By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Major League Wrestling Fusion (Episode 80)
Taped October 5, 2019 in Tijuana, Mexico at Auditorio Fausto Gutierrez
Aired October 19, 2019 on beIN Sports
Play by play voice Rich Bocchini, who was joined on commentary by AJ Kirsch, checked in at the start of the show while footage aired of MJF and Richard Holliday winning a match. Bocchini said they hoped to speak with the Von Erichs last week, but satellite issues prevented that from happening. Ross and Marshall Von Erich checked in and said they will challenge for the MLW Tag Titles in a tornado match at the MLW Saturday Night SuperFight pay-per-view on November 2…
The Fusion opening aired and then a Jimmy Havoc’s Slaughterhouse video aired. Havoc checked in and welcomed viewers to the show and noted that he was the executive producer for the evening. He said there will be fluffy dogs, unicorns, rainbows, and a lot of blood and violence because that’s what he likes. Havoc hyped the Tijuana Street Fight and his own triangle match…
Los Haraganes made their entrance, then Kirsch plugged the pay-per-view. The Triple Amenaza trio made their entrance…
1. “Los Haraganes” Animal, Demencia, and Silver Star vs. “Triple Amenaza” Star Boy, Arandu, Zarco. The cut to break early in the match. As the match continued, the Contra Unit flashed on the screen. Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, and Ikuro Kwon checked in from an undisclosed location and warned Salina de la Renta that they will strike when she leasts expects it.
Bocchini apologized for the interruption and said he thought they had things secured. There were three floor boards leaning against the ringside barricade. One of the wrestlers was tossed onto a board and it didn’t break. A short time later, Zarco and Arandu went for spears on their opponents on the apron, but they both moved and both men crashed through the boards. Los Haraganes hit a triple powerbomb on an opponent. The referee made a slow three count for reasons that were never explained…
Los Haraganes defeated Triple Amenaza.
Powell’s POV: I understand that six-man matches are big in Mexico, but it’s nearly impossible to properly introduce six wrestlers in one match to an unfamiliar audience. I just sit back and watch the action and hope that someone stands out in a good way.
Bocchini hyped the pay-per-view and then threw it to LA Park, who cut a promo while Salina de la Renta stood by. Subtitles showed that Park told Jacob Fatu that he’s going to “break your f—ing face and end you, asshole.” He said he won’t lose on pay-per-view…
Bocchini hyped the street fight for after the break…
The teaser aired for the debut of Gino Medina, who was listed as coming soon to MLW…
The H2TV video aired with Brian Pillman Jr. hanging out with a woman by a pool and mocking Low Ki’s voice. Pillman took issue with Low Ki giving him advice following his recent match with Austin Aries. Pillman said he would have to show Low Ki how it’s done his way. They cut to a clip of Pillman throwing the woman into the pool…
Havoc and Salina were shown backstage. Havoc introduced Hijo de LA Park as Josef Samael’s opponent for the street fight. Havoc and Salina bickered. He told her that a memo was supposed to be sent about the street fight. Havoc walked off and then Samael attacked Park from behind. A referee was there at the outdoor setting and the match was apparently underway…
2. Josef Samael vs. Hijo de LA Park (w/Salina de la Renta) in a Tijuana Street Fight. The wrestlers continued to fight outside. Park put Samael through a floor board that was leaning against a wall. Simon Gotch and Ikuro Kwon showed up and helped Samael attack Park. Salina got on her phone and called for help to combat the Contra Unit members. The Conta Unit logo was shown going into a break.
Josef Samael fought Hijo de LA Park to an apparent no-contest.
Coming out of a break, footage recapped the previous segment, which was the only indication viewers had that the street fight was over. Bocchini said it was obviously a planned hit by Contra Unit. He said Park was taken to a nearby medical facility. Bocchini added that they didn’t know where Contra Unit was and there was a police presence outside the building…
Powell’s POV: A street fight ended without an actual winner? I’d wonder if this finish was inspired by the awful Hell in a Cell main event, but this show actually took place a day before that pay-per-view.
Bocchini set up a Mance Warner promo. Warner delivered a cellphone promo and said he’s been cleared to return. Warner said he wants Jimmy Havoc in a Stairway to Hell match at the pay-per-view. Warner indicated that it will be a ladder match with the wrestlers fighting to pull down a piece of barbwire…
Havoc checked in and recalled Warner beating him. He told him well done, but then recalled that he brutalized him afterward. Havoc said the Stairway to Hell is the first death match he saw. He said a friend of his brought him the tape and he studied it inside and out. Havoc said Warner would regret this…
Powell’s POV: I believe the match that Havoc was referring to was Sabu vs. Sandman in a Stairway to Hell match from 1998.
Bocchini hosted the Saturday Night SuperFight control center and hyped MJF and Richard Holliday vs. The Von Erichs in a Texas Tornado match for the MLW Tag Titles, Teddy Hart vs. Austin Aries for the MLW Middleweight Championship, Injustice vs. Gringo Loco, Septimo Dragon, and Puma King, Timothy Thatcher vs. Tom Lawlor, Jacob Fatu vs. LA Park in a No DQ match for the MLW Championship, Alexander Hammerstone vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. for the MLW National Openweight Championship…
A Lifestyles of the Rich and Dynastic video aired. Richard Holliday and MJF were signing “God Bless America” until Alex Hammerstone interrupted them and asked why they were signing. MJF said it was because they were home and not in that “shit stain country Mexico.” Hammerstone informed MJF about the Texas Tornado tag title match with the Von Erichs. Holliday said his father got them out of the tag title match in Mexico, but they have to face them in Chicago. MJF questioned how Holliday’s father was able to get OJ off, but he couldn’t get them out of the tag title match. Holliday said he was going to try to get it changed to a Dynasty Tornado match with rules that would favor them…
Powell’s POV: I’m digging the build to the MLW Tag Title match. It’s a simple story with the heel tag champions trying to weasel out of facing the babyface challengers and it totally works.
3. Jimmy Havoc vs. Damian 666 (w/Salina de la Renta) vs. Savio Vega in a pentagram death match. Damian and Savio teamed up to clear Havoc from the ring, then fought one another. Havoc returned and hit Damian with a cookie sheet, which Damian no sold. Bocchini announced that the Stairway to Hell match was official for the pay-per-view.
The wrestlers used a variety of weapons including chairs, trashcan lids, a kendo stick, and thumbtacks. They introduced a table that seemed to be broken and the referee(!) helped Damian set it upright. Vega placed Havoc on the table and went to the ropes, but Havoc cut him off. Damian took out Havoc and then superplexed Vega through the table. Havoc broke up the pin. They replayed the superplex and then Havoc hit his Acid Rainmaker on Vega and pinned him…
Jimmy Havoc defeated Savio Vega and Damian 666.
After the match, Havoc attacked Damian and worked him over until Bestia 666 ran out and saved his father. Havoc attacked Bestia from behind, but then Havoc slipped away when Bestia tried to hit him…
An ad aired for the MLW Saturday Night SuperFight pay-per-view to close the show…
Powell’s POV: I can’t wait for MLW TV to get out of Mexico. The novelty of seeing the MLW crew wrestle in front of a big crowd wore off after last week’s show. This week’s show consisted of a six-man tag match involving six wrestlers who never appeared on MLW television before, a street fight that ended without a winner, and a hardcore match involving three wrestlers without any storyline history together in MLW. This series of shows may be a treat for those who follow licha libre closely. But as someone who enjoy the MLW storylines and feuds, seeing them mix in The Crash talent out of the blue isn’t doing much for me. And for a show dubbed Jimmy Havoc’s Slaughterhouse, the hardcore matches were actually on the tame side. I will have more to say in my members’ exclusive audio review coming up this morning.
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