I’ve been catching up with Major League Wrestling, so let’s look at the MLW Fusion special presentation of MLW Kings of Colosseum 2021 from January 6, 2021.
Episode number 116 of MLW Fusion is a smaller version of the company’s annual event because of the current situation of the world and the industry at the moment.
Still, for an indy to be able to present a major show in addition to its weekly TV is very impressive. Plus, this isn’t Major League Wrestling’s regular approach of running an event and editing it for TV over the month.
Stories Heading into MLW Kings of Colosseum 2021
I’m just condensing the related stories for the event this time. Wrestler-rapper Myron Reed is hungry for challengers to his MLW World Middleweight title.
Up until KOC 2021, Reed has been the longest reigning Middleweight champion holding the belt for over 420 days. Enter fellow wrestler-rapper Lio Rush.
Super arrogant and able to back it up, he is pretty much the counter to Reed’s attitude of fighting for his convictions.
Rush automatically comes in as a heel while Reed—and partner/close friend/indy rival Jordan Oliver—kind of went from heel to face during the CONTRA invasion in early 2020. This is going to be a clash to watch.
CONTRA Unit’s steamroller Mads Krugger is in action and is gunning for gold. MLW National Openweight champion Alexander Hammerstone being a victim of their attacks with Krugger being the attack dog this time.
The Meat Castle took the time out to train just to take on Krugger who has made him a personal target.
Once again speaking of CONTRA Unit and Myron Reed, Jordan Oliver has beef with the unit too with Simon Gotch attacking him in recent episodes.
A grudge match has been scheduled between two as a result. However, Oliver was attacked before it took place and MLW rescheduled it for MLW Fusion #118.
MLW World Tag Team champions The Von Erichs have been feuding with Team Filthy since—oof—forever, really. After Tom Lawlor turned on Ross and Marshall back in November 2019, it’s been on sight for the two sides.
Since then, Team Filthy has added Kevin Ku to the ranks to form a team with Dominic Garrini called Violence Is Forever.
However, the Von Erich boys will be defending the belts against The Stud Stable’s Dirty Blondes. The Stud Stable hasn’t been the most active in MLW in 2019 and 2020 but they’re back and MLW loves its factions.
MLW Kings of Colosseum 2021 Card
–MLW World Tag Team Title – Texas Tornado Tag Match: The Von Erichs [c] vs. The Dirty Blondes
–MLW World Middleweight Title: Myron Reed [c] vs. Lio Rush
–Grudge Match: Jordan Oliver vs. Simon Gotch
–MLW National Openweight Title: Alexander Hammerstone [c] vs. Mads Krugger
Low-Tier
The Tag Team title bout between champions The Von Erichs and The Dirty Blondes was a fun brawl just shy of four minutes.
I was curious as to how The Dirty Blondes—who ate loses in each 2018 MLW bout, weren’t there in 2019, and only won one pre-KOC 2021 match—warranted the title shot.
I thought the Von Erichs would’ve lost the titles to Team Filthy’s Violence Is Forever later in the year if anything. That said, MLW’s tag division is on the light side—despite what the Von Erichs said in their post-victory promo.
The boys from Texas by way of Hawaii picked up the win in 3:53 with their patented Iron Claw-Back Suplex finisher—or the Von Erich Claw Bomb as I call it.
This match could’ve been more as both teams are solid-to-good. The team of Leo Brien and Michael Patrick have shown that they can mix it up with the MLW crew.
Overall, this was just a sample of what could’ve been.
Mid-Tier
Hammerstone’s six-minute match against Krugger left me wanting more but what was there wasn’t bad.
The title defense was ended in a double count-out after the two brawled to the outside. It’s likely we’ll see another bout down the road but it depends on if all this CONTRA Unit interference goes anywhere and we get resolution in these attacks.
Intimidation Games is scheduled for June and that’s really the longest all of this can go on before it’s just time to wrap it up and have CONTRA target others. 
COVID has stretched things out longer due to a lack of shows, so there’s that. Mads Krugger is the best gimmick for Logan Creed in MLW.
Either his eventual full showdown with Hammerstone or Alexander teaming with others in the big cage match will be a star-making performance for Mads in MLW.
Exotic-Tier
Clocking in at just over 14 minutes, the MLW World Middleweight defense was hands down the best match on the card. While it was solid in the first half, Myron Reed and Lio Rush cranked it up in the second half.
There was a nice, short story told here as Lio Rush hadn’t been in the promotion long, was being too big for his stylish ass boots and tights, and had already gotten an opportunity from the champion.
The champion looks up to Rush and expresses his bravado in a different way. As mentioned earlier, Injustice were heels for most of their MLW run and turned face mainly because of CONTRA running rampant last year.
This bout was a mirror bout with both men being crispy as hell high flyers and being familiar with each other’s offense.
There were little touches I liked such as Rush being downed by Reed but just holding on to his foot to desperately keep snuff his momentum and Lio Rush’s use of the bottom rope for his springboard offense.
The one moment I wait for in every Myron Reed bout is that awesome cutter from the inside to an opponent on the apron—which we got in the finishing stretch.
Reed would lose the title at 14:19 following Rush’s The Final Hour frog splash. Match of the Show with no close competition, folks. With that said, these two can top this bout.
MLW Kings of Colosseum 2021 Verdict: Mid-Tier (5.3/10)
Yes, it was a Fusion special presentation but MLW Kings of Colosseum 2021 felt like another episode of Fusion. Even with three titles being defended, it didn’t seem like it was a big event of the year.
The show should’ve probably been pushed back to a time when it’s safe for fans or just run an hour and 30-minute show. Looking at the following shows, all of that could’ve been consolidated into a sizeable show easily.
If you’re looking for something with sizzle and steak, the MLW World Middleweight title bout is the best thing on the card. The MLW Tag Team title match should’ve had more time or at least a Team Filthy run in to let us know this match was just a detour in the feud.
In the case of Hammerstone vs. Krugger, it worked as the Meat Castle will likely be the World Champion by the end of the year—if Davey Boy Smith Jr doesn’t beat him to it.
We have two credible potential champions and really, Hammerstone’s role as “The CONTRA Hunter” puts him on a collision course with champion Jacob Fatu.
All in all, this was a very middle-of-the-road show from Major League Wrestling.
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get The Overtimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
Remember to stay up to date with the latest news on TheOvertimer. Don’t forget to visit Gamestingr for great videos, news, and gameplay!
