20th Jan2020

‘MLW: Fusion’ Wrestling Review (Jan 18th 2020)

by Nathan Favel

Welcome to this week’s Major League Wrestling: Fusion review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have the finale of the Opera Cup, which is a tournament that has no signing or fat ladies. I’m so pissed! The good news is that we’ve got Davey Boy Smith Jr. fighting Brian Pillman Jr., so you don’t have to learn any new names. Hulk Hogan Jr., here I come!

MLW-fusion-header

Match #1: Myron Reed defeated El Lindaman – Major League Wrestling World Middle-Weight Championship

The following is courtesy of mlw.com:

Before the match, Myron agrees with all the Cassius Clay comparisons that are being thrown at him, but he’s no system rat, he’s no robot. He doesn’t fit in anyone’s mold. If he’s more like anything, he’s more like Muhammad Ali because he wants justice. Reed and Lindaman stare one another down. Reed tries to slug Lindaman down but it barely phases the 5’4″ monster. Reed soon gets a Flatliner for his efforts. Crisp bodyslam by Lindaman only gets a 1 1/2 count. Jordan Oliver gets a distraction in aid for Reed and the Middleweight Champ captializes. Reed forearms Lindaman to the face and that fires Lindaman u enough to dive onto his Injustice foes. Lindaman then takes a second dive on Reed that breaks the ringside barricade! Back in the ring, Lindaman catches the leg of Reed forearms the champ in the back before rattling him with a solid double leg dropkick to the noggin! Soon, Lindaman goes for a vertical suplex, but Reed twists it into a modified stunner before hitting his patented springboard ace crusher and then landing a reverse falcon arrow. Reed goes for the cover, but it’s only good enough for two. So much frustration on the side of Reed who goes back for a springboard attack, but Lindaman catches Reed with a double dropkick right underneath the chin. The pure strength of Lindaman hoists Reed up for a Kuma Goroshi that needs to be seen to believed before he rolls him over for a back suplex attempt. Reed elbows and carries the momentum of both into the top rope hanging Lindman’s neck off it. Reed lands on the entryway and full blown charges at Lindaman, leaping over the rope and hitting an ace crusher! He then hits the No Cash Splash for the 1-2-3!

My Opinion: 3.3 out of 5 – Lindaman kicked ass here and Reed wasn’t too far behind. This almost felt like it was two different matches happening at the same time, but there was enough common ground here to keep the whole thing together. Lindaman, despite the weird name, has a shot at really being a big deal in the sport if he gets a booker/promoter to reward his intense grappling style. Reed is talented, make no mistake, but he doesn’t stand out like he would have thirty years ago, so it’s hard to see how he can be a big star if he doesn’t work more on his character. Altogether, this is a match where the champion won, but the challenger was the one who won the credibility.

Match #2: Gino Medina defeated Savio Vega – Street Fight Match

The following is courtesy of mlw.com:

Out comes Gino first as he walks out with his Dynasty brothers and he receives a chorus of booes by the sold out crowd in NYC. Savio Vega has a few words for Medina before he takes the ring. Vega takes great exception to Medina’s actions against Konnan and will make him pay for such trangressions. That’s apparent because Vega comes sauntering out with his trusty kendo stick, and boy, does he utilize it to start things off. Medina soon grabs hold of it on the outside to turn the attack onto Vega, but Vega smacks him with a trash can lid before wielding a steel chair. Medina soon grabs that too and makes Vega pay in the center of the ring before delivering an enziguri with a trash can on top of Savio. A pizza pan and stop sign come into play as Medina shows off his brawling ability, but is sure to mix in his athleticsm. A slap to the face fires Savio up and he doles out a flurry of punches to his younger foe. Medina grounds Savio before attempting an arrogant pin that barely gets a one count. Savio shows Gino what a street fight is all about as he chokes Medina with his bare hand before sending him onto the outside for some more kendo stick assault. He tags that up with a hockey stick but Medina channels Tim McCracken of Slap Shot fame to smash Savio with that very stick as well. The action gets back into the ring and Savio catches him with some signature attacks. Savio goes for his patented spinning heel kick but Medina ducks and tries for a quick cover – only good for two. Gino swings a chair, misses, and Vega does hit that spinning heel kick! Out comes the Dynasty however to mock Vega, and it’s good enough for a distraction, allowing Medina to execute a low blow onto Vega before hitting his finisher for the 1-2-3.

My Opinion: 2.3 out of 5 – This was a plodding plunder-fest that was sincere in its attempt to be good, but it fell into the ECW-garbage trap that is like a magnet to good wrestling. Nobody got to really show any-thing and only the finish was able to redeem this. That all being said, it was nice to see Vega again. I don’t care if he isn’t a fraction of what he used to be. Some Savio Vega in your life ain’t a bad thing at all.

Match #3: (Main Event) Davey Boy Smith Jr. defeated Brian Pillman Jr. – The Opera Cup Finals

The following is courtesy of mlw.com:

Brian’s left shoulder is wrapped up, but he looks ready as ever to get down to business. The same can be said for Davey Boy as he’s got a pure expression of determination on his face. The official introductions are made, the bell rings and we are underway. “Hart Foundation” chants can be heard as the two lock up. Davey backs Brian into Pillman’s corner before he backs off. Pillman does the same to DB, feigning a chop, and the two slap hands as a matter of respect. Davey wrenches the arm and Pillman unwraps himself from the trouble, locking in a side headlock. The crowd is fully invested in the bout as not a peep can be heard this usual raucous crowd. Rich Bocchini compares to the crowds in Japan. Davey sends Brian into the ropes and hits a strong shoulder block to put his partner down. Big bodyslam before he surfboard stretches the arms of Pillman. Pillman powers up to a vertical back, but Davey stays on top and continues to crank on the arms. This has to put torque on Pillman’s shoulder. Finally, Pillman reverses the lock up, but he eventually breaks it up with his quickness and athleticism. He splashes onto DB on the outside. Pillman rolls Davey back in for more offensive attack, but a big boot between the eyes sends Pillman down. Back onto the outside we go. DB continues the attack before breaking the count, giving him more time to snap suplex Brian onto the concrete floor! Davey sends Brian back into the ring and rattles him with a European uppercut. Pin attempt, but only a two count. Davey has a headlock on Brian as the crowd begins to get behind the underdog in Brian. Davey stays on top of things and headbutts Pillman back down to the canvas. Sharp forearm to the back of Pillman as Davey softens him up for a suplex attempt, but he can’t do it. Pillman, however, continues to have trouble in finding his offensive footing as Davey is sure to keep Pillman down. Davey soon signals “it’s over” as he delivers a bodyslam and a leg drop. He stomps on the chest of Brian before ascending to the top rope. He goes for an atomic leg drop but Brian rolls out of the way. This is his chance! He begins to punch away at DB and hits him with a roundhouse kick. Snap suplex into a pin attempt,.but just a two count. Pillman runs at the ropes but DB catches him mid-air. The ever clever Brian rolls him in a small package for a near fall! The two trade a multiple array of pin attempts, but Brian catches Davey with a superkick then a a sharp knee. Brian leaps off with his springboard diving clothesline but only catches DB with his wrist instead of the crook of his arm so it’s only good for two. Pillman doesn’t relent and hits his Dire Promise DDT! Pinfall, but no! Only two. Pillman signifies the end, He goes for another attempt, but DB drives him into corner. Pillman runs for a flipping cross body, but the target is missed. Davey soon hits his Running Powerslam, but Brian kicks out of that, not once but twice! As Pillman attempts to get to his feet, he trades some hard slaps with Davey Boy. It gets heated as Davey grabs Brian and plants him hard with a leaping tombstone piledriver. He goes for a diving headbutt and hits it! 1-2-no! Davey is astounded. Snap powerbomb! Another kickout! Davey locks in a crossface hard. In a call back to his match against Timothy Thatcher, Pillman attempts to roll DB up for a pin, but Davey’s strength gets himself back in position to continue his crossface and Brian taps.

My Opinion: 3.8 out of 5 – This was a fabulous match that never went too far beyond smart wrestling, but always managed to keep the tension high. DBS Jr. was the star here, showing more personality and grit than he ever showed in the WWE. It would seem Japan and MMA has had an effect on DBS Jr. that could be a good formula for a lot of other wrestlers in the sport. Pillman has gotten better with each match. That’s some-thing else that this match has going for it, with Pillman playing the part of doomed youth perfectly. One day, Pillman is gonna be a big champion for MLW, but DBS Jr. is ready for the weight of the world and to be the World Champion for this league, so him winning makes sense. I’m really happy that this match got the time to succeed and that these are the two fighters we got in the Opera Cup finals.

News Of The Night:

1. King Mo wants the World Title.

2. The Opera Cup will become an annual event.

Final Verdict: 3.5/5

This was a good show that felt like it had more wrestling in it than it did (in the first half, but made up for it with a nearly twenty-minute fight to the finish.

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