mobanmarketThis week’s MLW Fusion was taped in Philadelphia and New York earlier this year as part of the promotion's Battle Riot and War Chamber tapings earlier. Matt Striker and Joe Dombrowski were on commentary.
The episode also included recaps and the fallout from Saturday's Never Say Never show, including Alex Kane defeating Alex Hammerstone to win the MLW Heavyweight title, and the shocking revelation of Don King being the financial backer of Kane and the Bomaye Fight Club.
We started with a post-match press conference from the event with Kane and Mr. Thomas. A sweaty and passionate new champion called out his doubters and naysayers before listing his accomplishments and what he had to overcome, both exaggerated and true, before winning the title. He then said Hammerstone still hasn’t earned his respect and he will beat him again if he comes because this is Alex Kane’s house, kingdom, and empire.
Taya Valkyrie then told Women's Featherweight Champion Delmi Exo she is going to prove why she is “the craziest bitch” tonight as she attempts to regain her title. Valkyrie portrays the crazy multi-persona/serial killer character really well as she cheerfully and happily mentioned that she intends on ripping Exo limb from limb tonight.
Delmi Exo defeated Taya Valkyrie (w/John Hennigan) to retain the MLW Women’s Featherweight title
During the ring entrances, highlights were shown of Valkyrie attacking Exo two weeks ago, and curb stomping her onto the title. Valkyrie was fined and given a one week suspension for her actions.
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The match started hot and escalated when Valkyrie took control by using the ring post and dropping Exo face-first onto the apron. Valkyrie hit Sheamus' 10 Beats of the Bodhran and even added in his mannerisms as she flaunted in front of Exo, but she took too much time showing off and let the champion back into the match.
The champion hit Valkyrie with a fisherman's suplex, a low dropkick, and a dropkick from the middle rope for a near fall. It was not long before the challenger came back and hit a pair of curb stomps with the second one going into the bottom buckle.
Exo rolled through the Road to Valhalla and elbowed her way out of a second attempt before going for her Delmi Driver, but a distraction from Hennigan stopped her. Hennigan got up on the apron and, similar to the previous title match, Valkyrie collided with him. Exo then tried a roll-up but Valkyrie kicked out.
Valkyrie tried to take advantage of the distraction but Exo hit a tilt-a-whirl head scissors takedown into a Fujiwara armbar, getting the tapout and successful title defense.
– We saw another recap of Never Say Never where Mister Saint Laurent announced the drafting of Matt Cardona, who will be the newest member of MSL’s group, joining Davey Boy Smith Jr. who turned heel by attacking Microman on last week’s Fusion.
– Another recap showed the revelation of Don King as the Bomaye Fight Club financial benefactor which was followed by interviewer Sam Leterna trying to get a word with Court Bauer who only told her to never do business with the “crook” Don King.
– O’Shay Edwards joined Kevin Blackwood and Matt Cardona as the latest draft picks. Edwards will be officially coming to MLW soon to join the Bomaye Fight Club while we have already seen Edwards in MLW this year in the Battle Riot.
Ken Broadway defeated TJ Crawford
This was really good and brought the crowd into it, especially toward the end during the nearfalls.
The "Silver Sniper" Crawford got the early advantage with a big boot and dropped Broadway hard with a suplex. The bigger Broadway came back with a strong lariat that turned Crawford inside out.
Broadway got a close near fall after a power bomb and a face-first swinging Bossman slam to the shock of the commentary team. Crawford then got a near fall after some strikes, a middle rope dropkick, and a double underhook driver. As the match started heading toward the finish, you could hear the crowd getting more into it the longer it went on.
Crawford then hit a great standing spin kick to the jaw and a springboard stunner, which normally sets up his brain buster finisher. Broadway fought out of it and hit a penalty kick and a pop-up bridging German suplex that he calls the Travis Plex (in honor of Matt Travis) to get the pin and win.
– Another Never Say Never recap showed Ricky Shane Page and AKIRA from The Calling winning the MLW Tag Team titles, making AKIRA a double champion as he also holds the Middleweight title.
– We saw the brackets for the 2023 Opera Cup which begins next week. Davey Boy Smith Jr. will face Calvin Tankman in one semifinal while Tracy Williams and Tony Deppen face off in the other.
Willie Mack defeated John Hennigan (w/ Sam Adonis) and Lio Rush in a triple threat match to become the no. 1 contender to the MLW Championship
This was a great match and a great way to end a good episode.
This was great and fast-paced throughout. You can imagine the spots Rush and Hennigan were able to do as well as having the size, power, and impressive explosive agility of Mack. They all combined brilliantly.
Mance Warner was drinking light beers on commentary. Warner was out there to continue his feud with Adonis who accompanied Hennigan to the ring. Rush was also announced as representing New Japan’s CHAOS faction.
Hennigan and Rush distracted Mack by forming an alliance on the outside, but the main reason was to let Adonis distract Mack, which let both heels jump him at the onset.
Their alliance lasted all of 30 seconds as Rush tried a sneaky roll-up once Mack was disposed of. Rush and Hennigan then had a parkour-tinged minute of dodges, feints, and reversals. Mack re-joined the action, but promptly ate a springboard kick to the face from Hennigan. Mack then hit a Samoan drop to slow the frantic opening minutes down.
Rush hit a great poisonrana after reversing a gorilla press by Mack, but Mack came back with a pop-up forearm to the jaw. Later on, Rush hit his low dive combo through opposite sides of the ring, nearly sliding and ramming Mack into the front row in the process.
The finishing sequence saw Mack send Rush out after a missed frog splash and a stunner. Hennigan then reversed a Mack stunner. Adonis got involved and grabbed Mack's leg from the outside, but Hennigan hit Adonis by accident, giving Mack the opportunity to roll up Hennigan for the win.
Next week:
2023 Opera Cup semifinal match: Davey Boy Smith Jr vs. Calvin Tankman