Tag: fusion

MLW announces broadcast team for TV revival

Posted on by Joseph Currier

MLW has confirmed the broadcast team for the revival of its weekly television series.

When MLW Fusion makes its return, Joe Dombrowski and “Filthy” Tom Lawlor will serve as the commentators for the show. Rich Bocchini — who has done commentary for MLW and WWE NXT in the past — will make his MLW return in a new role. He’ll be the broadcast’s “MLW Insider” who is tasked with delivering “breaking news, exclusive scoops, and unfiltered insight from inside Major League Wrestling.”

Bocchini was known as Rich Brennan while with WWE and did play-by-play during the early days of NXT.

MLW wrote about his new role:

  • Bocchini will operate across every layer of MLW — embedded backstage, stationed at ringside, and tracking developments as they unfold in real time. His mission: deliver the news, context, and inside information driving the biggest fights in the sport.

A return date for MLW Fusion has not been announced yet, but the promotion held a TV taping for the show in Atlanta this past weekend. It went on hiatus toward the end of 2023 and has aired on beIN Sports and YouTube.

The next event on MLW’s calendar is Fantastica Mania USA in Charleston, South Carolina on April 12. Taking place in collaboration with NJPW and CMLL, the event is a taping for Fusion. MLW also has upcoming stops in Chattanooga (Tennessee), New York City, and Philadelphia over the next few months.

MLW bringing back Fusion TV series

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After a two-year absence, MLW is bringing back its Fusion television series.

The promotion released a teaser today hyping that Fusion will return in 2026. The show has been on hiatus since the end of 2023, with MLW instead opting to present regular specials instead of weekly TV. A return date has not been announced, but MLW says the show will be coming back soon.

“You waited. You demanded. Soon it returns. MLW Fusion 2026,” the teaser says.

It was announced this week that MLW, NJPW, and CMLL will be joining forces for Fantastica Mania USA in Charleston, South Carolina on April 12. That event is listed as a Fusion taping.

Fusion debuted in 2018 and has served as MLW’s primary TV show. It aired on MLW’s YouTube channel and beIN Sports before the series went away in December 2023.

The next event on MLW’s calendar is Battle Riot VIII in Kissimmee, Florida on January 29. It’s being headlined by the annual Battle Riot match, where Mads Krule Krugger is putting his MLW World Heavyweight Championship on the line against 39 other challengers. The show will be broadcast live on YouTube.

Title change on MLW Fusion season finale

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A title change took place on MLW Fusion’s season finale.

In the main event of this Wednesday’s Fusion episode, Myron Reed defeated Lio Rush to win the MLW Middleweight Championship. This is the second time that Reed has held the MLW Middleweight title. Rush had defeated Reed to win the championship at MLW Kings of Colosseum this January.

Reed pinned Rush to win the Middleweight title after hitting his springboard No Cap Splash. Rush had sent Reed into the ring post, gave him a reverse rana on the floor, and hit the Final Hour frog splash prior to that, but Reed kicked out after Rush couldn’t make the cover right away.

Reed celebrated with Jordan Oliver and Calvin Tankman after his title win. It was hyped on commentary that Reed is the first two-time champion in MLW history.

“5 months I’ve been your @MLW money weight champ. Tonight @TheBadReed was the better man. But that doesn’t change the fact that i will and forever be the #MOTH. See you in the next chapter,” Rush tweeted after losing the Middleweight title.

This week’s Fusion was the last new episode of the show until MLW’s new season begins with a set of television tapings at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 10. It will be the first time MLW has held a show in front of a live crowd since March 2020. MLW will also be holding tapings in North Richland Hills, Texas on Saturday, September 11 and Cicero, Illinois on Saturday, November 6.

Last month, MLW announced a deal with Vice TV.

It was announced on this week’s Fusion that MLW will be holding an “open draft” on their website and YouTube channel over the next month. The draft will begin next week. It was said that MLW is talking with “free agents, top international wrestlers, and some phenomenal prospects” that are all in the mix.

Hammerstone & Bauer segments, TJP vs. Dao set for MLW Fusion

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Image: MLW

A few announcements have been made for next week’s episode of MLW Fusion.

Next Wednesday’s Fusion will feature a press conference by National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone. In the main event of this week’s Fusion, Hammerstone defeated Mil Muertes to defend his title.

Hammerstone got on the microphone after defeating Muertes and said that was just step one. Hammerstone said things will be getting more interesting with step two. Hammerstone announced that he’ll be holding a press conference next week and will have some very Dynastic news. On commentary, it was speculated that Hammerstone could be going after MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu.

An appearance by MLW CEO Court Bauer is also set for next Wednesday’s Fusion. Plus, TJP vs. Bu Ku Dao will take place on the episode.

It was said on this week’s Fusion that Bauer has been busy with MLW’s partnership with Dragon Gate and MLW’s TV deal and will be in the house for next Wednesday’s show.

TJP turned against his protege Dao after they lost an MLW Tag Team title match to Los Parks this February. TJP vs. Dao was originally supposed to take place last month, but there was an angle where TJP was fined and suspended for attacking Dao backstage before the match could get started.

Third title match set for this week’s MLW Fusion

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A third title match is set for this week’s episode of MLW Fusion.

MLW has announced that Los Parks will defend their MLW Tag Team titles against The Dirty Blondes (Leo Brien & Michael Patrick) on Fusion this Wednesday. The show will also feature Alexander Hammerstone vs. Mil Muertes for the National Openweight Championship and Richard Holliday vs. Gino Medina for the Caribbean Heavyweight Championship.

Los Parks have been MLW Tag Team Champions since defeating Marshall & Ross Von Erich for the titles this January. Von Erich rival Tom Lawlor was the special guest referee for that match and helped Los Parks win. Los Parks have since retained their titles against TJP & Bu Ku Dao, Contra Unit’s Simon Gotch & Daivari, and against Gotch & Daivari and Injustice’s Myron Reed & Jordan Oliver in a triple threat match.

Any member of Los Parks (LA Park, El Hijo de LA Park & LA Park Jr.) can defend the MLW Tag Team titles, though LA Park & El Hijo de LA Park have made all of their defenses thus far.

The Dirty Blondes were most recently in action when they lost to The Von Erichs in a Texas Tornado match for the MLW Tag Team titles in January. That was the last successful defense of The Von Erichs’ title reign.

MLW wrote about the Los Parks vs. Dirty Blondes Tag Team title match ahead of Wednesday’s Fusion:

MLW today announced a World Tag Team Championship bout: Los Parks (champions) vs. The Dirty Blondes with Aria Blake (challengers) for this Wednesday, April 14 at 7pm ET on MLW’s flagship weekly series FUSION, available on YouTube, Fubo Sports, DAZN, beIN SPORTS and the Roku Channel.

It will be a game of high stakes, high rewards for Azteca Underground with TWO title bouts on the line this week on FUSION. 

Salina de la Renta met with officials over the weekend via a zoom call where she expressed a desire to up the ante for this week’s FUSION. 

Pushing to fast-track a championship bout to impress the mysterious El Jefe of Azteca Underground, league officials have added a THIRD title bout to tomorrow’s card… but what happens if the Dirty Blondes beat Los Parks for the belts??

Salina seems to be doing things HER way instead of El Jefe’s. Going rogue could be dangerous for her… but if her gambit pays off, the manager could find herself in a powerful position within the house of Azteca Underground. 

Has Salina put in motion a night for her and El Jefe’s luchadores to thrive and collect MORE gold… or a night of dire consequences?

Find out this Wednesday night at 7pm ET on FUSION available on MLW YouTube channel for free.

Middleweight title match added to return of MLW Fusion

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A second title match is set for the return of MLW Fusion.

MLW has announced that Middleweight Champion Myron Reed will defend his title against Brian Pillman Jr. on the Wednesday, November 18 episode of MLW Fusion. An MLW World Heavyweight Championship match with Jacob Fatu defending against Davey Boy Smith Jr. is also airing on the episode.

Fusion will premiere on the fubo Sports Network and YouTube at 7 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesdays. The show will also air on beIN Sports at 10 p.m. Eastern on Saturdays and will be available on demand via DAZN.

For the first time since going on hiatus from holding events in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MLW held a set of closed set television tapings in Florida last month.

Prior to the announcement of Reed vs. Pillman Jr., MLW’s Court Bauer had said in an interview with DAZN that MLW would be adding another title match or two to the card for the November 18 Fusion episode: “I’m going to stack that fight card. We’re going to add another title bout, maybe two. We’ve upgraded our production and one of the things I really like about The Restart is we’re bringing wrestling back to that smoke-filled arena vibe. There’s a raw, primal feeling when you have that hazy look and two guys are going to war in the ring. It’s cinematic. It draws you into the action more. Visually it adds a layer of authenticity that a sterile, over-produced, over-lit arena that looks like a Times Square can’t touch.”

Reed has been MLW Middleweight Champion since winning the title from Teddy Hart in November 2019.