea as the hair color doesn’t match. Santana takes her to the mat to start and holds onto a headlock. Back up and Bates shoves her away, only to get rolled up for two. Bates has no choice but to shake her hand as Garrett is toying with her so far. Something like the Black Widow is broken up and Bates kicks her in the back.

That earns Bates a high five but she’s mean enough to grab a rollup for two of her own. Santana gets in something close to a Last Chancery for a few seconds but Bates slips out and puts on a Crossface. That’s broken up as well and Garrett is back with a front facelock. Tony starts talking about Larry Zbyszko teaching Garrett psychology, which isn’t the kind of thing you expect most commentators to bring up.

Bates trips Garrett down and poses before hitting a slingshot rolling spear for two. Garrett loses her headband so Bates stomps on it, which just ticks her off again. They start shoving and shouting at each other until Bates charges into a raised boot in the corner. A Russian legsweep gets two and Garrett goes after her in the corner, only to get caught in the Tree of Woe. Bates hits the top rope double stomp but goes back up and gets hurricanranaed back down. Garrett hits a handspring moonsault (cool) for the pin at 14:38.

Rating: C+. Garrett really is a solid worker and I’m a little bit surprised she hasn’t been signed up by a bigger name company. They told a nice little story here and while Bates was in over her head, she fought her way through it and they had a nice match as a result. Not too bad here, which is better than having a women’s match for the sake of a women’s match.

Post match Garrett poses and the same woman who attacked Green runs in for a kick to the knee.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman has a promo in the back but there’s no audio.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Joey Ryan

These two are joined at the hip. Friedman brags about being awesome and undefeated, both of which will still be the case after the match. The bell rings but Joey has to give away a lollipop and oil up. With that out of the way, Joey offers him a chance to touch it. He tries to force Friedman’s hand down there so Friedman escapes and demands that the fans stop encouraging it.

Friedman tries an atomic drop and that’s probably a sprained MCL at least. Joey tries to make him touch it again and now it’s time for the lollipop from the trunks. That’s finally enough for Friedman, who kicks him in the ribs and sends Joey shoulder first into the post. An armbar goes on for a bit until Joey sends him to the apron but Friedman comes back with a springboard Codebreaker to the arm. Ryan gets in a spinebuster for two but Friedman bails to the floor before the superkick.

Of course that means a suicide dive to take Friedman down again but he’s right back with a powerbomb inside. Friedman goes for the lollipop, only to have his arm chopped to put it into his own mouth. That means the superkick so Ryan can drop to his back as Friedman does the comical fall onto the crotch. The staggered Friedman takes a Canadian Destroyer but Ryan goes for the crotch again, allowing Friedman to poke him in the eye. Another armbar makes Ryan tap at 8:22.

Rating: C-. I don’t know if it’s listening to Ryan’s very good out of character interviews or just how dedicated he is to the gimmick, but the guy is growing on me. Friedman going over makes sense as he’s the kind of guy who is going to be around here more frequently. Ryan is a bigger name too and a win over him means a little more. Perfectly fine comedy match here.

Post match Joey offers a handshake but gets flipped off. I think you can guess where that hand goes, setting up the special suplex.

Plug for the MLW podcasts. Some of those aren’t half bad either.

MVP has nothing to say about his discussions with Stokely Hathaway.

MVP vs. Brody King

King is a very big guy with a ton of tattoos. They stare each other down to start but MVP stops to yell something at the crowd that I can’t make out. The battle over the lockup goes nowhere so King kicks him in the face to take over. A backsplash (with some height) gets one and a running splash in the corner hits MVP again. MVP misses a boot in the corner and gets kicked out to the floor for his failed efforts. King throws him over a pile of chairs onto the concrete for a crash.

You don’t put a wrestler near chairs as MVP uses one to crack him a few times but he can’t suplex him onto the open chair. A slugout goes to MVP but Hathaway pops up for a distraction, allowing King to shove MVP onto the chairs again. They finally get back in so King can hit a tilt-a-whirl slam for two. King misses a dropkick but, as usual, the Ballin Elbow takes FOREVER to set up, allowing King to clothesline him back down.

A gutwrench sitout powerbomb gets two more but another powerbomb is countered with a hurricanrana. MVP gets in a t-bone suplex and they’re both down with MVP holding his back. His back is so messed up that the Playmaker takes too long, allowing King to hit a Michinoku Driver for two of his own. King misses a spinning high crossbody though and a running kick to the head finishes him off at 11:53.

Rating: C. Nice power brawl here but MVP still doesn’t do much for me. He’s a guy who used to be someone but there’s very little about him that stands out in any of his modern matches. King is good in a Luke Harper type big man enforcer role and that’s a job you could have for a very long time going forward.

They shake hands post match.

The announcers talk about an upcoming World Title tournament. So this place has a bit more of a future.

Sammy Guevara vs. Jason Cade

Sammy has Salina de la Renta with him. We have to stall for a few seconds so Sammy can take off his shirt and that means a dueling chant of MILK FIRST vs. CEREAL FIRST. This is what the two of them have been talking about on Twitter as of late, because that’s what wrestling has become. Just picture Race and Brisco having that discussion. Sammy takes over to start by sending him to the floor but Cade slides back inside for a dropkick. Cade’s dive is blocked by a jumping knee to the floor and now Sammy gets in a dive.

Cade is right back in for a dive of his own but this time he spends too much time bragging and gets hit with a dive as well. Since that’s not enough, Cade slides back in for another dive. Fans: “CEREAL FIRST!” Back in and the announcers debate types of cereal as Cade scores with some chops. A Russian legsweep puts Guevara on the apron but they think better about going to the top at the same time. Salina offers a distraction so Sammy can hit a top rope double stomp (kind of) onto the apron.

Sammy stays on the ribs by running the ropes before stopping for a chinlock. He’s no Kevin Owens but Sami Zayn is no Salina. Cade fights up and hits a Russian legsweep into the corner, followed by a springboard crossbody for no cover. A handspring Codebreaker gets two with Salina screaming or a kickout. Sammy is fine enough for a Spanish Fly and a low superkick but a shooting star misses.

They trade strikes to the face, miss strikes to the face, and then hit strikes to the face at the same time for a double knockdown. It’s Cade up first with a running knee to the face and a Code Red for two. Sammy kicks him off the top for a crash and now the shooting star press connects for a near fall of his own.

Rating: C. This felt like the required indy match and while that’s fine, it was a little long for this late in the card. I like Cade, but he’s not someone who gets big wins most of the time. That’s not the worst place to be on the card as he’s going to put in watchable matches, but I’m not sure on Sammy. He has the pieces, but hasn’t put them together just yet. More time would help, which is the case for so many of these younger guys.

Hathaway swears vengeance on MVP.

Shane Strickland talks about being proud of beating Ricochet last time but Darby Allin and Jimmy Havoc attacked Shane to ruin his moment. They want to give Shane what he wants so Shane is ready to fight with John Hennigan at his side.

Shane Strickland/John Hennigan vs. Darby Allin/Jimmy Havoc

No DQ and the thumbtacks are poured out before the good guys come out. Hennigan makes the mistake of charging in before Shane shows up. He fights out of a double suplex so Shane can even things out (coming through the crowd for some reason) and the fight is on with Allin dropkicking Hennigan almost into the tacks. Shane throws Allin into them instead and Hennigan powerbombs Havoc onto Allin onto the tacks for a good visual. Havoc’s chop hits post (though he pulled up) and it’s already time for a table.

With chops not working, Havoc pokes Shane in the eye to cut him off. Hennigan and Allin get back inside and fight on the corner but head to the floor instead. Havoc busts out a staple gun and you can hear the groan in Tony’s voice. That means a piece of paper gets stapled to Shane’s face (Tony: “WHAT AM I WATCHING???”) and another to his back. Shane is right back with a staple into Havoc’s head as the announcers are losing it. Tony: “Ok. We have lost our minds.”

They trade off with Allin armdragging (that feels out of place at the moment) Shane but being left alone in the ring. Havoc isn’t done with the staples and here’s Allin to flip dive onto the two of them. It’s time for a bunch of chairs in the ring (Tony: “After a staple gun, a chair is kind of a disappointment for me.”) with one of them being wedged in the corner. Havoc gets extra evil by cutting Hennigan’s fingers with the edge of the paper (a kind of brilliant way to go in a hardcore match) and Bocchini says that’s worse than the staples. I mean….maybe?

Havoc has a seat in a chair but Hennigan gets back up and backdrops him onto two unfolded chairs. That actually gets two as the announcers are surprised that you can get pins here. Fair enough given the level of carnage here. Shane comes back in with a 450 on Allin and it’s time for a cookie sheet. Allin flips out of a German suplex and hits Shane in the knee with Hennigan having to come back in for a save.

Allin’s Coffin Drop is countered into an armbar and Shane snaps the arm back for a snap that actually made my mouth come open and the rest of me cringe. Havoc comes back in for some forearms but gets catapulted into a cookie sheet to the head. Strickland kicks him in the head but Havoc knocks Hennigan down and takes Shane to the apron. One heck of an enziguri staggers Havoc and an AA off the apron sends him through a table. Back in and Starship Pain only gets two on Havoc but the crowd reaction isn’t that strong as they’re going too long here.

Havoc tries to beg and then gets caught going for the double low blow. As Hennigan and Strickland look to deal with him, Allin dives off the balcony with a chair to take them both out and they’ve got the crowd right back. Allin sets up another table but takes too long, allowing Hennigan and Strickland to put him on it instead. They both go up top but here’s the woman who attacked Garrett to shove Hennigan to the floor. A double superplex puts Shane through a table for two and the woman throws in a chain. Havoc wraps it around his arm and clotheslines the heck out of Shane for the pin at 18:49.

Rating: B. They knew what they were going for here and then executed it. Havoc and Allin are good hardcore guys and it’s impressive to have them beat some big names like Hennigan and Strickland. On top of that, it was a heck of a violent match with the announcers actually adding a lot in that “this is insane” style. There’s also something great about Tony watching this violent stuff and it made things that much better.

Hathaway has a press conference to talk about MVP where he talks about MVP being in prison earlier in the 2000s. Someone negotiated a deal with WWE and then another with New Japan. That someone is of course Hathaway, who is now in charge of Black Friday Management (the heel stable started by Gary Hart in the original MLW). Therefore, Hathaway controls MVP so he’ll be facing Low Ki next month.

Overall Rating: C+. I had a good time here and that’s what matters most on the second show in a promotion’s lifespan. They offered a nice balance of stuff from start to finish and the show never started to drag. I want to see where things go from here and that’s the most important thing they can do. It’s pretty impressive to see how well they’ve hit the ground running and if they can keep that up, they might have a hit on their hands.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-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 #24
Date: September 28, 2018
Location: War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

We’re getting closer to Fury Road and that means things are starting to pick up. It also means that we’ll be getting something entertaining tonight with MLW World Champion Low Ki defending against Fenix. In other words, taking two talented guys and letting them have a long match should work fine. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Sami Callihan and Jimmy Havoc have started fighting in the back before their scheduled match tonight. Both guys go for the eyes and seem to be heading towards the arena.

Opening sequence.

Jason Cade vs. Myron Reed

Cade has Rhett Giddins in his corner. Reed is nice enough to let the referee check him for weapons and Cade dropkicks him in the corner for his efforts. A sunset flip gets Reed out of trouble and a dropkick puts Cade on the floor. Giddins offers a distraction so Cade can take over again as the beating continues. We hit the chinlock and go split screen to see Havoc and Callihan still fighting.

Back to full screen and Reed hurricanranas his way out of a powerbomb attempt, followed by a nip up into an enziguri. Reed scores with a running forearm in the corner and another enziguri, followed by the top rope seated senton for two. Cade knees him in the face for the same, only to be kicked in the face for his efforts. A superkick rocks Cade again but he’s fine enough to elbow Reed in the face.

Reed gets buckle bombed so he pops right back up with a reverse hurricanrana to plant Cade again. Cade scores with another superkick but Reed springboards into a cutter for two. Something like a Cradle Shock (which Tony calls a sitout powerbomb) gives Cade two more so he takes Reed over to the other ring, only to have Reed reverse a suplex into a Stunner.

Just to show off, Reed gets a running start and dives over both ropes for a cutter to wreck Cade. Another diving cutter over the top rope drops Cade onto Giddins but Giddins is fine enough to crotch Reed on top. A backslide driver (that’s a new one) of all things finishes Reed at 9:54.

Rating: C+. Reed looked like a star here, even if he used that cutter once or twice too often. That running cutter looked awesome and I was hoping to see Reed win here, which I didn’t expect coming in. Cade is fine for a midcard heel and having the bigger Giddins as an enforcer is a classic story that will work fine here. This was a very nice surprise.

Post match Cade grabs the mic but Jimmy Yuta runs in and dropkicks him down.

Post break, Yuta promises to play dirty along with Cade.

Fury Road rundown, including Maxwell Jacob Friedman defending the Middleweight Title against Cade and Yuta. Makes sense.

Brody King is ready to face Tommy Dreamer and show him some real violence at Fury Road.

Callihan and Havoc are still fighting with Havoc being choked down until a wet floor sign to the head gets him out of trouble. They fight into the men’s room with Callihan getting a face full of soap. After a break, Havoc can’t find Callihan.

Shane Strickland is ready to prove that he’s still the ace when he faces Tom Lawlor.

Friedman and Aria Blake try to get in to see Salina de la Renta but get shut down.

Cade isn’t happy with Yuta for interfering in his match and swears vengeance.

Court Bauer makes Callihan vs. Havoc: Spin the Wheel Make the Deal for Fury Road. I’m down.

Lawlor is ready to beat up Strickland and prove that he’s the present and the future. He wants to prove that this is a filthy world, not Shane’s house.

Video on Salina de la Renta vs. Konnan in a battle over talent and power.

MLW World Title: Low Ki vs. Rey Fenix

Fenix is challenging and we get the Big Match Intros. They stare each other down to start without much happening in the first minute. Fenix starts speeding things up and hits his springboard armdrag to send Low Ki outside, meaning the big flip suicide dive to drive him into the barricade. The loud superkick has Low Ki in even more trouble and a standing moonsault gets two back inside.

Low Ki dropkicks him down though and Fenix invites the champ to kick him in the chest. One heck of a chop on the floor sends Fenix over the barricade and the pace stays slow. Back inside and we hit the neck crank with Low Ki going after the mask. A double stomp gets two and they head outside again, this time with Fenix being catapulted face first into the post (DING!) to draw some blood.

Fenix gets chopped even more and can barely stand as the referee starts checking on him to make sure this can keep going. Of course Fenix gets up and screams before losing a chop off. Fenix does an Undertaker situp but can’t do much more after that, despite the fans loudly cheering for him. So he really is like Undertaker. One heck of a chop slows Low Ki down so he kicks Fenix into the corner again.

Low Ki grabs him by the hands and goes up top, only to have Fenix grab a double springboard into a hurricanrana. A rolling cutter gets a delayed two on the champ and the Ki Crusher is blocked. Instead Ki kicks him out of the corner for two and the top rope double stomp gets the same.

The big kick is countered into a rollup for two more and they both head up top. Fenix gets the better of it with a springboard Spanish Fly and the kickout shocks them both. A reverse hurricanrana drops Ki on his head but Salina takes Fenix’s mask off, setting up a great looking top double stomp to the back to retain the title at 14:28.

Rating: B. These two beat the heck out of each other and they got somewhere with the idea of Fenix fighting from behind. Those near falls were awesome and Fenix is someone easy to cheer for, making this quite the match. They can save Pentagon vs. Ki for later on or whenever Ki gets a partner for the big tag war. Very fun brawl here and they beat each other up as you would have wanted to see them do.

Salina yells in Spanish and poses with Low Ki.

In the back, Havoc and Callihan are still fighting as they go outside. Callihan gets knocked down some steps and calls Havoc crazy. Havoc: “I know it!” Callihan runs away from Havoc’s kendo stick to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. It’s a good sign when you have two matches on a show and both of them are either good or quite good. Throw in the whole Havoc vs. Callihan thing that set up a big gimmick match for the special show and this was a heck of a night. I want to see Fury Road and that’s a good sign going forward. Really strong show this week and one of the better Fusions to date.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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