Nerdly » ‘MLW: Fusion’ Review (Sept 21st 2019)

23rd Sep2019

‘MLW: Fusion’ Review (Sept 21st 2019)

by Nathan Favel

Welcome to this week’s Major League Wrestling: Fusion review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have a big tag title match for the main event, so get your Halloween 6 britches on, because the Irish made The Shape do it. Michael…don’t dance…the jig! Nooooooo! Not the river dance! Damn you Michael…Flatley! The spandex! The spandex!

Match #1: Jordan Oliver defeated Zenshi

The following is courtesy of mlw.com:

Zenshi took down Oliver quickly but the two both go for quick takedowns but one another kept meeting each other in high-flying stalemates before Zenshi successfully landed a running shooting star press. Oliver tried to come off the top rope with a head-scissor takedown but the amazing body control of Zenshi allowed the Chilean combatant to land on his feet. Kotto Brazil took the moment to trip him up so Oliver got an opportunity to strike. Tony Schiavone described Injustice perfectly as a “pack of hyenas” as the trio took every advantage to insure Jordan stayed on top, but Zenshi showed resiliency time and time again even as the official was lured into an outside argument with Brazil (which may have cost Oliver a legitimate three count via backslide) Zenshi quickly hit a running twisting neckbreaker to put Jordan down, but as the referee went to administer the pinfall Kotto pulled the official out of the ring. The ref chased down Kotto and Oliver flew over the top rope to hit an inside out stunner on Zenshi. Myron Reed, rib protectors and all, seized the moment to deliver a springboard 450 splash onto Zenshi. Oliver rolled back in the ring to get the undeserving victory.

My Opinion: 2.9 out of 5 – This was a zippy little match that was all about quick action at cheap Costco prices. Zippy? Sounds like a tangy chicken-crisp sandwich served with crunchy coleslaw, topped with crispy bacon strips, roasted red onions and drizzled with melted provolone cheese. Damn it. I’m hungry. You think Zenshi will make us one of those sandwiches? Little bastard. Anyway, this was a fun aerialist sprint that…I thought about the sandwich again. Damn it! Little bastard. Kick him under a rug and beat the thing with a broom. Listen, this was one of those under-ten minute matches that ought to have gone longer, because these guys have plenty of talent. I guess MLW just has to make time for those promos. Oh well. The match did what it could with less time than it deserved and that’s good for them, regardless.

Match #2: (Main Event) The Dynasty (MJF & Richard Holliday) defeated The Hart Foundation (Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Teddy Hart) – 2/3 Falls Match For The Major League Wrestling Tag Team Titles

The following is courtesy of mlw.com:

MJF and Richard Holliday began the bout off with mind games by going through a few rounds of rock, paper scissors, but the Harts were quick to break up hijinks. The brawl started off on the outside and Teddy hits both of his opponents with a springboard moonsault. Teddy rang the bell to unofficially start the match but The Dynasty remains on the outside to regroup before rolling in the ring to get the match officially underway. Teddy used his technical prowess to isolate MJF onto the ground, but MJF countered with some technical moves of his own. Teddy got him in a shoulder lock that caused MJF to roll out of the ring and then tagged Holliday in. Teddy then tagged in Davey Boy. Davey Boy showed that “bulldog” mentality as he hones his focus in on the left arm of Holliday. The Dynasty eventually try to high tail out of the arena, but the Harts brought them back into the action. The Harts continue to control the pace and deliver stereo Northern Lights suplexes for a near first fall. Aria Blake’s presence was made as she at attempted to gouge the eyes of a prone Teddy, who took the opportunity to take a bite out of crime. Nobody wants to go down as the first fall doesn’t come for quite awhile. Davey Boy even hit Holliday with a powerslam and a diving headbutt sequence, but the rich boy displayed his resiliency by kicking out. This allowed Holliday to hit Davey with a stunning jawbreaker but both incidentally butted heads. As Richard leaned on the ropes to recover, MJF on the outside strategically shoved him on top of Davey for the unexpected first fall.

The Dynasty: 1, The Hart Foundation: 0

After a thirty second break, MJF cockily helped Davey Boy back to his vertical base and boy, was it a mistake. Davey found his second wind and began battering MJF’s melon into the turnbuckle. He quickly tagged in Teddy who hits a Canadian Destroyer and beats down both members of the Dynasty. Teddy climbed the top rope but MJF used his left shoulder to knock Teddy down. Teddy found his footing however and nailed MJF with a top rope Canadian Destroyer. He then hit a springboard corkscrew to even the score and give the Foundation their first fall of the match.

The Dynasty: 1, The Hart Foundation: 1

MJF is out like a light even after a thirty second break. Hart hoists him back up for a hammerlock DDT but Holliday runs in to boot Teddy down. Teddy is left vulnerable and who came out to crash the party but his aspiring Middleweight Title adversary, Austin Aries. He delivered one nasty brainbuster on the apron to put Teddy out of commission. And it did. MJF was still out at this point and Markham began his 20 count. Teddy was unable to answer the call and The Dynasty retain the Tag Team titles. The medical staff come to check on Teddy Hart which is major concern as Davey Boy and the team help him to the back.

My Opinion: 3.9 out of 5 – This was a great back-and-forth bout that made both teams look strong from bell to bell. Zippity doo da, zippity day, movie so racist, ain’t comin’ to U.S.A. There’s some fabulous wrestling here, but it often failed to capture the imagination like the big tag moves did. Duh, water wet Joe. Freedom! The chemistry here was so good, it got an A on the mid-term. Teddy brought his patented “let’s just kill everybody” approach to wrestling that he’s finally managed to make into a name-only method of working. Remember when he used to jump off of steel cages and try to kill his peers? He was nuts. It’s a shame that whole thing wasn’t fake. Yeah, new people, look that up. As for MJF, he continued his streak of great character work here, playing the part of the obnoxious cad to perfection. Unlike the 2/3 Falls Matches of recent WWE, this match actually felt like bout that needed to exist. This was what main events are all about and, if there’s any justice in the world, these two teams will be getting back into the main event, very soon.

News Of The Night:

Austin Aries attacked Teddy Hart to punish the latter for not giving a Middle-Weight Title shot to the former.
There was a weird thing about Doug Markham and the ring bell, with the announcers complaining about the thing not being rung, despite it clearly being rung (and shown as rung).
Mance Warner fights Jimmy Havoc in a Bunkhouse Brawl, next week.
Timothy Thatcher fights Douglas James, next week.