GCW For The Culture 2022
Date: April 1, 2022
Location: Fair Park, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: AC Mack, Suge D, Faye Jackson, Robert Martyr

This is part of GCW’s annual collection of shows and hopefully this year’s is a bit better than last time. Granted not having the show deep into the night in front of a few dozen fans when everyone was already burned out should help. I’m not sure what to expect from the show and I kind of like it that way. Let’s get to it.

No intro for the show, which is normal for something like this.

The unnamed ring announcer introduces us to commentary and it’s time for the opener.

Impact Wrestling Knockouts Title: Big Swole vs. Tasha Steelz

Steelz is defending and commentary really likes her hair. Swole knocks her down to start and it’s a cutter for an early two. They’re already on the floor with Steelz getting in her first shot and taking it back inside. Steelz hits a running kick to the face for two and hits some suplexes for the same.

Swole (eventually) fights out of a chinlock and gets two off an uppercut. That’s fine with Steelz, who slides between her legs but can’t grab a cutter. Swole hits something like Happy Corbin’s Deep Six for two more and they strike it out until Steelz hits a Stunner. Back up and Dirty Dancing drops Steelz to the floor so Swole throws her back in, only to get caught with a cutter to retain Steelz’s title at 8:02.

Rating: C. Commentary is going to be an annoying factor throughout the show as it seems that they are trying to pop each other rather than focus on the match. That being said, this isn’t a show that needs to be treated as the most serious thing so it’s hardly a match killer. Steelz and Swole are talented but they aren’t exactly ready for a match on their own, meaning this was just ok.

Keita vs. Ju Dizz vs. PB Smooth vs. Michael Oku vs. Carlie Bravo vs. Andino vs. Trey Shaw

Well what would a show like this be without a scramble? Everyone goes after the big Smooth to start but he throws everyone but Andino out to the floor. A reverse World’s Strongest Slam into a legdrop gives Smooth two as I try to keep track of who everyone is. Smooth misses a charge and falls out to the apron, setting up Oku vs. Shaw. With Shaw down, Andino takes out Oku, leaving Andino to stare it down with Bravo.

Oku is back in but his half crab is kicked to the floor and it’s Andino cleaning house again. There’s the big dive to the floor, followed by an even bigger flip version from Oku. Smooth breaks up another dive and hits something like a Blue Thunder Bomb for two on Shaw. Everyone goes after Smooth again until Oku missile dropkicks him down. We hit the parade of secondary finishers until Oku misses a Lionsault. Back up and Oku hits some running knees on Shaw, setting up the half crab for the tap at 9:57.

Rating: C. As is almost always the case with these scrambles, I have no idea what I’m supposed to get out of them. The match is all over the place with a bunch of people doing their thing and hopefully someone stands out. Oku and Smooth did to an extent, but I was regularly forgetting who was who here because it’s seven guys trying to stand out in about ten minutes. How could that possibly work?

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. HitMakerZ

That would be O’Shay Edwards/Shane Taylor with Ron Hunt vs. AJ Francis/Tehuti Miles (better known as Top Dolla/Ashante Thee Adonis) with Briana Brandy (B-Fab) of Hit Row fame. Taylor and Francis shove each other to start before fighting over a power lockup. Edwards comes in and gets shouldered hard into the corner, leaving him rather surprised. Commentary bills this as Performance Center vs. the indies for a rather insightful concept.

Miles comes in and gets suplexed by Edwards, who hands it off to Taylor for the actual suplex (that’s always cool). One heck of a beal sends Miles flying and Taylor runs him over for two more. Miles manages to get over for the tag to Francis to clean house but it’s time for the managers to get in a fight. Francis gets caught in the corner and a double superplex is loaded up, only to have Miles turn it into a double powerbomb.

With Edwards thankfully not out cold with Taylor almost landing on his head, Francis hits a standing moonsault to Taylor for the showoff move. That’s not enough though so it’s a World’s Strongest Slam to Taylor and something like a forward Samoan drop/Wasteland to Edwards at the same time, but Taylor isn’t legal so there’s no count (point for a competent referee). The seconds get into it on the floor, which allows Edwards to hit a spinebuster on Francis. Taylor’s running knee into the Marcus Garvey Driver finishes Miles at 11:29.

Rating: C+. This was a pretty decent tag match and I could go for more of both teams. The HitMakerZ are still pretty good minus Swerve Strickland, but neither of them have wrestled so far since this match. I’m still not sure why Taylor hasn’t gotten regular work somewhere, as he is far too talented to go from one independent show to another. Edwards is the same, though he seems to be more of a regular on the indy circuit. Anyway, nice match here and I was getting into it by the end.

Respect is shown post match.

Pan-Afrikan World Dispora Wrestling World Title: Trish Adora vs. MJ Jenkins

Jenkins is challenging and yes that is what the title is called. They fight over a lockup to start and neither can get anywhere. Adora takes her to the mat and works on the armbar, complete with pushups. Jenkins isn’t having that and forearms her down, setting up some running shots to the face in the corner. The Tree of Woe stomping is on, followed by the chinlock to keep things on Adora.

A Backpack Stunner gets her out of trouble though and there’s a Hennig necksnap for two. Jenkins forearms her back and hits a swinging slam for two, meaning frustration is setting in. Lariat Tubman misses for Adora so Jenkins kicks her in the head and loads up her own Lariat Tubman (I like that name more every time I hear it). That takes too long though and Adora hits a Bubba Bomb into a rollup for the pin to retain at 11:31.

Rating: C+. Adora is someone who seems to be one of the potential breakout stars that you see in various women’s divisions so it makes sense to put her on here. Jenkins seemed like a bit of a hoss and having her beat on Adora before getting rolled up at the end made sense. Good match, and Adora continues to grow on me.

Darius Lockhart vs. AJ Gray

Feeling out process to start as commentary talks about this being a dream match. Lockhart gets an armbar on the mat but Gray rolls him into the ropes without much trouble. Lockhart goes right back to the arm so Gray goes right back to the rope before kicking him down. A running backsplash gives Gray two and it’s time to strike it out.

Gray’s powerslam is countered into a crossbody for two (kind of an odd one) and a running knee in the corner gives Lockhart two. Back up and Lockhart grabs a suplex for two, followed by a running shot to the face for two more. A jumping knee to the face connects and Lockhart grabs what looks to be a headlock takeover, which is reversed into a cradle to give Gray the pin at 10:27.

Rating: C. It was nice while it lasted but this didn’t really build anywhere until Gray rolled him up for the pin. Lockhart got in some good shots and those knees were pretty good, but I was expecting at least another five minutes and it was a sudden ending. I’ve seen Gray multiple times before and he’s very good, though this wasn’t the best way to use his talents.

JTG vs. Mysterious Q vs. Zenshi vs. Bryan Keith

One fall to a finish. They stare each other down to start until Q rolls Keith up for two. JTG comes in for the staredown with Q but gets pulled outside. That leaves Kelly to come back in and miss a springboard…something, meaning Q slams Keith. Q calls JTG in for the slugout until JTG hits the reverse Sling Blade for two. Everyone gets back in and it’s a double suplex into a powerbomb to drop JTG.

Zenshi and JTG are sent outside, leaving Q to hit a slingshot corkscrew splash. Q is back up with a spinning torture rack bomb for two on Zenshi with JTG having to make the save. JTG plants Q with a very spinning Rock Bottom but gets low bridged to the floor by Keith. Back in and Zenshi gets buckle bombed by JTG, who takes Zenshi up top. Keith shoves JTG outside and gets Zenzhi in an electric chair, only to have Q run the ropes and hit a springboard….bulldog I think to finish Zenshi at 8:09.

Rating: C. I’ve seen Q be good enough before so he was no surprise, with Zenshi being about the same. Keith didn’t get much of a chance to shine here but was decent enough. Then, as usual, you have JTG, whose physical transformation continues to blow my mind, even a year after I saw it in the first place. The match was your usual “here’s a spot while some people are on the floor, repeat until finish”, which was all you probably should have expected it to be.

The ring is filled with weapons for the death match main event, with the announcer giving the fans directions on what happens if the wrestlers come near them: “Grab your s*** and move!”

Hoodfoot vs. Billy Dixon

Death match and Dixon is a rather large man in overalls. There is talk about these two having a big feud but an explanation of what that feud may be about isn’t important enough to explain. They circle each other to start before going for the light tubes. Dixon ducks the first shot but gets blasted in the head to put him in trouble. They head outside with Hoodfoot hitting him in the head a few times, only to have Dixon get in a shot of his own.

Hold on though as Dixon has to stop to yell at someone in the crowd (who seems to be part of their feud), allowing Hoodfoot to get in a barbed wire 2×4 shot. A powerbomb off the apron and three a table is blocked as Dixon kicks him in the head, meaning it’s time to slug it out on the apron. They both fall through the table to leave them both down, with commentary thinking it might be a countout.

We’re not that lucky as Hoodfoot takes him back inside for a bunch of light tubes to the back. More tubs are put over Dixon’s throat and stomped on for two so it’s time to go up. Since it’s a death match, Dixon is right back up to catch him on top. A chair to the head sets up a slam through a door for two on Hoodfoot and Dixon is warming up. Something like an Unprettier onto the light tube gets two and a spinebuster onto the glass is good for the same.

More light tubs to the back have Hoodfoot down but Dixon stops to pose on the ropes, meaning more light tubes to his back bring him down. Commentary apologizes for the slower pace but hypes up all of the violence. We get some more violence as Dixon is kind of pumphandle powerbombed through a door for one, with Dixon getting all fired up. That’s fine with Hoodfoot, who hits him with a bunch of light tube shots and grabs a Border City Stretch for the tap at 17:01.

Rating: D. This was a lot of the problems with a death match thrown into one match. The guys were both rather large and not exactly moving well and their offense mainly consisted of hitting each other with light tubes. That’s about all of the death match stuff that we had here, as instead of hitting someone with one light tube, they kept using one tube after another. It was slow, it wasn’t interesting violence and the story was barely touched on. Rather awful main event, which shouldn’t be a surprise.

Post match they look at each other but leave without a handshake or the far more important nod of respect. And then the show just ends without much of in the way of fanfare.

Overall Rating: D+. This show was really not very good and I’m not surprised it took me so long to get through it. There were a few ok enough matches but nothing on here stood out and the main event was dreadful. Last year’s For The Culture was a heck of a lot better than this as the show can go well, but this was a big miss and one of the worse shows from Wrestlemania weekend so far.

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

Gino Medina vs. Zenshi

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

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

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

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

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

Gringo Loco vs. Mil Muertes

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

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

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

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

Video on Calvin Tankman.

Here are the tag team rankings:

5. Dirty Blonds

4. Contra

3. Injustice

2. Violence Is Forever

1. Von Erichs

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

Calvin Tankman vs. Zad

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

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

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

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

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

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

Von Erichs vs. Violence Is Forever

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

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

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

A Never Say Never ad wraps us up.

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

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Fusion #122
Date: February 17, 2021
Location: Filthy Island, Hawaii
Commentators: Dan Lambert, Tom Lawlor, Jared St. Laurent, Rich Bocchini

It’s time for a special event as MLW offers their take on UFC’s Fight Island. As long as we don’t have to deal with another Fyre Fest joke, I’m all for trying something new, as MLW is getting weaker and weaker every show. The main event is a long awaited showdown between Low Ki and King Mo. Let’s get to it.

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

We get a disclaimer that MLW assumes no liability on the show.

Tom Lawlor tells Dominic Garrini that there is a problem with catering (no), meaning there is no spam. Lawlor sends him down to the port and hands him a bottle of something. Garrini: “You want me to drown him?” Lawlor: “It’s for you.” Garrini stares into the camera.

Opening sequence.

Commentary welcomes us to the show and runs down the card. This could be a rather long night.

The ring, which has no ropes or ring skirts, is surrounded by trees and there are some people (Fans?) on a couch. Music is handled by a guy with a boom box. I’ve seen worse.

Mauna Loa vs. Dominic Garrini

Loa looks a bit like Blue Meanie (in a grass skirt but minus the blue) and Lambert calls Lawlor out for the low rent talent. Loa runs him over and hits a splash for an early two, sending Garrini out to the floor for a consultation with commentary. Back in and Garrini chokes him out at 39 seconds.

There is going to be a jungle fight later on between Savio Vega and Mil Muertes. In the jungle.

Los Parks are ready to defend the Tag Team Titles against Contra on March 3. LA Park also wants Alex Hammerstone’s National Openweight Title.

Commentary previews the main event.

We look at the first Low Ki vs. King Mo fight.

Azteca Underground now has its own website.

The Dynasty isn’t overly impressed with Hawaii but are ready to make it work.

We recap Salina de la Renta trying to buy out IWA from Savio Vega, who says no. Her bosses at Azteca Underground aren’t happy and Mil Muertes is coming.

Commentary is scared of the Jungle Fight but Salina de la Renta has sent in a note. The boss of Azteca Underground promises blood will be spilled. It’s signed El Jefe, which should make you rather interested if you’re a Lucha Underground fan.

Kevin Ku vs. Zenshi

Dominic Garrini is here with Ku…who is taken down by Zenshi diving out of a tree. Zenshi dropkicks him to the floor and ducks some kicks to the head back inside. A kick to the ribs slows Zenshi down and a half crab goes on. Since there are no ropes, Zenshi pulls himself to the post for the break instead. Ku stands on Zenshi’s throat for a bit, only to have Zenshi come back with a quick rollup for two. They strike it out until Zenshi nails a Pele for two and follows with some more kicks to the head. Ku’s half nelson suplex is countered with a backflip but a running cutter is countered into a dragon suplex to give Ku the pin at 4:59.

Rating: C. This was where the weird environment came into play and it might not have been for the best. Above all else it felt more like a fight than a match, which may be the idea of the show but it doesn’t mean it works out so well. Not much to the match but you knew Team Filthy was going over here, as that’s kind of the point of this week.

The Von Erichs can’t be here tonight but they want Low Ki to win to show up Tom Lawlor. Maybe they’ll show up anyway.

We go back to the jungle where Savio Vega yells at Salina de la Renta, only to get jumped by Mil Muertes. More on this later.

Next week: MLW Underground rather than Fusion.

TJP sits down with Alicia Atout and is tired of losing so many tag matches with Bu Ku Dao. He likes teaming with people but Dao has been dragging him down by not knowing what winning time is. No he isn’t a bully because Dao can’t carry his end. Alicia says Dao looks up to him, which TJP attributes to Dao being 4’11 (TJP: “Maybe 5’5 with the hair.”). That’s enough of the interview.

Gringo Loco vs. Rocky Romero

Loco is listed as being “super over in Cancun.” Romero throws his jacket to one of the “fans” on the couch and we’re ready to go. Feeling out process to start and they go with the test of strength into the flipping exchange. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gives Loco two and we hit the double arm crank. Back up and Romero grabs a flying mare but Loco runs him over with a clothesline.

A leglock with an arm crank has Romero in trouble for all of five seconds and Loco’s chops just fire Romero up. A running hurricanrana takes Loco to the floor but he’s right back in to drop Romero onto the couch. The big dive knocks Romero and the couch over and sets up a reverse DDT for two back inside. Loco misses a cartwheel moonsault but he’s fine enough to hit an enziguri. Romero grabs a Stunner on the arm and a tornado DDT gives Romero the pin at 8:50.

Rating: C. Romero is a guy I can never predict as sometimes he’s rather good, sometimes he’s rather awful and sometimes he’s so completely average that I can barely bring myself to care about what he does. That was the case here, as he had a completely run of the mill match and I couldn’t get into it. It certainly wasn’t bad, but it was kind of there.

Back to the Jungle Fight, which is a bunch of walking and brawling….until Contra hacks the feed.

Contra doesn’t like Injustice.

We look at more of Low Ki vs. King Mo.

The Von Erichs are diving to Filthy Island. Shouldn’t that be boating?

Here’s what’s coming over the next few weeks.

More Muertes and Vega. This time they’re choking and walking around until Muertes hits him with a crowbar. Salina says finish it and Muertes gets the pin. This was a big waste of time.

More Low Ki vs. King Mo.

Tom Lawlor gives the Dynasty ringside seats but Hammerstone wants Gatorade and Spam thrown in.

Here’s the Top 10.

10. Jordan Oliver

9. Calvin Tankman

8. Myron Reed

7. Mil Muertes

6. Richard Holliday

5. Mads Krugger

4. Low Ki

3. Lio Rush

2. Tom Lawlor

1. Alex Hammerstone

King Mo vs. Low Ki

They go straight to the slugging in the clinch but Mo takes him down to the mat for a leglock. Another leglock has Ki in trouble but he reverses into a choke. Mo reaches for the non-existent ropes….and the referee says that’s a tap (it was close) at 1:34.

Lambert is ticked and Team Filthy jumps Ki. The Von Erichs make the save and Team Filthy is cleared out to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. I’m really not sure what to think of this show anymore. This was one of their unique ideas and it was just there. They did some weird hybrid of a UFC knockoff (not a bad thing) and MORE OF THE FYRE FEST NONSENSE so this was a mixture of disappointing and annoying. That has been the case for a long time now and that has me doing something I don’t like to do.

During the show, a calendar was shown with the big matches coming on the next two shows. If MLW can’t do something in there to make me more interested in the show, I think I’m dropping it from the schedule. It took me more than a few days to make myself care enough to watch this show and that shouldn’t be the case. I could use the extra time to do shows I want to do so I’m giving them the next two weeks. Hopefully they fix it, but I’m not sure I can see it happening.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

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Fusion #121
Date: February 10, 2021
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Jared St. Laurent, Rich Bocchini

It’s time for a big night as we have a title vs. title match. This time around it’s the AAA Cruiserweight Champion Laredo Kid vs. MLW Middleweight Champion Lio Rush with both championships on the line. I’m not sure how that is going to go but at least it feels like a big deal. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video sets up the title match. As it should.

Opening sequence.

ACH vs. Brian Pillman Jr.

For the second time in a row, Pillman doesn’t get an entrance, which doesn’t bode well for his future around here. ACH’s ribs are still banged up but here’s Team Filthy to watch on the stage. Pillman is smart enough to go for the ribs but ACH chops him into the corner without much effort. A dropkick sends Pillman outside as Team Filthy gets a little bit closer. Back in and Pillman elbows him down, setting up a bodyscissors to keep ACH’s ribs in trouble.

ACH slips out and tries a surfboard, sending Pillman straight over to the ropes. More knees to the ribs cut off ACH again but he kicks the knee out for a breather. Team Filthy is at ringside now as ACH wins a slugout but gets backdropped down. Pillman heads up top but ACH runs the corner and kicks him down. The brainbuster finishes Pillman at 5:53.

Rating: C. The wrestling was perfectly fine but you can pretty much tell that Pillman is either done trying here or checked out mentally as he wasn’t exactly on fire here. At the same time, he might as well have been any warm body given how commentary sounded, as there was no reference to his history with the company or much about how good he is in the ring. ACH going over is fine, but Pillman feels like an MLW zombie at the moment.

Post match Team Filthy comes in to jump ACH but the Von Erichs run in for the save. After the ring is cleared, ACH and the Von Erichs say don’t mess with Texas.

We hear Salina de la Renta talking about the owner of Azteca Underground wanting to buy the IWA in Puerto Rico.

Savio Vega says IWA isn’t for sale because the company is for the fans.

We look back at Los Parks retaining the Tag Team Titles last week through some shenanigans.

Zenshi vs. Calvin Tankman

Zenshi’s legsweeps just make Tankman glare at him and a kick to the head doesn’t do much more. Tankman shows him how to do a dropkick and there’s a spinebuster for two on Zenshi. A big toss sends Zenshi flying for two but he avoids a running shooting star press. Zenshi’s running shooting star connects for two and he kicks Tankman to the apron.

Tankman blocks a posionrana to the floor (because no) and a flying shoulder drops Zenshi with ease. One heck of a clothesline gets two on Zenshi but he slips out of the Tankman Driver. Some kicks to the head put Tankman on the ropes and there’s a 619. Zenshi goes up top but Tankman pulls him out of the air and hits the Tankman Driver for the pin at 5:52.

Rating: C-. Above all else, Tankman beating someone with a bit of stature is going to mean more for him. Zenshi might not be the biggest star around here but he’s a name, and that’s the kind of win Tankman can use. This helped him out a bit and while he needs a lot more ring time and polish, he’s something worth keeping an eye on and that’s a good sign.

We look back at Alex Hammerstone beating up a fake Mads Krugger last week and then getting beaten down by the real one.

Josef Samael says Mads Krugger is training for his next mission and promises to destroy Injustice.

Video on Contra vs. Injustice.

Earlier today, Lio Rush was ready for the big main event title vs. title match. He pays the cameraman to get his bag.

We get a sitdown interview with Richards Holliday over the recent referee issues. Holliday insists that there is nothing to the fact that the referee is disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy or that there was a lot of money placed on the match. People like gambling you see. A lot of arguing ensues and we’re done.

Here’s the Top Ten:

10. Laredo Kid

9. Daivari

8. Myron Reed

7. Mil Muertes

6. Richard Holliday

5. Mads Krugger

4. Lio Rush

3. Low Ki

2. Tom Lawlor

1. Alex Hammerstone

Contra vs. Injustice

It’s Simon Gotch/Daivari for Contra but hold on as here’s Jacob Fatu to jump Injustice from behind. Myron Reed fights back and it’s a superkick into a middle rope cutter to put Fatu down. Believe it or not, Injustice stands tall.

It’s time for the Filthy Island Control Center.

Rocky Romero will be on the show.

Dominic Garrini will face Mauna Loa (who doesn’t have a photo).

Salina de la Renta doesn’t like the idea that Savio Vega thought the offer was optional, so next week it’s Savio vs. Mil Muertes in a Jungle Fight.

Also, it’s Low Ki vs. King Mo in what sounds like the main event.

Jacob Fatu gets a World Title shot on March 3. Oh that’s going to hurt.

AAA Cruiserweight Title/MLW Middleweight Title: Laredo Kid vs. Lio Rush

Winner take all (though the ring announcer makes it sound like it’s just Rush defending, despite everything else saying it’s title for title). Feeling out process to start with Rush being sent outside in a hurry. Back in and Rush does his always cool running of the ropes while sliding to Kid’s side over and over. Rush heads outside again but this time Kid kicks him down to take over. A side slam gets two and a running kick to the head puts Rush on the floor again.

Back in and Rush fires off some right hands to the head, followed by an uppercut to the back gets two. There’s a suplex for the same and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up but Laredo misses a spinning middle rope crossbody. The double arm crank goes on for a bit but Kid is back up with a Michinoku Driver into a moonsault for two. Kid slaps on a nasty leglock, followed by a running neckbreaker to drop Rush again. Rush is right back with a springboard Stunner and the Final Hour connects for the pin and both titles at 10:25.

Rating: C. This didn’t exactly live up to the hype as they just had a match and then Rush hit his finisher to win. I’m not sure how big of a deal this is as the AAA Title doesn’t have a ton of meaning up here. It’s a cool thing to be able to say for MLW and does make the partnership feel more important, but the match wasn’t exactly thrilling.

Rush brags to end the show. Given the lack of the AAA Title being announced at the beginning or at the end, I wonder if this is one of those phantom title changes that won’t be acknowledged in Mexico.

Overall Rating: C. I’m getting rather bored by MLW as they have completely lost the ability to stick the landing. I don’t remember the last time they had a huge match that felt like it ended on a big note. Everything feels like it just ends with as little fanfare as possible and that gets a little tiring. I’m not sure what MLW can do to fix things, but they need to do something sooner or later because it’s not quite working all that well these days.

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Fusion #119
Date: January 27, 2021
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Jared St. Laurent, Rich Bocchini

It’s kind of a title match night as Richard Holliday is defending the Caribbean Title against Savio Vega despite not really being champion and it not being a real title. To be fair, it’s working for Moose over in Impact Wrestling at the moment so why not try it here too? Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the Caribbean Title match, which is over a year in the making. It’s also a Caribbean strap match and Vega is providing the strap, which is the same one he used against Steve Austin.

Opening sequence.

Contra isn’t happy with Injustice for attacking them last week. It’s cool though because they have soldiers.

AAA Cruiserweight Title: Laredo Kid vs. Zenshi

Zenshi is challenging and after a quick handshake, they’re already off to the rolling around. Zenshi drives him into the corner and grabs a wristlock, allowing Kid to flip away a lot. They’re already up to a standoff and follow it with a second to keep things even. A tilt-a-whirl faceplant drops Kid and a handspring kick to the face knocks him hard to the floor. Kid is ready to avoid the charge so Zenshi does a handstand on the apron, followed by a shooting star to the floor.

Back in and a seated abdominal stretch keeps Kid in trouble, followed by an elbow to the face. Kid manages an enziguri though and Zenshi gets sent outside. The Michinoku driver plants Zenshi on the floor and there’s the 450 off the apron to make it worse. Back in and a middle rope moonsault only hits Zenshi’s raised knees to put them both down.

Zenshi is back up with a middle rope flip dive to a standing Kid for two so it’s time to slug it out. Kid nails a hard kick to the head for a delayed two so he goes up top, only to get kicked in the head again. A super snapmare of all things gives Zenshi two more but kid is right back with a super Spanish Fly to retain at 10:01.

Rating: C+. Take two guys and let them fly all over the place, which is what they did here. It was a rather nice sprint and it was nice to see Kid actually wrestling after being hyped up by MLW so often. This is the kind of thing that MLW knows how to mix in to have some fun and that’s what they did here.

Post match Kid says he wants to be a double champion, meaning he wants Lio Rush.

We look at Injustice attacking Contra.

Myron Reed says Contra started this and thanks them for realizing that it is time for war.

Here’s the Top Ten:

10. ACH

9. Daivari

8. Myron Reed

7. Mil Muertes

6. Richard Holliday

5. Mads Krugger

4. Lio Rush

3. Low Ki

2. Tom Lawlor

1. Alex Hammerstone

LA Park is specifically left out because he is focusing on the Tag Team Titles.

The Von Erichs, with their father Kevin, talk about working hard to get the Tag Team Titles back. They want to deal with Tom Lawlor too.

Los Parks are ready for whomever comes for the titles.

Filthy Island is still coming.

Gino Medina showed up unscheduled but he wanted to see Richard Holliday get whipped by the strap.

Mads Krugger promises to destroy Alex Hammerstone in next week’s Baklei Brawl.

Tom Lawlor did not cheat anyone out of anything, including ACH or the Von Erichs.

Apparently Filthy Island has lost its sponsors because of the referee scandal. I swear if this is another Fyre Fest joke, my head is going to….ok not explode but hurt a good bit.

Violence Is Forever vs. Bu Ku Dao/TJP

Dominic Garrini throws Dao into the corner to start and they go to the mat with Garrini easily taking over. Dao stays in and gets pulled into a triangle choke, allowing the tag to Kevin Ku. That’s fine with Dao, who snaps off a hurricanrana into a front facelock. TJP comes in to Regal Roll Dao into Ku and a crucifix gets two. It’s back to Dao, who is dropped down onto Ku for two more but Garrini is back in as well. That means an uppercut into a German suplex for two as Dao is in trouble all over again.

The villains start taking turns on Dao’s arm, with TJP even offering Dao the tag to TJP like a true villain should. We hit the chinlock but Dao grabs a crucifix bomb for no cover. Instead the hot tag brings in TJP to start picking up the pace and some rolling front chancery suplexes have Ku in trouble.

Garrini gets in a cheap shot though and TJP Is down again. Everything breaks down and Violence is caught in stereo submissions, with Garrini driving TJP into Dao for the double save. Dao is up first with a dropkick to Ku, followed by Garrini kneeing TJP in the head. TJP takes Garrini down though and a high crossbody finishes Ku for the pin and the title shot at 10:02.

Rating: C. It wasn’t the most thrilling match but at least they have a fresh team going for the titles. TJP is still one of the smoothest guys you’ll find in the ring today and it’s great to see him doing his thing on various stages. Violence Is Forever isn’t quite the same without Lawlor but they did well enough here to get by.

King Mo is at a hospital to talk about how he has injured Low Ki’s head badly enough that Low Ki should never wrestle again. Certainly not against Mo for sure.

Richard Holliday is ready to whip Savio Vega. He even watched the match with Steve Austin so he can know how to cause even more pain. Holliday: “You will never out Caribbean me. You will never out champion me.”

Caribbean Heavyweight Title: Richard Holliday vs. Savio Vega

Vega is challenging in a Caribbean strap match, meaning you have to get all four buckles to win. Holliday is smart enough to go for the two buckles to start but Savio pulls him back and chokes away. An elbow to the face lets Holliday stomp away before they trade some whip shots. Vega sends him outside, meaning he can’t reach the turnbuckles in a not that smart move.

Back in and Holliday goes to the throat to get in a few buckles, only to get turned inside out with a clothesline. Vega ties the feet up for three buckles but gets kicked down. A clothesline lets Holliday cover him before realizing that they’re not doing that kind of a match. Holliday gets in a few buckles but it’s a double clothesline for a double knockdown. They get back up and walk around for three buckles each….and the referee won’t get out of Vega’s way. Vega goes to get him out of the way, allowing Holliday to dive over and hit the last buckle to retain at 8:32.

Rating: D. This has rarely been a good idea for a gimmick and then they do another screwy referee finish for the second time this month. That isn’t exactly a good formula and when you throw in the fact that it’s Savio Vega fighting over an unofficial title, I’m not sure what else they expected. This made me groan more than anything else and that’s not a good sign for your main event.

Post match Holliday brags and Vega chases them off to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. They definitely took a step back this week as the star power was really lacking. Above all else, there was nothing that felt noteworthy here and the whole show just kind of existed. I did appreciate the mixture of styles though, which is exactly the point of this show. The referee screwiness doesn’t fill me with confidence though and I’m worried about where it is going.

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Fusion #118
Date: January 20, 2021
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Jared St. Laurent

We’re back to normal this week after Salina de la Renta was in charge last week, but the interesting note came at the end of last week’s show. De la Renta’s Promociones Dorado seems to have been bought out by some group called Azteca Underground, which seems to be some continuation of Lucha Underground. That certainly gets my interest so let’s get to it.

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

ACH is challenging for the World Title tonight but has been attacked outside of the gym. The match is still on.

Opening sequence.

Zenshi vs. Daivari

Daivari is the newest Contra soldier and is in outstanding shape. Feeling out process to start until Daivari nails a running clothesline for an early two. There’s a backdrop out of the corner for the same and the armbar has Zenshi in more trouble. A hammerlock slam gets two more and the armbar goes on. Zenshi is sent outside but comes back in with some rams into the buckles. A slingshot neckbreaker gets two (with one arm) but a bottom rope 450 hits knees. Daivari grabs a hammerlock lariat for the pin at 6:11.

Rating: C-. This was designed to make Daivari look good and it did that well enough. Taking apart the arm was a bit of a twist on the normal setup but it went as well as could have been expected. I haven’t been much of a Daivari fan over the years but he looked crisp here and the physique is a marked changed from his WWE days, so well done on putting in a lot of work.

Myron Reed isn’t scared of Contra and wants some of Daivari.

Savio Vega looks at a picture of himself and promises to get the Caribbean belt back from Richard Holliday in a strap match. Vega will even provide the strap, which is the same one he used on Steve Austin. The contract is in the mail.

Jordan Oliver vs. Simon Gotch

Gotch wins an early slugout without too much trouble but Oliver is right back with more forearms of his own. That earns him a Saito suplex so Oliver grabs a waistlock into a snap suplex. They head outside with Contra hitting a kick to the back and adds an elbow drop from the apron.

Back in and some chops in the corner put Oliver on the floor, followed by an enziguri for two back inside. An armbar sends Oliver straight to the rope as Gotch seems to be toying with him. Oliver finally gets in a running knee to the chest for two and a big boot gets the same. That’s about it for Oliver though as his springboard is pulled into a sleeper to give Gotch the win at 7:28.

Rating: C. This wasn’t much of a competitive match but it told a story. The big appeal here was that Oliver was angry at Gotch for what he did to his friend and Gotch, being the more trained and experienced fighter, knew how to keep his cool and reel the overzealous Oliver in. That’s a simple story but it was all you needed here and Gotch played it as well as could be asked.

Post match Gotch lays him out with a piledriver for a bonus. Myron Reed runs in for the save.

We look back at Los Parks winning the Tag Team Titles last week.

Tom Lawlor and Team Filthy denies all allegations against them from last week’s title change. They don’t have any idea who attacked ACH this morning either, though pronouncing his name like a sound instead of the letters is funny.

Video on ACH.

Salina de la Renta isn’t having any of these questions about Promociones Dorado so Alicia Atout goes on a mini rant about how ridiculous Salina is for never answering anything. Alicia is going to find out what’s going on.

Mads Krugger knows that he will end Alex Hammerstone when they meet again in two week.

ACH has said that Team Filthy’s Dominic Garrini attacked him this morning.

Richard Holliday joins us from Martha’s Vineyard and says he has signed the contract to face Savio Vega against his lawyer/father’s advice because he is 12 steps ahead of Vega.

MLW World Title: ACH vs. Jacob Fatu

ACH is challenging and is rather banged up coming in. Daivari is here with Fatu to keep things unfair. ACH charges at him to start and gets knocked into the corner with ease. Some backflips allow ACH to dropkick the champ outside but the dive is knocked out of the air. There’s a ribs first drop onto the apron and Fatu sits down on the ribs back inside. Another drop misses though and ACH strikes away, only to get pulled into a Samoan drop.

Fatu drops down onto the ribs again as the game plan isn’t exactly complicated here (as it shouldn’t be). The running hip attack misses but ACH’s rather dumb slam attempt comes crashing down. Fatu grabs a neck crank and there’s a headbutt to put ACH back down. A missed charge into the corner puts Fatu down for a bit though and ACH gets to strike away.

ACH dropkicks the knee out and hits a basement dropkick to the side of the head (which shouldn’t work on a Samoan). There’s a slingshot cutter (which Fatu sells like a DDT) for two and a hurricanrana sets up an enziguri. For some reason ACH tries the slam again, this time earning himself a pop up Samoan drop. The moonsault finishes ACH at 9:52.

Rating: C+. They didn’t bother making Fatu sweat here and they shouldn’t have. ACH is a bigger star outside of MLW but it isn’t like he has done much of anything around here in the first place. Fatu is an absolute monster and doesn’t need to be in anything resembling danger outside of a major challenger. ACH is good, but he isn’t that good, at least around here.

Post match Fatu and Daivari proclaim Contra’s dominance but the flag bearers jump them, revealing themselves to be Injustice to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. The main event was the best part of the show but the main thing about this week continues to be how much they can do with so little. There were very few people on this show who feel like stars but they managed to make a decent show out of an episode featuring Simon Gotch, Daivari and ACH. As usual, it’s all about the presentation and now they are making it work.

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Fusion #113
Date: December 9, 2020
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Jared St. Laurent, Rich Bocchini

Last week’s show was the best since the Restart and we’re in for some good stuff if they can keep that up. What matters here is capitalizing on the momentum and the big piece is in place as the Von Erichs defend the Tag Team Titles against Contra. That could go either way so let’s get to it.

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

Contra says MLW hasn’t taken control of anything and promises to bring the heroes to their knees. Look at what they have done to Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Alex Hammerstone. Tonight, they come for the Tag Team Titles.

Opening sequence.

Zenshi vs. Calvin Tankman

Zenshi’s legsweep has no effect to start and a dropkick to the back just annoys Tankman. A hurricanrana sends him into the corner and a kick to the head staggers the monster a bit. That’s about it for the offense though as Tankman plants him with a spinebuster and chops away in the corner. Tankman sends him flying but Zenshi knees his way out of a suplex. A handspring Pele rocks Tankman for a bit but he hits Zenshi in the throat. The Tankman Driver finishes Zenshi at 3:44.

Rating: D+. This was designed to make Tankman look like a cross between a tank and a man, which worked out well enough. Having him shrug off everything Zenshi threw at him made for some good visuals, as Tankman seems to be someone they want to push. Given how many names they have lost/are losing, that is one of the most important things they can do at the moment.

Tankman says that’s just a small taste so line him up some more opponents. Heavyweight Hustle is going to knock them all down.

We look back at Richard Holliday and Low Ki winning their first round Opera Cup matches.

Salina de la Renta is at the Aztec Ruins (labeled as such) where she is looking for a certain man. Salina talks about a man being caught in a horrible earthquake in Mexico City in 1985 (uh oh) but a witch brought him back to life. She whips out a knife, licks it, and says she is summoning Pascal Mendoza. This isn’t going to go well.

Dan Lambert doesn’t like Low Ki moving forward in the tournament while King Mo is sitting on the sidelines.

Violence Is Forever vs. Jason Dugan/Robert Martyr

Violence Is Forever is Team Filthy’s Kevin Ku/Dominic Garrini and the jobbers don’t even get first names to start things off. Garrini takes Dugan over with a quick judo throw but a cross armbreaker attempt sends Dugan bailing to the ropes. Ku comes in to step on Dugan’s arm and a brainbuster/kick to the head combination (better known as Chasing the Dragon but not called that of course) finishes at 1:54.

Low Ki is ready to kick Richard Holliday’s Air Pods out.

Holliday hopes Low Ki’s bravado can handle his rarefied air.

We look at Myron Reed challenging Lio Rush.

Rush says he needs no introduction as he is on the way to the studio to record another hit. He won’t be facing Reed on December 23 because Rush is coming for the title on the first show of the new year. Until then, Reed can eat his off brand cereal and train like never before.

We get a sitdown interview with Alex Hammerstone, who isn’t worried about Mags Krugger. He’s also cleared to wrestle so he’ll be back in the ring next week.

Contra hacks the feed and Krugger wants Hammerstone at Kings of Coliseum on January 6.

Opera Cup Semifinals: Low Ki vs. Richard Holliday

Holliday starts fast by stomping Low Ki down in the corner, followed by a hard elbow to the face. Ki is right back with a running elbow of his own and a hard chop, only to get dropped face first onto the turnbuckle. It’s time to start working on Ki’s leg and a belly to back suplex gets two. Holliday switches gears by moving to the arm….followed by a backbreaker as he is certainly mixing things up.

Ki comes back with a choke out of the corner but Holliday falls down into the ropes for the break. Back up and Holliday hits a quick clothesline and they’re both down for a bit. It’s Holliday back up with a heck of a pop up sitout powerbomb for two, meaning it’s time to yell at the referee. A spinebuster gets the same as commentary is getting way into this. Ki dropkicks him into the corner, setting up the Warrior’s Wrath (top rope double stomp) for the fast pin at 9:19.

Rating: B-. This started picking up the pace at the end and that’s great to see from Holliday. I know he gets most of his attention for the talking but he has surprised me in the ring more than once. Ki has been WAY better in MLW than anywhere else I remember seeing him and that’s a great surprise. Both guys were working here and I could have gone with five more minutes.

Post match Ki grabs the Caribbean Title. Sweet on a possible rematch.

We go to the Kings of Coliseum Control Center with Reed defending the Middleweight Title against Lio Rush confirmed.

Reed says it’s time but Rush isn’t taking the title from him.

Tag Team Titles: Contra Unit vs. Von Erichs

Simon Gotch and Jacob Fatu are challenging for Contra. The brawl starts on the floor with the music still playing and the champs taking over. Ross and Simon get in the ring to officially start with Ross snapping off a fisherman’s suplex. Fatu isn’t having that and comes in with the superkick to take over.

Some kicks to the chest don’t do much as Fatu pulls him back in by the leg. It’s back to Gotch for the chinlock for a bit but Fatu comes back in and gets low bridged to the floor. The hot tag brings in Marshall to clean house as everything breaks down. A hurricanrana sends Fatu outside and Marshall claw slams Gotch through a board at ringside. Cue Jordan Oliver and Violence Is Forever for the brawl and double DQ at 7:14.

Rating: C-. This didn’t have time to get very far and that might be for the best. You absolutely don’t want Contra losing but I can see why you don’t want them to win the titles yet. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a rematch at Kings of Coliseum or on a big Fusion, but for now it was just an ok at best match and the ending came when it should have.

Overall Rating: C. The show had more energy this week and hopefully that keeps up because it helped a bit here. The wrestling wasn’t as good as it was last time around but at least they had a nice show for the most part. They still aren’t hitting their stride with the big matches most of the time but at least the show was decent enough as a whole. I want to see where some of these people go and that’s a good sign for the future.

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

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

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IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

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

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

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

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

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

El Lindaman vs. Zenshi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pagano is still coming.

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

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

Richard Holliday vs. ???

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

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

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

Top Ten:

10. King Mo

9. Low Ki

8. Mance Warner

7. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

6. Richard Holliday

5. Brian Pillman Jr.

4. Tom Lawlor

3. Davey Boy Smith Jr.

2. Myron Reed

1. Alexander Hammerstone

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wreslting

Fusion #99
Date: February 29, 2020
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: AJ Kirsch, Rich Bocchini

We’re off to a new taping cycle and that means some big things are in store. This time around that means we have the return of LA Park, who is teaming up with his son to face Contra. I know Park isn’t the biggest deal to a lot of fans but he has a strong reputation around here and that could help things. Let’s get to it.

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

Contra is ready to take things worldwide and tonight they’re conquering the Parks.

Opening sequence.

AJ Kirsch tries to bring Mance Warner to the ring but it’s the Dynasty (minus Maxwell Jacob Friedman) instead. Richard Holliday, with the Caribbean Title, says that Kirsch failed to entertain the fans but they need to be educated instead. Therefore, it’s time for Rich Talk, so Holliday makes it clear that the fans are breathing rarefied air. He puts over Alexander Hammerstone as the most dominant champion in MLW, allowing Hammerstone to call the fans fat.

Hammerstone brags about Gino Medina and says he’s ready to crush Konnan, who comes out to interrupt. Konnan talks about how great the fans are in Philadelphia before starting with the insults. He only offered Gino a spot because of Gino’s father so violence is threatened, only to have Mance Warner, Savio Vega and Logan Creed cut them off. Warner sees a problem in the Dynasty stepping to Konnan like this so let’s have a six man tag instead. The fight is on and ring the bell.

Savio Vega/Mance Warner/Logan Creed vs. Dynasty

Konnan is on commentary and it’s a big brawl to start. With everyone else on the floor, Creed chokes on Holliday, who manages to knock him down to one knee. Hammerstone and Medina take Holliday’s place but can’t beat him down. We settle down to Hammerstone and Creed starting things off, with Creed getting choked in the corner to slow him down for the first time. Hammerstone pulls him into the corner again so Medina can choke this time.

A heck of a release German suplex drops Creed but he pops back up with a clothesline. The hotish tag brings in Vega for the spinwheel kick but the Dynasty is back in to take over. Everything breaks down and Creed hits a double chokeslam on Hammerstone and Medina. Vega is sent into the post but Creed dives onto Medina and Hammerstone, with Warner being smart enough to step to the side. In the melee, Holliday hits Vega with the Caribbean Title and steals the pin at 5:59.

Rating: D+. I’m not sure what they were going for here as Warner would seem to be the one that they wanted to push, but this was far more about Creed than anyone else. It wasn’t much of a match either, but the Dynasty winning is fine, especially with Vega taking the fall. The Dynasty vs. Warner/Creed is good, though they’re going to need someone other than Vega if they want it to work.

Post match Konnan sneaks in and hits Medina with the slap jack. The losers and Konnan consume beer.

Post break Konnan is still in the ring but here’s Injustice to interrupt him. Jordan Oliver says it’s awesome that Konnan is almost as old as the building and you can see the dust falling off of his face. These people like Konnan but they like trash too so that doesn’t mean much. Konnan laughs it off and says Oliver would be traded around prison for some Cinnabons. Cue Brian Pillman Jr. with a chair to chase off Injustice.

Injustice vs. Zenshi/Laredo Kid

Pillman is on commentary and it’s Oliver/Kotto Brazil for Injustice with Myron Reed at ringside. Hold on though as Injustice has to undergo an extensive check for weapons. Kid and Zenshi jump them to start with Zenshi and Oliver officially starting. Oliver gets launched over the top so Zenshi can dive onto both Oliver and Myron Reed. Back in and Kid hits a Michinoku Driver for two but Reed pulls Kid down for a crotching against the post. Kid gets taken into the corner and sent head first into the middle buckle.

A German suplex out of the corner gets two but Kid pops Oliver upside the head so Zenshi can come in with a backflip kick to Brazil’s head. Kotto is right back with a Code Red out of the corner with Zenshi having to make a save. Zenshi tornado DDTs Oliver to the floor but Brazil is right back with a baseball slide to Zenshi’s face. Back in and a slingshot Stunner sets up a crucifix bomb to finish Kid at 6:38 (with a double pin, which the referee doesn’t mind).

Rating: C+. It was rather fast paced throughout and that’s what you want out of something like this. Jordan is one of the most unintentionally entertaining performers outside of the ring but he can back it up in the ring. They didn’t bother with anything but flying around the ring like crazy here and that’s what they should have done.

Post match Injustice goes after Pillman but Kid and Zenshi get up for the save without Pillman having to do a thing. Kid even counts the pin on Reed and holds up the title.

Tom Lawlor and Team Filthy can’t believe that people in Texas are so annoyed at the Texas flag being used in various ways. They don’t like anything Texas related, including Texas toast or Walker Texas Ranger. If the Von Erichs love Texas so much, why do they have Hawaii on their trunks? Lawlor agrees that Erick Stevens is a mercenary but they have formed a bond. The Von Erichs are more hat than cattle so Team Filthy is taking them out.

Video on LA Park vs. Jacob Fatu from Superfight.

Killer Kross is still coming. The interesting thing at this point is which promotion he debuts for first.

Injustice isn’t happy with Pillman interfering when he can’t even make 205 Live. Reed: “You’re fat bro.” They have their own crazy white boy and they’ll be watching Pillman vs. Jimmy Havoc next week.

Jimmy Havoc is ready to give Pillman a lethal dose of acid rain.

The Von Erichs swear revenge against Team Filthy.

Intimidation Games is coming, with AAA’s Pagano making his debut.

King Mo doesn’t like Low Ki.

Los Parks vs. Contra Unit

Lumberjack match and it’s Simon Gotch/Josef Samael for Contra. The Parks do their chair dance but Contra jumps them from behind to start. Some chair shots to the back keep the Parks down and it’s time to choke in the corner. The Parks are back with a double dropkick to the floor so the lumberjacks can blow off some steam. Back in and the Parks use the chairs to take over but Samael and Park clothesline each other down. Hijo tells Gotch to hit him so the slugout is on.

A hurricanrana puts Gotch into the corner and it’s a charge from Park. That lets Hijo swivel his hips a bit but Samael pulls out the spike to stab Hijo down. Now they bother to settle down to a regular tag match with Samael stomping at Hijo and yelling at Park. Hijo is sent outside and this time the lumberjacks just throw him back inside. A Backstabber gets Hijo out of trouble and the hot tag brings in Park to beat up both of them. The spear hits Samael and Hijo gets Gotch’s spike. Gotch is knocked cold and Hijo moonsaults onto the lumberjacks, leaving Park to flip dive onto Gotch for the pin at 9:04.

Rating: C. The lumberjacks didn’t change much here and that’s always a possibility in a match like this. The Parks still don’t keep my attention most of the time but they kept it short and chaotic enough to make it better. It’s fine to have them back, but they’re not exactly a thrilling team in the first place.

Overall Rating: C+. They’re setting up some things for the future and I’m looking forward to seeing what that is going to mean in the future. The wrestling was hit and miss here and as can be the case, that’s not the most important thing on an MLW show. I’m curious to see where things go from here and Intimidation Games could be good, depending on what they put together for it.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #96
Date: February 8, 2020
Location: NYTEX Sports Center, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: AJ Kirsch, Rich Bocchini

The Dallas swing continues as we continue the Hart Foundation vs. Contra, which should have some long term potential. If nothing else, we already have a big match tonight as Brian Pillman Jr. challenges Jacob Fatu for the World Title. It seems to be a setup for the much bigger match with Davey Boy Smith Jr. challenging but that sounds like waiting for. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at Contra vs. the Hart Foundation, which does sound like a war.

Opening sequence, with Contra interrupting to promise Pillman’s destruction.

The announcers run down the card.

Here’s Tom Lawlor, in a Von Erichs shirt and with an unnamed bodyguard, to get things going, complete with (I believe) new music with slow lyrics of “I HAVE COME TO KILL YOU”. Lawlor says it’s great to be back and points out how great his Von Erichs shirt is. It represents the dollar store Von Erichs, rather than the Von Erichs that we remember.

The fans demand he take the shirt off so Lawlor does as they ask and then cleans himself with it in rather disrespectful ways. Lawlor throws it to a fan who throws it back. Lawlor: “Just like the Von Erichs, YOU FAILED!”. He has found a new family in the members of Team Filthy so here’s the new star in his debut as part of the team. Tonight he’ll be facing someone who should be on Botchamania rather than in this ring.

Dominick Garrini vs. Zenshi

Garrini judo throws him down to start so Zenshi grabs a wristdrag. A headscissors into a victory roll gets two and Zenshi flips out of a German suplex. Garrini has a seat on the mat and tells Zenshi to bring it, which is exactly what happens with a running hurricanrana for two. Another headscissors out of the corner drops Garrini and a dropkick gets two. Zenshi’s shooting star press is pulled into a triangle choke but that’s broken up as well.

Garrini starts stomping him in the corner but Zenshi flips him over for a moonsault dropkick. A hurricanrana puts Zenshi on the floor, albeit after his face hits the apron. Back in and Zenshi’s 450 is countered into a judo throw for some stomps to the arm. It’s bad enough that the trainer comes in to check on Zenshi, who stomps on the arm even more. The cross armbar goes on and the referee stops it at 6:58.

Rating: C. This was an interesting twist as Zenshi dominated a good chunk of the match but lost in the end when Garrini cranked it into another gear. The match was a bit of a clash of styles but the point here was to make Garrini look like a killer and that’s what they did. Let Zenshi stick with the high flying stuff though because that’s where he shines.

Post match Lawlor says there’s nothing wrong with what Garrini did because they’re martial artists and that’s what they do.

Contra’s Death Squad goes after Brian Pillman Jr. but Davey Boy Smith Jr. makes the save.

Video on Contra vs. Hart Foundation.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman has had caffeine for the first time and can’t stop talking or jumping up and down. Anyway, there have been threats of a lawsuit against MLW so the Dynasty is going to get to produce their own episode. That will include Gino Medina vs. Septimo Dragon, Alexander Hammerstone vs. Aerostar and Richard Holliday/MJF vs. the Von Erichs for the Tag Team Titles. MJF was hilarious here in a different way.

Richard Holliday vs. Savio Vega

The still hyped up MJF is on commentary, sending Kirsch into a facepalm. After a hug with MJF, Holliday lets him hold the Air Pods. After a quick promo from Savio on how much he loves his Caribbean Title and offering to take Alicia Atout salsa dancing, we’re ready to go. MJF thinks Vega reminds him of an old Kwang. They stare at each other to start and Holliday mocks the Puerto Rican vest as we wait about forty five seconds before the first contact.

Rating: D+. As usual, Vega was one of the worse in-ring performers around here, though I can see why he would be a big help as far as agenting goes. That being said, it’s not a good visual to have him in there with so many bad matches. Holliday continues to look awesome though and would be a huge star if he wasn’t surrounded by so much other talent.

Post match Holliday takes the Caribbean Title with him and says his lawyer/father is going to make this a title match.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. tells Brian Pillman Jr. that the game plan is on. The Von Erichs come in to say they’ve got Pillman’s back too.

Killer Kross is coming.

Battle Riott III is coming in July.

MLW has a working relationship with Dragon Gate. The more talent they can bring in, the better.

We look back at Gino Medina joining the Dynasty and attacking Konnan.

LA Park is coming back.

We look at Injustice complaining about the referees so the referees will be graded with the good referees getting big matches. As long as we don’t have to see any of this, they’ll be fine.

AAA and MLW will be running a co-promoted show on March 13 in Mexico.

The Dynasty is running next week’s episode.

Mance Warner is asked about the Dynasty. Mance: “A*******.” He gives Alicia a light beer and leaves.

Zenshi wants revenge.

MLW World Title: Jacob Fatu vs. Brian Pillman Jr.

Fatu is defending and has Josef Samael in his corner. Pillman gets chopped in the corner to start and Fatu holds up the Contra flag. A toss sends Pillman into the corner but Fatu misses sitdown splash. Some kicks to the chest don’t do much to Fatu, who is right back with a chop.

Pillman’s middle rope crossbody is countered into a spinning release Rock Bottom. The nerve hold is broken up with a jawbreaker and some kicks to the head stagger Fatu. Now the springboard crossbody puts Fatu down and Air Pillman drops him again. Cue Injustice for a distraction though, allowing Fatu to run Pillman over. The handspring moonsault gets two and a pair of double jump moonsaults finish Pillman at 5:30.

Rating: C-. This could have been a lot worse though it was just a step above a squash. That being said, Fatu is not supposed to be sweating over just about anyone, which is going to make the big title change that much better. That would seem to be Smith down the road, and that’s going to be a heck of a fight. Pillman is getting there, but he still needs ring time, as would anyone with as little experience as he has.

We see a clip of the Death Squad attacking Smith and the Von Erichs during the match to explain where they were. Again: well done on covering something like that because it would leave a hole otherwise.

Overall Rating: D+. Not much of a show this week and that is the kind of thing that is going to happen every now and then. The matches were designed to set up some stuff for the future but we didn’t get much on this show, which made this a bit harder to watch. It’s not terrible by any means, but it’s nothing worth seeing save for Fatu’s usual awesomeness.

Results

Dominic Garrini b. Zenshi via referee stoppage

Richard Holliday b. Savio Vega – Suplex into a swinging neckbreaker

Jacob Fatu b. Brian Pillman Jr. – Double jump moonsault

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

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

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

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