By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)
MLW Fusion (Episode 212)
Taped June 11, 2026, in New York, New York, at Melrose Ballroom
Streamed September 12, 2026, on the MLW’s YouTube Channel, beIN Sports, Veeps
MLW continues to have more than a dozen episodes of TV in its vault. Joe Dombrowski and Tom Lawlor were back on commentary.
* This is the first episode from this new taping, and it’s also the beginning of the 16-man Opera Cup tournament! The brackets were posted rather briefly during last week’s episode. I have generally avoided spoilers.
* The show opened with Joe Dombrowski narrating the history of the Opera Cup. We then heard from Josef Samael. I am so sick of the Contra faction in MLW; it really is the worst part of the promotion right now.
1. Zamaya vs. Lady Glory. I’ve seen Lady Glory once before; she’s a young Latina, and she’s giving up a lot of size to Zamaya. I didn’t hear the bell, so I started the clock as they locked up. Lady Glory hit a Lungblower move to the chin. Zamaya responded with a decapitating clothesline. Zamaya slammed her face-first to the mat. She hit a splash in the corner and a fisherman’s suplex, then a running knee for a nearfall at 2:00, but she pulled Lady Glory up at the two-count! She hit a Death Valley Driver for the pin!
Zamaya defeated Lady Glory at 2:15.
* Donovan Dijak and Joshua Bishop entered the building. Dijak told Bishop he’s “a loose cannon.” He told Bishop he needs to follow his orders.
* A vignette aired for Black Tiger.
* Backstage, Matt Riddle walked up to Killer Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux. Riddle removed his baseball cap to show off his new, shorter hair! Riddle yet again told Kross, “You owe me.”
2. LaBron Kozone vs. Joe Coffey (w/Mark Coffey, Wolfgang) in an Opera Cup first-round match. Okay, this ref made a big wind-up motion, and I heard the bell. An intense lockup to open. They traded chops, and LaBron hit a back-body drop and a running knee for a nearfall at 1:30. Joe rolled to the floor to regroup. Wolfgang tripped Kozone. Coffey jumped back in and hit a backbreaker over his knee and a Sidewalk Slam for a nearfall.
Joe delivered some blows to the kidneys. They traded rollups. Kozone hit a dropkick at 3:00. Coffey applied a Boston Crab. He hit a headbutt and a forward Finlay Roll, but he missed a springboard elbow drop. Kozone hit a T-Bone Suplex at 4:30, and he was fired up. [C]. They got up and traded punches. Kozone went for a senton, but Coffey got his knees up. Joe hit a dropkick into the corner for a nearfall. Kozone hit a Michinoku Driver for a nearfall at 6:00.
Mark hopped on the apron to distract Kozone. LaBron dove onto both Coffeys. In the ring, Joe Coffey hit a moonsault press onto a standing LaBron. LaBron hit a German Suplex, but Coffey popped up and hit his own German Suplex for a nearfall! Kozone hit a rolling Koppo Kick and a standing powerbomb for a nearfall. He then nailed the Ballgame decapitating clothesline for the pin. That was really good — that was better than you would expect it to be. I’m so happy Kozone is getting these opportunities.
LaBron Kozone defeated Joe Coffey at 8:16 to advance to the quarterfinals.
3. Diego Hill vs. Anthony Greene in an Opera Cup first-round match. Greene had his short stint in NXT as August Gray, and he’s done several tours of Japan with NOAH. They charged at each other at the bell and traded quick reversals. Diego hit a basement dropkick and kipped to his feet. A loud “Diego!” chant. They briefly fought on the floor. In the ring, Greene hit a superkick and a back suplex at 1:30, and he switched to a half crab. Greene snapped Diego’s throat over the top rope, then he dove through the ropes onto Hill.
Greene took a Jalen Brunson NY Knicks jersey, spat on it, and then wiped his butt with it. Loud boos! Diego hit a Sasuke Special dive to the floor! That’s new! In the ring, Diego hit his spin kick to Anthony’s jaw, then a twisting second-rope senton for a nearfall at 4:00. Hill missed a Best Moonsault Ever. Greene hit his second-rope Unprettier faceplant for a nearfall.
Greene hit another superkick, but he missed a springboard moonsault. Diego got onto the at-level entrance ramp. He ran down the ramp, flew over the top rope, and hit a flying stunner. He hit a top-rope Spiral Tap twisting splash for the pin. That was pretty awesome for the time given. I’m a big fan of both guys; give them 15 minutes next time.
Diego Hill defeated Anthony Greene at 6:34 to advance to the quarterfinals. (he will face fellow Carolina native Kozone!)
* Next week’s Opera Cup matches include Mistico vs. Trevor Lee!
4. Matt Riddle vs. Brick Savage (w/Josef Samael). I’ve always compared Savage to Bronson Reed, but after last week’s return, we can safely say that Brick is now bigger than Bronson. We got the bell, and Reed charged at Riddle. Matt jumped on his back and tried a rear-naked choke. I’m still not used to all that long hair being gone! Matt hit some open-hand chops, but Savage scooped him up and slammed him to the mat at 1:00. Brick hit a series of clotheslines in the corner, and he was dominating.
Matt hit some spin kicks, then some punches to the ribs. Savage dropped him with another hard blow at 2:30. Brick popped him up, and Riddle landed stomach-first. Matt hit a running knee in the corner, then a flying forearm into the corner. Brick hip-tossed him across the ring. Matt tried a top-rope twisting splash, but he just bounced off Brick! Brick hit a standing powerbomb, then he slammed Riddle to the mat for the pin! The crowd was shocked! Not only did he cleanly pin Riddle … he did it in under five minutes! “I’m at a loss for words,” Lawlor said.
Brick Savage defeated Matt Riddle at 4:22.
* Savage held up the Contra flag as we faded to black.
Final Thoughts: I loved this episode. I have heaped praise on Diego Hill, LaBron Kozone, and Brick Savage for a few years now, and it feels surreal to not only see all three in MLW, but all thriving. I liked everything about this episode. Yeah, I can’t recall ever seeing anyone try a top-rope twisting cannonball, and for the person he hit it on to basically no-sell it. I have no problem with a cocky, overly confident Riddle losing this match that quickly. I won’t mind if he gets serious and has a return match and later gets his win back. The opening squash match was fine; Zamaya also continues to look strong.
I’ll reiterate that since MLW returned from its spring hiatus, the production quality has never been better. This is an easy product to view and enjoy. Dombrowski and Lawlor work well together, too. If I have a complaint, it’s that with the episode so short, they should have squeezed in a few more backstage segments or highlight packages of what the rest of the roster is up to. The show started at 5:05 CST and ended at 5:47 CST.
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