SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
MLW TV REPORT
JUNE 1, 2018
ORLANDO, FLA.
AIRED ON BE-IN SPORTS NETWORK
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Rich Bocchini
Vanessa Craft was backstage waiting to speak to Jeff Cobb. Colonel Parker and The Dirty Blondes showed up and said they had Jeff Cobb’s Cadillac ready for him and showed Craft an orange stretcher. He said Cobb was going to be taking a ride on this tonight.
Fusion intro played
They previewed Rich Swann making his fusion debut tonight, and Sami Callihan takes on Joey Janela and Jake Hager takes on Jeff Cobb.
Colonel Parker was in the ring to introduce Jake Hager. The Dirty Blondes came out with the stretcher.
(1) Jake Hager vs. Jeff Cobb. Hager takes the early advantage, abusing Cobb in the corner. The sound of the ring seemed louder than usual tonight which I think hurts the production value making the venue seem much smaller. As Cobb starts to mount a comeback Hager takes out Cobb’s knee. A back a forth match with a lot of slow hard hitting splashes and clotheslines. Hager seemed to be using his power to gain the advantage over Cobb. Cobb got in a nice running suplex and followed that up with a standing shooting star press for a two. Hager countered the Tour of the Islands and eventually, Cobb gets caught in the ankle lock. Cobb taps quickly.
WINNER: Jake Hager
(Comments: Not a great match between these two. I’m not a fan of Hager as I just don’t see him as a credible threat to be pulling off these types of big wins. Cobb is a tremendous athlete and capable of putting on a much better match than this. This was slow and lacked any real storytelling other then Hager having the power advantage and working the ankle. I hope to see more from Cobb and less from Hager.)
A commercial aired advertising the tapings in Orlando on June 7th.
A commercial aired advertising the tapings in NYC on July 19th
A video package highlighting last weeks World Heavyweight Championship match between Shane Strickland and Pentagon Jr. They tried an interview from last week where Casey Lennox was backstage to talk to Strickland after the match. She asked him his thoughts on the win. Strickland said it was one of the toughest fights of his life. He is glad that it is over, and that the championship is still around his waist. As he walked outside Selina da La Renta was waiting for him in the parking lot. Strickland said they she asked for what she got. Selina said it’s wasn’t about her, it was about the title. But now it is about her and Strickland is not ready for who she is getting to come after him. Strickland said he’ll take on anyone.
Next week Fred Yehi takes on Tom Lawler
Team Filthy was backstage and asked about Lawler’s match next week against Yehi. Lawler claimed he could not find Yehi anywhere because he is so short. Lawler and Gotch then made some sort of Louisiana purchase joke about Yehi being French.
Sami Callihan was backstage. He said people say he is unsafe. Callihan claimed he is unsafe and he doesn’t care. he said he will do the same thing to the rest of the roster that he did to MVP. His mysterious bald partner joined him halfway through the promo. Callihan said they are taking over everything and they did the thumbs up, thumbs down thing that they do.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman was sitting ringside with a bottle of champagne on ice.
MLW Top Ten aired (They said for June so I’m now assuming this will be a monthly ranking)
10. ACH (-)
9. Jake Hager (-)
8. Joey Janela (9)
7. Barrington Huges (10)
6. Jimmy Havoc (2)
5. M.V.P (3)
4. Sami Callihan (6)
3. Rey Fenix (7)
2. Pentagon Jr. (1)
1. Tom Lawler (5)
0. – Champion – Shane Strickland
(2) Kotto Brazil vs. Rich Swann. They played a promo from Swann during his entrance where Swann talked about his agility and his ability and called himself Mr. Can you handle this? (c) Another Promo aired for the June TV taping noting that the Tag Team Titles will be defended. Back from break the crowd was chantingly loudly for Swann. The two start off with some lighting quick chain wrestling with a ton of quick covers that lead to a standoff. Brazil hits a Jawbreaker then a flying forearm to the eye for a two count. Swann showing nice athleticism with a kip up into a dropkick. The crowd was chanting “Fly Swann Fly” Swann hits a pair of big chops in the corner. Swann puts Brazil in an awesome looking submission where Brazil’s leg was bending over the top of Swann’s head. Swann goes to the top rope for a corkscrew missile dropkick that gets him a two. Swann works a few more submissions wearing down Brazil. Swann went back to the top rope but Brazil counters with a dropkick and then a series of standing dropkicks that looked really good. Brazil hit a neck breaker from the top rope for a two count. Swann hit a cutter for a two. Brazil countered a powerbomb then hit a code red for a two. Immediately after the kickoff Brazil locked on a submission but Swann got to the ropes. Brazil hit a series of hard slack and kicks on Swann but Swann fires up and hits a super side kick to the face. Swann then went to the top rope and his a Phenix splash for the win. The two bumped fists after the match.
WINNER: Rich Swann
(Comments: Pretty decent match towards the end. The beginning was a little slow when Swann was getting in all the offense. But in the end, an interesting story was told where Brazil clearly had no business winning this match yet put up a good fight and came close a few times. Looking forward to more of these two in the future.
As Brazil was exiting Sami Callihan came out with his gang and hit Brazil with a baseball bat as he made his entrance.
(3) Sami Callihan vs. Joey Janela. The crowd was chanting for Janela early on. Callihan goes out to the apron and Janela kicked him off into the arms of Fulton and the other bald guy. (sorry I don’t believe they have said his name yet. The only reason I know Fulton is because it’s on his jacket) then Janela jumps from inside the ring, over the top rope onto all three men at ringside. The two brawl outside the ring. Callihan takes over with a clothesline on the apron. Callihan then hit a nasty looking Pile Driver on the apron. (C) Same commercial for the June and July Tapings. Back from break Janela reigned down punches on Callihan from the top rope. Janela hit a sunset flip Power Bomb off the top rope. Janela hit a series of running knees to Callihan then hit a running death valley driver for what Janela thought was a three count, his music even played, but the ref signaled was only a two count. Callihan hit a shoulder breaker for a two. The crowd chanted “Bad Boy” Janela hit a series of superkicks, Callihan then hit a pile diver on Janela but Janela popped up immediately and hit a dropkick on the sitting Callihan. The two exchange punches from their knees. Janela hit a discus elbow. Janela misses a top rope moonsault. The two then go back out to the ringside and Janela is thrown into MJF and his date. While the ref was distracted MJF beat up Janela and sent him back into the ring. Callihan hit the Cranial Contusion for the win. After the match, MJF beat down Janela some more and then poured champagne on his face.
WINNER: Sami Callihan
(Comments: Decent match. I’m not that into either guy’s style, but I think they had good chemistry together. The interference at the end was something I could have done without as it’s a trope used to often especially with the obvious set up of having the champagne ringside with MJF. That is clearly the feud Janela is going to have next and I’m looking forward to seeing if Janela can showcase some character in this feud. I know he has it in him and I’ve heard nothing but good things about him but he hasn’t showcased much of that on MLW Fusion yet.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: Decent show tonight with three average matches and some development in a few stories. Next week we get Fred Yehi vs. Tom Lawler, and ACH vs, Rey Fenix. I’m super excited for the latter as it could potentially be the best match on Fusion so far. Be sure to check back next week for my recap.
NOW CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS REPORT: 5/25 MLW Fusion TV Report: Strickland defends MLW Title against Pentagon Jr., Santana Garrett vs. Chelsea Green (a/k/a Laurel Van Ness), Simon Gotch Prizefight Challenge, condoms beer and cigs
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