Another well-known actor is joining the cast of The Iron Claw, the upcoming movie based on the lives of the famed Von Erich family.
Deadline reported Thursday that Maura Tierney has signed on to play Doris Adkisson, the matriarch of the Von Erich clan. She passed away in October 2015 in Hawaii at 82 years old.
Tierney has starred in NBC’s ER and NewsRadio, Showtime’s The Affair, American Rust, and Your Honor, FX’s Rescue Me, and a multitude of other film and TV roles.
The movie is being written and directed by Sean Durkin for A24 and will focus on the rise and fall of the Von Erichs from the 1960s through the present day.
The film has already attracted Zac Efron (High School Musical, Firestarter, The Greatest Beer Run Ever) to play Kevin Von Erich; Jeremy Allen White (The Bear, Shameless) to play Kerry Von Erich; Holt McCallany (Mindhunter, Lights Out) to play Fritz Von Erich; and Harris Dickinson (Trust, The King’s Man) to play David Von Erich.
Actor Holt McCallany will play Fritz Von Erich in “The Iron Claw,” the upcoming biopic on the Von Erich family.
News of McCallany’s casting was reported by Deadline on Monday. McCallany joins Zac Efron (Kevin Von Erich), Harris Dickinson (David Von Erich), and Jeremy Allen White (Kerry Von Erich) in the cast for the movie.
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Mindhunter’ star Holt McCallany is the latest to join the growing ensemble of A24’s ‘The Iron Claw,’ where he will play Fritz Von Erich, the patriarch of the familyhttps://t.co/y7K74NJZCw
McCallany co-starred in the television series”Mindhunter” and was previously the star of the short-lived series “Lights Out.” Deadline notes that McCallany “most recently wrapped shooting on ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning’ alongside Tom Cruise, ‘Nightmare Alley’ with Bradley Cooper, and the acclaimed ’61st Street’ for AMC.”
“The Iron Claw” is being written and directed by Sean Durkin. A24 and Access Industries are co-financing the film, and A24 is producing it.
Here’s the description for the movie:
Based on the true story of the Von Erichs, [The Iron Claw] follows the rise and fall of the family dynasty of wrestlers who made a huge impact on the sport from the 1960s to the present day.
Fritz Von Erich, the patriarch of the Von Erich family and the promoter of World Class Championship Wrestling, died of cancer in 1997.
“The Iron Claw,” the upcoming biopic on the Von Erich family, has cast its Kerry Von Erich.
It was announced via Deadline today that actor Jeremy Allen White will play Kerry Von Erich in “The Iron Claw.” White will co-star in the film alongside Zac Efron (Kevin Von Erich) and Harris Dickinson (David Von Erich).
EXCLUSIVE: Following the breakout success of #TheBearFX, Jeremy Allen White looks to have found his next big project. Sources tell Deadline that White is set to co-star opposite Zac Efron and Harris Dickinson in A24’s ‘The Iron Claw’ https://t.co/dk0OUXiaem
White stars in the FX series “The Bear” and was previously part of the cast for Showtime’s “Shameless.”
“The Iron Claw” is being written and directed by Sean Durkin, who also wrote and directed the critically acclaimed film “Martha Marcy May Marlene” in 2011. A24 and Access Industries are co-financing “The Iron Claw,” and A24 is producing the movie.
“Based on the true story of the Von Erichs, [The Iron Claw] follows the rise and fall of the family dynasty of wrestlers who made a huge impact on the sport from the 1960s to the present day,” Deadline wrote.
The Von Erich family tragedy has previously been chronicled on Vice TV’s “Dark Side of the Ring” in 2019 and an edition of ESPN’s “30 for 30 Shorts” in 2015.
The story of the Von Erich family is closer to reaching the big screen.
Deadline reported today that Zac Efron is set to star in the film “The Iron Claw” about the Von Erich family. The movie is a drama and is being written and directed by Sean Durkin.
The report didn’t state which Von Erich family member Efron will be playing.
“Based on the true story of the Von Erichs, the film follows the rise and fall of the Von Erich family, a dynasty of wrestlers who made a huge impact on the sport from the 1960s to the present day,” Deadline wrote.
Durkin wrote and directed the critically acclaimed film “Martha Marcy May Marlene” in 2011.
Independent film company A24 is financing and producing “The Iron Claw.”
In 2019, an episode of Vice TV’s “Dark Side of the Ring” chronicled the tragedy of the Von Erich family. The documentary focused on Kevin Von Erich being the last surviving Von Erich brother. Kevin’s sons Marshall & Ross Von Erich currently compete for MLW.
ESPN also produced an edition of “30 for 30 Shorts” on the Von Erichs in 2015.
The new-generation Von Erichs and Samoan Swat Team will clash at MLW Battle Riot IV.
MLW has announced that The Von Erichs (Ross & Marshall Von Erich) will take on The Samoan Swat Team in a tag team match at Battle Riot IV on Thursday, June 23. The show, which is a television taping for MLW Fusion, is being held at the Melrose Ballroom in New York City.
The Samoan Swat Team consists of Jacob Fatu, Lance Anoa’i, and Juicy Finau. MLW hasn’t announce which two team members will be in the match.
Anoa’i and Finau have recently signed contracts with MLW. In their first time teaming together, Anoa’i & Finau defeated Los Aztecas (Uno & Cinco) at May’s Kings of Colosseum tapings.
Ross Von Erich, Marshall Von Erich, Fatu, Anoa’i, and Finau have also all been announced as entrants for the 40-man Battle Riot match at MLW Battle Riot IV. The winner of the Battle Riot will receive an MLW World Heavyweight Championship shot whenever they want it.
Here’s the updated lineup for the tapings:
40-man Battle Riot match
MLW World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone defends against Bandido
Joe Dombrowski and Rich Bocchini welcomed us to Charlotte, North Carolina and ran down the card for tonight: Marshall & Ross Von Erich are forced to face their friends in Ricky Morton and his son Kerry, Myron Reed defends his Middleweight title against TJP, plus the return of Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat.
**********
Cesar Duran came to the ring to open the episode and said Charlotte is no Mexico and is a trash can full of ghosts. He talked foul of the legends and older wrestlers who have graced Charlotte over the years, which of course brought out Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat to confront him.
Steamboat told us all that he was the guest matchmaker for tonight as Duran is under investigation by MLW. As Duran was being led away by security, a masked henchman tried to attack Steamboat but “The Dragon” got the better of him.
Steamboat was about to tell us some good news, but Richard Holliday and Alicia Atout decided to interrupt and try to get Steamboat to announce Holliday as the number one contender. Atout said her man wants “a big match.” Steamboat teased announcing Alex Hammerstone vs. Holliday but instead gave him Matt Cross.
Emilio Sparks caught up with new MLW Tag Team Champions EJ Nduka & Calvin Tankman. Tankman dedicated their title win to his baby daughter. They were then congratulated by Middleweight Champion Myron Reed before his title defense against TJP.
MLW Middleweight Champion Myron Reed defeated TJP to retain his title
In a pre-match video package, TJP said he was bigger, stronger, and better than Reed, and if Reed was to do what TJP did by the time he was 24, Reed would need to live for 100 years. Reed said he didn’t care how long TJP had been doing this and it was his job to slay the dragon and get him out of here.
They had a really good match that built slowly and was given plenty of time to reach a hot finish.
After an early exchange, Reed extended his hand — but TJP took a cheap shot. Reed got his revenge moments later with a dropkick to the face, but the champion’s shine didn’t last too long as he landed hard on his shoulder and TJP drove him into the ring post.
TJP pulled out his usual repertoire of slow methodical heel traits like boot scrapes mixed in between his crisp fluid transitions and targeted attacks. He kept going back to the shoulder, locking in an octopus hold before switching to a surfboard.
Reed had enough of the cocky TJP, so he took his chance and hit a huge dive to the outside to swing the match in his favor. Inside, Reed hit a leg drop while the challenger hung on the middle rope, then hit a big enzuigiri to floor TJP.
Reed tried to hit his running cutter to the floor while TJP was on the apron, but TJP reversed to a neckbreaker on the apron. TJP then hit a frog splash for a close near fall. TJP locked in a Fujiwara armbar after Reed missed a springboard 450 splash, but the champion got to the ropes.
TJP went for a second frog splash, but Reed caught him in mid-air with a cutter out of nowhere to pick up the win and retain his title.
Richard Holliday (w/ Alicia Atout) defeated Matt Cross
Holliday was quick to be the aggressor, but Cross had the crowd on their feet minutes later with a handspring elbow and a dive to the floor.
Cross was tripped while on the middle rope and he dropped back and neck-first on the top turnbuckle. Holliday took him out with a hard clothesline, then Atout added insult to injury with a slap behind the referee’s back.
Cross fired back with a springboard crossbody, but Holliday returned with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker as the action started swinging back and forth. Cross reversed Holliday’s finisher before he hit his Cross Cutter, but Holliday kicked out.
Holliday hit a pop-up right hand after he dodged Cross’ Shooting Star Press. Holliday finally put Cross away with his suplex swinging neckbreaker “2008” finisher.
Bocchini tried to get a word with Holliday and Atout, but Atout stole the mic as she was “the true interview queen.” Holliday then told us all that The Dynasty was always about him and that he and Atout now run the show.
We had an in-depth look into Tag Team Champion EJ Nduka as we heard stories from earlier in his life as he pursued a career in football. Nduka spoke about being part of WWE developmental and being released due to budget cuts. Nduka said one of the calls that he got after being released was from MLW, and their vision for the future coincided with Nduka’s.
Sparks then caught up with Alex Kane and Mr. Thomas, but they blew off his question when he tried to ask who was funding their Bomaye Fight Club.
Marshall & Ross Von Erich defeated Ricky & Kerry Morton
Kerry Morton and Ross Von Erich had a good early exchange. When Kerry’s dad tagged in, the Mortons hit some fan friendly double-team moves in this face vs. face matchup.
The Von Erichs hit the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express double dropkick finisher, which didn’t sit too well with Ricky as the Von Erichs started to show a few small heel tendencies. Moments later, after breaking up a pin, Ricky Morton hit Ross with a Destroyer to the shock of the announce team.
Marshall locked in The Claw on Ricky. Kerry tried to get Marshall to break the hold and shouted “What are you doing?” as the friendly rivalry started turning a bit sour. Ross grabbed Kerry and rattled him with a few right hands before helping his brother hit The Claw Slam to pick up the win.
After the bell, the two teams had a shoving match before Julius Smokes came out and bad mouthed all four competitors, which caused the distraction so 5150 could come through the crowd and attack them from behind.
Even after their heated match, the Von Erichs and Mortons regrouped and sent Rivera and Slice Boogie packing as Fusion went off the air.
New Tag Team Champions were crowned in the main event of this week’s MLW Fusion.
Los Parks (LA Park & El Hijo de LA Park) defeated Marshall & Ross Von Erich in a tornado tag match to win the MLW Tag Team titles. In storyline, Salina de la Renta was the executive producer of this week’s MLW Fusion episode. De la Renta said she cut a deal with Park for Park and his sons to re-join Promociones Dorado if she could get them a title match. Park had threatened to retire if he didn’t get a title shot.
De la Renta also made Tom Lawlor, a rival of the Von Erichs, the special guest referee for the Von Erichs vs. Los Parks Tag Team title match. Lawlor was biased against the Von Erichs throughout the match, including doing fast counts when Los Parks went for pins and refusing to count to three for the Von Erichs at one point.
After Lawlor was sent to the outside during the match, de la Renta sprayed something into Ross Von Erich’s eyes and LA Park Jr. got involved. Lawlor recovered and quickly counted the pin.
Prior to losing the titles to Los Parks, the Von Erichs had been MLW Tag Team Champions since November 2019.
A huge eight-man tag was the main event as WWE’s Killer Kross teamed with Davey Boy Smith Jr. & the Von Erich brothers to defeat Team Filthy (“Filthy” Tom Lawlor, Erick Stevens, Dominic Garrini & Kit Osbourne).
El Lindaman defeated Zenshi in a great opener.
An ex-ECW star returned to Philadelphia as Mance Warner’s pick to face Richard Holliday.
Full Recap —
El Lindaman defeated Zenshi (8:09)
Zenshi was selling his shoulder injury from Dominic Garrini a few weeks ago. That came into play a few times throughout the match and eventually cost him the bout in the end.
They equaled each other in the early going after an impressive quick exchange. Zenshi went for a handshake, but Lindaman slapped it away and rocked him with a forearm to the jaw. Zenshi came back with a standing moonsault, but surprisingly it was El Lindaman who took to the sky first with a summersault plancha to the outside.
Lindaman then went to work on Zenshi’s injured shoulder, but the high flyer soon fought back using his uninjured arm to handstand and eventually springboard himself into the ring and connect with an elbow drop. He launched himself into the ring again moments later and caught his opponent with a neckbreaker this time.
Zenshi landed on his feet off a German suplex but was snapped into a cross armbreaker seconds later. Lindaman locked it in, but Zenshi used his long legs to get to the ropes. Zenshi blocked another German suplex but instead ate a Northern Lights into the corner, then eventually a German — but this only got a two count.
Zenshi fought back with a backflip kick, then stayed one step ahead of Lindaman as he evaded four strikes and then hit three kicks of his own in a row. Zenshi went for an Ace Crusher but ate a Blue Thunder Bomb and a tiger suplex instead, which was enough to keep him grounded for the three count.
– Killer Kross, Davey Boy Smith Jr., and the Von Erichs hyped up their main event against Team Filthy. Smith talked about the family legacies and how far he was going to shove Garrini’s head up his own ass. Kross made fun of Team Filthy’s name and warned them “Everybody pays the toll.”
– Mance Warner wasn’t giving away any hints as to who his mystery man was to face Richard Holliday later in the night. And when Holliday met with Alicia Atout he guessed the participant: his garbage truck driver? Kwang? The ghost of Carlos Colon? Whoever it is they will be breathing rarefied air.
– Josef Samael warned us that the infiltration of the infidels is underway.
– Earlier in the day, Injustice tried to jump Brian Pillman Jr. and cut his hair ahead of his match with Jordan Oliver next week, but Davey Boy Smith Jr. made the save before they could get to his mullet.
The Blue Meanie defeated Richard Holliday by countout (4:53)
Meanie was announced as Mance Warner’s mystery choice to face Holliday and he got a good nostalgia pop from the Philadelphia crowd. This was a nice but relatively short comedy match.
They exchanged struts, but when Holliday suggested dancing together, he jumped Meanie from behind. Holliday rocked Meanie with a big clothesline, but the Blue Guy fought back with his Meanie jabs. He missed a big avalanche in the corner and Holliday floored him again with a back elbow.
Holliday got in Warner’s face at the announcer’s table and poured a beer out on the floor to the disgust of the Southern Psycho. Warner retaliated by spitting a beer in Holliday’s face. With all the distractions going on, Holliday got himself counted out!
– Atout was with Injustice and she brought up their “beef” with AAA. Oliver said he has a beef with MLW management and said Injustice are the real superstars. They sarcastically said hopefully Pillman is healthy for his match with Oliver next week.
– Low Ki hyped up his match with King Mo next week. He said Mo has fought some great fighters, and he appears a little punch drunk, but by the time Ki is done with him he is going to be kicked sh*t faced.
– Mo (with Atout) retaliated by saying Ki is a fraud. He said all he saw on YouTube was a little person getting bodyslammed. His American Top Team cornerman demanded that Ki have his own cornerman so he could throw the towel in.
– LA Park and El Hijo de LA Park then showed us how to cook sausages and eggs, using it as a euphemism to how they beat their opponents. They called themselves future champions of MLW.
– In a breaking news segment, we were told Mance Warner has challenged MJF to a loser leaves MLW match.
– Killer Kross, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Ross & Marshall Von Erich defeated “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, Dominic Garrini, Erick Stevens & Kit “Rip Von Erich” Osbourne. (7:56)
Lawlor took the mic before the match and said he felt at home in this garbage city. He said it was full of smart marks and insulted the fans. Lawlor was then told to “shut the f*ck up” by the crowd.
As you would imagine, this broke down immediately as all eight fought all over ringside. Lawlor and Ross eventually paired off in the ring as some order was restored. Ross missed a big splash in the corner, giving Team Filthy the opening to beat him down and gain the advantage.
Lawlor suplexed Stevens into Ross as he sat in his opponents’ corner, Garrini hit a belly-to-backbreaker, and even Kit Osbourne got in for a few cheap shots.
Kross got the hot tag and suplexed Team Filthy across the ring, but he ate a spinning heel kick from Lawlor. Kross was up seconds later though and dumped Lawlor on his head. Osbourne then hit a low blow on Smith behind the referee’s back, but Marshall locked in The Claw as Osbourne tried to hit Smith with a chair.
Marshall hit a Claw Slam and then a big moonsault to pick up the win over Osbourne. Smith put Osbourne through a wooden board for good measure after the bell.
But as the victorious team were leaving, they were jumped by Team Filthy again and they all brawled to the back. The brawl continued in the back as Fusion was going off the air, but out of nowhere King Mo appeared and broke a pipe over Killer Kross’ back. The announcer’s had just enough time to let us know that he has joined Team Filthy.
Editor’s Note: You can watch this week’s episode at the bottom of this post.
***The Big Takeaways***
The Dynasty had mixed fortunes in their very own episode of MLW Fusion. Gino Medina and Alexander Hammerstone beat, and unmasked, Septimo Dragon and Aerostar in singles action — moves that angered Konnan as foreshadowing to a future angle.
In the main event, Mance Warner helped even the odds and aid the Von Erichs in successfully defending the MLW tag team championships against MJF and Richard Holliday.
***Show Review***
We opened with a special Dynasty opening video montage intertwined with the usual Fusion package. Rich Bocchini was asked to read a prepared opening that not only hyped up all the Dynasty’s matches tonight, but, of course, it ridiculed and belittled their opponents like Septimo Dragon, Aerostar, and the Von Erichs.
We also got a shot of a flyer on the wall backstage letting us know that Mance Warner had been banned from the building.
The Dynasty edited tale of the tape had Dragon’s height as “pint sized”, weight as “malnourished”, style as “lucha lolz”, and hometown as “irrelevant.” Medina’s were “perfect”, :untouchable”, “better than Konnan”, and “Monterrey, Mexico.”
Richard Holliday joined the commentary team while we were told that Air Wolf’s MLW career is over thanks to the hands of CONTRA Unit’s Sentai death squad attack two weeks ago.
They went to the outside straight away with Dragon hitting a moonsault off the apron and then a suicide dive, landing on his feet each time. Back inside, both had a stalemate after a smooth exchange of rolling reversals, escapes, and feints but Dragon hit a headscissors after a handstand walk across the ring. Dragon went to the well once too often as Medina shoved him off after another headscissor attempt and took control.
Dragon cut him off shortly thereafter by getting his boot up on a charge in the corner and then hit a big springboard armdrag from the apron into the ring, but Medina hit a big spinning kick to the head to counter. Medina then rolled out of the ring and shoved Konnan, but he took his eye off the ball which allowed Dragon to hit a springboard Asai moonsault to the floor. He followed up with a stiff side kick to the face and a Spanish Fly on the inside for two.
Dragon hit a single leg springboard tilt-a-whirl DD, but Medina kicked out at two. He then went to the top, but missed a double foot stomp and Medina caught him with snake eyes, rolled him up with his feet on the ropes, and picked up the win out of nowhere.
— We saw Mance Warner outside the arena promising the fans they will see him and he isn’t going anywhere.
MLW National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone defeated Aerostar to retain (4:39 not including commercial break)
The Dynasty’s obnoxiousness continued as Aerostar’s namebar called him “Mexican Spaceman.” Konnan was on commentary talking about the AAA partnership with MLW. He said they will be sending talent to Mexico, and he Aerostar was coming off a huge win over Monster Clown in AAA.
Aerostar started quickly, hitting a middle rope dropkick and a springboard coffin drop that rocked Hammerstone, but as Aerostar looked like he was about to hit a dive, we went to commercial break.
Back from the break, we saw footage of Hammerstone powerbombing Aerostar on the ring apron and hitting a massive slam called the “Spinal Countdown” inside the ring. Back live, Aerostar hit a corkscrew splash off the top rope for a two count, and a rolling Ace crusher for another close two count as Hammerstone looked shaken.
Hammerstone crotched Aerostar on the top rope and then hit a massive middle rope delayed superplex for a two count of his own. A bicycle kick and German suplex followed, but the champion’s powerbomb was reversed and Aerostar nearly picked up the upset with a rollup.
For the second match in a row, a Dynasty member ripped off a luchador’s mask, except this time, it was still during the match and Hammerstone used the distraction to roll Aerostar up and pick up the win as Aerostar tried to cover his face from the crowd. Konnan confronted Hammerstone after the match before helping Aerostar to the back.
— We had another instalment of “Filthy Does Dallas.” In this week’s clip, Tom Lawlor and Dominic Garrini wished the Von Erich family luck from the hallowed ground of the Dallas Sportatorium, but Garrini was quick to point out the ground was covered in garbage. He said the Von Erichs have a big match coming up against Lawlor and Garrini “so don’t piss it away on the Dynasty”. Garrini and Lawlor then turned and urinated on the Sportatorium grounds.
— From outside the building, Mance Warner kept the theme going when he promised to “piss on the Dynasty’s party.”
— CONTRA’s weekly propaganda video had MLW World Champion Jacob Fatu calling out CIMA (and the rest of the world) to come and have a shot at his world title. We then heard CIMA will get his shot in three weeks on episode 100.
— Alicia Atout was backstage interviewing Davey Boy Smith Jr. and the Von Erich brothers. They talked about Smith’s grandfather training the Von Erichs’ grandfather and the strong unity between the two families. Smith said he had the Von Erichs’ backs (where have we heard that before?) and said he will have his eyes on Tom Lawlor and promised to catch up with him very soon.
— Warner and a case of light beer were outside the building as he ran into Dynasty whipping boy Grogan. They started downing beers and Warner was able to trick and persuade his way past Grogan into the building after giving him a few beers and pointing him in the direction of the dancing girls down the street. Grogan said that MJF was an assh*le anyway so we could be looking a short run in the Dynasty for MJF’s bodyguard.
MLW World Tag Team Champions Ross and Marshall Von Erich defeated MJF and Richard Holliday to retain (12:39)
This was a rematch from last year’s pay-per-view where the Von Erichs first won the titles. The Dynastic tale of the tape had Bank Account (“BROKE vs $$$”), Style (“Hillbillies vs. Handsome”), and IQ (“Brain Dead vs. 220”).
The Dynasty jumped the Von Erichs during their entrance as they were being handed flowers by some female fans in the front row. MJF and Holliday continued their beatdown and sneak attack, destroying the flowers in the process. Holliday hit a belly to back suplex on Marshall on the ring apron while they put the boots to Ross on the inside. They were goading Ross to tag his brother while cutting him off and repeatedly turning to the crowd to insult them. Holliday even dragged Marshall off the apron to stop him tagging in.
Ross got hit with a double team elbow drop but he kicked out easily. He then fired up with a big boot, but Holliday powered him back to the Dynasty corner. Holliday then hit a big suplex for a two count while MJF shouted “What was with that two count, cueball?!” to the bald referee.
Ross reversed a double suplex into a double neckbreaker and the crowd erupted to get the hometown hero over to his corner. He scratched and crawled and got the tag to his brother who sent MJF to the outside and crushed Holliday with a corner cannonball. The brothers then hit a combo kick/lariat, but Holliday somehow kicked out. MJF ran in guns blazing, but was sent to the outside. Ross then ran in and launched off his brother’s back, squashing MJF with a plancha over the top rope to the floor.
Marshall then went for a superplex off the middle rope, but Holliday reversed it into a Market Crash from the middle rope instead. MJF then came off the top rope with a big splash, but Ross jumped in and broke up the count just before three.
Alex Hammerstone was seen swaggering down to ringside, but behind him came good old Mance Warner who took out the National Openweight champion with a steel chair. Gino Medina came out and brawled to the back with Warner.
The Von Erichs dropkicked Holliday out of the ring and hit MJF with the Claw assisted back suplex to pick up the win to retain their titles.
***Next Week***
“Filthy” Tom Lawlor vs. Ross Von Erich
Erick Stevens in his MLW debut against Douglas James
Before they face off next month in Philadelphia, CIMA and Jacob Fatu captained opposing teams as CONTRA Unit took on Strong Hearts in an action-packed 6 man tag main event.
Davey Boy Smith Jr. made his way to the final of the Opera Cup at the expense of the Dynasty’s Alexander Hammerstone.
“Filthy” Tom Lawlor made a mockery of the Von Erich family when he choked out “Rip” Von Erich in his own special exhibition and later challenged Ross and Marshall to put their belts on the line next week on Fusion.
** Full Review **
— Mance Warner opened this week’s episode of MLW Fusion with a message for Jimmy Havoc. He recapped their rivalry and focused on his busted open forehead. He warned Havoc about their upcoming no rope barbed wire match in Texas and that he would be hitting the pay window this time.
— Rich Bocchini and AJ Kirsch welcomed us to the first Fusion of the decade and hyped up the Opera Cup and tonight’s semifinal between Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Alexander Hammerstone.
“Filthy” Tom Lawlor defeated Rip Von Erich in an exhibition match (3:20)
This was announced as an unsanctioned match as Lawlor came to the ring with a Von Erich t-shirt. He took the mic before “Rip” entered the arena and said everyone just wants to talk to him about the Von Erichs and called them all dumbasses. He didn’t think Marshall and Ross are real members of the family anyway. He announced his opponent as “from the loins of Lance Von Erich” to which the announcers correctly reminded us that Lance was not a real Von Erich.
Lawlor outpowered and weighed much more than his much smaller opponent. He got him in an airplane spin and choked him out with a chin lock paired with an Iron Claw to the forehead for good measure. Lawlor acted relieved his match was finally over and called for the ring announcer, who he called Joe Rogan, to give him a mic. He told “Rogan” to go do his podcast as he snatched the mic and told us he was undefeated against the Von Erichs and called them Hawaiian hillbillies.
This brought out Marshall and Ross but before they could get their hands on Lawlor, the Spirit Squad ran down and jumped them from behind. Lawlor took Marshall’s cowboy hat and paraded around the ring with it on. The Team Filthy cornerman also got involved in the beatdown.
— We saw a recap from two weeks ago when the Strong Hearts were attacked by CONTRA Unit during their interview.
— Richard Holliday and Alexander Hammerstone were backstage earlier in the day talking about how Gino Medina could become the newest member of the Dynasty. Salina de la Renta then joined them and said there was nothing they could give Gino that she couldn’t. Hammerstone told her to stop cockblocking them.
— Alicia Atout then interviewed Davey Boy Smith Jr. and asked him who the true power in MLW was between him and Hammerstone. Smith said he shines in the technical and submission wrestling division, and that when the fatigue sets in, he will lock in a submission and make Hammerstone tap like the bitch that he is.
In a non-title match, Davey Boy Smith Jr. defeated MLW National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone (w/Richard Holliday) in the semifinals of the Opera Cup (8:56)
MJF was on commentary and brilliant throughout. They hyped this match as two powerhouses but they started chain wrestling and sizing each other up. Hammerstone hit a back elbow behind the ref’s back but then ate one himself moments later. Holliday then grabbed Smith’s ankle and distracted him so Hammerstone could hit him with a bicycle kick to the face. Hammerstone hit a belly to back suplex on the outside guardrail and got a two count back inside.
Hammerstone then started beating down Smith. Holliday shouted that the ref should ask Smith in Canadian “if he gives up, eh?” and MJF called Hammerstone a bald eagle as he flew through the air to connect with a dropkick. MJF asked Kirsch on commentary if he thought that dropkick was “tough enough”.
Smith Hulked up and hit the ten punches in the corner, a big back body drop, a big boot and the leg drop of doom but Hammerstone amazingly kicked out. Smith then hit three rolling Germans for another close near fall.
Hammerstone landed on his feet off a back suplex and went for the Nightmare Pendulum but Smith reversed it into a crossface. Holliday distracted Smith and got up on the apron, but Hammerstone accidentally knocked him off when he missed a big boot. Smith then hit a running powerslam and a diving headbutt to pick up the win.
Smith will face the winner of next week’s Timothy Thatcher vs. Brian Pillman Jr. Opera Cup semifinal. Smith offered a handshake after the match and it looked like Hammerstone was going for it, but Holliday pulled him away and sent him to the back.
— Pillman Jr. was then interviewed by Atout about his Opera Cup match against Thatcher, but was interrupted by Kotto Brazil. Brazil was fed up with everything being about the Hart Foundation in MLW. He said Injustice were undefeated and warned Pillman that he might not make it to next week’s semifinal.
— We then got a CONTRA Unit propaganda video. Josef Samael warned everyone that you never see them coming. They called out the Hart Foundation and said Strong Hearts will also find out that they should not mess with the global dealers in violence.
— They ran the debut hype video for Erick Stevens.
CONTRA Unit (MLW Champion Jacob Fatu, Simon Gotch and Josef Samael) defeated Strong Hearts (CIMA, Shingehiro Irie and El Lindaman) (11:00)
CIMA and Gotch met with a chopfest to kick us off. They started at 100 mph and the Strong Hearts quickly had Gotch in the corner eating a dropkick to the back. CONTRA fought back and singled out Lindaman after a quick flurry by the 5’3” OWE star.
Fatu hit Lindaman with a superkick to the temple but Lindaman fired up and got Fatu off his feet with a slam attempt. But, the MLW champion’s size powered him over and he flattened Lindaman into the mat.
Irie tagged in and hit Gotch with a splash after springing back first off the top rope. He then reversed a Gotch piledriver and instead piledrove Samael on top of Gotch. Fatu came in and they met with double clotheslines but neither budged. They then collided with double crossbodies but Fatu got to his feet almost immediately as Irie writhed in pain on the ground. Fatu hit his handspring moonsault but CIMA broke up the pinfall attempt.
The action then broke down into a six-way brawl on the outside. Fatu chopped a ring post and was sent to the guardrail before he and Irie traded suicide dives onto each other. All three Strong Hearts then teamed up and got Fatu back inside. They chopped him but Fatu fought back with right hands. CIMA hit him with double knees from the top, Irie hit a rolling senton while he was draped on the middle rope, and Lindaman hit a bridging delayed German suplex for the close near fall only to be broken up by Gotch.
Lindaman then took out Samael with a somersault plancha to the outside. Back inside, Fatu caught CIMA with a pop-up Samoan drop and a 300-pound top rope moonsault to pick up the pin and the victory for his team.
Before we went off the air, Lawlor had a message for the Von Erichs. He said they were too dumb, stupid, and idiotic to see what is coming next. He challenged them to face his two star students next week with their tag team titles on the line.
** Next Week **
Timothy Thatcher vs. Brian Pillman Jr. in the second Opera Cup semifinal.
Tom Lawlor’s open challenge to the Von Erichs for their MLW tag team titles against two of Team Filthy’s top students.
LA Park’s Battle Riot golden ticket is back with its rightful owner as Bestia 666 defeated Mance Warner in a Mexican Death Match to return the ticket to Promociones Dorado.
Low Ki upstaged Ricky Martinez and Salina de la Renta again.
The Von Erich brothers defeated Contra Unit once again in anther wild red-hot brawl.
Full Recap —
Salina de la Renta opened up Fusion this week with an in-ring promo on Mance Warner. She said he has been running around with idiot’s luck, but his luck is about to run out. She brought out his opponent for this week — Bestia 666.
Bestia 666 (w/ Salina de la Renta) defeated Mance Warner in a Mexican Death Match (10:01)
Bestia victoriously represented Promociones Dorado here, which means that LA Park’s golden ticket is back with its rightful owner and Park can now cash in his title shot whenever he wants. Bestia picked up the win in this hardcore weapon-filled death match with a little help from de la Renta at ringside
The match began with a suicide dive from Bestia as Warner was making his entrance — and the wild action did not give up from there. They brawled around ringside, with Warner fish hooking Bestia with the ring bell hammer. De la Renta nearly had a collision with Warner when Bestia whipped Warner into the guardrail. A kendo stick was ruined over Warner’s back and Bestia’s head.
Warner hit a DDT on the ring apron before bringing out a wooden sheet and a pair of steel chairs. He put thumbtacks on the chair, but Bestia reversed him and threw him head-first into the tacks.
Inside, Warner had a trash can put over his head and was smacked with a steel chair a few times. He was then hit with the same can for good measure but was able to kick out at two.
Bestia set up the wooden board in the corner of the ring but ended up being speared through it. Warner then hit his running knee pad up/knee pad down but only got a two count.
As Warner was setting up his next devilish plan, de la Renta slipped Bestia something, then distracted Warner long enough for Bestia to throw powder in his eyes. A blinded Warner was then hooked up and driven through two seated folding chairs with a Muscle Buster, losing the match in the process.
– We saw a video of MLW correspondent Georgia Smith (Davey Boy Smith Jr.’s sister) and Alexander Hammerstone getting into a hotel elevator together and having a quick kiss before the doors closed.
– Kaci Lennox then met with Richard Holliday, Hammerstone, and Aria Blake of The Dynasty. She asked Hammerstone if the rumors of his relationship with Georgia were true, but Holliday changed the subject and Blake told her they had “no comment.”
– The MLW & Pro Wrestling NOAH working relationship was then announced via a video package.
– We then had a Contra Unit propaganda video. Josef Samael threatened the crowd by saying if he saw anyone try to start a riot like last time they were in that building, they will turn up the violence against the Von Erich brothers.
Low Ki defeated Ricky Martinez (4:17)
This was a rematch from a few weeks ago when Martinez let de la Renta down by being knocked out early in his match with Ki. Konnan was on commentary for this match, saying he has secrets involving de la Renta that she will not want out.
Martinez lasted longer here than in their previous match. He took Ki out early with a low dropkick and stayed on top for the opening moments.
Ki fought back and caught Martinez coming off the top with a rolling heel kick. Martinez came close with a facebreaker, but de la Renta began berating him, telling him to finish the job.
Konnan began taunting Salina with her cell phone that he has in his possession. Inside the ring, Ki got Martinez in the dragon sleeper, but de la Renta was screaming at him not to tap or she will end his career. Martinez ended up passing out, giving the win to Low Ki.
Angry at the outcome of the match, de la Renta left Martinez in the ring as she tried to get Ki back in her good books, but he left her high and dry.
– We then saw developments from Kotto Brazil’s online accounts showing that he is getting frustrated with MLW officials. We cut backstage to Brazil, Myron Reed, and Jordan Oliver cutting a promo on the referees and officials in MLW. They all say they want Justice.
– The cameras had caught up with “Filthy” Tom Lawlor earlier that day. He said he has been living a living hell. He isn’t happy that Fatu stole his title, but what Fatu didn’t steal was his soul. He wants a rematch with Fatu in New York City. He also challenged Contra Unit to a match inside the War Chamber in Dallas, Texas and told them to be prepared to be dismembered.
– Lennox then caught up with Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Teddy Hart and showed them the video of Georgia and Hammerstone. Smith Jr. was not happy and stormed off looking for his sister.
Marshall & Ross Von Erich defeated Contra Unit (Simon Gotch & Josef Samael) in an unsanctioned match (6:24)
Another wild tag brawl involving these four. There was a red hot crowd too that was firmly behind the Von Erich brothers as they defeated Contra Unit once again.
Contra tried their old tricks of instigating a riot with the crowd by inviting them over the barrier for a fight. Before they could, the Von Erichs entered and the fight was on.
The Von Erichs started the match off by coming off the top rope and applying stereo Iron Claw holds to Contra Unit. Contra fought out with eye rakes. Gotch was going after Ross’ knee while Marshall and Samael brawled and chopped each other on the outside.
Back in the ring, the numbers game played in Contra’s advantage as they started working over Marshall’s leg too. The Von Erichs fired up and hit a double dropkick on Gotch and a double running attack on both their opponents stacked in the corner.
Marshall then hit a huge moonsault off the top rope onto Gotch, but Samael made the save for his partner.
On the outside, Ross kicked a steel chair into Gotch’s face and brought it into the ring. He went to swing. Samael threw fire at the brothers — but Ross blocked it with the chair and then clobbered Samael over the head with his makeshift shield. Marshall made the cover and picked up the 1-2-3.
The fighting continued after the bell as Contra jumped the Von Erichs. Referees and officials came out to break up the fight, but it was to no avail. Riot police even came out to separate them, but the Von Erichs wanted to fight some more. Marshall & Ross’ music played throughout the post-match brawl.
Backstage at the gorilla position, Jacob Fatu took out some riot police with a steel chair and went after the Von Erichs as they came through the curtain. Tom Lawlor then appeared and began fighting with Fatu as the officials, referees, and police tried to break them apart again.
If you thought last week’s Sami Callihan vs.Mance Warner falls count anywhere match was crazy, wild, and chaotic — you ain’t seen nothing yet. The Von Erichs debuted and looked great, picking up the win for their team against Contra Unit in the main event.
Full Recap —
– We opened with a mock funeral for Sami Callihan and his MLW career, complete with a headstone in the middle of a graveyard. Narrated by Jimmy Havoc, he mocked Callihan for losing last week’s loser leaves MLW match against Mance Warner as we saw clips from the brutal match.
Havoc warned Warner that he will eventually end up the same too. At the end, the camera panned out to show Salina de la Renta and Havoc side by side, dressed in black like some modern version of the Addam’s Family. De la Renta ended with “Rest in peace… you warthog.”
Richard Holliday vs. Teddy Hart ended in a no contest
MJF joined Rich Bocchini and Jim Cornette on commentary for what seemed to be our opening contest. As Hart was making his entrance, he approached the announce table and confronted MJF. This led to Holliday blindsiding Hart and MJF and Holliday beating Hart down.
MJF hit Hart with Hart’s own Middleweight title belt, then MJF and Holliday ran off with said belt.
– We had a video recap of the Warner vs. Callihan match from last week, including the events leading up to the encounter with de la Renta. We then cut to a taped promo from Warner saying he was played like a fool and was used to get Callihan out of MLW.
Warner challenged Ricky Martinez, El Hijo de LA Park, and finally LA Park himself. Warner ended by calling out Jimmy Havoc, saying he has a head like a baseball and he is going to hit a home run and send it back to the UK. One-by-one Warner is going to take Promociones Dorado out.
Jordan Oliver defeated Isaias Velazquez (4:34)
Oliver is now paying homage to 1992 WWF by dressing in a full body orange “Nailz” jumpsuit. Luckily, he was rather more athletic than the Big Bossman’s prison foe and finished off Velazquez with a cutter off the middle rope.
Velazquez had a bright start, evading Oliver’s attacks, hitting a high dropkick, and connecting with a soccer kick off the apron. But Oliver then crotched him on the top rope and hit what initially looked like a springboard DDT, but he spun to make it a cutter — his first of many. Myron Reed appeared in the crowd with his #Justice sign that the commentators mentioned.
Velazquez came close with a springboard takedown out of the corner, but he then missed a double foot stomp from the top. That let Oliver hit a springboard stunner from the apron, then Oliver leapt off the middle rope for a cutter to pick up the win.
– We saw cell phone footage of Dynasty leaving the building, apparently with Teddy Hart’s Middleweight title.
Low Ki defeated Tom Coffey (0:10)
Ki picked up the KO win with the same running elbow to the face that knocked Ricky Martinez out last week.
After the bell, the cameras caught Ki coming through the Gorilla position. He told us that the top level athletes come here to MLW. He called out Contra Unit and told them the Pandora’s box that they opened is now coming for them. Ki said that they are now in the sights of “the professional.”
MLW World Heavyweight Champion “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich defeated Contra Unit (Simon Gotch, Josef Samael & Jacob Fatu) in a tornado tag match (7:42)
The Von Erich brothers made an excellent debut and looked outstanding in this wild and mental main event. The action was everywhere and was non-stop from the opening bell.
Contra showed their first signs of vulnerability as Lawlor and the Von Erichs matched them for brawling, brutality, and balls. Weapons were swinging, fists were flying, and Von Erich dropkicks were launching high into the air. Gotch took the pinfall loss after a back suplex assisted Iron Claw slam from the Von Erichs.
Gotch got nose-to-nose with a fan at ringside as Fatu tried to bait others to come over the rail and try their luck. Someone did try their luck, not a fan, but Lawlor as he gave them a taste of their own medicine and blindsided Contra and jumped them from behind. He was closely followed by the Von Erich brothers as the tornado six-man brawl got underway.
The Von Erichs applied the Claw holds to Gotch and Samael before Fatu made the save. Marshall and Fatu then went at it, with the Von Erich brother getting the better of the Samoan. Samael and Gotch joined in — and quickly the numbers game played in Contra’s advantage.
Lawlor had a rear naked choke on Fatu on the outside, but Lawlor ate the guardrail soon after. Fatu entered the ring with a chair, but it was bounced back off his skull with a Von Erich dropkick. Fatu was then sent flying with a double dropkick from the brothers.
The fast and chaotic start slowed down as the six brawled around ringside. Lawlor was suplexed on the apron multiple times and was then duck taped to the ring post.
Samael used a steel chair on the Von Erichs before getting them into the ring. Fatu hit his springboard jump-up moonsault off the top rope onto both Von Erichs as Marshall jumped on top of Ross to try and soften the blow.
A referee cut Lawlor loose and he appeared with a piece of wooden board and obliterated it over Fatu’s head. No hands up, no protection, full on exploding wood straight over the head. Fatu stayed on his feet, so Lawlor went “Filthy” and kicked him between the legs to take him out of the action.
Samael was taken out with wood to the gut from Lawlor and a dropkick from the barefoot Marshall, who sprang to his feet and called for the Claw. He applied the Iron Claw to Gotch, and with the help from his brother Ross hitting a back suplex, they Iron Claw suplexed Gotch down to the mat for the win in their MLW debut, handing Contra Unit their first official pinfall loss.
Contra did not give up after the bell. Officials came out to break up the fighting as Lawlor and the Von Erichs held their own. During the melee, MLW producer Alex Greenfield fell and hit his head. When he eventually made it back to his feet, he was floored again and choked by Gotch to the disgust of Cornette and Bocchini.
Ring announcer Tim Barr also took a right hand from Fatu as the action and brawling was spilling everywhere. Lawlor reappeared and choked Fatu with one of Contra’s spikes. Bocchini made the call of the night to perfectly describe the scene: “This is nuts!”
Fatu put a referee through a table and Samael smacked the ref with a chair. They then went after Bocchini and Cornette on the entrance stage as Lawlor and the Von Erichs celebrated inside the ring.
The Von Erichs and Contra Unit are set to face off in an “unsanctioned match” at July’s MLW television tapings in Cicero, Illinois.
MLW has announced Ross & Marshall Von Erich vs. Contra Unit (Josef Samael & Simon Gotch) in an unsanctioned match for the tapings, which are being called “Kings of Colosseum” and will take place at Cicero Stadium on Saturday, July 6.
After it was announced in May that they had signed with the promotion, Ross & Marshall made their MLW debuts by teaming with World Heavyweight Champion Tom Lawlor and defeating Contra Unit (Jacob Fatu, Samael & Gotch) in a tornado tag match at this month’s tapings in Waukesha, Wisconsin. That match will air on this Saturday’s episode of MLW Fusion.
Lawlor will defend his MLW World title against Fatu at Kings of Colosseum. Dr. Wagner Jr. & El Hijo de Wagner Jr. vs. LA Park & El Hijo de LA Park has also been confirmed for the show.
Ross & Marshall Von Erich have joined the MLW roster.
It was announced via Sports Illustrated today that Ross & Marshall have signed multi-year deals with MLW. The two are the sons of Kevin Von Erich.
“Signing with MLW is a big deal for us,” Ross told Sports Illustrated. “They are the promotion that has allowed us to be with our dad, help out around the ranch, and still wrestle.”
“We’re able to continue the legacy,” Marshall said. “It’s humbling, we’re honored, and it’s the perfect timing—we’ve never been this ready for this big a stage before.”
Ross & Marshall will make their MLW debuts at the promotion’s television tapings in Waukesha, Wisconsin on Saturday, June 1. News of them signing with MLW comes the week after Viceland’s Dark Side of the Ring episode on Kevin and the Von Erich family aired, though MLW’s Court Bauer noted that they’ve been pursuing deals with Ross & Marshall since January.
Marshall said WWE had encouraged them to come to Florida for a tryout. He said they were grateful for the offer but want to be as close to their father (who lives in Hawaii) as possible.
“The Von Erich name is not a burden,” Ross said. “We are grateful for our name, it’s a blessing to be a Von Erich. God gave us the right equipment, and we’re going to go out there and do our best.”
Ross & Marshall have previously wrestled for Pro Wrestling NOAH. They were part of TNA’s Slammiversary pay-per-view in Arlington, Texas in 2014, taking on DJZ & Jessie Godderz. Kevin Von Erich also appeared at that PPV.
