MLW Fusion recap for July 18, 2019: Summon the Bestia

As Mance Warner’s war on Promociones Dorado heats up, the debuting Dr. Wagner Jr. helps lead the march toward Saturday Night SuperFight.

After being humiliated and embarrassed by Mance Warner last week, this week’s episode of MLW Fusion opens on Salina de la Renta. Draped in black and white and praying to some dark elder god, Salina has bad intentions for the Mancer. After fashioning three bloody 6s on the floor, she announces Bestia 666 will come in to seek revenge for Promociones Dorado.

The titles play, and Rich Bocchini and Jim Cornette welcome us to this week’s edition of MLW Fusion.

In our first match, National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone, flanked by the Dynasty, walks to the ring for his title defense against Davey Boy Smith Jr. In a pre-tape, we hear from Hammer and Mr. Most Marketable, Richard Holliday, who carries this promo. With MJF’s AEW contract extension, it’s probably a good idea to let the other members of the group show some personality. Georgia Smith brings the segment down a notch, as she struggles to keep a straight face.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. comes to the ring solo, and the two behemoths square off in a battle that looks like something out of late 80s WWF. Hammerstone unleashes a high-level dropkick that would make Okada take notice. The match ends when Smith hits Hammerstone with the Canadian flag after interference from the Dynasty.

It was a weak finish, but the match showcases Smith’s potential as a single’s competitor. With the majority of his career spent working tag teams (with Tyson Kidd, Lance Archer and Teddy Hart, respectively), it’s obvious that Court Bauer and crew are priming Smith for big things. It’s a shame New Japan underutilized him.

We return from commercial to a promo on the debuting Dr. Wagner and his Bon Jovi “Bad Medicine” knock-off theme. MLW does the kinda-sounds-familiar music better than any promotion right now.

Saturday Night SuperFight is coming back to Chicago and pay-per-view on Saturday, November 2.

A new Von Erich vignette follows. The Hawaii-by-way-of-Texas warriors challenge the Contra Unit. Marshall Von Erich carries the majority of the promo, and it’s the best they have cut since entering in the promotion.

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor, who looks like a completely different human being with his hair cut, returns next week for the first time since losing the MLW World Heavyweight title to Jacob Fatu.

Contra Unit’s Simon Gotch and Josef Samael accept the Von Erich’s request, and the match is booked for next week. After last time, expect a brawl.

Also announced for next week, Bestia 666, the demon luchador summoned by Salina de la Renta, will face Mance Warner. Mancer cuts a late-night promo on Salina and wipes his face in a bucket of blood. Mancer is gross, but one of the most unique personalities in pro wrestling today. This match should be fun.

The Los Parks, LA Park and El Hijo de LA Park, make their way out to an awesome entrance video that looks like it was filmed during the Day of the Dead festival. The Wagner family, Dr. Wagner Jr. and El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr., follow. The match is contested under Lucha rules, which is just fine for this rowdy crowd, which at times makes this match sounds more Arena Mexico than suburban Chicago. After a wild brawl, with few actual tags, the legendary chairman LA Park pinned the grandson of the original Lucha legend after a spear.

This week’s episode of MLW Fusion gave us an insane mix of heated promos, technical grappling and Lucha madness. It summed up what makes Fusion the most intense hour of pro wrestling on TV.