By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Major League Wrestling Fusion: Alpha (Episode 3)
Taped in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 2300 Arena
Streamed October 6, 2021 on the MLW’s YouTube Page
The show opened with footage from “earlier today” of security preventing Alexander Hammerstone from entering the building… The broadcast team was Rich Bocchini and Saint Laurent…
1. “5150” Rivera and Slice Boogie (w/Konnan, Julius Smokes) vs. “Injustice” Myron Reed and Jordan Oliver. Oliver was isolated early, but he caught Rivera with a kick. Reed dove for his partner only to have Smokes pull Reed off the apron. The Injustice duo mounted a comeback, but Smokes hit Oliver with a weapon from the floor while the referee was distracted and then Rivera pinned him.
“5150” Rivera and Slice Boogie defeated “Injustice” Myron Reed and Jordan Oliver.
After the match, 5150 attacked a referee at ringside. They removed his shirt and then Rivera spray painted an “L” on his back. Bocchini said 5150 also stole Reed’s chest protector. Smokes also hit the referee with a slapjack before heading to the back…
Powell’s POV: The L is for LAX. The ring announcer referred to 5150 as LAX and the duo also had LAX on its video wall, so there’s clearly been a name change since this episode was taped. While it would have been cool to continue the LAX legacy, the 5150 name is solid.
Backstage, Alicia Atout interviewed “The Sea Stars” Ashley Vox and Delmi Exo and noted that they are Shimmer Tag Team Champions. Willow Nightingale and was friendly with the duo. Brittany Blake showed up and wasn’t so kind…
Bocchini hyped the MLW Fightland special for Thursday on Vice TV. Contra took over the feed. Shawn Daivari spoke until he was attacked by Alex Hammerstone. Mads Krugger showed up and fought with Hammerstone…
An ad aired for the Fightland special and Dynastic coffee mugs… A vignette aired for Bobby Fish coming to MLW…
2. Willow Nightingale vs. Ashley Vox (w/Delmi Exo). The broadcast team spoke about the women’s featherweight division taking shape in the company. Nightingale was in offensive control until Vox took her down with a head-scissors and followed up with a suicide dive at ringside. Back inside the ring, Vox performed a Flatliner style move for a near fall.
Nightingale rallied with a cartwheel and a superkick. Nightingale performed a running hip attack and threw several elbows at Vox. Nightingale put Vox down with a big boot and then followed up with a spinebuster for a near fall. A “Willow” chant broke out before she performed a cannonball in the corner. Nightingale went for a top rope moonsault, but Vox rolled out of the way. Vox threw a clothesline that led to a near fall. Willow followed up a short time later with a sit-out powerbomb and scored the pin…
Willow Nightingale defeated Ashley Vox.
Powell’s POV: A good match that played to a receptive crowd. I’m not sure why MLW is labeling the women’s division as having a featherweight division. While the broadcast team noted that that Vox was the smallest woman in the division, there was enough of a size difference between her and Nightingale that it’s hard to believe they would be in the same weight division. Again, though, this was an entertaining match.
Brief footage aired of the fight between Hammerstone and Krugger continuing…
Alicia Atout interviewed Davey Richards, who was talking respectfully about his win over TJP when TJP showed up. Richards told Atout to leave because she wouldn’t want to be there for what was going to happen. TJP sucker punched Richards and then referees arrived and pulled them apart…
After some ads, a vignette aired for Tajiri coming to MLW and appearing on the Fightland special… The Hammerstone and Krugger brawl continued in what Bocchini called the bowels of the building…
The Fightland control center segment aired with Bocchini announcing that matchmaker Cesar Duran made Fatu vs. Hammerstone a No DQ match. Bocchini also hyped Myron Reed vs. Aramis vs. Arez vs. Tajiri for the MLW Middleweight Championship and a pro wrestling media segment…
Rivera, Boogie, and Smokes were outside the building and barked at the cameraman to back up. Boogie pointed to a blemish on his forehead and mocked that being in the ring with Injustice was like a night out with his girlfriend. Boogie told the cameraman to remove his sneakers…
Josef Samael delivered a promo to push the MLW World Championship match for Fightland. Samael said Hammerstone finally got what he wanted. Samael questioned if he outsmarted Hammerstone. He said going to war with Jacob Fatu is a suicide mission. He said Hammerstone is MLW’s best chance to take the title and then questioned what happens when he fails…
Footage aired of Hammerstone and Krugger being pulled apart by referees… A video package aired on the Fatu vs. Hammerstone match and included footage of Hammerstone winning Battle Riot to earn the title shot…
A tale of the tape aired for the main event and then entrances for the match took place…
3. Jacob Fatu (w/Josef Samael) vs. Matt Cross for the MLW World Championship. Fatu performed a twisting uranage slam to take offensive control a few minutes into the match. Laurent played up how super fights have been derailed due to the situations like the possibility of Cross upsetting Fatu.
Cross made his comeback with a couple of big kicks and a springboard forearm. Cross performed a standing moonsault for a near fall. Cross tried to hoist up Fatu on his shoulders and was unable to do so. Fatu put Cross down and then did a handspring into the ropes and followed it with a handstand moonsault for a near fall of his own.
A short time later, Cross took out Samael with a suicide dive. Fatu performed a dive over the top rope onto Cross, which drew a “holy shit” chant from the crowd. Back inside the ring, Cross dropped Fatu with a cutter for a near fall. Cross went for a top rope move and landed on his feet when Fatu moved, but Fatu put him down with a clothesline. Fatu followed up with his rope jumping moonsault and scored the pin.
Jacob Fatu defeated Matt Cross to retain the MLW World Championship.
Bocchini noted that it was Fatu’s tenth successful title defense. Contra’s Sentai Death Squad members came out and helped Fatu stuff Cross inside a bodybag. Fatu draped the Contra flag over the bodybag and then the Sentai Death Squad members carried Cross to the back on a stretcher. A loud “Fatu” chant broke out.
Cameras cut to the parking lot where Samael was leading the Sentai Death Squad members as they carried Cross. Alex Hammerstone showed up and attacked Samael and the Sentai Death Squad members. Samael tried to throw a fireball, but it shot into the air when he was struck by Hammerstone. Bocchini hyped the Fightland special to close the show…
Powell’s POV: There was zero mystery regarding the outcome of the main event despite the wrestlers doing their best with some good near falls. So MLW was wise to focus on hyping Fatu vs. Hammerstone for Thursday rather than spend this bulk of this episode building up Fatu vs. Cross. It was still a well worked match that made Fatu look strong heading into the showdown match.
Overall, a good episode with three entertaining matches and good hype for tomorrow night’s MLW Fightland special on Vice TV. MLW has done a terrific job with the slow build to Fatu vs. Hammerstone. Granted, it was probably slower than they planned due to the pandemic, but the match never lost its appeal. I got a screener for this episode, so my audio review is available now for Dot Net Members. Check back on Thursday night for my review of the MLW Fightland special.
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