Tag: mlw fusion

MLW Fusion results: Buddy Matthews vs. TJP, Rok-C vs. Miranda Gordy

Posted on by Ian Carey

The show opened with a graphic paying tribute to Scott Hall. 

Richard Holiday cut a promo in an empty Grady Cole Center in Charlotte, NC — the venue that hosted last week’s SuperFight in Charlotte. He said despite the history that has occurred in that building, it will now be forever known for his attack on MLW Champion Hammerstone last week. He knelt over a spot where Hammerstone’s blood was still stained on the floor and said it will forever remain in Charlotte. 

Miranda Gordy defeated Rok-C

This show aired on the day WWE announced Rok-C as part of the latest class of recruits to start at the Performance Center. The commentary team played up the history of Gordy’s father, Terry, in Dallas as well. 

Gordy had the size and strength advantage, but Rok-C found a counter for most things she attempted early in the match. 

They cut to a clip of a limousine parked out front and the commentary team wondered who might be inside. 

Gordy eventually got the first period of sustained offense. She knocked her young opponent down with a series of chops. She followed that up with a big body slam for a two count. Rok-C then fought back with a series of strikes but Gordy cut off her momentum with another slam and an elbow drop. 

An opportunity opened up for Rok-C when she dodged a charge into the corner and Gordy landed hard on the turnbuckle. Rok-C landed a Lou Thesz press and then got a two count off a pinning combination. She then locked in a crossface. Gordy fought out of it and the two the exchanged pinning combinations. Gordy then hit a kick to the stomach and her Bam Bam Slam (power bomb) for the win. 

After the match, Gordy was interviewed ringside and said she’s not a featherweight: she’s a powerweight and she’s going to destroy all the ballerinas and barbie dolls in the division. 

– A video featuring Mads Krugger was shown. He challenged Jacob Fatu to a Stairway to Hell match for next week. 

– It was announced that Gangrel debuts next week. However, he debuted years ago at the original War Games against Simon Gotch. 

– We cut back to the limousine. A window rolled down to reveal Holliday and Alicia Atout in the car. They were celebrating their attack on Hammerstone from last week. He said they had something historic and sexy planned to celebrate. They invited the camera guy into the limo to end the segment. 

– Dr. Julius Smokes cut a promo hyping up 5150. He mentioned that he would die for Konnan. Hopefully, Konnan is healthy enough to return to tapings shortly. 

– A backstage promo featuring Hammerstone was shown. He talked about dropping out of college to chase his pro wrestling dream. He also talked about the struggles he had early in his career while making hardly any money. 

– A vignette announced that Killer Kross makes his return next week. 

– Following the attack by 5150 last week, Marshall Von Erich suffered a fractured ankle and will be out three-to-four weeks. Ross Von Erich is day-to-day after suffering a grade one concussion. The medical update on Hammerstone was that there is no update as he has refused to participate in a medical evaluation. 

– EJ Nduka was interviewed backstage. He said 5150 chose the wrong one when they attacked him at SuperFight. 

– We cut back to Holliday and Atout in the limo. They started making out when Alicia became distracted. She showed her phone to Holliday and he agreed with her that it was big news. They then exited the limo. 

TJP defeated Buddy Matthews

TJP cut a promo before the match. He called the fans “crayon eaters” which got a surprise pop out of me. He continued to talk about MLW’s open door free agent policy. He’s not a fan of the policy as he feels all the indie darlings suck. He is forced to entertain the policy tonight, however, as he takes on Buddy Matthews. 

Matthews got on the mic before the match as well. He said he didn’t knock on the forbidden door — he knocked it down. He said he’s the greatest cruiserweight and commentary played up how he and TJP are both former cruiserweight champions from a different company. 

During the opening moments, commentary mentioned that they are hearing something is happening in the back involving Cesar Duran. 

They opened up with some grappling until they found themselves at a stalemate. TJP locked in an octopus stretch moments later. 

Matthews dodged a move in the corner and landed awkwardly on his knee. He limped to the outside, but TJP followed. Matthews then tossed TJP into the guardrail. This injury would become the story of the match. 

TJP delivered a springboard dropkick to his opponent’s injured knee and then continued to work on it for a period. He locked in a figure four at one point as the match continued to center around Matthews’ knee. Matthews eventually reversed the pressure and TJP grabbed the ropes to break the hold. TJP then went right back to focusing on the knee after. 

Matthews fought back and delivered a DDT as TJP was draped in the ropes. The two ended up exchanging strikes in the middle of the ring moments later. Matthews hit a gourdbuster and followed that up with strikes before hitting a brainbuster for a two count. 

Matthews went for a sunset flip bomb, but his knee buckled and he crumpled to the mat. TJP then took time to dab (in 2022) which allowed Matthews to hit him with some kicks. Matthews then picked him up and delivered a power bomb for a two count. Commentary then mentioned we would have an announcement from Duran after the conclusion of the match. 

TJP locked Matthews in a figure four deathlock (basically a figure four/sharpshooter combo). He then went for the detonation kick, but Matthews countered into a curb stomp for a two count. 

They ended up fighting atop the turnbuckle when TJP grabbed the referee by his shirt. Matthews fought to free the ref but TJP swiped at Matthews’ leg and sent him to the mat. TJP then hit the Mamba splash to the knee and got a two count. As Matthews kicked out, TJP transitioned into a heel hook. Matthews tried to crawl to the ropes but ended up tapping out. This was good. 

TJP yelled into the camera that he and the other members of the United Empire are taking over the world. 

– We cut to the back where Duran said that Hammerstone has been impossible to reach following the attack from Holliday last week. He said that if Hammerstone doesn’t appear in person on MLW Fusion next week, the World title will be vacated. 

Next Week:

– Mads Krugger vs. Jacob Fatu in a Stairway to Hell match

MLW Fusion results: Tajiri vs. Myron Reed vs. Matt Cross vs. Bandido

Posted on by Iain Oliver

Two major title matches bookended this week’s MLW Fusion as Alex Kane and Calvin Tankman continued their rivalry over the Openweight title, plus Tajiri put his Middleweight title on the line in a fatal four-way match against Myron Reed, Matt Cross and the debuting Bandido.

After being promised to be the number 1 contender replacement for Alex Hammerstone’s MLW Heavyweight title last week by Cesar Duran, the new MLW evil power couple of Richard Holliday and Alicia Atout opened this week’s episode by putting a bounty on Davey Richards’ head, offering a huge sum of money to anyone who can take him out and secure Holliday’s path to the gold.

MLW National Openweight Champion Alex Kane defeated Calvin Tankman to retain the title

Tankman finally had his chance to get his hands on Kane after months of close calls and sneak attacks by Kane and his bodyguard, Mr. Thomas. Kane originally offered Tankman a spot in their fight club, but after Tankman refused, he became their prime target in a series of clashes and pull-apart brawls.

This was a slugfest from the get-go, continuing the story of their feud. Tankman started the better of the two, but the match was briefly stopped when Kane took out Tankman’s knee, made worse by Thomas using a steel pipe behind the referee’s back.

The referee stopped the match temporarily as Tankman could not put weight on his leg. He left ringside but was back a few minutes later to continue the fight. 

Kane suplexed Tankman, but the challenger came back with a ripcord elbow to the head. Tankman was in control until Kane drove his shoulder into Tankman’s injured knee and quickly rolled him up to pick up the shock quick win.

Rich Bocchini interviewed Kane after the match, who said his win was sponsored by “Cry Baby Calvin.”

– Homicide tried to take out Richards backstage, but Richards fought him off and left in a rage looking for Holliday.

– Tag Team Champions 5150 (Rivera and Slice Boogie) called out the MLW tag division, focusing on the family legacies such as the Von Erichs and Ricky & Kerry Morton.

– Karlee Perez presented King Muertes with a rare artifact that Perez said would make him a god.  

– As the entrances of the next match took place, the Saito Brothers took their shot at taking out Richards but were unsuccessful.

KC Navarro defeated Ho Ho Lun

Navarro returned after a three-month injury absence and had to try and forget about his problems with nZo as he faced Dragon Gate’s Lun in his MLW return.

This was the opposite of our opener, with both high fliers keeping a fast pace. Navarro started stronger, flipping and dodging Lun’s attacks and hitting a suicide dive to the outside.

Lun got his advantage when he tripped Navarro who fell back first onto the top turnbuckle, playing into the nZo attack where he buckle bombed Navarro into the steel ring post.

The tough Navarro overcame the aggravated injury by hitting a lungblower and his sliced bread finisher to put away Lun.

After the match, Bocchini caught up with Navarro who passionately challenged nZo to a grudge match which was later booked for next week.

During the last match, the cameras showed a pull-apart confrontation backstage between Kane and ACH.

– Gnarls Garvin and Budd Heavy seem to be getting along quite well, bonding over a lot of beers and putting a plan in place to get back to winning ways.

– Richards’ luck looked like it was running out when King Muertes joined Homicide and the Saito Brothers in finally beating him down, but Richards was saved by his future opponent Hammerstone in an attempt to keep the scheduled title match alive for next week. Holliday’s bounty plan failed, at least for now.

Myron Reed defeated Tajiri (c), Matt Cross and Bandido to win the MLW Middleweight title

Duran introduced Bandido as the mystery fourth opponent in this great, near 10 minute match. It had the usual high risks and high flying spots you would expect given those involved, but also had good fluid exchanges in the early going as all four took turns to pair off inside the ring before the high risks began. 

Bandido was the main focus of all the early exchanges, but Cross took him out with a backbreaker and springboard crossbody before we went to a break.

Tajiri then took control with an array of kicks to his opponents. He locked in the tarantula on Reed, but ate a superkick from Bandido after missing his Buzzsaw kick. Reed countered a Bandido suplex with a stunner, and Cross joined in by double stomping Bandido while he was on Reed’s shoulders before diving out onto Tajiri.

Bandido then found himself on Reed’s shoulders again, this time in an electric chair position. Cross again dove off the top rope in an attempted crossbody, but Bandido caught him in mid-air and gave him a fallaway slam, also hitting Reed with a poison rana at the same time.

In a callback to their Fightland title match, Reed ducked Tajiri’s green mist as he sprayed Bandido instead. Cross took out Reed and Bandido with a double springboard cutter and went to the top to try and hit his shooting star press.

As Cross aimed for Bandido and dove off the top, Reed jumped in and caught him with a cutter out of nowhere in an excellently timed finisher. Reed then covered Cross and regained the Middleweight title for the third time. 

– We finished the episode with a hype video for next week’s Hammerstone vs. Richards title match. They both promised not to hold back. Hammerstone said if he can’t put Richards away quickly, he may be in trouble due to Richards never running out of gas. Richards said Hammerstone is not ready for what he is going to bring. Hammerstone ended by saying it will be the best MLW Heavyweight title match ever.

Next week:

  • MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone vs. Davey Richards in a title match
  • KC Navarro vs. nZo
  • MLW Tag Team Champions 5150 vs. The Von Erichs in a title match

MLW Fusion results: Mads Krugger vs. Jacob Fatu

Posted on by Ian Carey

For the third straight week, MLW Fusion emanated from Dallas, Texas. 

Things kicked off with a backstage promo featuring Mads Krugger. He said that his opponent tonight, Jacob Fatu, is not the monster he was treated like while in Contra Unit. Krugger plans on teaching him what a true monster looks like. 

– Emilio Sparks tried to ask EJ Nduka some questions about Richard Holliday and Hammerstone. After pushing Sparks up against a wall, Nduka said that he and Hammerstone are good with each other.

Aramis, El Dragon and Micro Man defeated Gino Medina, Mini Abismo Negro and Arez

Trios action opened things up as Mister Saint Laurent came out to make a special introduction for the mystery competitor set to team with El Dragon and Aramis. After building up the announcement for several moments (and several weeks leading up to this), he introduced Micro Man. The 23 year-old luchador has wrestled for CMLL previously and is billed at 3’3″.

MSL then joined the commentary team where he continued to praise Micro Man.  

Mini Abismo Negro, Medino and Arez squared off with Aramis and El Dragon in the early moments before Micro Man tagged in for the first time. He immediately hit an armdrag and a bulldog on Negro. Medina then came in and just kicked Micro Man in the head which allowed the rudos to go on offense for a period. 

The rudos eventually had Micro Man 3-on-1 as Arez lifted him up in an electric chair position. Aramis and Dragon then hit a pair of poison ranas on Medina and Abismo. They then superkicked Arez, and Micro Man gave him a poison rana. Shortly after, Micro Man hit a pair of headscissors on Abismo as the crowd chanted his name.

Medina got the rudos back into briefly until El Dragon hit him with a backbreaker/face plant combo. Shortly after, Aramis gave Medina a ride in a helicopter spin before dropping him into a sit-out power bomb. The move made Aramis dizzy, however, and Arez tossed him out of the ring. 

Arez then missed a moonsault to the outside which allowed the tecnicos back on offense. Micro Man then took advantage and hit the Micro Bomb (springboard splash) on Medina for the win. 

After the match, Medina refused to be interviewed and shoved Rich Bocchini. 

– In the back, 5150 were celebrating last week’s win over Los Parks. They talked about having traveled to Dallas to take on the Von Erichs but the former tag champions couldn’t even show up to their own homecoming. The brothers tested positive for COVID-19 shortly before the taping.

– nZo’s two-month suspension has expired after he was put on ice for attacking KC Navarro at last November’s tapings in Philadelphia. Navarro was then announced to be facing Ho Ho Lun next week.

– Clips of interviews with both Calvin Tankman and MLW National Champion Alex Kane aired. Kane said he’s going to focus on Tankman’s knee when they go head-to-head while Tankman promised to take his daughter out for lobster after he wins. 

– Footage of Gino Medina attacking Aramis in the back and leaving him a bloody mess aired. Medina appeared to still be frustrated over what happened in the trios match earlier. 

– A video package featuring clips of Hammerstone and Davey Richards talking about their MLW title match in Charlotte on Saturday aired.  

Jacob Fatu defeated Mads Krugger

Krugger and Fatu brawled on the entrance ramp before the bell. Krugger backdropped Fatu over the barricade and into the crowd. Fatu then hit a dive onto his opponent from atop a stanchion shortly after. They eventually found their way into the ring and the bell rang to start the match.

Fatu got the early advantage and hit a spear going into break. When we returned, Fatu was laying into Krugger with strikes. Krugger then hit a superkick and a pop-up samoan drop for a two count. 

Krugger hit a chokeslam backbreaker to retake control. He landed a suicide dive and motioned to the back which brought out another former Contra Unit member, Ikuro Kwon. Kwon missed an enziguri and hit Krugger by mistake. Fatu then hit a moonsault onto a standing Krugger and got the three count. 

After the match, Krugger attacked Fatu from behind and Kwon joined in the beatdown. Fatu fought back and ended up clearing the ring, landing a dive to the outside on top of both of them. Security came out to break things up but both Krugger and Fatu took them out and resumed brawling with each other throughout the venue. 

– We then cut backstage to a scene in Cesar Duran’s office. Holliday and Alicia Atout came in and Holliday revealed that Duran had promised him a title shot. Duran said he always keeps his promises but Richards is already scheduled for the next title shot. He said that if something were to happen to Richards, Holliday would be the next in line. Holliday found that interesting and the show came to a close. 

Next week:

  • MLW National Openweight Champion Alex Kane vs. Calvin Tankman in a title match
  • MLW World Middleweight Champion Tajiri vs. Myron Reed vs. Matt Cross vs. TBA in a fatal 4-way title match
  • KC Navarro vs Ho Ho Lun

MLW Fusion results: 5150 vs. Los Parks Tag Team title ladder match

Posted on by Iain Oliver

After last week’s shocking betrayal by Richard Holliday and Alicia Atout on MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone, MLW Fusion returns with a Tag Team title ladder match, no. 1 contender Davey Richards in action, plus All Japan Pro Wrestling’s Saito Bros making their debut.

Before the open, Calvin Tankman joined the commentary team at ringside to announce he would face National Openweight Champion Alex Kane in two weeks. Kane then came out to confront his challenger as security kept them apart.

Davey Richards defeated ACH

Richards had ACH locked in his Trailer Hitch submission early on that ended up with a close two count pinning predicament. An enzuigiri exchange swung the momentum ACH’s way which ended in a German suplex for a near fall.

Richards locked in an ankle lock which was reversed into a single leg Boston crab by ACH.

ACH then ran down the entrance ramp and leapt over the top rope into the ring to hit a massive running cutter, followed by a top rope frog splash for a great near fall.

After a break, Richards hit a top rope superplex. But after ACH kicked out at two, he got the ankle lock again followed by a brain buster. ACH heroically kicked out, but Richards immediately went back to the ankle lock for a third time which gave ACH no choice but to tap out.

After the match, Richards got on the mic, thanked ACH for a great match, and threatened whoever had stolen his Opera Cup that he was going to rip them in two. He then turned his attention to Hammerstone to hype up their upcoming title match at MLW SuperFight.

– Via a video promo, Mads Krugger told us he has put Jacob Fatu in his crosshairs as their first match after CONTRA Unit imploded is set next week.

– Jared Saint Laurent and then met with Cesar Duran to discuss the debut of JSL’s newest signing who he calls “the greatest wonder in the world.” Duran booked him in a mixed trios match next week. Myron Reed interrupted and asked for a rematch against Middleweight Champion Tajiri. Duran accepted, but said it will be in a triple threat that will also include a mystery opponent.

– It was announced that both Killer Kross and Lio Rush will be returning to MLW soon.

The Saito Bros (Jun and Rei) defeated Budd Heavy and Gnarls Garvin

The Saito Brothers were rather mechanic and had over the top mannerisms as they chopped and cheated behind the referee’s back and marched around the ring. Gnarls and Heavy were the firm fan favorites — past opponents turned partners who bonded over beer earlier in the day., They got a brief comeback before falling to a double chokeslam and top rope splash to give the Saito Brothers a win in their MLW debut.

After the match, Garvin kept fighting and punched the victorious 6’3″ brothers out of the ring.

Holliday and Atout talk about their betrayal

Holliday and Atout shared their first Valentine’s Day with us and explained why Holliday turned his back on his three year run in the Dynasty with Hammerstone last week. He said Hammerstone wasn’t by his side when he lost his IWA Caribbean championship to King Muertes while Holliday was saving Hammerstone in his match with Pagano, running around Mexico helping him escape Duran’s makeshift prison. He said if anyone is going to beat Hammerstone for his title, it will be him because he knows his weaknesses, injuries and is already in his head.

– The Hammerstone vs. Richards contract signing took place in Duran’s office. Duran got in both competitors’ heads as they traded threats towards the MLW matchmaker.

MLW Tag Team Champions 5150 (Rivera & Slice Boogie) (w/ Dr. Julius Smokes) defeated Los Parks (LA Park Jr. & El Hijo de LA Park) in a tag team ladder match to retain the titles

5150 hit their Street Sweeper combo assisted dropkick and Boogie’s big Vader bomb elbow very early on before the ladders and weapons and ringside brawling started.

Park Jr. hit a moonsault from the top rope to the floor onto everyone, Hijo speared Boogie through the ropes and onto a ladder bridge, Rivera used the ladder bridge (that didn’t break) to leap to a support beam, followed by a corkscrew onto Los Parks.

After a break, Boogie power slammed Hijo onto a ladder which again didn’t break. Rivera was showing off his agility as he rope walked and springboarded from the ropes to the ladder, but was soon on the receiving end of a suicide dive from Jr. and Asai moonsault from Hijo.

Homicide and LA Park interfered which ended in Park spearing Homicide through the ropes onto everyone at ringside. In the ring, Homicide dodged a flying spear from Park who inadvertently squashed his son Hijo instead.

Jr. and Rivera climbed the ladder and exchanged right hands on the top rung. Jr. had his fingertips on the gold when Boogie slammed a chair into his back. From there, Boogie got him on his shoulders and Rivera leapt from a ladder on the floor, over the top rope, and hit Jr. with a double foot stomp/death valley driver combo before climbing the ladder to retrieve their tag team titles. 

Next week:

  • Mads Krugger vs. Jacob Fatu
  • Gino Medina, Mini Abismo Negro and Arez vs. Aramis, El Dragon and JSL’s newest mystery signing
  • Middleweight Champion Tajiri vs. Myron Reed vs. a mystery opponent for the title

 In two weeks:

  • National Openweight Champion Alex Kane vs. Calvin Tankman for the title

MLW Fusion results: Alex Hammerstone vs. Pagano falls count anywhere

Posted on by Iain Oliver

Following the conclusion of the MLW Azteca mini-series from Mexico, MLW Fusion returned from Dallas, Texas with the fallout from Cesar Duran’s Mexican expansion. 

Duran kicked things off by saying how disappointed he was being in Texas after spending the last six weeks in Mexico. He said Alexander Hammerstone is like Texas — all show and no fight — and his reign will be over tonight. That was followed by a new opening video package complete with a new theme, graphics and name banners.

IWA Puerto Rico Caribbean Champion King Muertes defeated Richard Holliday to retain the title

This continued the Hammerstone and Holliday vs. Duran feud as Muertes was used as a hired gun recently by the MLW matchmaker. This was better paced than their last encounter a few weeks ago and had some good, exciting action to kick off the episode.

Holliday had Muertes reeling in the opening minutes, which was different from their last encounter a few weeks ago, but Muertes quickly took back control with a spear. A draping DDT by Holliday followed as he kept getting back into the match, but Muertes stopped him in his tracks, this time with a powerslam and a backstabber.

As Holliday hit his 2008 finisher (twisting suplex), Duran’s masked henchmen ran to ringside and distracted the referee as more masked men were seen backstage brawling with Hammerstone (which explains why he couldn’t help his friend at ringside).

Another henchman entered the ring with a chair behind the distracted ref’s back, but Holliday dropkicked the chair in his face. This momentary distraction let Muertes recover and hit his Straight To Hell finisher (downward spiral) to steal another win.

– In part three of the look into Jacob Fatu, he opened up with an emotional story of a drive-by shooting he witnessed earlier in his life where a close family friend passed away as a result. He said that wrestling saved his life and put out a warning to Hammerstone that he coming back for the MLW World title.

This series has been a great way to distance himself from the CONTRA Unit madman-type character he has played over the last few years, humanizing him in the process. He is currently feuding with Mads Krugger and Ikuro Kwon over the fallout from the CONTRA Unit implosion and will face Krugger in a Stairway To Hell match at the next MLW Fusion taping in Charlotte, NC.

– The culmination of the recent hype videos for a returning MLW superstar happened as the speeding car through the city at night and the sand timer all were clues to the return of Killer Kross, who will return to MLW at the next MLW Fusion taping in Charlotte.

– Jared Saint Laurent then announced that he will be debuting a new superstar, who he called the best pound for pound fighter and the greatest wonder of the world.

– Hammerstone checked on Holliday, who was in the trainer’s room. Holliday seemed down, but he reassured Hammerstone that he will have his back tonight. As Hammerstone left, Holliday had the same look on his face last week when the fan asked for a photo with him and then asked if Hammerstone was with him.

EJ Nduka defeated Ikuro Kwon

It looked like Kwon legit kicked hometown hero Nduka right in the jaw in the opening seconds. But from there, Nduka dominated Kwon, threw him around the ring, and put him away with his running powerslam and spinebuster.

After the match, Kwon got on the mic and called out “the traitor” Fatu who obliged to a hero’s welcome. Fatu took out Kwon with a spinning uranage and obliterated Kwon with a top rope splash through a table.

5150 cut a promo before their MLW Tag Team title ladder match against Los Parks next week, dedicating it to their hospitalized manager Konnan.

MLW World Champion Alex Hammerstone defeated Pagano in a falls count anywhere match to retain the title

This was made after Pagano turned his back on Hammerstone during the MLW Azteca mini-series where he jumped Hammerstone after they had tagged together and beat Taurus and Muertes. Duran had recruited Pagano to further stack the deck against the champion and his friends.

Pagano brought a plastic garbage can into the ring early on, but missed a standing moonsault from the top rope while holding the can and slammed into the mat. Pagano’s punishment continued as he was then sent headfirst into a car hood at ringside.

A plunger to the head didn’t quite stick the way Hammerstone wanted it to, but he made up for the plunger’s lack of suction by dropping Pagano back first onto the ring apron.

Pagano had wooden skewers with him as they briefly brawled backstage through the entrance curtain. Next to the bar area, Pagano used his knees to drop Hammerstone on his head and face for a two count.

Back in the ring, Hammerstone muscled out of a skewer attack to his forehead before jamming the set in Pagano’s head instead. Pagano took a few bumps with the skewers still sticking out his head before taking a burning hammer for a close two count for the champion.

Hammerstone brought a wooden board into the ring but was on the receiving end of a guillotine leg drop and a chair dropkicked into his face as the action swung back and forth. Pagano sat Hammerstone on a chair at ringside and tried to crush him with a low rolling dive through the ropes but Hammerstone moved, leaving Pagano to crash and burn through the chair on to the wooden floor.

In the ring, Hammerstone hit a top rope dropkick that launched Pagano across the ring and set up a wooden board in the corner.

More of Duran’s henchmen ran to ringside to interfere, but Holliday came out and cleared them all with a baseball bat. In the ring, Hammerstone put Pagano away with a Nightmare Pendulum to pick up the hard-fought win.

As Hammerstone celebrated, Holliday stood with the bat watching on as Alicia Atout came down for an interview with the victorious champion. Atout grabbed a mic but as she was faked that it was not working, she slid behind Hammerstone and hit him with a low blow.

Hammerstone dropped to his knees before Holliday then confirmed the turn by walloping Hammerstone with a clothesline to the back of the head.

Holiday took some frustrated cheap shots and screamed at his former Dynastic friend “It was always me!” as Atout also got in on the act with some slaps to the face. As Holliday stood over his betrayed fallen friend, he raised Hammerstone’s own championship belt above his head, kissed his new evil acquaintance and once again declared “It was always me!” as the shocking conclusion to the return episode of MLW Fusion wrapped up.

MLW Azteca results: Pagano vs. Savio Vega hardcore match, two title defenses

Posted on by Iain Oliver

The MLW Azteca era continues from Tijuana, Mexico, with the fallout from World Champion Alex Hammerstone being kidnapped from the arena last week at the orders from Cesar Duran. 

Savio Vega stepped up for the locker room as he faces Pagano in a hardcore match following Pagano turning on Hammerstone last week. Also, two MLW titles are on the line with Alex Kane defending the National Openweight title against Aerostar and 5150 defending the Tag Team titles against Destiny and Skalibur.  

A video package recapping Duran stacking the deck against Hammerstone and Richard Holliday aired. Holliday was removed from the building before Pagano turned his back on Hammerstone and helped Taurus and King Muertes beat down the champion. The video ended with Karlee Perez telling Duran, “Do you understand that this is a force that we can’t easily control once it’s released, right?”, teasing something big is on the horizon.

Duran then addressed the viewing audience from his office. He called the fans “filthy renegades” and said they have turned our backs on him after sticking up for Hammerstone. He is in complete control of MLW and everyone should use Hammerstone as an example as everyone needs to bend the knee and respect his power.

MLW Tag Team Champions 5150 (Slice Boogie and Rivera) defeated Skalibur and Destiny to retain the titles

We saw our first glimpse of the special outdoor arena in Tijuana. It was daylight as 5150 made their entrance after they had cut a promo against the MLW tag division, hyping up their next match against The Von Erichs in Dallas at the end of the month.

Konnan was out with 5150.

After an early break, Destiny and Skalibur hit dives onto the champions on the floor. 5150 played the heels well as they cheated behind the referee’s back as Konnan bad-mouthed the three rows of fans facing the camera that made up the crowd.

Rivera had a close two count after Boogie launched him across the ring to knock Skalibur off the apron before Boogie hit a big Vader bomb elbow onto Destiny, but the crowd favorite kicked out at two.

Skalibur flew through the air as he got the hot tag and helped Destiny power bomb Rivera onto Boogie as the action broke down. Moments later, Rivera spike DDT’d Destiny as Boogie held him and slammed him with a powerful German. 

Skalibur got caught with a big boot and the 456 Headcrack: a double foot stomp from Rivera while Skalibur was on Boogie’s shoulders, followed by a death valley driver for the win and successful title defense.

Konnan got on the mic and called out Aerostar and Drago who answered the challenge and brawled with the champions.

— Alicia Atout met up with Savio Vega who said Duran promised to give him the IWA back if he can beat Pagano in tonight’s hardcore match. Duran had purchased the Puerto Rican-based company in storyline last season.

— Emilio Sparks caught up with nZo who explained why he attacked KC Navarro recently. He said it was about respect and that he taught Navarro a lesson: he should never turn his back on anyone. Later in the night, we heard that nZo has been suspended because of the attack and because he didn’t issue an apology.

— It was announced that Davey Richards has signed a multi-year contract with MLW. Later in the night, he was attacked and his Opera Cup trophy was stolen was allegedly stolen.

— The speculation on Hammerstone’s whereabouts continued when Holliday tried to get into a room guarded by three masked henchmen of Duran. Atout then dragged him off, saying it wasn’t worth it and he was just playing into his games.

— 5150 were backstage when a masked Duran associate gave them a piece of paper saying they will defend the titles against Aerostar and Drago next week.

MLW National Openweight Champion Alex Kane (w/ Mr. Thomas) defeated Aerostar to retain the title

Kane used his power advantage early on, but Aerostar hit a corkscrew plancha and a headscissors takeover to begin the power vs. high flyer story that played throughout the match.

The commentators talked about the ongoing storyline between Kane and Calvin Tankman, talking about how Tankman was arrested and Kane made it legally impossible for Tankman to be here tonight. Rich Bocchini questioned if Kane was dodging Tankman.

Aerostar slipped out of a suplex and Aerostar hit a step up tope dive to the floor on top of both Kane and Mr Thomas. Aerostar then went up top, but as Thomas distracted the referee, 5150 ran out, pushed Aerostar off the top, and clocked him with a big clothesline. 

Kane then quickly locked in a Kata ha jime and the referee called for the bell as Aerostar passed out.

— Sparks then caught up with Duran backstage and asked him where Hammerstone was. An odd-looking masked henchman took some orders from Duran before taking a dressing down from him too. Then, before Duran could get anything of value out to Sparks, EJ Nduka appeared and asked Duran the same question about Hammerstone. Nduka was invited into Duran’s office to talk privately and he begrudgingly went in as Sparks chased down the henchman.

— We saw a darkened room where Mads Krugger was tied up in chains and held by more of Duran’s masked henchmen. Karlee Perez was there and after Krugger said he wanted Jacob Fatu, Perez said he will first face Bestia 666 next week.

— Sparks was then outside as he had been following the odd-looking henchman from earlier. We saw him go down some stairs as Sparks was in close pursuit.

Pagano defeated Savio Vega in a hardcore match

Pagano hit a slingshot elbow for an early two count. Some chops, big right hands and clotheslines followed before the hardcore action started as they brawled around ringside.

The outdoor setting gave them a few different environmental objects to use. An example: there was a steel gate that Vega went headfirst into, busting him open.

Pagano hit a springboard dropkick from the top rope before he set Vega on the top rope and brought out a bag of thumbtacks. Pagano went up but Vega fought him off and front suplexed him face and chest first into the thumbtacks. When getting to his feet, Pagano picked up a handful of tacks and threw them in Vega’s face as he came off the top rope.

Pagano then put a chair on top of Vega as he tried to get his eyesight back and hit a moonsault from the top rope onto the chair to pick up the win. Duran keeps the IWA after all.

 — We then caught back up with Sparks who followed the odd masked henchman down a darkened corridor. We passed two locked rooms that had “Salina” and “Killstop” handwritten on them. We heard female screams to indicate this is where Salina de la Renta has been all this time since Duran made his first appearance.

The masked henchman was at the door at the end of the corridor that had “Hammerstone” written on it. The champion had his arm through a small window and the henchman by the throat. The henchman took the mask off and it was Holliday who unlocked the door and helped Hammerstone escape as MLW Azteca went off the air.

Next week:

– MLW Tag Team Champions 5150 (Slice Boogie and Rivera) vs. Aerostar and Drago in a title match

– Mads Krugger vs. Bestia 666 in a Tijuana street fight

MLW Fusion results: National Openweight title ladder match

Posted on by Iain Oliver

This week’s edition of MLW Fusion was their special 2021 Thanksgiving episode where a new MLW National Openweight champion was crowned and the 2021 Opera Cup finals were set. Rich Bocchini and Joe Dombrowski called the action from Philadelphia.

We opened with a well-produced video package highlighting last week’s Contra Unit implosion at the end of the War Chamber match. The storyline is that Josef Samael, Mads Krugger and Jacob Fatu all claimed to be the leader of the heel stable which obviously caused tension between the group and cast doubt if they could trust each other.

Another layer to the story is Samael having contractual control over Fatu’s matches. Before the Chamber match, Fatu found out that Samael has yet to arrange a rematch against Alexander Hammerstone for the MLW title and has yet to reveal why he is stalling.

After their War Chamber loss, the group finally imploded and the show ended with Fatu, Krugger and Ikuro Kwon brawling all over the arena with security failing to keep them all apart.

TJP defeated Calvin Tankman to advance to the 2021 Opera Cup finals

Despite the loss, Tankman got a lot here, especially in the first half. Tankman was not 100% storyline-wise as in recent weeks, Alex Kane and King Mo have tried to take him out of the tournament because Kane has been waiting to replace someone as a tournament substitute. TJP was great here and is continuing his great run at the moment.

They played the smaller cocky heel coming up against the bigger powerful babyface well. Tankman showed his dominance early on by throwing him around the ring as TJP tried to find an opening into getting the upper hand. TJP stalled to play some mind games as went to a break.

Back from the commercial break, the action picked up with more power throws from Tankman. He even tried a dive, but TJP dodged it by disappearing under the ring. This break in the action brought out Kane and a new tall, muscular accomplice to the ramp for the distraction. TJP sprayed water in Tankman’s eyes behind the referee’s back and came off the top with a crossbody to get his advantage.

TJP focused his attacks on Tankman’s forehead that had been busted open during the recent attacks from Kane and Mo. Tankman blocked a roll-up attempt by powering TJP up to his shoulders by the head and neck, but TJP turned that into an octopus lock.

Kane and his newest friend (later revealed as “Mr. Thomas”) came to ringside and attacked Tankman while TJP distracted the ref in the ring. Back in the ring, TJP scraped his boot across Tankman’s face, but he exploded out of the corner and pounced TJP halfway across the ring. He then caught TJP with a backbreaker when he came off the top rope and leveled him with a clothesline.

TJP slipped out of a Tankman driver attempt with a kick to the head, but Tankman followed up with a pop-up back elbow seconds later. TJP kept going, dodged another back elbow and hit a tilt-a-whirl DDT. After some back and forth in the corner, TJP ripped off the middle turnbuckle pad. The referee was distracted by the pad which let Mr. Thomas and Kane interfere again and ram Tankman headfirst into the exposed turnbuckle. TJP then came off the top with a frog splash to pick up the win and his spot in the Opera cup finals against Davey Richards.

Alicia Atout caught up with TJP after the match as he confidently exclaimed that his hard work earned him that win.

— The announcers hyped up the new open-door policy MLW has introduced for free agents and announced Ho Ho Lun coming to MLW in January at the Dallas tapings.

— Atout interviewed Warhorse about him being Parts Unknown’s most interesting person of 2021. However, his attention was more on his name not being on the plaque in all caps. KC Navarro interrupted and got in Warhorse’s face which ended in a backstage brawl that set up a match for next week.  

— Emilio Sparks caught up with an irate Tankman backstage. Sparks asked him if the outcome of his match would have been the same if he joined Kane and Mo when he had the chance. Tankman snapped and held Sparks by his throat, saying, “Alex Kane is f*cked, plain and simple.” Tankman said Kane messed up his chance and took money away from him. Myron Reed came in and calmed Tankman down by saying it wasn’t the time and he will get his revenge against Kane “eye for an eye.” Tankman was good here and showed great emotion.

— The Von Erichs wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving from Hawaii and announced Marshall’s latest addition to his family, his second son, Archie Ross Von Erich. They asked Cesar Duran to give them a Tag Team title shot at the Dallas tapings in January. Later in the night, we heard this was granted. This will be the first title shot in Dallas for a member of the Von Erich family in 40 years.  

— We will see Taijiri defend the MLW Middleweight title against Atsuki Aoyagi of All Japan Pro Wrestling in two weeks. It will take place in Japan and is the first MLW title match of any kind in AJPW since Kojima’s world title defenses in the early 2000s.

Gnarls Garvin defeated Budd Heavy

This was a brief battle of the heavyweights, focused on showcasing Garvin in his promotional debut. Garvin battered Heavy from the opening bell, hitting a dropkick and a crossbody while Heavy was draped across the middle rope. A high angle backdrop driver helped the newcomer pick up the quick win.

Atout caught up with Garvin after the match and he rudely instructed her to get out of his interview time. He asked MLW to line everyone up, proclaiming “Big Beef is here.”

— Atout was earning her wages tonight with another interview, this time with MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone and Richard Holliday after we saw another recap of last week’s War Chamber match. Hammerstone and Holliday were presented with $35,000 Rolexes from Duran, but Hammerstone refused them as he called them “bait.”

— Sparks then met with Kane and Mr. Thomas. Kane announced him as the newest addition to his team, “Boombayah fight club, Mr. Thomas.” Tankman tried to attack them both, but was held back by security. All the while, Kane was playing it cool and didn’t even get up.

— Duran then had Atout and Sparks in his office and asked why he needed two reporters. They both had the chance to explain the angles they go for, but Sparks played the heel and disrespected Atout’s interview style. He called her cute while he is a war reporter. Karlee Perez walked in and said she likes them both. Duran and Perez said they want exclusives, scoops and dirt from the MLW roster. When Atout and Sparks left, Duran’s assistant returned the Rolexes from Hammerstone and Holliday which didn’t sit well with him.

Alex Kane defeated Alex Shelley, Zenshi, Myron Reed and ACH in a five-way ladder match to win the vacant MLW National Openweight title

With Zenshi, Reed and the returning ACH involved, this was going to be filled with high-flying spots and athletic dives. Kane and his bodyguard Mr. Thomas were a good base for catching the high flyers while Shelley was a good veteran presence to keep the match from going off the rails.

It didn’t take long for the ladders to come into play with Zenshi basement dropkicking one into Kane’s face. Speaking of Zenshi, the athletic middleweight springboarded from the apron and was able to brush the title belt with his fingertips in an amazing show of leaping ability. His showcase was halted moments later when ACH and Shelley took him out with a ladder.

Reed hit one of his many cutters by springboarding from the middle rope into ACH who was climbing a ladder inside the ring. Another cutter came minutes later when he hit Kane, but a ladder was shoved into the ring mid-jump so Reed landed back first onto it, stopping his momentum in his tracks.

ACH hit a German suplex onto Zenshi while he climbed a resting ladder in the corner of the ring. Kane then threw ACH onto the same ladder and Reed hit a huge dive to the floor onto Kane and Thomas in an action-filled minute.

Reed, ACH, Zenshi and Shelley climbed two ladders side-by-side. Zenshi and Reed touched the belt, but Zenshi was able to balance upside down on their ladder and headscissored Reed to the mat. ACH was knocked out of the ring, so Shelley climbed his ladder again but Kane came in and ragdolled him out of the ring. This left Kane alone to climb the ladder, take hold of the belt and declare himself the new National Openweight champion.

Tankman tried to get his hands on Kane again at the end of the match. Security and referees had to hold him back as Kane celebrated in the ring with his new title belt.

Final Thoughts:

This was a good episode that furthered some storylines and built up future matches. The Tankman vs. Kane feud took a big step after Kane cost him the Opera Cup final spot, followed by Kane winning the title in the main event which gives that future match some extra interest. If last week’s episode MVP was Fatu, this week’s was Kane. We saw a lot of his cool, chill personality with a few backstage segments and he was kept really strong in the main event title match with the cherry on top being his title win.

There was no CONTRA Unit on the show (other than video recaps) so the real fallout from the War Chamber is still to come. But as mentioned last week, it looks like we could be seeing some babyface Fatu matches shortly while a new direction for Hammerstone looks like a feud with Duran and his Azteca Underground warriors.

Next week:

  • TJP vs. Davey Richards in the Opera Cup finals
  • Sea Stars vs. Top Dogs
  • Warhorse vs. KC Navarro

In two weeks:

  • nZo’s MLW debut
  • MLW Middleweight Champion Tajiri vs. Atsuki Aoyagi title match

MLW Battle Riot III spoilers: A new World title challenger emerges

Posted on by Josh Nason

The following are spoilers from Saturday’s MLW Battle Riot III in Philadelphia, PA — the company’s first live taping since March 2020.

These matches will air on new episodes of MLW Fusion that begin this month, their first new shows since May. The Battle Riot match will debut on BeIn Sports on Saturday, July 24th.

  • Rustin Grundy defeated Anthony Catena
  • Delmi Exo (w/ Ashley Vox) defeated Brittany Blake
  • Alex Kane defeated Budd Heavy
  • Gino Medina defeated KC Navarro
  • The Von Erichs defeated Team Filthy’s Kevin Ku and Kit Osbourne in a bunkhouse brawl
  • Cesar Duran of Azteca Underground debuted with an in-ring promo, promising to bring the best luchadors with him. Duran is going to be the new MLW matchmaker.
  • Injustice’s Myron Reed and Jordan Oliver were doing a promo about wanting a tag title shot when the new LAX interrupted: Rivera (Danny Limelight), Julius Smokes, Slice Boogie and Konnan. The two had a pull-apart.
  • Calvin Tankman defeated Lee Moriarty. Afterward, King Mo and Alex Kane suggested Tankman join ATT. 
  • King Muertes defeated Richard Holliday for the Caribbean title after CONTRA Unit and Ikuro Kwon kicked Holliday.
  • National Openweight champion Alex Hammerstone defeated Tom Lawlor to retain
  • Ashley Vox (w/ Delmi Exo) defeated Willow Nightingale
  • Davey Richards defeated TJP
  • LAX (Rivera and Slice Boogie) defeated Jordan Oliver and Myron Reed
  • Aramis defeated Arez. This was said to be spectacular.
  • MLW World Champion Jacob Fatu defeated Matt Cross in a match booked by Duran
  • Alexander Hammerstone won Battle Riot III for a future World title shot. The 40 entrants included Davey Richards, TJP, Gringo Loco, Savio Vega, Kwang (Vega), Tom Lawlor, LA Park (Lawlor), Rivera, Slice Boogie, Kimchee, Zicky Dice, Alexander Hammerstone, King Muertes, Richard Holliday, Zenshi, Lee Moriarty, Arez, Kevin Ku, Mads Krugger. Myron Reed, Gino Medina, Calvin Tankman, EJ Nduka, Marshall Von Erich, Ross Von Erich, Aramis, King Mo, Bu Ku Dao, Alex Kane, Shawn Daivari, Kit Osbourne, Josef Samael, Ikuro Kwon, Simon Gotch, Blue Meanie

MLW returns to the venue on Saturday, October 2nd for Fightland.

MLW opts out of DAZN deal, Azteca Underground update

Posted on by Josh Nason

A year after signing a U.S. streaming deal with sports streaming service DAZN, MLW has opted out in lieu of working on a new contract.

Dave Meltzer reported the news in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

MLW will continue to shop their U.S. streaming and library rights as they continue to slowly pull content off their YouTube channel. It’s unknown how this affects MLW’s international contracts with DAZN as this deal was just for the U.S. market.

The original deal called for MLW Fusion to be both part of DAZN’s regular weekly schedule and on demand in addition to future live shows, the latter of which never materialized due to the pandemic.

“DAZN was decimated financially by spending so much on name boxers like Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin and some of their key players behind-the-scenes have left for WWE through Nick Khan. Their budgets got frozen once the Alvarez deal went south and it became a legal situation and the original ownership lost so much they didn’t want to fund more losses,” Meltzer wrote.

MLW will continue to air on BeIn Sports and Vice TV. The company has been airing Underground episodes from 2003-04 for the last month as they prepare for a TV taping in Philadelphia next month.

Other notes:

  • Meltzer noted that MLW will be taping vignettes and non-match content in Los Angeles starting Friday for Azteca Underground with the goal of looking like Lucha Underground. It’s unclear how the Cesar Duran-led group will fit into the MLW landscape storyline-wise (faction, separate promotion, etc.). He said matches for Azteca Underground will be filmed in the fall.
  • Arez has not yet signed a deal with MLW, but expects to when he comes to Philadelphia for the TV taping.
  • Aramis said he signed a three-year deal.

MLW Fusion results: Lio Rush vs. Myron Reed II, El Jefe revealed

Posted on by Iain Oliver

This week’s final MLW Fusion before their next set of TV tapings this July featured Myron Reed challenging Lio Rush for the Middleweight title, some big announcements, and the big reveal of Azteca Underground’s El Jefe.

Laredo Kid defeated Gringo Loco (9:19)

With both not having stellar recent records on Fusion, this was set up to propel one of these middleweights up the rankings in time for the start of the next season.

The story of the match from Laredo Kid’s point of view was that he was disgruntled at the finish of his loss to Lio Rush where he dropped the AAA Cruiserweight title. Kid thought Rush tapped out during the match and a replay showed the incident where Rush was trapped in a submission and hit the mat once with his hands. Kid wanted to appear on the same Fusion episode as the Rush vs. Reed rematch to make his point.

However, this was the first the viewing audience heard of the issue from that February match. If it is setting up Kid being a middleweight contender again or a rematch with Rush for the AAA title, I’m all for it.

Loco has unfortunately fallen into the Zenshi category in MLW: putting on some spectacular matches but not winning many. A very good worker that can pull off some spectacular moves for his size, he showed just that with a somersault dive to the outside that looked like it crushed Kid on the mats.

Kid hit an excellent top rope leaping hurricanrana while Loco was standing balanced on the middle rope. A huge top rope Spanish fly followed which won the match for Kid…who was then shown carrying the AAA Cruiserweight title that he had lost to Rush in a bit of a continuity error.

— Last week, Josef Samael said that he had overriding control over Jacob Fatu’s World title challengers. This week, National Openweight Champion Alex Hammerstone questioned why, if Fatu is so dominant, is Samael stopping the Hammerstone/Fatu match? He said Samael is the one that is scared, not Fatu, that his reign as champion is finally in danger.

Alicia Atout investigated the Fatu contract situation and confirmed that Samael does indeed hold control over Fatu’s opponents, apart from the Battle Riot winner who has a guaranteed title shot if they win. So, look for Hammerstone to be the firm favorite to win that.

— Atout also announced an MLW “open draft” will start next week on YouTube where we will see who will be competing in MLW’s next season starting in July, especially in the Battle Riot match. 

— Marshall Von Erich made a promise to everyone, especially Tom Lawlor, there were would be a reckoning for Lawlor in Philadelphia which would end with an Iron Claw.

IWA Caribbean Champion Richard Holliday defeated Ariel Dominguez (1:36)

Holliday quickly put Dominguez away with the 2008 (a twisting suplex) in a one-sided match. It was hinted that Holliday had put his feud with Gino Medina behind him after defeating him a few weeks ago, but during an interview after the match with Atout, Medina interrupted, blindsiding Holliday and leaving him laying after a DDT on the stage.

— The PWI top 10 heavyweight rankings from 10-1: Rocky Romero; Ross Von Erich; Calvin Tankman; Myron Reed; Mil Muertes; Richard Holliday; Mads Krugger; Lio Rush; Tom Lawlor; Alex Hammerstone.

Myron Reed defeated Lio Rush to win the MLW Middleweight title (15:56)

This was a fantastic title match, filled with flips, counters, springboards and exciting high flying action.

Up until January 2021, Reed had held the middleweight title for 14 months, but at Kings of Colosseum, Rush won the title and successfully defended against Laredo Kid (where he also won the AAA Cruiserweight title) and Brian Pillman Jr since then.

After losing the title, Reed took a side step to team with Injustice teammate Jordan Oliver to feud with CONTRA. But after coming away victorious against Daivari, Reed turned his attention back to Rush and his former title.

Rush went for his bottom rope springboard stunner early on, but Reed dodged and hit two springboard leg drops to the back of Rush’s head. Rush took control and focused on Reed’s lower back, but it didn’t stop him from hitting a huge running crossbody over the top rope to the floor once he fired back up.

Reed seemed to have Rush’s number during the midway portion of the match as he quickly countered and hit a springboard codebreaker out of the corner. Rush rallied and hit a reverse hurricanrana and a running Spanish fly but Reed kicked out. He then hit his own dive to the floor through the middle rope, followed by a corkscrew moonsault.

Reed countered Rush’s bottom rope springboard stunner again, this time with a springboard cutter and an air raid crash but he still couldn’t put Rush away.

Fatigue was kicking in at the 13-minute mark as Reed rolled to the apron to avoid a Rush aerial attack. From there, Rush countered a running cutter attempt to the floor from the apron by landing on his feet and slamming Reed’s head into the corner post and hitting another reverse hurricanrana on the floor. A frog splash in the ring followed, but Reed heroically kicked out.

Rush arrogantly took his time to try and hit an air raid crash of his own, but Reed countered with another of his own and his finishing springboard 450 splash to win the match and reclaim his title, becoming the first-ever two-time Middleweight champ.

The commentary team hyped up that they were now 1-1, so a rubber match could be in the cards next season. Calvin Tankman and Jordan Oliver joined Reed to celebrate his win.

We then cut to Boyle Heights in Los Angeles, CA, for the reveal of Azteca Underground’s El Jefe.

Last week, we saw Salina de la Renta’s turbulent relationship with Azteca Underground’s mysterious El Jefe crumble as she was led away under a hood for a face-to-face meeting. Even though she had guided LA Park and Hijo de LA Park to the MLW Tag Team titles, it was the only shining light in a season of disappointment for her, her clients, and her now-defunct Promociones Dorado.

Azteca Underground bought Promociones Dorado earlier in the season coupled with an unsuccessful attempt to pry the National Openweight title from Alex Hammerstone who beat both LA Park and Mil Muertes recently.

This week, we finally found out the identity of El Jefe as it was revealed that Dario Cueto is the man who has been pulling the strings of Azteca Underground. Cueto said de la Renta let down his believers after giving her access to the best luchadors on the planet. All he wanted in return was gold and violence. He said he is building a new temple and that “requires certain sacrifices” before the masked figure from last week dragged the hooded Salina off-screen.

A phone then rang as Cueto said, “July 10th. Philadelphia. I will see you there.”

Final Thoughts:

This was a great end to the MLW season and the next time we see first-run programming will be from the July 10th tapings in Philadelphia with fans in attendance.

Reed vs. Rush II was a great happy ending to the season and the Cueto reveal sets up the intrigue for next season, even if that reveal and a return of a Lucha Underground-esque angle was predictable.

The Battle Riot returning and the MLW draft starting next week will also help add to the hype between now and the action returning in July. According to the MLW website roster page, there are only current champions so look out for some new signings being announced very soon.

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.

MLW Fusion results: Tom Lawlor vs. Marshall Von Erich

Posted on by Iain Oliver

Fresh off winning the NJPW Strong Openweight championship, Tom Lawlor finally got in the ring with Marshall Von Erich on this week’s Fusion in a match more than a year in the making.

Ross Von Erich (w/ Marshall Von Erich) defeated Dominic Garrini (w/ Kevin Ku) (5:22)

In a prelude to the main event, RVE picked up a victory over the Team Filthy member. In storyline, RVE has been on an excursion to Japan to train with Keiji Mutoh and it showed as he showed a great ground game with counters to Garrini’s mat work and submissions.

RVE fought out of a triangle choke, won a forearm battle, and knocked Garrini down with a punt. Garrini locked in a guillotine choke but RVE fought out again. A frustrated Garrini tried a suplex but it was reversed and RVE hit his own sit-out version (essentially a kneeling falcon arrow) to pick up the win.

After the match, Lawlor rallied his troops and said he would fix the problem before getting his phone out to text a helping hand. We later found out it was disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy. Lawlor had what Donaghy called a “smaller than he is used to” envelope of cash to persuade him to help out.

Bu Ku Dao defeated Hijo de LA Park (w/ Salina de la Renta) (6:20)

Dao continued his winning ways with a victory over de la Renta’s charge. After pinning TJP last week with a spinning flatliner from the middle rope, Dao got the win here with the same finish, applying even more weight on Salina’s shoulders. She is under immense pressure from Azteca Underground’s mysterious proprietor (El Jefe) and was given one last opportunity to prove herself. This loss did nothing to help.

Jared St. Laurent and Ray Flores changed their tune as they said a masked man was hovering near the announce position watching the proceedings as Dao took to the sky and hit Hijo with a dive to the outside.

Hijo showboated whenever he was on offense, wasting precious seconds after a meteora in the corner. Moments later when Dao was on the middle rope, Hijo gyrated again which gave Dao the opening to hit his spinning flatliner for the win.

— Alicia Atout interviewed Marshall Von Erich ahead of the main event, but Lawlor interrupted. He and ref Donaghy got MVE to take a urine test for drugs. Later, MVE returned the test by throwing the contents back in Lawlor’s face.

— De la Renta was taken away from the arena under a hood as a masked man dragged her into a car. Flores and JSL speculated she was being taken to a meeting with El Jefe.

— Atout caught up with National Openweight champion Alex Hammerstone after he laid out a challenge to World Champion Jacob Fatu last week. He questioned if Fatu was scared and if he was ready to climb Muscle Mountain barefoot. A CONTRA video played later in the night with Josef Samael saying he changed Fatu’s contract when CONTRA took over MLW headquarters last year. He controls who can challenge Fatu and Hammerstone’s challenge has been denied.

— The advertised Lio Rush vs. Myron Reed 2 media event did not take place as Rush no-showed. Reed cut a promo saying he was ready for next week while MLW fined Rush for the no-show.

Tom Lawlor (w/ Team Filthy) defeated Marshall Von Erich (with Ross Von Erich) (11:41)

MVE had just recently been cleared to return to the ring following a knee injury and was champing at the bit to get his hands, and the claw, on Lawlor.

Way back in 2019 when RVE had a World title shot against Fatu, then-Von Erich friend Lawlor turned his back on them by slamming a steel chair into RVE’s head. MVE was unable to help as he was taken out earlier in the night by a “masked assailant.” That led to Lawlor assembling Team Filthy and a feud that involved Low Ki, King Mo, Killer Kross and Davey Boy Smith Jr. at various points.

The story was MVE’s previously injured knee which Lawlor targeted from the get-go. Ku and Garrini distracted the referee as Lawlor used a wrench to attack it further. Lawlor controlled 90% of this match as MVE sold the knee very convincingly. A few hope spots here and there were thwarted by Lawlor always going back to the knee.

MVE fought out of a submission hold by locking in the claw but as he got to his feet, Lawlor slammed him back down to the mat with a uranage slam. Later, MVE valiantly fought up from a guillotine choke with a claw slam.

The closing moments saw a submission battle with Lawlor trying leg holds while MVE was going for the claw. Lawlor locked in a side single crab as MVE heroically held on as long as he could before passing out from the pain. The referee called for the bell and declared Lawlor the winner.

After the match, ACH ran in to save the Von Erichs from a 3-on-1 beatdown which led to a six-man brawl as Fusion went off the air.

Final Thoughts:

This week featured a great main event that keeps the door open for a rematch in front of fans in the summer. The involvement of ACH sets up potential multi-man matches as well. The very intriguing story involving Salina de la Renta and Azteca Underground should be leading towards the return of Lucha Underground, and an unveiling of the mysterious El Jefe could lead to more surprises down the road.

I am looking forward to fans being back in the arena when MLW returns to Philadelphia in July. Hopefully, we get to see the big fights that have been hyped up recently.

Next week:

  • Middleweight Champion Lio Rush vs. Myron Reed for the title
  • IWA Caribbean Champion Richard Holliday in action

MLW Fusion results: TJP, King Mo, Rocky Romero, big announcement

Posted on by Iain Oliver

Former tag team partners clashed as Bu Ku Dao looked for revenge against the man he used to look up to and the man who turned his back on him: TJP. The show also featured Rocky Romero, the return of King Mo and a big announcement about MLW returning to running shows with fans.

Rocky Romero defeated Gino Medina (8:58)

With no connected storyline and little to no build, this initially felt like a match just to fill time but it turnout to be anything but. Following up from his recent appearances on New Japan Strong, Romero put on a clinic and picked up the win with a cross armbar.

Medina was coming off a loss to rival Richard Holliday last week so the pressure was on for a bounce back, but Medina fell victim to Romero’s ground game early on and was restricted in his attacks.

The former IWGP Jr. heavyweight and IWGP Jr. Tag Team champion started strong and after shaking off a 540 kick from Medina, he connected with a finger poke to the eye, a baseball slide dropkick and a dropkick to the back as Medina was draped across the middle rope.

Medina kept up with Romero in the latter stages but was on the receiving end of a jumping knee, tornado DDT and a suplex right into an armbar to give Romero the submission victory.

— Speaking of Holliday, he announced the Dynasty’s latest marketing campaign: a poster of National Openweight champion Alex Hammerstone as a “muscle mountain” theme park ride. Alicia Atout was quick to point out that an unfortunately placed hammer was giving him a “hammer d*ck.”

— Tag Team champions Los Parks threatened Salina de la Renta, saying if she failed again, El Jefe will not be happy. Speaking of Salina, she will have “an opportunity” next week after we overheard a phone call from El Jefe.

— The PWI top 10 singles rankings from 10-1: ACH, Calvin Tankman, Myron Reed, Mil Muertes, Low Ki, IWA Caribbean champion Richard Holliday, Mads Krugger, Middleweight champion Lio Rush, Tom Lawlor, and National Openweight champion Alex Hammerstone.

— A Reed vs. Rush rematch was hyped with a video package and a Rush interview. Rush defeated Reed to win the Middleweight title a few months ago and successfully defended the title against Laredo Kid and Brian Pillman Jr. 

King Mo defeated Robert Martyr (1:17)

After eight weeks of heavy training with American Top Team, Mo was back in action following his loss against Low Ki on Lawlor’s Filthy Island episode. Mo powered up from a triangle choke attempt and slammed poor Martyr into oblivion, getting the win moments later with a side choke.

Dan Lambert got on the mic and complained about the Filthy Island Low Ki finish, saying he didn’t tap out. Mo said he would break Ki in half the next time he saw him.

— Lawlor challenged Marshall Von Erich who later responded, saying he will see him next week.

— Atout interviewed MLW CEO Court Bauer who revealed that MLW will be coming to Vice TV this May and that Rush vs. Reed 2 will take place on May 5 on a show that will close out the season. That’s because the next set of TV tapings will be in front of a crowd in Philadelphia at the 2300 Arena on July 10.

— Josef Samael interrupted the video with a CONTRA propaganda video. He warned Bauer that he can walk in the back door of MLW headquarters again and take control at the snap of his fingers. He says the flag of CONTRA will fly in Philadelphia on July 10.

Bu Ku Dao defeated TJP (13:38)

This was hyped as “idol vs. protege” as the former tag team partners clashed. Dao and TJP went far as a team, becoming no. 1 contenders but just coming up short against Los Parks a few months ago. After the match, TJP turned his back on Dao who looked up to TJP as a mentor.

This match was originally scheduled for a few weeks ago but TJP attacked Dao backstage and the match was pulled. TJP was subsequently fined and suspended and continued to bad mouth Dao during interviews.

Dao wanted to show he belonged in MLW, but it was TJP who took the action to the outside and slammed Dao into the ring apron. TJP worked on Dao’s back throughout the body of the match, hitting a backbreaker and a powerbomb. TJP used his experience by locking in a surfboard as Dao screamed in pain.

Dao got an opening, hitting a bottom rope tope and firing up with a running bulldog. TJP caught him with a dropkick coming off the middle rope, but Dao returned the favor and slammed TJP off the top moments later. The match went back and forth as TJP popped up to the top rope and superplexed Dao, followed by an abdominal stretch.

The referee got knocked down as Dao had TJP down for the visual three count with a crucifix. Moments later, Dao revived the ref and came off the top with a spinning face-first flatliner to give him the massive upset win.

Alex Hammerstone’s press conference

After defeating Mil Muertes last week, Hammerstone promised to hold a press conference to let the world know his next steps as he and MLW World Champion Jacob Fatu have been on a collision course ever since he was announced as number 1 contender dating back to last year. The press conference was short and sweet as Hammerstone said he was tired of having two heavyweight singles titles. He then challenged Fatu to a title vs. title match as Fusion went off the air.

Final Thoughts:

We are finally getting fans back at events and are finally getting Tom Lawlor vs. one of the Von Erichs and a Fatu vs. Hammerstone title match. This episode mostly hyped the future more than showcasing what was actually on the show, but the action we saw was good and similar to last week, it featured some of the better in-ring matches we have seen.

Next week:

  • “Filthy” Tom Lawlor vs. Marshall Von Erich

Two weeks:

Lio Rush vs. Myron Reed title rematch set for May 5 MLW Fusion

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Image: MLW

Myron Reed is getting his rematch for the MLW Middleweight Championship.

On MLW Fusion this week, it was announced that Lio Rush will defend his Middleweight title against Reed on the Wednesday, May 5 episode of Fusion. Rush defeated Reed at MLW Kings of Colosseum this January to win the title.

MLW CEO Court Bauer appeared on Fusion this week and announced the Rush vs. Reed rematch for May 5. In storyline, Reed has activated his rematch clause after taking care of issues that he had with Contra Unit.

Before losing the Middleweight title to Rush, Reed had been champion since November 2019. Rush has had title defenses against Laredo Kid and Brian Pillman Jr. since winning the title.

Reed cut a promo on this week’s Fusion saying that he knows what needs to be done to defeat Rush this time. Reed said that while Rush is on the internet running his mouth, Reed is at the gym every morning at 5 a.m. working hard.

Bauer announced that Rush vs. Reed on the May 5 episode of Fusion will close out the current season of MLW. The promotion will return with a television taping at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 10. Fans will be in attendance at the tapings.

MLW has also announced that Tom Lawlor vs. Marshall Von Erich will take place on Fusion next Wednesday (April 28).

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.