SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
MLW TV REPORT
JUNE 22, 2018
ORLANDO, FLA.
AIRED ON BE-IN SPORTS NETWORK
REPORT BY KRIS KARCHNER, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Rich Bocchini
– MLW intro played.
– A promo aired where Selina de La Renta was addressing Shane Strickland. She said she hopes Strickland isn’t under the impression that his match with Pentagon Jr. was how the whole thing ends. She said Strickland will learn to fear her. She reminded everyone about the bounty she placed on Strickland. They re-aired the Court Bauer phone call where Bauer said MLW would not sanction the match between Brody King and Shane Strickland.
-The Fusion intro video played.
-Tony Schiavone and Rich Bocchini introduced the show. They previewed the unsanctioned match between Strickland and King coming up later in the show and also talked briefly about the 40 man battle royal coming up in NY this July.
(1) Trey Miguel vs. Teddy Hart. The match was originally scheduled to be Miguel vs. Danny Santiago. Before Santiago made it to the ring Teddy Hart appeared from the within the crowd and took out Santiago. He hit Santiago with a springboard moonsault to the floor. Schiavone said that Hart was the youngest ever to sign with WWE when he signed as a teenager. I did not know that. Court Bauer was at ringside and made the call to change the match to Teddy Hart vs. Trey Miguel. The match started hot as Hart hit a scoop power slam on Miguel but then went for a springboard moonsault and Miguel got his knees up. Miguel then hit a step up front flip to the outside on Hart. Back in the ring, Miguel was dominating. He hit a 619 like kick while Hart was caught in the turnbuckle Cheeky Nandos style. Miguel then hit a Meteora for a two. [c]
Back from break Miguel is still in control until Hart stood on Miguel’s back and hit a Canadian destroyer type flip powerbomb for a two. Hart hit a hammerlock DDT for a near fall. Hart then hit an electric chair into a lung blower for another near fall. Hart seemingly became frustrated at his inability to put Miguel away. Hart got Miguel raised up for a superplex from the middle rope but Miguel slipped out and hit Hart with a cutter then the pin for only a two count when Hart grabbed the ropes. Miguel hit a swinging neck breaker on the apron and rolled Hart into the ring for the pin but this time Hart got his foot on the rope. Miguel brought Hart to the top rope but android to the crowd and Hart took advantage of the delay by hitting a backbreaker on the top turnbuckle. Hart then hit a lung blower on Miguel. Hart brought Miguel to the top rope then Hart hit an avalanche Canadian Destroyer for the win.
WINNER: Teddy Hart.
(Karcher’s Comments: Wow. This was amazing. Great match and a great surprise seeing Hart’s surprise debut here on Fusion. Not match of the year quality but they showed off some great athletic moves and told a great story with each wrestler showing sustained offense but neither guy being able to get the three until Hart upped the ante with that top rope Canadian Destroyer. I’m very excited to see more of Teddy Hart as this is the first I’m ever seeing of him and I’m also high on Miguel at this point. I enjoyed his first two matches in MLW and look forward to possibly seeing him involved in an actual feud at some point.)
– They showed footage from earlier in the day where a reporter was in the parking lot with Kotto Brazil. The unnamed reporter asked Brazil what his thoughts were on his match last week with Rich Swann. Brazil said the match was great and Swann is one of his favorites. He told the reporter that he cannot keep taking ‘L’s and that soon he would find a way to turn things around because Koto can and Koto will.
– An unnamed female reporter was backstage with Teddy Hart (It was Vanessa Craft but for some reason, they did not introduce her like they usually do) She asked Hart if he was officialy with MLW. Hart said he prays MLW has the balls to book him. He said he gets a lot of heat backstage and that no wrestler likes to go on after him. He said he just wants to go out and steal the show and make his grandfather proud. He said the fans seem happy to see him. He said he would be flattered to come back if MLW can handle the heat. Hart then asked someone offscreen if they had a problem. The camera panned to reveal ACH. Hart said he heard ACH was talking s**t and asked him if he wanted to go outside. Rich Swann showed up and attempted to cool Hart down. Hart walked away telling both men to not forget who used to watch them when they were good.
– They previewed the main event of Strickland vs. King. [c]
– Back from commercial, we were welcomed to the Battle Riot control center in which Schiavone recapped the rules for the Battle Riot and announced some more names joining the match. Rich Swann, Jason Cade, Joey Ryan, PCO, Kevin Sullivan, ACH, The Swaggle, John Morrison, Lance Anoa’i, Konnan, Sami Callihan, Davey Boy Smith Jr., and Teddy Hart were announced as participants. Those men join Jack Hager, Barrington Hughes, Jimmy Yuta, and Pentagon Jr. already announced. Also signed for the July 19th tapings in NY is a tag match between Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Teddy Hart vs. ACH and Rich Swann.
– Replays aired of the Simon Gotch Prizefight Challenge featuring Parrow, and the Tag Team Championship three-way match. Schiavone said that Colonel Parker has filed a complaint with MLW regarding the officiating from last week. Vanessa Craft was backstage with Colonel Parker and the “Stud Staple”. Colonel Parker sent his guys away telling them to go do whatever it is they needed to do. Then he asked Craft if she would like to go get a cup of coffee with him. Before she could answer he removed his hat, took her arm and walked off laughing. Weird. Tom Lawler and Simon Gotch quietly snuck out of the locker room next to The Stud Sable’s room and then told the camera to watch this and said you’re going to love this as they snuck into The Stud Staples room.
– A promo aired during Barrington Hughes entrance where he said he is Paisley Park’s favorite son. He said he is always hungry for competition.
(2) Barrington Hughes vs. Paris Hubkee? (Name did not appear on screen for spelling)
Hughes sidestepped Paris sending him into the corner. Hughes then hit an Elbow Drop for the three count.
WINNER: Barrington Hughes
(Karcher’s Comments: Nothing to this match here except to get over Hughes as an unbeatable big guy. I’d like to see Hughes in a more high profile match just so I can see what he can do against real talent. I hope that’s coming eventually.)
– They hyped the main event of Strickland vs. King again and also previewed the next match with Kotto Brazil taking on Vandal Octagon. [c]
– Backstage Colonel Parker walked back to his room and waiting for him was Lawler and Gotch. Gotch told Parker they gave his hat a Cleveland Steam Cleaning. Parker was initially appreciative of this and then when he entered and realized there was fecal matter in his hat he then called for his boys.
(3) Vandal Ortagun vs. Kotto Brazil. The crowd was into Brazil. Ortagun got the initial upper hand by going for a headlock right from the handshake but Brazil was able to use his speed to get in some unique offense. Octagon hit a backbreaker on Brazil. Ortagun got a two count after hitting a neck breaker. Octagon then hit a cross body splash on Brazil who was resting on the middle rope. Brazil hits a sunset flip out of the corner for two then double running lariats and a huge uppercut in the corner. Brazil hit a German suplex then went to the top rope for a frog splash but Octagon got the knees up. Octagon then hit a lung blower for a near fall. Octagon then hit another twisting lung blower for another 2 count. The announcers put over Brazil’s resilience. Brazil then hit two big superkicks and some sort of a cutter type maneuver that Schiavone did not have a name for. That was good for a three count and Kotto’s first win at MLW.
WINNER: Kotto Brazil
(Karcher’s Comments: Decent match. )
– A highlight real of the tag match from last week aired.
– Vanessa Craft was backstage to interview Salina de La Renta. Craft struggled to pronounce the name of La Renta’s faction and La Renta asked who hired her. She then asked if she even knows what Promociones Dorado means. She said it means gold and she holds the gold. (She was wearing both tag titles.) She said it wasn’t enough however and she was still gunning for Strickland’s world title. She told Craft that she did a terrible job and shouldn’t expect a payday.
(4) Brody King vs. Shane Strickland – $20,000 bounty match. Before Strickland entered he was shown walking backstage with Barrington Hughes. Fulton and the other guy in Callihan’s group (sorry I can’t recall his name) were heard nearby saying that it would be ten grand a piece. Hughes told Strickland to get to the ring and Hughes, Fulton, and the other guy started to brawl backstage. When Strickland did make it to the ring they started bawling immediately. The crowd was hot for Strickland and could be heard chanting “whose house? Swerve’s house!” Strickland hit some big kicks from the ring apron. After King took a seat in a chair Strickland attempted to dive onto of King, but King caught Strickland and power bombed him on the apron. Back inside the ring, King hit a senton splash for a two. King then hit a cannonball front flip on Strickland as he was resting on the middle rope. Strickland attempted to fight back and the two exchanged slaps, Knees, and kicks. Strickland hit a German Suplex that King no-sold. Strickland hit three European uppercuts in the corner. King started to look gassed. Strickland hit a sunset flip into the ring and hit a nice dropkick for a two count. King hit a cesura swing style move and Strickland rolled to the outside. [c] back from break Strickland was still outside and when King went out to attack Stickland threw a chair and King’s knee. King again took a seat in a chair and this time Strickland landed a huge double stomp onto a prone Kind in the chair. Great looking move. The chair crumbled underneath King. Back in the ring, Strickland got a two count and then repeatedly stomped King in the back of the head. King fired up and spit in Strickland’s face despite being repeatedly being kicked in the face. King then hitThe All Seeing Eye for a very close two count. King argued with the ref and then went underneath eh ring a trapped some powder. Strickland kicked the had that had the powder and it flew into Kings’ face. Strickland then hit a flying knee to the face for the win.
WINNER: Shane Strickland
(Karcher’s Comments: Good match. Fairly short but that fits into MLW’s style thus far. I’m really liking Strickland right now and I’m excited to see him take on a bunch of heel challengers. I’m slightly confused by the dynamic of this whole “bounty” angle but If they use it as a way to throw a ton of La Renta’s heels in Strickland’s way then I’m all for it.)
After the match, Low Ki came to the ring and attacked Strickland from behind. Selina de La Renta then came out. She looked at Low Ki and smiled. Low Ki then kicked Strickland in the back of the head. Low Ki picked up Strickland’s title and spread it across Strickland’s body.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Good show tonight. It felt like a lot more happened tonight than usual on Fusion. We got four matches even though one was a squash match that lasted 10 seconds. The Strickland storyline continues to intrigue me. I like the addition of Teddy Hart to the roster and I really like that they announced that tag match coming up at the next tapings. They had previously only been announcing talent on TV that would be at the tapings so I’m glad they are now starting to announce actual matches. I also like that they gave significant TV time to Kotto Brazil who seems to be connecting with the fans in a major way. I’d like to see MLW start to heat him up starting now and he could possibly get into title contention one day. I could have done without the Team Filthy angle as a feud between Team Filthy and The Stud Stable doesn’t interest me too much as of yet. But overall this was one of MLW’s better shows. I’m looking forward to seeing if they can build on this momentum next week. As of press time no matches have been announced for next week. Be sure to check back right here next week for my MLW Fusion Report here on PWtorch.com.)
NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S REPORT: 6/15 MLW Fusion TV Report: MVP vs. MJF, Dirty Blonds vs. Team TBD vs. Team Lucha, Simon Gotchu vs. Mike Parrow, Court Bauer calls in
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