We’ve finally caught up on this MLW Fusion ALPHA binge, folks! It’s episode five which features more Opera Cup 2021 action as well as Holiday defending his Caribbean championship against King Muertes!
MLW Fusion ALPHA #5
IWA/MLW Caribbean Title:Richard Holliday vs. KingMuertes
Nicole Savoy vs. Holidead
Opera Cup – Opening Round: Matt Cross vs. Calvin Tankman
The Sizzle
Holiday is slated to defend his IWA/MLW Caribbean Championship to start the show. Unfortunately, he is ambushed by CONTRA Unit!
Alexander Hammerstone is late on the save and the title defense is in jeopardy. It’s speculated that Cesar Duran had something to do with the attack.
After the opener, Alicia Atout interviews Richard Holiday who says he’s still going to defend the title despite the attack. Atout looks worried for him but she tends to worried whenever any of the faces get injured.
Surely, she doesn’t have feelings for him, right? Following the Opera Cup bout, Atout is interviewing Bud Heavy who got some love from the Philly crowd.
It seems like it would be a lighter interview for a heavy night–pun not intended–when one of Cesar Duran‘s lucha goons show up. When that happens, you have to meet with the booker man.
He tells her that Holiday will be defending the Caribbean title in the main event tonight and that she will be joining him as a guest at ringside for the match.
Alicia Atout says that she’ll be there as an unwilling guest. This just might be a mauling since Holiday was ambushed earlier and is in no shape to defend. Throughout the Caribbean title match, we’ll see EJ Nduka brawling with CONTRA Unit backstage.
The Steak
In the opening bout, Nicole Savoy takes on Holidead with Alica Atout joining Rich Bocchini and Saint-Laurent on commentary. Holidead has a goon on a collar in Dr. Dax–who has better gear now. That chain is not thick enough to keep him from breaking away from that post but he’s probably a well-behaved goon.
She was the tag partner of AEW wrestler and former NWA World Women’s champion Thunder Rosa. The match itself is a little more technical than the previous featherweight bouts.
If I had to describe it, this was short and ugly. There were parts that weren’t as fluid or clean but I actually like that in matches. On top of that, it flowed well into the crossface struggle with Savoy finally locking in her Savolock and picking up the win.
I’ve never the biggest fan of matches that are clean to the point of being overly choreographed and this was far from that. The only problem was that it was pretty damn short.
Following the match, Nicole Savoy was attended to by the referee and a ring doctor. While heading up the ramp, Holidead runs into Willow Nightingale and attacks her…because she can and Willow got caught lacking.
King Mo joins the commentary team for the next opening round bout of the Opera Cup 2021 as Matt Cross takes on “Heavyweight Hustle” Calvin Tankman. After his failed title shot against former World Champion Jacob Fatu from MLW Fusion ALPHA #3, this would be a big win for Cross.
However, Tankman has shown that he’s tank on two legs. Cross will need to be fast to take this guy off his treads! Sure enough, it’s a giant vs. giant killer bout starting out with Cross using his experience by utilizing the speed game but that peters out quickly after Tankman tackles him out of his boots pretty early on.
Eventually, the speed approach of Cross starts to work with Tankman being disoriented with hit and run tactics after standing and delivering doesn’t work against the massive Tankman.
He is slowed down a bit after “Heavyweight Hustle” catches his dive attempt to the outside and powerbombs him on the apron. However, he’s tired out enough for Cross to mount a bit of a comeback.
The comeback isn’t enough as Tankman puts him away with a spinning backfist to the back of the head. After the bout, Matt Cross tells Alicia Atout that Calvin Tankman hit him in the eyes to get the advantage–when the blow was more to the back of the head.
I’m somewhat interested in where they’re going there. Could we see Son of Havoc return as Duran is accumulating power? King Muertes is already in Duran’s employ with Salina de la Renta missing. He could hit up Duran for some work.
Speaking of King Muertes, he dominates the majority of the match against Holiday. Cesar Duran and Alicia Atout sitting in the front row sipping champagne. Holiday gets a little offense in but Muertes is really eating this guy up.
There’s an added intimidation factor in CONTRA Unit’s Sentai Death Squad being at the entrance. Duran pouring champagne on Holiday is so smug and heelish and Atout just isn’t into the mauling we’re seeing.
Richard Holiday just has too much fight in him but he’s spent from the beating and resorts to begging off to throw the lucha beast off his game. Thumbs up for Holiday busting out the torture rack neckbreaker. I’d say that’s Chris Kanyon-approved.
The Caribbean champion becomes distracted as a Sentai Death Squad member lingers closer to the ring. He confronts the guy only for Ikuro Kwan to come out and stun him with a spinning kick!
This allows King Muertes to hit the Straight to Hell on the outside, roll the already injured champion into the ring, and cover him for the win and the Caribbean championship.
CONTRA Unit has definitely delivered a significant blow heading into their War Chamber match against Hammerstone and his Hammerheads team.
MLW Fusion ALPHA #5: Silver Medal (3.13/5)
The sizzle on MLW Fusion ALPHA shows is just strong and consistent. I like that while we’re being updated on the main storyline of the Hammerheads vs. CONTRA Unit, the individual stories are being advanced.
Richard Holiday, Alicia Atout, and Cesar Duran were the sizzlemeisters of the episode without a doubt. As for the steak, I’m giving Tankman vs. Cross the match of the episode honors.
That said, the steak wasn’t as flavorful as episodes three and four but we still got a strong night of wrestling. The main event wasn’t the best offering from either man but the story was the main focus there and not putting on a dynastic bout.
I’d say that match more than did its job in that respect.
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