By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Major League Wrestling Fusion (Episode 84)
Taped November 9, 2019 in Orlando, Florida at GILT Nightclub
Aired November 16, 2019 on beIN Sports
Tom Lawlor spoke with Ross and Marshall Von Erich backstage. Lawlor mentioned that he might only be there a few more weeks. Lawlor and Ross wished Marshall luck in his match, and Lawlor asked Ross if he had his back. Ross said they are brothers… The MLW Fusion opening video aired…
Rich Bocchini and AJ Kirsch checked in on commentary and hyped the main event. Bocchini noted that there’s been a lot of talk about Lawlor’s contract status with the company…
Powell’s POV: I can’t tell if MLW is just being honest about Lawlor’s run with the company coming to an end or if they are playing this up now to make it seem like a major happening if they announce that he’s re-signed with the company.
1. Marshall Von Erich (w/Ross Von Erich) vs. Ikuro Kwon (w/Josef Samael). Kwon dove from the ring onto Marshall at ringside to start the match. Bocchini recalled that Kwon sprayed mist and blinded Marshall, who was unable to see the birth of his first child. Bocchini mentioned Court Bauer’s tweet regarding Lawlor’s status with the company. Kwon delivered some kicks and got a near fall. Marshall came back and applied the Iron Claw, but Samael interfered for the DQ and was quickly run off by Ross…
Marshall Von Erich defeated Ikuro Kwon by DQ.
Powell’s POV: Fun while it lasted? There wasn’t much to this match and the DQ finish was underwhelming. That said, there’s no reason to have Marshall lose clean, and Kwon needs a boost because he current feels like the low man on the totem pole in Contra Unit. My guess is that Lawlor is staying based on Bocchini mentioning Bauer’s tweet. I believe the commentary was done live. If so, then that would mean the tweet was planned and strategic since Bocchini mentioned it before it happened. If it is a ploy to generate interest then it’s a good one because it does have people talking. The big news is that MLW re-signed Jacob Fatu, which is huge for them given his status as the MLW Champion and top guy in the company.
The latest Lifestyles of the Rich and Dynastic aired. Richard Holliday spoke with MFJ via FaceTime. MJF covered his face while Holliday asked how his botox injections went. MJF said he wasn’t up for it. Holliday asked him to remove his hand from his face. MJF did and Holliday dropped the phone and acted disgusted by what he saw. Alex Hammerstone showed up and brought up that MJF and Holliday lost the tag titles. Hammerstone said he had a big gift for his Dynasty brothers that would make them forget about the tag titles. Holliday tried to fist bump his phone and Hammerstone called him on it and walked away…
Powell’s POV: The chemistry between the Dynasty trio continues to grow. I enjoy their videos and they’ve been really effective in terms of establishing the personalities of the three men who make up the faction. I believe MJF is doing the botched botox bit because he was actually at the AEW Full Gear pay-per-view rather than at this set of tapings. MJF is advertised for the Opera Cup tournament, so his run in MLW is obviously continuing.
The broadcast team hyped Alex Hammerstone vs. MJF and Brian Pillman Jr. vs. TJP as first-round matches in the MLW Opera Cup tournament…
Richard Holliday and Alex Hammerstone made their entrance for a tag match. Holliday noted that his “lawyer/father” was calling him. Holliday told him that he couldn’t talk to him and mentioned that his father was trying to get the tag titles back for them. Holliday said that’s what he pays his father for and hung up. Holliday delivered a brief promo, and the broadcast team noted that Holliday has to pay his own father to represent Dynasty…
2. Dominic Garrini and Douglas James vs. Richard Holliday and Alex Hammerstone. Garrini went for an early cross armbreaker on Holliday, who reached the ropes and complained that Garrini had his AirPods. “That’s a new level of douchebaggery,” one of the broadcast team members said. Funny.
Later, Garrini applied the cross armbreaker, but Hammerstone broke it up with a kick. Hammerstone tagged in and went for his finisher, but Garrini slipped away and tagged in James, who hit a meteora from the ropes on Hammerstone for a near fall. There was a weak tornado DDT from James from the apron onto Hammerstone on the floor. Garrini returned to the ring and won the match via count-out.
Dominic Garrini and Douglas James defeated Richard Holliday and Alex Hammerstone.
Powell’s POV: It’s too bad the tornado DDT looked so weak. I like the call of using some of the equity that Dynasty has built up to try to give Garrini and James a boost.
Bocchini said Teddy Hart was out indefinitely after taking a fireball to the face from Josef Samael, which led to Myron Reed pinning him to win the MLW Middleweight Championship…
Reed delivered a promo and said everyone will be celebrating his name. He also slipped in an RIP for independent wrestler Matt Travis, who died when he was hit by a car while riding his bike…
The Von Erichs and Lawlor were talking backstage when someone delivered a package for the brothers. It contained a phone with a message from Josef Samael, who said one of them would challenge Jacob Fatu for the MLW Championship on the Thanksgiving night special. Lawlor asked which one of them would take his belt back. Marshall said he’d love for his older brother to get the shot, but he’d also love it. Ross gave Marshall the shot. Marshall signed the contract that was also in the package…
Kirsch hyped the Thanksgiving night edition of MLW Fusion on YouTube…
A video package focused on various women and a graphic hyped the MLW Women’s Division…
Kaci Lennox interviewed Zeda Zhang, who said she’s excited to launch the division. She said she doesn’t know who is wrestling as The Spider Lady, but she said she will squash her like a bug and remove her mask so the world can see her face…
Footage aired of Mance Warner challenging Jimmy Havoc to a falls count anywhere match. A new Havoc promo aired with Havoc accepting the match for next week’s show. Havoc said he will take Warner back to his apartment and he’ll slam a frying pan into his head and drink his blood…
Bocchini set up footage of King Mo Lawal’s MMA fights while clips of his MLW “press conference” from last week played…
King Mo was shown sitting at ringside, then the broadcast team hyped the main event for after a break…
3. Tom Lawlor vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. The wrestlers shook hands. Bocchini said he was surprised Lawlor accepted the handshake given the mood he’s been in lately. Smith went for an early rear naked choke, but Lawlor reached the ropes with his foot to break it. The wrestlers traded strikes and Lawlor fell down. Smith dropped a leg on him and covered him for a two count.
Lawlor came back with a clunky t-bone suplex. Bocchini said Lawlor’s knee buckled and he didn’t get as much of it as he would have liked. Smith came right back with a Sharpshooter, then transitioned into a crossface until Lawlor reached the ropes. The wrestlers got to their feet and exchanged strikes. Smith took a a poke to the eye and the broadcast team debated whehter it was intentional. Smith came back with a powerslam attempt, but Lawlor slipped out and slammed Smith on his knee and then pinned him.
Tom Lawlor defeated Davey Boy Smith Jr.
After the match, Kaci Lennox interviewed Lawlor on the stage. Lawlor said that he holds his destiny in his hands for the first time in his life. Lawlor said his MLW contract expires in mere weeks. He teased staying in MLW or going elsewhere either in an MMA cage or getting raw or laying the smack down on someone. Lawlor said he’s the hottest thing in pro wrestling. Lawlor said if you don’t believe him then take one look at him…
Bocchini hyped Zeda Zhang vs. Spider Lady, and Mance Warner vs. Jimmy Havoc in a Falls Count Anywhere match for next week’s episode…
Powell’s POV: A good, physical match. Smith shined when he faced Killer Kross in an excellent match at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport event during WrestleMania weekend. The rules of this match were different, but both guys work that style well. All signs point to Lawlor turning heel and the question is whether it’s to soften the blow with him leaving when his deal expires or if he has re-signed and this is a new direction for him. I assume that he’s turning, perhaps with King Mo serving as his babyface opposition.
Overall, a good episode of Fusion. The first two match finishes were a little underwhelming, but there was good storytelling with everyone from Lawlor to the Von Erichs to Dynasty, plus solid hype for King Mo and the MLW women’s division. John Moore will be by with the weekly Dot Net Members’ exclusive audio review of this episode.
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