MLW has made their first match announcement for November’s Blood & Thunder television tapings.
It was announced today that Tom Lawlor vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. will take place at the Blood & Thunder tapings. They’re being held at GILT Nightclub in Orlando, Florida on the afternoon of Saturday, November 9.
Lawlor and Smith Jr. also faced each other at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport II earlier this month. Smith Jr. defeated Lawlor in that match.
Lawlor is a former MLW World Heavyweight Champion, while Smith Jr. is a former MLW Tag Team Champion. Lawlor lost the MLW World Heavyweight title to Jacob Fatu at Kings of Colosseum in July. The Hart Foundation’s Teddy Hart & Brian Pillman Jr. also lost the Tag Team titles to The Dynasty (MJF & Richard Holliday) that night.
The Blood & Thunder tapings are taking place a week after MLW’s first-ever pay-per-view. Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois will host Saturday Night SuperFight on November 2, with Fatu defending his World Heavyweight title against LA Park in a no DQ match in the main event.
Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Tom Lawlor are set to face off later this month.
It was announced today that Smith Jr. vs. Lawlor will be taking place at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport II in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Saturday, September 14. The show is taking place at Showboat Atlantic City.
Bloodsport features hybrid MMA style pro wrestling matches. This will be the third Bloodsport event that Game Changer Wrestling has put on. They partnered with Matt Riddle for the first Bloodsport show in 2018 and with Barnett for their second one earlier this year.
Smith Jr. defeated Killer Kross at Barnett’s Bloodsport I. Lawlor lost to WALTER at Riddle’s Bloodsport.
Allysin Kay vs. Nicole Savoy and Simon Grimm (Simon Gotch) vs. Anthony Carelli (the former Santino Marella) have also been announced for Barnett’s Bloodsport II.
Josh Barnett vs. Jon Moxley was supposed to headline Barnett’s Bloodsport II, but Moxley had to be pulled from the match due to the case of MRSA in his elbow that also caused him to miss All Out. Barnett will still be wrestling at the show, though his new opponent has yet to be announced.
Barnett’s Bloodsport II will stream live as an iPPV on Fite TV.
The Hart Foundation are getting a Tag Team title rematch at next month’s MLW television tapings.
The Dynasty (MJF & Richard Holliday) will defend their titles against The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) in a two-out-of-three falls match at MLW’s War Chamber event next month. The tapings are taking place at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, Texas on Saturday, September 7.
MJF & Holliday won the MLW Tag Team titles from The Hart Foundation at July’s Kings of Colosseum tapings. Teddy Hart & Brian Pillman Jr. were representing The Hart Foundation in that match. Smith Jr. and The Dynasty’s Alexander Hammerstone and Aria Blake also got involved.
Next month’s tapings in Texas will be headlined by a War Chamber match, which is a War Games-style match that can be won by pinfall, submission, or surrender once all participants have entered. Tom Lawlor, Marshall Von Erich, Ross Von Erich, and a partner will face Contra Unit (Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, Simon Gotch & Ikuro Kwon).
The late Gary Hart will also be honored at the tapings.
Los Parks (LA Park and El Hijo de LA Park) defeated the Wagners (Dr. Wagner Jr. and El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.) in the Wagners’ MLW debut.
Alexander Hammerstone retained his MLW National Openweight title by disqualification when Davey Boy Smith Jr. went on the rampage with a flag pole against all of The Dynasty.
Salina de la Renta and Mance Warner continued on their collision course with Bestia 666 being brought in to stop the Southern Psycho.
Full Review —
We opened with a video recap from last week where Mance Warner went after Promociones Dorado. Salina de la Renta told Warner she has summoned the devil, Bestia 666, to stop him.
Rich Bocchini and Jim Cornette welcomed us to MLW Fusion and recapped last week’s tag team title change where the Dynasty defeated the Hart Foundation in a ladder match to capture the gold. That transitioned to this week where Alexander Hammerstone defends his National Openweight gold against one member of that team, Davey Boy Smith Jr.
MLW National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone (w/ MJF, Richard Holliday and Aria Blake) defeated Davey Boy Smith Jr. by disqualification to retain 09:23)
Blake and Holliday badmouthed Smith via an inset pre-recorded interview with Smith’s sister, Georgia Hart. Hammerstone said he was going to show everyone what a real man looks like. Georgia wasn’t impressed and told him he was “such a dick” as he left.
The Dynasty got on the mic before the bell. Holliday called the fans consumers, MJF called the Hart Foundation poor, and Hammerstone said the time for jokes was over and he was going to break Smith in half. They were equal in the early stages, but Smith outsmarted Hammerstone and sent him to the outside. Dynasty distracted Smith on the outside and the champion dropped Smith ribs first on the guard rail.
Back inside, Hammerstone came off the top rope with a double footed dropkick for a two count. Hammer kept on top with a chinlock, dropkick, and a running powerslam. Smith powered out of a pinfall attempt and fired up. They exchanged forearms until Smith got the better of the champ and hit a powerbomb complete with a jacknife float-over but only got a two count. He has amazing agility for a guy his size.
Smith went up top, but Hammerstone pushed the ref into the ropes, forearmed Smith, then went up and hit a huge superplex off the top. He went for the Nightmare Pendulum but Smith reversed it into a crossface. MJF pushed the ropes and assisted Hammer in breaking the hold, and to add insult to injury Holliday choked Smith on the same rope moments later behind the official’s back.
They exchanged German suplexes one after each other with Smith getting the better of the exchange. He came close to winning the title with a belly to back suplex. Smith then hit a diving headbutt off the top rope, but before he could make the cover, MJF got on the apron and spat on the Canadian flag Smith had brought out and shoved it up his nose.
Smith saw red and slingshotted MJF into the ring and clobbered him, Holliday and then Hammerstone with the flag pole. The referee called for the bell after the weapon shot and declared Hammerstone the winner, but it was Smith who looked victorious waving his flag to the adulation of the crowd.
— The Von Erich brothers had a promo video for Contra Unit. They said they were coming for them and were fighting for MLW.
— Konnan was backstage with Salina de la Renta’s phone. He blackmailed her saying she better watch how she treats him or he can post anything he likes.
— A propaganda video from Contra Unit aired. Simon Gotch said the MLW title has been hijacked and they have some demands. They want contracts and they want the Von Erich brothers. They accepted the Von Erichs’ challenge and the match is set for next week.
— Warner was then outside with a promo for de la Renta and Promociones Dorado. He had his whiteboard with him with one of his lists. He only had one thing on his list this week: “Kill”. He said Salina went and found a devil to take down the psycho, but the devil “aint got no sh*t on ol’ Mancer”.
Los Parks (LA Park and El Hijo de LA Park) w/Salina de la Renta defeated The Wagners (Dr. Wagner Jr and El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.) (16:27)
This was a crazy and wild lucha libre rules tag match which meant tornado rules (everyone in at the same time).
LA and Wagner started off as we were told this is the Mexican equivalent of Rock vs. Austin. The Wagners hit stereo suicide dives on the Parks on the outside and later double-teamed Hijo with a flapjack superkick and LA with chops and a cannonball in the corner.
LA fought back and caught Hijo Wagner on the top rope, and tagged in Hijo LA who hit a top rope Spanish fly at the same time that LA caught Wagner coming in with a powerslam in a great spot.
The Parks then took control as Hijo LA hit his own dad with a Code Red but flipped him directly ontop of Hijo Wagner. The Parks then torpedoed the Wagners with head first suicide dives to the outside.
Back inside, LA and Wagner came face to face for a chop battle. LA ripped Wagner’s mask off as we were told that he lost his mask in Mexico in 2017, but still competes with it in North America. Wagner hit LA with a top rope cutter and then a big pendulum DDT at the end of their exchange.
The sons came in and had a chop battle of their own. Hijo Wagner hit a tucked rolling suplex for a two count but Hijo LA hit jumping knees to the face out of the corner, also for a two count. They later had a double-down to which the dads jumped in and covered both for two counts.
Wagner then took out LA with a cannonball dive outside into the announcer’s position as Hijo LA took out Hijo Wagner inside with a cross body off the top rope. Hijo LA then came close with a code red but Hijo Wagner kicked out at two.
Hijo Wagner hit a superplex off the top but LA entered and kicked him out. Wagner then hit tilt-a-whirl backbreakers on both Parks and then hit LA with another suicide dive to the outside. The dives continued as Hijo LA launched himself through the ropes and ontop of Wagner, closely followed by Hijo Wagner who missed and hit his dad by mistake.
Inside the ring, LA hit a spear on Hijo Wagner to pick up the win.
Next Week —
We will hear from “Filthy” Tom Lawlor for the first time since losing the MLW World Heavyweight title two weeks ago
Simon Gotch and Josef Samael of Contra Unit battle Marshall and Ross Von Erich
Timothy Thatcher has an opponent for his first MLW show.
Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Thatcher has been announced for MLW’s Never Say Never television tapings, which are taking place at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York on Thursday, July 25. MLW is hyping the matchup as a first-time meeting between two wrestlers who are known for their grappling.
It was announced last month that Thatcher would be making his MLW debut at Never Say Never.
Thatcher is a former EVOLVE Champion, holding the title from July 2015 to February 2017. He regularly wrestles for wXw in Germany.
This is the second match announced for Never Say Never. LA Park vs. Jimmy Havoc is also set for the show.
Never Say Never will follow up on Kings of Colosseum and lead into the promotion’s War Chamber tapings. The NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, Texas is hosting War Chamber on Saturday, September 7.
The feud between The Dynasty and The Hart Foundation will continue with a National Openweight Championship match at MLW’s next set of television tapings.
MLW announced today that Alexander Hammerstone will defend his National title against Davey Boy Smith Jr. at their TV tapings in Cicero, Illinois on Saturday, July 6. The tapings are called “Kings of Colosseum” and are being held at Cicero Stadium.
Hammerstone is part of The Dynasty with MJF and Richard Holliday. He defeated The Hart Foundation’s Brian Pillman Jr. earlier this month in the finals of MLW’s National Openweight title tournament.
Davey Boy Smith Jr. currently holds the MLW Tag Team titles with Teddy Hart.
Here’s the updated lineup for Kings of Colosseum:
MLW World Heavyweight Champion Tom Lawlor defending against Jacob Fatu
LA Park & El Hijo de LA Park vs. Dr. Wagner Jr. & El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.
MLW National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone defending against Davey Boy Smith Jr.
Ross & Marshall Von Erich vs. Contra Unit (Josef Samael & Simon Gotch)
Contra Unit continued their assault across MLW, focusing on “Filthy” Tom Lawlor and members of Team Filthy.
The feud between the Hart Foundation and the Dynasty is far from over as they continued to clash on this week’s episode.
Show recap —
– We opened with a recap from last week’s live MLW Fusion where we saw Alexander Hammerstone defeat Brian Pillman Jr. to become the first-ever MLW National Openweight Champion, and we also saw Teddy Hart successfully defending his MLW Middleweight title against Jimmy Havoc.
– Rich Bocchini was backstage with the new Openweight Champion Hammerstone in Hammer’s personal gym. He said that he might not be everyone’s favorite wrestler — but he is everyone’s National Openweight Champion.
Hammerstone said he is the one that gave Dynasty a destiny. He ended up bullying Bocchini into lifting one of his weights and then ended up squatting with him up on his shoulders.
– From the commentary table, Bocchini and Jim Cornette gave an update on MLW World Heavyweight Champion Tom Lawlor, saying he is looking for the Contra Unit. They then hyped up tonight’s main event between MJF and Davey Boy Smith Jr.
Richard Holliday (w/ Aria Blake) defeated Kotto Brazil (5:17)
Holliday used his size and strength to control Brazil from the start. Brazil flurried with speed and agility when he could but was continually knocked down by his larger opponent.
Brazil went for a tilt-a-whirl into a front choke, but Holliday powered through with a big suplex. Brazil kept fighting and hit a big one-legged dropkick from the top rope but soon after ate a big clothesline from Holliday and a gutwrench powerbomb to give the Dynasty member the win.
Air Wolf defeated Ace Austin (10:39)
The commentary team played up “the biggest upset in MLW history” when Air Wolf defeated Rey Fenix a few weeks ago — and he gave us another big win tonight with a high flying face-first slam. The commentators also mentioned that Salina de la Renta has been scouting Air Wolf recently after his big win against one half of the Lucha Brothers.
Both competitors exchanged early reversals and seemed to be very evenly matched. But as Air Wolf was taking his first risk going for a springboard, Austin pushed him off the top rope to the outside and followed straight away with a suicide dive. Back inside, Austin hit a springboard spinning savate kick for a two count.
After taking too much time on the outside, Austin missed his big top rope springboard leg drop, which gave Air Wolf the opening to mount a comeback. Air Wolf hit a snap German and a spinning double underhook suplex but only got a two count.
Austin fought back with a pair of kicks and a big slam before rolling Air Wolf into a spinning suplex of his own for another two count.
Austin crotched Air Wolf on the top rope but couldn’t capitalize as Air Wolf fought back, flipped Austin into the ring, and leapt off and hit a face-first slam that crumpled Austin to the mat and gave Air Wolf the win. Austin looked like he injured his knee the way he fell taking the finishing move.
– Salina de la Renta was backstage letting us know that on next week’s MLW Fusion, where she is the executive producer, the main event will be Sami Callihan vs. Mance Warner in a falls count anywhere, loser leaves MLW match.
– Lawlor vs. Jacob Fatu was booked for the July 6 show Kings of Colosseum. We then heard from Lawlor as he cut a backstage promo on Contra Unit. He said he didn’t sign up to be stabbed in the back each time he sees Contra. Together with the Von Erich brothers, they are going to clean up MLW.
– The cameras then caught up with Warner and Callihan, who gave their opinion on de la Renta’s announcement. Callihan said they both like to fight, like to scrap, and are going to give Cornette a stroke.
Callihan said he was winning, but Mancer said he was winning and Callihan is going home. They shook on it, but Mancer said they can shake for now but when the bell rings: It. Is. On.
– We then heard from Low Ki and he said he was prepared for his match with Ricky Martinez next week. He said Martinez has sealed his fate and he is on the professional’s list.
– We then had a Contra Unit video package where they said Lawlor is a glutton for punishment. They asked him how it felt to get scalped last week. They said they are the global dealers in violence and said they are going to slice Lawlor and the Von Erichs until they get to the white meat.
Davey Boy Smith Jr. defeated MJF (w/ Aria Blake, Richard Holliday, and Alexander Hammerstone) (11:32)
Bocchini said Smith is undefeated in singles action in MLW, and Cornette told us Smith’s debut in MLW was back in 2004. Dynasty played a huge part in this match, continually interfering to help MJF, but when the Hart Foundation came to help their buddy and even the odds, it was Smith who picked up the victory.
MJF stalled early and hugged Blake ringside while Smith baited him into the ring. Smith then bieled MJF into the ring from the apron, skinned the cat, and hit a big boot in the early exchanges, but it wasn’t long before the rest of Dynasty distracted Smith and gave MJF the advantage.
Dynasty focused their attack on Smith’s knee via the ring post. MJF distracted the referee while Hammerstone and Holliday added insult to injury.
MJF tried to wrestle Smith to maintain his leg attack, but that is easier said than done against the amateur wrestling ace. Smith was able to reverse a knee lock with one of his own. Smith kept trying to mount an attack but his knee kept giving out each time.
MJF choked Smith with a scarf two times while Holliday distracted the ref. On the third attempt, Smith reversed it and choked MJF himself. The referee, of course, was quick to turn and reprimand Smith.
Smith fought back and had MJF on the top rope and hit a gigantic standing superplex. He followed up with a Northern Lights suplex — and in good storytelling couldn’t keep the bridge for the pin because of is injured leg. However, he was able to hit a powerslam soon after and keep the pinfall for a two count.
Smith was in control as MJF started begging off. Smith did not comply and instead hit a Tombstone piledriver before he headed to the top rope. He dove off and hit a diving headbutt a la Dynamite Kid, but he hurt his knees as they smacked the mat and he couldn’t fully capitalize.
Smith took his time to make the cover, which gave Holliday the chance to put MJF’s feet on the ropes to break the count.
Brian Pillman Jr. ran to ringside and took out Holliday. In the ring, Hammerstone distracted Smith but was knocked off the apron with a big right hand. Smith ran at MJF, who moved. Smith hit the corner and MJF schoolboyed him with his feet on the ropes. The referee counted one, two, and stopped as he noticed the blatant cheating.
Teddy Hart had also made his way to ringside and was brawling with Hammerstone. Smith hit MJF with the running powerslam to pick up the win.
– Before we went off the air, the cameras cut to the back to show us Simon Gotch putting the boots to a helpless Lawlor. Ariel Dominguez (Lawlor’s training partner) was also lying in a pool of blood with Jacob Fatu standing over him.
Josef Samael then threw a fireball at the camera as the feed was cut and the episode ended.
Next week —
Sami Callihan vs. Mance Warner in a falls count anywhere, loser leaves MLW match
Chico Adams & Vertigo Rivera defeated Contra Unit (Josef Samael & Jacob Fatu) by DQ
MLW Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) defeated The Dynasty (MJF & Richard Holliday) by DQ
Full rundown —
Mance Warner joined Jim Cornette and Rich Bocchini at the commentary table for the opening match on this week’s edition of MLW Fusion.
Puma King defeated Hijo de LA Park (10:07)
On commentary, Warner played up the ongoing story between himself and Salina de la Renta’s Promociones Dorado. In a flashback to 2000 when Chris Jericho and Kane feuded after a spilled cup of coffee, this feud has kicked off with a spilled beer on last week’s episode of Fusion.
They started with a lucha opening sequence. They exchanged dives to the outside early on as de la Renta was getting involved and grabbing Puma’s legs from the get-go. Hijo hit Puma with a chair on the outside, which the referee seemed to let go.
The chair action continued in the ring as Hijo sat Puma in the corner. He set a folded chair between Puma’s legs, then swung and hit a home run with a chair right where the sun doesn’t shine.
As Hijo whipped Puma with a television camera cable on the outside, de la Renta asked Cornette and Bocchini why they were talking to “this redneck bitch” on commentary. Warner calmed himself down with a nice light beer and reminded us that his granny always told him not to hit a woman.
Puma King fought back with a good old-fashioned kick to the buttocks and a more flashy pair of tilt-a-whirl backbreakers. The referee was definitely letting the rules bend as Puma decided to take some revenge from earlier by repeating the groin-based chair shot spot Hijo delivered to him.
They exchanged near falls when Hijo hit a Code Red and then Puma soon after hit a pop-up powerbomb. Hijo hit Puma with a chair to the back while he was on the top rope, but Puma caught him and was still able to deliver a headscissors to bring him back into the ring. Hijo kept fighting with a step-up kick and a Spanish Fly from the top rope that got a close near fall.
After another de la Renta leg trip, Hijo hit a Gory Special reverse piledriver but didn’t go for the cover. Instead, he went out to the commentary table and spat at Mance Warner — who got up and spat right back at him!
As Hijo turned his back, Warner got Cornette’s world famous tennis racket and hit Hijo over the back with it. Warner rolled him back in, and Puma was waiting and hit a big double knee face breaker from the top and rolled Hijo up with la magistral cradle for the win.
Puma King and Mance Warner then shared a beer at ringside to celebrate.
– Backstage, we heard from MJF and Richard Holliday as they were impersonating The Hart Foundation. They were about to start really mouthing off, but we were interrupted by this week’s edition of H2tv.
– Brian Pillman Jr. was working out in the pool by his coach Davey Boy Smith Jr. Smith let MJF and Holliday know that — all joking aside — they are going to hurt them when they step inside the ring tonight.
– MLW World Heavyweight Champion “Filthy” Tom Lawlor was backstage with a pre-taped promo from earlier in the week. We were told that his “doctor” from last week was bogus and the real doc had confirmed this during the week.
Lawlor was coming out of the hospital and said he didn’t care what the doctors had to say — what they don’t know about is what is inside fighters’ hearts. Lawlor said that he wants to fight any of the three “bastards” from Contra Unit.
Lawlor said they tried to finish his title reign before it even started, but he is going to finish their MLW run before it begins. He told them to get ready to watch their world burn.
Chico Adams & Vertigo Rivera defeated Contra Unit (Josef Samael & Jacob Fatu) by DQ (1:15)
A very quick demolition squash for Contra Unit — even though they lost by disqualification. It was much more of an angle than a match, as it did not take long for Contra Unit to go to their usual tactics: foreign objects and demolition.
There was some really good old-school heel work from Samael and Fatu. They seem to easily be able to push the crowd’s buttons and rile them up to (almost) riot levels. Cornette certainly helps this along and helps create the riotous feel they are going for with this new unit.
Samael used his wrist tape to choke Adams while we learned that Fatu is from the famous Samoan family — but he’s the black sheep of the family and was not allowed to train with them.
Fatu got in a nice pop-up Samoan drop before Samael brought his spike out and was disqualified for using it to bludgeon the forehead of Adams.
Fatu hit two amazingly athletic springboard moonsaults from the corner onto Adams, but the real take home point came seconds later as Samael used flash paper to throw fire into the face of Rivera. The EMTs tried to then take Adams out on a stretcher, but the EMTs picked him up and set him up perfectly for Fatu to hit a third and final springboard moonsault.
A fan threw a water bottle at Samael — who opened it and threw it back at them. This opened the floodgates, literally, as the ring began being bombarded with bottles, cups, and rubbish of all sorts. Officials began to frantically calm both the fans and the wrestlers down and Contra Unit were quickly ushered to the back.
Cornette screamed that a fan had jumped the guardrail, but they cut away before we could see anything for ourselves.
– Matt Striker gave us breaking news that LA Park will be in the Battle Riot. He began running down other confirmed names: Sami Callihan, Hijo de LA Park, Rey Fenix, Brian Pillman Jr., Gringo Loco, Ken Kerbis from Israel, Pentagon Jr, Teddy Hart, MJF, Davey Boy Smith Jr, Ace Romero, Alexander Hammerstone, Minoru Tanaka from Pro Wrestling NOAH, and Low Ki.
– LA Park was backstage and said he is going to win the Battle Riot. Short, simple, straight to the point. Done.
MLW Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart & Davey Boy Smith Jr. w/ Brian Pillman Jr.) defeated The Dynasty (MJF & Richard Holliday) by DQ (11:03)
MJF took the mic before the match and was trash talking Stu Hart, stomping on the ground and talking down to him saying he left his legacy in the hands of the “idiot” Teddy Hart. MJF said The Dynasty is better than them and they know it.
MJF rolled out and stalled at the start a couple of times and tagged Holliday in before making any contact with Hart. Holliday tried the same, but Hart turned and got his shot in on MJF and knocked him off the apron and into the guardrail.
The Hart Foundation took the early advantage with Hart hitting a Code Red and Smith hitting a double underhook suplex. Smith followed up with a 20-second delayed vertical suplex and Hart hit a Pillman-assisted moonsault from the middle of the top rope. MJF made a blind tag, and after a forearm to the back of the head, took back the advantage for The Dynasty.
On the outside, MJF distracted the ref as he rammed Hart into the apron, attacking his already injured ribs. He whipped him, hard, into the guardrail as Hart was having trouble breathing. Holliday went for a Sharpshooter, but Smith quickly broke it up with a pair of right hands. MJF then interfered with a pendulum piledriver and The Dynasty got a close near fall.
MJF locked in an abdominal stretch, but Hart fought out and hit a tornado Canadian Destroyer to knock both of them down. He was visibly coughing up blood as he tagged in Davey Boy Smith Jr. — who ran wild with a big boot, 10 punches in the corner, German suplex, uppercuts, chops, and a big biel on Holliday right onto MJF in the corner. He got MJF in a double chicken wing suplex for a close two count.
A big sit-out powerbomb by Smith on MJF got another very close two count as Holliday broke it up at the last minute. The Hart Foundation then went for the double-team Canadian Destroyer, but Alexander Hammerstone interfered with a chair and hit both Hart and Smith as the referee called for the bell and the disqualification.
Pillman tried to help but got laid out with the chair too. The crowd chanted “bullsh*t” as Hammerstone, Holliday, and MJF beat down The Hart Foundation. The three Dynasty members stood tall in the middle of the ring as Fusion went off the air.
Mystery tag team match: Brian Pillman Jr. & Davey Boy Smith Jr. defeated Tommy Dreamer & The Sandman
Full rundown —
The opening video has been updated to include the Hart Foundation’s Doomsday Destroyer and Tom Lawlor winning the MLW World Heavyweight Championship from last week.
We opened from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia with a quick recap of last week’s episode showing the final moments and title celebrations from Lawlor and the Hart Foundation.
Myron Reed defeated DJZ (6:24)
DJZ hit a combination of a dropkick, jawbreaker, and springboard back elbow to take the upper hand early on. Reed took a breather on the outside, but DJZ had other ideas and landed a suicide dive from the apron through the ropes, in front of the ring post, onto Reed on the outside.
DJZ followed up inside the ring with a splash and a springboard moonsault, but Reed got his knees up. This gave Reed the opportunity to land a huge dive to the outside of his own.
Back in the ring, DJZ hit a neckbreaker — but Reed was able to fight back and hit his suplex into a stunner combination and quickly a middle rope springboard cutter for a close two count. He jaw-jacked with the referee, which seemed to cost him some precious time as DJZ cut him off on the top rope and joined him up there.
Reed kicked DJZ off and hoped to land a flipping whoopee cushion, but DJZ caught him and planted him with a powerbomb. DJZ tried to follow up with the DZT, but Reed blocked it. DJZ then tried an O’Connor roll — but Reed rolled through, grabbed the tights, and held on for the win.
– H2TV was back with Teddy Hart and Brian Pillman Jr. for a Valentine’s Day Q&A session. Pillman was asked what girlfriend he will spend Valentine’s Day with, and Hart was asked what pussy (cat) he would be spending it with. They were asked if Davey Boy Smith Jr. is single and if he is as big as he looks on TV. Hart finished by saying that Pillman has gold in his future.
Gringo Loco defeated Puma King (7:37)
They quickly leapt into arm drags, roll-throughs, flips, and leg sweeps. Loco’s headscissors was reversed, and both tried pinfalls before nipping up at the same time to the adulation of the crowd.
Puma King took a cheap shot to take the advantage and bit Loco’s ear to add insult. Loco fought back and hit his headscissors, but Puma King quickly hit one of his own and followed up with a springboard splash to the outside.
A crossbody and superkick followed in the ring as Puma King stayed on the advantage. He evaded Loco by rolling out of the ring but was not expecting him to immediately spring over the top rope and land a rolling dive.
Back in the ring, Loco went up top and hit a second rope corkscrew elbow for a two count. Puma King fought back with a jumping codebreaker and rolled through into a Camel Clutch pinning combination for a two count of his own.
After an exchange on the top rope, Loco leapt off and hit a huge springboard middle rope cutter — but Puma King got his shoulder up at the last moment. Puma King came close with a Code Red but was visibly frustrated after another two count. He was then crotched on the top rope as he took too much time but caught Loco and took him off the top with a headscissor takeover.
Puma King sprung to the opposite corner — but Loco caught him again and was able to hit a huge Spanish Fly from the top rope to pick up the win.
– Matt Striker hyped up that we would be hearing from Pentagon Jr. and Fenix tonight on their future with MLW.
– MJF was backstage talking about Teddy Hart. He said he doesn’t get Hart and he wants the admiration that Hart gets. He wants the fans to thank him for being the good role model that Hart can’t be. MJF said that next week — he will beat down Teddy Hart and win back his MLW Middleweight Championship that he never lost.
– Cameras caught up with Tommy Dreamer earlier in the parking lot. He said Pillman should be honored to be in this building. He said Pillman is everything he doesn’t like — Pillman is coming to his house and will be lucky to make it out alive.
– We then had a Jimmy Havoc hype video saying that he will be back.
Brian Pillman Jr. & Davey Boy Smith Jr. defeated Tommy Dreamer & The Sandman (8:07)
Pillman came out himself and took the mic. He said he isn’t going to step into the ring with a washed up ECW junkie. He has the constitutional right to choose his own partner, and he picked Davey Boy Smith Jr.
Dreamer’s partner needed no introduction as the sounds of Metallica introduced The Sandman to the Philadelphia loyal. We got the full five-minute entrance — including fans downing beers, a Teddy Hart embrace, and The Sandman mopping up some tactically spilled beverage from some women.
Sandman made his way to the ring apron as the final chords played and he finished his sixth beer of the evening. Well, there is no way I can confirm that for a fact. He finished his sixth beer of his entrance and spat the last drops in Smith’s face.
The technical catch-as-catch-can masterpiece we were all hoping for was quickly ruined as, unpredictably, the action immediately spilled to the outside for a fist fight. Sandman smashed a beer over Pillman’s head, then Dreamer rammed him face-first into a fan’s boot.
In the ring, the ECW originals hit a double back elbow and double elbow drop. Sandman chopped and booted Pillman in the corner before Dreamer got in for some of his own.
Smith hit Dreamer from the apron to give the Hart Foundation the upper hand. Pillman hit a side Russian leg sweep to insult Sandman. Smith came in, legally this time, and hit Dreamer with a huge standing vertical suplex for a two count.
Dreamer had some hope with a DDT and got the hot tag to Sandman. He ran wild over Pillman with right hands and a white Russian leg sweep that Smith broke up the cover on. Out of nowhere, Dreamer hit a big cutter on Smith as Sandman found a Singapore cane and began to stalk Pillman around the ring.
Pillman scrambled in all four corners, finding his own cane, a piece of broken table, and finally a human being to stop Sandman in his tracks. Pillman lifted the hood off the ring dweller to reveal the Blue Meanie! Sandman went for the cane shot, Pillman pulled Meanie in front of him, and Meanie showed his true colors and waffled Pillman with a right hand. Sandman finally got his cane shot in.
In the ring, Dreamer had set up two chairs facing each other. He went for a Spiccoli driver on Smith, but Pillman hit him in the face with the Singapore cane. That gave Smith the opportunity to slip off and hit a big Pillman-assisted powerbomb through the chairs for the win. Dreamer and Sandman received a standing ovation as they left the ring.
– We cut backstage to see Pentagon Jr. & Fenix. Fenix said the Lucha Bros are here to take over the world as they are the best tag team in the world. Pentagon followed up saying they wrestle wherever they want, when they want, and they don’t care who it’s against. They will be in Chicago next month, they are staying in MLW, and they will be waiting for any tag team.
– Before the show went off the air, we cut to Lawlor staggering out of a club at 8 a.m. He just had an all-nighter with the MLW World Heavyweight Championship and said the work is never done when you’re “Filthy” Tom Lawlor.
Next week —
Teddy Hart defends the MLW Middleweight title against MJF.
Harry Smith (Davey Boy Smith Jr.) and Aurelian Smith Jr. (Jake Roberts) have settled their differences after a phone conversation set up by Bret Hart when Hart and Roberts were at an autograph session.
Roberts agreed to drop all charges on Monday for an incident at WrestleCon where the two had a heated exchange of words and Smith threw coffee at Roberts and Roberts’ daughter went after Smith, who walked away.
Smith had been upset about things Roberts had said about his father on a podcast with Roddy Piper.
Both privately apologized to each other over the incident and Smith agreed to do a public apology, which he did before his IWGP Tag Team title match in Kumamoto, Japan that took place early Sunday.
“I’d like to announce publicly and officially that I spoke with Jake Roberts on the phone today and we squashed heat we have for what happened at the WrestleCon event,” wrote Smith. “I apologized and said I would apologize publicly as Jake agreed he would be dropping any charges pressed against me. I’m a man of my word and I’d like to say sorry to any fans that I stressed with this situation also. I wish Jake all the best and glad that we squashed the heat. I actually had spoken to Roddy Piper before he passed away about the podcast Jake and he did. I’m certainly glad we worked things out, as Roddy died [not] long after.”
After a strange first round of booking that saw two of the tournament favorites eliminated, the 2018 New Japan Cup quarterfinals are set.
The second round of the tournament will feature Juice Robinson taking on Michael Elgin, Hiroshi Tanahashi going one-on-one with Bad Luck Fale, Toru Yano vs. SANADA, and in what could make for the match of the tournament, Zack Sabre Jr. will face Kota Ibushi for a spot in the final four. Round two kicks off Wednesday in Shizuoka.
One non-tournament item worth noting from the shows on this tour is that IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada is actually defeating tag opponents with his Cobra Clutch, in an effort to establish that submission as a legitimate finisher.
Below are the results from Monday’s action in Kagawa.
Toru Yano defeated Davey Boy Smith Jr. by countout
Yano tried to tape Smith to the ropes, but he failed. There were lots of standard Yano spots, including removing the turnbuckle pad. Smith rammed Yano into the exposed buckle. They brawled outside and into the crowd, and Yano barely beat the count back in.
Smith worked over Yano, getting a near fall with a gutwrench suplex. Red Shoes took a bump, and Smith hit the turnbuckle chest-first. Red Shoes took another bump, and Yano swung a chair but missed. Smith set the chair up in the corner, whipping Yano into it and into the exposed buckle.
Smith hit a belly-to-back for a near fall, then applied a crossface, but Yano made the ropes. Yano used a slingshot, sending Smith into the buckle, then hit a low blow for a near fall. They rolled outside, Smith crotched himself on the barricade, and Yano beat the count back inside, scoring the victory.
If you like Yano comedy, check this out. If you don’t, it’s not must-see.
SANADA defeated “Chuckie T” Chuck Taylor
I think SANADA is one of the best guys in the business, because he can wrestle everyone’s style. You want to fly? He can do that. You want to brawl? Sure. You want to try something new? Okay. That was on full display here, as these guys did a little bit of everything.
They started with their state-of-the-art opening sequence, then followed with some crowd brawling, straight out of 1998 WWF. Taylor grabbed a table and teased suplexing SANADA through it, but SANADA reversed and suplexed him on the floor. He teased a suplex of his own from the apron through the table on the floor, but Taylor blocked it.
SANADA worked over Taylor’s legs, but he fired back with a dropkick, a powerslam, and a figure four. SANADA reached the ropes, hit his leapfrog dropkick spot, then a plancha to the outside. They hit the ropes, then Taylor hit a powerbomb for a near fall and followed up with a crazy tope, and an even crazier standing senton over the barricade, landing on the unpadded arena floor.
Taylor slammed SANADA on a pile of chairs, but SANADA popped right up and powerbombed him through the table. SANADA connected with a springboard dropkick and a belly-to-back for a near fall. Taylor connected with a Falcon Arrow, but he missed when going for a moonsault, allowing SANADA to hit a TKO for two.
SANADA missed a moonsault off the top. Taylor countered, hitting the Awful Waffle off the top for a close near fall. That really got the crowd into the match for the first time. SANADA used a dragon sleeper and teased the Skull End, but Taylor slipped out and rolled him up for two.
Taylor scored another near fall, but SANADA quickly applied the Skull End. SANADA released it, opting to go to the top for a moonsault. He landed it, and got the pinfall.
This felt more like a collection of spots than a psychological clinic, and the lack of heat hurt the match, but the effort from both guys was there and this is worth going out of your way to see.
