Saturday, MLW Fusion #101 airs so let’s do a quick run-through of what happened on episode #98 as we march through and catch up! No title bouts on this one, of course. Before we dive in, let’s see our card for the night.
MLW Fusion #98 Card
Moonshine Mantell vs. Logan Creed
Douglas James vs. Erick Stevens
King Mo vs. Dr. Dax
Grudge Match: Tom Lawlor vs. Ross von Erich
Yes, that King Mo is in action on #99. I couldn’t tell you who Dr. Dax is other than he is a Jay Lethal student. Disclaimer: being the student of a well-known, good wrestler is no indication that they will be good themselves.
Looking at the card off the bat, Logan Creed and Erick Stevens’ MLW debuts look interesting. Tom Lawlor tends to deliver. Your wild card might be King Mo’s match. Let’s dive on in.
Moonshine Mantell vs. Logan Creed
Before we get to the match, we get a few videos about what happened last week with Ol’ Mancer and Grogan and the beef between “Filthy” Tom Lawlor and Ross von Erich. As for the opening match, Logan Creed cuts a brief interview about how he isn’t Grogan and Ol’Mance opened his eyes. Odd gear here on Creed. Imagine if MVP was in a regular tag team with Dustin.
This was a decent match. The 7-foot Logan Creed brawled with Mantell well. He also has some ups as he dove over the top rope and onto Mantell. It was like seeing a jet owned by Magnum take flight. Moonshine Mantell is good. I don’t know how Creed will fit into Major League Wrestling. It seems like he could get snatched up before the year is out. However, Mantell would fit in wonderfully in the brawling scene in the company.
Logan Creed picked up the win with a powerbomb. Mantell bumped nicely on it. On the “With A Authority” scale, that powerbomb was about 2.5 out of 5 Arns.
Logan Creed def. Moonshine Mantell via powerbomb
After that, we’re joined by Dynasty members Alexander Hammerstone and Gino Medina. They’re partaking of beverages when an angry Richard Holliday shows up. He’s angry about Hammerstone bringing Creed into Dynasty in the first place. Of course, he runs down all the things that would’ve been better gifts.
Holliday also points out that it took one light beer to get Creed to leave the group. Hammerstone defends his gift attempt and proposes that they do something about Ol’ Mancer. He took their giant, they’ll take everything from him. The light beers, his uncle, and his sweet Yokosuka jacket.
Here’s Promotion!
Killer Kross video—the same one we’ve been seeing. Commercial for upcoming events. The interesting thing in this break is the PWI top ten rankings for Major League Wrestling. At number three was MLW World Middleweight champion Myron Reed of Injustice. Dynasty’s Alexander Hammerstone, the MLW National Openweight champion was in at number two. The top spot was 2020 Opera Cup winner Davey Boy Smith Jr.
Looking at it, that’s not a bad top three. Hammerstone’s undefeated in defending the belt. Reed has been picking up the win. Meanwhile, Hammerstone and Dynasty are the major rising young up-and-comer heel faction in MLW.
Douglas James vs. Erick Stevens
Stevens is caught backstage on his phone and gives an interview about his plans. His target is Davey Boy Smith Jr. He’s anticipating a bout against the Opera Cup champion. Stevens is being painted as a dangerous competitor. His big challenges would probably come from the likes of Jacob Fatu, Low Ki, Tom Lawlor, and Douglas James.
Yes, James doesn’t have the best record in the company but matches with him are always competitive. He doesn’t care, he’s always up for a challenge. Douglas James specializes in a mat attack and leg strikes. Stevens was able to keep pace with him throughout the match with a similar approach.
After scoring that Meteroa running double knee to Stevens, Douglas James became extremely aggressive in the ring. Stevens would end up reversing the momentum and put James away with his Sarasota Screwdriver, a Northern Lights Bomb.
That Sarasota Screwdriver was clean. Goodness.
More Promo For Your MLW Fusion
After that, we join Ol’ Mancer who is getting some things together for a BBQ. He runs into Dynasty’s Holliday and Hammerstone who taunt him a bit. When Mance Warner finally gets outside, he finds his uncle beaten up, Hammerstone being the culprit.
CONTRA Unit is making more threats on everyone including the lucha libras. Tom Lawlor has things to say about Davey Boy Smith Jr calling him out. Next, Injustice—the main cruiserweight heel group—are talking trash. Apparently, fans haven’t been giving these three their due. Now, they have to remind who Myron Reed is.
We move into another promo this time with Jimmy Havoc. He claims he’s taken it to Mance Warner, their final match being a barbed wire match. Havoc and his lady are now trying to see who’s next for that ultraviolence. He did a great job of not downplaying Ol’ Mancer’s toughness or his own craziness.
King Mo vs. Dr. Dax
Low Ki is backstage being asked about the king of knockouts in Major League Wrestling. He is interrupted by King Mo and his manager Dan Lambert. Low Ki is not pleased with King Mo popping up and watches as they leave. I think a showdown between these two could work. At least it’d be much better than this match.
In the following bout, “The Moneyweight” King Mo was was dwarfed by Dr. Dax. Picture a big guy going to the Hoss Warehouse and saying “I want an Abyss look but with some red in it” and you have Dr. Dax. Abyss vibes aside, from what I see of Dax, he’s not terrible. He’s got his clubbing blows, he attempts slams, Dr. Dax is a big brawler. It’s hard to mess up being a big ol’ brawler.
The match itself wasn’t anything special. King Mo doesn’t have the strength to hoist Dr. Dax up and it appears that his wrestling background won’t be effective against him. That doesn’t stop Mo from attempting to lift him single leg-style a few times.
Dax stops that nonsense the final time and hoists King Mo up—only for the Moneyweight to get over his shoulder and slap on the rear-naked choke! Abyss Red Version drops to one knee before going all the way down and immediately taps out.
King Mo def. Dr. Dax via Real Naked Choke
Team Filthy’s Tom Lawlor and Dominic Garrini are practicing backstage for his upcoming match against Ross von Erich. Also, L.A. Park returns on MLW Fusion #99! Also, the card for the next episode was announced—peep that at the end of the recap!
Grudge Match: Tom Lawlor vs. Ross von Erich
It’s time for the main event! Lawlor comes out in his bull rope and cowboy hat with LED lights, poking fun at the von Erichs and Texas. He has his goon with the boss mustache with him as well. Ross von Erich comes out with the Texas flag. This guy seems poised to finally beat the brakes off of the Filthy One.
These two really go at it in his bout. They’re brawling outside the ring, they’re exchanging blows inside—Lawlor uses some dirty tactics and meets that von Erich fire with aggression. I’m so glad commentary gets into the members of Team Filthy. I’ve been calling the mustache guy Lawlor’s goon forever and they can only call him “the X factor.” We need names, Tom!
That brainbuster from von Erich was pretty vicious. It could’ve easily gone wrong. This match has been good so far. It’s probably young Ross’ best singles match in Major League Wrestling. Ross looks set to slap that Iron Claw on Lawlor—but Garrini slides in to stop it!
Ross von Erich def. Tom Lawlor via DQ
They’re beating up on Ross when Marshall slides in to make the save! The von Erich boys lump up Team Filthy and are stalking Tom Lawlor for that Claw+Back Drop Suplex combo—only to be attacked by Erik Stevens! He’s joined up with Team Filthy as they beat up the von Erichs. The trio disrespect the Texas flag with Garrini spitting on, Stevens blowing his nose, and Filthy Tom dry humping it in the middle of the ring. He also taint flosses with it for good measure.
Team Filthy leaves after dunking the flag in a trash can in the middle of the ring. Solid match, awesome ending to the show. Check it out below:
Must-Watch from MLW Fusion #98: Douglas James vs. Erick Stevens
If I had to pick a match that you must check out from this edition of MLW Fusion, Douglas James vs. Erick Stevens is it. This was the match of the episode. Now, if you look at the card the match was on, I wouldn’t give it such honors but this was a strong match for this episode.
MLW Fusion #99 Card
Dynasty vs. Mance Warner, Savio Vega, & Logan Creed
Injustice vs. Zenshi & Laredo Kid
Lumberjack Match: CONTRA Unit vs. Los Parks
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get The Overtimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
