IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

Injustice vs. Zenshi/Air Wolf/Gringo Loco

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

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

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

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

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

Mance Warner has been bailed out of jail.

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

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

Dominic Garrini is coming.

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

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

MLW World Title: Jacob Fatu vs. Tom Lawlor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Results

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

Jacob Fatu b. Tom Lawlor – Double jump moonsault

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

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IMG Credit: Prestige Wrestling

Attribute Of The Strong
Date: June 29, 2019
Location: Bossanova Ballroom, Portland, Oregon
Commentator: Joe Dumbrowski

It’s another show from Independentwrestling.TV as I get everything I can out of a free trial. This is from Prestige Wrestling, a promotion out of the northwest with some names I’ve actually heard of for a change. I’m not sure what to expect from this but that can make it more fun at times. Let’s get to it.

As usual, I have no idea what is going on here with characters or storylines so I’m sorry if I miss anything in advance.

Sweet there’s commentary on this one. That was a major problem last time.

Ethan HD vs. Sonico

I’ve seen Ethan before and Sonico is your local luchador. The ring looks rather big, probably WWE size at least. The fans immediately go with a BOTH THESE GUYS chant as the lighting looks like one of those recreation scenes on Dark Side Of The Ring, complete with the handheld camera work. Sonico takes him down into a front facelock so Ethan crawls backwards to escape. A test of strength goes a little better for Ethan as he takes Sonico down but can’t break his bridge.

Ethan’s jumping stomp misses, with Ethan saying it was that close. Fair enough and a smart warning as grown men stomping down onto the chest can be damaging. Sonico’s mask comes unhooked so Ethan helps put it back together, meaning we need a hug. A quick victory roll gives Sonico two and Ethan has to duck a swinging kick to the head so we can have a standoff. Another hug winds up being some shoving, allowing Sonico to bounce off the ropes into a wristdrag.

Ethan tries the same and can’t get up to the middle rope for a funny bit. It’s Sonico picking up the pace and hitting a springboard shoulder to put Ethan on the floor. The suicide dive nearly sends Ethan into the corner of the small arena and the fans are rather pleased. Sonico chops him around the ring, even having Ethan sit on a chair for a rather big one. Back in and Sonico hits a basement dropkick in the corner for two, followed by a quickly broken Figure Four.

Ethan tells him to bring it on so Sonico drops him with a left hand to the face. To be fair, he did ask for it. Some running knees in the corner have Sonico in trouble and a Death Valley Driver gives Ethan two. Things get a bit more aggressive with Ethan stomping him down in the corner, meaning it’s time to head to the floor. A chop nearly attaches a poster to Sonico’s chest and a bottom rope superplex gives Ethan two more. Ethan clotheslines his head off for another two but Sonico sends him throat first into the middle rope.

That means a top rope double stomp to the back and a missile dropkick as Ethan is rocked for a change. There’s a Sling Blade into a suplex (called a brainbuster) for two on Ethan but he’s right back up with a springboard kick to the head. Sonico rolls outside so it’s a springboard moonsault to take him out as this is getting WAY more time than I was expecting. Ethan returns the top rope double stomp to the back and hits a running shooting star press for two more.

Sonico’s reverse hurricanrana plants Ethan but he can’t follow up. It’s Ethan up first and a shot to the head sets up a tiger driver for the next near fall. Sonico is back up with a lifting DDT and Ethan flips him off and spits at him after the comeback. That’s too much for Sonico, who knees him in the back of the head for the pin at 19:30.

Rating: B. That was FAR longer than I was expecting but it was a rather entertaining back and forth match. Ethan started off being respectful and having fun but eventually got a lot angrier and more disrespectful. That told a nice story for the match and I had a good time with this. That’s how you need to open a show and I’m looking forward to seeing what else they have for the rest of the night. Nicely done.

They shake hands post match.

Cole Wright vs. Mike Santiago

So a bit of a weird thing here: they show a graphic for every match, which is perfectly fine. What’s strange is that it shows all of the show’s information, including where to go for tickets. To the show that you’re already watching. Santiago seems to be the villain here as he has been saying that Wright, who is new around here, isn’t in his league. The wristlock has Santiago in some early control as we hear about the Prestige Championship picture.

The battle of wristlocks goes to a standoff and Santiago chuckles from the corner. They fight over a top wristlock until Wright hits him in the face to make Santiago go a bit more serious. A running clothesline gets one and a Codebreaker gets double that, so Santiago gets smart and knocks him outside. That means a kick from the apron before squeezing Wright’s head against the post.

Back in and the chinlock keeps Wright down and a big forearm gets two. The running knee to the face misses but Santiago is fine with a dropkick to take Wright back down. Wright is back on his feet for the slugout with Santiago getting the better of it for two. A missed crossbody out of the corner makes it even worse for Wright but Santiago is getting frustrated off the near falls. Santiago’s tornado DDT gets a slightly delayed two so it’s time to punch Wright in the face.

Another near fall means it’s time to yell at the referee, which allows Wright to roll some German suplexes. Santiago runs him over for two more, but walks into a spinebuster for Wright’s first big shot in a good while. Wright grabs him by the waist to send Santiago bailing to the ropes out of fear of something unclear. With that broken up, Santiago nails a knee to the face and grabs a fisherman’s buster into a small package to put Wright away at 14:46.

Rating: C. This was another one with a story though the action wasn’t as entertaining. Santiago wasn’t all that impressed by Wright to start but had to worker harder to beat him. The problem was that I didn’t quite buy that Santiago was in any real danger as Wright was more surviving than competing. The spinebuster was good but other than that, there just wasn’t much going on here. Not bad, but it only went so far.

Post match Santiago says cut the music. He told everyone that Wright didn’t have a chance, which has been the case with so many people around here. Santiago wants better competition and he’s tired of being up local guys.

Black Sheep vs. Drexl vs. Jaiden vs. Nick Radford

One fall to a finish. Drexl has been mentioned a few times and seems to be a bigger deal around here. Radford has glasses and a book, with the fans not seemingly that into him. This seems to be a new look for him and while he wants to say something, Drexl, with a huge beard, cuts him off as we’re ready to go. The bell rings and Radford gets the mic but the fans cut him off this time.

Radford has something to read for us: erotic fan fiction poetry, which seems to please Drexl. The poem is about the four way and how the four of them could have a bit of fun. Jaiden takes the book away and the double teaming is on (make your own jokes). Sheep and Jaiden hammer away on him but Drexl is more interested in reading the book. Jaiden kicks Radford in the face but gets hit in the face with the book for his efforts. More book shots from Drexl set up a nasty paper cut for Jaiden as we’re in Jimmy Havoc world.

Sheep and Radford are fine with watching as Drexl cuts Jaiden’s mouth as well. With Sheep remembering he’s in the match, Drexl and Radford fight over the book on the floor as Jaiden, seemingly fine from the cuts, flips across the ring. That doesn’t go well as Sheep catches him for a slam into the corner, setting up a toss over the top onto the other two. Back in and Radford has the book again, with Drexl telling him to finish the story. He even brings Radford a chair so he can read more easily.

Radford gets to the part about Jaiden, who tries to break it up and gets sent face first into the chair for his efforts. Then Sheep is sent face first into Radford’s crotch and Drexl pelts the chair at Sheep’s head. Another chair is set up in the middle and it’s a Tower of Doom to send everyone but Radford through them. As a result, Radford loads up the book again but gets pulled into the Tree of Woe and then a trashcan. Sheep spears the trashcan, leaving Drexl to hit a sitout Death Valley Driver for the pin on Jaiden at 11:22.

Rating: D+. I’m not sure what to make of this, but I know I’m not a big fan of comedy like this. The book deal was more bizarre than funny which made for a rather different match. Maybe this is a match where I need to know the people a bit better, but this didn’t do it for me. It wasn’t the worst and it didn’t last that long (remember that the reading went for over two minutes at the beginning), but this mostly missed for me.

Post match Drexl hits himself in the head with a chair. Various others leave annoyed.

Juventud Guerrera vs. TJP

This could be interesting. Juvy, in his mask again, streams his entrance in one of those things that always seems cool, no matter how common it might be. Before the match, Juvy does his Rock impression, which has been going on longer than Rock’s entire career now. He also puts over TJP as the first modern Cruiserweight Champion and then goes with a LET’S GET JUICY chant. Uh, yeah. Anyway they shake hands and we’re ready to go.

Juvy snapmares him down early on but doesn’t follow up in a show of respect. A battle over wristlocks means a lot of spinning and flipping away until TJP anklescissors him down. TJP has to bounce out of a headscissors and a basement dropkick puts Juvy on the floor. An exchange of leapfrogs takes us to a standoff and the fans are rather pleased with what they’re seeing.

That means another handshake but Juvy takes a breather by laying across the ropes ala Eddie Guerrero. TJP does his own Eddie pose, but Juvy says HE loves Eddie more. One heck of a chop drops TJP and the double arm crank is on. Some running shots in the corner rock TJP again with Juvy throwing in some swearing for flavor. Now we pause so Juvy can yell at a fan, allowing TJP (known defender of fans) to hit a springboard hurricanrana to put them both down.

There’s a tornado DDT to plant Juvy and a high crossbody gets two. Juvy gets two of his own off a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and a Downward Spiral into the middle buckle makes it even worse. An over the shoulder backbreaker is spun into a DDT to give Juvy two more and it’s time for the Juvy Driver (I know this as Juvy makes a motion and shouts JUVY DRIVER). The shouting isn’t the best idea as TJP reverses into the kneebar with Juvy tapping….and then shaking his head no. The referee counts it as the submission at 13:34 in a weird ending.

Rating: C+. This is why you bring in someone with a reputation like Juvy. TJP is a bigger name in modern wrestling but Juvy was a big deal during one of the most important eras and a win over him means something for TJP. You have to bring in the veterans to give the younger guys (though TJP is a veteran as well) a boost. Good match too as the show has been rather entertaining so far.

There’s some confusion over what happened but Juvy definitely tapped. A guy with a camera who I assume is an authority figure decides we’re getting five more minutes because SLAPPING THE MAT OVER AND OVER while in a hold doesn’t count as a tap for some reason. They kick away at each other as commentary tries to explain that it was a controversial ending. The Juvy Driver and Detonation Kick are both countered and Juvy rolls him up for the pin at 15:10 total. That had to be a botched finish earlier because otherwise there is no reason to do something so messy and so fast.

Post match Juvy raises his mask and praises TJP again. Juvy didn’t tap (yeah he did) and would love to face TJP again at some point. TJP says he knows Juvy didn’t tap but he’d want five more minutes with him even if he had. He left WWE to chase his freedom and he’s honored to face another former Cruiserweight Champion. Hugging ensues.

Team C4 vs. Eh Team vs. Konami Code vs. 4 Minutes of Heat

Elimination rules and the Konami Code is the only one I’ve heard of. The Eh Team (Lance Pearson/Chase James) are Canadians, 4 Minutes of Heat (Eddie Pearl/Ricky Gibson (not Robert’s brother, who was also a wrestler)) are rockers, Konami Code (Julian Whyt/CJ Edwards) are in Castlevania cosplay and Team C4 (Cody Chun/Guillermo Rosa) are….well they’re the last to enter. There is currently a Tag Team Title tournament going on/still be seeded so there is some jockeying for position going on here.

Chun and Whyt start things off as the fans chant what sounds like “SALTY B******”. Whyt and Chun trade some legsweeps and they both miss dropkicks for an early standoff. It’s off to Rosa vs. James, with the first round consisting of getting the fans to cheer louder. Instead of going after James, Guillermo chops Gibson to bring him in.

The other teams bail from a Gibson tag attempt, leaving him to get kicked in the face. James hits some chops in the corner and it’s Pearl coming in for a save, earning himself a trip to his partner’s crotch. That happens two more times as this isn’t as funny as they think it is. A neckbreaker/powerbomb combination gets two on Gibson but a powerslam/neckbreaker combination finishes Pearson for the first elimination at 5:45.

It’s Konami Code coming in to double team Pearl with an assisted dropkick putting him on the floor. Pearl gets dropkicked off the apron and there’s the suicide dive. Chun dives onto both of them but Gibson slips on the ropes and crotches himself. More dives ensue until it’s another powerslam/neckbreaker combination to get rid of the Konami Code at 8:59.

Rosa slugs away at both of them and it’s a German suplex with an O’Connor roll for a double near fall. Chun comes back in and Rosa tries to use him as a launchpad into a Canadian Destroyer but Rosa can’t get over. Instead it’s a regular piledriver to Pearl, leaving Chun to roll Gibson up for the pin at 11:25.

Rating: C-. This had the dives and fast pace but it felt like it should have been a lot longer. The eliminations came rather fast and furious at the end and I was surprised by the final pin. In this case that isn’t the best thing in the world, as nothing really had a chance to be set up. The match wasn’t terrible or anything, but no one had a chance to stand out.

Post match 4 Minutes of Heat beat them down with the same powerslam/neckbreaker combination. Cue the likely authority figure to say he’s tired of 4 Minutes of Heat acting like this, so he’s bringing in someone they think they are: the Rock N Roll Express. Well that works, though the Express in Oregon feels weird.

Super Crazy vs. Chavo Guerrero

Chavo gets checked for weapons but just to be fair, he checks the ref too. Crazy likes the idea but doesn’t listen to the fans’ demands that he check the ref as well. We get a BOTH THESE GUYS chant and Chavo says that’s the first time he’s ever gotten one of those. Crazy takes him into the corner but gets snapmared down into an early chinlock. Back up and a wristlock seems to annoy Crazy so he takes it to the mat for a front facelock. That impresses Chavo and it’s another standoff.

An ECW chant lets Crazy get in a few cheap shots, as for some reason the fans don’t seem to remember Chavo being ECW Champion. Chavo gets beaten down in the corner and Crazy wraps the knee around the post. Back in and Crazy kicks at the leg to keep Chavo in trouble. It’s already time to head back to the floor with Chavo being thrown into some chairs.

They head back inside again for more kicks to the leg as you can’t say Crazy isn’t focused here. The chinlock switches the pace a bit but doesn’t last long as Chavo is back up with a dropkick. A headscissors into the slingshot hilo gets two and the knee is fine enough to hit Three Amigos. The Eddie chants are rolling as Chavo goes up but he has to knock Crazy back down. Something like a frog crossbody finishes Crazy at 10:49.

Rating: C. Chavo sold the knee near the end but there wasn’t much in the way of his offense changing because of it. That being said, a match between two guys far past their primes but still more than watchable in the ring is a good addition to have on the card. Having someone like Chavo makes the show feel a little more legitimate and adds some star power. He’s not the biggest name ever but he’s the biggest name on the show and he had a good match. It gives the place a little more legitimacy and that’s very important.

Post match Chavo talks about coming to Portland dozens of times for a bunch of companies Then he came back here for a show called Grimm and he loves this city. Chavo talks about all the things he loves about the place, including the coffee and the weed. This kind of a show is why someone leaves WWE because they love to interact with the fans.

Ask any big band if they have more fun playing in a stadium or a bar and they’ll pick the bar every time. Chavo puts over Crazy and the company, plus Prestige Champion Tom Lawlor. Nice speech, capped off with an EDDIE chant. Hang on though as Crazy wants to talk about how special this is as well.

Prestige Wrestling Title: Tom Lawlor vs. Simon Grimm

Lawlor is defending and that is Simon Gotch. This is a rubber match as they have split a pair of matches before this one. These two are feuding in MLW as well so there is potential here. Grimm heads to the mat to start with Lawlor not being able to do much. He can get out of Grimm’s armbar attempt but gets pulled down into a headscissors for a breather. Lawlor’s armbar has Grimm in a bit of trouble and a hammerlock puts him on the mat. Lawlor switches over to the leg and gets in a Sharpshooter, possibly becoming an honorary Canadian in the process.

With that broken up, Lawlor switches to a Figure Four as he’s certainly sticking with the grappling and submissions so far. Grimm pulls on the ankle to escape but Lawlor switches it over to a Regal Stretch while on his back. Some shots to the head get Grimm out of trouble and he goes with shots to the champ’s face. Lawlor is fine with the striking and knocks Grimm to the apron, only to suplex him back in. The guillotine choke keeps Grimm in trouble but they fall outside for the break and a crash.

Grimm finally manages to drop Lawlor onto the apron for a breather, breaks the count, and then goes back outside to kick Lawlor in the chest. Lawlor has shown he can hang in the striking so he kicks right back, has a drink, and keeps kicking. Another kick sends Grimm through some chairs as the fire is starting to come out. The referee’s requests to come back in aren’t well received as Grimm would rather hit a suplex on the floor to a big reaction.

That’s only good for two back inside so it’s bottom rope superplex time for two more. The Kimura attempt is broken up and it’s time to slug it out again. Just like the previous two times, Lawlor gets the better of it and we hit an airplane spin of all things. Lawlor puts him on the top for some running knees to the ribs, including one after three forward rolls. They slug it out again, with the low lights showing the sweat that much better. Yet again Lawlor gets the better of a battle of strikes but misses a top rope elbow.

Grimm STILL doesn’t get it with the strikes, though this time stereo big hits to the head give us a double knockdown. A German suplex drops Grimm on his head and a running knee rocks him again. The rear naked choke is broken up but Grimm can’t get the armbreaker. Lawlor is right back with the choke but Grimm uses the underneath arm to reach the rope.

Grimm gets up again and hits a cradle piledriver for two as Grimm is looking frustrated. This time Grimm goes for a rollup, which is reversed into a triangle choke for two arm drops. Lawlor flips over though and it’s a series of forearms to the head. Another triangle makes Grimm tap at 21:19.

Rating: B. Other than Grimm not getting it with the strikes, this was a very interesting and entertaining battle of two people trying to outlast the other. Grimm was good but Lawlor kept grinding him down and eventually winning when Lawlor was able to use the skills and experience. Grimm looked good here and has done a great job of making me forget what he used to be. Very good main event.

Lawlor wants to show respect but Grimm collapses to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. I wasn’t expecting anything here and I got a very good show with some good action, a few nice surprises and only one match I didn’t care for, which was more that it wasn’t my taste than anything else. This was a lot better than I would have bet on and that’s not something you can say from an indy company. Yeah it’s small and they are limited on stories, but this was a two hour and thirty five minute show with nothing bad and enough good that I’d watch another show. It’s one of the better indies I’ve seen and there are a lot of them to beat to reach that point.

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:

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IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

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

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

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

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

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

National Openweight Title: Alexander Hammerstone vs. ???

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Myron Reed vs. Rey Horus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We look at Lawlor attacking Gotch again.

Dr. Wagner Jr. is coming.

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

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

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

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

MLW World Title: Tom Lawlor vs. Jacob Fatu

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

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

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

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

Salina grabs her phone and leaves.

Contra celebrates as commentary panics to end the show.

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

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

Adam Brooks vs. Austin Aries

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Savio Vega is coming.

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

Jacob Fatu vs. Ariel Dominguez/Sam Black

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

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

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

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

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

Tom Lawlor vs. Josef Samael

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #63
Date: June 22, 2019
Location: Waukesha County Expo Center, Waukesha, Wisconsin
Commentators: Jim Cornette, Rich Bocchini

It’s time for a big match with Contra getting in a rare six man tag against Tom Lawlor and the Von Erichs. You would think that this would make more sense in Dallas but Lawlor vs. Contra has been built up for months now and hopefully things go well. Other than that, we’re building to Kings of Colosseum later in the summer. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with Jimmy Havoc narrating a funeral for Sami Callihan, who even has a tombstone. Salina de la Renta says rest in peace you warthog.

Opening sequence.

Teddy Hart vs. Richard Holliday

Non-title. Maxwell Jacob Friedman is on commentary and gets in some rather nice jabs at Wisconsin and Hart, occasionally at the same time. Teddy hands Rich his big necklace and stares Friedman down, sending him behind Cornette in the process. Cue Holliday to jump Hart from behind and the beatdown is on. A belt shot leaves Teddy laying and Friedman steals one of the Tag Team Title belts. No match.

We recap Salina de la Renta setting up Sami Callihan vs. Mance Warner in last week’s Loser Leaves MLW match where Warner got rid of Callihan.

Earlier today, Warner was by the river and drinking some beers. He promises to come for every member of Promociones Dorado with lariats, including taking off LA Park’s ten pound head. As usual, Warner has the very wordy version of everything he says.

Jordan Oliver vs. Isaiah Velasquez

Standby match after the previous one didn’t happen. See how easy it is to make it seem like the show isn’t that scripted? Oliver has a bandanna tied at the side and seems rather annoying. Oh and he has been told to watch out for crooked referees and calls himself the Sauce God. Do I need to explain this guy much more? Isaiah ducks a charge to start and grabs an early rollup for two. Oliver misses a big boot and gets headscissored down. Isaiah sends him outside for a running kick from the apron but tosses Oliver right back in.

Something close to a crotching sets up a springboard DDT (which didn’t come close to connecting, to the point where Rich said it was a cutter (close enough)). Some forearms in the corner have Isaiah in more trouble but he comes back with a few of his own. They trade kicks to the face as we see Myron Reed in the back with a JUSTICE sign. Velasquez hits a middle rope spinning crossbody for two but has to roll out of a top rope double stomp. Oliver is right back with a Stunner and middle rope cutter for the pin at 4:33.

Rating: D. This one really didn’t work and a lot of that was due to Oliver not being all that great. His wrestling wasn’t the strongest (rather sloppy would be a good way of putting it) and his gimmick/look felt like they belonged on the indy circuit about fifteen years ago. Not a very good match, but it could have been a lot worse.

Video on the Von Erichs, who are a pretty cool signing for the company.

Some big shows are coming up.

We look at Flamita beating Rey Horus last week. Salina may be interested in him.

We recap the opening match not taking place and the ensuing beatdown of Teddy Hart. The Hart Dynasty have decided that they want revenge in the ring.

A video shows Alexander Hammerstone’s car leaving the arena.

Low Ki vs. Tom Coffey

Running forearm knocks Coffey out in nine seconds.

Post match, Low Ki wants Contra. The Pandora’s Box that they opened is coming their way.

Contra talks about all the violence they’ve spread over MLW and all the people they’ve hurt. Tonight, it’s a massacre in Milwaukee.

Dr. Wagner Jr. is coming.

We look at the Teddy Hart attack again.

Kings of Colosseum Control Center, focusing entirely on Lawlor vs. Fatu for the World Title.

We recap Lawlor vs. Contra, with Lawlor bringing in the Von Erichs to even things up.

Contra vs. Tom Lawlor/Marshall Von Erich/Ross Von Erich

Tornado tag rules (meaning No DQ) and this is the brothers’ in-ring debut. Hold on though as Simon Gotch needs to go nose to nose with a fan before we’re ready to go. Lawlor comes through the crowd to jump Fatu before the bell with Marshall and Ross joining in a few seconds later. House is cleaned early on and it’s stereo claws to Gotch and Samael. Fatu shrugs off a chair shot from Lawlor though and breaks up Ross’ claw.

Marshall, the bigger Von Erich, takes Fatu down with a clothesline and the brawl is on. Contra takes over and gets Marshall alone in the ring with Fatu hitting a superkick. Lawlor is in with a rear naked choke on Fatu as the Von Erichs are already back up. The crowd cringes at something we can’t see as Marshall suplexes Samael. Ross dropkicks a chair into Fatu’s head and a double dropkick has Fatu on the floor. Lawlor unloads on Fatu with kicks to the chest as Samael takes over on Ross.

Fatu is back with a belly to back suplex onto the apron but Samael gets smart by taping Lawler to the post. That leaves the Brothers to get beaten down with a chair but the referee finds a knife to cut Lawlor free. Hold on though as Lawlor runs up the aisle, leaving Fatu to crush both of them with the moonsault. Lawlor comes back with a board, which he breaks over Fatu’s head to no avail. A low blow works a bit better as the Brothers are back up to help clean house. The Brothers hit a double claw slam for the pin on Gotch at 7:18.

Rating: B-. That was a lot of fun and I had a good time with it. The Von Erichs looked rather good in there and that’s all they needed to do. Lawlor vs. Fatu can be the hoss fight title match and that’s rather appealing. Fatu looked like a monster here and Gotch is the weak link of the team in the ring anyway so this was exactly what it should have been.

Post match the brawl continues with everyone using the broken wood. Eventually referees and agents break it up but some of them are taken out in the process. As he’s helped up, Contra comes back down to beat him up even more. The Von Erichs make the save as Fatu knocks out the ring announcer. Lawlor runs back out with another piece of wood as the fans are rather into this whole thing.

We’re still not done though as a referee gets powerbombed through a table and hit with a chair. They even come up to the commentary booth to mess with stuff as Lawlor and the Brothers pose in the ring to end the show. The brawl was a bit too long but rather entertaining, which is all that matters.

Overall Rating: C. The main event and post match brawl helped a lot but there was only so much that could be done to save the earlier part of the show. It wasn’t the best show in the world but the ending helped a lot and now we should be ready for the big showdown at the Chicago show. The energy was here, though they could have done something a lot better than that first match. As usual, the majority was good but it still needs some tweaking.

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 #59
Date: May 25, 2019
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Jim Cornette

It’s time for a big night around here as the World Title is on the line with Tom Lawlor defending against Avalanche. They’ve done a very good job of making these World Title matches feel important as the champ is very rarely in the arena, yet almost always makes a brief appearance, even in a pre-taped cameo. It’s been working well for me and hopefully that continues here. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Lawlor winning the title and promising to face anyone from all over the world, including Avalanche from Germany.

Opening sequence.

We look at Brian Pillman Jr. beating Rich Swann in last week’s main event.

The Dynasty is preparing for Alexander Hammerstone to win the National Title and all the money that it’s going to bring in. They don’t like the Hart Foundation and Hammerstone has a big arm.

Ace Romero/Barrington Hughes vs. Contra

That would be Josef Samael/Jacob Fatu for Contra here. The brawl is on in a hurry with Romero and Fatu having an early standoff. Samael busts out his spike though and knocks Romero cold, leaving Fatu to hit the moonsault for the pin on Hughes at 1:12. Again, exactly what it should have been.

Post match the beatdown stays on as the announcers talk about the lights flickering, though they don’t seem to be changing that much. The big guys are left laying.

Salina de la Renta plays coy about LA Park cashing in his title shot.

Earlier today, Contra attacked the Lucha Bros and Fenix took a fireball to the face.

Video on the Von Erichs, who are still coming.

Fenix has been tended to and lost a lot of skin from the fireball.

Video on Contra attacking Tom Lawlor.

Lawlor says he doesn’t get shaken by anything and people should be worried about how to get the title off of him. It doesn’t matter if you’re a bag of bones, guys from an 80s video game or an avalanche from German because he’s ready.

Fury Road Control Center, now with the Contra logo popping up without being acknowledged.

We look back at Teddy Hart winning the Middleweight Title and holding the belt for several months since. Jimmy Havoc is coming for the title because he’s willing to do anything to hurt his opponents.

Mance Warner goes to the pay window, which has three floors: jobbers at the bottom, midcarders in the middle and old Mancer right at the top with the main eventers. That’s what he does every time and gets paid to do it. That southern voice is easy to like and this was short and to the point, with Mance mentioning being from the south, drinking light beer and poking eyes. What more do you need to know about him in about forty seconds?

Promociones Dorado vs. Chris Pagan/Troy Hollywood

It’s Low Ki and Ricky Martinez for Dorado here, though Low Ki doesn’t seem happy with Salina. Dorado jumps them before the belly with Pagan being knocked silly on the apron. A hard clothesline drops Hollywood and it’s a top rope double stomp to the back to give Low Ki the pin at 1:10. The night of squashes continue.

Post match here’s Contra and the fans are VERY interested. Martinez and Salina bail though and Low Ki gets beaten down, including a great looking pop up Samoan drop. That’s how you book something interesting: build up two people (including destroying a team each tonight) and then put them against each other because it’s hard to imagine either of them losing to the other. Then sell tickets.

The Hart Foundation give Pillman tips for facing Hammerstone next week with the big suggestion being to tire him out. Pillman knows Hammerstone is big and strong but his dad told him about the size of the fight in the (yellow) dog. This win is for his family. Not a great promo from Pillman, though the story is there.

We look at what happened to Contra tonight.

Low Ki is still in the ring.

Backstage interviewer Kasey Lennox is distraught over what Contra has done all night.

We recap tonight’s Contra stuff (second time in three minutes) and the hint that Park could cash in his World Title match tonight.

MLW World Title: Robert Dreissker vs. Tom Lawlor

Lawlor is defending and Dreissker is called Avalanche. They’ve done well with making Lawlor feel like a big deal and so much of that is he’s rarely in action. Make that a special occasion. Lawlor strikes away to start and gets knocked into the corner with no effort. Some kicks to the leg work a lot better for the champ and now the strikes to the chest have some more success.

Avalanche gets knocked down so Lawlor can kick at the chest and hit a running seated clothesline for two. A hard kick sends Lawlor outside and Avalanche crushes him with a splash against the post. Back in and Dreissker hits the required big splash for two, followed by a big shoulder to send Lawlor flying. There’s a hard whip into the corner and Lawlor is in even more trouble.

More strikes give Lawlor a breather but Dreissker gives him a northern lights suplex to cut the champ off again. Lawlor manages a release German suplex though and the comeback is on. Forearms in the corner take Dreissker down but he’s right back with another running splash. The Vader Bomb misses though and a hard knee to the face drops Dreissker. The rear naked choke retains the title at 7:52.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t a masterpiece or anything but it had a fine enough story and that’s all you can really expect. Dreissker doesn’t have a resume around here and there’s no issue between the two of them aside from Dreissker wanting the title. They did what they could with what they had and it came out well enough.

Post match here’s Contra again and the beatdown is on. Fatu hits the moonsault and they drape the Contra flag over him, with Lawlor still trying to grab the title for a nice touch.

We cut to the back where Salina de la Renta tells LA Park to cash in now but Sami Callihan and Mance Warner jump him to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. This might be the best show they’ve done yet as it felt like big stuff was happening here. I wanted to see more of what they were going for and Contra looked like monsters all over again. Throw in the World Title match and building up to next week’s live special and I’m not sure what more you could ask for. They probably could have cut one or two of the recaps and done another promo or something, but this was a very good show and on another level than most of what they do.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

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

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

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

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

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

Middleweight Title: Teddy Hart vs. Ace Austin

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

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

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

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

Minoru Tanaka vs. Myron Reed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MLW World Title: Jimmy Havoc vs. Tom Lawlor

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video on last year’s Battle Riot.

The announcers preview the match.

Battle Riot

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ariel Dominguez is in at #35 and Hammerstone gorilla presses him a few times before getting the easy elimination. Ricky Martinez is in at #36 as Ki comes back in to help Park get rid of Daga. Lance Anoa’i is in at #37 for some Samoan drops and Mance Warner is in at #38 with a 2×4. Some board shots (and a Jim Duggan thumbs up) clean house and a jumping knee gets two on Hammerstone.

Richard Holliday is in at #39 to complete the field as Hart isn’t here. The final grouping is Smith, Park, Hammerstone, Callihan, Martinez, Anoa’i, Warner and Holliday, leaving the match pretty wide open. Holliday takes his time getting in and Callihan gives him a Russian legsweep with the 2×4. Warner tosses Martinez and a swinging neckbreaker gets rid of Anoa’i.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Absolute Intense Wrestling

Slumber Party Massacre
Date: April 4, 2019
Location: White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, New Jersey
Commentators: Matt Wadsworth, The Duke

Who can’t do four full shows in one day anymore? This is another Wrestlemania weekend show and another situation where I have no idea what to expect as I don’t follow Absolute Intense Wrestling. Here’s pretty much everything you need to know: the main event is Scott Steiner vs. Swoggle. We good? Let’s get to it.

No opening sequence, though it might have been cut off.

La Familia de Tijuana vs. Young Studs

Mexican Death Match. La Familia is Bestia 666/Damien 666 and the Studs are Bobby Beverly/Eric Ryan. There are a bunch of forks thrown into the ring and it’s time to go for blood early. I’m thinking I’ve made a mistake with this show. The blood is already flowing from Beverly’s head and it’s time to choke with belts. Ryan gets a chair wrapped around his neck and Damien sends it into the post. Eric is right back with a barbed wire bat to draw blood of his own and it’s time for some doors (they don’t use tables).

A chair gets rammed between Ryan’s legs, followed by the barbed wire being put against his head for some headbutts from Bestia. The Studs’ offense gets them nowhere and it’s a double MuscleBuster for two on Beverly. Ryan throws a chair at Damien to finally get somewhere and Beverly Japanese armdrags Ryan into both of them in the corner. And now, a door covered in forks. That takes a bit too long though and Damien hits a Death Valley Driver to put Ryan through the fork filled door for the pin at 9:34.

Rating: D. Oh yeah I’m not going to be liking this one very much as it’s seemingly trying to be ECW. There was no story mentioned here and it was just four people doing violent stuff to each other. Some of the spots were gruesome enough but there’s only so much you can get out of something like this.

Post match they shake hands and Ryan stabs himself in the head with a fork to a positive reaction.

Dominic Garrini vs. Joshua Bishop

Submission/surrender match. Garrini was on a show earlier today and Bishop (with manager Wes Barker) looks like a cross between Raven and Justin Credible. Garrini doesn’t waste time in kneeing Bishop outside for a double suicide dive. They chop it out as commentary says they don’t quite know why these two hate each other. Well at least they don’t like each other.

Bishop’s kick is caught and Garrini rams the ankle into the post for an F*** NO answer to a question of if he gives up. Bishop gets in a few shots to the ribs and it’s time for railroad spikes with both guys jabbing each other in the head over and over. The bloody Garrini goes for a choke but Barker hits him with a chair. That earns Barker a piledriver on the apron but Bishop chairs Garrini down to take over again.

Another door is set up between some chairs and Bishop powerbombs him through the door and the chairs. Back in and Garrini is alive enough to piledrive Bishop onto a chair for the NO so Garrini hits him with whatever he can find, including a tack covered bat to the face. Some wooden skewers are brought in but Bishop takes them away and drives it into Garrini’s cauliflower ear.

Bishop brings in a bag of tacks but gets front suplexed onto them, setting up a backsplash to make it even worse. Garrini drives the skewers into his head (and they hang there) until Bishop drops him onto the tacks for another no. With nothing else working, Bishop handcuffs Garrini around the post and gets some lighter fluid from Barker. The threat of fire makes Garrini give up at 11:25.

Rating: D+. Well that was sick. It had more of a story than the first match but I have a feeling we’re in for a lot of these matches tonight, albeit with a much more technical match thrown in so they can call themselves a wrestling company. I’m not a fan of this kind of insane stuff and it feels out of the 90s more than anything else.

The students come in to clear out the ring as Garrini is unhooked.

Tag Team Titles: To Infinity and Beyond vs. The Production vs. The Boys From Jollyville vs. The Philly Marino Experience

To Infinity and Beyond (Cheech and Colin Delaney) are defending and I have no idea who anyone else are. The Boys From Jolly (T-Money/Nasty Russ Myers) are also known as the Jollyville F***-Its, the Experience (Philly Collins and Marino Tenaglia seemingly the most popular team here) dance a lot and the Production (Derek Director and Eddie Only) seem like they make movies. Marino dives off the top on the champs and it’s T Money spinning Collins around so Myers can punch him in the face.

The Production’s manager Danhauser comes in and helps beat up Experience, who pops up for some double teaming. The champs come back in and clear the ring setting up a suicide dive from Cheech. Not to be outdone, Myers moonsaults onto everyone but gets caught. Philly goes up as well and moonsaults the pile down.

Sunset Dreams hits Colin for two with the Production diving in for the save. The huge Money Pounces Derek to the floor and busts up Philly’s spine. Russ mostly misses a moonsault for no cover on Derek, leaving Money to dive on everyone. Myers hits a top rope splash on Eddie Only (Derek’s partner) but Colin makes a save with a bad Stunner. Back up and it’s a Codebreaker/hanging DDT to the Producers at the same time. Another Codebreaker to Derek, with Cheech holding him in place for a superbomb from Colin, driving Eddie onto Derek for the pin at 6:58.

Rating: C-. It was certainly fast paced, though again I have no idea who most of these people are, who I’m supposed to cheer for (apparently not the guy in a Toy Story jacket) but that’s not what matters in something like this. A place like AIW is all about cramming in as much stuff as you can into the time you have and not worrying about any kind of flow or storytelling. I get the idea and this was the best thing so far, but it’s much more exciting than good, which can get old after awhile.

Post match the champs tell the fans to shut up and yell about any REAL teams who want to come see them in Cleveland. In other words, this is the only real wrestling.

Eddie Kingston vs. Shinjiro Otani

Otani is a Japanese legend, making me wonder if he got lost coming here. Kingston gets taken down by the arm to start and Otani slaps on a headlock that Eddie can’t break. They go with the loud chop off with Eddie being knocked down into the corner for a very delayed Facewash. A Broski Boot makes it even worse and Otani does it again, kicking his young boys down in the process. It works so well that Otani does it again….and then a third time.

It’s finally enough for two before Eddie gets up and starts in on the knee. Otani’s chops are cut off by another kick to the leg and we hit a half crab. After the grab of a rope gets Otani out, Eddie kicks the leg out all over again, setting up the spinning Backfist to the Future for two. Otani is right back up with a legsweep and a German suplex into a lariat for the pin at 9:47.

Rating: C. Well that was better than I expected, which has nothing to do with the match being an actual wrestling match instead of some violent brawl. Otani is a cool get for the show as he was wrestling all the way back in 1992 (and at Starrcade 1995) so it was cool to see something like this. Not a great match (Otani’s leg being fine out of nowhere was a stretch) but after everything else, I’ll take what I can get.

Post match Kingston praises Otani in Japanese.

Swoggle vs. Scott Steiner

Duke has been replaced on commentary by Colin Delaney. Steiner comes out but says cut his music, because he has some special music for this match. That would be….Short People by Randy Newman. Swoggle flips him off as Steiner conducts the crowd in a funny bit. Steiner swears a lot and rants about being politically correct before ripping into Swoggle with a variety of names that would be censored elsewhere.

He’s too good to face Swoggle here so Steiner has brought in his own short guy: Cabana Man Dan, who hits Swoggle with a flip flop. The German suplexes have Dan in trouble and Swoggle makes him tap to the Recliner. A woman who came out with Steiner gets in the ring so Swoggle kisses her, drawing Steiner in to blast him and get things going. Steiner sends him outside but Swoggle finds a beer to spit in Steiner’s face.

That just earns him a chair to the back and one near the head. Steiner swears a lot and hits him with another chair but it’s Dan’s turn to go inside. Dan spanks Swoggle with the flip flop….and Steiner beats Dan up too. Some belly to belly suplexes send Dan outside but Swoggle is up with a double middle finger. That means a Steiner Line and a belly to belly for two with Steiner pulling him up.

Chair shots to the knee keep Swoggle down and it’s another belly to belly for another two. The fans go into a SHONEY’S SUCKS chant (Steiner owns a Shoney’s restaurant) as Steiner goes to the middle rope. Swoggle tries to raise his foot up but Steiner catches it because…oh you get the joke. Sweet Shin Music sets up a high crossbody and some hip attacks in the corner. Steiner is right back with a Downward Spiral to set up the Recliner for the win at 6:56.

Rating: B. Well what else were you expecting here? I’ll give them some major, major points for actually making this something other than straight comedy and not having Swoggle win for the sake of a feel good moment. This was much more entertaining than it had any right to be (consider who was in there for a second) and I had a good time with it. Well done for a match that should have been an even bigger joke.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman/Ethan Page vs. Colt Cabana/Space Monkey

I know these people! You knew Cabana would be all over this weekend and that’s not a bad thing. Hang on a second as Page says Cabana needs to let his son be his (as in Page’s) partner. Cabana says deal so here’s….MJF for the match in I’m guessing an angle that they’re not bothering to explain. The fans sing YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE, presumably at Friedman, again in something that isn’t explained here.

Page and Friedman argue over who the captain is until Cabana sends his son to his room. Monkey and Page start with Ethan having nothing of an early waistlock. An Iconoclasm is countered into an ankle scissors and a basement dropkick to the back. Cabana comes in (by tagging Monkey’s tail) and gets to face Friedman and they both try the same spots. MJF: “OK! YOU’RE MY DAD! F*** OFF!” Cabana spanks him and does the same to Page…and then Monkey as well.

Monkey shrugs it off and starts cleaning house but Page breaks up the monkey flip. A delayed vertical suplex drops Monkey and it’s off to MJF to stand on the tail. And now, just because, a tail lock. Monkey isn’t having that and it’s off to Cabana for elbows and a spinning spinebuster. MJF jumps on Cabana’s back and rants about Cabana being his father but gets taken down into the Billy Goat’s Curse for the tap at 7:45.

Rating: D+. I shouldn’t be left with a confused look on my face after a match but that’s what we had here. They could have explained the story here but that’s not as important as yelling laughing at Colt’s shtick. The joke seemed funny, but when you’re stuck trying to figure out what’s going on, it doesn’t exactly have the same impact.

Mance Warner vs. Nick Gage

Dang it this wasn’t on the card so it’s an extra match. Warner comes out to Simple Man, making him more awesome than usual. It’s just a cover but a heck of a well done one for a great entrance. Gage gets a hero’s welcome here and they go right with the fighting as this isn’t going to be anything but violence. Both guys get rammed into various things and it’s a chair across Gage’s back.

They fight up to the stage and trade shots to the face until Warner gets thrown off the stage. Gage bites the head and brings Warner and a chair back in but takes a running knee to the head for two. A bulldog onto Cage’s arm onto the chair keeps Gage in trouble but Warner takes too long on the lariat, allowing Gage to DDT him onto a chair. There’s the chokebreaker and a Broski Boot to drive a chair into Warner’s face. Warner’s manager Duke comes in and chairs Warner by mistake, earning a chair shot from Gage. Colin: “See Duke? Now you’re a dead person.”

Gage bridges another door between two chairs but gets chokeshoved off the middle rope through said door for two. A piece of the door hits Warner in the head but he pops up with a pair of lariats for two more. Gage is right back with back to back piledrivers onto a door into a powerbomb for the pin at 11:39.

Rating: C-. The lack of blood helped this a lot as it was more about two hardcore guys hitting each other. I never need to see another weapon shot to the head again and Gage isn’t a wrestler, but that’s not the point of something like this. I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve seen and heard from Warner though and it helped having him here a lot.

Post match Gage thanks the fans and promises to quit when the people stop cheering him, throwing in a small ton of F bombs along the way.

Absolute Title: Pretty Boy Smooth vs. Tim Donst vs. Matthew Justice vs. Tom Lawlor

Smooth is defending and Justice’s Intense Title isn’t on the line. Lawlor has never been pinned in singles competition and dances around the ring for a rather different presentation than you get in MLW. Lawlor is introduced as the 2005 Bob Evans pie eating champion. Smooth is a giant and probably stands about 6’8/9. Everyone goes after Smooth to start but he’s right back up and throws everyone around without much trouble.

Lawlor takes him down and grabs a Figure Four but throws in an ankle lock on Justice for a bonus. Donst makes the save before using Lawlor as a launchpad for an elbow on Smooth. Justice is back up with the suicide dives, plus a running elbow off the apron to send Lawlor into some chairs. Lawlor is right back up and chops it out with Justice, who gets the better of it. A big dive onto the floor takes out everyone for the major crash.

Back in and Justice gets crotched on top, setting up a heck of a superplex. Donst isn’t done and suplexes Justice into the other two for a near fall. Everyone gets a suplex from Donst, who collapses after throwing everyone. Justice is up first and goes Coast to Coast to hit Lawlor, who is then backdropped onto Justice and Smooth. Back in and it’s a series of rollups for two each before it’s a four way slugout from their knees. Donst’s Drunken Driver (Jay Driller) gets two on Justice as this just keeps going.

Smooth’s Call the Coroner chokebomb gets two on Lawlor so it’s time to throw in a bunch of chairs. Six of them are set up in a row but it’s Donst coming in and laying out Smooth. An STO plants Lawlor and a Drunken Driver through the chairs gets two more. The Rings of Saturn (Donst is billed as a mat wrestler and this is some of the first mat wrestling I’ve seen) go on and Justice’s chair shots can’t break it up. A third finally does it and Lawlor is up again, this time grabbing a choke on Smooth for the knockout win at 18:36.

Rating: D+. This was long and came at the end of a long night so it was kind of a chore to sit through. I have no idea why these people are fighting and that has been a problem all night long. Lawlor winning seems to be the smartest move as he’s the only one with any kind of a story. There were some good spots here but for the most part it just went on too long and had WAY too many kickouts.

Post match Lawlor thanks the company for giving him a chance about two years ago. The fans don’t really want to hear this and boo rather loudly. A year ago, he broke his arm in this company and rushed back but didn’t get a title shot. He got it tonight and showed AIW that he’s the best. Lawlor has a beer to end the night.

Overall Rating: D. I think the term “not for me” applies here as I wasn’t into almost any of this. It felt like an ECW knockoff (not all night, but for a lot of it) and that’s not something I was interested in with the ECW talent, let alone a place like this. It was FAR from the worst show I’ve ever seen but I had no idea what the stories were and since the announcers didn’t bother to tell me, you can only really go off of the product itself. That wasn’t very good either and the show felt very long. Not a disaster, but also certainly not worth as much as the WrestleCon Supershow or WXW. I likely won’t be back.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Intimidation Games
Date: March 2, 2019
Location: Cicero Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Attendance: 2,200
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Jim Cornette

It’s time for another live special as MLW certainly doesn’t take its time getting to these things. This time around we have World Champion Tom Lawlor defending against former champion Low Ki in a cage, which should last a bit longer than last time’s short title match. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Bocchini has to talk over the ring announcer hyping things up.

Jim Cornette is now on commentary because I need another reason to like this place.

Laredo Kid/Taurus vs. Lucha Bros

Pentagon and Taurus start things off as Cornette is already praising everything he can find. Taurus dares to block CERO MIEDO so Fenix comes in to kick him in the head. Everything breaks down (I’m glad they didn’t waste time) with Kid springboarding in for a missile dropkick, followed by an Asai moonsault onto Pentagon. Taurus isn’t about to be outdone as he hits a corkscrew dive for good measure.

Fenix moonsaults onto both of them but Taurus headbutts the heck out of Pentagon to knock him silly. That leaves Fenix to get double teamed inside but you know the selling isn’t lasting that long, meaning Pentagon is right back in to make a save. Fenix is back in with the springboard kick to the face and a Superman forearm in the corner. The wheelbarrow splash gets two on Taurus and it’s off to the double submission but the Bros have to let them go because….I guess common sense.

Cornette gets to talk about some historic Chicago wrestling, which is far more his speed and the first time he doesn’t sound like he’s trying to keep up. Pentagon and Laredo Kid chop it out and we take a break. Back with Taurus striking away at Pentagon and somewhat connecting with a spinning top rope crossbody. Fenix is right back in with more kicks to Taurus’ head but has to slug it out with Kid in the corner.

Kid kicks Fenix down but gets caught on top with a kick from Pentagon. Taurus is right there with a powerbomb to send Pentagon onto Fenix, setting up a 450 onto the Lucha Bros pile. The Contra logo pops up as the Bros are right back up with more kicks. Rich: “It’s hard to tell which team is in control at the moment.” Cornette: “YOU THINK???” The spike Fear Factor to Kid with Fenix diving onto Taurus is enough for the pin at 10:58.

Rating: B. The lucha tag work was the usual entertaining stuff but the entertaining part was listening to Cornette having next to no clue what was going on here. It’s not his style and that’s not surprising given his background. It’s cool to see the Bros still around here as they add some star power and guarantee one good match after another. Lucha tags are almost always fun and that’s what we got here, in a smart way to start the live show.

Post match Fenix thanks everyone involved and says this is his life.

Video on Jimmy Havoc, who is back soon.

The Hart Foundation invokes the Freebird Rule in regards to…well the only thing that the Freebird Rule applies to.

Cornette explains the Freebird Rule. This place is really good at making sure fans know what’s going on.

Battle Riot II Control Center. The show, featuring their forty man Royal Rumble style match, is on April 5 and so far Pentagon Jr., Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Pro Wrestling Noah’s Minoru Tanaka.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman and Richard Holliday want a shot at the Tag Team Titles. I mean, they haven’t teamed together before so they sound like viable contenders to me. Friedman calls out the Harts for being lame because the Friedmans are a much more important family.

Salina de la Renta says Low Ki isn’t talking and promises revenge tonight.

The fans want wrestling, likely because it’s been a long time since the first match ended. I’m assuming they’re playing it safe for the sake of timing after SuperFight’s match ran so short, which makes sense but isn’t the most practical move in the world.

MLW World Title: Tom Lawlor vs. Low Ki

Lawlor is defending and it’s pinfall/submission/escape. Low Ki jumps him before the bell and the door is locked with Lawlor in early trouble. As the Contra logo comes up again, the announcers talk about the 46lb weight difference which should give Low Ki the speed advantage. Makes enough sense. Lawlor comes back and starts in on the arm, including a Pentagon Jr. snap.

Since it’s not Lucha Underground, Low Ki is right back up and sends him into the cage. A high heeled shoe from Salina goes into Lawlor’s ribs and it’s time to start the kicks to the chest. Some rams into the cage get two and we hit the abdominal stretch. Lawlor comes back with a suplex but Low Ki knees him in the head on the way down for a counter that the announcers miss. Lawlor’s powerbomb is countered with another shot to the head and a jumping stomp to the chest gets two.

Low Ki misses a kick to the face so Lawlor plants him with a spinning belly to back faceplant. An ankle lock has Low Ki in trouble but he’s out fast enough. That lets him grab a roll of quarters (oh yeah Cornette works here) but Lawlor knocks it out of his hands. Lawlor goes for a climb but gets caught in a choke from behind. That’s enough for Low Ki to get above him and stand on top, with Lawlor shaking the cage to crotch him for a rather scary moment.

Both guys sit on top of the cage for the slugout with Lawlor getting his second leg over. Low Ki does the same and they start kicking at each other instead of dropping the four feet down to the floor to win. Low Ki’s arm is tied in the cage but Lawlor climbs horizontally away from him to throw more kicks. They ram each other into the cage as the fans aren’t exactly sure why this is still going. With nothing else to do and logic kicking in, stereo slams into the cage puts them both down with Lawlor hitting the ground first to retain at 15:01.

Rating: B. Illogical ending aside, this felt like a big time main event and the kind of match that these two should have been having. It felt like the kind of match that should be headlining a major show and Lawlor winning for the second time, even by a split second, is a good way to wrap up the show.

Post match Simon Gotch and two unnamed guys (one is Samoan) come in and beat Lawlor down. Rich thinks this is the work of Salina but she and Low Ki are both long gone. The Samoan goes to the top of the cage for the Superfly Splash. The fans are very impressed as Gotch pulls out a CONTRA flag to cover Lawlor to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. Now this was more like it as MLW continues to do the big shows in the right way. The company knows how to do something like this and that’s a good sign. Cornette was a positive surprise (ok maybe more for me than anyone else) and he can offer a different style to the show. The ending worked well also and I’m wanting to see where things go from here, as Lawlor needs a new challenger. Very solid show here and they nailed the big stuff.

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

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

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

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IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

SuperFight
Date: February 2, 2019
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Matt Striker

This is a major event for the company as we’re live again for the second time ever. The fact that the network is allowing them to go live for a second time in a pretty short time frame is a good sign for them and hopefully it leads to some more positive signs in the future. The main event here is Low Ki defending the World Title against Tom Lawlor in a match several months in the making. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at Low Ki being undefeated in MLW, including in the original incarnation of the company. Lawlor on the other hand has been running through everyone in front of him and hasn’t lost in several months. It’s a good build, though the ending isn’t exactly in doubt from here.

We run down the card.

Tag Team Titles: Lucha Bros vs. Hart Foundation

Teddy Hart and Davey Boy Smith Jr. are challenging here, with Brian Pillman Jr. in their corner, complete with Teddy carrying a cat (Striker: “Teddy Hart trying to get to the top of the meow-ntain tonight.”) and Smith with a bulldog (Striker: “The puppy-razzi.”). Dang it why did those things make me chuckle? Striker even explains the very basic rules of tag team wrestling, down to what constitutes a tag. I mean….yeah why not? How many people might be watching this for the very first time?

Smith picks Fenix up and sits him on the top before shrugging off some loud chops. A few forearms have Fenix rocked so he kicks Smith in the head to do some actual damage. The champs come in for stereo superkicks to Smith, followed by a Codebreaker into a flip splash to Teddy’s back. The victory roll splash hits Smith, drawing Teddy back in for the break. Teddy gets sent outside and now the chops have some more effect on Smith. They have so much of an effect that he northern lights suplexes both champs without even staggering, because that’s the kind of thing he can do.

Hart comes in for a double hanging DDT and we take a break. Since I’m watching on YouTube, we get what I believe is footage from the break with the Harts beating them up on the floor, including a double noggin knocker. Commentary comes back after about thirty seconds with Hart hitting his crazy top rope moonsault to the floor. Back in and it’s Project Ciampa to Fenix, setting up the super powerslam (still cool) into a top rope moonsault elbow for two as Pentagon makes the save.

We get a showdown between Hart and Pentagon, meaning the chop off is on again. Hart goes to an uppercut but charges into a superkick, only to eat a Sling Blade. Since Hart can just do this, he goes up and hits a super Canadian Destroyer, only to come up favoring his knee. Therefore it’s back to Fenix, who hits his sweet rolling cutter on Hart. Pentagon hits a Canadian Destroyer of his own and a superkick knocks Smith to the floor.

Another superkick into the Pentagon Driver plants Hart but Fenix has to go after Pillman. Pentagon isn’t done with dropping Hart on his head so it’s another Canadian Destroyer on the apron. The Fear Factor gets two as Pillman makes an off camera save. They all go to the corner with Smith pulling off Pentagon’s mask in a truly evil move. With Pentagon down, it’s a Doomsday Canadian Destroyer to finish Fenix at 11:28.

Rating: B. I could have gone for one or two fewer Canadian Destroyers but dang that was a heck of a finisher. The Hart Foundation has been one of the best surprises of the entire run of the series so far and it’s cool to have them get the titles here. The Lucha Bros are going to be around no matter what they do so it’s not like the loss hurts them all that much. This was a great choice for an opener and it was more than entertaining enough without overstaying its welcome. Now can we please make sure all their necks are in one piece?

Low Ki talks about how they’re finally here in a place with incredible wrestling history. He has been taking prizes, such as the title, a mask, a piece of flesh and more. Tonight, he’s taking a new trophy when he takes the lion’s mane from Lawlor. The violence tonight will be like nothing Lawlor has ever seen.

Ricky Martinez vs. Kotto Brazil

Grudge match after Martinez allegedly attacked Brazil with a champagne bottle, injuring his eye and leaving Brazil needing an eyepatch. Being a good heel, Martinez feigns blindness on the way to the ring. Salina de la Renta is here too and has a purse, which almost has to mean something. Brazil isn’t waiting on the bell and nails Martinez with a suicide dive to get things going in a hurry.

They brawl in the aisle with Martinez not even being able to get his jacket off. Martinez gets sent into the barricade and then the post, which is finally enough to set up the opening bell. They get in for the first time with Kotto hitting a good looking missile dropkick for two. Martinez is back up with a shot to the face to knock Brazil outside. That means another whip into the barricade and a swing sends Brazil into it again. Back in and the Martinez rams him face first into the mat over and over again as we talk about how good Salina looks. Fair enough.

Brazil’s comeback doesn’t last long as Martinez pulls him off the ropes and into a backbreaker for a rather painful looking crash. Martinez takes way too long going up though and it’s time for the comeback off a series of clotheslines. It’s always clotheslines. Another good looking dropkick puts Martinez down and a hanging Backstabber gets two. Martinez grabs an electric chair drop and gets two of his own off a wheelbarrow suplex. This gives us some great Salina yelling, which she does as well as anyone at the moment.

It also lets Striker talk about the difference between covering belly to back and belly to belly. Uh yeah Matt. Brazil is right back up with something like an Edgecator to send Martinez straight to the rope. That seems to be enough for Martinez as he rips off the eyepatch and knees Brazil in said eye for two.

Code Red gives Brazil two of his own and it’s off to Naomi’s reverse Rings of Saturn (Which Striker says is like a hold called a Can Opener. I’ve heard worse names.). That’s enough to get Salina on the apron so Brazil grabs her by the throat (that’s rather aggressive). It’s time to go into the purse though (you knew that was coming) with Salina pulling out some kind of spray to blind Brazil, giving Martinez the pin at 10:12.

Rating: C. This felt a lot longer than it was and that’s not the best thing in the world. At least we had a good enough match, with Salina being a nice bonus as usual. You knew she was going to get involved in the end and that’s not a bad thing. Sometimes you need to have something set up so it can be paid off in a hurry, which is what happened here. Brazil losing is fine, as someone his size is going to be able to bounce back with one more entertaining match.

Jimmy Havoc is coming back.

MLW is going live again in four weeks from Chicago for Intimidation Games. Good for them.

The Hart Foundation is celebrating with champagne in the shower. Maxwell Jacob Friedman comes in to say he wants the Middleweight Title back. Teddy: “Why don’t you lick the champagne off the belt?” MJF can come get a title shot whenever. Or he can go join the Elite.

SuperFight II is coming to Los Angeles on February 1, 2020. Dang that’s some advance planning for a promotion whose current run is less than a year old. That’s a good thing mind you.

MLW World Title: Low Ki vs. Tom Lawlor

Lawlor is challenging and pulls out his own hair during his entrance. How Mick Foley of him. They go right at it after the bell, which is what should be happening here. Lawlor gets in a left hand to knock Low Ki down, which he swears wasn’t a knockdown. Striker: “You fight like you’re the third monkey on Noah’s Ark and it’s starting to rain!” I’m not a Striker fan but that’s one of the best lines I’ve ever heard.

Lawlor can’t get the arm so the champ charges at him, earning a heck of a t-bone suplex. A hard kick to the chest slows Lawlor down and Low Ki sends him shoulder first into the post. The arm gets wrapped around the post before Low Ki grabs…..a door from underneath the ring. I mean, they used them on Rollerjam so why not.

Low Ki misses a right hand and punches his way through the door to give Lawlor two instead. Lawlor’s bad arm doesn’t hold up so Low Ki reverses into a dragon suplex over the ropes. A superplex attempt earns Lawlor a crotching and the top rope double stomp gives the champ two. Low Ki grabs the dragon sleeper but gets reversed into a rear naked choke….for the knockout to make Lawlor champion at 4:49.

Rating: C+. Well that was sudden. That’s the best word I can think of to describe this, though I’d bet on it being due to the show running long. They’re not exactly used to going live so maybe their timing was off. That being said, there’s something to be said about having Lawlor, whose background is in MMA, to finish someone in a hurry with a choke like that. It’s not like the ending was ever in doubt here, though I could have gone with a bit more. What we got was good though, and Lawlor winning the title was the absolute right call.

Overall Rating: C+. This is a show that could have used some more time. They got through everything they needed to touch on and set something up for the future, though it felt rushed at times. Maybe the TV version was better (and to be fair it was a free show) but this was a little too much packed into the time they had. The results all made sense (maybe Brazil should have won) though and they got the big ending right so it’s certainly good, just not quite great.

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

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

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

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