MLW Fusion exploded into the new year with three title fights for episode 116. The Kings of Colosseum special event featured the Contra Unit adding a new member, the Von Erichs in a bunkhouse brawl, Lio Rush extinguishing Myron Reed’s fire, and Alexander Hammerstone meeting his match on Muscle Mountain in a hoss fight.
If you have ever been interested in checking out MLW but haven’t taken the plunge yet, this is a good episode to jump in to experience MLW’s style and flavor.
Let’s break it all down.
MLW World Tag Team Championship: Von Erichs vs Dirty Blondes
This bout had bunkhouse rules. That meant the Von Erichs were obligated to wrestle in jeans and a bull rope with cow bell was one of the foreign objects. Aria Blake was ringside to manage Colonel Parker’s Stud Stable tag team.
A double dropkick by the Von Erichs sent Leo Brien and Michael Patrick out of the ring. Burly brawling spilled backstage, outdoors, then made way back to the ring. There was lots of clubbering and clobbering. Patrick begged for mercy as a ruse for Blake to low blow Ross. Marshall escaped a piledriver on the floor from Brien to counter with a back body drop. Blake jumped on Ross’ back. She took a tumble when he shed her off. That led to the Von Erich claw slam as Marshall pinned Patrick at 3:53 to retain the tag titles.
CLAW SLAM!!!#MLWKings @RossVonErich | @MarshallVonEric
— Major League Wrestling (@MLW) January 7, 2021
YouTube | Fubo Sports | The Roku Channel, Channel 230.
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In a backstage promo, the Von Erichs were proud of their win. MLW has one of the deepest tag team divisions in all of wrestling. For 2021, they are here to fight. The Von Erichs signed an open contract for their next defense.
Commentary informed us that Jordan Oliver was ready for the grudge match, but Simon Gotch was missing.
Tom Lawlor has been partying non-stop since winning the Opera Cup tournament. He has taken the trophy to the seediest gentlemen’s clubs in Las Vegas. Lawlor is finally sober to announce big news. Filthy Island is in the works.
Lio Rush is the man of the hour. Myron Reed calls himself Hot Fire, but there is nobody hotter than Rush. He is going to put out Reed’s fire to win the middleweight title. It is rush hour, and Reed’s time is up.
Reed believes he needs to beat his idols to build his legacy. He will prove that his style and swagger are more superior than Rush’s.
PWI top 10 for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship: 10. Mads Krugger, 9. Calvin Tankman, 8. Laredo Kid, 7. ACH, 6. Richard Holliday, 5. Myron Reed, 4. LA Park, 3. Low Ki, 2. Tom Lawlor, 1. Alexander Hammerstone, Champ: Jacob Fatu.
Commentary alerted us that the grudge match between Oliver and Gotch has been postponed. They suspected something fishy from the Contra solider.
MLW World Middleweight Championship: Myron Reed vs. Lio Rush
Jordan Oliver was ringside to support Reed. The two competitors were feeling each other out early. Big moves were a slingshot leg drop by Reed and a low suicide dive by Rush. The flow settled down as Rush tried to grind on Reed. The match progressed as a back and forth affair. Reed heated up with a chestbreaker, flying crossbody over the ropes, springboard corkscrew uppercut, and suplexes. Rush cooled Reed down with a moonsault on the floor and a twisting facebuster.
A rousing exchange of fisticuffs lit up the joint. Reed came out on top with an enzuigiri. Reed struck with a leaping cutter off the apron.
FLAME ON! #MLWKings @TheBadReed
— Major League Wrestling (@MLW) January 7, 2021
YouTube | Fubo Sports | The Roku Channel, Channel 230.
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Reed shed his chest protector in excitement. Back in the ring, Reed was ready to close it out with a flying 450 splash, but Rush rolled away from the attack. Rush pounced for a stunner and frog splash to win at 14:19. Rush is the new middleweight champ.
.@TheLionelGreen with the Final Hour!#MLWKings
— Major League Wrestling (@MLW) January 7, 2021
YouTube | Fubo Sports | The Roku Channel, Channel 230.
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In a backstage promo, Rush was not surprised at the outcome. What did you expect? The man of the hour is now champ, and there is nothing anybody can do about it.
Alicia Atout tried to interview Alexander Hammerstone about his fight with Mads Krugger, but the Contra Unit hacked the feed with a message from Josef Samael. He offers the world two gifts for the new year. A new solider will take arms tonight, and Krugger will take Hammer’s title and career.
Salina de la Renta’s big announcement is that she will be executive producer of Fusion for next week. She cut a deal with LA Park. If she can get him a title shot, then Los Parks will join Promociones Dorado. The main event for next week will be LA Park & Hijo de LA Park versus the Von Erichs for the tag belts. She left by teasing a phone call from Boyle Heights (Lucha Underground).
Jacob Fatu will defend the heavyweight strap against ACH on the January 20 episode of Fusion.
Reed gave credit to Rush for being the better man, but Reed is still the young GOAT. He will do whatever it takes to get the title back. Fatu and Gotch ambushed Injustice. A third man joined the fracas. Daivari! He is the newest soldier of Contra.
#Injustice reflect on what was a though night against Lio Rush tonight. However CONTRA had a different plan in mind as they viciously sneak attack Reed and Oliver.#MLWKings
— Major League Wrestling (@MLW) January 7, 2021
YouTube | Fubo Sports | The Roku Channel, Channel 230.
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MLW National Openweight Championship: Alexander Hammerstone vs. Mads Krugger
The fight erupted before the opening bell. Hammerstone hit Krugger with the title belt. Hammer climbed the corner, but Krugger tossed him down to the mat. A big clothesline by Hammerman failed to knock Krugger down. The champ had a stunned look on his face.
Krugger booted Hammerstone out of the ring and slammed him on the apron. Krugger unloaded body blows in the corner. Hammer chopped back and exploded for a belly-to-belly suplex.
.@alexhammerstone tosses @MadsKrugger with a belly to belly suplex!#MLWKings
— Major League Wrestling (@MLW) January 7, 2021
YouTube | Fubo Sports | The Roku Channel, Channel 230.
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Mr. Meat Castle powered up with punches and a jumping clothesline to take the monster down. Hammerstone charged with a locomotive clothesline then hit a bicycle kick and a pumphandle suplex. Kruger kicked out at 1.
A BIG Pumphandle suplex from @alexhammerstone.#MLWKings
— Major League Wrestling (@MLW) January 7, 2021
YouTube | Fubo Sports | The Roku Channel, Channel 230.
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Hammerstone took it up a notch with another bicycle kick and picked the mercenary up for the Nightmare Pendulum. Krugger blocked the swing to avoid impact. The two powerhouses brawled in the corner. The referee kept trying to break it up, but they paid no mind to him.
The beefers blasted each other down to the floor. The mauling continued onto the stage. Krugger slipped in a choke. Hammer bit Krugger’s hand to break free. The referee kept counting all the way to 36 then threw the match out. I joke about the number. I couldn’t hear, but it was pretty high and well past 10. The show closed with Hammerstone and Krugger still fighting.
HOSS FIGHT!
Oh, sorry. Let me calm down. The main event made me frothy with excitement. Kings of Colosseum was a banger with three fun matches, interesting announcements, and a surprise from Contra.
The Von Erichs had a fun brawl with the Dirty Blondes. We all knew the Stud Stable wasn’t going to win, so I appreciate that the action was direct and to the point. The match fulfilled its duty as the opener by putting me in a good mood. I like the Von Erichs willingness to fight all comers. Next week’s match against Los Parks will be interesting. I’m expecting the Von Erichs to win, but I would not be surprised if Los Parks became the new tag champs.
Good call from MLW by slipping in the middleweight bout between the two brawls for a tasty sandwich. Myron Reed and Lio Rush offered a completely different style than the other contests. Slickness and agility were on full display. Rush winning the belt took me by surprise. MLW has been building Reed up as something special, and I wasn’t expecting him to lose here. I question if Reed removing the chest protector was his downfall. His weak spot was exposed by crashing to the mat and taking a frog splash. Now, Reed has a chance to build babyface heat for a comeback.
I have mixed feelings about the grudge match cancellation. It was a bit of a letdown to advertise it and not deliver. However, MLW made up for that by revealing Daivari as the new Contra soldier. Contra needs more goons for the good guys to battle through their ranks. Daivari will fill that role nicely. He looks great and is no slouch in the ring.
HOSS FIGHT! Alexander Hammerstone and Mads Krugger tussled for roughly 6 minutes, and I loved every second of it. The aggression was a prefect tone to fit the story. Hammer’s power on the suplex and slam were impressive. Krugger did his fair share of the work as a monster. He was effective in creating doubt on whether Hammerstone could triumph. I can’t wait for the rematch.
I’m not going to lie about my initial reaction to the main event. At first, I was not satisfied with the lack of a result. Combining that with the canceled grudge match felt a little cheap. As I reflected on it, I accepted it for what it was. A tasty appetizer toward an epic explosion. It sort of reminds me of a Hulk Hogan trajectory with how he handled even larger men toward a huge blow-off match. If that is the case for Hammerstone, then I am all in on this journey. We know he is on a collision course with Jacob Fatu, but this will be a fun side mission along the way.
Share you thoughts on the Kings of Colosseum special of MLW Fusion. Which match stole the show?
MLW Fusion streams on Fubo Sports Network Wednesday nights at 7 pm ET and 10 pm ET, posts on YouTube Wednesdays at 7 pm ET, and airs on beIN SPORTS Saturday nights at 10 pm ET. You can also check out MLW streaming on demand with DAZN. In addition, MLW is broadcast in over 20 countries.