‘MLW: Fusion’ Wrestling Review (Nov 23rd 2018)

Welcome to this week’s Major League Wrestling review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have a World Title match tonight, so let’s get to it. Okay, ramblers, let’s get ramblin’.

Match #1: Kotto Brazil defeated Trey Miguel

The following is courtesy of MLW.com:

World Middleweight Champion Maxwell J. Friedman joined commentary, as Kotto Brazil and Trey Miguel squared off. MJF admitted he was there to scout the competition, as Brazil will be part of the 4-way ladder match at MLW Zero Hour for the World Middleweight title. In an incredible display of athleticism, both Brazil and Miguel laid it all out there looking to move up the middleweight rankings. At one point late in the match, Miguel hit a meteora and scored a two-count. He followed that up with an innovative springboard cutter off the bottom rope as Brazil was on his knees following the meteora, but once again Kotto managed to kick out. With MJF clearly rooting for Miguel and concerned about his World Middleweight Championship with Brazil in the ladder match, Brazil’s resiliency remained on display. Miguel went for a cutter off the top rope, but Kotto was able to maintain his footing on the turnbuckle. Brazil took advantage, hitting his sliced bread maneuver called By Any Means to score the pinfall.

My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – These guys were a lot of fun and didn’t me a chance to get bored by them. The match itself is not the stuff of legends or any-thing like that, but it got the blood pumping and that’s part of the deal with wrestling. This match had a good pace to it that was fast and furious, but not like Vin Diesel. Kotto was definitely the star here and is ready for a more important position on the card than he has now, based on his performance in this match. Over-all, Ronnie James Dio is a great singer and this was a good match.

Match #2: Marko Stunt beat Gringo Loco

The following is courtesy of MLW.com:

The debuting Gringo Loco matched up with Mr. Fun Size Marko Stunt. Gringo Loco was clearly not taking the match seriously, dropping to his knees to mock Stunt’s height at the beginning of the match. But Loco quickly learned not to underestimate Mr. Fun Size, as Stunt used Loco’s weight and momentum against him for some solid offense to open the bout. Stunt had a ton of momentum after hitting a top turnbuckle hurricanrana all the way to the floor,but as Stunt went back to the top, Loco managed to knock him off balance and take over. A standing moonsault and a top rope moonsault from Loco ended in near falls. That was the last offense Gringo Loco would mount, however. Stunt once again used his quickness, along with utilizing his opponent’s size and weight against him. As Loco went to set up Stunt for an overhead maneuver, Mr. Fun Size was able to reverse it and counter with a version of the Code Breaker to pick up the victory in singles action.

My Take: 2 out of 5 – This wasn’t much of a match, but it was a great show-case for Marko, who is quickly becoming a big deal based on his size to talent ratio, which is a stupid way of saying I think he’ll do well in wrestling.

Match #3: (Main Event) Low Ki defeated Shane “Swerve” Strickland – MLW World Heavyweight Championship Match

The following is courtesy of MLW.com:

Shane “Swerve” Strickland held the World Heavyweight Championship from May through July, before falling to current champion Low Ki in somewhat controversial fashion. The loss really sapped Strickland of his momentum, but he finally activated his rematch clause and faced off with Low Ki in Chicago. Looking to regain glory, Strickland held the early advantage. He nailed Low Ki with a massive discus clothesline and then went to work on the champion’s midsection and back. However, Low Ki took control when he reversed a suplex and then moved the action moved to the outside of the ring.

But Strickland regained control, and perhaps should have won the match. He hit the Swerve Stomp, but the official was injured from a collision with Low Ki moments before. Strickland tried to bring the official over to count the pinfall, but couldn’t. Finally, another official ran in and made the count, after Strickland had the champion covered for what seemed like an eternity. But the delay in getting the new official out allowed Low Ki to kick out at the last second. Promociones Dorado’s Sicario Ricky Martinez distracted the official shortly thereafter. Low Ki took advantage. Similar to when he tried to rip off Daga’s ear, Low Ki grabbed Strickland’s by the hair and mercilessly tossed Swerve around like a rag doll, ripping out handfuls of hair. Strickland was momentarily stunned by the pain and blatant rule-breaking, giving Low Ki an opportunity for the cover and the three count to retain the World Championship.

My Take: 3.5 out of 5 – I liked this a lot more than the last title match Low Ki had. The action was more frenetic, but not too beyond belief to believe. These two guys are so loose and fluid with their movements that even the most mundane things that they do in the ring look wily rather than sloppy. Low Ki has done quite well as the champion and is making up for the large gap between his Ring of Honor World Title run from many years ago and this run as Major League Wrestling World Champion. Shane is a great athlete who may be on his way to NXT in the next few months and if he is then it can be said that Shane is going out with a bang, if you take a look at his performance here, for starters. Overall, this was a fine main event that did more to show how good both of these guys are, rather than provide a memorable title match.

News Of The Night:

1. A Tommy Dreamer/Brian Pillman Jr. match happens, next week.
2. On Dec. 13 at MLW Never Say Never, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor will square off with Simon Gotch in a No Holds Barred contest.
3. The World Tag Team Championship will be on the line when the Lucha Bros. Rey Fenix and Pentagon Jr. face off with the Hart Foundation at MLW Never Say Never.
4. LA Park vs. PCO in a Falls Count Anywhere contest will occur at MLW Never Say Never.
5. Andrew Everett has been added to MLW Never Say Never.
6. MJF will face off with the leader of Los Ingobernables, Rush, at MLW Never Say Never.
7. Shane “Swerve” Strickland will face off with Rich Swann at MLW Never Say Never.
8. Tom Lawlor will challenge LA Park on Dec. 14 at MLW Zero Hour.
9. Shane Strickland cried foul on Court Bauer’s booking of Low Ki as a cheating World Champion and quit the company.

Final Verdict: 3.5/5

The main event may have been the only not-worthy bout on the card, but this show was quite good and made every-thing feel important.