By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Major League Wrestling Fusion (Episode 45)
Taped February 2, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 2300 Arena
Aired February 16, 2019 on beIN Sports
Fusion opened with a Hart Foundation video package with someone rapping about the trio to the tune of their entrance theme. An H2 segment aired. Davey Boy Smith Jr. was petting a cat as he spoke about his custom made Japanese clothing and Japanese culture while Brian Pillman Jr. sat by. Smith noted that he’s trying to learn the Japanese language. A Japanese woman sat down next to him and he spoke to her in Japanese… The MLW opening aired…
Rich Bocchini and Matt Striker checked in on commentary and hyped the show before setting up a Salina de la Renta video package. She congratulated new MLW Champion Tom Lawlor on being “just as dumb as the fans.” She said questioned if fans really think she doesn’t have the power despite her faction not holding the MLW Championship. “What show have you been watching?” she asked. Salina noted that Low Ki has a contractually obligated rematch and said she’d make sure it happens at Intimidation Games in Chicago… Striker hyped the March 2 event…
1. Rich Swann vs. Ace Austin. A Swann pre-taped promo aired before the match and he told the fans to get ready to party all night long. Swann offered a handshake. Austin was about to accept it, but Swann pulled his hand away and did a spin into the splits. A “Contra” graphic flashed briefly during the match. Both men went for simultaneous dropkicks, kipped up, and repeated the spot twice.
Austin leapt up to the top rope only to have Swann push him off to the floor. Swann went to ringside and chopped Austin before rolling him back inside the ring. The wrestlers returned to the ring and exchanged some cool strikes and knocked each other down with stereo kicks to the head. Austin perofrmed a springboard knee strike and a reverse splash from the ropes and scored the pin.
Ace Austin defeated Rich Swann.
After the match, Swann claimed he was only down for a two count and then slapped the referee. Bocchini entered the ring to interview Swann. Bocchini said Swann has been a different person. Swann asked if he wanted different and then shoved Bocchin to the mat. Swann threw a fit at ringside while Striker questioned what he was doing…
Powell’s POV: The referee was hesitant to make the three count. He actually pulled up short on the three count, then made a fourth count. It was a rough moment that really ruined the finish, though I’m sure no one feels worse than the referee. The post match angle cements Swann’s heel turn. The fans were pretty quiet during what was a solid match, but Swann did get some post match heat. I like the idea of Swann as a heel and I’m looking forward to seeing how he does in this role.
Footage aired of the previous segment while Bocchini told Striker that he was doing okay…
2. Alexander Hammerstone vs. Ariel Dominguez. A Hammerstone pre-taped promo aired. He said it doesn’t matter what you’ve seen before, the future has just arrived. Hammerstone dominated Dominguez and performed a nice German suplex. After some punches, Hammerstone performed a release fallaway slam. A few fans called for “one more time.” Hammerstone teased it, then told the fans they don’t run his matches. Hammerstone hoisted up Dominguez performed what Striker said was the Nightmare Pendulum…
Alexander Hammerstone defeated Ariel Dominguez.
Powell’s POV: It was hard to get a feel for Hammerstone beyond his impressive offense in this match, but it was a good squash match. The the diminutive Dominguez took Hammerstone’s big moves like a champ and made him look good. Hammerstone’s pre-match promo was a bit wonky in that he initially sounded like a yelling pro wrestling stereotype character on a sketch comedy show. Fortunately, he settled down at the end. Hammerstone has a good look and I’m curious to see what he does in MLW going forward.
Striker hyped MLW Intimidation Games for Chicago and announced the following matches for the event: Tom Lawlor vs. Low Ki in a cage match for the MLW Championship, and Pentagon Jr. and Rey Fenix vs. Taurus and Laredo Kid. Striker noted that a portion of the event will be broadcast live on beIN Sports…
Footage aired from earlier in the day of Mance Warner pointing out the big rig he claimed he rented for the weekend. He called himself king of the trailer court and said he was going to go polish off more light beers and then he’d be back out…
Powell’s POV: Warner is like Boomhauer from the “King of the Hill” animated series if you could make out what Boomhauer was saying. I like it.
The broadcast team hyped Warner vs. Jimmy Yuta, and Aerostar vs. Rey Horus for next week… An ad aired for Battle Riot II for April 5 in New York…
Maxwell Jacob Friedman made his entrance. He stood in the ring with a mic and a “shut the f— up” chant started. MJF pointed out that he hadn’t even said anything yet. He insulted the Philly fans and noted that he was in the building that housed ECW. An ECW chant started. MJF asked the fans if they liked ECW. “That makes sense because if you like ECW, you’re white trash,” MJF said. He turned the focus to Teddy Hart and called him a jailbird. He challenged him to come out without the Hart Foundation for once. Hart made his entrance carrying his cat Mr. Velvet. Bocchini said Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Brian Pillman Jr. were not present. A woman came out and carried Mr. Velvet backstage…
Powell’s POV: A good, heat seeking promo from MJF. Perhaps there’s a storyline reason that will play out in the match, but it seemed odd to claim that Smith and Pillman were not in the building, as it took away from the idea that Hart was taking up MJF’s challenge of flying solo.
3. Teddy Hart vs. Maxwell J Friedman for the MLW Middleweight Championship. Hart flipped off MJF when he entered the ring and his entire hand was censored. Hart offered MJF a handshake. MJF pie-faced him. Both men took turns playing to the crowd with Hart being cheered and MJF being booed. MJF caught Hart returning to the ring early on by kicking the middle rope into his groin. MJF wore down Hart with a headlock. Hart came back with a Code Red for a two count.
Hart performed a powerbomb and lung blower combo move and followed up with a great moonsault for a near fall. MJF came back with a piledriver through the ropes for a two count. MJF applied a Fujiwara armbar, which Striker did a really nice job of putting over as a threat to win the match. Hart eventually reached the ropes. Hart gave MJF a wedgie and then performed a move that resulted in MJF running into the referee. REF BUMP!!!
Hart performed a Hammerlock DDT and got a visual pinfall. MJF rolled to ringside and returned with a chair. Hart spotted him and kicked him below the belt. Hart jabbed MJF with the chair and then performed an electric chair lung blower. Hart woke up the referee and then performed a corkscrew springboard moonsault and scored the pin…
Teddy Hart defeated Maxwell J Friedman to retain the MLW Middleweight Championship.
After the match, Kaci Lennox was waiting to interview Hart backstage when Richard Holliday attacked him. MJF joined in on the attack. “It’s my belt, Teddy,” MJF barked. The duo worked over Hart and left him lying. Hart writhed in pain on the ground and said, “He broke my ribs,” to close the show…
Powell’s POV: Bocchini’s line about the Smith and Pillman not being in the building now makes perfect sense in that it explained why they didn’t come to Hart’s aid when he was attacked by MJF and Holliday. Overall, a good show with new additions Warner and Hammerstone making their first appearances on Fusion, Swann cementing his heel turn, and the main event and post match angle. If you missed the show, it is now available Sundays at noon ET at the MLW Youtube Page..
Check below for a recent Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jason Powell and guest Konnan, who discusses his return to the ring for MLW and shares the crazy story of how he started in pro wrestling.
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