By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)
MLW Fusion (Episode 218)
Taped June 12, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at 2300 Arena
Streamed October 22, 2026, on Tubi (Saturdays on MLW’s YouTube Channel and Veeps)
Tubi lists this episode as “Season 8, Episode 24.” This is the second episode from the 2300 Arena taping. Joe Dombrowski and Tom Lawlor provided commentary; Donovan Dijak, then Scarlett Bordeaux, joined the booth for one match each. I’ll reiterate that the production quality of MLW has never been better than the tapings throughout 2026.
* Josef Samael narrated the opening segment, showing off all the monsters in his faction. Hail Contra!
1. Joe Coffey (w/Mark Coffey, Wolfgang) vs. Andrew Everett. Andrew wore his Andre the Giant-style one-strap singlet, and he still thinks he’s a seven-foot-tall giant. They locked up, and Joe easily threw him to the mat. Dombrowski said the Glasgow Boys were fined “an undisclosed amount” for attacking CJ Gallows last week outside the building. CJ has been hospitalized! Dombrowski hopes “he can make a full recovery.” Meanwhile, Everett hit an Asai Moonsault. In the ring, Everett went for a springboard move, but Coffey cut him off with a punch. Coffey hit a backbreaker over his knee, then an elbow drop for a nearfall at 2:00.
Coffey tied up the left arm and kept Everett grounded. Coffey executed a double-underhook swing, then hit a double-underhook suplex for a nearfall at 3:30. The crowd chanted, “He’s a giant!” Coffey hit a German Suplex. Everett hit a superkick and a second-rope missile dropkick, and they were both down. Everett hit a top-rope twisting kick, and they were both down at 5:30. Everett finally got a nearfall. However, he missed a Swanton Bomb. Coffey immediately nailed a discus clothesline for the pin. Fine action for a match of this length.
Joe Coffey defeated Andrew Everett at 6:36.
* Coffey got on the mic. He dedicated this match to CJ Gallows, “who’s in a hospital bed!” The crowd loudly booed (this sounds like some ‘crowd sweetener’ was used).
* Rich Bocchini narrated a segment where we saw the assault on CJ Gallows. He’s in traction, and his jaw is wired shut. Doctors have ruled out any return to the ring at this time. Rich reiterated that the Glasgow Boys were fined for this brutal assault. OH, you can send CJ a get-well message at “#RiseUpCJ.” (They sure are playing up this worked assault quite well. Bravo.)
* Footage aired of Austin Aries and Matt Riddle arguing two weeks ago. Bocchini then interviewed Aries backstage. Austin is again wearing a “Phantom of the Opera” mask that covers half his face. He reiterated he won’t be pressured into facing Riddle. (I think this might be the same segment as last week!)
2. Josh Bishop (w/Donovan Dijak) vs. Rich Moya. Rich got the “already in the ring” treatment. Again, he looks a bit like Rocky Romero. Dijak joined commentary and said, “I won’t be here long. This is the mismatch of the century.” Bishop immediately hit some chops and an Irish Whip. Dijak talked about how HE is the leader of the Skyscrapers, and it’s Josh’s job to follow the plan. Josh hit a fallaway slam. Dijak said Bishop is “a dumb kid,” but added that he too was once a dumb kid. Bishop hit a Razor’s Edge for the pin. That went the way you would expect.
Josh Bishop defeated Rich Moya at 1:40.
* Bishop got on the mic and shouted, “Kross! I’m coming for you!” He dropped the mic and left. Dijak was irritated, saying he didn’t give Bishop permission to speak.
* Backstage, Killer Kross, who was with Scarlett, was looking for Kross.
* A vignette aired for the H.A.T.E. faction in Japan.
* We heard from Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson, who were irate on the attack on CJ. Doc challenged the Glasgow Boys to a match at SuperFight in Chicago… and it will be a Chicago Street Fight!
* Scarlett Bordeaux joined Lawlor and Dombrowski on commentary. They talked about the top women in the division. (Again, it feels strange that they don’t mention Masha…. because Masha hadn’t signed yet. That’s the flaw of airing episodes out of order.)
3. Saya Kamitani (w/Mina) vs. Lady Frost. Basic reversals early on. Saya grabbed Frost’s hair and threw her to the mat. She kept Frost grounded in the corner. They went to the floor, where Frost hit some chops at 2:00. In the ring, Frost hit some stomps. They got up, hit stereo discus forearm strikes, and both collapsed at 4:30 [C]
Back from the break, Frost hit a hard clothesline and a unique rolling cannonball for a nearfall. Lawlor noted that was Frost’s “Murder Gymnastics” in action. Saya hit a Northern Lights Suplex with a high bridge for a nearfall at 6:00. Frost hit a top-rope twisting crossbody block for a nearfall. They got up and traded more forearm strikes. This has been really sharp. Frost nailed an Air Raid Crash for a nearfall at 8:00. She hit a top-rope moonsault for a nearfall. Saya hit some spin kicks for a believable nearfall; I thought that was it! She hit a fisherman’s powerbomb for the pin. That match was well worth checking out.
Saya Kamitani defeated Lady Frost at 9:33.
* Shotzi came to the ring, MLW Featherweight Title around her waist, and confronted Saya. She said she’s been watching Saya and she admires her work. “This is a dream match in the making,” she said. Rina got in the ring, so Scarlett rolled into the ring. Zamaya ran out of the back, and they all brawled. So it appears it will be Shotzi, Scarlett, and Zamaya vs. Lady Frost, Rina, and Saya.
* Rich Bocchini announced that SuperFight on November 7 is now sold out! Killer Kross vs. Josh Bishop in a last man standing match! Also, Tessa Blanchard will make her debut at SuperFight. He confirmed that the Good Brothers vs. Glasgow Boys in a Chicago Street Fight has been signed. We then heard again from Yota Tsuji, who will wrestle at SuperFight. He is NOT putting the IWGP belt on the line, but if someone beats him, “That would change the conversation.” No opponent has been named yet.
* Tessa Blanchard was seated on a couch at home and talked about coming to SuperFight. She’s not coming to ask for anyone’s respect!
4. Austin Aries vs. Trevor Lee in an Opera Cup quarterfinal match. These two had a tremendous match in MLW not too long ago! Standing switches to open. Lee dropped him with a shoulder tackle at 2:30. He hit a huracanrana and a clothesline to the floor. He hit a running Penalty Kick on the apron. In the ring, Aries tripped Lee, knocking him off the ropes to the mat. Aries stomped on him and hit a slingshot senton at 4:00. [C]
Back from the break, Aries had tied Lee in a pretzel on the mat. Lee hit a chop, but Aries hit a side slam and his pendulum elbow drop at 6:30, and he celebrated the move. Lee hit a hard clothesline and was fired up. He hit a diving forearm strike to the back, a snake-eyes drop in the corner, and a Shining Wizard for a nearfall at 8:00. Aries snapped Lee’s neck in the ropes. Lee hit two German Suplexes and got a nearfall at 9:30. Lee hit another German Suplex, but he couldn’t hit the Cave-In leaping double stomp. He went onto the apron, but Aries tripped him.
Aries hit a brainbuster onto the thin mat at ringside! Aries rolled into the ring. The ref started counting! Lee rolled in before the count-out! Lee got a backslide for a nearfall. However, Aries locked in the Last Chancery submission hold in the center of the ring. Lee got a foot on the ropes at 11:30. We got a “This is awesome!” chant. Aries grabbed a title belt. The ref confiscated it. Aries grabbed another belt and tried the ‘Eddie spot,’ but the ref wasn’t buying it. Aries hit a Helluva Kick and a brainbuster for the pin. That was a blast.
Austin Aries defeated Trevor Lee at 12:35 to advance to the Opera Cup semifinals.
Next week’s show features LaBron Kozone vs. Diego Hill and Ikuro Kwon vs. Matt Riddle in Opera Cup matches.
* In the parking lot, Kross and Bishop brawled as the show went off the air.
Final Thoughts: A really strong hour of TV. Aries and Lee have now had two really sharp matches here in MLW. Both guys really click; their styles mesh so well. Lady Frost and Saya Kamitani also had a really good back-and-forth exchange. Sure, I accurately predicted the winners of both matches, but both were quite entertaining. Coffey and Everett had a nice little match, too.
A longer-than-normal episode, clocking in at 64 minutes. MLW did a good job this week of seamlessly adding new stuff — Bocchini’s Fightland preview and the interview with Tessa — into the show that was filmed months ago.
