We’re almost done catching up on MLW Fusion ALPHA with episode four. The full show is available on YouTube and will be dropped below for your viewing enjoyment. This is the episode following MLW Fightland on Vice with Hammerstone beginning his reign as World Heavyweight champion. Check out the card from this episode.
MLW Fusion ALPHA #4
Calvin Tankman vs. Lee Moriarty
Delmi Exo vs. Brittany Blake
Opera Cup – Opening Round: Tom Lawlor vs. Davey Richards
The Sizzle
Following the opener, Hammerstone shows up in matchmaker Cesar Duran’s office to relinquish the MLW National Openweight title.
He says his proudest moment was winning the belt but the World title is his focus and the National Openweight title is another guy’s challenge now. What an honorable champion.
Duran wants to talk business and asks if Hammerstone can handle CONTRA Unit. The segment ends with Hammerstone saying that he’ll find his own team for the War Chamber match at MLW War Chamber 2021.
Speaking of Cesar Duran, Alicia Atout has an exposé about Duran’s last night in Boyle Heights–the battleground of Lucha Underground. Apparently, Duran was on the lamb for three years after Lucha Underground fell.
He even changed his name and is apparently discussing shady business while in MLW. The last piece of damning footage shows who appears to be Selina de la Renta rummaging through Duran’s Boyle Heights office.
After the featherweight division bout, Hammerstone is walking backstage when someone attempts to dive onto him–only for EJ “The Judge” Nduka to catch the guy, slam him onto an open chair and throw him to the ground like so much Steven Seagal throwing Screwface down an elevator shaft.
Hammerstone is impressed and recruits him to his team for War Chamber 2021. Nduka accepts and Hammerstone picks up a new ally in his fight against CONTRA Unit.
Also on his team is fellow Dynasty member Richard Holiday who was attacked by CONTRA. There’s been this odd existence with Hammerstone obviously being a face because of battling CONTRA while being associated with Holiday who has typically been a face.
Later, Richard Holiday meets with Cesar Duran to discuss business. Apparently, Duran bought IWA Puerto–where Holiday is the Caribbean champion.
Duran is annoyed with Holiday because of his not-relationship with Atout. He schedules a title defense for Holiday but doesn’t mention his opponent–obviously King Muerte. Booker man will be hearing from Holiday’s lawyer-slash-father.
Ending the show is Injustice talking smack on 5150 who ambush them in the parking area to end the show. GANG WARFARE!
The Steak
After a Fightland 2021 highlight video, we get a battle between two wrestlers who have been impressing me in “Heavyweight Hustle” Calvin Tankman and “The Master of TAIGASTYLE” Lee Moriarty–recently signed with AEW.
It starts out as a battle of Tankman’s power and being unmovable and Moriarty’s speed and fast thinking.
I would say Moriarty’s unpredictability but Tankman busted out a smooth escape into a roll out of the corner which I wasn’t expecting. I know he’s capable of it but I didn’t expect it–or the shoulder tackle that sent Moriarty all willy-nilly into the ropes.
Without going move for move over this match, it was great. It was the kind of match that if it had some stakes and a few more minutes, it would be a bout that defines Major League Wrestling’s athletic, physical style.
Actually, this should’ve been an Opera Cup bout! Both men came with it and it was very even. We saw a little bit of what Moriarty was capable of and more of what Tankman was capable of if given a pliable opponent.
I loved Moriarty’s up-tempo technical game and Tankman’s surprise counters such as the powerslam on the apron. You’ll want to watch this one. Tankman Driver ends this for Moriarty.
Afterward, King Mo comes out with “The Suplex Assassin” Alex Kane and attempts to recruit Tankman. The fans are against it but Tankman says he’ll think about it.
The featherweight division bout between Delmi Exo and Brittany Blake was another better-than-solid bout. When Blake and Exo picked up the pace midway through the match, they delivered some good stuff.
I enjoyed the Ashley Vox vs. Willow Nightingale bout more but this was a good division offering. I’m expecting good stuff out of them when the division gets around to mixing in feuds, rivalries, and stakes.
They’re getting some interview and match time–although this match could’ve also used some more minutes. The main event was another match in the Opera Cup 2021 opening rounds. Davey Richards–who eliminated the 2020 Opera Cup winner Tom Lawlor–had an intense bout with Filthy Tom. It was hard-hitting with some rough technical wrestling.
Richards is one of the best at mixing in some physicality with fluid, sometimes flashy mat work. Lawlor is at his best when throwing blowing but has a great, physical, practical technical game. This was the Opera Cup bout I’d recommend for lapsed Richards fans. His match versus TJP was good as well but it was a little too fast and flashy for my liking.
Richards picks up the win after Lawlor passes out from the Ankle Lock–but not before flipping a double bird while crawling for the ropes.
MLW Fusion ALPHA #4 Verdict: Silver Medal (3.42/5)
The sizzle on this show was extremely good with that side of things being carried by the Duran and Azteca Underground exposé. Also enjoyable was Hammerstone recruiting for his Hammerheads team at MLW War Chamber 2021.
As for the steak of the show, all of the matches were solid or above with Tankman vs. Moriarty being my pick for match of the episode followed by the Opera Cup opening rounder.
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