‘MLW: Fusion’ Wrestling Review (March 2nd 2019)
Welcome to this week’s Major League Wrestling review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have the Intimidation Games show to cover, if only the two matches we’re being presented with. We’ve got two big matches to cover, so let’s do so.
Match #1: Lucha Bros defeated Team AAA
The following is courtesy of mlw.com:
Following last month’s announcement that the Lucha Bros — Pentagon Jr. and Rey Fenix — considered MLW home, they issued a challenge to any tag team in the world to face them in Chicago at Intimidation Games. Mexico’s AAA quickly responded, offering to send Taurus and Laredo Kid to Cicero Stadium. The match was made quickly and it lived up to the hype. While Taurus and Laredo Kid held their own, the Lucha Bros were able to pick up the victory with a Pentagon Driver that was aided by a stomp from Fenix off the top rope.
My Take: 3 out of 5 – This was a good match that stumbled at times, but it was worth the time spent watching it. The idea was that this match was fought for the sake of good competition, which is a rather addictive idea for a match, since it is all about the desire to fight. There were some very risky moves used here that might make you jump out of your own ass if you aren’t careful. I know, my metaphor sounds like a bunch of bull-$#!@, but it sounds nice/disgusting. This match is a lot of fun and you’ll enjoy it, if you’re anything like me/insane.
Match #2: (Main Event) “Filthy” Tom Lawlor defeated Low Ki – Steel Cage Match For The Major League Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship
The following is courtesy of mlw.com:
Just one month after “Filthy” Tom Lawlor defeated Low Ki for the World Heavyweight Championship live on beINSPORTS, Lawlor and Low Ki were back on a live network special in the main event once again. This time, Lawlor’s World Championship would be defended in a steel cage. Low Ki was extremely aggressive from the beginning, attacking Lawlor before the bell. He also used Salina de la Renta’s shoe, as she handed it to him inside the cage. But Lawlor was able to turn the tide the next time de la Renta attempted to hand something to Low Ki. A roll of coins found its way into Low Ki’s hands from Salina. But Lawlor was able to grab it from him and lay him out with it. Lawlor then looked to escape the cage and retain the title. But Low Ki caught up to him. Both men climbed the cage and battled on the top of the cage and on the outside of the cage, before Lawlor was able to get free of Low Ki and the cage long enough to drop to the floor seconds before his opponent.
My Take: 3.5 out of 5 – This was an excellent main event that gave both champion and challenger a chance to do something a bit more intricate with the match. The match wasn’t quite the fight that the Kurt Angle/Samoa Joe Six Sides Of Steel Match from 2008 TNA Wrestling, but it did reach a certain level of intensity that made this feel like a real title fight. Low Ki has a legitimacy to him that makes his matches feel like a Jean Claude Van Damme movie by way of Wesley Snipes and Tony Jaa and that sentiment holds true here. Lawlor is quickly approaching the level of skill that Matt Riddle has been displaying in wrestling for several years now. With this match, Lawlor came across as every bit the true professional wrestler that many of his MMA contemporaries have when put in a similar position as him. I really liked the way kicks were used here and the way they helped keep the match from establishing too much of a rhythm. When a match gets into a certain groove, it usually has a great look to it, but it typically has to sacrifice the feeling of spontaneity that a real fight has in order to have the tempo. With this match, you can expect there to be enough action to shake a stick at, but nothing that will be beyond belief either. This was a gripping, white-knuckle thriller that kept you on a wild ride that ended long before it could lose its grasp on your throat.
News Of The Night:
- Jim Cornette has joined Major League Wrestling as a commentator.
- Simon Gotch, Jacob Fatu and Josef Salaem viciously attacked Tom Lawlor after his title match.
- Simon Gotch, Jacob Fatu and Josef Salaem are now in a faction possibly called “Contra”.
- MJF and Richard Holiday are known as The Dynasty and MJF and want a tag team title shot.
Final Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 – The broadcast itself was put together quite well and the wrestling held up its end of the deal, even if things could have been a bit better for the opener. Some new things have been presented for Tom Lawlor going forward as champion, in the form of Contra. While it has not been overtly presented as having to do with his World Title, it does leave a tantalizing clue as to what may be coming next for Tom Lawlor reign as champion. Cornette did great here and should add a lot of quality to the announce booth for this year. Overall, MLW had a good night here that ought to light the way for what to do for future live shows.
