‘MLW: Fusion’ Wrestling Review (Aug 31st 2018)
Welcome to this week’s Major League Wrestling: Fusion review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have lots to cover so I say we should get right to and… welcome to The Rock!
Match #1: Teddy Hart defeated Vandal Ortagun
The following is courtesy of MLW.com:
It was an international affair as the Canadian Teddy Hart took on Turkey’s favorite professional wrestler Vandal Ortagun. Hart attacked Ortagun from behind at the beginning of the match, after inviting Ortagun to play to the crowd on the turnbuckle. He was in control from there on out, stomping Ortagun’s face into the mat and hitting a lung-blower. In between beating up Ortagun, Hart berated the League official assigned to the match, saying he cost him a previous match with a slow count. Just after complaining about a slow count, Hart nearly destroyed Ortagun with a DDT but pulled him off the mat after a two-count. Finally, Hart hit another massive lungblower and this time he actually completed the pinfall.
My Take: This was a brutal squash that made Hart look even more sadistic than usual. Hart has always been a loose cannon, so having him play one on television is a natural fit.
Match #2: Simon Gotch defeated Angel Pierce – Prize-Fight Challenge Match
The following is courtesy of MLW.com:
Simon Gotch and Team Filthy have upped the ante. The Simon Gotch Prize Fight Challenge is up from $250 to a whopping $500. Angel Pierce, an undefeated boxer from New York, stepped up to the plate. Once again, all the challenger had to do was last five minutes without being pinned or submitted by Gotch. Pierce didn’t even last one minute, falling to the Gotch Piledriver. Who will be the next to step up and accept the Gotch Prize Fight Challenge? Stay tuned …
My Take: This was a squash to make Gotch look good and it worked.
Match #3: Jimmy Yuta vs. Jason Cade
The following is courtesy of MLW.com:
The bad blood between former friends and tag team partners continued on this week’s show. Yuta started out like a house afire. As the match wore on, both men had opportunities to not only get the upper hand in their beef, but perhaps move up the Middleweight rankings in the eyes of League officials. Finally, Cade used some some questionable tactics to pick up the victory. Cade pretended to be knocked out, while the official and Yuta were both concerned about his well-being, Cade took advantage of the distraction to allow his new best friend Rhett Giddins to destroy Yuta with a huge lariat. At that time, Cade “miraculously” recovered and covered Yuta for the three-count.
My Take: This was a good match to start off the feud of these former partners properly. There was a nice ebb and flow here between these two guys. I think this could become a very nice feud after they get used to wrestling each other under this particular circumstance.
Match #4: Main Event – “Filthy” Tom Lawlor defeated Jake Hager
The following is courtesy of MLW.com:
The bad blood between Hager and Lawlor was evident throughout this match. Neither man was willing to give an inch in this one. Hager utilized both the Hager Bomb and the ankle lock, two maneuvers he’s used to pick up countless professional wrestling victories. Lawlor had Hager in a rear naked choke and brutalized him in the MLW Crash Zone in this back-and-forth affair. But at the end of the night, it was a wily veteran move from Lawlor that led to a pinfall victory and seemingly put an end to the months-long feud between the two factions and the two alpha males of those respective groups.
With Hager beating on Lawlor, who was on the ropes, the official administered the five count to Hager to allow Lawlor off the ropes. As the official stepped in between the two fighters, Lawlor saw his opening. Hager charged at him and Lawlor landed a palm strike right to the bridge of Hager’s nose, stunning the Stud Stable member. Seconds later, Lawlor used some solid mat grappling to roll Hager up and secure the pinfall.
My Take: This was a really good main event that had a different feel to it. The mat work was fabulous here and had all of the fine details that are so scarce in this day and age. This match felt like a real athletic contest and I wouldn’t mind being able to see more matches like this one in the near future.
News Of The Night:
- The Low Ki/Konnan conflict is being continued.
- The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart, Davey Boy Smith Jr and Brian Pillman Jr.) attacked Kevin Sullivan and beat him into a bloody pulp.
Final Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 – This card revolved around a great main event that was a true alternative to modern professional wrestling.
