With Kings of Colosseum on the horizon, Tom Lawlor and the Von Erichs continue their war with CONTRA Unit, as Lawlor and Josef Samael face off in a non-title match.
After last week’s chaotic six-man brawl, MLW Fusion heads into the go-home show leading into the Kings of Colosseum event in Chicago on July 6.
We cold open with Josef Samael, who promises MLW World Heavyweight Champion Tom Lawlor that he will hurt him tonight, softening him up for his match with the Samoan Werewolf Jacob Fatu on Saturday.
After the titles, Rich Bocchini and Jim Cornette introduce Ross and Marshall Von Erich. They gave “their word and their honor” to Lawlor and will have his back tonight.
The Von Erichs don’t seem terribly comfortable behind the mic. Then again, neither were their father or uncles. The Von Erichs were super over because of their in-ring charisma. Hopefully, the MLW brain trust can help them find another side of themselves. They have the athleticism, and the look lets see if they can find another gear with the mic.
Adam Brooks vs. Austin Aries
In our opening match, Adam Brooks makes his MLW debut against the returning Austin Aries in what Rich refers to as a “middleweight match.” Aires has changed his look since last seen in IMPACT. His beard is a little longer, his hair is a little thicker with a strange mohawk with long black pants. Very different for A Double.
The match is more back and forth than you’d expect. Even though Aries is pretty much working heel, the hometown crowd loves him, and he wins after a discus five-arm-corner-brainbuster combination. He cuts a promo vaguely calling out WWE, calling himself a middleweight (and not a cruiserweight). He challenges Teddy Hart for his title; pointing to himself he says, “people think you’re a real a—–e. Not compared to this one!”
It’s weird that after his World Championship run in IMPACT that A Double comes in challenging for the middleweight title, considering being thought of as undersized caused his rift with WWE.
Hogan ’91
We then recap Richard Holliday and MJF stealing Teddy Hart’s World Tag Team Championship belt. Then we see the Dynasty at Richard Holliday’s parents’ home in Martha Vineyard. MJF is cuddling with Aria Blake, while Alexander Hammerstone suns himself with his National Openweight title. This featured the following interplay:
"Hammerstone: I’m trying to catch a sweet Hogan tan.Holiday: ’87 or ’91?MJF and Hammerstone: ’91!!!"
Holliday says possession is nine-tenths of the law and they are the new tag champs. MJF is cool with it, saying they’re “the best there is, the best there was and the best … ” before trailing off to take care of Aria’s “finger issues” back inside. Holliday doesn’t get it, while Hammerstone can’ t believe he’s that naive.
It’s cool to see that this MJF/Hart Family issue is playing out in both MLW and AEW.
A quick squash and a pair of promos
We then go to Samael, who cuts another promo heading into the main event. It’s then announced that Savio Vega is coming to MLW.
After a recap of last week’s madness, The Samoan Werewolf Jacob Fatu comes to the ring and destroys Ariel Dominguez and Sam Black. The match was a quick exhibition of Fatu’s insane skills and athletic ability, featuring a pop-up Samoan Drop that nearly breaks Dominguez’s arm. Fatu wins with a springboard moonsault. Samael and Simon Gotch come out to continue the beating.
Salina De La Renta cuts a promo asking why people are asking about a … let’s say “goat fornicator” like Mance Warner when they should be talking about the youngest Latina executive producer in the history of pro wrestling. She thinks it must kill us to see a 22-year-old woman in control.
Warner cuts a promo of his own from what he calls a trailer park but looks more like an open field. He calls out Salina and promises to continue his 4th of July headhunt of Promociones Dorado, specifically referring to “Los Angeleez Park!” Mancer gets serious and says, “When ol’ Mancer puts the light beer down, he means business … and when I’m done, I’mma have to mow dis lawn at some point!” Mancer is the most unique promo in the business. The man has a unique, undeniable charisma.
The main event: Josef Samael vs. Tom Lawlor
Our main event begins as Josef Samael walks solo to the ring to a chorus of boos. CONTRA Unit is the one group in all of pro wrestling that genuinely seems to inspire old-school heat from the crowd. People legitimately hate them. Tom Lawlor comes out, and the brawl begins. They trade punches and spill to the outside.
By the time they work their way back into the ring, Samael tries to drive a spike into Lawlor but misses and impales the turnbuckle. Lawlor grabs hold of the spike and tries to return the favor, but is stopped by the referee, who immediately disqualifies the champ. Of course, this doesn’t stop them from trying to kill each other, while the Von Erichs and CONTRA have their own melee backstage. The show ends with the old WCW Nitro call of “we’re out of time.”
This was a perfect set-up to the King of Colosseum show this Saturday which promises to be the end of the Lawlor/CONTRA feud.
What were your thoughts on this week’s MLW Fusion? Let us know in the comments below!