By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Major League Wrestling Fusion (Episode 76)
Taped September 7, 2019 in Dallas, Texas at NYTEX Sports Centre
Aired September 21, 2019 on beIN Sports
The show opened with Josef Samael delivering a backstage promo while covered in blood. He said he spilled a gallon of blood in the War Chamber match and it didn’t even bother him. He said the war with the Von Erichs isn’t over. Samael said he will stick his spike in the heart of Kevin Von Erich and destroy them all in the name of Contra. “Hail Contra,” Samael said repeatedly… The Fusion opening video aired…
The broadcast team was Rich Bocchini and Tony Schiavone. Bocchini checked in and hyped the MLW Saturday Night Super Fight pay-per-view for November 2 and the Fusion main event…
1. Zenshi vs. Jordan Oliver (w/Myron Reed, Kotto Brazil) in a middleweight match. Oliver’s Injustice teammates Reed and Brazil interfered and provided distractions throughout the match. Zenshi teased a dive and caught himself on the ropes when the Injustice trio moved. Zenshi swept the legs of Oliver and kicked Reed and Brazil. Back in the ring, Zenshi performed a corkscrew senton for a two count. Reed pulled the referee to ringside where they bickered.
In the ring, Oliver performed a backslide and had a visual pinfall. The broadcast team said Oliver’s own teammates cost him a win. The referee returned to the ring. Zenshi performed a neckbreaker and had the pin, but the referee was pulled to ringside again before he could count the pin. Oliver performed a Stunner on the apron. Reed performed a splash onto Zenshi while the ref was arguing with Brazil, then Oliver covered Zenshi and got the pin.
Jordan Oliver defeated Zenshi.
After the match, the Injustice trio put the boots to the referee and Zenshi. Gringo Loco ran out with a chair to clear the trio from the ring…
Powell’s POV: A decent opener as MLW continues to establish the Injustice trio. Gringo coming out for the save means we apparently have seen the last of him and Zenshi against Injustice (Loco and Zenshi teamed up with Air Wolf to face Injustice on the September 4 edition). I like the idea of the mid-card wrestlers having feuds rather than just spinning their wheels.
A video package spotlighted Dominic Garrini, who was listed as coming this fall…
Powell’s POV: Garrini made his debut at these same television tapings. It must have gone well since the company announced this week that they signed him to a multi-year deal.
Bocchini announced that Savio Vega has been medically cleared to return to after suffering a stinger during his match against Alex Hammerstone…
Mance Warner checked in fro an outdoor setting near semi trucks. He spoke about being arrested because of Jimmy Havoc running his mouth. Warner challenged Havoc to a bunkhouse brawl…
Powell’s POV: Warner continues to be a really fun personality.
A video package aired on the MLW Tag Title feud between the Dynasty and the Hart Foundation…
Richard Holliday checked in from a gym. He said fans would realize that the Hart Foundation are frauds and there is only one true dynasty…
A video touted MLW’s return to Orlando, Florida at GILT Nightclub for a television taping on November 9…
Powell’s POV: That will be the television taping that will follow the MLW Saturday Night Super Fight event. It’s cool that MLW is returning to the venue that hosted their early shows of this modern era of the company.
A video package recapped last week’s War Chamber match…
Kevin Von Erich, Ross Von Erich, and Marshall Von Erich checked in from backstage and were asked by Bocchini to pick a winner in the MLW Tag Title match. Marshall said he would love to face the Hart Foundation because it would be legacy vs. legacy, but he said it doesn’t matter because they are coming after the MLW Tag Titles either way…
A video recapped Salina de la Renta announcing that LA Park will cash in the golden ticket he earned by winning Battle Riot for a shot at the MLW Championship at MLW Saturday Night Super Fight. Bocchini hyped Jacob Fatu vs. LA Park in a No DQ match for the MLW Title for the event…
Salina de la Renta checked in from an outdoor setting and said she had an important announcement. Salina spoke about Jacob Fatu and Mance Warner being problems. Jimmy Havoc showed up and spoke what he would do to Warner…
Bocchini ran through the tale of the tape for the MLW Tag Title match and then ring entrances took place. The champions entered first. As the Hart Foundation came out, Bocchini said there was commotion backstage because Austin Aries wanted to face Teddy Hart for the MLW Middleweight Championship on this show and feels that Hart has been avoiding him. Ring announcer Tim Barr conducted in-ring introductions for the title match…
2. Richard Holliday and MJF (w/Aria Blake) vs. Teddy Hart and Davey Boy Smith Jr. in a best of three falls match for the MLW Tag Titles. Holliday and MJF stalled by playing rock, paper, scissors to start and had a few stalemates. A few minutes into the match, the Dynasty duo headed backstage in an attempt to walk out on the match. The Hart Foundation pair followed them backstage and brought them back to the ring. The first fall concluded with Holliday performing a jawbreaker on Smith and then shoving him into the ropes. The wrestlers heads collided and Smith fell to the mat. Holliday fell back into the ropes, but MJF pushed him forward so that he fell on Smith and got the pin.
Richard Holliday and MJF won the first fall.
During the 30-second break between falls, Bocchini officially announced Mance Warner vs. Jimmy Havoc in a Bunkhouse Brawl for next week’s Fusion. Hart tagged in and worked over both opponents, which woke up the crowd. Hart went to the ropes for a move, but MJF hit the ropes to knock him down. MJF put Hart on the ropes. Hart fought him and ended up hitting a Canadian Destroyer from the ropes, then followed up with a springboard moonsault and scored the pin to win the second fall.
Teddy Hart and Davey Boy Smith Jr. won the second fall.
During the 30-second break between falls, Bocchini announced Timothy Thatcher vs. Douglas James for next week’s Fusion. Hart set up for a hammerlock DDT on MJF, but Holliday hit Hart with a big boot to the head to break it up. Smith cleared Holliday from the ring. Hart was pulling himself up via the ropes and the referee was tied up with the other wrestlers when Austin Aries ran out and hit him with MLW Middleweight Title belt. Aries followed up with a brainbuster on the ring apron. Aries held up the title belt and jawed at Hart before dropping the belt and heading backstage. The referee counted out Hart to give the win to the Dynasty duo.
Richard Holliday and MJF defeated Teddy Hart and Davey Boy Smith Jr. in a best of three falls match to retain the MLW Tag Titles.
Powell’s POV: The first fall featured a lot of stalling and uninspired work as the teams seemed to be saving themselves for the longer match. But it really didn’t go much longer as the second and third falls were brief. Aries getting involved was a good finish from a storytelling standpoint as it put heat on him heading into the obvious MLW Middleweight showdown title match with Hart, and gave the Hart Foundation an out for losing this match. The Hart vs. Aries match should be the biggest MLW Middleweight Title match to date. Plus, the Von Erichs feuding with Dynasty should be fun. MJF’s promos alone will should comedy gold. The main event was underwhelming as far as the in-ring portion is concerned, but I enjoyed the overall show and the direction of some of the feuds as the build to the MLW Saturday Night Super Fight continues. John Moore will host his weekly MLW Fusion audio review for Dot Net Members.
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