Tag: mlw fusion

This week’s MLW Fusion featured Joe Dombrowski and Matt Striker on commentary and featured plenty of hype for the upcoming MLW Underground premiere on Reelz this Tuesday.

The Samoan SWAT Team (Lance Anoa’i & Juicy Finau) defeated The FBI (Little Guido & Ray Jaz)

The tag team division is on notice by this display from the SST. Tag Team Champions EJ Nduka & Calvin Tankman, in particular, were called out by the SST before Guido and his newly hired muscle interrupted. 

Jaz and Guido were literally squashed in the opening minutes with Anoa’i hitting a cannonball and the SST double-teaming Jaz. Finau hit a double Samoan drop and Anoa’i came off the top rope with a splash to pick up the quick win for his team. 

– Before their Last Man Standing match on Tuesday’s debut episode of MLW Underground on Reelz, EJ Nduka said he would be the last man standing because he earned this from blood, sweat and equity. Later in the night, we heard from MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone who said Nduka should spend the same amount of time training as he does running his mouth. He said he didn’t respect Nduka and that is not a frame of mind he wants him to be in. 

– Before they rematch with the Bomaye Fight Club, Davey Boy Smith Jr. was getting The Billington Bulldogs ready by showing them some holds in the gym. Later in the night, Alex Kane bad-mouthed the UK to continue the feud between the factions. 

Doctor Dax defeated Vinny Pacifico

Dax was on his own here without his Strange Sangre stable. Pacifico was outsized by Dax, but had the speed advantage and Dax reeling for a moment before he was caught in his tracks and floored with a pop-up Saito suplex for the quick pinfall win.

– Fresh off beating Trish Adora last week, albeit barely, MLW Women’s Featherweight champion Taya Valkyrie said that someone “really hot” is coming to MLW very soon. I’m sure it was a coincidence that Valkyrie was dressed like a member of MNM as she delivered the message.

– There was another tease regarding the identity of the mystery attacker who has taken out some big names in MLW. The commentary team hoped we will get some answers soon. 

– Cesar Duran’s Azteca Lucha promotion had a pair of big wins last week. One of those responsible, Sam Adonis, said he doesn’t care about going viral or being famous. He wants to be the best in the world at what he does and is now here with Azteca Lucha at the beginning of his journey. He said the time is now for Major League Wrestling to be Major League Lucha Libre.

MLW Middleweight Champion Lince Dorado, Microman & La Estrella defeated Azteca Lucha (Delirious, Mini Abismo Negro and Azteca 31) (w/ Cesar Duran)

This was advertised as a tag match last week, but nonetheless, this was an exciting trios match filled with both high flying and Microman comedy from the get-go. 

This was the perfect example of a match being impossible to call move for move with the action being so fast and fluid in the opening minutes. The opening sequence of rolls, springboards and flips culminated in Dorado and Estrella hitting stereo dives to the floor.  

Dorado is a gem that is really coming into his game in MLW. He hit his signature springboard torneo armdrag early on and his springboard double cutter later. 

The heels got their heat on Microman by double-teaming him. We have seen this in all Microman matches, but the heat it still generates is really strong. Microman got in his usual spots later in the match when he took Mini Abismo Negro down with armdrags and headscissors and even got his revenge on Delirious with a headbutt to the groin and a dive from the top rope to the floor to the delight of the Philadelphia fans.   

This was the first we have seen Delirious in MLW and the barefoot veteran kept the match together as his partner Mini Abismo Negro preferred the high-flying route where Delirious stuck to the ground game. 

Estrella left his team high and dry after he accidentally collided with Dorado. This left the Middleweight champion outnumbered with only Microman to tag but despite the odds being against them, Dorado and Microman rallied and were able to pick up the win after Dorado hit his top rope shooting star press on Azteca 31.   

This Tuesday’s MLW Underground on Reelz:

• MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone defends against EJ Nduka in a Last Man Standing match
• Alex Kane Peach State Prize Fight open challenge
• Real1 in-ring promo

Joe Dombrowski and Matt Striker opened this week’s MLW Fusion by teasing the continuation of Cesar Duran’s signing of talent to his new Azteca Lucha brand. We did not see or hear from Duran during the episode, but it was announced that Sam Adonis has signed.

Trish Adora defeated Gia Scott

On a night of five debuts, Adora got the win between the two debutants. Scott had a solid performance of her own, using her height to her advantage, but it was Adora who got the victory in this back-and-forth match after a hard-hitting lariat.

Scott had a strong opening, catching Adora off guard with a boot at the opening bell. She later impressed with a Samoan drop and neckbreaker. using her long limbs in the process. 

Adora used her strength to power Scott around with a hip attack, sit-out powerbomb and delayed German suplex before being stopped in her tracks by a ripcord forearm. But Adora was fired up by a slap from Scott and finished her off with her Lariat Tubman clothesline. 

– We got the announcement of the much-hyped latest signing for Cesar Duran’s Azteca Lucha brand: Sam Adonis. We saw clips of Adonis in action from AAA.

Alec Price defeated TJ Crawford

This was a really enjoyable sprint and hopefully, this isn’t the last we see from both of these middleweight division debutants. Both meshed really well and showed they had a history in the ring through a series of high spots and near falls, culminating in a high impact finish with Price hitting a SuPrize Kick (shining wizard single leg stomp to the back of Crawford’s head) to pick up the win. 

Even in losing, Crawford was impressive here. He used his smaller, stronger frame to hit his impactful slingshot stunner, delayed overhead German suplex and spike DDT, but the high-flying Price was always a reversal or a block away from staying in the fight. 

The taller and leaner Price hit an impressive double foot stomp after leaping straight to the top rope and landing the stomp on Crawford who was straddling the middle rope. Price’s offense started with a hurricanrana, after cockily dodging Crawford’s attacks, and he continued wowing the Philadelphia fans with a seated senton/ whoopee cushion, an array of spin kicks, and a top rope springboard blockbuster.  

The Boston native got the win after hitting a blockbuster and SuPrize Kick to Crawford’s head. There was a comparison to Myron Reed in the match, so this could be an early indication that Price could be in line for a Middleweight title push soon. 

– Alicia Atout was back with an MLW Insider news recap:

• She reported the delayed EJ Nduka vs. MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone last man standing match has been signed, but an exact date has not been agreed upon between the competitors and matchmaker Court Bauer.
• She also said Duran and Bauer have come to an agreement on a future fight card from Tijuana, Mexico.
• PWInsider will be running a report on the mysterious calling card attacks that have been taking place recently, name-dropping Killer Kross and Gangrel as some of the victims.
• MLW have a new action figure deal featuring Alex Hammerstone, Jacob Fatu, Mads Krugger and Killer Kross from Boss Fight Shop.

Jacob Fatu defeated Ben-K

Hammerstone was on commentary as they continued the hype towards the Hammerstone vs. Fatu title match being taped on February 4th.  

They made the Dragon Gate star look equal to Fatu in the early going through shoulderblocks, eventually turning the Samoan Bulldozer inside out with one. They teased him lifting Fatu throughout the match which culminated in a big jackhammer off the middle rope. 

Striker had a very insightful call, calling Ben-K’s second name “stupid.” I don’t mind Striker as much as others do, but sometimes I feel he tries too hard and should let the action and competitors speak for themselves.

Fatu got revenge and rammed K’s shoulder into the ring post before pulling out his latest amazingly impressive move, a Jeff Hardy-style triple jump top rope springboard moonsault. Hammerstone mentioned that there are some of Fatu’s moves that no one, not even he, can reverse. 

Fatu missed and slipped during a Sabu style-chair assisted top rope move and sold his knee momentarily before staying on top of K, throwing him around the ringside area.

Ben-K came back into the match with a spear but was stopped in his tracks by Fatu’s signature handspring moonsault. Fatu then took too much time on the middle rope jaw jacking with Hammerstone which let Ben-K hit his own signature jackhammer off the middle rope. 

After a quick back and forth with both competitors feeling the effects of the gruelling near 15-minute match, Fatu caught K with his pop-up Samoan drop and finished him off with the triple jump moonsault. 

After the match, Fatu thanked K for a tough match and the Philadelphia crowd for coming out tonight, saying they will witness Fatu “dog walk Hammerstone’s ass all over this same arena” on February 4th. 

This week’s MLW Fusion opened with the return of former matchmaker Cesar Duran who came out in front of the crowd to pronounce himself as the proprietor of Azteca Lucha — something he will control with strength, power and blood. He spent time during the episode trying to recruit wrestlers to his new brand.

Joe Dombrowski and the returning Matt Striker welcomed us to the first episode of a new set of Fusion tapings filmed from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia late last year.

Lince Dorado defeated Shun Skywalker to win the MLW Middleweight Championship

Fresh off of his PWG BOLA appearance this past weekend, we saw Skywalker defend his recently-won Middleweight title against former WWE wrestler Dorado. Skywalker recently defeated long-reigning champion Myron Reed, but his reign was cut short tonight as Dorado put him away with a top rope shooting star press after an uphill battle against his bigger opponent.

Striker mentioned Dorado’s previous “life changing event” from the 2300 Arena in 2007 when he suffered a seizure and severe concussion in the ring. Given that, it was was fitting, and a nice touch, that Dorado’s biggest win in his MLW run to date was in the very same arena.

Skywalker is deceptively tall. Standing six feet, he was easily able to big boot Dorado in the back of the head as both fought for dominance in the early going.

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The commentators talked up the clash of styles with Dorado’s lucha libre vs. Skywalker’s Dragon Gate fast-paced and striking puroresu style, and it was Skywalker who had the advantage early on, using his height and strength advantage to power Dorado around the ring. But Dorado brought out his style with a top rope crossbody to the floor and another back inside the ring minutes later.

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Skywalker hit a nice turning suplex cutter followed by his SSW tiger driver for close two counts as the pace started to pick up.

Dorado hit a baseball slide while Skywalker was in the tree of woe. A suplex and cross armbreaker followed but Skywalker again showed his strength advantage by powering out and slamming Dorado out of the submission.

After a fighting spirit-style strike exchange, Skywalker hit a standing moonsault with his knees for another two count, but this turned out to be the last offensive move for the champion.

Dorado slipped out of another SSW tiger driver, hit a handspring stunner, a flipping DDT, and finished the champion off with the top rope shooting star press for the win and title change.

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After being the successful babyface who dethroned the heel champion Reed only a few weeks ago, Skywalker played the cocky heel here which gave us another nice storybook ending with the babyface in this scenario picking up the win and the title. 

After the match, Dorado was interviewed by Sam Leterna. Dorado said he died in the ring in 2007 but now he is standing as Middleweight champion. Duran then came out on the stage, offered Dorado some champagne, and said they have a lot to talk about before walking off together.

 – Ahead of tonight’s main event, the Bomaye Fight Club (Alex Kane, Mr. Thomas & Myron Reed) cut a promo about all the countries that want them to wrestle but when Canada and the United Kingdom were mentioned, it turned Kane’s excitement into exasperation.

Lots of Cesar Duran and his first Azteca Lucha signee

Duran, the man who is everywhere on the show, popped into picture shouting, “They don’t even have a Queen anymore!” after the UK was mentioned. He then suggested Mexico in a reference to signing the Bomaye Fight Club to his Azteca Lucha brand. A few shouts of “Bomaye” followed before Kane and his crew said they would think about it. 

If we hadn’t had enough of Duran, Hugo Savinovich has now arrived in MLW and his first job was to present Duran with an oversized pencil for being booker of the year. Duran said he wasn’t booker of the year but the booker of the decade! He poked fun at Tony Khan and Vince McMahon, saying he didn’t need “bots,” a trust fund, or a daddy for him to get to where he is. 

He then announced his first official signing for Azteca Lucha: MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie. She mentioned their shared history from Lucha Underground and apparently turned heel by siding with Duran. This was the fourth segment in a row including Duran.

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– After last week’s Last Man Standing match was postponed due to challenger EJ Nduka holding up MLW for more money, we heard from MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone who said he expected to be on the top of the MLW mountain at the start of 2023. He said he wants to wrestle in Japan, England, Australia and Mexico.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Billington Bulldogs (Mark and Thomas Billington) defeated Bomaye Fight Club (Alex Kane, Myron Reed & Mr. Thomas)

This feud began when Kane stole the Opera Cup from 2022 winner Davey Richards. The Opera Cup was donated to MLW by the Hart Family (via Teddy Hart) so the recently re-signed DBS Jr. brought in his cousins to defend their family honor by taking out the Fight Club.

For the last few weeks, Kane has continued to defile the trophy and even claim it as his own property. But, he was put in his place early this week as Smith pinned Kane’s hired muscle in Thomas with a middle rope powerslam.

The Billingtons (the nephews of Dynamite Kid) were making their MLW debut and settled into the match really well. Thomas is 21 with a smaller, more muscular physique while 19-year-old Mark is taller, leaner, and more high flying as we would soon find out.

The commentary team made a nice comparison between the Bulldogs making their US debut in MLW the same way their partner and “captain” of their team (DBS Jr.) did back in the original MLW in 2004.

Thomas Billington has comparisons to Dynamite Kid in not only his physique but his moveset and execution. A snap suplex, standing falling headbutt, and top rope missile dropkick had Reed staggered.

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We saw him selling too when Mr. Thomas and Alex Kane suplexed the smaller Billington around the ring as DBS Jr. and Mark Billington got more and more frustrated on the apron.

Reed then hit his inside-out lungblower on Thomas followed by Kane hitting his release vertical suplex and then Mr. Thomas landing a Boss Man slam. Mark came in to save his brother and hit a nice enzuigiri to Mr. Thomas before leaping onto the rest of the Bomaye Fight Club with a top rope moonsault to the floor.

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Mark recovered quickly which left DBS Jr. and the Billingtons in the ring with Mr Thomas. The Billingtons placed Mr. Thomas on DBS Jr.’s shoulders who then hit a powerslam from the middle rope to pick up the big win in the Billingtons’ MLW debut. 

 Next week:

• MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie defends against Trish Adora
• Jacob Fatu vs. Ben-K
• Another Azteca Lucha signing revealed

Joe Dombrowski & Rich Bocchini welcomed us to Atlanta, Georgia for the first episode of MLW Fusion in 2023.

Microman (w/ Mister Saint Laurent), Laredo Kid & Komander defeated Gino Medina, Taurus & Mini Abismo Negro (w/ Dr. Dax)

This was a loser leaves MLW match, but only the loser of the fall is saying goodbye for good.

This played off the near year-long feud between Medina and Microman. Microman had pinned Medina during last year’s WrestleMania tapings, and it was another Microman pinfall on Medina that sealed his fate and sent him packing for good.

Komander and Laredo Kid were excellent high flyers here while Taurus was a great solid base for the flyers.

They did some comedy spots behind Medina’s back as they fooled him into thinking Microman was striking him when it was really Laredo Kid. The match then exploded as Laredo Kid and Komander dove to the outside before Microman took Negro down with a tilt-a-whirl arm drag.

They had the traditional three-on-one beatdown and multiple submission spots on Microman as the crowd gave the rudos a lot of heat. The commentary team played up the shady officiating as he allowed the handicap beatdowns as Komander and Laredo Kid took their time to recover and get back into the ring. 

Microman had to try and make his own comeback but needed his tag partners to help him. Did they ever…eventually. Laredo Kid took out Medina and Dax with a headfirst torpedo dive before Komander tightrope walked one side of the ring before jumping off and hitting a twisting plancha to the rest of the heel team. Microman finished off the aerial assaults with a micro frog splash off the apron.

This referee was something else and counting so painfully slow that everyone was kicking out at one.

Taurus and Laredo Kid had a great exchange, finishing with Taurus hitting a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but the pinfall was broken up by a senton atomico from Komander. 

A revolution DDT followed another tightrope walk springboard 450 splash as we saw the reason for the hype around Komander.

Microman came close to rolling up Negro with a victory roll, but Medina made the save.   

The finish came after a series of finishers and impact moves from all involved including Microman hitting a splash from the second rope. This was Komander’s MLW debut and he made sure it was memorable as he again tightrope walked the top rope, only this time backward before he dove off with a moonsault to the floor. 

Medina then teased tossing Microman over the top rope with a gorilla press slam, but he took too long and as Taurus tried to spear Laredo Kid, he moved, Taurus speared Medina, Microman fell on top of him, and the referee counted the pinfall at a normal pace, sending Medina out of MLW.

– EJ Nduka and MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone had been set to face off in a last man standing match, but “The Judge” was said to have demanded too much money for the match and it had to be postponed.

– Mance Warner had an unboxing this week and showed us his David Allen Coe signed guitar, demanding $25 for a song later in the bar.

– Tensions will be running high next week as Davey Boy Smith Jr. will return to MLW and confront Alex Kane and the Bomaye Fight Club. Kane recently stole the Opera Cup, a trophy that Smith’s family donated to MLW, so Smith is out for revenge and has Kane in his sights. Smith will team with his cousins, Mark and Thomas Billington, in their MLW debut against the Bomaye Fight Club.

Jacob Fatu defeated Willie Mack

The big men started with some nice headscissors and rolls before Mack nearly took Fatu’s head off with a flying big boot. This match originated from a friendly regional rivalry and an acknowledgement of their paths crossing before, but this quickly broke down into two men hitting each other as hard as they could and throwing each other into objects around the ring.

Back in the ring, Mack dodged a banzai sit-down drop after a sunset flip but Fatu stayed on top of his opponent until Mack hit a desperation sling blade to stop “the Samoan Bulldozer” in his tracks.

Mack recharged and fired up with heavy strikes, a bodyslam and a big jumping leg drop. Mack hit a Samoan drop onto the Samoan, nipped up, and danced the Macarena into a Rick Rude-style hip swivel before hitting a standing moonsault for a charismatic close two count.

Fatu stopped the Mack attack by handstanding out of a cutter attempt and quickly hitting a superkick and handspring moonsault for a two count of his own.

Mack caught Fatu and slammed him into the corner with an exploder suplex. With Fatu in the corner, Mack climbed to the opposite buckle and hit a huge coast-to-coast dropkick but injured his leg in the process.

The injured leg came into play for the finish when Mack tried to lift Fatu but his leg gave out. Fatu hit a superkick and a pop-up Samoan drop before flattening him with his impressive double jump springboard moonsault from the top rope to pick up the big win on his way to his eventual Battle Riot cash in and rematch for the MLW title.

   Next week:

• The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith Jr., Mark & Thomas Billington) vs. Bomaye Fight Club (Alex Kane, Myron Reed & Mr. Thomas)
• MLW Middleweight Champion Shun Skywalker defends against Lince Dorado

Joe Dombrowski and Rich Bocchini welcomed us to Atlanta, Georgia, for the final MLW Super Series episode of 2022.

Mance Warner defeated Mads Krugger in a tables match

These two have been after each other since Battle Riot IV. The war of words continued through the weeks as Warner took a more comedic approach compared to Krugger’s more serious and threatening tones.

After their eliminations from the Battle Riot, these two continued to brawl to the back and they picked up where they left off with brawling and weapon shots around ringside and through the crowd. Flag poles, drumsticks and guard rails were used, and when we returned from a break, Warner was bleeding from being thrown headfirst into the ring post.

Krugger used a screwdriver into the bloody forehead as the action finally got back to the ring. Warner hit two unprotected chair shots that did little damage to the giant Krugger, and Warner ended up being slammed through two chairs set up in the ring.

Both took turns crashing through doors set up in the corners of the ring. A table was set up at ringside and after the Eye Poke God gave Krugger a dreaded signature eye poke, he tossed Krugger off the apron and through the table to pick up the win.  

Before the match, Warner cut a promo about a signed David Allan Coe guitar that he was holding, and after it, while covered in blood, he cut a promo to the crowd promising to come out and get drunk with them, hinting he may have other matches lined up with Krugger in the future.

 – Mister, sorry, Santa Saint Laurent was shown outside the arena drumming up support and persuading bypassers for donations for Microman for Christmas before being chased away.

– Juicy Finau sent a warning to the MLW roster, saying the Samoan SWAT Team are hungry and the MLW locker room is an all you can eat buffet. They have made their intentions clear: the MLW Tag Team titles.

– Ahead of her title defense tonight, Taya Valkyrie said she has been dominating lucha libre for over a decade so Lady Flammer may be pretty but “she ain’t me.”

Alex Kane (w/ Myron Reed) defeated D3 (Daniele Dentice Accadia) in a Peach State Prize Fight

Kane and Reed brought out the Opera Cup trophy they stole from Davey Richards, and told us that someone was going to “Suplex Island” which must be Suplex City’s vacation equivalent.

D3 comes from the local MLA promotion and had some outings on both AEW Dark and Dark: Elevation in 2021. He got a nice ovation from the Atlanta crowd, so the Italian “Prince of Rome” was the hometown underdog hero here.

The match itself was short with the Bomaye Fight Club counting along with Kane’s suplexes as he dominated D3, picking up the pin after a head and leg overhead suplex.

After the match, Kane asked if that was the best Georgia had to offer which brought out an enraged Richards. Reed took him out by launching over the top rope to the floor before he and Kane put the boots to him in the ring. Kane then stood above Richards, mocking him with the Opera Cup.

– Speaking of Reed, new Middleweight champion Shun Skywalker cut a promo in Japanese before announcing “See you in Philadelphia” for the Blood & Thunder taping.

– An intense EJ Nduka was in the house to address MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone. He called himself a diamond because he has been made by pressure. He said Hammerstone wouldn’t be the champion if it wasn’t for him watching his back these past months.

– From the Lucha House Party to the Samoan SWAT Team’s eggnog-filled holiday party, Lince Dorado joined Lance Anoa’i, Jacob Fatu and Microman for a fun-filled holiday party with matching Santa hats, matching housecoats and a lot of holiday cheer.

– Hammerstone then addressed his recent clashes with self-proclaimed world champion and new top target Nduka. Hammerstone told us that he asks himself why every time he gets hurt: when he crashed through the stage, when receiving a stinger, or getting hit so hard he forgets who he wrestled or how he got the arena.

He said this is everything he knows, it’s what gets him up in the morning and what keeps him awake at night. Hammerstone said Nduka has not had these moments and it has all been too easy for him. He said he will be the one to make Nduka ask himself why he does this when they meet in their last man standing match in two weeks. 

MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie defeated Lady Flammer to retain

Flammer won a four-way no. 1 contender’s match recently as part of the Super Series to set up this title match. A blindside attack following her win cemented bad blood between the pair, and after the playing of the Canadian and Mexican national anthems, this kicked off with some lucha armdrags and a sliding German from the champion.

Later, Flammer hit a dive to the outside and rammed the champion headfirst into the ring post. Inside the ring, Flammer was dropped facefirst on the top rope from an electric chair.

Valkyrie hit a spinning blue thunder bomb for a two count but Flammer came back and hit a dropkick while Valkyrie was sitting in the corner, sticking in the middle rope. After a spear, the champion hit a sitout powerbomb for another close two count. The challenger came back with a destroyer for a two count of her own.

A primal scream roared the champion back into life and after a short burst of strikes, Valkyrie hit the Road to Valhalla to pick up the win to retain her title.

In two weeks:

• MLW World Champion Alex Hammerstone defends against EJ Nduka in a last man standing match

Joe Dombrowski and Rich Bocchini welcomed us to Atlanta, Georgia, for this week’s MLW Fusion and promised a medical update on MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone following his brawl with EJ Nduka that sent both of them through the stage. 

They also reiterated that Cesar Duran was ousted as MLW matchmaker last week.

This week’s show continued to focus on the Super Series between MLW talent and other promotions.

Star Roger defeated Cosmos

Puerto Rico’s entry into the Super Series this week was Roger, a charismatic babyface who was eager to impress and get the crowd going throughout the match. He took on Cosmos from the Lucha Lucha Atlanta promotion and a masked high flier who was also making his MLW debut.

We heard some background about Star Roger initially being a parody character of Carlito called “Carlitos” in Puerto Rico, but he now has a bit of a chip on his shoulder as he wants to prove people wrong with a more serious, yet colorful, personality and wrestling style. 

Cosmos impressed early, diving from the top rope and hitting a sunset flip, quickly followed by a suicide dive to the outside. Roger came back with a dive of his own, using his slight size advantage to drive Cosmos into the guardrail.

Later, Roger had his own flurry of offense when he used Cosmos as a post to spring from, dropkicking him off the ropes and smoothly following up with a German suplex. Roger then planted Cosmos with a face-first gourdbuster from the top rope, but he missed a nice-looking double springboard moonsault in the follow-up.

This gave Cosmos the opening for a comeback as he planted Roger with a tilt-a-whirl DDT but it was short-lived when Roger came back with a jump-up neck breaker.

The back-and-forth action continued with a Roger superkick and a standing Spanish fly from Cosmos. However, Cosmos was caught after taking a little too long on the top rope and was finished with a top rope Spanish Fly by Roger to give the Puerto Rico star the win in a nice action-packed opener.

– After crashing through the set last week, Nduka told us that he is the self-proclaimed World champion because he is here and Hammerstone isn’t. Later, the medical update on the champion was that he suffered a hole in his lip after the big bump.

– After seeing Jacob Fatu have a change of heart last week in deciding not to cash in his guaranteed title shot against Hammerstone by virtue of his Battle Riot win, we heard from Fatu, Juicy Finau and Lance Anoa’i as they plan to get a Tag Team title shot for the Samoan SWAT Team.

– Mance Warner was back on his continued comedic hunt for Mads Krugger. Ol’ Mancer was searching through the Georgian wilderness but instead of Krugger, he stumbled across Microman instead, who himself was hunting with his net for wild butterflies. Earlier in the night, we heard from Krugger who said it is the Black Hand that is hunting Warner. These two will clash next week in a tables match.

– Alex Kane and Mr. Thomas informed us the MLW Opera Cup will now be known as the Bomaye Fight Club tournament. Kane had previously stolen the cup from Davey Richards and is now holding the tournament hostage.

MLW National Openweight Champion Davey Richards defeated SB KENTo to retain

Dragon Gate’s KENTo was making his MLW debut and looked great. He had a strong start with a flurry of strikes and underhanded tactics to get the early advantage.

The commentary team caught us up with Richards’ recent storylines involving the Bomaye Fight Club. Tonight, however, his attention was on KENTo and he had to be in top form to keep his title.

KENTo dropped Richards with a DDT on the apron, hit a running dropkick in the corner, and even invited Richards to take a few free forearm shots before raking Richards’ eyes to stay on top.

Richards’ comeback started after he double foot stomped his way free of a sunset flip. He hit his dragon screw through the ropes but missed a double foot stomp from the top rope. Moments later, he was still able to lock in the Trailer Hitch submission.

After a hard landing from a top rope superplex, Richards hit a running soccer kick, superkick, German suplex, a lariat and a brainbuster in a finishing sequence flurry before locking in his ankle lock, with a grapevine, to pick up the submission win and successful title defense.

After trying to take underhanded advantages throughout the match, there was a nice showing of respect after the match between the two exhausted wrestlers. Bocchini interviewed Richards at ringside who said he is open to competing against all challengers before mentioning he still has unfinished business with Kane.

 Next Week:

• MLW Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie defends against Lady Flammer
• Mance Warner vs. Mads Krugger in a tables match

This week’s MLW Fusion opened with a recap of last week’s betrayal by EJ Nduka when he turned his back on MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone and attacked him moments after the champion had successfully defended his title in a falls count anywhere match against Richard Holliday.

This week’s show began the MLW Super Series tapings from September in Norcross, Georgia, with Rich Bocchini and Joe Dombrowski on the call.

Lady Flammer defeated Lady Shani, La Hiedra and Reina Dorado in a four-way to earn an MLW Featherweight title shot

MLW Featherweight champion Taya Valkyrie was on commentary and added a lot of context and background to the competitors who were likely seen by many viewers for the first time.

The opening was fast and furious with Shani and Dorado hitting dives to the outside. We were told Flammer was only 22 and was coming off of a big win recently at TripleMania XXX. All four exchanged stereo submissions with pendulums and modified Muta locks.

Hiedra and Shani superplexed Dorado off the top rope, but it was Flammer who took advantage and was ready to hit Dorado with a splash off the top rope to pick up the win to become the new top contender for Valkyrie’s title. Flammer confronted and jumped Valkyrie after the match as officials had to keep the two competitors apart.

– The Samoan SWAT Team (Juicy Finau, Lance Anoa’i and Jacob Fatu) were hanging out poolside. Finau and Anoa’i decided they will be going for the MLW Tag Team titles soon.

– Fresh after turning heel by beating up Hammerstone last week, “The Judge” EJ Nduka said he had been waiting day after day for his shot and after asking time and time again, he had to attack him to get his attention. He said Hammerstone is playing in “The Judge’s courthouse.”

– Mance Warner was outside on the phone beside a dumpster, trying to convince people that Mads Krugger is Doc Gallows.

– Dragon Gate’s Shun Skywalker’s promo on MLW Middleweight Champion Myron Reed from last week reaired before we saw Reed’s reply accepting his challenge on next week’s Fusion.

– Killer Kross joined Budd Heavy and Calvin Tankman as those to be victims of the mysterious attacks backstage. A business card was again at the crime scene and Kross was taken away in an ambulance. His scheduled match for the show was cancelled.

– Alex Kane, the leader of the Bomaye Fight Club and fresh off losing his MLW National Openweight title to Davey Richards, revealed he is the one that stole Richards’ Opera Cup, so look for that feud to continue.

– There was a hype video for Davey Boy Smith Jr. who is returning to MLW.

MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone defeated Bandido to retain

This was another near 20-minute title match win for Hammerstone after last week’s falls count anywhere match against Holliday. Bandido was spectacular as always, but he also made Hammerstone shine and let him show off his power moves throughout the match.

Hammerstone blocked an early dive attempt and took control of the opening minutes of the match. He dropped Bandido throat-first on the guardrail as we heard the partisan Bandido and lucha crowd boo the champion — something the announcers said he was used to after his time fighting the likes of Pagano and Octagon Jr in Mexico last year.

Bandido came back with an impressive top rope springboard torneo. He then rolled through a Ric Flair-style throw off the top rope and dodged a Hammerstone pump kick but couldn’t escape a big German suplex as the champion got back in control.

A big gorilla press uranage followed as Hammerstone started playing up to the crowd who were cheering for their hero. To their delight, Bandido listened and came back with his own gorilla press slam on his much larger opponent.

As many times as Bandido rallied, Hammerstone stopped him in his tracks. This time, it was an elbow to the back of the head followed by slamming him face-first. After a face-to-face and strike exchange, the pace quickened before Hammerstone hit a Burning Hammer for a close two count.

Bandido showed another moment of great strength as he powered over Hammerstone with a suplex. A Three Amigos and a frog splash followed in a tribute to Eddie Guerrero, but the champion kicked out. Bandido then hit his 21 Plex, but the momentum sent Hammerstone tumbling out of the ring.

Back inside, Hammerstone was playing a little possum and tried a few quick roll-ups and pinfall attempts but Bandido kept kicking out. Finally, Hammerstone went back to his advantage and slammed Bandido hard, quickly picking him up again and landing his Nightmare Pendulum finisher to get the pinfall victory and successful title defense.

Despite working it as a heel, Hammerstone picked up Bandido after the match, raised his hand and shared a post-match sing-along with the fans to finish things on a positive note.

Bocchini then interviewed Hammerstone at ringside, but he was attacked again by Nduka. This time, the champion was more prepared and they brawled around ringside as we heard there was another mystery calling card attack backstage.

Backstage, Cesar Duran found the Bomaye Fight Club, Gangrel and other MLW staff and officials beaten up in a stairwell. Duran and his henchmen made a swift exit as Fusion went off the air.

Next Week:

• MLW Middleweight Champion Myron Reed defends against Shun Skywalker
• EJ Nduka in singles action
• The Samoan SWAT Team in tag team action

This special Thanksgiving night edition of MLW Fusion featured two title matches as Alex Hammerstone defends the MLW title against rival Richard Holliday in a falls count anywhere match while Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie defends against Brittany Blake.

The show opened with a hype video for the main event with the history of the popular Dynasty stable and their time with new AEW World Champion MJF. We saw the turn when Holliday jumped Hammerstone and declared he always wanted the spotlight as “it was always about me.” But Hammerstone said it was always jealousy. This set the tone for what would be a hot and chaotic main event.

Rich Bocchini and Joe Dombrowski welcomed us to the Melrose Ballroom in New York City as this action was taped in June.

MLW Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie defeated Brittany Blake to retain

Blake jumped Valkyrie during the ring introductions which set the tone for the opening salvo with Blake in control. Valkyrie came back momentarily with a running hip attack, but Blake stayed on top with an enzuigiri and a step-up kick. The champion had another hope spot when she dodged a top rope double foot stomp and floored Blake with a spear and a blue thunder bomb. Blake, however, was back on top quick with a drop toehold into the ropes and a lungblower.

Blake had focused her attack on the champion’s neck and back and nearly had the submission victory in place after a modified sharpshooter with an arm also tied up but the champion courageously made it to the ropes.

Valkyrie’s comeback was a strong clothesline, a curb stomp, and an STO called the Loca Lock which won her the match and successful title defense in a hard-fought victory.

– The plans for the 2023 Opera Cup are still up in the air as the whereabouts of the trophy remain unknown.

– Security has been tightened following attacks on Budd Heavy and Calvin Tankman in recent weeks with a mysterious calling card found at both scenes. Later in the night, as Alex Hammerstone was backstage on his way to his title match, the camera caught glimpse of a mystery man watching the champion and holding said calling card.

– Speaking of Tankman and his recent troubles, we caught up with his Tag Team championship partner EJ Nduka as the story of him thinking he should be the next World title contender continued. He said he will be watching the main event from the VIP section and his turn is coming. This was a clever use of words in more ways than one.

– MLW Super Series will return next week — a collection of matches with stars from different promotions throughout the world. Shun Skywalker from Dragon Gate was announced, along with Lady Shani, Lady Flammer, La Hiedra and Reina Dorado from AAA, as well as Bandido who will face the winner of the tonight’s main event next week. After being announced, Skywalker called out Middleweight champion Myron Reed.

– The Mance Warner vs. Mads Krugger feud continued with another Warner promo where he jokingly unveiled Krugger’s identity as Doc Gallows. He still hasn’t decided what match he wants Krugger in, but you can bet it will be a weapons-filled wild brawl.

MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone defeated Richard Holliday in a last man standing match to retain

This was a 20-plus minute brawl that went backstage at various points. Nduka was ringside watching and got involved post-match to set himself up as the next challenger.

The early story focused on Holliday attacking the injured ribs of the champion. A few weeks ago after Hammerstone had quickly put away two of Cesar Duran’s henchmen, Holliday attacked Hammerstone with a chair where the injury was sustained.

They brawled around ringside using the guardrail which ended in a big suplex on the floor by the champion. They went backstage and ended up on the rooftop bar of the building, the same part of the arena we saw Duran frequent a few weeks ago.

Holliday teased throwing Hammerstone off the side of the building before the champion hit a pump kick for a two count. Hammerstone returned Holliday to the ring with a gorilla press slam, but Holliday took control with a draping DDT, a scoop slam, and various shots to the ribs.

Hammerstone fought back with a dropkick and a powerslam before they went backstage again, this time ending up with Holliday wrapping a camera wire around Hammerstone’s neck for a two count. Back on the stage, Holliday hit a piledriver for another close two.

Hammerstone had a German suplex and a sit-down powerbomb during a flurry of offense, but Holliday reversed a superplex with a 2008 twisting suplex off the top rope for another close near fall.

With nothing being able to put Hammerstone away, the champion hulked up, hit a clothesline and locked Holliday in the torture rack to pick up the submission win.

A new challenger emerges

After the match, Hammerstone was interviewed on the stage by Sam Leterna, but the interview was quickly interrupted by Nduka. It was a babyface-to-babyface interview with Nduka saying Holliday doesn’t deserve another shot, but he does. Hammerstone played up to the crowd by asking them to cheer if they want to see that match. Nduka hyped up Hammerstone and called them the two biggest stars in MLW, comparing them to King Kong and Godzilla.

Everything was rosy as Hammerstone agreed, they shook hands and Nduka exited to let Hammerstone finish his interview…or did he?

Seconds later, just as Nduka was still visible at the side of the shot, he quickly returned and attacked the champion from the back, hitting him with his MLW Tag Team title belt. Nduka badmouthed him and stomped him back into the ring, eventually getting a table out and putting the champion through it. Before the table spot, Nduka attacked the champion’s ribs and even dragged him back to the ring as officials tried to help him to the back.

Nduka is a new fresh challenger and it gives Hammerstone a clear new direction now that he has beaten Holliday twice in a row. Bandido will challenge for the title next week, and Jacob Fatu has a future title shot after winning Battle Riot IV, so Hammerstone has a growing list of credible challengers lined up.

Next week:

• MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone defends against Bandido
• Lady Shani vs. Lady Flammer vs. La Hiedra vs. Reina Dorada in a Luchadoras eliminator match

This week’s MLW Fusion opened with a hype video for the main event of Davey Richards vs. Alex Kane for the National Openweight title, focussing on their previous match that ended with the betrayal by Myron Reed as he turned his back on Richards and joined Kane’s Bomaye Fight Club. 

Rich Bocchini and Joe Dombrowski welcomed us to the Melrose Ballroom in New York City, taped earlier this past June.

Samoan SWAT Team (Jucy Finau and Lance Anoa’i) defeated Los Maximos (Joel and Jose Maximo)

This was a perfectly fine tag match to highlight the Samoan SWAT Team. Los Maximos are MLW originals from the 2003 era so that may give away their age group, but they have clearly and wisely adapted their style to save their high-flying signature spots for the right match at the right time. Tonight wasn’t that night as the match was made to shine a light on Finau and Anoa’i. 

The match played into the advantages of the SWAT team as they told the story of the big team vs. smaller team dynamic well. The Samoan Anoa’i and Tongan Finau used their strength and size to overpower their opponents, but still showed their doses of athleticism when Anoa’i took out everyone with an early tope con giro. A flying headscissors and a corner cannonball followed as Anoa’i had another great outing here.

Finau brought strength and charisma as he delivered spinebusters to both Maximos on top of each other before finishing the brothers off with a double Samoan drop that was topped off by a top rope splash by Anoa’i.

– Mance Warner was in the venue’s bar and issued a challenge to Mads Krugger for weapons-filled gimmick match that he had not decided on yet.

– MLW World Tag Team Champions EJ Nduka & Calvin Tankman seemed to have some tension building after Nduka eliminated his championship partner from the Battle Riot match. We saw footage from the night before when the champions met up, shook hands and said, “They will do what they need to do and worry about everything else later.” Was this a tease at a future breaking point for the champions? 

Then during a promo, Myron Reed called over Tankman and suggested he should join the Bomaye Fight Club — an offer Tankman quickly shot down given the history between himself. and Alex Kane. Reed also pressed on the tension between he and Nduka by asking Tankman where Nduka got his expensive watch from. This was a strong hint toward Nduka being in cahoots with Cesar Duran, a man who has a history of offering expensive gifts to try to lure wrestlers to his side.

– Taya Valkyrie was on the receiving end of a sneak attack from Brittany Blake last week. This week we saw the immediate aftermath of the attack when the cameras caught up with the MLW Featherweight champion. Valkyrie said all she had to do was ask for a shot and it was hers. 

– “The Clout Couple” Richard Holliday and Alicia Atout were getting ready for Richards’ falls count anywhere match against MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone in next week’s Thanksgiving episode. The self-proclaimed “sole proprietor” told us that the New York City catchphrase “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere” is a crock of sh*t as Holliday can make it no matter where he goes. He said he will beat Hammerstone’s ass on the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and 52nd Street and then will become the new champion.

Killer Kross (w/ Scarlett Bordeaux) defeated Matt Cross

Before he re-signed with WWE earlier this year, Kross briefly returned to MLW and faced off with his namesake here in an impressive outing. As always, Scarlett was in his corner at ringside but didn’t have to make her presence felt as her man crossed the finish line on his own with a big victory. 

We were told that Kross had been training with Wanderlei Silva and Daniel Garcia and it showed as he presented a killer instinct in the way he dominated 90% of this short match.

Between the onslaught, Cross had a nice flurry of offense with a tilt-a-whirl takedown and a handspring cutter. But when he was caught mid-air during his handspring elbow, Cross had that look on his face that he knew his fate was sealed. Kross carried Cross across the ring before dropping him headfirst on a Doomsday Saito suplex to pick up the impressive and dominant win. 

– A promo video aired for future middleweight contender Shun Skywalker, dubbed Dragon Gate’s Harlequin.

– MLW’s 2022 Opera Cup tournament is up in the air due to the trophy being stolen from Davey Richards. Fans were encouraged to reach out to MLW directly with any tips they might have on the whereabouts of the trophy.

– Last week, we saw Budd Heavy attacked in the locker room area with a mysterious calling card placed upon him. This week, another member of the MLW roster befell the same mysterious fate. Hammerstone found the fallen superstar backstage after he had a brief confrontation with Nduka who was looking for a title shot. Duran’s name was quickly mentioned so there’s still a tease about a Nduka/Duran connection.

Davey Richards defeated Alex Kane (w/ Mr. Thomas) to win the MLW National Openweight title

Before the match, Richards promised to become the new Openweight champion and delivered on his promise by relentlessly pushing through the pain barrier and putting Kane away with a Gotch piledriver.

Ever since Myron Reed turned his back on Richards and sided with the Bomaye Fight Club, Richards has been on the receiving end of beatdown after beatdown, including a vicious attack during the recent Battle Riot match. 

Kane, Reed and Thomas have been fixated on exposing Richards as a quitter after Richards took a break from the sport a few years ago. This week, it was Richards who got his revenge in this nearly 15-minute affair by putting away the founding member of the Fight Club. After the match, it was strongly hinted that another member of the club wanted a shot at Richards.

Richards was out for retribution, but struggled in the early going to get any real advantage. It was Kane who hit the first big move with an exploder suplex into the corner then moments later, a big splash on the ring apron.

Kane kept the attack focused on Richards’ back, but the challenger fought back and hit a series of headbutts while both were on the top rope before delivering a brutal superplex. A forearm exchange quickly turned to a series of kicks by Richards before he delivered a dragon screw while on the apron.

Richards locked in the Trailer Hitch and rocked Kane with a kick to the head and a Saito suplex. Kane then came close to a win out of nowhere when he countered with a release suplex. His offense was short-lived though as Richards still had momentum and rolled through another suplex attempt, locked in an ankle lock, soccer kicked Kane’s head off, and hit a double foot stomp from the top.

Amazingly Kane kicked out at one, but as quickly as he kicked out, Richards was equally as quick to pull him to his feet and hit a brain buster, this time for a two count. 

Determined to keep going, Richards would not give up and again quickly got his groggy opponent up and hit a Gotch piledriver to finally put him away for the three count and the title victory.

Myron Reed then came out on the stage and stared a hole through the new champion as he celebrated in the ring. Richards may have eliminated one threat from the Bomaye Fight Club, but he seems to have unleashed another. 

Next Week:

• MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone defends against Richard Holliday in a falls count anywhere match
• MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie defends against Brittany Blake

Rich Bocchini and Joe Dombrowski welcomed us to the Melrose Ballroom in New York City for the season premiere of MLW Fusion, taped this past June. 

We saw a clip from earlier in the day with the Samoan Swat Team arriving at the building only to be confronted by a Cesar Duran henchman guarding the main entrance. The standoff ended when Microman arrived on the scene and low-blowed the henchman. This played into a show-long comedy storyline where Duran tried to get the henchman to capture Microman later on, only for him to be easily scared away when he found Microman with Jacob Fatu later in the show.

MLW Middleweight Champion Myron Reed (w/ Mr. Thomas) defeated Lince Dorado, La Estrella, and Arez to retain the title

Reed, the newly turned heel and latest member of Alex Kane’s Bomaye Fight Club, was in top form tonight as he put away his international interpromotional opponents in a non-stop, high-flying fatal four-way. 

Estrella joined MLW from Dragon Gate and was the first to take to the sky with a springboard back elbow and a tope suicida con giro to the floor. He later took Dorado down with an impressive handstand delayed headscissor takeover.

AAA regular Arez, fresh from receiving rave reviews from Dave Meltzer for his PWG showing this past weekend, kept up his stellar showing here. He dazzled with his array of “Strange Style” lucha libre and came close to winning after hitting a power bomb on Dorado. Later, he locked Dorado in an inverted Texas Cloverleaf and kept it locked in while using his other free arm to DDT Estrella.

Dorado was impressive, too. He took out Arez and Reed with a handspring kick and cutter in one fluid motion before later taking both out again — this time with quick suicide dives one after another. 

Estrella came close with a spiked rana but after Dorado kicked out, Reed flew in from out of nowhere and hit both with a springboard cutter to pick up the win pinning Estrella. 

After the match, Reed was asked what was next, and he told us that he will take on anyone from anywhere.

– A promotional video for Willie Mack aired as he is on his way to MLW.

– We saw a clip from earlier in the day with Duran on a rooftop lounge. He was on the phone with someone about “something they could promote in Mexico” and later mentioned an upcoming miniseries. Richard Holliday interrupted and he ended up coming away with an MLW title match in two weeks with Alex Hammerstone in a falls count anywhere match.

However, after brutally attacking Hammerstone last week, Holliday and Alicia Atout (aka The Clout Couple) left Hammerstone with injured ribs after taking him out with a steel chair. Later in the show, we heard a medical update on the champion as MLW’s doctor said the rib injury could impair the champion for 2-3 months, which puts this title match in two weeks into question.

KC Navarro defeated Mini Abismo Negro

We were told that Navarro has set up a deal with Duran and was in for a huge paycheck with a win tonight. Navarro took out Abismo with a low dive to the floor, but was on the receiving end of a hurricanrana from the top rope moments later.

Navarro came back into the match with his satellite halo DDT and when Abismo missed a torneo from the top rope, Navarro got the win with a sliced bread.  

– Ol’ Mancer — Mance Warner — is back in MLW. He made his surprise return in the Battle Riot last week and this week, he was here to tell us what he has been up to in the last two years. He said he was in Canada feuding with a bear and tried to cross the border into Mexico, but is more interested in Mads Krugger and has his sights set on the monster.

– Dorado and Savio Vega found a knocked out Budd Heavy backstage, seemingly on the receiving end of a beating. Heavy had a calling card on his chest featuring strange symbols.  

Scarlett Bordeaux defeated Clara Carreras

This was obviously taped well before Bordeaux and Killer Kross re-signed with WWE.

Bordeaux started with a low blow before the bell and didn’t take her foot off the gas. Carreras had a brief flurry with a cartwheel dropkick, but Bordeaux picked up the win after a hip attack in the corner and a reverse piledriver called the Scarlett Letter.

– After the match, MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie was brought out to the stage and was asked about Scarlett who she said had talent, beauty, charm and badassery. But it was Brittany Blake who made her presence felt with a spiked belt attack on the champion.

– The Bombaye Fight Club cut a promo on Davey Richards and said they used to look up to him but lost all that after he quit wrestling years ago. They talked about their match next week as Alex Kane will defend his National Openweight title against Davey Richards where “submission is the mission.”

Jacob Fatu defeated Real1 by disqualification

The show’s main event will see last week’s Battle Riot IV winner and runner-up battle it out.

Last week, Real1 tried to emulate Steve Austin’s WWE Royal Rumble 1997 win by returning to the ring after being eliminated behind distracted officials’ backs. His plans were thwarted by the eventual winner Fatu which only enraged the former nZo’s feelings towards the Samoan Werewolf.

Fatu would also be out for more revenge as before MLW’s hiatus, Real1 blindsided Fatu by smashing a bottle over his head.

Earlier in the night, Real1 cut an imaginative and expressive promo calling Fatu a poor man’s Rikishi and a Dollar Store member of the Samoan dynasty. Fatu responded by recapping what happened to Real1 when he came face-to-face with him last week.

During Fatu’s entrance, Real1 jumped him with a lead pipe. Real1 then took the mic as Fatu was crawling to his feet and called him “s-a-w-f-t” before jumping him again when he eventually got the ring.

Real1 focused his attack on Fatu’s injured leg and used the ring post to inflict damage to the Samoan’s limb. Fatu fought back with a dropkick in midair as Real1 came off the top rope, but before Fatu could mount any serious offense, Real1 deliberately kicked him low and got disqualified. 

To add insult to injury, he also low-blowed the referee before officials came running down to keep these two from ripping each other apart.

Fatu went to the top rope to take out Real1 and all the officials kept them apart as the season premiere of Fusion went off the air. 

Next Week:

• MLW National Openweight Champion Alex Kane will defend against Davey Richards
• Killer Kross vs. Matt Cross

We opened with a video package of the growing tension between nZo (now going by the name of Real 1) and Jacob Fatu, culminating in last week’s sneak attack where Real 1 jumped Fatu from behind and busted him open by smashing a glass bottle over his head. Fatu cut a promo backstage with his head in a bandage, promising revenge.

Joe Dombrowski and Rich Bocchini welcomed us to the famous 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.

Real 1 defeated Lince Dorado

Real 1 is the former nZo and Enzo Amore, going by a new name but keeping the same gimmick and persona. Cesar Duran granted him this match as a prize for jumping Fatu last week. He got on the mic before the match and made some inflammatory comments about the home town crowd, Fatu, and Dorado.

The opening was quite slow, probably on purpose so Real 1 could garner even more heat. This was also when we saw the return of the PWI Top 10 rankings: Octagon Jr, EJ Nduka, Real 1, Myron Reed, Calvin Tankman, Mads Krugger, Davey Richards, Alex Kane, Richard Holliday, and Fatu made up the top 10.

Dorado sidestepped Real 1 which sent him crashing to the floor. This gave the match the shot of adrenaline it needed as Dorado torpedoed him with a dive through the ropes. Back inside, he came off the top with a huge crossbody. Seconds later, Real 1 pushed Dorado off the top to the floor, injuring his leg in the process.

Back from a commercial break, Real 1 hit Dorado with the same Razor’s Edge into the steel ring post that took KC Navarro out of action for several weeks. Dorado shook it off easier than Navarro and somehow crawled back into the ring, but Real 1 was a man possessed and went straight after Dorado with stomps and a spear in the corner.

Dorado fought back with a delayed German suplex and some running chops, but Real 1 floored Dorado again with a leaping DDT from the middle rope.

Dorado then looked to finish off Real 1 with a handspring stunner and three moonsaults, but Real 1 rolled out of the way of the third moonsault. Real 1 then hit a low blow behind the referee’s back before hitting his Eat The Feet finisher to pick up the win.

– Taya Valkyrie was talking with Dave Marquez who said she will defend her MLW Featherweight title all over the world.

– Mance Warner is returning to MLW.

– We then had a tease of a future match between Davey Richards and Myron Reed for Reed’s Middleweight title with the commentators claiming that “online chatter” wants this match to take place.

– Alicia Atout was here to talk about the upcoming MLW World Heavyweight title match between champion Alex Hammerstone and her partner and challenger Richard Holliday. Her words were short and sweet: Hammerstone and the Von Erichs should be ready for anything.

– Before the next match, Alex Kane got on the mic and called himself the greatest fighter in MLW history. He and Mr. Thomas named all the different fighting styles they have come across. He also mentioned “the hunt” during his spiel which, of course, brought out Davey Richards as the surprise opponent.

Alex Kane went to a 20-minute time limit draw with Davey Richards to retain his MLW National Openweight title

The title match was dubbed “The Thrilla in Phila” in which any member of the roster could have stepped up to take on Kane. $20,000 and Kane’s title were on the line if Richards could win within 20 minutes.

Kane stalled early on but once it got going and passed the test of strength, it turned to a more technical match with both trying to outwrestle each other while focusing on the arms and wrists. 

Richards took Kane around the Philly ringside and lined up kicks on all four sides of the floor. On the last attempt, Kane caught him and dropped him on the apron stopping him in his tracks. This is where we heard that the ring announcer will announce the time remaining in five minute intervals.

For the next few minutes, Kane was on top, targeting Richards’ back and neck with backbreakers and suplexes. Richards fought out of a sunset flip with a double foot stomp and kicked his way back into the match as we heard we were at the halfway point of the 20-minute match.

Richards locked in the Trailer Hitch, but a panicked Kane got to the ropes. The commentary team played up the growing pressure for Kane as each minute passed. Richards hit a Saito suplex for a close near fall.

Kane came back into it by catching Richards and hitting a German suplex followed by an Olympic Slam but Richards also kicked out at two. 15 minutes had elapsed at this point.

Richards hit a huge superplex off the top rope as both showed the effects of the gruelling match. After a short break, both were on their feet and breathing heavy. After a forearm exchange, Richards locked in an ankle lock, hit a brain buster and locked in another ankle lock as we heard that two minutes were remaining.

In the ankle lock, Kane reached for the ropes as 30 seconds remained. Richards cranked the hold harder and then transitioned into the Trailer Hitch. The ring announcer counted down the last ten seconds as Kane survived, barely, to retain his National Openweight title.

After the match, it looked as though Richards was wanting to shake Kane’s hand as a show of respect. But as Richards moved towards Kane, who was still showing the effects of the submissions of his legs by cowering in the corner, Mr. Thomas jumped Richards from the back and he and Kane began beating him down.

This brought out Richards’ new training partner Myron Reed with a steel chair to come to the aid of his friend and mentor. Or, so we thought.

Reed winked at Kane and shot a cheeky half-smile before turning and slamming the chair into Richards’ gut. The suspicions of a new member of the Bomaye Fight Club joining the ranks seems to be answered as Reed joined the three-on-one beatdown.

Kane put Richards’ arm through a chair and Reed came off the top with a double foot stomp to add insult to injury. Reed dawned a Bomaye Fight Club jacket to show his new allegiance.

– After Fusion went off the air, we cut to a horror movie-style video of Mads Krugger on a surgical bed still recovering from his Weapons of Mass Destruction match with Fatu two weeks ago. 

The doctor gave him a mirror and we saw glimpses of his scarred face before Krugger smashed the mirror and the screen faded to black.