Let’s catch up on this week’s news in MLW and preview Saturday night’s episode of Fusion with a tag team title ladder match. The Never Say Never card is shaping up with big fights, such as a Heavyweight Championship rematch. Mance Warner has a suggestion for people planning to storm Area 51.
Hart Foundation vs Dynasty in a tag team title ladder match tonight on Fusion
This upcoming episode of MLW Fusion will feature Teddy Hart and Brian Pillman Jr. of the Hart Foundation defending their tag team titles against MJF and Richard Holliday of the Dynasty in a ladder match.
This week on #MLWFusion:
— MLW • July 25 • NYC (@MLW) July 10, 2019
Catch The Hart Foundation's @TeddyHartIsBACK and @FlyinBrianJr take on The Dynasty's @The_MJF and @MostMarketable in a LADDER MATCH!
The MLW World Tag Team Titles are on the line this Saturday 9pm ET/6pm PT on @beINSPORTSUSA pic.twitter.com/PrVrpa6awp
The two stables have been feuding for months. This particular contest was set up after MJF and Holliday beat down Hart and stole one of the tag team titles. Davey Boy Smith Jr. enacted the Freebird rules to have Pillman step in and step up. It will be interesting to see how Pillman handles it, especially since it will be his first ladder match.
First time I went through a table was for @MLW now my first time utilizing a ladder (likely tossing @The_MJF off of it) will be for @MLW https://t.co/9ydpni8CbP
— Brian Pillman Jr. (@FlyinBrianJr) June 26, 2019
Teddy Hart may be planning something insane. Just look as this recent madness on the indie scene.
What in the holy hell!!! @GodsGiftMRB @TeddyHartIsBACK @PWAwrestlingca pic.twitter.com/KBdAL8zrL2
— Mike “The Ref” Malowany (@miketheref) June 23, 2019
Low Ki vs Ariel Dominguez and the rematch of Ace Austin vs Air Wolf will also be on the card.
MLW Fusion airs on beIN SPORTS and PlayStation Vue Saturday nights at 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT. New episodes are posted on YouTube Mondays at 7 pm ET. Fusion is also broadcast in the UK, Ireland, and Israel.
Fusion fallout
Fresh off winning the Heavyweight Championship from Tom Lawlor, Jacob Fatu has gone abroad. No details as to where. The press release presents quite the conundrum in having an unsigned champion.
Court Bauer and senior officials have made attempts to establish communication with CONTRA Unit to sort through the situation and complexities involved in Fatu as the new champion but no dialogue has taken place to date.
As for Lawlor, he released a simple statement that his fans can rally behind.
Tonight, I failed you. Tomorrow, I become better.
— “Filthy” Tom LawlOr (@FilthyTomLawlor) July 7, 2019
It won’t be long until we see a sequel. Lawlor has invoked his rematch clause for Never Say Never on July 25.
If Fatu is still champ after that bout, the fans are calling for him to fight Davey Boy Smith Jr. next.
Who would you like to see be the first challenge for the @SAMOANWEREWOLF MLW World Heavyweight Title??@FilthyTomLawlor @DBSmithjr @laparktapia @RAMVonErich
— MLW • July 25 • NYC (@MLW) July 9, 2019
Count me in for that beefy battle. Smith’s fan support continues to surprise me. I didn’t realize he was so popular. He also won a previous poll about challenging Tom Lawlor, back when Lawlor was heavyweight king.
In other champion news, National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone is looking to name one of his moves.
— Hammerstone (@alexhammerstone) July 11, 2019
Hogan Driver ‘91 would be an nifty name to match Hammer’s golden tan. It even has a stupendous design ready to roll.
Whatcha gonna do, brotha, when your man Hammer hits the Hogan Driver 91 on YOU?! pic.twitter.com/WFjz9bjz7y
— Evan Sanity (@TheKingEvRock) July 11, 2019
Hammerstone may be feeling the groove in his feet next time he steps in the ring.
Sometimes I wanna be the biggest badass in all of wrestling.
— Hammerstone (@alexhammerstone) July 11, 2019
Other times I just wanna Alex Wright dance for 15 minutes before I even lock up.
To the powers that be, please, make that dance session happen. Also, how awesome would it be if Alex Wright got a surprise title shot against Hammerstone?
Never Say Never
MLW’s next live event is right around the corner. Never Say Never is set to take place Thursday, July 25 from the Melrose Ballroom in New York City. I’m not sure how being on a Thursday affects their recent pattern of live specials from each new event.
The card is filling out nicely:
- Heavyweight Championship: Jacob Fatu vs Tom Lawlor
- LA Park vs Jimmy Havoc
- The Grapple in the Big Apple: Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs Timothy Thatcher
- Austin Aries vs Ace Austin
- Bestia 666 vs Rey Horus
Savio Vega is also scheduled to debut for MLW at that show.
A couple quick thoughts for you. Smith vs Thatcher should be a throwback grapple fest of delight. I predict Austin will win. It has been mentioned on commentary that Promociones Dorado was scouting Rey Horus. Seeing him matched up against one of Salina de la Renta’s clients is curious. Could it be a test or a retaliation for turning down an offer?
Tickets are available at MLWTickets.com.
Quick Hits
Last week, MLW announced that they will be taking their show to PPV for the first time. The event, Saturday Night SuperFight, is scheduled for Saturday, November 2 from Cicero Stadium in Chicago. Tickets for go on sale to the general public on Monday, July 15 at 11 am ET. Visit MLWTickets.com to purchase.
MLW Fusion can now be viewed on PlayStation Vue via beIN SPORTS on Saturdays at 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT. I don’t know how Vue works, but I assume it is progress for MLW. More avenues to capture more eyeballs is a good thing.
On the conspiracy theory tip, Mance Warner has an excellent suggestion for 550,000+ people planning to ambush Area 51 in September.
Y’all gotta dress like this to roll out to #Area51 pic.twitter.com/sZR2UdhN6J
— Mance Warner (@ManceWarner) July 12, 2019
The people better bring truckloads of light beer for that occasion.
What’s the over/under on how many crazy moves will occur in the ladder match between the Hart Foundation and the Dynasty? Who are you picking to win? What do you think of Never Say Never so far? Will you be joining in at Area 51?