Fusion #129
Date: March 24, 2021
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Jared St. Laurent, Rich Bocchini

It’s the go home show for Never Say Never and that means very little for this week. I’m still not sure how many things there are to get excited about around here, but maybe they can have some kind of energy going into the big show. We have a chain match this week, but somehow even that doesn’t sound exciting. Let’s get to it.

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

Josef Samael rants about Injustice causing problems for Contra so next week, things will be settled. Then there is Calvin Tankman, who has been talking about coming after Fatu. So many have said that and then fallen, just like Tankman. That’s next week though, because he has to survive tonight.

Opening sequence.

Gino Medina vs. Zenshi

Zenshi takes him down to start so Gino bails into the corner. They trade some quickly broken holds and counters until Gino is sent outside. A quick switch lets Zenshi sweep the legs from the floor but Gino is back up for the stomping in the corner. Zenshi snaps off a hurricanrana and hits a standing moonsault for two but Gino is back with a chop for two.

An abdominal stretch lasts for about two seconds before it’s off to a double arm crank instead. It’s time for the tried and true going for the mask but Zenshi elbows him down and gets two off a Spanish Fly. A handspring seated crossbody gives Zenshi two more but Gino kicks him in the head for the pin at 7:13.

Rating: C. It was another just kind of there match from Medina, which tends to be the norm for him. I’m not sure what is missing from him but nothing ever really seems to click. Maybe a gimmick of some sort would help, but he just kind of comes and goes without making an impact. Zenshi is good, but it isn’t like he stands head and shoulders above everyone else.

Tom Lawlor is claiming an injury before tonight’s main event.

Myron Reed talks about how he lost everything at Kings of Colosseum and then got attacked by Contra. Next week, he has Daivari.

Gringo Loco vs. Mil Muertes

Salina de la Renta is here with Muertes, who does not think much of Loco’s dancing. A spear and some right hands put Loco down as the dominance begins. Another right hand puts Loco on the floor and Muertes rams him into various things. Muertes chops the post but catches Loco in a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Back in and a catapult sends Loco throat first into the bottom rope, followed by a spinning chokeslam for two. A powerslam is good for the same and Salina gets in some choking on the ropes. Loco gets up to the middle rope but spins into the Downward Spiral to give Muertes the pin at 7:30.

Rating: C-. Muertes’ offense is rather devastating looking but at the same time, it is a little bit obvious that he doesn’t really move. He is one of those monsters who just kind of waits for you to come get to him, which is one of the more interesting versions. I’m not sure where he is going, but the presentation alone is one of the best things in MLW.

Alex Hammerstone isn’t happy with Mil Muertes taking the National Openweight Title. The challenge is on for April 14.

Tom Lawlor is out but we’ll make it 2-2 instead of 3-3.

Video on Calvin Tankman.

Here are the tag team rankings:

5. Dirty Blonds

4. Contra

3. Injustice

2. Violence Is Forever

1. Von Erichs

Bu Ku Dao is out 2-3 weeks and TJP has been fined.

Calvin Tankman vs. Zad

Zad is from the Sentai Death Squad. Tankman Pounces him to start and hits a spinebuster, followed by a backfist to the back of the head for the fast pin at 1:02.

Post match Contra comes in but Injustice runs in for the save to help Tankman clean house.

The Von Erichs are ready for Violence Is Forever without or without Tom Lawlor.

Salina de la Renta accepts Alex Hammerstone’s challenge for April 14 but yells at a question about Azteca Underground. Someone from Azteca Underground comes up though and Salina seems to be in trouble.

Tom Lawlor says Violence Is Forever is ready for the Von Erichs.

Here’s what’s coming at Never Say Never.

Von Erichs vs. Violence Is Forever

The ring ropes have been replaced by chains and Tom Lawlor is here too. It’s a brawl to start with the Von Erichs taking over early on. Violence Is Forever is sent into the chains but a Lawlor distraction lets Violence Is Forever take over. An Indian Deathlock into an STF has Marshall in trouble but Ross is back up to clean house.

Dominic pulls Marshall into a heel hook but Ross makes a save. The Von Erichs are sent into the chains and something like a GTS into a dragon suplex gets two. Lawlor tries to throw in some brass knuckles but an interception allows Marshall to knock Ku out. The claw slam/belly to back suplex combination finishes Garrini at 7:30.

Rating: D+. This was a weird one because the chains really didn’t have much involvement here. They were more of a detail than a feature, as this was hardly the kind of violent match you would expect when there are chains instead of ropes. The action itself was fine, but there is only so much you can do with this kind of a gimmick.

A Never Say Never ad wraps us up.

Overall Rating: C-. Yeah this was the MLW show that I have come to dread: uninteresting stories, just ok wrestling and almost nothing I’m going to remember. Never Say Never is just about a guaranteed finale for me as the show isn’t all that entertaining. You might get something decent every now and then, but overall things just are not all that great. Next week is going to be another Contra show, which has been the case for a very long time now. The show needs something fresh, but it seems less and less likely every week.

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Fusion #123
Date: March 3, 2021
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Jared St. Laurent, Rich Bocchini

This company is on the clock as I’m giving them two more shows to do something interesting to keep me around. I haven’t been impressed by the shows since their return and there comes a point where it’s too much. Hopefully they can shake it up a bit, but otherwise I’m out. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of Contra vs. Injustice to set up Jacob Fatu’s World Title defense against Jordan Oliver.

Opening sequence.

Tag Team Titles: Los Parks vs. Contra

Simon Gotch and Daivari are challenging for Contra and Salina de la Renta is here with the champs. Daivari takes Hijo down into an armbar but everything breaks down in a hurry. With Park and Gotch cleared out, Daivari starts working on Hijo’s knee to take over. Back up and Hijo takes Daivari down by the arm, earning another kick from Gotch. Daivari is back on the leg but Hijo kicks him back.

With Daivari sitting down on the mat, Hijo wraps his legs around his arms (picture the start of a Code Red if Daivari was standing) and then bends back to put Daivari’s head near the mat between his own legs (it’s hard to describe but it looks great), which again draws Gotch in for the save. Park comes in for the brawl but this time Daivari beats on Hijo as everything breaks down, much to Salina’s annoyance.

Back in and Hijo hits a double missile dropkick to put Contra on the floor. That sets up the stereo dives to the floor, followed by a top rope hurricanrana to send Gotch outside. Everything breaks down again with Hijo missing another missile dropkick. Park gets stomped in the corner so here’s LA Park Jr….who is cut off by the referee. That lets Injustice come in to cut off Daivari, meaning Park can hit the spear to retain at 8:21.

Rating: C. The Parks are a weird team as they aren’t much to see in the ring but they are hilarious on the mic and Park has great charisma so it is easy to like them. This part of Contra isn’t exactly interesting, though Daivari has been pretty good since he arrived. Not a good match, but any champion is going to have to deal with Contra at some point.

The Von Erichs talk about how much they want to get their hands on Tom Lawlor. Or maybe a hammerhead shark can do it.

Video on Jordan Oliver.

Salina de la Renta, who has changed outfits in the last five minutes, says she is addicted to gold and suggests that Alicia Atout is rather friendly with Richard Holliday. Anyway, Salina wants the Openweight Title.

Parrow vs. Dugan

Parrow is a monster who was here in the early days. Dugan gets thrown around to start, including a fall away slam into the corner. Parrow hits a chokeslam into a sitout powerbomb (the Murder Bomb) for the pin at 1:37. Total squash and I’ve always liked Parrow so this was a nice surprise.

Post match Parrow says he wants Mil Muertes.

Tom Lawlor is furious at the Von Erichs, who threw him through the window of a truck and cut his back open. He wants either of them or ACH….to face Kevin Ku!

We look back at TJP turning on Bu Ku Dao and not caring much about it.

Dao wants TJP.

Azteca Underground ad.

Jordan Oliver is ready to show that he is a heavyweight, even though Jacob Fatu is going to f*** (uncensored here) him up.

Calvin Tankman vs. Laredo Kid

The much bigger Tankman shoves him down to start but Kid snaps off a headscissors. You don’t do that to Tankman though and he hits a heck of a running shoulder. A toss lets Tankman get two so Kid bails out to the floor. Back in and a suplex gives Tankman two as this is one sided so far. Kid gets his feet up in the corner to block some charges and Tankman is knocked to the floor. That means a big dive to take him down in a heap and Kid gets two back inside. A top rope elbow gets the same on Tankman, who is right back with a heck of a powerbomb. Kid pops back up with a top rope elbow to the jaw but Tankman blasts him in the back of the head. The Tankman Driver finishes Kid at 6:44.

Rating: C+. Tankman is a guy who has some potential but there is something missing from him so far. It might be experience, but at the moment he feels like a few people in the moving big men category. At the same time you have Kid, who went from being in the main event of a major show a few weeks ago to barely surviving against Tankman for a few minutes. That’s doing a good job of making Tankman look good, but do you want to burn what you have in a name like Kid?

Tankman likes the world finding out who he is and wants the World Title.

We look at some of the international attention Lio Rush is receiving for becoming AAA Cruiserweight Champion.

Alicia Atout comes into the men’s locker room to find out why she is being accused of sleeping with Holliday. The Dynasty doesn’t care so she leaves, with Hammerstone accusing Holliday of having a thing for her. He denies it rather quickly, with Bocchini being suspicious.

We look at Injustice taking Jacob Fatu down a few weeks ago.

Contra promises to destroy Injustice for playing in deep water where they don’t belong.

Here are the Top 5 Tag Teams:

5. Dirty Blonds

4. Injustice

3. Violence Is Forever

2. Contra

1. Von Erichs

We look at Gino Medina beating Gringo Loco a few weeks ago and getting in another brawl after the match.

Medina says Loco isn’t a real luchador and he will expose Loco soon.

We look at the Alicia Atout/Richard Holliday stuff again.

Next week: Alex Hammerstone vs. LA Park for the Openweight Title and in two weeks, Parrow vs. Mil Muertes.

MLW World Title: Jacob Fatu vs. Jordan Oliver

Oliver is challenging and commentary isn’t exactly high on his chances. Myron Reed is here with Oliver and Daivari is here with Fatu. Oliver isn’t waiting and dives over the top onto Fatu, followed by a quick posting as we get the bell. Another suicide dive is countered into a Samoan drop to plant Oliver hard and they head inside. Fatu runs him over with an elbow and drops some elbows to crush Oliver’s chest again. Oliver gets in a chop block to the posing Fatu but gets sent hard into the corner for his efforts.

A few shots to Fatu’s head just earn Oliver a superkick so he grabs Fatu’s leg and hopes for the best. Fatu misses a sitdown splash and Reed grabs Fatu’s leg so Oliver can hit a superkick. Another dive is countered into a drop onto the apron and the video starts glitching a bit. Fatu loads up the moonsault but his knee gives out, allowing Oliver to German suplex him off the top. The top rope cutter and a superkick rock Fatu but he’s right back with a pop up Samoan drop. The moonsault finishes Oliver at 9:08.

Rating: C. Oliver was trying here but there is a limit on how far you can go in this situation. They did about as well as they could have and I’ll take what I can get in this kind of a match. Reed would have been a more believable challenger, but I’m not sure that was the point of this one. This wasn’t awful, but Fatu needs a serious challenger soon.

Post match the Sentai Death Squad runs in to beat down Reed and put Injustice in the body bags. Calvin Tankman comes out for the save and Pounces Fatu to the floor to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Well, it was more interesting, and that ending has me a little curious. I’m not sure if this is going to be enough to keep me around, but this was a nice step up over some previous shows. Above all else, focusing on the World Title and making Fatu seem like he might be in a little danger for once was a welcome change. Now have a good follow up to this and they might be on their way out of their funk.

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Fusion #120
Date: February 3, 2021
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Jared St. Laurent, Rich Bocchini

Things have been up and down around here and that isn’t the best news. MLW has the potential to be one of the most entertaining promotions around but that has not exactly been the case as of late. Hopefully things can pick up a bit, because this show has lost a good bit of the charm that it has had. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Alex Hammerstone’s issues with Contra, setting up tonight’s Baklei Brawl with Mads Krugger.

Opening sequence.

Here’s what’s coming tonight.

Sentai Death Squad vs. Jordan Oliver

That would be one member of the Squad, with Daivari and Myron Reed at ringside as well. Oliver runs the ropes to start and kicks the Squad in the head for two. Some forearms in the corner set up a running dropkick, though Oliver seems to have banged up his knee. A middle rope cutter gives Oliver the pin at 2:15. I’m wondering if they cut that due to the knee.

Post match, Oliver says he’s a heavyweight and is coming for the World Title. I don’t see that ending well. Like, at all.

Salina de la Renta doesn’t think much of Savio Vega losing last week and the new owner of Promociones Dorado has offered Vega a rather lucrative deal. Salina is great at this smarmy condescending heel stuff.

We look back at the end of last week’s main event, featuring a seemingly crooked referee costing Savio Vega the Caribbean Title against Richard Holliday.

It turns out that the referee is Tim Donaghy, a former NBA referee who fixed games.

The Von Erichs want Team Filthy on Filthy Island. They’re showing up no matter what.

Tag Team Titles: Bu Ku Dao/TJP vs. Los Parks

Los Parks are defending and Salina de la Renta is in their corner. Park jumps TJP to start and it’s Dao vs. Hijo to start. A headlock takeover doesn’t get Hijo anywhere and TJP chases after Park. We settle down to Park getting in a cheap shot from the apron to put Dao down but Dao is back up with a clothesline. Some shots from the illegal TJP let Dao get two but Hijo sends him to the floor so Park can hammer away.

Back in and TJP gets knocked down again, leaving Dao to be sent into a boot in the corner. Everything breaks down and TJP snaps off a middle rope hurricanrana to Park, setting up the suicide dive to the floor. Everyone comes back in and the champs are caught in stereo submissions, both of which are broken up in a hurry.

With TJP and Park on the floor, Dao hits a swinging Downward Spiral to Hijo (it looked like a Boss Man Slam to Dao so nice job on the counter….I think) for two. Stereo clotheslines put Dao and Hijo down but here’s LA Park Jr. (in red, as opposed to Park’s white and Hijo’s orange) to hit a shoulder breaker on Dao to retain the titles at 8:20.

Rating: C. The match was rather energetic for the most part but dang that ending was dumb. Either they’re continuing the crooked referee deal here or this one is supposed to be especially stupid. It didn’t help that there was almost no drama about who was leaving with the titles here, but at least TJP didn’t take the fall. He comes off as a bigger star than most people in the promotion so it’s smart to keep him strong.

Post match TJP shoves Dao down, signaling the end of a partnership that lasted….three matches?

Contra hacks the feed so Mads Krugger says he’ll beat Alex Hammerstone on his own turf.

We look at Laredo Kid calling out Lio Rush for a champion vs. champion match.

Lio Rush doesn’t know who Laredo Kid is but he’s up for the match next week, title for title.

Filthy Island is in two weeks.

Calvin Tankman is back next week.

Never Say Never is on March 24.

We get the Filthy Island Control Center, which has no sponsors. As for who will be there, Tom Lawlor promises that Team Filthy will be there. We’ll also see King Mo vs. Low Ki….and that’s it so far! We do get a disclaimer that says MLW has nothing to do with this and makes no guarantees. This is going to be another Fyre Fest deal isn’t it?

Alex Hammerstone is ready to fight Mads Krugger because he’s just a road block in front of Jacob Fatu and the World Title.

We look at Gino Medina and Richard Holliday yelling at each other after Medina quit/was fired from The Dynasty.

Gino Medina vs. Gringo Loco

They trade some rapid paced armdrags to start until it’s a standoff, with Medina kicking the offered handshake away. A rather casual snapmare puts Loco down but he’s up with a springboard spinning armdrag to send Medina outside. What looked like an Asai moonsault is broken up and Medina chops away on the floor.

Back in and we hit the chinlock as we hear about the Azteca Underground executives in the private boxes. Loco fights back up and trips Medina to set up a low superkick. An enziguri puts Medina down again but he gets his feet up to block a moonsault. Loco gets launched into the corner but grabs a rollup, only to have Medina reverse into one of his own for the pin at 5:28.

Rating: C. I still don’t get it with Medina, who kind of comes and goes without doing much most weeks. Most of the time I forget that he’s even around here, which isn’t a good sign for his future. He does well enough in the ring, but there are only so many things that you can do when you’re barely around and don’t exactly stand out very often.

Gino Medina talks about being untouchable and doesn’t speak very highly of Loco. Cue Loco to jump him and start a brawl.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Alex Hammerstone shows up at some place with some mechanical equipment (and very little light as you can barely see anything) for the Baklei Brawl with Mads Krugger. Hammerstone and the referee can’t find anyone until a guy who does not exactly look like Krugger (either that or Krugger has shrunk) shows up. The brawl is on with Krugger slamming a gate on Hammerstone’s hand but a tossed pallet misses Hammerstone. Krugger gets sent into the side of a dumpster and a ram into it again is good for the pin. There was no bell and this was a brawl instead of a match.

Post match Hammerstone realizes that’s not the real Krugger and someone (presumably the cameraman) says they need to get the f*** out of there. The real Krugger shows up and hits Hammerstone to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. This show is getting weaker and weaker as time goes by and the main event, assuming you can call it one, was a good example. The brawl lasted about three minutes max and ended with a bait and switch. I know they need to keep stringing things along, but why bother having the thing if this is what you’re going to deliver? There is no spark to this show anymore and it’s not the easiest show to watch these days, even with it barely being an hour most weeks. Pick things up already, because it really needs the boost.

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Fusion #114
Date: December 16, 2020
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Jared St. Laurent, Rich Bocchini

We’re back to the club and that means the Opera Cup is continuing. I’m not sure what we’re going to get here other than the second semifinal, but Alex Hammerstone is back after a few weeks off due to Contra. That seems to be your next big showdown and it needs more building, so let’s get to it.

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

Richard Holliday and Alex Hammerstone arrive and aren’t happy with being interviewed as soon as they get to the show. Some masked goons jump them but don’t get very far. Hammerstone is about to ram one of them into the car but Holliday stops Hammerstone because the car is in Holliday’s name. Hammerstone elbows him in the face instead as I get a hearty laugh.

Opening sequence.

LA Park Jr. vs. Bu Ku Dao

Dao is TJP’s protege so TJP, along with LA Park, is here. Park points to the ropes to distract Dao (barely five feet tall) and kicks him to the rope, allowing Park Sr. to get in some cheap shots. A forearm doesn’t get Dao very far as Park hits what might have been a low blow. Dao is sent outside for the dive but Park charges into a boot back inside. A high crossbody gives Dao two, only to have Park hit an enziguri for the same. An Alabama Slam gives Park two, followed by a spinning Downward Spiral to give Dao the same. Park looks to load up a suplex but Dao reverses into a small package for the fast pin at 4:45.

Rating: C-. They didn’t have time to do anything of note but this was more of a get to know you match anyway. Both of them were making their singles debut and that’s going to make for an awkward situation no matter who is in there. Park looks to be more of a complete package but Dao’s size is enough to make him a unique star most of the time.

We look at Low Ki advancing to the finals of the Opera Cup.

Tom Lawlor and ACH are ready for each other. Lawlor knows ACH is a great athlete while ACH knows Lawlor is a better grappler and traditional wrestler.

Simon Gotch has attacked Koto Brazil and forced him to retire.

Jordan Oliver wants to face Gotch to get some revenge, because Gotch isn’t going to outlast him.

Mads Krugger vs. Ben Heavy/Daniel Starling

Krugger runs them over to start as we hear that Hammerstone is being held back from rushing the ring. A running powerslam sends Starling into Heavy and a full nelson slam gives Krugger the double pin at 58 seconds. Total destruction.

Post match the Sentai Death Squad comes out to put Heavy and Starling in the body bags.

Here’s the Top 10:

10. Mads Krugger

9. Calvin Tankman

8. Richard Holliday

7. Laredo Kid

6. ACH

5. Myron Reed

4. LA Park

3. Tom Lawlor

2. Low Ki

1. Alexander Hammerstone

As the countdown ends, we hear that Hammerstone and Krugger are fighting in the back but we don’t have a camera on them.

Alicia Atout is being told to move because of the Hammerstone vs. Krugger fight to bring us the Kings Of Coliseum Control Center, including Hammerstone vs. Krugger for the National Openweight Title.

We go to the Aztec Ruins where Salina de la Renta doesn’t understand how anyone could see her as a traitor. She is very powerful and has stared evil in the face. Every temple and arena have burned to the ground but MIL MUERTES is coming.

The Von Erichs want ACH to bring the Opera Cup home to Texas.

Opera Cup Semifinals: Tom Lawlor vs. ACH

Team Filthy is here with Lawlor. ACH teases the striking to start before pulling him into the early grappling. A bodyscissors has ACH in trouble but he reverses into a waistlock. That is broken up as well so it’s a quick standoff until Lawlor takes him up against the ropes. ACH’s headlock on the mat is broken up in a hurry as Lawlor slaps on a headscissors, which is reversed back into the headlock.

Back up and Lawlor goes with the forearms to the face into the cravate with knees. Lawlor tries to go after the arm but settles for some elbows to the head instead. ACH gets two off a rollup and manages to get away for a rather needed breather. A backbreaker gives ACH two and he starts kicking away, which makes a bit of sense. Lawlor is right back with a suplex for two and it’s off to the armbar.

ACH gets caught in the ropes for some shots to the face but he’s right back up with some of his own. The slugout goes to Lawlor though as he tries a few rear naked choke attempts but some a few rapid fire kicks into a tiger driver gives ACH two two put them both down. It’s ACH up first for a frog splash but Lawlor gets the knees up and rolls ACH up for the pin at 12:29.

Rating: B-. I was starting to get into this one and then it just ended when it felt like they had another five to ten minutes left. Lawlor is a heck of a star for a promotion like MLW as he has the amateur/MMA stuff and it’s great to see him getting the chance to shine like this. The same is true of ACH, who has always been talented but then went a bit insane in WWE. This seems more his speed and it is working well enough in the early going.

Lawlor says he is one win away from being on the list of Opera Cup winners. The first round was rocky, the semifinals were super, and now he’s ready to go undefeated against Low Ki to become king of the mat.

Overall Rating: C+. I liked this was a good bit as it was focused on the main event, but they also did a nice job of building up Hammerstone vs. Krugger. There is something great about the small stuff like having Hammerstone and Krugger’s brawl (which you never saw save for a quick flash) mess with stuff in the back. You don’t have to have something going on when you can SAY it is going on, which WWE could stand to learn. Nice show here, and it felt more like an MLW show than anything since they have been back.

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IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #92
Date: January 11, 2020
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, AJ Kirsch

We’re still in New York as the Opera Cup continues with the second semifinal match. Other than that we get the fallout from last week with Tom Lawlor and the Spirit Squad beating down the Von Erichs. Other than that, there is always the chance of Contra getting into some violence. Let’s get to it.

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

Injustice has attacked Brian Pillman Jr. in an attempt to get him out of the Opera Cup, where the three of them are the alternates. This included some arm damage and a “fan” shouting for security. Injustice swears about this being what happens if you leave them out.

Opening sequence.

We look back at Tom Lawlor beating up Rip Von Erich (Lance’s son in a great joke), drawing out the real brothers. The Spirit Squad then ran in to save Lawlor and beat down Ross and Marshall.

Tag Team Titles: Filthy Squad vs. Von Erichs

Non-title and Lawlor is on commentary. The Squad is now in martial arts gear as they are Lawlor’s top students. During the entrances, we see their official induction into Team Filthy in a good bit of continuity. Some fans give the Von Erichs flowers in a Sportatorium inspired moment. It’s a brawl to start with Mikey being knocked to the floor so Kenny can run into a double dropkick. Back in and Marshall gets taken down, allowing the Squad to start in on his bad leg. Marshall kicks Kenny away with little effort and it’s Ross coming in to clean house. The Claw/belly to back slam finishes Mikey at 2:18. Short and sweet.

Post match, Rip Von Erich tries to run in but gets beaten down as well.

We look at Pillman being attacked again. Pillman is still being looked at.

Lawlor jumps the Von Erichs and hits Marshall in the bad knee with some kind of weapon.

Here are both attacks that you just saw again.

Injustice makes fun of Court Bauer wanting to fine them. You can’t get them on any BS charges so they should be in the Opera Cup now that Pillman is out.

Video on Mance Warner vs. Jimmy Havoc, who have been fighting forever and now it’s going to be a barbed wire match.

Fightland Control Center, with Killer Kross and LA Park confirmed.

Erick Stevens is coming.

Pillman is arguing with the doctors behind closed doors. Pillman, with a very taped up arm, comes out of the room and says he’s cleared for tonight. Tonight, he’s taking out Timothy Thatcher and then he’ll deal with Injustice.

Contra talks about loving violence and promise an upcoming war. They’re coming for the Von Erichs and Davey Boy Smith Jr.

Here’s the returning Konnan for a chat. He talks about the partnership with AAA, which he helped put together. As for now though, he’s found the next big thing in Gino Medina. This brings out Gino with Konnan talking about Gino being the son of a member of Los Gringos Locos, which also included Konnan and Eddie Guerrero. Gino accuses Konnan of trying to manipulate him but Konnan says that would be Salina de la Renta, with sex references included.

Cue Salina to say Konnan has no sex life so Konnan says he’s at the top of the penthouse and Salina is in the basement garage. Now it’s the Dynasty joining in on things, with MJF suggesting that he can get Gino into AEW. Richard Holiday talks about how elite the team is and Hammerstone brags about his physique for a sales pitch. Gino shakes Konnan’s hand but then lays him out, with the Dynasty joining in as Gino joins the team.

Post break, we look at what we just saw.

We look at how Brian Pillman Jr. and Timothy Thatcher made the semifinals of the Opera Cup.

Opera Cup Semifinals: Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Timothy Thatcher

Pillman has a bad shoulder coming in. A running dropkick sends Thatcher into the corner and Pillman starts chopping away until Thatcher gets in the first crank on the arm to cut that off in a hurry. An elbow to the arm lets Thatcher glare down at him and the keylock goes on. Thatcher mixes it up with a half crab and a bow and arrow, followed by another more traditional armbar.

Now it’s a Disarm-Her until Pillman slips out and reverses a belly to belly into a crossbody for two. The arm is fine enough to grab a powerslam for two but the Dire Promise is broken up. Thatcher gets two off a suplex and we hit the chinlock. With that not working, Thatcher goes with a Fujiwara armbar but Pillman reverses into a rollup for the pin at 8:14.

Rating: C+. They didn’t quite get up into a higher level but Pillman fighting through adversity to win the match and go on to face his friend in the finals. Thatcher looked good as usual as there is always room for someone who can wreck some limbs. Not a great match, but it did what it was supposed to do.

We look at how Davey Boy Smith made the finals to preview next week’s big match.

Overall Rating: C. This was one of those shows where you would have been better off reading a recap rather than watching the show. The wrestling was watchable at best but everything was so fast that it didn’t mean much. I liked the Gino segment and I can always go for more of Konnan vs. Salina. Next week’s main event should be good in a British Bulldog vs. Owen Hart sense, which seems to be at least an inspiration. It wasn’t a great show, but it could have been worse.

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

Saturday Night SuperFight
Date: November 2, 2019
Location: Cicero Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: AJ Kirsch, Rich Bocchini

So this is a big deal as MLW is having its first pay per view. This is something that is a long time in the making and the card actually looks pretty good. The main event is LA Park challenging Jacob Fatu for the World Title in a match that could be anywhere between a disaster or a blast. Other than that, all three titles are on the line and we should be in for some good stuff.

Since we have to have more wrestling all the time, there is an hour long pre-show, which basically serves as this week’s Fusion but isn’t listed as such.

We open with a long recap of the big stories, which is always a good way to start.

Pre-Show: Leo Brien vs. Savio Vega

Feeling out process to start with Savio’s hammerlock being the big thrill of the first minute. They fight over said hammerlock and then yell at each other a bit, followed by a trade of slaps. Savio’s jumping kick to the…..chest I guess, sends Brien outside. That goes nowhere and it’s Brien hitting a knee in the corner to take over. A suplex sets up a chinlock for a short while until Savio fights up, only to get kicked in the face. There’s a spear to drop Vega again but Brien misses a middle rope elbow. Vega fights back but the referee gets distracted, allowing Brien to get in a bell shot. The big elbow finishes Vega at 6:57.

Rating: D+. I know Vega is a name and is working backstage but that doesn’t mean he should be in the ring. He certainly wasn’t a disaster but there really wasn’t anyone else they could have put out there? It’s not like he has a lot of value so the win doesn’t exactly mean much for Brien. They’re pushing someone new though and that’s a good sign.

Post match Brien goes after him again but gets spinwheel kicked down. Vega gets in some kendo stick shots and stands tall. Well tall enough at least.

Video on Mance Warner vs. Jimmy Havoc in the Stairway to Hell match. Havoc has gone all violent so Warner whipped out a chainsaw and wants barbed wire hanging above the ring this time. And we’ll throw in Bestia 666 in just for a bonus.

Gino Medina is….here tonight actually.

Gino Medina vs. Air Wolf

Gino is billed as a Latin heartthrob. They go to the mat to start and get a grand total of nowhere early on. A rollup gives Medina two and he shoves Wolf down by the mask. Wolf gets in a headscissors and a dropkick for his own two so Medina comes back with an enziguri. The chinlock goes on for a bit until Wolf sends him into the bottom corner for a 619. An exchange of kicks to the head goes to Wolf but Medina hits a running knee in the corner. Eat Defeat (with a wide gap between the foot and the jaw) finishes Wolf at 4:17.

Rating: D+. Medina didn’t showcase himself very well here while Wolf looked like a future star, as has been the case multiple times now. That being said, you can’t judge someone off of one match but this was pretty disappointing, especially after all of the weeks of vignettes about Medina. Hopefully the next one is better, which is certainly a possibility.

MJF gives Richard Holliday his sunglasses.

SuperFight rundown.

Cue Injustice to protest….or maybe advertise….the fact that they are on the pay per view.

Hijo de LA Park vs. Zenshi

Salina de la Renta is here with Park. Zenshi starts fast and flips in for a hurricanrana to put Park on the floor. That means a crazy high dive but Salina grabs Zenshi’s leg, allowing Park to score with an enziguri. The suicide dive drops Zenshi and Park gets in a chair shot as Salina yells at the referee….who can see the chair shots. Zenshi gets crotched on the barricade as I continue to wonder why this referee exists.

That’s good for a very delayed two and it’s time for some stomping. Zenshi kicks at the legs and hits a 619 over the top into a neckbreaker for two. Salina breaks up another springboard attempt but this time Zenshi is fine enough to sweep the leg into a slingshot corkscrew hilo for two more. Park is right back with a running corner dropkick and a Code Red gets two.

They head up top with Park hitting a super Spanish Fly, only to get enziguried right back down. Just to show off, Zenshi hits (ok with with me here) a crazy long flip dive coast to coast diagonally across the ring. It only grazes Park’s leg but dang that was almost incredible. Park is back with another kick to the head though and a belly to back package piledriver is good for the pin on Zenshi at 7:53.

Rating: C. Zenshi is another one of the names around here who could become something if they are given a bit of a push. Park may not be for everyone but he has the cool costume like his dad but minus about 50lbs. His matches have been fine enough though and he could become something as well, given how his stuff with Salina is going fairly well.

Post match Salina addresses the ladies and gentlemarks and naturally switches from English to Spanish because that’s what you do in a promo if you speak both languages. Cue Contra for their match, but Salina of course won’t get out of the ring because she’s rather stubborn. Thankfully she gets the hint and bails before getting killed.

Contra vs. Douglas James/Dominic Garrini vs. Spirit Squad

That would be Kwon/Gotch for Contra and Ken/Mikey for the Squad. Before the opponents come out, Gotch pounds a chair against the floor for no logical reason. The Squad is from the University of Parts Unknown (the Dean better be named Douglas) and they are JACKED. Ken and James start things off with the former grabbing a headlock, allowing him to take James down and strike the pose.

Some elbows keep James in trouble until Kwon tags himself in and gets a hard dropkick from James. Mikey gets in a hair pull from the apron and everything breaks down in a hurry with the fight heading to the floor. James and Kwon chop it out in the ring until Kwon dives onto the pile. Back in and Garrini pulls Mikey down into a cross armbreaker. That’s broken up and Ken gets in a cheap shot of his own from the apron to take over again.

A snapmare faceplant gives Mikey two on Garrini and it’s Gotch coming in to stomp on Garrini as well. Garrini gets in a suplex to drop Gotch and it’s Kwon coming in to face Ken. James tags himself in and starts kicking people in the face, one of which makes Ken DDT Kwon. Everything breaks down and Garrini break sup whatever the Squad had planned and grabs a choke on Ken. The referee breaks that up and Kwon mists Mikey, setting up the piledriver from Gotch for the pin at 6:43.

Rating: C. Contra should NOT be having this much trouble against the Spirit Squad and a thrown together team. I’m not sure why they needed to take this long for what should have been a squash. Their teammate is the World Champion and the team as a whole was in the main event of the most recent major show. It wasn’t long or bad but it was set up wrong.

The announcers preview the card one more time to wrap up the preshow.

The opening video is your standard, yet well done, preview.

Opening sequence, complete with graphics identifying the wrestlers in each match. How nice that is for a change.

Tag Team Titles: Dynasty vs. Von Erichs

The Dynasty is defending and this is Texas Tornado. Hold on though as MJF grabs the mic to tell the fans that they need to shut up and that the Von Erichs suck, plus a mocking of the Claw. Richard Holliday calls the Von Erichs fake Texans who live in Hawaii and you know those are fighting words.

The Von Erichs hit the ring and send the champs outside with some fast double dropkicks, only to be sent into the barricade on the floor. MJF tears up a sign and hits Marshall in the head with the bell as the beating continues. Ross gets taken inside and a lifting swinging neckbreaker gets two. A double armbar makes things even worse until Ross sends the champs together.

Marshall comes back in with a double clothesline, setting up stereo Cannonballs in the corner. Something like a double powerbomb gets two on Holliday but he’s fine enough to superplex Ross down. MJF’s top rope splash connects for two with Marshall having to moonsault in for the save. The Claw/belly to back suplex combination finishes MJF at 9:46.

Rating: C. This was a pretty basic match that seemed designed to protect the still very green Von Erichs. That is the right play too as you don’t want them going out there and looking terrible in one of their biggest matches to date. Just let them get in, do their stuff, and win the titles for the feel good moment, as they did here.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. fires up Brian Pillman Jr. for his match against Low Ki.

Injustice vs. Gringo Loco/Septimo Dragon/Puma King

Lucha rules but hang on as we need to check Injustice for weapons. With that out of the way, the big brawl is on and everyone heads to the floor. Back in and Loco and Oliver trade misses before heading outside again. Dragon and Reed come in with Dragon hitting a running Spanish Fly. It’s King with a few superkicks and a faceplant to Kotto and a reverse powerbomb makes it even worse.

Double moonsaults from Dragon and Loco and a double reverse gorilla press slam puts Oliver back down. The dives are on and the fans certainly seem to approve. Back in and it’s King and Dragon being sent outside so Injustice can suplex Loco down. Brazil’s Sling Blade gets two but Oliver’s top rope hurricanrana is countered into a sitout powerbomb for the double knockdown.

Everything breaks down again and Dragon’s top rope double stomp crushes Reed. Loco’s Tombstone gets two on Reed and it’s some very hard dives from Injustice. Reed hits his running jumping over the top cutter on Loco, setting up the standing Sliced Bread on Dragon. Brazil adds the springboard 450 for the pin at 10:16.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure how smart of an idea it was to have the first two matches both be wild fights but Injustice is getting somewhere as a midcard heel stable. Some of the dives and flips looked really good here and I was getting into the match by the end, which I wouldn’t have expected from Injustice. Nice addition here and a good way to keep the crowd going.

We recap Austin Aries vs. Teddy Hart for the Middleweight Title. Hart has been champion for a long time but Aries is here to show that he is the greatest middleweight in the world. He gave Hart a brainbuster onto the apron to knock him cold so Hart is here to retain the title and get some revenge.

Middleweight Title: Teddy Hart vs. Austin Aries

Hart is defending and has Mr. Velvet the cat with him. Aries hits the suicide dive before the bell (common theme tonight) and we’re ready to go in a hurry. Well Hart isn’t ready but that’s kind of the point. Aries can’t hit a brainbuster on the floor but he can hit a missile dropkick for two inside. They’re already back on the floor with Hart hammering away but barely being able to stand.

Back in and Hart hits his springboard spinning legdrop for two to send Aries outside again. Aries grabs the Death Valley Driver onto the apron to mess up Hart’s head even more, setting up the slingshot hilo for two. It’s off to a leglock of all things, though Aries does put a foot on Hart’s head to make it worse. A middle rope elbow to the jaw gets two and the Last Chancery goes on.

That doesn’t last long either so it’s Hart coming back with shots to the face and a Backstabber. A belly to back gets two but Hart hits his head again. Aries scores with the discus forearm to take right back over but spends too much time talking trash, allowing Hart to hit a Project Ciampa out of the corner. Hart puts him on top, only to come back with the sunset bomb for two.

The Last Chancery goes on in full, sending Hart on the slow crawl to the rope. Hart’s super Canadian Destroyer is countered with a crotching and now the brainbuster connects….for two. Aries freaks, as he probably should given how protected that move really is. Hart rolls outside and ducks the suicide dive to send Aries face first into the barricade. Aries has to be muscled back inside and he grabs a quick rollup for two, only to get caught with the Canadian Destroyer to retain Hart’s title at 18:32.

Rating: B. They took their time here and set up a good story with a better match to make it the best thing on the show so far. Hart was fighting through his injury and still managing to pull off the win, which was arguably an upset, in the end. I’m rather surprised that Aries lost, mainly because I have no idea who is supposed to take the title off of Hart now.

Josef Samael congratulates Hart on his win but says he has a target on him. So that’s what’s next for Hart. Anyway, Jacob Fatu will retain the World Title tonight.

The women’s division is coming.

Low Ki vs. Brian Pillman Jr.

Ki offered some advice to Pillman and got blown off, setting this up. Pillman starts fast with the chops in the corner and hits the running slap for a bonus. They head outside with Pillman striking away as they walk around ringside. Ki gets the better of the striking (well duh) and it’s a kick to the chest to set up the Figure Four necklock back inside.

Some kicks to the face set up a chinlock on Ki, followed by a spinning chop to the back of the neck. A powerslam gives Pillman two but the double arm neckbreaker is broken up. Ki kicks him in the head a few times and the referee might want to stop this. Pillman fights up and wants to fight so it’s the rolling Liger kick to knock him cold for the stoppage at 8:12.

Rating: C. This was shorter than I was expecting and it was just ok. It felt like a big TV match more than a pay per view one but at least they are getting something with Ki being all angry and violent. Pillman is still pretty green and needs ring time, but one of the good things about this place is being able to have him in there with a bunch of different styles. It certainly wasn’t bad and while it could have had more time for the story to develop, it went the way it should have.

MLW is partnering with AAA. That’s a good thing for MLW as the star power and more variety are nice additions.

Tom Lawlor vs. Timothy Thatcher

They’re both shoot style guys and Thatcher challenged him for the fight. Thatcher also has Douglas James with him. They slug it out to start with Thatcher being knocked outside and the fight heading out there as well. Lawlor’s guillotine is countered with a ram into the barricade and they head back inside for some attempts at pulling on limbs.

Thatcher kicks him in the head and gets a bow and arrow hold, only to be reversed into a blocked cross armbreaker. The half crab works better on Lawlor but he’s out in a few seconds, setting up a seated strike off. Lawlor gets in a Figure Four but Thatcher rolls over into the ropes pretty quickly.

We go old school with an airplane spin to make Thatcher dizzy, though he’s fine enough to pick the ankle. Lawler gets to the ropes to save his arm and it’s time to slug it out again. Thatcher hits a belly to belly so Lawlor hits one of his own for the double knockdown. They head outside again with Thatcher being sent into the barricade this time and then getting chopped around ringside.

Back in and some YES Kicks have Thatcher in more trouble but he’s right back with a butterfly suplex. The Fujiwara armbar goes on but this time Lawler reverses with a German suplex. Thatcher gets in his own suplex so Lawlor grabs a Tombstone for two. They both grab arms with Lawlor hitting a pumphandle suplex for two. That’s enough for Lawlor as he unloads with strikes to make Thatcher cover up, meaning it’s time for the rear naked choke to give Lawlor the win at 15:27.

Rating: B. That’s the kind of match that they were supposed to have and it was rather entertaining. These guys beat each other up with strikes and submissions until one of them won. They even told a nice story with Thatcher being the one who believed he could hang with Lawlor, only to find out that he was in over his head because Lawlor was a professional fighter who knew exactly what to do in this situation. Heck of a fight too.

Post match Thatcher is busted open but Lawlor says he can do anything he wants around here because MLW is going to stay filthy.

We recap Mance Warner vs. Jimmy Havoc….and vs. Bestia 666, who is here after Havoc attacked his father in a bit of a forced addition. Anyway this is Stairway to Hell with barbed wire above the ring and anything goes, with wins coming by pinfall or submission.

Mance Warner vs. Jimmy Havoc vs. Bestia 666

Warner and Bestia start brawling on the floor to start with Warner getting the better of it, only to head outside to poke Havoc in the eye. Bestia’s dive is cut off by a trashcan to the head, followed by the staple gun to Havoc’s crotch. Mance goes outside and gets some dollar bills from the audience to staple to various parts of Havoc. You know, like Thesz used to do to Gotch.

It’s Warner up first to get the barbed wire but a double teaming takes it away. Havoc rips up Warner’s face and it’s time for the barbed wire to be put on a trashcan. A suplex sends Warner through both of them but Havoc sends Bestia into the announcers’ table (Rich: “ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? HOW MANY TIMES???”). Back in and Bestia backbreakers him onto the edges of two open chairs, only to have Havoc get up and slam him off the ladder onto the same edges in your HOW IS HE MOVING spot of the march.

Warner comes back in and takes the wire to the head, followed by the wire going into Bestia’s crotch. Back up and Warner’s lariat hits Havoc but Bestia superkicks Warner down. Bestia mocks the kneepad up, kneepad down before bridging a door between two chairs. You don’t mock kneepads though and Warner superplexes Bestia through the door for the pin at 14:02.

Rating: C. This is another case where your mileage may vary but what matters here is keeping the violent insanity to one match instead of doing it over and over. This was your designated violence match and while it didn’t go as far as some others (that’s a good thing), it felt like a lot of violence for the sake of violence. I’m also not big on the feud continuing as Bestia was tacked on to take the fall, but that’s wrestling for you.

Post match Havoc jumps Warner and piledrives him onto a piece of the barricade. An Acid Rainmaker leaves Warner laying.

There will be a special Fusion on Thanksgiving. Just what the world was waiting for.

We recap Alexander Hammerstone vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. They’re the hoss monsters of their respective groups and this has been built for a long time. Hammerstone even hooked up with Smith’s sister to get in his head, which seemed to work well.

National Openweight Title: Alex Hammerstone vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.

Smith is challenging. Davey shoves him away to start before headlocking Hammerstone down. The arm cranking begins with Smith working on one arm and then both at once for a bonus. Hammerstone can’t power out of it so it’s off to the ropes instead. The choking in the corner doesn’t get Hammerstone very far so he hits a delayed vertical suplex.

Smith pops right back up and waits for Hammerstone to turn around in a good visual. We see how it’s really done to send Hammerstone outside, setting up a ram into the barricade. Back in and Hammerstone pulls the turnbuckle pad off but Smith hammers away in the corner instead of eating steel. Hammerstone slugs right back and even hits a missile dropkick for two. He takes too long going up though and it’s a superplex, setting up a Swan Dive for two on the champ.

They take turns no selling release German suplexes so Smith rolls some German suplexes for another near fall. Smith can’t get the Crossface as the Dynasty comes out for a distraction. Hammerstone sends him into the exposed buckle for two and the shock is real. Smith is right back up but can’t get the running powerslam. Instead he tries an O’Connor roll but Hammerstone reverses into his own rollup and grabs the rope to retain at 13:29.

Rating: B-. I wasn’t feeling the ending but at least Smith was protected and didn’t lose clean here. Hammerstone is a genuine monster and whoever beats him is going to get a heck of a rub. I didn’t like the ending though as it felt out of place in the match after two guys beat each other up for so long. It was good while it lasted, but I could have gone with a hotter finish.

Post match Smith is ticked.

Quick recap of LA Park vs. Jacob Fatu for the World Title. Park won Battle Riot II to get a title shot so it’s time to cash in. This has turned into Promociones Dorado vs. Contra, which is quite the fight.

MLW World Title: LA Park vs. Jacob Fatu

No DQ, Park, undefeated, is challenging and Fatu is a monster. Salina de la Renta and Josef Samael are here as seconds. Before the match, Park grabs the mic and rants in Spanish. They circle, shove and slug it out with Park getting the better of it off a pair of clotheslines. A running knee puts Fatu on the floor and there’s a suicide dive, which is like a flying bus at this point.

Back in and Fatu starts firing off the headbutts to take over and some shots to the face put Park in trouble. The mask is torn and it looks like we already have some blood flowing. Park gets whipped into the barricade as the beating continues on the floor. Even Salina is looking worried as they head into the crowd to continue Park’s destruction. Back in and Park gets knocked into the corner but snaps off a powerslam for two and a breather.

Fatu superkicks him down and hits a handspring moonsault for his own two. With nothing else working, Park goes up top and hits something like a Whisper in the Wind. What all else fails, throw your large body at the other guy. They head outside again with Park nailing a chair to the back, followed by literally breaking the bell over Fatu’s head. Park headbutts away, which sounds rather idiotic against a Samoan. After not knocking himself silly, Park whips away with the weightlifting belt.

Fatu, now busted as well, runs the corner for a flying shoulder to send Park outside for a huge running dive to crush Park again. There’s a table set up in for corner as Park is thrown back in, only to avoid the moonsault. Samael throws a fireball at the referee though, which might be taking things a bit too far. That brings Salina in….and Park’s spear misses Samael, sending Salina through the table instead. The Samoan drop sets up the double jump moonsault to retain the title at 20:00.

Overall Rating: B+. This is a case of the show having nothing bad and being under some good circumstances. MLW has come a long way in about a year and a half and they gave us a good first pay per view here. Almost all of the wrestling was completely watchable to very good and the stories got to pay off in a logical way. On top of that we also got some stuff to set up the future. This was a really nice success and I hope people bought it to see what MLW can do.

Results

Von Erichs b. Dynasty – Claw/belly to back suplex combination to Friedman

Injustice b. Septimo Dragon/Gringo Loco/Puma King – Springboard 450 to Dragon

Teddy Hart b. Austin Aries – Canadian Destroyer

Low Ki b. Brian Pillman Jr. via referee stoppage

Tom Lawlor b. Timothy Thatcher – Rear naked choke

Mance Warner b. Jimmy Havoc and Bestia 666 – Superplex through a door to Bestia

Alex Hammerstone b. Davey Boy Smith Jr. – Rollup with a grab of the rope

Jacob Fatu b. LA Park – Double jump moonsault

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

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

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

War Chamber
Date: September 14, 2019
Location: Nytex Sports Center, North Richland Hills, Texas
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

It’s time for another big event here, though this one was not broadcast live. This time around it’s a big team gimmick match, which is really just a one ring WarGames. It’s Contra vs. Team Lawlor this time around, which should help set up the next challenger for Jacob Fatu’s World Title. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of Contra running roughshod over MLW, including taking the World Title from Tom Lawlor. Now it’s Low Ki/the Von Erichs/Lawlor vs. Contra in War Chamber, which is the most logical move you could have as the bigger feud of the Hart Foundation vs. the Dynasty isn’t a violent feud and wouldn’t fit.

Leo Brien vs. Blake Banks

Brien was one half of the Dirty Blondes, who I always liked. Now he seems to be a roughneck cowboy type and kicks Banks in the face to start. A toss by the ears makes it even worse and Brien finishes with an Oklahoma Stampede at 1:27. I approve.

Post match here are Salina de la Renta and LA Park to beat up both the referee and Banks so Salina can introduce Park. She gets straight to the point: Park is cashing in his Golden Ticket at Superfight in November.

We recap the Hart Foundation stealing Maxwell Jacob Friedman’s car and finding something in the glove compartment which got Teddy Hart a match with Friedman.

Hart is at a hockey rink in Calgary and talks about what he learned from the game. He played a lot of sports, including being a professional badminton player, but nothing gets him fired up like going to Dallas to beat up the Hart Foundation. When Alexander Hammerstone gets back from Japan, he’ll pay for his crimes against the Foundation.

Kevin Von Erich and his sons go to the sight of the former Sportatorium, with Kevin talking about the history and significance of the building. It was so hot there that he took his shoes off in the back and liked the feeling so much that he kept wrestling that way. They all take a pebble from the ground as Kevin talks about how amazing it is to have his sons follow in his footsteps. This was really cool and you can tell how much it means to Kevin.

War Chamber

Tom Lawlor, Low Ki, Ross Von Erich, Marshall Von Erich

Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, Simon Gotch, Ikuro Kwon

It’s WarGames but with one cage and barbed wire over the top instead of a roof. The first two will start for five minutes before the team who won a coin toss earlier today gets a two on one advantage for two minutes. After those two minutes, the team that lost the coin toss evens things up for two minutes. You alternate until all eight are inside and then it’s first pin or submission to win. Kevin Von Erich is at ringside for a special bonus.

Simon Gotch and Marshall Von Erich start with Contra having won the coin toss earlier. Marshall knocks him into the corner to start and hits a Cannonball as the fans are rather behind the Von Erichs. A sliding lariat sets up a headlock takeover as David is coaching from ringside. There’s a suplex as they’re keeping it in first gear so far, as they should be doing. A front facelock has Gotch slowed even more but here’s Samael to make it 2-1.

That means Marshall gets taken to the mat but he manages to forearm his way to freedom without much effort. The beatdown is on again until Tom Lawlor is in to even things up (a bit before two minutes but close enough). It’s time to start whipping people into the cage as the clock speeds up again to bring in Jacob Fatu to make it 3-2. Tom and Marshall are waiting on him for the double teaming, earning themselves a Samoan drop and a swinging release Rock Bottom respectively.

There’s a handspring moonsault to Marshall for good measure and it’s complete destruction at Fatu’s hands alone. Samael bites Lawlor’s ear for a bonus until Low Ki ties it up again. House is cleaned as Marshall tries to hold Fatu back, leaving Low Ki to beat people up. Samael is busted bad as Fatu sends Lawlor into the corner to take him down again. With the ring getting full, here’s Kwon to make it even worse and complete Contra. Things go back and forth without much of note until Ross evens it up so that the match can “officially” start.

Ross cleans house with a hurricanrana to Gotch and a running boot in the corner to Fatu. That earns Ross a trip into the cage and Samael chokes Ross with some tape. Lawlor and Fatu slug it out in the corner as Contra starts taking over completely. Samael suplexes Ross for two but Ki is back up with elbows to Kwon’s head.

Due to reasons of insanity, Samael goes up top but gets stopped by the wire and comes back down. Lawlor and Fatu are the only ones left standing so Lawlor charges at him in the corner for a running shot to the face. The fans get behind the Von Erichs again and almost everyone is knocked down at the same time. Samael kicks Ross low but stops to yell at David, allowing Marshall to hit him from behind.

Lawlor has Gotch in a Muta Lock as Fatu hits a pop up Samoan drop on Ross. With everyone else down, Low Ki takes Samael up top so they can try to put each other in the barbed wire. Samael gets the worst of it but here’s a masked man to try and climb the cage. David Claws him down and the fans are VERY happy with that one.

Kwon saves Samael with the red mist to Lawlor and Fatu nails the double jump moonsault for two as Low Ki saves. The Von Erichs are both up though and it’s a Claw to Gotch, with a Doomsday Device to make it even worse. The Claw goes back on and you’re not getting out of that in Dallas as Gotch is pinned at 30:18.

Rating: B. It was long (very long) but it didn’t feel long and that’s a good sign. These guys beat the heck out of each other until the ending and it felt like the war that it was supposed to be. Gotch losing doesn’t mean a thing as Fatu is the member of the team who actually matters. I’m not sure who goes where from here as there isn’t much of a point in having this feud continue, so it’s time to do something new. Unfortunately that means LA Park, but you knew that was coming.

A lot of replays and celebrating end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. This was almost literally a one match show but that one match was quite good and the rest of the show was more than good enough. It would seem to be time to start the build towards Superfight now and that could be an interesting path for MLW, as they have a lot of ways to go, including a bunch of stuff that wasn’t covered here. Very good show, mainly because of that one single match. Now follow up on it.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

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

Ricky Martinez vs. Mance Warner

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

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

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

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

We look at Marshall Von Erich being blinded by Contra.

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

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

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

Austin Aries vs. Ace Austin

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

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

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

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

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

Come to house shows!

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

MLW is partnering with Mars Labs to enhance viewing experience.

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

LA Park vs. Jimmy Havoc

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

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

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

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

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

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

National Openweight Title: Alexander Hammerstone vs. ???

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Myron Reed vs. Rey Horus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We look at Lawlor attacking Gotch again.

Dr. Wagner Jr. is coming.

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

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

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

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

MLW World Title: Tom Lawlor vs. Jacob Fatu

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

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

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

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

Salina grabs her phone and leaves.

Contra celebrates as commentary panics to end the show.

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #62
Date: June 15 2019
Location: Waukesha County Expo Center, Waukesha, Wisconsin
Commentators: Jim Cornette, Rich Bocchini

It’s a special show as Salina de la Renta is in charge again. That means things should be a little bit more interesting than usual, as Salina is awesome in a variety of ways. She’s one of the best villains in wrestling today and I could go for a show centered around her. Just give us some more storyline advancements on the good side, including either Mance Warner or Sami Callihan leaving the company. Let’s get to it.

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

Salina’s leg welcomes us to the show and runs down the card. She’s very happy about getting rid of either Warner or Callihan.

Opening sequence, featuring Salina and her goons.

Callihan and Warner can’t get in the building due to Salina’s orders. Jimmy Havoc, now apparently Salina’s newest lackey, won’t let them in and the two of them aren’t happy. Of note: Sami kicks a door here, which apparently got him in hot water with the company because he did serious damage.

Rey Horus vs. Flamita

They go with the wristdrags and flips to start with neither being able to get in much of note. Both guys flip to their feet and the fans are rather appreciative. A running headscissors puts Horus down on the floor. That means the big moonsault from the top and now we stop for the required floss dancing. The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by even more dancing that Cornette thankfully ignores.

Horus is back up with an AJ Styles drop down into a dropkick and a hurricanrana of his own. The big flip dive to the floor drops Flamita again and the fans are right back into this. Back in and Horus kicks him in the head for one but Flamita grabs a Muscle Buster into two knees to the chest for two of his own. An overhead belly to belly into the corner gets two on Flamita and it’s time for the slow chop off.

Horus’ sunset flip is rolled through into a basement dropkick but he’s right back up for another dropkick of his own. A spear into the very twisting tornado DDT sets up another DDT for two on Flamita and they’re both down as Cornette tries to figure out how they come up with this stuff. They talk trash and forearm it out until Horus gets two off a spike hurricanrana. Flamita is right back with a tiger driver into a frog splash for two of his own, followed by a 450 for the pin at 13:20.

Rating: B. This was a very entertaining lucha match and that’s exactly why they were on the show. These matches don’t need to mean anything long term because they’re designed to be a bunch of flashy moves. That’s what we got here and the match was a lot of fun, which was exactly what they were shooting for.

Video on Contra’s destruction and chaos.

Tom Lawlor has the Von Erichs backing him up against Contra. They’re actually here this week, with Lawlor saying Contra talks about the world burning at their hands. Next week: Contra goes to sleep at Lawlor’s hands. Good line.

Savio Vega is coming. Ok then.

Low Ki vs. Ricky Martinez

Salina de la Renta takes credit for tonight but mocks the fans for liking cheese. Low Ki charges straight at him to start so Martinez bails to the floor, meaning it’s time for a chase. Martinez gets thrown back inside but a Salina distraction lets Martinez get in a shot to the ribs. A running dropkick to the head gets two and we hit something like a camel clutch.

That’s broken up in a hurry and Low Ki hits the double stomp for a needed breather. The bodyscissors goes on as Cornette tries to figure out how Salina’s dress stays on (fair enough). Back up and Martinez pulls the referee in front of a Low Ki charge and a kick to the face gets two. Low Ki is back up and one heck of a clothesline….actually knocks Martinez out for the KO win at 5:53.

Rating: C. Low Ki as the anti-hero is something that could have some interesting legs and it worked well enough here. Put him together with Lawlor or someone like that to go after Contra and we could be in for something rather appealing. Martinez is still fine in this role and he’ll be back without much effort.

Post match Low Ki and Salina say something we can’t hear.

Sami Callihan and Mance Warner argue over who gets promo time and over who is going to be riding a horse out of MLW.

Video on LA Park. That gut makes him a lot harder to take.

Dr. Wagner Jr. is coming.

Salina yells at Martinez and the F bombs are flying.

The Dynasty is getting ready for Richard Holliday’s match with Teddy Hart next week so Richard makes fun of Hart’s gear. They have to explain the joke to Holliday and then make cat jokes. Hammerstone seems to brag about being the only champion but backs down in a hurry.

Mance Warner vs. Sami Callihan

Hardcore rules and the loser leaves MLW. Sami spits water on Cornette and Bocchini, which was pretty much it for him in MLW in case you need a spoiler. Cornette throws a chair at him and the swearing is on in a hurry, with some rather real insults thrown in there. They slug it out on the floor and Cornette is going full blast, though he does make sure to say that he wants Mance to win to get rid of Sami (because he knows how to make this sound strong in kayfabe).

It’s already time to go into the crowd and over to the merchandise stand with Sami throwing various things at him. They ram each other into a fence around the stands and Sami suplexes him onto a bleacher for two. A trashcan goes over Warner’s head and they trade headbutts with Warner, the one whose head was covered in plastic, getting the better of it. Sami pelts a chair at him and takes a bow as Cornette rants about all the diseases Sami has in his mouth.

It’s time to fight by the concession stand (Cornette: “Is this Tupelo?”) and there’s a spork to Sami’s head. Warner puts the Tabasco sauce in Sami’s mouth as Teddy Hart is watching the fight. They actually get in the ring and of course it’s time for the staple gun. A sunset flip is broken up with a staple to Mance’s head and Sami puts a trashcan around him for a bonus.

Warner is busted open and Sami staples a dollar to his arm. Another one is stapled to his head as Cornette accurately says that this has nothing to do with wrestling. Warner fights back and finds a piece of wood from underneath the ring. The wood is sets up between two chairs but Sami catches him on top with a super piledriver for two. Since a jumping middle rope piledriver through a table is only good for two here, Warner hits a weak spear through more wood in the corner for two of his own.

With nothing else working, they sit down in a pair of chairs and slug it out until they spit at each other for a change. Sami tombstones him near a chair for two and STAPLES HIS TONGUE TO THE WOOD. Warner rips it back off and knees Sami in the head for one. Another running knee drives the wood into Sami’s head for the pin at 18:12.

Rating: D+. Your individual tastes on this one are going to vary but that’s the case with any wrestling (or whatever you want to call it) like this. Getting rid of Callihan is a good thing as he and Warner are similar enough that it doesn’t make sense to have both of them around. Couple that with his issues with Cornette and it’s a good idea to get rid of him. If nothing else maybe we can cut down on the amount of hardcore matches around here, which would be a welcome change. As for the match, it was long, disturbing at times and as Cornette said, had little to do with wrestling. That’s kind of the point, but it doesn’t help much.

Overall Rating: C+. Featuring some of these shows around Salina is a good idea as she’s the best character in the promotion and some of her bigger issues is with the second best in Warner. They did a very good job of mixing up the styles here and it fit the Fusion idea as well as they could have. There is still some fine tuning to do but for what they’ve been doing lately, it’s been fairly successful.

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

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

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

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