By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Major League Wrestling Fusion (Episode 57)
Taped April 5, 2019 in Queens, New York at Melrose Ballroom
Aired May 11, 2019 on beIN Sports
The show opened with a video package that focused on Contra Unit and Jacob Fatu’s match against Barrington Hughes… The MLW opening aired… The broadcast team was Rich Bocchini and Jim Cornette…
1. Rey Feníx vs. Air Wolf. The broadcast team played up the idea that Air Wolf should be content if he could merely be competitive with Fenix. Cornette said Air Wolf had everything to gain and nothing to lose. The wrestlers shook hands prior to the match. Wolf performed a huracanrana, and Fenix rolled to ringside. Wolf performed a running dive over the top rope and into a cross body block on Fenix at ringside.
Back inside the ring, Fenix came back momentarily, but Wolf performed a nice German suplex. Fenix connected with a kick, but Wolf came right back with another suplex into a bridge for a near fall. Later, Fenix ran across the top rope and kicked Wolf, who was seated on the second rope, which led to a near fall. Fenix showed frustration. A short time later, Fenix set up a Muscle Buster, but Wolf countered into an inside cradle for the win. Fenix got up and shook Wolf’s hand and raised his arm…
Air Wolf defeated Rey Fenix.
Powell’s POV: A cool upset win. MLW obviously seems high on Air Wolf, and this probably plays into Fenix and Pentagon Jr. finishing up with MLW. I like the way Air Wolf was positioned as the heavy underdog and that the match was placed in the opening slot. The broadcast team did a good job of putting how competitive Air Wolf was throughout the match, which likely led some viewers to assume it was going to be a credibility building loss for him rather than an actual upset win. It’s obviously a huge win for Air Wolf, but the real key is how MLW follows up on this big win. Was this more about having Fenix lose on his way out or are they serious about making Air Wolf?
A graphic announced that Austin Aries is coming soon to MLW…
Footage aired from last week’s show of the drama involving Salina de la Renta and Sami Callihan, and Mance Warner attacking LA Park at the end of the show…
Backstage, Kaci Lennox interviewed Salina de la Renta, who said Callihan and Warner caused chaos, but she will bring it to them when they face members of her faction next week…
2. Jacob Fatu vs. Barrington Hughes. The wrestlers traded punches and chops to start. Hughes got the better of it and performed a splash in the corner. Fatu came right back with a superkick. Fatu followed up a corkscrew dive off the top rope onto Hughes and pinned him clean…
Jacob Fatu defeated Barrington Hughes.
Powell’s POV: I love it. Hughes was unbeaten, but his size really limits how much he can do in the ring. He’s a fun novelty act, but Fatu is more important to MLW at this point, so this was a wise time to end Hughes’s unbeaten streak. I also loved that it was quick and decisive.
A H2 video aired with Hart Foundation members Teddy Hart, Davey Boy Smith Jr., and Brian Pillman Jr. Hart told Pillman that his upcoming match against Rich Swann will make him a better wrestler and a better person. Pillman said they respect Swann, but he’s not going to lay down for him. Pillman said the title was created so that all three members of the Hart Foundation could hold title belts…
An Alexander Hammerstone promo aired. Alexander spoke outside a building about the celebration that will be held when he beats Gringo Loco and advances to the finals of the MLW National Openweight Championship…
Bocchini hyped the MLW debut in Milwaukee on June 1. He also touted MLW signing Marshall Von Erich and Ross Von Erich…
Tom Lawlor cut a promo from a training facility about facing Robert Dreissker… Bocchni announced Lawlor vs. Dreissker for the MLW Championship will air in two weeks…
3. Ariel Dominguez vs. Bryan Idol. Idol dominated the offense until he went for a moonsault and Dominguez rolled out of the way. Dominguez threw a series of strikes and then a dropkick to knock Idol off his feet. Idol came back with a punch that led to a two count. Dominguez performed a DDT and rolled onto Idol for the cover. The ref stopped his count when Dominguez tried to reposition. Dominguez ended up getting the pin…
Ariel Dominguez defeated Bryan Idol.
Powell’s POV: Meh. Dominguez’s small stature makes him an underdog, but I actually assumed he’d beat Idol since I don’t recall seeing Idol on MLW television before.
Mance Warner and Sami Callihan delivered a backstage promo. Callihan complained that Salina’s factions ruined his match with Warner. Mance said they stopped him and Callihan from having a good time and beating the shit out of each other, and now they have to beat the shit out of them. They took turns doing their thumbs up/thumbs down and kneepad up/kneepad down bit…
Bocchini recalled Air Wolf’s upset win over Rey Fenix from earlier in the night…
Kaci Lennox had a cameraman film Salina and Low Ki agreeing that they need to have a discussion about the status of their business partnership because their contract is expiring soon. They ended up arguing and went separate ways…
4. Alexander Hammerstone vs. Gringo Loco in an MLW National Openweight Championship tournament match. Maxwell J Friedman and Richard Holliday came out with Hammerstone, but they did not accompany him to the ring. The wrestlers went top the ropes and there must have been a botch because the cameras cut to the crowd. When they went back to the wrestlers, Hammerstone performed a superplex and followed up with his Nightmare Pendulum finisher for the win…
Alexander Hammerstone defeated Gringo Loco to advance to the finals of the tournament to crown the first MLW National Openweight Championship.
Bocchini hyped that Hammerstone will face the winner of next week’s Rich Swann vs. Brian Pillman Jr. match. He also hyped Sami Callihan vs. Mance WArner facing members of Promociones Dorado.
Hammerstone delivered a promo on the entrance ramp. He said he has a destiny and will become the MLW National Champion…
Powell’s POV: The main event was forgettable. Gringo is entertaining, but he probably loses more than he wins in MLW, so there was no mystery regarding the outcome. Still, it was a good show with Air Wolf’s upset win and Fatu’s dominant win over an unbeaten opponent. I’m not sure how Air Wolf is as a talker, but if he’s decent then it would have been good to hear from him coming out of his big win. That said, I enjoyed seeing the upset and I’m looking forward to seeing how MLW follows up with him.
Check below for the latest Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jason Powell and guest Court Bauer discussing MLW’s future, pay-per-view possibilities, whether MLW talent could appear on the AAA event at MSG, Salina de la Renta serving as the executive producer for the latest MLW Fusion television show, and more.
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