By Mark Worrall@hoohoowozza
Another episode of MLW Fushion, and once again emanating from New York City as the show opens almost immediately with a match as we see a short segment beforehand featuring Mance Warner and Sami Callihan who are in the opening match and feeling frustrated! Followed up by another small segment featuring the Promociones Dorado stable as head of the group Salina de la Renta is asked three questions, firstly the current status of Low-Ki’s contract? To which she replies in Spanish, and like me if Spanish isn’t your mother tongue then this writer does not know the answer! Secondly, when is LA Park likely to cash in on his title match opportunity? Which is answered in English this time with Salina basically putting over that Park will cash in whenever the opportunity presents itself. Finally, what are Salina’s thoughts on next week’s title match between Filthy Tom Lawler and Avalanche? This receives a sly smirk!
SAMI CALLIHAN/MANCE WARNER def. RICKY MARTINEZ/EL HIJO DE LA PARK
Warner and Callihan attack from the ramp leaving little time for the crowd to enjoy the entrances as the match spills ringside and this becomes nothing but a brawl as anything goes for some considerable time as all four literally beat the crap out of each other without stepping into the ring! This was dirty wrestling done well as Warner and Callihan took their style of wrestling to the Lucha Libre stars who, alongside Warner took plenty of whips from Callihan before the tide of the match changed completely from an El Hijo dive from the ramp taking out Callihan and we actually see some ring work with El Hijo and Martinez, working in unison, some involving dirty tactics of their own to completely cut the ring in half as Warner felt the backlash from the Promociones Dorado pairing whose work was pretty crisp as they looked to put Warner away and seemed to do so from a Martinez Brainbuster, simultaneously met with a splash from El Hijo that Barely had Warner raising an arm. Crowd behind the Warner Callihan duo as eventually Warner found a tag as Callihan unleashed with poor Martinez receiving a Callihan piledriver and this match was done.
Good brawling bout if you enjoy that kind of match, all four performed well with the crowd enjoying with the losing duo attacking Warner and Callihan postmatch as this went backstage with ‘let them fight’ chants echoing as the Mexicans luring Warner and Callihan into an attack from LA Park!
MINORU TANAKA def. DAGA
Cornette hypes up Tanaka as the only man to win all five Junior titles in Japan! No surprise that Tanaka carries such a reputation, facing the Mexican Daga this match was as technically sound a match that you could see in any ring around the world. Tanaka, always picking at a body part, targeting an area for attack, looking for a submission as well as scouting Daga who himself seemed pretty intent on applying a rear naked choke hold on the Japanese star and current GHC Junior Heavyweight champion and actually succeeded with Tanaka desperately scrambling for the ropes. Daga seized control for a short while before the match went back and forth with Daga taking the opportunity to fly first while Tanaka seemed more content keeping Daga off his feet and working the mat. A fluid contest with each performer complimenting each other’s work Daga seemed to gain an advantage, finding a terrific German suplex, which he bridged to barely get a near fall. Crowd were somewhat transfixed with the match as the end came after Tanaka, seemingly looking for a cross arm breaker cradled up the Mexican for the three count. Definitely worth checking out.
MJF in a segment next making comments regarding the up-coming arrival of Ross and Marshall Von Erich to MLW. He puts over the fact that his group are the proper Dynasty and does not want to hear the name Von Erich again.
Several segments follow as the next big MLW show Fury Road is hyped up alongside the previous week’s squashing of Barrington Hughes, whose two year undefeated streak came to an end by the hands of Fatu of the ‘Contra’ stable who simply destroyed the huge man in just over a minute to look a million dollars in a match that told a basic story but was done so well! Current MLW World champion ‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlor with his thoughts on next week’s title match against WXW star Avalanche. Also a recap of the shock victory for ‘Airwolf’ over Rey Fenix the previous week too.
NATIONAL OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT – SEMI FINAL
BRIAN PILLMAN JNR def. RICH SWANN w/MYRON REED
I enjoy Swann playing the heel, he has a certain swagger that really suits him which is testament to the former WWE Cruiserweight star who as a former babyface was always appreciated by the fans, however his current role in MLW is the best I have seen of him of late. Accompanied by Myron Reed, Swann received the help he needed throughout the match that almost did not receive a start after Swann objected to the referee checking him for any foreign objects and decided to leave, however turning back after referee Doug Markham raised the arm of Pillman which saw Swann immediately join the match only to face the offence of Pillman, who to begin with looked a little careless with his chops and although athletic his offence seemed a little sloppy at times although he did gain momentum as the match went on and his offence improved considerably. Reed though became a thorn not only in Pillman’s side but also referee Markham with his constant interference throughout, albeit to the aid of Swann who himself took exception to Markham confronting Reed by grabbing the shirt of the referee, who retaliated enabling Pillman to roll up Swann for the win and advances to the tournament finals. Fans really behind Pillman who got better as the match advanced, Swann played his part really well getting Pillman over and making a worthy contender for Hammerstone in the finals.
Alex Hammerstone was actually next up answering the question of how he feels facing Pillman in the finals. Hammerstone responds by stating facts. He is taller than Pillman, heavier than Pillman, and although Pillman may have great generics because his dad was great, it doesn’t mean Pillman Jnr is! God created Alex Hammerstone to win the Openweight title and on that day Pillman will not make his dad proud! Ouch!
