This week’s episode of MLW Fusion: Alpha saw advancements in multiple storylines, as well as two new debuts and a big match set for next week.
The 2021 Opera Cup will see its first semifinal match on next week’s show as Davey Richards will take on Bobby Fish. Richards previously defeated Tom Lawlor in the first round of the tournament, while Fish was able to knock off Lee Moriarty.
The other semifinal, TJP vs. Calvin Tankman, will be taped this Saturday, November 6th at the War Chamber event. Despite being teased, Tankman won’t be withdrawing from the tournament after being on the receiving end of an Alex Kane attack last week. Kane is an alternate and was looking to get his spot.
The Tankman vs. TJP match was originally supposed to happen on last month’s Fightland TV taping, but TJP got hurt early and couldn’t do the match. Tankman took on Kane on that taping, but it’s assumed that match will now not make air as it was billed as the semifinal.
Former Lucha Underground star Catrina, now known as Karlee Perez, made her MLW debut on last night’s episode. Perez was a part of a special entrance for King Muertes before joining him at ringside for his IWA Caribbean Championship casket match with Tom Lawlor. Perez managed Muertes off and on in LU for three years and before that, she was in WWE as Maxine.
Popular independent wrestler Warhorse also made his MLW debut on Wednesday’s show, losing to Kane in an open prizefight challenge. The 29-year-old has appeared in AEW, GCW, Black Label Pro, CZW and other promotions.
Davey Richards’ pro wrestling comeback tour continues as GCW announced Monday night that Richards will be part of Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 7 for the very first time.
The Friday, October 22nd Fite.TV pay-per-view will be the first of two Los Angeles shows for GCW that weekend.
After four years away from the business, Richards returned to the ring this past June and has kept a busy schedule ever since. Among working for various indies across the country, he has been involved in two MLW TV tapings, wrestled Bandido for the PWG title in September, and also competed against Minoru Suzuki this past weekend.
Richards joins Masha Slamovich as another new addition. This will be the second Bloodsport outing for the popular indie wrestler as she lost to Allysin Kay via ref stoppage at April’s Bloodsport 6.
Barnett himself was added to the card as a competitor this past weekend, joining a group that includes Suzuki, Tom Lawlor, Marina Shafir, Calvin Tankman, Killer Kelly, Yuya Uemura, Bad Guy Tito and Yoya.
PWG returned to the Globe Theater in Los Angeles, California for tonight’s Threemendous VI event.
New Tag Team Champions were crowned, as Brody King and Malakai Black defeated Black Taurus and Flamita for the titles. In the main event, Bandido successfully retained the PWG Championship against Davey Richards. Alex Shelley earned a future PWG World Championship match, pinning Jonathan Gresham in the undercard.
Here are the full results from tonight’s show:
AEW’s Chuck Taylor joined Excalibur on commentary.
Evil Uno defeated Tony Deppen
Uno won following a piledriver and a twisting inverted vertebreaker.
Dragon Lee defeated Aramis
Lee won after a piledriver into a running knee.
Alex Shelley defeated Jonathan Gresham in a number one contender’s match
Shelley won after submitting Gresham with the Rings of Saturn. As a result, Shelley is the new number one contender for the PWG World title.
Jack Cartwheel, Dante Martin, and Alex Zayne defeated Lee Moriarty, Trey Miguel, and Myron Reed
Cartwheel won the match for his team following a red arrow.
JD Drake defeated AJ Gray
Drake won following a top rope moonsault.
Brody King and Malakai Black defeated Black Taurus and Flamita for the vacant PWG World Tag Team titles
King pinned Flamita with a piledriver to win the titles.
Bandido defeated Davey Richards to retain the PWG World Championship.
PWG resumed shows starting last month when they ran their Mystery Vortex VI event.
Wednesday featured the return of MLW Fusion: Alpha, their first show since July’s Battle Riot III.
The debut featured Davey Richards making his singles debut vs. TJP; the Von Erichs vs. Team Filthy in a bunkhouse brawl and Gino Medina against KC Navarro.
It was immediately clear that Cesar Duran is the new authority figure in MLW. He welcomed us to his “new era of luchas” before announcing the entire card.
Later in the night, he was confronted by Matt Cross who said he deserved a shot at the MLW World title because the last time he and Duran were face-to-face, he defeated a previous MLW champion. Look for Jacob Fatu vs. Cross in the coming weeks.
Tom Lawlor came into Duran’s office and complained that Alexander Hammerstone got a title shot for winning the Battle Riot while Lawlor won the 2020 Opera Cup and got nothing. Duran gave Lawlor a title shot next week against Hammerstone for the National Openweight title. This was definitely not the title (or the champion) that Lawlor wanted to face.
Marshall & Ross Von Erich defeated Team Filthy (Kevin Ku & Kit Osbourne) in a bunkhouse brawl
This feud stems back to Thanksgiving night 2019 when Lawlor turned against the Von Erichs and smashed Ross Von Erich’s head with a steel chair. Before that, Lawlor was aligned with the Von Erichs in their ongoing war with CONTRA Unit. The turn and the betrayal cut deep, but the fallout has yet to be concluded.
Lawlor took the microphone before the match and told the Philadelphia crowd that they didn’t deserve to see Team Filthy or the 2020 Opera Cup winner in action. He was interrupted by the Von Erichs as they were keen to shut him up.
This was as advertised: a weapons filled brawl. With Osbourne involved, the result was never really in doubt, but the threat of Lawlor on the outside loomed large as it appears this feud will continue with the Von Erichs still not getting their hands on Lawlor himself.
Ku and Osbourne focused on Marshall’s previously injured knee, but Ross was the one who fired up after being suplexed onto two sitting chairs. Lawlor tried to get involved but ended up waffling poor Ku with a 2×4. This led to Marshall hitting a top rope moonsault onto both Team Filthy members (Osbourne lay on a makeshift wooden table resting on two chairs while Ku lay under it). Marshall then pinned both of them to get the win.
— The first participants in the new MLW women’s featherweight division were announced: the Sea Stars (Ashley Vox & Delmi Exo), Brittany Blake, Holidead, Zoey Skye, Willow Nightingale and Nicole Savoy.
Gino Medina defeated KC Navarro
This was a good high-flying and hard-hitting showcase for both. Navarro was likely the favorite due to this being his first singles match in MLW, but Medina pulled out the win with a new finishing sequence: a Go-to-Sleep style knee, his previous finisher (a high kick to the back of the head), and a torture rack into an X-Factor.
The 22-year-old “blessed” Navarro looked good as he smashed into Medina with a suicide dive between the middle and bottom rope, later landing a great looking tilt-a-whirl satellite DDT inside in the ring. But Medina aggressively fought back and took control. After a good back and forth toward the finish, Medina got the win to put him right back into the ranking picture.
Davey Richards defeated TJP
Richards got a nice “welcome back” chant for his MLW singles debut. This was a 15-minute battle that started technically excellent and had the time to build to an exciting submission battle finish.
TJP had an arrogant and cocky interview earlier in the night where he said that they both go back 20 years, but he hopes Richards doesn’t quit again before he gets to the ring. That arrogance played into the opening minutes as TJP rested between the ropes and worked the crowd as he got the slight upper hand over Richards.
TJP also mentioned Richards’ long layoff, even saying that he had been spending all his time with his nose in a book while he could have earned his degree by watching just one of TJP’s matches. That story played out quite well as it seemed TJP was the fitter of the two in the opening segments.
But TJP’s arrogance came back to bite him as Richards cut him off on the top rope. That led to Richards firing up with multiple headbutts and a superplex off the top. They had an exciting closing five minutes which started with Richards firing up with a great German suplex, a victory roll reversal, an ankle lock, and a penalty kick for a close two count.
Richards missed a double stomp and they went back and forth with a submission battle as he locked in an armbar. TJP reversed it into one of his own, Richards turned that into an ankle lock and TJP then rolled into a heel hook and a stepover toehold into an abdominal stretch. That finally grounded Richards before he got to the ropes.
After they untangled, the two exhausted wrestlers fought on the apron. Richards hit an exploder brainbuster on the apron and a double stomp from the top rope for a two count, but he didn’t stop after the kick out. Richards planted TJP with a brainbuster, but it still wasn’t enough.
Richards turned to an ankle lock to bring his pre-match submission win prediction to light, tapping out TJP.
Next Week:
National Openweight Champion Alex Hammerstone vs. Tom Lawlor title match
MLW has revealed the first opening round matchup in this year’s Opera Cup tournament.
Tom Lawlor and Davey Richards will face off in the first round of the Opera Cup at MLW’s Fightland tapings at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday, October 2. The Opera Cup first round and semifinal matches are taking place at Fightland. The finals will then be held when MLW returns to the 2300 Arena on Saturday, November 6.
Alex Shelley, Bobby Fish, Lee Moriarty, TJP, Calvin Tankman, and Matt Cross are the other participants for this year’s Opera Cup.
Lawlor was the winner of the 2020 Opera Cup. Davey Boy Smith Jr. won MLW’s inaugural edition of the tournament in 2019.
Richards made his MLW debut at July’s Battle Riot tapings.
A one-hour special from the Fightland tapings will air on Vice TV at 10 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, October 7. MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu vs. National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone in a title vs. title match will headline the special. A four-way match with Myron Reed defending his MLW Middleweight title against Tajiri, Aramis, and Arez will also air on the special.
Here’s the updated lineup for the Fightland tapings:
Title vs. title match: MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu vs. National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone
MLW Middleweight Champion Myron Reed defends against Tajiri, Aramis, and Arez in a four-way match
Nicole Savoy vs. Holidead
2021 Opera Cup tournament first round and semifinals
Jon Moxley and Sami Callihan will team up to face The Wolves (Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards) in October.
Pro Wrestling Revolver announced tonight that The Switchblades (Moxley and Callihan) will face The Wolves at their Tales from the Ring event that will take place October 30th at the Horizon Events Center in Clive, Iowa.
This will be the first time The Wolves have teamed together in over four years, last teaming for Beyond Wrestling in 2017. The two split in February of that year on Impact Wrestling.
Moxley had trademarked the term ‘The Switchblades’ and ‘The Switchblade Conspiracy’ earlier this month. He and Callihan had previously been announced as reuniting as a team prior to the match announcement.
Richards returned to pro wrestling earlier this year after not having wrestled since 2017. Together, Richards and Edwards are two time ROH World Tag Team Champions and five time Impact World Tag Team Champions.
PWG has announced the card for their next show, Threemendous VI, on September 26.
Bandido will defend the PWG World title against Davey Richards, who in the last year has made a return to the independent scene. Richards is a former PWG World Champion, defeating Kenny Omega for the title back on February 27, 2010 at As The Worm Turns.
Malakai Black and Brody King will face Demonic Flamita and Black Taurus in a tag match that was set up at Mystery Vortex VII earlier this month.
Dante Martin of AEW will be making his debut on the show. Alex Zayne and Jake Atlas, who were released earlier this month from WWE, will be making their returns. A six man tag match has been announced, with Martin, Zayne, and Jack Cartwheel facing Atlas, Trey Miguel, and Myron Reed.
Alex Shelley will also make his return to the promotion, facing Jonathan Gresham.
Here is the card for Threemendous VI, which will be held at the Globe Theatre in Los Angeles:
Bandido vs. Davey Richards for the PWG World title
Malakai Black and Brody King vs. Demonic Flamita and Black Taurus
Alex Shelley vs. Jonathan Gresham
Dante Martin, Alex Zayne, and Jack Cartwheel vs. Jake Atlas, Trey Miguel, and Myron Reed
AJ Gray vs. JD Drake vs. Lee Moriarty
Aramis and Rey Horus vs. Dragon Lee and Laredo Kid
MLW has revealed who Davey Richards will be facing in his debut for the promotion.
It was announced today that Richards vs. TJP will take place at MLW’s Battle Riot tapings on Saturday, July 10. The tapings are being held at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It will be the first MLW event with fans in attendance since March 2020.
MLW announced last month that Richards had signed with them and would be debuting at the Battle Riot tapings. Richards returned to professional wrestling this year for the first time since 2017.
Richards is a former ROH World Champion, a five-time former Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champion, a three-time former ROH Tag Team Champion, and a two-time former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion.
In addition to facing Richards, TJP has also been confirmed for the 40-man Battle Riot match that’s taking place at the Philadelphia tapings. The winner will receive an MLW World Heavyweight Championship shot whenever they want it. The title is currently held by Jacob Fatu.
Here’s the updated card for the Battle Riot tapings:
40-man Battle Riot match (Alex Hammerstone, King Muertes, Richard Holliday, Zenshi, Lee Moriarty, TJP, Gringo Loco, Arez, and Kevin Ku confirmed thus far)
IWA Caribbean Champion Richard Holliday defends against King Muertes in a Caribbean Rules (anything goes) match
Davey Richards will be part of the roster for MLW’s new season.
During the start of MLW’s inaugural “Open Draft,” it was announced that Richards is MLW’s newest signee. He’ll make his MLW debut when the promotion’s new season kicks off with a set of television tapings at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 10.
It was said during the start of the Open Draft that Richards actually signed with MLW a few months back. In April, it was announced that Richards would be returning to professional wrestling for the first time since 2017.
Richards said the title he’s interested in going after in MLW is the MLW World Heavyweight Championship. Richards is a former ROH World Champion. He’s also a five-time former Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champion, a three-time former ROH Tag Team Champion, and a two-time former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion.
The MLW World Heavyweight Championship is currently held by Jacob Fatu.
It was also announced during the start of the Open Draft that Marshall & Ross Von Erich, Gino Medina, and King Muertes (formerly known as Mil Muertes) are returning to MLW for its new season. The Philadelphia tapings will be the first MLW event with fans in attendance since March 2020.
Leading into the new season, past MLW content started airing on Vice TV earlier this month as part of MLW’s new television deal with the station.
Davey Richards is officially returning to pro wrestling.
Global Syndicate Wrestling announced this afternoon that Richards would be returning to pro wrestling for their promotion, appearing on their GSW Catalyst event that will air on May 22 on Fite TV. No opponent has been named.
PWInsider reported on April 6 that Richards was close to agreeing to a deal with GSW to make a return to wrestling.
Richards has not wrestled since 2017, when he lost the CZW World title to Shane Strickland (now Isiah “Swerve” Scott in WWE) in a four-way that also involved Joe Gacy and Lio Rush. He had been working CZW, Impact, and the independents prior to his departure from wrestling.
He is best known for his runs in Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling and Impact Wrestling. He is a former ROH World Champion and also held the IWGP Junior Tag Team titles twice with Rocky Romero. He also regularly teamed with Eddie Edwards as The American Wolves in ROH and Impact.
Previously: Alberto El Patron & James Storm battled Bobby Lashley & Ethan Carter III in a wild main event.
Tonight: It’s the last night in India and the final Impact before Slammiversary. It features Alberto El Patron, Eddie Edwards, James Storm & Mahabali Shera vs. Bobby Lashley, Davey Richards, Ethan Carter III & Kongo Kong.
Show Recap —
– Earlier tonight, Jeremy Borash and Bruce Prichard hosted several Slammiversary contract signings in the ring. The signings aired in quick succession and included Rosemary and Sienna, Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards, James Storm and EC3, and Bobby Lashley and Alberto El Patron.
During the Lashley and El Patron signing, Edwards, Storm, Richards, and EC3 remained at the table. Before a brawl could break out, Prichard announced the eight-man main event for later tonight.
Sonjay Dutt & Matt Sydal defeated Low Ki & Trevor Lee
Dutt and Sydal controlled the early part of the match until the heels briefly took over. Dutt and Sydal made a comeback and cleared the ring. The heels isolated Sydal in their corner. Dutt got the hot tag and ran wild. Dutt took out Low Ki with a dive to the floor and Sydal hit the Shooting Star Press on Lee for the win.
– A training video of NFL free agent DeAngelo Williams aired. He discussed his passion for wrestling and the respect he has for wrestlers past and present.
Eli Drake & Chris Adonis defeated The Mumbai Cats
Adonis and Drake dominated the match, which came to an end when Drake hit the Gravy Train.
– King Mo was announced as Bobby Lashley’s corner man at Slammiversary to counter Alberto’s father Dos Caras.
Swoggle defeated Rockstar Spud in a Mumbai Street Fight
Spud viciously attacked Swoggle in the corner until the ref tried to stop him. Spud pulled the ref’s pants off and chased him in the corner. Swoggle pulled off Spud’s pants and put him through the table to win the match.
– J.B. and Joseph Park completed their training. J.B. told Park to find his inner monster and handed him an Abyss action figure.
Rosemary, Allie & Braxton Sutter defeated Sienna, Laurel Van Ness & KM
All six competitors brawled to start the match until the men went one-on-one. Rosemary scored a near fall on Van Ness and the match broke down into another brawl. Rosemary spit the green mist at Sienna, but she pushed Van Ness in the way. Allie took out Sienna, then Rosemary hit the Red Wedding on Van Ness to win the match.
– Joseph Park tried to find his inner monster and found Abyss’s favorite weapon Janice nearby.
Alberto El Patron, Eddie Edwards, James Storm & Mahabali Shera defeated Bobby Lashley, Davey Richards, Ethan Carter III & Kongo Kong
The heels jumped Shera before the match started and before his partners were introduced. Shera had to be taken to the back for medical attention — making it four-on-three.
EC3 teased starting the match with Storm but quickly tagged out to Lashley. The heels took over and kept Edwards on their side of the ring. Edwards tried to make a tag, but the heels pulled Storm and El Patron off the apron.
Shera made his return to the ring and ran wild on the heels. Kong missed a splash in the corner and Shera picked him up for a big slam. El Patron made the blind tag and hit the double foot stomp on Kong to win the match for his team.
Up Next: Impact’s second marquee event of the year, Slammiversary XV, takes place this Sunday night. The lineup features:
Impact World Champion Bobby Lashley (w/ King Mo) vs. GFW Global Champion Alberto El Patron (w/ Dos Caras) with both titles on the line
Knockouts Champion Rosemary vs. GFW Woman’s Champion Sienna with both titles on the line
DeAngelo Williams & Moose vs. Eli Drake & Chris Adonis
James Storm vs. Ethan Carter III in a strap match
Jeremy Borash & Joseph Park vs. Josh Mathews & Scott Steiner
X Division Champion Sonjay Dutt vs. Low Ki in a two-out-of-three falls match for the title
Eddie Edwards & Alisha Edwards vs. Davey Richards & Angelina Love in a Full Metal Mayhem match
Impact/GFW Tag Champions LAX vs. Laredo Kid & Garza Jr. vs. Drago & El Hijo del Fantasma vs. Naomichi Marufuji & Taiji Ishimori for the titles
Previously: LAX won the Impact World Tag Team Championship in a four-way defeating Reno Scum, Decay, and Garza Jr. & Laredo Kid.
Tonight: Eddie Edwards will battle Davey Richards in a last man standing match. Also, Impact will feature a Knockouts gauntlet battle royal to determine the next challenger for Knockouts Champion Rosemary. Plus, Josh Mathews and Jeremy Borash reveal their team members for an upcoming match.
Show Recap —
Eli Drake (w/ Tyrus) defeated Caleb Konley
Konley was in control of the match until Tyrus helped Drake takeover. Konley made a short comeback but Drake hit his finisher to win the match.
– Jeremy Borash and Josh Mathews argued after the match. Bruce Prichard ran out and called them in the ring. Prichard was sick of their bickering and ordered both to pick teams. Prichard said that next week their two teams would face off to finally settle this matter.
Borash and Mathews went back on commentary and they were both on their phones putting their teams together throughout the night.
ODB and Madison Rayne were the final two in the Knockouts gauntlet battle royal
– Ava Storie and Madison Rayne started the match off. Mathews stood up and cheered for Rayne as she entered the ring. Rebel was out next and briefly worked with Rayne to double team Storie. Amanda Rodriguez was out next, followed by MJ Jenkins. Diamante was next and ran wild. Rebel eliminated Rodriguez.
ODB entered and dominated all the Knockouts. ODB gave a splash to all five Knockouts that were piled in the corner. ODB tossed out Storie. The final entrant was Brandi Rhodes, who quickly eliminated Diamante. Jenkins dumped out Rebel but ODB and Rhodes worked together to eliminate Jenkins. Rayne sneaked up and eliminated Rhodes.
ODB defeated Madison Rayne
The match then turned into a singles bout. ODB quickly hit the TKO to become the number one contender for the Knockouts Championship.
– James Storm came out to his old music and is back to being “The Cowboy.” Storm said that five years ago new management took over and told him that there is no room for a character like “The Cowboy.” He said the night he won the World Championship was the highest rated Impact.
The DCC interrupted Storm. Bram stood in the corner holding a chair. Kingston said that Storm lied to him about everything. Storm said he did everything for them but they didn’t live up on their end. Kingston spit in Storm’s face and Storm responded with a Last Call superkick. He followed that up with a Last Call to Bram as well.
Andrew Everett defeated Marshe Rockett and Suicide
Everett hit a sweet looking twisting corkscrew to the floor. Suicide scored a close near fall but Rockett broke it up. Everett knocked Suicide off the apron and hit a shooting star press on Rockett to win the match.
– Backstage, Davey Richards and Angelina Love were making out when the interview guy interrupted them. Richards promised to bury Eddie Edwards and then the rest of the Impact roster.
Davey Richards (w/ Angelina Love) defeated Eddie Edwards in a last man standing match
They brawled into the stands to start things off. Edwards attempted a plancha from the stands but Richards moved and Edwards crashed onto a garbage can. Edwards powerbombed Richards through two steel chairs. Later, Richards superplexed Edwards onto a pile of chairs.
Edwards’ wife, Alisha, appeared at ringside to cheer on her husband. Love passed Richards a steel chain. Edwards trapped Richards head in a chair and then hit a double foot stomp from the top. Love jumped on Edwards so Alisha ran in and brawled with Love at ringside. Love knocked out Alisha and entered the ring.
Love held Edwards and Richards wrapped a chain around his leg. Richards had second thoughts but Love told him to do it for her and kissed him. Richards kicked Edwards in the side of the head to win the match.
– A video aired for the arrival of a new team. The video included George W. Bush talking about the 2003 Iraq War. The graphic “Veterans of War” appeared on the screen.
– LAX celebrated Santana and Ortiz winning the Impact tag titles in Orlando.
Alberto El Patron defeated John Bolin
El Patron dominated the majority of the match. He hit the double foot stomp for the win. After the match, he promised to defeat Bobby Lashley for the World Championship.
– Backstage, KM and Sienna got into an argument with Braxton Sutter and Allie. Karen Jarrett broke it up and announced a mix tag for next week.
– Another “Fury Will Be Unleashed” promo aired. Sienna showed pictures of Sutter and Allie to a mysterious man.
Jeremy Borash and Josh Mathews Revealed Their Teams
Bruce Prichard returned for the reveal of the teams. It’ll be an eight-man tag match with four on each side. Mathews’ first pick was Impact World Champion Bobby Lashley. Borash’s first pick was Alberto El Patron.
Mathews’ second pick was DCC member Bram. Borash went outside the roster for his second pick, which was Chris Adonis (formally Chris Masters in WWE).
For his third pick, Mathews introduced Eli Drake, who was followed by the final member of the team — Tyrus. They jumped Team Borash and beat them down. Borash then introduced the third member of his team — the returning Matt Morgan. Morgan and Lashley had a staredown.
In the back, somebody exited a car and headed into the Impact Zone. The Pope speculated that it’s Borash’s final team member. Impact was out of time and he said to check out Impact’s website to find out who the final member is.
Impact uploaded a video online revealing the fourth member — GFW World Champion Magnus. The heels were in control until Magnus joined up with the rest of Team Borash to clear the ring of Team Mathews.
Next Week: Team Borash (Alberto El Patron, Chris Adonis, Matt Morgan & Magnus) will battle Team Mathews (Bobby Lashley, Bram, Eli Drake & Tyrus). Plus, KM & Sienna take on Braxton Sutter & Allie.
Previously: Ethan Carter III defeated Eli Drake in last week’s main event. After the match, The DCC beat down EC3, Drake, and Tyrus. Also, Bobby Lashley defeated Jeff Hardy to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.
Tonight: Bobby Lashley defends the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against Eddie Edwards.
Show Recap —
– In the back, The Broken Hardys, Reby, and King Maxel arrived at the Impact Zone. Matt criticized Maxel’s poor eating habits. Matt promised that tonight all would be revealed.
– The DCC came down to the ring. James Storm mentioned that The DCC kept their promise to run through all of the talent in TNA. Eli Drake and Tyrus interrupted The DCC. The audience doesn’t deserve to hear Drake’s voice so Tyrus was doing all of the talking.
All five guys ended up brawling around ringside. Storm gave Tyrus a low blow, but somehow Tyrus caught his arm and countered it.
The DCC defeated Eli Drake & Tyrus
Drake wanted a third partner but Tyrus thought they could win without a third guy. The DCC isolated Drake in their corner to start the match. Tyrus came in and they kept Bram on their side of the ring.
James Storm got the hot tag and briefly ran wild on Drake. Tyrus came back in and dominated The DCC. Drake abandoned Tyrus, leaving him on his own. Tyrus cleared the ring and gave Kingston a suplex but Storm nailed him with a superkick to win the match.
– Backstage, Allie and Braxton Sutter both reached for a water bottle and touched hands. Maria Kanellis interrupted them and sent Allie away. Maria is forcing Sutter to propose to Laurel Van Ness later tonight.
– Brandi Rhodes came down to the ring and called out Rosemary. Rosemary mentioned that they offered Brandi a spot in Decay but she’d rather fight. Abyss and Crazzy Steve surrounded Brandi, leading to Rosemary locking on a submission until Moose ran out for the save.
– In the back, Moose and Brandi challenged Decay to a mixed tag match next week. Moose said if you mess with Brandi, you mess with Moose.
Aron Rex (w/ Rockstar Spud) defeated Robbie E
Before the match, Spud introduced Aron Rex by singing his name. Rex made Spud sing his name several more times before Robbie E finally interrupted.
The finish of the match came when Spud was pulled into the ring and Robbie went after him to throw him out. Rex adjusted the rings on his fingers and hit a loaded punch, knocking out Robbie to win the match.
– In the back, Eddie Edwards prepared for his match against Lashley with his wife Alisha, Davey Richards, and Angelina Love.
– Backstage, Mike Bennett approached Braxton Sutter. He slapped Sutter on his back, knocking the water bottle out of Sutter’s hands. Bennett gave Sutter a pep talk for the upcoming proposal. Bennett told Sutter that he knows he’ll do the right thing and Sutter agreed.
– The Hardys entered the ring and Matt introduced Vanguard 1, which has been updated by the Seven Deities. Vanguard 1 is now a transportation device that’ll take them to every promotion in the world to win all of the tag team titles. The Hardys want to prove they’re the greatest tag team in space and time.
Matt pointed out that it could take them to any promotion, including The Honorable Ring where they could face the Bucks of Youth. They put their hands on Vanguard 1 and disappeared from the Impact Zone. They teleported to Tijuana, Mexico to begin the search for the tag team champions.
Grand Champion Drew Galloway defeated Mahabali Shera to retain his title
Shera controlled the early part of the first round and hit the Sky High but it was after the round was over. The judges gave the first round to Shera.
Shera charged at Galloway to start round two but he got wiped out with a big boot. Galloway hit the Claymore, followed by the Future Shock DDT to win the match in round two.
– In the back, Sutter approached Laurel Van Ness and tried to break off their relationship. He dropped his water bottle and went to pick it up. Van Ness assumed he was proposing and said yes. She celebrated and went to call Maria. Sutter tried to explain himself but it was too late.
– The Helms Dynasty came out to the ring. New X Division Champion Trevor Lee said he’s the crown jewel of the X Division and the Helms Dynasty. Shane Helms said he feels that Andrew Everett is the weakest link of the Dynasty. Helms told Everett he’s going to trim the fat. Everett snatched the mic from Helms and told him he’s wrong. Helms and Lee jumped Everett and beat him down.
– Back in Tijuana, The Broken Hardys searched the streets for the tag team champions of Mexico. The journey through the streets led them to the Auditorio Municipal.
TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Lashley defeated Eddie Edwards to retain his title
Alisha and Angelina Love were sitting at ringside. Lashley got the advantage on Edwards and went over to taunt Alisha and Love. That gave Edwards the chance to hit a suicide dive. Edwards hit a second dive and a missile dropkick for a near fall.
Lashley tried to hit Edwards with the World title but Davey Richards ran down and grabbed the belt. Edwards made a comeback and went for a third suicide dive but this time Lashley caught him and hit a sick belly-to-belly suplex on the floor. Lashley went for the spear but Edwards hit the Boston Knee Party.
Edwards had the match won but Richards pulled the referee out of the ring. Richards yelled at Edwards and Angelina Love knocked out Alisha, which distracted the referee.
Richards hit Edwards with the title belt and Lashley hit the spear to win the match. After the match, Richards choked out Edwards with his belt while Love forced Alisha to watch.
Next Week: The Expedition of Gold begins when The Broken Hardys challenge Super Crazy & Psicosis for the Crash Tag Team Championship in Tijuana, Mexico.
Previously: Eddie Edwards defeated Ethan Carter III and Bobby Lashley in a triple threat to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship with the help of the returning Davey Richards. The following night, Edwards defeated EC3 to retain his title at the One Night Only live PPV when Richards inadvertently hit EC3 with a chair.
Tonight: The Broken Hardys will defend the tag team titles against The Wolves in the main event.
Show Recap —
– EC3 comes out with a steel chair in hand. He recaps losing twice last week and believes that The Wolves are not as they seem. EC3 calls them out but instead gets Lashley. Lashley blames Richards for both of them losing last week. Lashley challenges EC3 to a last man standing match with the winner getting a match with Edwards. EC3 accepts but wants it right now. They start brawling on the ramp until security runs out.
Bobby Lashley defeated Ethan Carter III in a last man standing match
Lashley sets up a table outside the ring and gives EC3 a powerslam on the floor but EC3 beats the count. EC3 sets up a second table next to the one Lashley set up. Lashley caught EC3 with a spear but he beat the count. Lashley immediately hit a second spear and EC3 once again makes it to his feet.
Lashley sets up a table in the corner but EC3 managed to spear Lashley through it. Both men make it back to their feet and beat the count. EC3 locks on the sleeper on the apron and both guys crash through the two tables on the floor. Both guys were down but Lashley made it back to his feet to win the match.
– In the back, a hand tries on various rings and ends by putting one on its pinky.
– Eli Drake and Tyrus cause chaos in the back. They force a crew guy to read a letter saying that fans don’t deserve to hear Eli speak.
– Rockstar Spud is in the ring wearing a sparkly blue suit. Spud introduces Aron Rex, who comes out wearing a white fur robe. He is wearing make up and very large expensive looking rings. He’s a flamboyant heel who is pretending to be a nice guy. Robbie E comes out and makes fun of Rex and Spud. Spud and Rex beat down Robbie, then Rex knocks him out with a right hand while wearing all of his rings.
– In the back, The DCC discusses their upcoming match with Decay. Bram hasn’t forgotten that Decay beat him down and left him for dead a few months ago. He joined The DCC to gain revenge on Decay. Storm says they are the Death Crew Council.
– Backstage, Allie is watching a video that Braxton Sutter sent her. Maria reminds Allie that she’s isn’t a wrestler and tells her that Mike Bennett will take care of Sutter.
The DCC w/ James Storm vs. Decay w/ Rosemary ended in a no contest
The match started with all four guys brawling. Eddie Kingston and Bram isolate Crazzy Steve in their corner. Abyss gets the hot tag and runs wild on The DCC. Abyss goes after Storm, while Steve dives onto Kingston and Bram on the floor. It ends in a no contest and The DCC and Decay brawl all over the Impact Zone.
– Backstage, Eddie Edwards and Davey Richards discuss their upcoming title match. Richards apologizes for losing his temper last week at the PPV.
– In a special interview, Mackenzie Mitchell introduces the returning Brooke to Impact. She is back in TNA full time and plans on winning the Knockouts Championship.
Braxton Sutter defeated “The Miracle” Mike Bennett w/ Maria Kanellis
Sutter was on fire to start the match but Bennett quickly took over. Sutter made a comeback but Maria distracted him and Bennett hit the MIP. Maria screamed to finish him, so Bennett gave Sutter a piledriver. Maria told Bennett to give Sutter a second one when Allie came out and Sutter rolled up Bennett to win the match.
– Backstage, Bennett and Maria are upset for having a bad start to 2017 and blame Allie for all their problems. Maria has a plan and knows exactly how to get revenge on her.
– Knockouts Champion Rosemary comes down to the ring and promises to beat every Knockout in the division but is interrupted by Jade. She says that Rosemary is only champion because of the mist and demands a rematch. Rosemary agrees as long as it’s a Monster’s Ball match. Jade accepts the challenge and Rosemary tries to jump her but Jade fights her off.
TNA Tag Team Champions The Broken Hardys defeated The Wolves to retain their titles
The Wolves got the early advantage using some quick double team moves. The Hardys made a comeback and isolated Edwards in their corner. The Hardys executed several double team moves until Edwards took out both Hardys with a hurricanrana and made the tag to Richards. Richards gets a figure four on Matt, then at the same time locks on an ankle lock on Jeff.
The Wolves isolate Matt in their corner and work over his leg. Davey tried to set up for a move in the ring but Matt grabbed Edwards’ leg. Edwards hit a plancha onto Matt on the outside. Richards yelled at Edwards and Jeff rolled him up to win the match. After the match, Richards was clearly upset because they lost.
Next Week: Impact will feature the first ever Race for the Case and will include Eli Drake, Mike Bennett, The DCC, Decay, and the Hardys. Four briefcases will be hanging high above the ring. The winners will use the briefcases for major opportunities in two weeks at Open Fight Night.
TNA announced today that tag team champions Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards have signed new deals with the promotion.
Each man’s contract was set to expire on 4/30.
Edwards & Richards were two of the wrestlers referred to in recent Observer stories with names not listed of TNA talent that WWE was pursuing, but that TNA was offering more than WWE.
Their new deals will allow them to continue to work independent shows, however because they are getting guaranteed contracts, promotions will have to go through TNA to book them as opposed to directly going through them as in the past.
