IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #107
Date: April 25, 2020
Location: Auditorio de Tijuana, Tijuana, Mexico
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, AJ Kirsch

And then there were two. We’re down to what seems to be the final two shows for Major League Wrestling and I’ve been liking these shows from Mexico. If nothing else, it’s been hilarious watching the Dynasty as they are some of the best things going in this company at the moment. Hopefully the matches can live up to their standards. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the MLW vs. AAA Super Series, which is currently tied at 2-2. There are two more matches this week.

Opening sequence.

Caribbean Title: Richard Holliday vs. Chessman

Holliday is defending and anything goes. Before we get going, Holiday speaks some broken Spanish to brag about his Air Pods. Cue Chessman with a chair and we’re ready to go. Hold on though as Holliday holds up the title himself and makes sure to use some hand sanitizer. Chessman hits him in the face and dropkicks him to the floor but Holliday blocks a dive with the chair.

More chair shots stagger Chessman and give Holliday a VERY slow two as the referee doesn’t seem to think much of Holliday. Some shots in the corner connect as we hear about MLW officially complaining about the AAA refereeing. So at least there’s a story of some sort there. Holliday stomps away even more but a quick chase lets Chessman stomp him down.

That sends Holliday back to the floor for the big suicide dive into the barricade. Now it’s Chessman’s turn to use the chair and it’s time for a strike off back inside. A double clothesline puts them both down but it’s Holliday up first with a superkick. Holliday grabs 2008 for two so Chessman is right back up with a running boot to the face. The moonsault gives Chessman two but a second attempt misses, meaning the Market Crash can finish Chessman at 6:23, even with the referee not wanting to count the pin.

Rating: C. MJF leaving the company could be the best thing that has ever happened to Holliday as he just wasn’t going to get to shine with Friedman around. Holliday is really talented and could be a player in a lot of places, including around here. Chessman is a name and giving Holliday a win over him means something.

MLW – 3

AAA – 2

We look back at Mance Warner and Alexander Hammerstone fighting last week, with Hammerstone going into the birthday cake.

Warner understands that Alicia Atout is upset at him for messing up the birthday party so he apologizes. She can even have a light beer! Alicia is just glad that the a****** MJF is gone. Warner is glad too and now he needs some gold so how about a title shot at Hammerstone? How about we get Alicia a change of clothes? She probably should have changed at some point in the last week.

Douglas James will be out for at least 180 days unless he can get clearance.

And now, Pillow Talk With LA Park. Park is laid next to his wife, who complains that he is asleep while she says goodnight over and over. The laugh track certainly seems to approve as she yells at him. Technical difficulties take us out.

Pagano thinks you can’t have a party without a clown.

Alexander Hammerstone doesn’t understand how society has been turned upside down. People like him are booed and alcoholics like Mance Warner are cheered. Hammerstone should be rocked to the top but he has to deal with speed bumps like Warner over and over. So now Warner wants a title shot? Well Hammerstone will wreck him.

Colonel Robert Parker has been trying to hold unsanctioned wrestling shows on barges outside of Tampa. This didn’t go well, thanks to the US Coast Guard.

The Von Erichs are ready for Team Filthy and jump off a cliff into a river.

Vikingo will be part of the Super Series.

MLW has complained about the AAA referees.

Low Ki has raided the Team Filthy/American Top Team press conference and took some swings. The press conference is off.

Low Ki staggers around a parking lot but promises to take care of Team Filthy and American Top Team, even if he has to call the King.

Hart Foundation vs. Los Mercenarios

That would be Texano Jr. and Rey Escorpion Jr. Before the match, Texano shouts at the crowd in Spanish and they don’t seem happy. Given my limited Spanish abilities, I can see why. It’s a quick brawl to start until Pillman grabs a wristlock on Texano. Pillman has to spin/flip out of Texano’s wristlock and there’s a running slap in the corner. A poke to the eyes gets on Davey’s nerves, allowing the villains to double team Pillman down. He’s right back up to take Texano into the corner for a double suplex but Pillman lets Davey hit the delayed single instead.

That gets a very delayed two so Davey goes back to the arm. Injustice pops up in the crowd as Escorpion comes in to slam Davey, setting up a double superkick for two. An AA backbreaker gets one on Pillman but the referee stops to yell at Davey some more, allowing some double kicks to the face to keep Pillman in trouble.

Escorpion grabs the chinlock but Pillman gets up for a slugout. That just earns him a pull down by the hair so Davey comes in, earning ANOTHER long rant from the referee. Texano gets two off a slingshot hilo and the bull rope to the knee has Pillman in even more trouble. A powerbomb gets two with Davey making a save so Pillman finally hits a jawbreaker and dropkick.

The referee doesn’t see the blind tag though and the stomping continues. Pillman gets over to the corner and crossbodies both of them and NOW the tag brings in Davey to pound away. Texano gets backdropped onto Escorpion and Pillman hits a big no hands flip dive to the floor. Back in and a springboard Hart Attack finishes Texano at 10:27.

Rating: C+. I’m rapidly getting over this biased referee deal. It’s not something that you can do over and over and we’re on the third week of it now. It helps that you have the Harts out there doing well and Los Mercenarios being rather solid heels. This was a fine match, but they needed a better story. Or at least one that doesn’t drag a match down.

MLW – 4

AAA – 2

We preview next week’s show but Contra pops up to say the war is coming. If this isn’t the same promo from a few weeks ago, it’s close enough that it doesn’t make a difference.

Overall Rating: C. Much like the referee story, the Super Series is starting to lose its charm. It isn’t terrible by any stretch and the wrestling has been fine, but I need some more storylines. Warner vs. Hammerstone is going to be a heck of a fight when they get the chance but other than that, there isn’t much going on here and it’s hurting things a good bit. Not a bad show, but I need some more than that week after week.

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: Desert Pro Wrestling

Desert Pro Wrestling
Date: February 16, 2020
Location: Brawley Lions Club, Brawley, California
Commentator: Wade Needam

You might remember me doing a show from this company a few months ago. One of the people who works backstage (and hopefully front stage in the future) for this promotion asked me to take a look at their next show and since this one is a good bit shorter, it’s worth a shot. Let’s get to it.

Andy Brown vs. Super Beetle vs. Genio Del Aire vs. Aeroboy

This seems to be highlights more than a full show as we go straight to the match with no intro or entrances. Brown kicks Beetle in the face to start and immediately begs off from the other two. One very good thing: commentary identifies everyone and says what they’re wearing so you have an idea of what is going on. So many companies miss that. Genio and Aeroboy are left in the ring to run the ropes and trade some flips until Aeroboy dropkicks him to the floor.

Brown and Beetle come back in with a low superkick and a suplex sending Brown into the corner. Genio dropkicks beetle to the floor but Aeroboy is back in for a headscissors into a basement dropkick. A headscissors on the floor takes Genio down again but Brown forearms Aeroboy out of the air. Beetle gets kneed in the face and we take a break.

Back with nothing having changed and a triple superkick dropping Brown. The other three trade superkicks and all four are down. Genio is back up with a Lethal Injection for two on Brown with Aeroboy making the save. Aeroboy Swantons Genio with Beetle making the save. A belly to back faceplant gets the same with Brown making a save of his own. Aeroboy and Brown slug it out with Brown shrugging off a Codebreaker and hitting a discus lariat. Genio is back in to clean house and hit a suicide dive on Aeroboy. Brown kicks Beetle in the face though and a piledriver is good for the pin at 6:36.

Rating: C. Brown stood out from the start as the more complete performer than the other three and that’s a good sign. The three luchadors felt like they could have been interchangeable while Brown felt like someone who has been around a good bit longer. It’s not a good match, but starting with the four way high flying match is often a smart idea.

Antesis vs. Flor

Women’s match. Flor armdrags her down to start and they stare at each other a bit. Antesis gets in one of her own and knees her in the ribs to set up a wristlock. That’s broken up with another armdrag and Flor hits a running shoulder. The third armdrag has Antesis down again and it’s time for a breather on the floor.

Back in and Antesis gets two off a slam and we take a break. We come back with Flor grabbing a DDT for two and the chop off ensuing. Antesis suplexes her for two more but gets caught in a rolling crucifix for the same. Flor gets two off a northern lights suplex before rolling into a cross armbreaker to make Antesis tap at 6:36.

Rating: C. I liked that finish as it looked good and made sense with someone going for the quick win as soon as they had an opening. The rest of the match was a good example of a degree of difficultly of five with an execution of….well slightly higher than that. They didn’t do anything flashy or overly impressive here, but what they did was done well. That’s far better than trying to be too much and looking sloppy so this was perfectly acceptable and I’ll take that.

Laberinto/Biagio Crescenzo vs. Dylan Kyle Cox/Koto Hiro

Main event and Laberinto is the Desert Pro Wrestling Champion. Laberinto headlocks Koto (who is rather skinny) down and they fight over a wristlock. A wristdrag sends Laberinto outside and it’s off to Cox vs. Biagio. They pose at each other to start and you can feel the charisma go up. Cox snaps off a hurricanrana and pulls him up into a torture rack for something like a reverse Samoan drop (that’s a new one).

Koto comes back in for a somewhat awkward looking springboard hurricanrana to Laberinto. Everything breaks down and Cox slams Koto onto Biagio. A missed charge in the corner lets Biagio get in a breather and a spear cuts Cox down for two. Laberinto comes back in for a running forearm and a Muscle Buster (as commentary seems to be a second ahead of the video).

Biagio comes back in for some forearms to the ribs but Laberinto comes in sans tag. The referee takes care of that and misses the hot tag to Koto (nothing wrong with playing the classics) as we take a break. Back with Laberinto putting on something like a reverse Koji Clutch and it’s already back to Biagio. A side slam plants Cox again but Biagio is getting a bit cocky. The top rope elbow hits knees and an enziguri is enough for the hot tag to Koto to clean house.

Another enziguri drops Biagio as everything breaks down. Stereo suicide dives drop Laberinto and Biagio and there’s a tornado DDT on Laberinto back inside. Biagio hits a Downward Spiral on Koto but Cox is back in with a bad looking Buckshot Lariat (more like a Buckshot slap to the chest). Cox goes outside and forearms Biagio, leaving Koto to roll Laberinto up for the pin at 10:42.

Rating: C+. I can see why this is the big closing match as they had a different level of energy and charisma. Cox got my attention immediately and it’s not surprising to find out that he’s been on some bigger shows at other times. All four of them look fairly young and like they need to get ring time, but that’s the point of a show like this. Nice enough main event, though I would have had Cox get the pin instead of Koto as he seems to be a better prospect.

Laberinto and Koto stare each other down to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This is a show where you have to have some lowered expectations coming in. It’s a small indy show with some wrestlers trying to get their start and there’s nothing wrong with that. I’m assuming there was more to this as I can’t imagine the fans paid for a 25 minute show, but cutting it out and just having the matches is a good idea if you’re trying to get the fans watching and give them a little taste. Perfectly watchable stuff here, at least from a small indy level.

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 #106
Date: April 18, 2020
Location: Auditorio de Tijuana, Tijuana, Mexico
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, AJ Kirsch

We’re still in Mexico and that means both that the Super Series continues and that MLW is rapidly running out of canned television. They can’t have more than one or two shows left after this and after that, it could be a long time before we see them again. Last week was a good show though so maybe we can go out on a roll. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Alexander Hammerstone costing Mance Warner and Savio Vega a tag match last week.

Warner went through fire last week and broke a bunch of other things too. Now he wants Hammerstone and the National Openweight Title in the parking lot.

Opening sequence.

Douglas James is ready to show Averno what he is because he loves contact and will never say die.

Douglas James vs. Averno

They take their time to start before going to the grappling for an early standoff. James pulls him into a choke but Averno is straight over to the rope. A dropkick puts Averno on the floor but he trips James down and onto the apron. James gets sent hard into the barricade and then face first into the apron to make it worse.

Back in and a buckle bomb rocks James for two but he wins a chop off. A hurricanrana sends Averno to the floor for a suicide dive, followed by a Meteora back inside. That’s good for one of the slowest counts I’ve seen in a long time so Averno BLASTS James with a forearm…..and that’s a knockout win for Averno at 6:20.

Rating: C. They were hitting each other pretty hard here until the end, which involved hitting someone even harder than usual. Averno seems like a pretty big star and winning via knockout is always something that can make someone look good. Nice back and forth brawl here with a surprising finish.

AAA – 2

MLW – 1

We look at Injustice attacking Brian Pillman Jr. three weeks ago.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. wishes Alicia Atout a happy birthday and is ready to face Team Filthy. As for Brian Pillman Jr., he’s banged up but cleared for Tijuana.

Injustice can’t wait to become the new AAA Trios Champions. They’re not worried about Pillman being healthy either, because he has to be paying off the doctors to clear him. Jordan Oliver continues to grow on me week after week.

Video on Vikingo, a crazy talented high flier.

The Dynasty snuck across the border and hid from locals. Richard Holliday will be defending the Caribbean Title against some yokel named Chessman. And no, Hammerstone does NOT know anything about going to a pharmacy.

Dan Lambert and Low Ki got in an argument on Busted Open Radio.

Here’s the Top Ten:

10. Dominic Garrini

9. Low Ki

8. Richard Holliday

7. Mance Warner

6. King Mo

5. Tom Lawlor

4. Brian Pillman Jr.

3. Myron Reed

2. Davey Boy Smith Jr.

1. Alexander Hammerstone

Pagano wants Jacob Fatu and the World Title.

Alexander Hammerstone hits on Alicia Atout, offering her a couples tanning session. Mance Warner runs in and jumps him.

Post break the brawl continues but we lose the camera feed in a hurry.

Here’s who else will be involved in the Super Series.

Video on Team Filthy.

Team Filthy wants the Tag Team Titles and start on the road tonight. They don’t like the Von Erichs chilling in Hawaii while the two of them are here working.

Update on Warner and Hammerstone: there is no update. As luck would have it though, they brawl out of a room as the update (there is no update) is announced.

Team Filthy vs. Puma King/Xtreme Tiger

It’s Dominic Garrini/Tom Lawler and yes the Tiger King jokes abound. We get a glitch in the video as Tiger is shown in the ring, followed by his entrance. Lawlor strikes away at Tiger to start but gets taken down. That’s fine with Lawlor, who tells him to bring it on. Another takedown lets Tiger talk trash and a kick to the face drops Lawlor again. Lawlor isn’t happy with the fans yelling at him so it’s off to Garrini instead. Puma comes in as well to work on a wristlock but Garrini runs him over.

That just earns him a powerslam and a backsplash from King as the fans start making a lot more noise. Lawlor gets in a cheap shot from the apron though and it’s a suplex to put King down. The villains take turns beating on King in the corner but a quick roll allows the hot tag to Tiger so house can be cleaned. A top rope legdrop between the legs (that’s a new one) hits Lawlor and King grabs the Rings of Saturn on Garrini.

Lawlor is in with a cross armbreaker on Puma at the same time but Tiger keylocks Lawlor at the same time too. That’s all broken up so Garrini chokes King until Tiger makes the save. Tiger is fine enough to escape a beatdown and hurricanrana Garrini to the floor. Something like a reverse Koji Clutch has Lawlor in trouble until Garrini makes a save of his own. Lawlor is back up with a Superman Punch into another choke from Garrini.

King makes another save (get the complete set) and superkicks Lawlor, followed by the springboard dive onto Garrini. La Majistral gets two on Garrini but Lawlor is back in for a forearm to King’s head. Something close to Chasing the Dragon plants King with Tiger making yet another save. Lawlor has finally had enough and chokes Tiger out at 11:14, with the referee taking FOREVER to call for the bell, despite Tiger tapping.

Rating: B-. They might have had one too many saves here but it was the right way to go with Team Filthy starting their paths to the Tag Team Title match. Lawlor is one of the most successful stars the company has ever had so him going after any title is a good idea. Not a bad match either, with King and Tiger both looking good.

AAA – 2

MLW – 2

We go to the back for Alicia’s birthday party but Warner and Hammerstone fight in. Hammerstone goes into the cake to end the show, because classics never die.

Overall Rating: C+. The wrestling was good enough and they advanced the main feud at the moment, though the promotion vs. promotion stuff can only go so far. They’re coming up on the bigger names though and at least we got some solid action on the way to those matches. Good enough show here and hopefully that can continue.

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 #105
Date: April 11, 2020
Location: Auditorio de Tijuana, Tijuana, Mexico
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, AJ Kirsch

It’s time to head back to Mexico for the Super Series with AAA. The company taped an event in Tijuana consisting of nine matches and for the moment, that’s all they have in the can. That should get them three to four weeks and after that, Fusion could go away for a good while. I’m not sure what that is going to mean but we have a few weeks to get there. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look at Mexico and how important wrestling is around here. In other words, this is a big deal because they’re working with AAA this time around.

Opening sequence.

We have an opening ceremony, with what I assume is the Mexican National Anthem. It’s certainly coming off as important so well done.

We run down the card.

Mance Warner is proud of getting rid of MJF and now he wants the rest of the Dynasty gone. Apparently the rest of the team went to something called a donkey show and that’s not cool. Savio Vega is ready for the street fight tonight. Mance: “Ole Mancer doesn’t know what Savio said in the middle but it sounds good!”

Mortiz/Pagano vs. Savio Vega/Mance Warner

Street fight and Alexander Hammerstone is on commentary. For some reasons they have to tag to start so it’s Savio and Pagano to get things going. They stare each other down until Savio slaps him in the face and hammers away. Savio knocks Mance off the apron by mistake so Mance throws some blind punches over the barricade. Pagano gets sent outside as well and the fight really gets going with everyone brawling on the floor.

Mance pelts a chair at Mortiz’s head and it’s time for the slow motion brawling that you knew was coming. Some chair shots have Mortiz down as Hammerstone wants to know about Vega’s history of tetanus shots. Mortiz is left on the floor as the other three get inside, meaning it’s time for skewers to Pagano’s head (Hammerstone: “THAT’S NOT HOW YOU DO IT SAVIO!”).

Mortiz gets back up so Savio and Mance go outside, meaning it’s a big flip dive from Pagano, who still has some skewers in his head. Mortiz hits his own dive to send everyone through a board against the barricade for the big knockdown. Back in and Pagano puts the chair in the corner but Warner takes it out and throws the thing at Pagano’s head for two more. Warner and Mortiz trade chair shots to the head (with Mance at least putting an arm up) as the hood of a car is thrown in.

Savio powerbombs Mortiz onto the hood and strikes it out with Pagano. Warner is back up to break a chair over Pagano’s head but Ortiz hits Warner in the head with something made of metal. With that out of the way, it’s time to light a table on fire but Warner chokeslams Mortiz through it instead. Hammerstone has to leave to go get his order from the pharmacy as Pagano throws in some doors. A spear puts Warner through one of the doors in the corner for two so Warner sends him through the other one.

That’s only good for two as this just keeps going. Mance hits a running knee to the head and let’s bring in a table for fun. Before that can be used though, here’s Hammerstone to kick Warner in the face, allowing Mortiz to splash Warner through the table. Savio tries to bring in a chair but opts to punch Pagano down instead, only to dive into a crotching on the chair. Pagano hits a running Blockbuster to pin Vega at 16:00.

Rating: D+. It was entertaining at times but the problem is this going WAY too long. There were long parts that could have been cut out with the same match taking place and that’s not a good sign. Hammerstone costing Warner the win keeps them going but sweet goodness this took a lot longer than it should have.

AAA – 1

MLW – 0

King Mo has been suspended for a month and fined $10,000 for attacking Killer Kross.

Tom Lawlor isn’t happy with Mo being suspended because everyone is against Team Filthy. That’s why he and Dominic Garrini are entering the tag team division to take the Tag Team Titles from those cowards the Von Erichs.

Alexander Hammerstone and Richard Holliday wake up very hungover in the wrong hotel room. Gino Medina is nowhere to be seen because he’s gone off with some girls. And yes, they did go to a donkey show. Hammerstone: “After this, only two, three more donkey shows at the most.” They’re not sure if they can wrestle tonight.

Here’s the Top Ten.

10. Dominic Garrini

9. Low Ki

8. Richard Holliday

7. Mance Warner

6. King Mo

5. Tom Lawlor

4. Brian Pillman Jr.

3. Myron Reed

2. Davey Boy Smith Jr.

1. Alexander Hammerstone

We look back at Injustice attacking Brian Pillman Jr., earning themselves a month’s suspension. Must be going around at the moment.

Injustice isn’t paying any fine and they have no remorse over what they did. They would do it two more times. See, they know where you are but you don’t know where they are. Why does no one ever think of asking the cameraman?

Davey Boy Smith Jr. says Brian Pillman Jr. is injured and eating through a straw but he’ll be back. As for a rumored World Title fight, he’s talking business with the boss.

Contra Unit is preparing for the upcoming war. The infiltration of the infidels is underway.

Konnan is excited about the Laredo Kid vs. Hammerstone match but here’s Injustice (so much for hiding) to interrupt. They want the AAA Six Man Tag Team Titles but Konnan isn’t impressed. The title match is on, because Konnan can reverse MLW suspensions.

Psycho Clown accepts LA Park’s challenge and is on the hunt.

Here’s who else is involved in the Super Series.

Hammerstone doesn’t want to hear about the Dynasty’s losing streak because all he does is win.

National Openweight Title: Alexander Hammerstone vs. Laredo Kid

The Kid is challenging and gets shoved down by some raw power to start. It works so well for Kid that he tries it again but some strikes work a bit better. A headscissors puts Hammerstone on the floor and that means a big dive. Back in and Hammerstone is fine enough for a gorilla press into a swinging Side Effect. A delayed butterfly suplex (the Spinal Countdown for a clever name) gives Hammerstone two and it’s time to head outside.

That means a hard whip over the barricade to send Kid flying but he’s right back in with a missile dropkick. Hammerstone is knocked to the floor this time and there’s a suicide dive to rock him again. Back in and a pair of moonsaults gives Kid two but Hammerstone grabs a reverse AA for his own near fall.

A clothesline turns Kid inside and Hammerstone sits him on top. Kid knocks him right back down and hits an excellent looking 450 for his own two. Hammerstone, with his chin busted, hits a bicycle kick but clotheslines the referee by mistake. Therefore, Kid’s super Spanish Fly gets no count so he has to throw the referee back in. That lets Hammerstone hit a German suplex into a powerbomb into the Nightmare Pendulum to retain at 10:41.

Rating: B-. I got into the power vs. speed match here with Kid trying as hard as he could but coming up short. Hammerstone continues to be a monster and as soon as his deal with MLW is up, he’ll be the subject of quite the bidding war. That being said, what was the point of the hangover deal earlier? It was never mentioned once here and Hammerstone was his usual self.

AAA – 1

MLW – 1

We hear about Mance Warner freaking out in the back to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This show was much better about making the show feel like it was in the regular continuity instead of taking a big side trip into Mexico where nothing matters. The Super Series is a simple concept but it’s enough to keep the show moving and give them something to do. The opener running sixteen minutes didn’t help things, but overall, it was a good enough night and I liked what I saw so well done.

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: National Wrestling Alliance

Hard Times
Date: January 24, 2020
Location: GPB Studios, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Joe Galli, Stu Bennett

This is another show that I’ve been trying to get to over and over but since things are a little wacky at the moment, it’s as good of a time as any It’s another NWA pay per view and this time around we’re focusing on the TV Title, with a tournament to crown a new champion. Let’s get to it.

Opening video, as sung by Billy Corgan, because it helps to have a famous musician as your owner.

We run down the card.

All tournament matches outside of the final have a 6:05 time limit.

TV Title Tournament First Round: Trevor Murdoch vs. Question Mark

It’s still strange seeing entrances with music in this promotion. Murdoch grabs an armdrag into a dropkick to start, only to have Mark get up for a middle rope kick to the chest. They fight to the floor where Murdoch clotheslines the post by mistake, meaning it’s a ram into the corner to stay on the arm. A backdrop sets up a suplex for two but Murdoch gets a boot up in the corner. The top rope bulldog hits Question Mark, but he’s up before Murdoch can even cover. Another top rope bulldog gives Murdoch the pin at 3:11.

Rating: C-. These matches are going to be on a bit of an adjusted scale as you can only do so much in such a short amount of time. The result surprised me here as I would have bet on Mark making a pretty deep run in this thing. That being said, he’s so popular with the fans that maybe they didn’t want to risk him taking away from someone else later on. Fine enough match, but the time limit is going to hurt things all night.

TV Title Tournament First Round: Zicky Dice vs. Dan Maff

Maff is a big guy from ROH making his NWA debut. Dice on the other hand is, uh, 80s. Like, way 80s. After licking the title belt, Dice gets shouldered hard into the corner. A running chop in the corner misses though and Dice grabs a running bulldog for two. Snake Rattle and Roll is broken up and Maff nails a half and half suplex to send Dice sprawling. Dice gets speared out of the air and it’s a Cannonball into a backsplash for the pin at 3:05.

Rating: D+. This was another short and to the point match as Dice did his shtick but got crushed by the monster Maff. What we got here was decent enough but you don’t want someone like Maff out there burning through his energy if he is going to be doing a few matches. Nothing terrible here and Dice is growing on me a bit, which kind of scares me.

TV Title Tournament First Round: Ricky Starks vs. Matt Cross

Cross is another high flier from Ring of Honor. The much bigger Starks (Cross is probably a good five to six inches shorter) runs him over with a shoulder so Cross backflips into Ricochet’s pose to avoid another. A kick to the face puts Starks on the floor so Cross knocks him down again, only to get caught in a reverse helicopter bomb for two. Starks hits a running dropkick to the back for two more but the Buster Keaton is broken up. Cross hits a quick double stomp to the chest but the shooting star misses. The Stroke (Angel’s Wings) sends Starks to the next round at 3:50.

Rating: B-. Easily the best thing on the show so far (as far as you can be twenty four minutes in that is) with Starks being someone they want to push (fair enough) and Cross being a heck of a high flier. These guys started fast and didn’t really stop for the four minutes so well done on offering a change of pace.

Here’s Tim Storm, scheduled for another first round match, for a chat. This is his NWA family and he’s upset that Mr. Anderson isn’t here for some reason. That’s fine with Storm though, because now he needs two wins instead of three.

Here are the updated brackets:

Tim Storm

Ricky Starks

Dan Maff

Trevor Murdoch

Commentary tells us that Anderson is not medically cleared to compete. Better than no explanation.

Bennett has some breaking news (Bennett: “I think that could become a catchphrase.”): the next pay per view, airing at some point in April, will be in a bigger venue than the GPB Studios and will feature the Crockett Cup.

Tag Team Titles: Rock N Roll Express vs. Wild Cards vs. Eli Drake/James Storm

The Express is defending after taking the titles from the Wild Cards (with May Valentine and Kamille) and Drake and Storm are a new team. Drake, Morton and Latimer start things off with Ricky being knocked against the ropes, leaving Drake to neckbreaker Latimer. A double elbow drops Latimer so Ricky and Drake can slug it out as everything breaks down early on.

We settle down to Latimer knocking Storm into Gibson and stomping Storm down in the corner. Kamille gets in some choking from the floor to keep Gibson down as Latimer gets two off a powerslam. The chinlock goes on but Storm powers up, sending him over for the tag to Drake. Not that the referee sees it though, meaning the beating continues. A double clothesline puts Storm and Latimer down so it’s off to Isaacs, who gets slammed onto his partner.

Gibson is back in as Drake gets the hot tag so the pace can pick up. The other hot tag brings in Morton as well as everything breaks down. Morton’s Canadian Destroyer hits Latimer and Gibson cuts off an interfering Kamille. Isaacs breaks up another Destroyer to Drake, allowing him to hit the Gravy Train to pin Morton for the titles at 8:09.

Rating: C. The match was a little messy but that is what you have to expect in something like this. At least they had some good action and got the titles onto the better long term options as champions. The Express was great in their day and they’re still good here, but you also want to get on to something new at some point. The Wild Cards are as generic of a heel team as you can get so this is as good of a move as you can get.

Post match the new champs are glad about winning and think about team names. All you need to calm them right now is champs.

We recap the Women’s Title match, with Allysin Kay defending against Thunder Rosa. Kay wants to face Melina but has to get through Rosa to get there. She already had to beat Marti Belle to get to the match to get to Melina, in case we didn’t have enough hoops yet.

Women’s Title: Allysin Kay vs. Thunder Rosa

Kay is defending. They slug it out right at the bell and Kay grabs a northern lights suplex for an early two. Kay slugs her down in the corner to set up the chinlock, followed by a hard clothesline for two more. That’s enough for Rosa to need a breather on the floor but she comes back in with a running dropkick for two. Rosa unloads in the corner and chokes with the boot a bit, setting up a snap suplex for two more.

This time it’s Kay needing a breather so Rosa baseball slides her down. Rosa starts cranking the arm around the rope and it’s a legdrop to the arm into a Crossface. Kay rolls out into a guillotine but Rosa goes right back to the arm to put her down again. Something close to the Disarm-Her makes Kay’s arm even worse but she fights up and swings with the good arm.

A snap German suplex out of the corner gives Rosa two so Kay bails again. This time Rosa tries a Cannonball but Kay catches her in the air (geez) and hits an apron bomb for her own two. The fans are split here and they get even more into it as Rosa counters a powerbomb into a sunset flip. Code Red gives Rosa two more as Kay looks like she’s trying to hold on here. Rosa grabs something like a Black Widow but Kay spins out into a Tombstone for two with the desperation kicking in.

A quick missile dropkick plants Kay again but she muscles Rosa up into the AK 47 for two more. They slug it out until Rosa pulls her into a guillotine choke. Kay powers out in a hurry and takes her up top, earning herself a sunset bomb back down. Back up and Kay hits a high kick but misses a charge into the post. A double armbar has Kay in even more trouble but she powers out again, only to get caught in the Thunder Driver to give Rosa the pin and the title at 18:06.

Rating: A-. DANG this was awesome and came totally out of left field, which is why I love watching this stuff so much. I don’t remember the last time I saw two people go out there and leave it all in the ring like this but they beat the heck out of each other for almost twenty minutes. They even had a great story of Kay wanting to fight Melina and looking past Rosa, who gave it everything she had and beat the fire out of Kay, who was trying to hold on for most of the match. I loved this and it’s worth checking out if you have the time.

Post match Melina and Marti come in for the celebration.

We look at Nick Aldis invading a Ring of Honor event in Atlanta to set up tonight’s match with Flip Gordon.

Here’s Marty Scurll for a chat. Scurll gets straight to the point: he wants a World Title shot against Nick Aldis. He finds it interesting that Aldis vs. Gordon is non-title when Aldis talks about being strictly business. Isn’t a title match box office and more business? Cue Aldis to say he can’t believe this audacity but he’ll put the title on the line tonight, with one condition. If Aldis retains tonight, he gets to call all the shots with Aldis and Scurll’s business, and Scurll is out of the building for the title match. Scurll agrees and security comes to escort him out. Kind of an unnecessary segment but it was short.

TV Title Tournament Semifinals: Dan Maff vs. Trevor Murdoch

They chop it out to start until Maff spears him in half. Scratching and biting keep Murdoch in trouble and it’s a knee to the back for two. Maff misses a charge into the corner though and Murdoch hits the top rope bulldog for the fluke pin at 3:28.

Rating: D+. That was a little weird with the fast pin and almost nothing from Murdoch until the ending. I can get why you might want to go with someone from your own roster rather than the outsider though and it’s not like it matters if neither of them is winning. Not a terrible match as the time helped them, but it wasn’t all that great.

TV Title Tournament Semifinals: Ricky Starks vs. Tim Storm

Storm powers him into the corner to start but Starks flips out of a hiptoss attempt. A spinebuster gives Storm two but a running dropkick puts him down. Storm sends him back first into a knee and the Perfect Storm connects. The momentum lets Starks roll away though and he’s right back with a Pancake (Neutralizer without the arm between the legs) for his own two. Starks can’t grab a tornado DDT but he can grab a crucifix for the fast pin at 4:53.

Rating: C. Not too bad here with Starks overcoming the odds of not only beating a former World Champion but also having to wrestle twice instead of once. Starks is the kind of guy who was going to be a big deal from the second you saw him around here and him winning the title in the end wouldn’t shock me. Storm is a made man as a former World Champion so it’s not like a quick loss here hurts him.

Video on Aron Stevens’ ka-rah-tay training and issues with Ricky Starks.

National Title: Aron Stevens vs. Scott Steiner

Stevens is defending and has Question Mark with him. After the martial arts display befuddles Steiner a bit, Steiner works on the arm to make Stevens scream. Right hands in the corner have Stevens in trouble and a toss has him out on the floor. Back in and Steiner elbows him in the face a few times, followed by an overhead suplex.

They head outside with Steiner sending him into various things, including the TV Title. Back in and the overhead belly to belly almost drops Stevens on his head. The spinning belly to belly works a bit better but Steiner charges into raised boots in the corner to give Stevens two (the feet on the ropes helped). Steiner knocks him down again and grabs the Recliner, drawing in Mark for the DQ at 5:53.

Rating: D+. That would be your “they’re doing this match?” of the night as Stevens vs. Steiner is more of a curiosity than anything else. Steiner is brought in as a draw for the sake of his insanity and there is nothing wrong with that for him. He’s the biggest name on the show and might draw in some attention so throw him into something like this and have a little fun. Not a good match mind you, but fun.

Post match Stevens bails while Steiner beats on Mark.

NWA World Title: Nick Aldis vs. Flip Gordon

Aldis is defending. The circling doesn’t last long as Gordon takes him into the corner for some forearms. It works so well that Gordon does it again and even knocks the champ to the floor. They’re on the floor in a hurry where they can’t put the other through a table. Instead they head back inside for a hammerlock to keep Aldis in trouble on the mat. A headlock has Aldis in more trouble but he knocks a springboard out of the air.

It’s time for a breather on the floor but Gordon is right there with a running flip dive to take the champ out again. Back in and Gordon slaps on a cross armbreaker until Aldis powers his way out with a powerbomb. A fall away slam stays on Gordon’s back and a super fall away slam does the same, but a super version. We hit the chinlock for a bit, followed by Aldis muscling him up for a suplex. The required Figure Four goes on (makes sense against a high flier) but Gordon is fine enough to escape in a hurry.

A nip up into a spinning kick to the head sets up a middle rope moonsault for two more. Aldis crotches him on top though and a Tombstone sets up a top rope elbow for another near fall. Gordon is back up with a Crossface though, sending Aldis over to the rope. The King’s Lynn Cloverleaf is blocked and the Star Spangled Stunner gets a close two. Back up and Gordon tries a spinning victory roll but Aldis drops down into a rollup and grabs the tights to retain at 15:10.

Rating: B. It was a rather good match with Gordon being a case where you could believe he could have pulled off the big upset. Aldis was his usual entertaining self here and the cheating to retain when Gordon was taking it to too high of a level. Solid match here with both guys looking at a top level.

TV Title: Trevor Murdoch vs. Ricky Starks

For the vacant title and Murdoch has bad ribs coming in. They stare each other down to start as Galli lists off some of the famous champions. Murdoch kicks him down and hits the forearms to the back, only to get hit with a hard jumping shoulder. A test of strength goes to Murdoch and he snaps off a Russian legsweep. They head outside with Starks hitting a 619 on the apron and striking away where he can.

Murdoch gets in a whip to the steps though for nine so it’s time to slap Starks down in the corner. That wakes Starks up but he gets backdropped over the top for another big crash. Another count is beaten so Murdoch BLASTS him with a clothesline for two. We hit the chinlock but Murdoch lets go and hammers away in the corner. A powerbomb out of the corner gives Starks two but he’s back up with the Stroke for the pin and the title at 9:23.

Rating: C. This was fine but you can only do so much with people who are on their third match each. The extra time helped a little bit and Starks fighting from behind again was a good enough story. Murdoch was fine here but his time has come and gone. Go with Starks here, as that’s what makes the most sense in the long run.

Starks gets the title and we’re out in a hurry.

Overall Rating: C+. The tournament was hit and miss for the most part but at least they got the right winner. Then there’s the awesome Women’s Title match to give the show something special and overall, you have a pretty nice show. These pay per views still aren’t required viewing, but for a relatively cheap price and less than three hours, there are far worse things you could be watching.

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: World Wrestling Network

Evolve 125
Date: April 4, 2019
Location: La Boom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Lenny Leonard, Rob Niemi

This is another one of the shows that I was hoping to see last year but for one reason or another it never happened. That’s where a free month of Club WWN (plus the company putting the show up for free on YouTube) can be handy and that’s why I’m here today. This show seemed to be pretty well received so hopefully it holds up. Let’s get to it.

As usual, I have no idea what is coming or what is going on here so bare with me if I miss a plot point.

The commentators/hosts are in the ring to welcome us to the show. They run down the card, just in case someone wandered in here off the street thinking it was a store that sold farmer’s almanacs. Cue Adrian Jaoude (also of NXT) to interrupt, saying he’s here to fight.

Harlem Bravado vs. Adrian Jaoude

Jaoude takes him down with ease to start and Bravado bails to the rope in a hurry. Bravado stomps away instead and hits a leg trap suplex for two. The chinlock keeps Jaoude down and it’s a Death Valley Driver to give Bravado two more. Bravado starts talking trash though and gets his fingers snapped back. The hand gets slammed down onto the mat and a hard German suplex drops Bravado. A spinning kick to the face makes it even worse, followed by a quick kneebar to make Bravado tap at 5:00.

Rating: C-. Just a quick match to get things going and Jaoude looked good as the monster who can take you apart with the martial arts skills. I’ve liked his stuff in NXT and while Bravado looked fine, they made a big deal out of his start and stop success. That seems to be part of a long running story for him and if so, this would seem to play into it well enough.

Kazusada Higuchi vs. Curt Stallion

Higuchi seems to be a big time guest star. They take turns stretching to start and the much smaller Stallion makes himself scream a bit. Higuchi powers him into the corner for a friendly pat to the chest and it’s time to work on Stallion’s arm. The wristlock into the hammerlock has Stallion screaming even more, so he fails at a shoulder block instead. Higuchi’s shoulder sends Stallion bailing to the floor for a breather.

That means Higuchi gets to follow and chop away, followed by a shot to block Stallion’s suicide dive. It’s been one sided so far as Stallion can’t get around the size and power. Back in and more chops keep Stallion down but he pops back up with an abdominal stretch to to slow Highcuhi for the first time. Actually make it an Octopus Hold but Higuchi is in the ropes in a hurry.

A German suplex takes care of Stallion again (Fan: “STAY DOWN!”) but he’s right back up with his own bridging German suplex for two. Stallion hits a running dropkick in the corner and a DDT gets two more. For some reason Stallion is willing to chop it out again, which goes as well as you might have expected. He even asks Higuchi to chop him and that’s actually makes things worse.

This time though Stallion comes back with a knee to the chest, only to get chopped down again. A running powerslam gives Higuchi two more but Stallion grabs White Noise onto the knee for his own near fall. Stallion’s headbutt connects for another two but he misses a top rope splash. Higuchi grabs a Doctor Bomb for the pin at 11:21.

Rating: C. The fact that Higuchi had a WWN Title match the next day should have told you everything you needed to know about this one. It’s not a great match or anything but it was kind of entertaining to see Higuchi destroy the much smaller Stallion. Higuchi wasn’t flashy but he was intimidating and looked powerful so there was something to him. He would have a better match the next day too.

Post match Stallion gets an ovation. It wasn’t that good of a match.

We look at Josh Briggs beating AR Fox but hurting himself in the process. He was taken out on a stretcher and wound up with a dislocated hip.

Here’s Briggs, on crutches, for a chat. A few weeks ago, he wasn’t sure if he was going to walk again, let alone wrestle, but the fans made him believe that the doctor’s words didn’t matter. They weren’t sure how they were going to get out of the building but then the fans parted like the Red Sea and let him get out for medical treatment. Briggs appreciates the fans more than they will ever know but he promises to win the Evolve Title when (yes when) he comes back.

John Silver/Alex Reynolds vs. AR Fox/Leon Ruff

Silver and Reynolds are now in the Dark Order in AEW so this company probably had a lot to do with getting them jobs there. Hold on though as Fox and Ruff have to dance with the entourage before we’re ready to go. Reynolds works on Fox’s arm to start but Fox flips over and dances some more. Back up and they both miss a bunch of clotheslines but Fox gets one off a backslide.

Fox blocks an RKO attempt and grabs a Codebreaker, allowing Ruff to slingshot in for an elbow to the back. Silver comes in and flips into a choke on Ruff, who slips out for a screaming headlock. A one armed gorilla press has Ruff in trouble but he armdrags his way out without much trouble. Ruff’s multiple springboards armdrag sends Silver outside for a top rope flip dive, with Ruff sticking the landing of course.

Reynolds breaks up a suicide dive though and it’s Ruff in trouble for a change, including a snap suplex to give Reynolds two. A double flipping faceplant gets two on Ruff and it’s back to Silver for some crossface shots to the face into the reverse chinlock. Ruff fights up and manages a hurricanrana to send Silver into Reynolds, meaning it’s off to Fox to clean house.

A Thesz press lets Fox hammer away on Silver and there’s a rolling cutter to drop him again. Fox hits a big no hands dive onto Reynolds and Coast to Coast….well it grazes Silver for two at least. Reynolds gets a blind tag though and superkicks Fox for two. Silver and Reynolds hit a powerbomb/Rough Ryder combination for two with Ruff having to make the save.

Fox grabs a double cutter on Silver and Reynolds but they’re right back with a series of kicks to the head. Everyone winds up in the same corner and it’s Fox superplexing Silver, followed by Lo Mein Pain (springboard Spanish Fly). Ruff’s Swanton sets up For’s 450 to finish Reynolds at 15:48.

Rating: B-. Solid back and forth match here with everyone getting a chance to show off a bit. Fox looks like the established star and comes off like one of the legends around here (appropriate, as that is the case) and Ruff isn’t bad either. Silver and Reynolds got to showcase themselves as well and I can understand how AEW saw something in them, even in limited rolls.

Post match, Fox, Ruff and company dance some more.

Darby Allin vs. Anthony Henry

Priscilla Kelly is with Allin and there must be a winner. Henry’s face is half painted ala Darby’s (albeit the other side for a change of pace), making me think they had mixed up the graphics for a bit. The fans are WAY behind Allin here and Henry bails straight to the floor to start. You don’t do that to Allin, who hits a suicide dive into the barricade. Back in and the Coffin Drop is blocked but Allin flips out of a German suplex and armdrags Henry to the floor. Now the suicide dive can connect so it’s time to fight into the crowd.

Henry drops him ribs first onto the barricade and adds a running double stomp to the back. They get back in with Allin grabbing a brainbuster for a quick double down. Back up and they slug it out with Henry hitting a TKO across the top rope. Allin is back in for a pinfall reversal sequence but he can’t get the Last Supper. A TKO Stunner plants Allin so a Jackknife cover can get two. Henry talks a lot of trash though and gets caught with the flipping Stunner. That’s fine with Henry, who kicks him in the head and stomps away at the head for the referee stoppage at 7:22.

Rating: B-. You really can see the star power in Allin, though the fans kind of died on the finish there. Allin comes off as a star and I’m not sure why you would have him lose here. This felt like the ending to a big feud and with Allin being advertised for a match tomorrow, it’s a rather confusing ending. At least they beat each other up rather well and it felt like a violent match, which is what it should have been given the story they built up.

Post match Henry leaves but here’s Brandi Lauren to jump Kelly to set up their mixed tag match tomorrow.

Referees help Allin stagger to the back.

Angelo Dawkins vs. Colby Corino

Corino is part of the Unwanted and the Street Profits get a huge reaction (NXT and Evolve have a working relationship in case you’re REALLY confused right now). Montez Ford cracks up at the idea that he’s fighting someone as small as Corino and promises to take care of the rest of the Unwanted if they show up.

Corino’s slap is swatted away so Dawkins hits a release gutwrench suplex. Dawkins isn’t done and picks him up for a big swing before the second toss. A kick to the head out of the corner staggers Dawkins and a Meteora puts him down. Some running forearms in the corner don’t do Corino much good though as he gets suplexed again for his efforts. A toss spinebuster finishes Corino at 2:26, as it should have.

Post match Dawkins asks if that’s all there is. If anyone from the Unwanted wants a shot, come get him. Cue WWN Champion JD Drake (not part of the Unwanted) to say the Unwanted isn’t coming out when someone is waiting on them. Drake is here to fight though so let’s have a title match right now.

WWN Title: Angelo Dawkins vs. JD Drake

Drake is defending. They shake hands to start but Drake hits a chop, with Dawkins being glad to reciprocate. Dawkins hits a dropkick and some running elbows in the corner put Drake on the floor early on. Another chop off goes to Drake and he runs Dawkins over to impress the fans. More chops have Dawkins in more trouble, including even more to knock him down. A headbutt gives Drake two and a sliding lariat is good for the same as the pace has slowed a bit.

Dawkins fights back up with some hard shoulders, setting up the spinning splash in the corner. A bulldog gets two and a spear is good for the same but Dawkins can’t follow up. Back up and Drake manages a German suplex but Dawkins pops up and shouts. That earns him a Drill Bit for two, so Drake asks why Dawkins won’t die. Drake puts him on top but gets pulled down with a super spinebuster for two more. Dawkins’ chops just annoy Drake and he cuts Dawkins off with a knee. A Stunner sets up a Cannonball and Drake’s moonsault retains the title at 10:30.

Rating: B-. Not too bad here for an impromptu face vs. face match. They beat each other up well enough here and it’s not like a tag wrestler losing in a singles match is going to do any real damage to him. Drake gets an impressive looking win and you can tell that he means a lot to the fans here. The Street Profits had a nice run in Evolve and it helped turn them into a better team. Now imagine that: getting out and learning from someone else can help young talent get better.

Respect is shown post match.

Video on the Ten Year Anniversary show, which was pretty good.

Cue Stokely Hathaway (legendary manager, now known as Malcolm Bivens in NXT) to say he hasn’t been released. No he isn’t back tonight because the only way he could have come back was to be put into the main event tonight. That was shot down so instead he’s here to say goodbye. Last year he went to Axxess and now he has been signed by NXT and it would not have happened if not for Evolve. Since he’ll be gone soon, he wanted to say goodbye and thank you. Nice moment here and you can tell Hathaway has a deep history around here.

Montez Ford vs. Shane Strickland

Strickland is also Unwanted and is now known as Isaiah Scott. Ford is more serious here and charges at Strickland in the corner to knock him outside. That means choking and forearms against the barricade but Strickland gets in a few chops. That’s not cool with Ford who blocks a big chop and pounds Strickland down again. A sip of the red cup fires Ford up enough to hit the big flip dive and the fans are pleased.

Cue Colby Corino for a distraction though and Strickland pulls him into a modified Rings of Saturn. He even ties Ford’s arms back with his legs and the fans chant GOLDBERG. Even commentary has to explain that by mentioning some pyro going off by mistake. Lenny: “If we’re being honest, it probably would have been Gillberg.” Back up and Strickland hits a running dropkick to the knee in the corner and it’s off to more double arm cranking.

That’s broken up as well so Strickland chops away but Ford gets in a few kicks and a standing moonsault is good for two. Strickland is fine enough to hit a 619 around the post and a hard powerbomb drops Ford again. Ford pops back up and blasts Strickland with a clothesline but snaps off a dropkick before the double knockdown. It’s Strickland up first and slugging away, including taping up his fist.

Ford falls down though and the referee makes Strickland remove the tape. Strickland’s hands are fine enough for a hard German suplex and the Swerve Stomp gets two. The comeback is on but Ford gets knocked hard off the top and down onto the apron. Back up and Ford hits a top rope Fameasser with Strickland in the ropes. That and the huge frog splash is enough to give Ford the pin at 12:44.

Rating: C+. I like both of these guys (Strickland a lot) and again, it shows how much value there is to have these guys in a different promotion to learn something different. That isn’t something that happens very often and I’m really not sure why. How many wrestling promotions would love to feature some NXT talent? Anyway, this was a hard hitting match but it never hit that next gear, leaving it as just pretty good instead of very good.

Tag Team Titles: Unwanted vs. Konosuke Takeshita/Mao Inoue

The Unwanted (Eddie Kingston/Joe Gacy) is defending and the challengers are from DDT. Takeshita (the DDT Champion) starts with Kingston and they go to the mat early on. That means an early standoff so Takeshita hits a forearm to send Kingston outside. Back in and a leg lariat sends Kingston into the corner so it’s off to Mao vs. Gacy. An exchange of shoulders goes to the much bigger Gacy, who blocks a drop toehold without much effort.

Mao sends him outside and it’s back in for both challengers to hammer away. That brings Kingston back in though and Mao gets double teamed for a change, including a big clothesline for two. The chinlock goes on for a bit and it’s time to stomp away but Mao is back up with a running dropkick. A running leg lariat gets Mao out of trouble and it’s the hot(tish) tag off to Takeshita. Kingston comes in as well and is quickly DDTed to the floor, where he pulls Takeshita with him.

Mao dives onto all three and frog splashes Kingston for two back inside. A split legged moonsault gets two more and there’s a German suplex for the same with Gacy throwing Takeshita into the cover for the save. Kingston suplexes Takeshita but it’s a pair of boots in the corner to take Kingston down. Mao adds the 450 for two but walks into a heck of a spinning kick from Gacy.

That just earns him a Blue Thunder Bomb to give Mao two but Gacy blasts Mao with a clothesline for the same. Mao Stuns Gacy, who is right back up with a discus forearm for two more. A nasty looking powerbomb/neckbreaker combination gets two as everything stays broken down. Mao slugs away at both champions at once but it’s a backdrop driver to give Gacy the retaining pin at 13:57.

Rating: B. I liked this one way more than I expected to as the DDT guys looked awesome at times. They played well against the hard hitting champions and I liked the whole thing rather well. The Unwanted has impressed me in the limited amount of time I’ve seen them and this was no exception. Good stuff here and probably the best match of the night so far.

Evolve Title: Austin Theory vs. Kyle O’Reilly

O’Reilly is challenging and yes he does play the air guitar on a belt without actually having a belt. Hold on though as both guys make sure to tell the ring announcer their various nicknames for the Big Match Intros. This includes Kyle dubbing himself the Sleazy Air Guitar Superstar, which of course gets a chant. Feeling out process to start with O’Reilly taking him down but Theory runs away from the threat of a big kick to the head.

Back up and O’Reilly grabs the leg again but can’t get very far with it. A headlock takeover works better for O’Reilly and he does it again because he’s from NXT and likes Takeovers. Theory can’t suplex his way out of the headlock so he powers up, only to get taken down all over again. O’Reilly’s mind games of just outmaneuvering Theory at every step is good stuff. The cross armbreaker sends Theory outside and that’s good for a SLEAZY KYLE chant.

Back in and O’Reilly strikes him down without much trouble as Theory just can’t get anything going so far. A kneebar sends Theory to the rope but he finally scores with a clothesline to get a breather. Theory’s standing moonsault gets two and it’s off to an arm trap chinlock. That doesn’t last long though and Theory chops the heck out of him in the corner. A suplex gets two on O’Reilly and it’s off to a different armbar.

O’Reilly fights up and rolls some butterfly DDTs to put them both down for a bit. The ankle lock doesn’t last long so O’Reilly suplexes him for two more. Theory is back with a buckle bomb but they trade kicks to the face. A kneebar slows Theory down and O’Reilly kicks him in the chest so hard that he sends himself outside. They slug it out again and, after staggering a bit, Theory rocks him enough for Three Seconds Around The World (spinning torture rack bomb).

2K1 (leg trap brainbuster) gets two more on O’Reilly but he takes the knee again. Theory dives for the rope and needs a little walk around the ring. This includes picking up the title and walking away but O’Reilly pulls him back inside. The brainbuster gives O’Reilly two and we hit the ankle lock. Theory gets out again and hits a DDT onto the belt for two, followed Attaksia for the pin to retain at 20:15.

Rating: B. I had a good time with this one and there were times where you believed that the title could change hands. That’s not something you get in showdown matches like this so well done with both guys. What matters here though is giving Theory another line on his resume. It means something to have beaten a big name from NXT so it’s a positive deal for everyone here, as O’Reilly gets a good match and can go right back to NXT’s tag division while pointing to the DDT on the belt. Good main event here and it felt like a bit deal.

Post match Theory jumps O’Reilly but Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong run in for the save. Fish talks about how he and O’Reilly started Evolve (in the first main event) and they will step in when needed. O’Reilly liked that Theory (which he pronounces as Tuh-hear-e) used the title and promises that the Undisputed Era will be back.

Overall Rating: B. This was a fun and entertaining show which never dragged in the slightest. The more I watch of Evolve the more I think I could get into it. You can tell that there are intricate stories throughout the company and a lot of history between the people. It wasn’t exactly on display here, but they did enough to make me interested in seeing more. Well done here and a show worth checking out if you get the time (it’s available for free on their YouTube page).

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 #104
Date: April 4, 2020
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: AJ Kirsch, Rich Bocchini

This is the last show on American soil for the time being and I’m not sure what that is going to mean going forward. They have a few shows taped from Mexico but you never know how much they can draw from that one event. Hopefully this one works but this company can be all over the place. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Douglas James vs. Septimo Dragon

Feeling out process to start with Dragon flipping out of a toss attempt. That’s fine with James, who knees him in the face to send things outside. The suicide dive drops Dragon again but he’s back up with a kick to the face. A moonsault sets up a suicide dive to drop James this time around and they head back inside. Dragon hits some LOUD shots to the face and a springboard hurricanrana keeps James in trouble. James catches him in the corner though and a Codebreaker gets two. A suplex gets the same and James faceplants him into the Crossface.

Dragon slips out so it’s a hard clothesline to drop him again. Back up and they slug it out, with Dragon shouting “COME ON F*****!”. A superkick battle goes to Dragon but they kick each other in the head at the same time for a double knockdown. The fans are rather appreciative, even as the double count begins. Back up and Dragon kicks him in the face for two, followed by the Septimo Driver (almost a Dominator into a piledriver) for two. James pops back up with a Death Valley Driver into the corner and the guillotine choke finishes Dragon at 7:29.

Rating: C+. There was no reason for them to work this hard in a match and yet they pulled it off pretty well here. I wouldn’t have bet on something like this but it was nice to see two people putting in the effort and having a good match as a result. James is kind of plain but Dragon could be fine for the local luchador, which will always have a place in wrestling.

Richard Holliday is going to interfere in the empty arena match between Maxwell Jacob Friedman and Mance Warner but gets a phone call from Gino Medina. Logan Creed has done something and attention is needed.

Pagano is still coming.

In case he has to leave, here’s Mance Warner’s debut. I still like him a lot.

Warner is ready to fight and might have some friends of his own. It might be better that some people might not be there because he doesn’t want them seeing that violence. When asked his plans for dealing with the Dynasty: “F*** em.”

We look at Injustice beating down Brian Pillman Jr. last week, including the Stomp onto a cinder block.

Injustice have been fined and suspended.

The AAA/MLW Super Series is coming next week.

LA Park and his sons want Psycho Clown to find two partners for a six man tag.

The Dynasty doesn’t like an interview taking place outside of their dressing room. They get rid of the interviewer before they lose the rarefied air.

Here’s MJF’s MLW debut.

Here’s MJF winning the Middleweight Title.

Savio Vega thinks the empty arena match is dangerous but he’s picking Mance.

Here’s the Top 10:

10. Low Ki

9. King Mo

8. Mance Warner

7. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

6. Richard Holliday

5. Brian Pillman Jr.

4. Tom Lawlor

3. Davey Boy Smith Jr.

2. Myron Reed

1. Alexander Hammerstone

Switch these things to once a month as they barely ever change and a lot of these people aren’t even featured every week.

We look at Team Filthy and American Top Team cheating to beat Low Ki last week.

The Dynasty goes after Mance Warner but Savio Vega comes in to even the numbers and the fight is on.

Here’s Mance beating Jimmy Havoc in the barbed wire match.

Post break, Mance and Savio stand tall.

The Von Erichs talk about turning adversity into positives. Like with the Coronavirus, or Team Filthy cheating last week. That’s quite the jump in levels of severity no?

MJF talks about Warner not knowing much about him. When MJF was a kid, a bunch of people threw quarters at him. That was in third grade, so he went to the gym every day and on the last day of high school, he knocked the main guy out. MJF starts shouting about how he can f*** someone up so he can get nuts too. This went from zero to sixty in no time.

Killer Kross is hurt and out of action for six months. He wanted to fight in MLW again but his “Stamford employer” will not allow it.

Brian Pillman Jr. has a broken jaw and might sue Injustice.

Mance Warner vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

In an empty arena and loser leaves town. MJF spits gum in Warner’s face so they’re on the floor in a hurry. It’s actually MJF getting the better of it and choking with a rope. Warner has to knock the bolt cutters out of his hands and a headbutt sends MJF staggering away. MJF sends him flying through some chairs for one and they fight up the empty bleachers. Some right hands have MJF in trouble and he can’t throw Warner over the balcony. Instead, Warner throws him down the bleachers (Referee: “Max are you ok?”) for two.

MJF finds a broom to choke him up against the wall but stops to punch out a cameraman. A stolen cigarette is burned on Warner’s head but hold on as MJF steals a phone to….call a taxi? Warner is back up with a chair shot for two before bending the wrist around part of the metal structure. They get back in the ring with MJF slugging away, capped off by the Bionic Elbow. A headbutt sets up the lariat to get rid of MJF at 7:47.

Rating: B. I liked this more than I expected to even though I like both guys quite a bit. Warner beat the heck out of him but MJF was showing a lot of fire. It says a lot that he was willing to put in this kind of effort in a match that was really for his secondary job rather than something in AEW. He really is that good and I’m glad to see him move up that far so fast. Warner is going to get there someday too but for now he can be a star in MLW.

Overall Rating: B-. The wrestling was quite good but there were a few too many recaps and filler segments. At the same time, the show was even shorter than usual so maybe they edited it differently or something here. We got a good show though and a big time main event. I have no idea how the Mexico shows will go, but at least they had a solid effort this time around.

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 #103
Date: March 28, 2020
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: AJ Kirsch, Rich Bocchini

It’s the final night in Philadelphia and that means things should be hitting a high note this week. The main event features King Mo vs. Low Ki in what should be a rather hard hitting match. Things have been up and down around here lately and with just one TV taping left in the can, they’re running out of time to leave on a good show. Let’s get to it.

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

We look at the setup of last week’s eight man tag, plus the match itself. The big post match brawl included King Mo joining Team Filthy in an important addition.

Dan Lambert, Mo’s manger, isn’t worried about a suspension because you’re not getting rid of Mo that easily. Mo will be allowed to wrestle during an appeal and he’ll dominate again.

Opening sequence.

Brian Pillman Jr. isn’t here for some reason so his interview is postponed.

Team Filthy aren’t scared of Killer Kross or Low Ki. Dominic Garrini has his own business tonight, in the form of a $1000 challenge.

Dominic Garrini vs. Dr. Dax

If Dax lasts five minutes, he gets $1000. Garrini gets driven into the corner to start but takes Dax down with a legsweep. A choke knocks Dax out at 1:03 so at least they didn’t waste time.

MJF isn’t falling for Mance Warner’s tricks because Warner has as many brain cells as he has teeth. Warner is trailer park trash who is jealous of the silver spoon MJF was born with. He’s an outlaw mudshow s***** wrestler (he’s been listening to his Cornette) and MJF will **** him up next week in an empty arena match.

Pagano is still coming.

Now Brian Pillman’s match has been canceled.

Video on King Mo.

National Openweight Title: T-Hawk vs. Alexander Hammerstone

Hammerstone is defending. The fans are behind Hawk as they lock up to start and it’s a clean break in the corner. Another clean break goes nowhere so Hammerstone shoulders him down instead. More shoulders in the corner keep Hawk in trouble but he’s fine enough to snap off a suplex. Even Hammerstone has to give him that one and a sitout spinebuster gives Hawk two.

With the wrestling not working, Hammerstone forearms and stomps away in the corner. That earns him a trip to the floor but Hammerstone kicks him in the head for his efforts. A whip into the barricade has Hawk in more trouble and we hit the neck crank back inside. Hawk is back up but charges into a book, only to chop Hammerstone off the top in a surprising power display. They trade knees to the face, followed by Hawk kneeing him in the back of the head for the real knockdown.

Hammerstone comes back with a pump kick into a German suplex, followed by a powerbomb for two. The Boston crab stays on Hawk’s back so it’s time for a quick crawl to the rope. Hammerstone kicks and suplexes him again but Hawk is right back with a belly to back faceplant for two (his back seems fine). Hawk goes up so Hammerstone is right there with a running dropkick into a top rope superplex. Now the Nightmare Pendulum can connect to retain the title at 12:17.

Rating: B-. This was a nice surprise as Hawk looked solid and Hammerstone played up to a higher level this time around. Hammerstone is someone who could be a big star on almost any show and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him in AEW sooner rather than later. Hawk seems like someone who could fit in anywhere and I would expect that to be the case for a long time.

Video on Low Ki.

Here’s the Top Ten:

10. King Mo

9. Low Ki

8. Mance Warner

7. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

6. Richard Holliday

5. Brian Pillman Jr.

4. Tom Lawlor

3. Davey Boy Smith Jr.

2. Myron Reed

1. Alexander Hammerstone

Konnan is excited for the AAA vs. MLW series in Tijuana. The Super Series starts in two weeks, so they’re fine for the time being at least.

Mance Warner says the Dynasty has made him even crazier and he’s ready to get rid of MJF.

We look at the merger of American Top Team and Team Filthy last week. Killer Kross has been injured and is undergoing various tests. Maybe those include some WWE physical tests?

Injustice show Alicia some video on their phones and she doesn’t look pleased. We’ll see it in a minute.

King Mo vs. Low Ki

Dan Lambert and Ross Von Erich are the seconds and Mo has his umbrella. He’s no Jack Gallagher but these days, neither is Gallagher. We get the staredown and referee instructions to make this feel like a major fight. They circle and grapple to the ropes to start so it’s an early break from the referee. The fans are behind Ki as they grapple again, with Mo throwing him over the top this time around. Ki comes up holding his leg and the smiling Mo waits against the ropes.

That doesn’t last long though as Ki shoves him off the apron again as they’re certainly finding a way to get through the match without much contact (not a bad thing). Back in and Mo throws knees in the corner before going after the leg again. A leglock/chinlock combination has Ki in big trouble and Mo sends him outside a third time. Ki gets back in again so Mo beats him down in the corner yet again before stopping for jumping jacks.

A kick to the leg stagger Mo though and Ki’s rolling Liger kick rocks him rather well. Ki grabs a choke and Mo is down but here’s Garrini to go after Ross. Marshall and Erick Stevens are here as well, meaning the referee goes outside as well. The distraction lets Tom Lawlor run in with the umbrella to Ki’s head for the knockout. Lambert throws in Ross’ towel and the referee comes back to call it off at 9:52.

Rating: C+. This took some time to get going and almost felt like a Brock Lesnar match until the ending. What mattered here though was making Mo look like a star and the fact that they protected Ki at the same time made it better. There were a lot of smoke and mirrors but at least they did things the way they should have. It felt big coming in, though I’m not sure how it went on the way out.

Post match Mo and Lambert brag about their win. Mo has some great charisma as he tells the fans to bend the knee.

We see the footage from Injustice, which shows the three of them attacking Brian Pillman Jr. in the parking lot. A curb stomp through a cinder block ends the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Good show overall with angle advancement, stuff being set up for future weeks and some solid action. What matters most at the moment is that they have a few more weeks taped and that should keep them going for the time being. I’m not sure how long that is going to keep things going, but at least they had a rather nice show here.

Results

Dominic Garrini b. Dr. Dax – Choke

Alexander Hammerstone b. T-Hawk – Nightmare Pendulum

King Mo b. Low Ki via referee stoppage

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: National Wrestling Alliance

Into The Fire
Date: December 14, 2019
Location: GPB Studios, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Joe Galli, Stu Bennett

This is another one that has been sitting on my list for a good while now and it’s time to knock it off. What we have here is the NWA pay per view and the big culmination of the first season of Powerrr. The show has been good leading up to this event and now we need to see what the NWA can do on a big stage. The main event is Nick Aldis defending the World Title against James Storm in a 2/3 falls match with guest referees involved. Let’s get to it.

The opening video features Stu Bennett reading a poem, which is capped off with the line Into The Fire. Makes sense, just like the words being read over clips of the wrestlers on the card.

The commentators run down the card, which I never understand on a pay per view, but for a cheap show where a lot of people might be getting into the promotion, it makes some more sense.

Eli Drake vs. Ken Anderson

Everyone has music and an entrance now, making the show feel even more important. This is fallout from a triple threat match for the National Title where James Storm retained. A hard lockup takes them into the corner to start, followed by Anderson grabbing a hammerlock. Drake can’t spin off the mat early on so he powers up and hammers away in the corner. Anderson whips him back into the corner though and it’s a sliding knee to crush Drake’s head.

Back up and Drake grabs a hot shot for two, setting up the chinlock. The big jumping elbow gets two and there’s a slingshot shoulder for the same. The chinlock goes on again, followed by a quick neckbreaker so Drake can get another near fall. We hit the reverse chinlock until Anderson fights up again for the Regal Roll. Anderson counters the Gravy Train into a rollup and goes up top. That’s fine with Drake, who runs up the corner for a superplex, only to have Anderson counter into a sunset bomb, with Drake sitting down on it for the pin at 9:15.

Rating: C. This was a perfectly fine match between two wrestlers who have been in the ring for a long time and done this stuff for a long time. They didn’t do a great job of explaining why these two are fighting, but at least they had a watchable enough match. I can go for more of Drake, though he wasn’t exactly looking great here.

Here’s Nick Aldis to say the NWA went from nothing to something, with forty countries watching live on pay per view. Yeah you can get up and cheer for that and tonight, it’s him vs. James Storm as the only men with a chance to live forever. Storm comes out as well and says everyone worked together as a team to get here. Tonight, Aldis is going to learn that he has been through a war with the toughest SOB in the world. At the end of the night though, Aldis is going to hear AND NEW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.

We recap Melina debut and forming an alliance with Thunder Rosa and Marti Belle.

Here’s Tasha Steelz for her match but first, she says how great she is and makes a weird noise.

Tasha Steelz vs. Thunder Rosa

Rosa comes down the steps and looks ticked, despite getting a heck of a reception. Rosa grabs her by the hair to start but misses a clothesline. Steelz goes for the wristlock but gets blasted with the second clothesline attempt, allowing Rosa to tie her in the Tree of Woe. A running corner dropkick gets two so Steelz tries an Irish whip, which is cut off with a drop toehold (I’ve seen that before and it’s still sweet). The surfboard goes on but Steelz gets out and hits some running uppercuts. Some running kicks to the face drop Steelz again and a top rope double stomp to the back finishes Steelz at 4:18.

Rating: D+. As usual, the women’s division doesn’t exactly seem like much around here and it hasn’t gotten much better. The match was just a few steps above a squash and Steelz is one of multiple women who feel interchangeable around here. Rosa continues to look like a star though and the longer she toils with these matches, the less important she feels.

Post match Rosa beats on her some more, drawing out Ashley Vox for a failed save attempt. Rosa dislocates the elbow for a bonus.

We recap Aron Stevens joining forces with Question Mark over the powers of ka-ra-te.

Question Mark vs. Trevor Murdoch

Stevens is here with Mark, who he refers to as Sensei Question. Hold on though as Mark needs to sing the Mongrovian National Anthem, with Stevens unrolling the flag. They stare each other down for a good bit after the bell until Murdoch starts slugging away. A slam puts Mark down again but it’s too early to go for the mask. Mark strikes away with chops to the head and chest, followed by a middle rope dropkick for two. Back up and Murdoch grabs a spinebuster before going up top…..WHERE HE GRABS THE FLAG AND THROWS IT DOWN! You don’t do that to Mark so Murdoch has to chase Stevens off, allowing Mark to hit the chop to the throat for the pin at 5:58.

Rating: C. Mark is one of those guys who the fans have just accepted and turned into one of the most entertaining acts around here. That’s all he needs to be and while it won’t last forever, it is something that is rather entertaining for what it is. Murdoch will be fine as the old cowboy as it’s a character you can always have around.

We look at the Rock N Roll Express winning the Tag Team Titles from the Wild Cards. Tonight is the rematch.

The Express comes out, flanked by Outlaw Inc., for a chat before their title defense. Outlaw Inc. is here as an insurance policy, which doesn’t bode well. Hold out though as here are the Wild Cards, with the Dawsons as their own backup.

Tag Team Titles: Rock N Roll Express vs. Wild Cards

The Express is defending. Morton and Latimer start things off with the champ sending him into the corner. A double back elbow drops Latimer and Gibson sends the Cards into each other. Naturally Morton is fine enough to hit a suicide dive onto both of them but Isaacs gets in a knee to the back to take him down.

A powerbomb connects but the referee won’t count because there was no tag. I guess they really do wrestle in the NWA. Morton avoids a charge in the corner and brings Gibson back in to clean house. A missed clothesline drops Isaacs and Morton busts out a Canadian Destroyer of all things. The other teams get in a fight on the floor and in the confusion, the double dropkick finishes Isaacs to retain the titles at 5:01.

Rating: C. This is one of those matches where you have to put it on a sliding scale because the Express are in their sixties and there is only so much that they can do. The match wasn’t anything great and I’m not sure why I should think much of the Wild Cards if they can’t beat the old Express, but the fans were WAY into the champs here. And they even busted out a dive and Destroyer so it’s kind of hard to complain that much.

The NWA will be back on pay per view January 24 and the TV Title is coming back (dig that classic design).

Here’s Eli Drake to say he wants a World Title shot. Drake doesn’t like the idea of someone coming out here and trying to pump his gas, so here’s Ken Anderson to jump him from behind. Anderson wraps a chair around Drake’s neck and crushes it against the post. The Mic Check onto the open chair knocks Drake cold.

Allysin Kay/??? vs. Melina/Marti Belle

Ashley Vox was supposed to be Kay’s partner but she was taken out earlier, meaning we need a replacement. That would be….ODB, because we’re just that lucky. Good thing she was here and in gear on about thirty minutes notice too. Melina bails from a charging Kay to start so it’s Belle coming in instead. That earns her some forearms into the corner so a running knee can get two.

A hard whip into the corner keeps Belle down and Kay hammers down some right hands for two more. There’s a neckbreaker for another two as Kay keeps yelling at Melina. That’s enough to draw Melina in without a tag so Kay tries the belly to back piledriver (AK47, which is a different move than the one that originally used the same name), allowing Belle to get in a cheap shot to take over.

Now Melina is willing to come in legally and stomp away, with Belle choking from the corner for a bonus. Belle gets two off a DDT but Melina misses a kick to the head, allowing ODB to come in off the hot tag. House is cleaned, including a fall away slam and Bronco Buster to Belle with Melina making the save. Now the AK47 drops Melina and the Bam (usually a TKO but practically a Samoan drop here) finishes Belle at 7:21.

Rating: D. I’ve never been an ODB fan and this didn’t make it any better. The finish looked horrible and I’m still not sure what the point of this feud is. Then again I’m not sure if it’s a feud in the first place, as the story just kind of goes on and on. Not every promotion needs a women’s division and while Melina may be a star, she’s not quite the kind of legendary star that they seem to think she is.

Video on Storm vs. Aldis. Storm has claimed a conspiracy against him so tonight it’s 2/3 falls and they both get to pick a referee.

National Title: Ricky Starks vs. Aron Stevens vs. Colt Cabana

Cabana is defending, Stevens has Question Mark with him, and it’s one fall to a finish. Stevens bails to the floor to start so the chase is on, with Cabana and Starks hitting elbows to his head back inside. A running kick to the head puts Stevens on the floor so he hides behind a Christmas tree at ringside. Starks takes Cabana down in a hammerlock but Cabana is back with one of his own.

As Bennett tries to figure out what a “Stroke Daddy” is, Starks fights up and shoulders Cabana down for two. With the other two down, Stevens runs back in, poses a bit, and gets punched in the ribs for his efforts. Cabana throws Starks outside and takes Stevens into the corner. Starks comes back in so Stevens hits Cabana low and discus clotheslines Starks for two. A fancy elbow hits Starks and it’s time to choke in the corner.

Mark takes care of Cabana on the floor and Stevens knees him off the apron as Starks can’t get back up. Cabana gets back in and is sent out again just as fast, allowing Starks to run Stevens over. Everyone gets back in and it’s time for some atomic drops to Stevens for the sake of comedy. Starks dropkicks Cabana and lands on Stevens with a backsplash for two, followed by an abdominal stretch to Cabana.

That’s broken up as well and the Billy Goat’s Curse (reverse Boston crab) has Starks crawling over to the rope in a hurry. The pinfall reversal sequence gives us some near falls each until Starks grabs a tornado DDT on Cabana. Back up and Cabana hits the Superman Pin for two as Mark makes the save with a shot to the throat. Stevens is right back in and covers Cabana for the pin and the title at 12:21.

Rating: C+. This was a fun match and Stevens is going to be fine as a champion who everyone knows they can beat but can’t quite do it for a bit. His association with Mark is going to be rather entertaining and hopefully we get some more wacky shenanigans out of them soon. Starks is going to be fine for a long time to come.

Here’s Tim Storm, Nick Aldis’ referee for the World Title match, to promise that he’ll call everything right down the middle. He’ll represent the NWA because he’s always Mama Storm’s little boy.

We recap the World Title match, which is still centered around Kamille, who whispered something to Storm. The story doesn’t exactly make sense, but the match itself does and that’s what matters most here.

NWA World Title: James Storm vs. Nick Aldis

Aldis is defending and it’s 2/3 falls with Brian Hebner (Storm’s pick) and Tim Storm (Aldis’ pick) refereeing the first and second falls respectively. If a third fall is needed, a coin flip will determine who gets to referee. They fight over hammerlocks and headlocks to start with Storm having to flip out of a headscissors. Back up and it’s a standoff as Kamille comes out to watch. Aldis tells her to get to the back and it’s a Last call to give Storm the first fall at 2:17.

James stays on him to start the second fall and hammers away on the floor for a bit, including sending Aldis knees first into the steps. They fight up into the crowd for a bit, followed by a hard suplex onto the floor to keep Aldis down. Tim counts to nine at a fair speed so James throws Aldis right back to the floor. Aldis manages to whip him into the Christmas tree though, meaning it’s time to send Aldis into the announcers’ table.

Back in and James starts in on the leg, only to go to the middle rope and dive into a belly to belly. James is fine enough to hit the Eye of the Storm for two so it’s time for a chair. Believe it or not, he listens to the referee and throws it down, only to get small packaged to tie it up at 11:06.

We get a coin toss with Hebner winning so the third call can start. Aldis grabs a quick Michinoku Driver for two but walks into a Backstabber for the same. Storm gets crotched on top and superplex down for two (with a sloppy cover, causing Gorilla Monsoon to groan from the announcers’ booth in the sky). Another superplex attempt is broken up and Storm drops a top rope elbow for two. The Last Call is countered so Storm settles for a Figure Four instead.

Aldis turns it over to escape and hits a Tombstone of all things, setting up the top rope elbow for two. The referee gets bumped though, meaning Tim has to come back out to take over. There’s the Last Call to Aldis, who gets knocked into the corner. James grabs an O’Connor roll, with Aldis pulling the turnbuckle pad off with him (it wasn’t clear if he unhooked it or if it broke). The kickout sends James into the exposed buckle and the King’s Lynn Cloverleaf finishes the unconscious James at 21:54.

Rating: B. This was a main event that felt like it should have been on a major show and that’s a good thing. I could see this being a finish in an old school NWA match as you could argue over whether Aldis cheated or not. Aldis continues to carry himself like a champion every time and that’s the kind of thing that should keep the title on him for a long time to come. Good main event here and easily the best thing on the show.

Post match Aldis says this win belongs to all of us because we are the NWA. The title is how he tells the world who he is, and he knows no one can take the title from him. The lights go out and MARTY SCURLL IS HERE! Aldis looks scared and leaves to end the show before anything happens.

Overall Rating: C+. The thing to remember is where this company was just a few months ago. Until Powerrr started, AEW truly was a punchline. They went from absolutely nothing to something that people were talking about in a good way. Now they’re putting on a completely competent, if not downright good, pay per view. There were things here that weren’t very good, but there were enough positives to make the whole thing a success. It’s an easy two and a half hour show and that’s all it needed to be. Nice job and considering how far they’ve come recently, that’s impressive.

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 #102
Date: March 21, 2020
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: AJ Kirsch, Rich Bocchini

I’m not sure what is left from this show, but there assuming they taped their event in Mexico, they might have another four weeks left after this one. We’ll get to that later though as this one is all about fallout from last week. Therefore, it’s time for an eight man tag with Team Filthy vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr./the Von Erichs/Killer Kross, which could be a big deal. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at last week’s brawl which set up the eight man tag.

Mance Warner has been attacked by the Dynasty and therefore, Maxwell Jacob Friedman is banned from the building. Warner will be in the corner of Richard Holliday’s mystery opponent though.

El Lindaman vs. Zenshi

Feeling out process to start with the stronger Lindaman going for a waistlock, only to get rolled up for two. They spin up to a standoff and Lindaman slaps the hand but spins around into a discus forearm to rock Zenshi. That earns Lindaman a face first flip onto the mat and Zenshi hits a standing moonsault to the back for two. Zenshi dives to the floor, only to have Lindaman nail his own running flip dive.

After Lindaman poses on the stage a bit, he drives Zenshi back first into the apron. Back in and it’s time to work on Zenshi’s bad shoulder, with a Fujiwara armbar sending him over to the rope. A legdrop to the arm sends Zenshi to the apron, where he uses the good arm for a handstand into a kick to Lindaman’s head. Zenshi grabs a good looking slingshot neckbreaker but has to fight out of another armbreaker attempt.

A northern lights suplex sends Zenshi into the corner and a German suplex rocks him again. That’s fine with Zenshi, who hits a Pele for the double knockdown. The strike off goes to the stronger Lindaman until Zenshi starts the flips. A jumping kick to the head looks to set up a running cutter, which is countered into something like a Blue Thunder Bomb. Lindaman tiger suplexes him for the pin at 8:14.

Rating: C+. This is one of the places where MLW is at its best: taking two talented wrestlers who have never had the real chance to shine on their own (Zenshi has to a bit but only in spurts) and letting them have a nice TV match. Lindaman used technique and power to beat the high flier and that’s one of the easiest stories to tell. If you have people who can do the work, the match will follow and that’s what happened here.

Smith and company are ready to win because they have friends. Kross’ eyes are creepy as usual.

Mance Warner won’t say who his mystery man is.

Richard Holliday thinks the opponent could be Mance’s garbage truck driver or Kwang.

Contra Unit is ready to embark on a mission and prepare for the upcoming war. They still have soldiers hidden among us.

Pagano is still coming.

Holliday says he shouldn’t be in this match because Warner was too drunk to pick an opponent.

Injustice attacked Brian Pillman Jr. when he was with some fans. Davey Boy Smith Jr. made the save.

Richard Holliday vs. ???

Warner comes out and introduces…..Blue Meanie as the ECW name de jour. Dancing ensues as Warner sits in on commentary. Holliday even tries the dancing as there is no contact in the first minute. The fans don’t like the idea of Holliday dancing so they dance together until Holliday jumps him from behind over two minutes in. A clothesline drops Meanie so Holliday can dance again, only to have Meanie duck a clothesline. Some right hands get two but Holliday elbows him in the back of the head for two. Holliday heads outside to yell at Warner and have a beer, but Warner spits his in Holliday’s face, drawing the countout at 5:23.

Rating: D. Now this is the kind of harmless match I can tolerate. Meanie didn’t do anything to make him look close to Holliday’s level and Holliday lost because he did something stupid. This isn’t going to do any real damage and furthers Holliday vs. Warner. This was perfectly fine booking if you just had to have the ECW guy in there.

Injustice doesn’t seem to like AAA or Brian Pillman Jr.

Top Ten:

10. King Mo

9. Low Ki

8. Mance Warner

7. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

6. Richard Holliday

5. Brian Pillman Jr.

4. Tom Lawlor

3. Davey Boy Smith Jr.

2. Myron Reed

1. Alexander Hammerstone

Low Ki is ready to fight King Mo whenever he’s ready. Low Ki: “Mo, you look a little bit punch drunk. When I’m done with you, you’ll be kick s*** faced.”

Mo hasn’t seen Low Ki knock anyone out because he’s a low key fraud. They fight next week.

And now, I kid you not, cooking with LA Park and Hijo de LA Park. Seriously they make sausage and eggs while talking about how great they are and promise to win matches. It turns into a metaphor for what people will need to beat them. Park eventually quits because he has no salt. This goes on for nearly five minutes.

Warner has challenged MJF to an Empty Arena Loser Leaves MLW match.

Team Filthy vs. Von Erichs/Davey Boy Smith Jr./Killer Kross

Team Filthy is Tom Lawlor, Erick Stevens, Dominic Garrini and Rip Von Erich. Hold on though as Lawlor has to insult Philadelphia and its fans before we can get going. The fans tell him to shut the f*** up so Lawlor tells them there are kids in the crowd….and screw this place. It’s a big brawl around the ring to start until Lawlor and Ross wind up inside to officially get things going. A Sling Blade gets Ross out of trouble and it’s a running boot to the face in the corner to rock Lawlor again.

Lawlor takes Ross down though and the beating is on in a hurry. Stevens comes in and gets suplexed into Ross in the corner so Rip can kick him in the back. An enziguri allows the hot tag to Kross though and suplexes abound. A spinwheel kick drops Kross, who pops right back up to glare at Lawlor. Everything breaks down and Rip hits Smith low before grabbing a chair. Marshall cuts him off with the Claw though and it’s the claw slam into the moonsault for the pin at 7:49.

Rating: C. Just a match for the most part here and that’s all it needed to be. Rip is out there for the sake of taking the fall and there is nothing wrong with that. Don’t make this more complicated than it needs to be, especially given all of the people involved here. Smith vs. Lawlor could be a good brawl down the road, and there are other options in there on top of it. They didn’t burn those off here either and that’s a good sign.

Post match Kross says we’re not done and grabs a board. As that is set up in the corner, Stevens and Garrini beat up Ross outside. That’s not important though as Rip is powerbombed through the board to…..set up one more brawl into the back. King Mo breaks a board over Kross’ back, siding with Team Filthy to end the show. That’s an interesting twist.

Overall Rating: C+. I liked this show well enough as the booking made sense throughout, even if the wrestling itself wasn’t all that great. I’d assume that they have some matches taped from Mexico and that could keep them going for a few weeks, even though those shows tend to be in their own universe instead of following the major stories. Good stuff this week though, and hopefully they continue in the future.

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

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