By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Major League Wrestling Fusion (Episode 64)
Taped June 1, 2019 in Waukesha, Wisconsin at Waukesha Expo Center
Aired June 29, 2019 on beIN Sports
Contra Unit members Josef Samael and Jacob Fatu delivered a promo while footage of their carnage was shown. Samael noted that he was facing Tom Lawlor in the main event a week before Lawlor would put the title on the line against Fatu. Samael said you can’t defend the title if you can’t breathe… The Fusion opening aired…
Powell’s POV: An update from last week’s report. It was pointed out to be that I was mistaken when I wrote that there was no explanation for why Fatu was getting a title shot even though Fatu is not under contract according to the storyline. MLW actually noted that Lawlor demanded the match. Likewise, they also explained that Salina de la Renta was given another week as executive producer of the show recently because the ratings were so high for her first show in that position. My apologies for missing those explanations.
The broadcast team of Rich Bocchini and Jim Cornette interviewed Ross Von Erich and Marshall Von Erich on the interview set. The Von Erichs spoke about teaming with Tom Lawlor last week and said they honored their word to him. Cornette said both men want the MLW Championship and added that their word is their bond…
1. Austin Aries vs. Adam Brooks. Aries had the sides of his head shaved and wore long black tights rather than his usual trunks. Cornette said one of the reasons Aries is so miserable is that he’s a vegan. He added that Aries is not a popular person with promoters or the other wrestlers. Cornette also praised Aries for his physical conditioning and noted that it’s even more impressive because he’s not a young wrestler.
Aries used a ground and pound approach at one point during the match. Cornette wondered if referee Doug Markham was gong to step in. Aries followed up with an elbow from the middle rope to the back of Brooks’ head and covered him for a two count. Aries performed a neckbreaker that dropped Brooks onto the middle rope. Aries went for a suicide dive, but Brooke cut him off with a forearm and then followed up with a leap over the top rope into a DDT.
A short time later, Aries applied his Last Chancery finisher. Brooks teased tapping, but put a foot on the bottom rope to break the hold. Brooks went to the rope and leapt at Aries, who caught him and put performed an awkward Death Valley Driver onto the apron. Aries went up top and performed a 450 splash, but Brooks moved out of the way and then performed a neckbreaker onto his knee that led to a two count. Brooks performed a Swanton, but Aries put his knees up. Aries performed his five-arm and followed up moments later with a brainbuster for the win…
Austin Aries defeated Adam Brooks.
After the match, Kaci Lennox entered the ring and interviewed Aries. Lennox welcomed him back. The fans had been chanting for him, and he told her not to interrupt. Lennox went to leave the ring and Aries held the ropes open for her. Aries told the fans that it was good to be home. Aries said that when you’re not making your life public on social media then people think you’re not doing anything.
Aries said that since he left his former employer, he has been working on things and he’s set his sights on where they need to be set. Aries said he feels there’s a war going on in professional wrestling. He said the key term there was professional wrestling and not sports entertainment or what he likes to call the cosplay of pro wrestling. He said people know who they are in that they have the costumes, but they can’t do the magic. Aries said he is the last magician of pro wrestling.
Aries said MLW is the only company that abides by the weight limits. Aries said he’s been a heavyweight championships even though he’s never been a heavyweight a day in his life. He said you don’t have to be a heavyweight to be the absolute best. Aries said he’s a middleweight in MLW and that’s bad news for the MLW Middleweight Champion Teddy Hart. Aries said people think Hart is a real asshole. “Not compared to this one,” Aries said before leaving the ring…
Powell’s POV: A nice match with Aries giving a good portion of the offense to Brooks, who was also making his MLW debut. The match followed by the promo served as good overall introduction of Aries to MLW. Aries is a strong addition to the roster and hopefully the relationship goes well for both sides. For whatever it’s worth, Aries is not advertised for next weekend’s taping in Chicago as of this update.
Footage aired from last week of Richard Holliday and Maxwell J Friedman attacking Teddy Hart on the entrance stage… A Dynasty video aired with the the trio sitting outside on a lawn. Alex Hammerstone was tanning while MFJ and Holliday were wearing suits. Aria Blake was on MJF’s lap. MJF said there Blake seemed to have an issue with one of her nails and they set off to “fix it.” Holliday asked Hammerstone why MJF had to help. “Are you kidding me?” Hammer stone asked…
A Contra Unit video aired with Samael talking about what he would do to Lawlor and saying that Fatu will take his title next week…
A video package hyped Savio Vega as coming soon to MLW…
Bocchini hyped next Saturday’s live broadcast of Fusion from the Chicago event. Footage aired of last week’s main event that saw Tom Lawlor and The Von Erichs defeating Contra Unit…
2. Jacob Fatu vs. Ariel Dominguez and Dan Black in a handicap match. Fatu attacked Dominguez and Black during Tim Barr’s introductions. Fatu destroyed both men and performed a great popup Samoan Drop on Dominguez. Fatu put both opponents side by side and then performed a top rope moonsault onto them.
Jacob Fatu won a handicap match.
After the match, Josef Samel and Simon Gotch came out and joined Fatu in beating down both opponents. Cornette said there was no reason for the attack. He said the Contra Unit can’t have anything against Fatu’s opponents because they don’t even know them. Bocchini said they were doing it because they can…
Powell’s POV: This was perfect in terms of showcasing Fatu as a badass heading into his title match next week. He feels like the hottest guy in the promotion.
A video package aired on upcoming MLW events in Chicago on Saturday, New York City on July 25, and Dallas on September 1…
Backstage, Lennox interviewed Salina de la Renta. Lennox asked if she went too far when she booked Mance Warner vs. Sami Callihan in a loser leaves MLW match. She said the ratings were through the roof so it shows that she gave the fans what they wanted. She said it must be so hard for fans who look at her to see a 22 year-old in control…
Bocchini hosted the MLW Kings of Colosseum control center for next Saturday’s live broadcast. He hyped the Star Spangled Hammer Challenge with Alex Hammerstone putting his MLW National Openweight Championship on the line against all comers, a Jim Cornette Experience with Salina de la Renta, Rey Horus vs. Myron Reed, and the Lawlor vs. Fatu match for the MLW Championship…
A Mance Warner promo aired from “earlier today” with him sitting in front of a fence in an outdoor location. Warner said Salina has hired all the bad guys that her money can buy. Warner said they are trying to run him off, but that won’t happen. He said he was sitting outside, drinking beer, and thinking about USA and the 4th of July. Warner put his beer down and said that and him turning his hat around means business. He said he’ll bust his first wide open on Promociones Dorado…
3. Tom Lawlor vs. Josef Samael in a non-title match. A small onscreen box showed Salina and Ricky Martinez watching the match as Bocchini played up the idea that LA Park holds the Battle Riot contract that gives him a shot at the MLW Championship at anytime. He noted that Park is in the building and could cash in. Lawlor and Samael brawled to ringside and ran each other into the barricade.
Back inside the ring, Samael clotheslined Lawlor and covered him for just a one count. Lawlor came back with a suplex. Production cut backstage where Fatu and Simon Gotch were fighting with the Von Erichs. Back in the ring, Samael took a spoke out of his boot and tried to hit Lawlor with it. Lawlor moved and the spike stuck into the turnbuckle. Lawlor ended up with the spike. The referee tried to stop him, but Lawlor shoved him down and was disqualified.
Josef Samael defeated Tom Lawlor by DQ in a non-title match.
After the match, Lawlor and Samael continued to fight, while the backstage fight between the other Contra Unit members and the Von Erichs continued. Bocchini delivered a final push for next week’s live episode as the show went off the air…
Powell’s POV: The brawl was fine. I like the finish, as I was worried that we might see the MLW Champion beat Samael, which would have given Contra Unit two straight television main event losses. MLW needs to be careful with how many losses the trio takes and so far they have been very good about protecting them. It’s interesting that they played up the possibility of LA Park cashing in that Battle Riot contract, as it adds another dimension to next week’s Lawlor vs. Fatu match that I hadn’t been thinking about. I hope MLW puts the strap on Fatu, who has been a blast to watch since he and Contra Unit arrived in the company. Overall, a solid show with good build to next week’s live episode. I’m filling in for John Moore on the weekly members’ exclusive audio review of this episode, which should be available later today or on Monday.
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