Did you miss MLW Fusion #97? I tend to binge Major League Wrestling since it’s readily available on YouTube but the February episodes have been worth catching live. The shows that are “Presented By…” tend to be the primo episodes.
MLW Fusion #97
You want to follow all of a promotion’s shows weekly but as we know every episode isn’t gold. As a matter of fact, you’ll often get some coal, tin, or bronze episodes. Sometimes, the gold episodes are the ones you’ll DVR and watch later.
In the case of Major League Wrestling, their “Presented By…” episodes are similar to mini Clash of the Champions. The episodes from this month are all from the MLW Zero Hour event on 1/11. So, if you miss any of the company’s big events, you’ll see it all on Fusion.
Gino Medina (Dynasty) vs. Septimo Dragon (AAA)
Let’s catch up with MLW Fusion #97, presented by Dynasty! After a special episode opening, we see that Ol’ Mancer is banned from the building. We get a replay of new bright prospect Gino Medina being scouted by Konnan. Dynasty is here as well trying to scoop up young Gino.
Medina looks ready to have Konnan as a mentor but attacks him! Dynasty joins in and Gino heads where the big money is…with Dynasty. Gino Medina is being pitted against Konnan’s charge Septimo Dragon. Fellow Dynasty member Richard Holliday is on color commentary. Major League Wrestling delivers with the similar style bouts. Things get hairy with its mixed—as was the case in episode #96 with Garrini vs. Zenshi.
This match was great. It had a fast pace, lots of flash, counter wrestling, and dives. There was no awkwardness or sloppiness here and the bout was even. The two of them were pretty damn crisp and gelled perfectly. Medina picks up the win with some mild underhand tactics following a roll-up with his foot on the bottom rope.
That was the one hiccup here because he shouldn’t have that much leverage. The second rope—that’s where the magic happens. I will say that running boot before the roll-up definitely knocked some ring awareness out of Septimo Dragon.
Gino vs. Septimo would be a dope feud if Major League Wrestling pitted them against each other regularly. Gino’s heel work fits in with Dynasty. This is especially true with this being MJF’s final MLW Fusion. If he needs Hammerstone or Holliday to speak for him, great. It works. Septimo with Konnan gives me Rey Misterio Jr. with Konnan vibes and that works as well.
After the match, Holliday and Gino beat up Septimo then bounce once Konnan hits the ring.
Gino Medina def. Septimo Dragon via Roll-Up
Promotion, Promotion
After that match, we get promotion for MLW’s upcoming shows and a reminder that Killer Kross is coming to the company. Also, ManceWarner is trying to get into the arena. Just because he seems like a loud, dense Southern boy who likes a few light beers don’t think he isn’t crafty to get in!
MLW National Openweight Title: Alexander Hammerstone [c] (Dynasty) vs. Aero Star (AAA)
Next up is another AAA star Aero Star against MLW Openweight champion Alexander Hammerstone.
Now, Hammerstone is someone I quickly warmed to. The guy has the look, he’s solid-to-good on the mic and the same in the ring. He’s 29, so there’s still some time for him to get even better. He’s been passed over by WWE several times and with fellow Dynasty member MJF in AEW, we could end up seeing him there before the year is out.
I mean, AEW could use a few heavyweight-heavyweights and AEW is in the neighborhood. Just sayin’, folks.
As for Aero Star, he’s been around forever. He’s the luchador who takes the insane dives off of lighting scaffolding. If you followed LuchaUnderground or Impact Wrestling within the past three years, you’ve seen him a few times. Why did I use Impact as an example? If you watched Lucha Underground, you definitely saw Aero Star.
He showed up to this match in black with blue LED lights. You might ask “Why didn’t he mention what Hammerstone showed up in?” Because Aero Star is pretty damn cool and so is his gear. Bask in its glory.
As for this match, it was well-paced. Hammerstone took a power brawling approach to Aero Star’s lucha libre. It was a clean, competitive match for the most part with Aero Star being a good opponent to really show off Hammerstone’s strength. Aero Star would get the upper hand towards the end of the bout but Hammerstone rips his mask off.
This is super kryptonite to masked luchadors. As soon as that mask comes off their face, their hands instantly go up to hide their identity. It never fails and this allowed for Hammerstone to bundle him up for the win and a successful defense.
Alexander Hammerstone def. Aero Star via Roll-Up ~ 7th Defense
MLW Fusion Presents: More Promotion
Next, we get a Dallas-like opening that cuts to Team Filthy. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor and Dominic Garrini are in a field littered with trash to talk about the Von Erichs’ title defense. He says he wants the Von Erichs to hold on to the belts so that Team Filthy can take them. They end the interview after Garrini asks Lawlor if he wants to take a whiz. Of course, Lawlor wants to and the promo ends with them peeing in the field.
Ol’ Mancer still hasn’t gotten into the arena apparently but he says he will!
Jacob Fatu is scheduled to take on Dragon Gate’s CIMA soon. Or rather Oriental Wrestling Entertainment’s CIMA. Whichever. Fatu says he’s going to beat CIMA and retain his title. Next, the Von Erichs are backstage and they’re talking with the interviewer about their title defense up ne—whoa! Here’s Davey Boy Smith Jr!
He talks about how he’s going to take out Tom Lawlor. He ends with some “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” action. I want to say it’s figurative but wrestlers getting their eye put out might just be the new trend in the industry. Stay tuned!
Mance Warner is back with some light beers! Dynasty’s goon Grogan is chilling outside as he walks up. Well, he’s keeping watch for Ol’Mancer but it might as be chilling. Mance offers him a brew or two and tells him about a stripper who’s down to party. Dynasty has been treating Grogan like a goon and he decides to just let Mance in.
Oh yeah, L.A Park’s coming back soon. We also get a Dynasty promo followed by next week’s card.
MLW World Tag Team Titles: The Von Erichs [c] vs. Dynasty
It took my boy Ol’ Mancer 30-plus minutes to get in that building. I’m assuming it only has one door and doesn’t need security. North Richard Hills’ building department needs to check on that, sounds like a fire hazard.
During the champions’ entrance, Dynasty attacks them as fans are giving them flowers. Richard Holliday continues the beating while MJF asks the announcers to watch his scarf. They’ve got two members in the back who could’ve watched—never mind. Thanks to that pre-match attack, Dynasty really lay the boots into Ross and Marshall.
Dynasty’s tag teamwork was really good! It makes sense since they were the previous champions, defeating the Hart Foundation. The VonErichs are probably the purest babyfaces in the promotion. Of course, their tag work is rock solid as well!
Together they’re a really good team. While Ross can do offense, he’s more like Ricky Morton in that he takes the brunt of the punishment for big Marshall to get the hot tag and start cleaning house. The consensus is that they’re a solid team but barefooted Marshall is the one you want to keep an eye on.
That turn around is just what happened as Marshall came in and things got hairy for Dynasty. MJF’s splash didn’t put Marshall away as Ross made the save! Hammerstone came out to turn things back in their favor but Ol’ Mancer attacks him with a chair! Gino comes out and brawls with Mance!
Holliday is knocked out of the ring with a double dropkick. Never stand near the ropes when there’s a team that uses a double dropkick. As a matter of fact, never stand near anything you can topple over: guard rails, balconies, tables, bicycle racks. Just don’t do it.
MJF sees that the rest of the Dynasty is either knocked out or preoccupied and is loathing turning around. Should’ve just bailed out of the ring, really. Marshall puts the Iron Claw on and Ross hoists him up for the backdrop suplex combination! Put this one in the book, the Von Erichs retain the belts.
The Von Erichs def. Dynasty via Iron Claw+Back Drop Suplex ~ 1st Defense
Must-Watch from MLW Fusion #97: Gino Medina vs. Septimo Dragon
You can check out the episode below or go check out episode #98 of MLW Fusion. That episode is headlined by Tom Lawlor vs. Ross von Erich!
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