MLW Fusion recap & reactions: Mil Muertes is on the warpath

Time for a double dip of MLW Fusion to catch up with episodes 123 and 124. The action featured several title fights, Calvin Tankman rising up against Jacob Fatu, and Mil Muertes on the warpath to steal Alexander Hammerstone’s gold.

If you came wanting to see destruction from Mil Muertes, I won’t make you wait. Here’s an appetizing hype package before the main course.

Alexander Hammerstone had just defeated LA Park to defend the MLW National Openweight Championship. Hammer was looking extremely tanned, jacked, and juicy. LA Park put up a good fight, but he couldn’t conquer the specimen known as Muscle Mountain.

The aftermath is when Mil Muertes went on the warpath. He put Hammerman down with a vicious pummeling to steal the gold.

Surely, Mil Muertes will have business to settle with Hammerstone. But first, Mil Muertes has a challenge from another strongman to deal with. Parrow called out Mil Muertes. If this doesn’t pump you up for a hoss fight, I don’t know what will.

Mil Muertes and Parrow will collide on the next episode of MLW Fusion.

MLW Fusion posts on YouTube Wednesday nights at 7 pm ET, streams on Fubo Sports Network Friday nights at 7 pm ET and 10 pm ET, and airs on beIN SPORTS Saturday nights at 10 pm ET. You can also check out MLW on DAZN, Roku, and Pluto. In addition, MLW is broadcast in over 20 countries.

Let’s get to the recaps. First up is episode 123 of MLW Fusion.

MLW World Tag Team Championship: LA Park & Hijo de LA Park vs Simon Gotch & Daivari

Hijo and Daivari worked each other over with Hijo getting the edge on a bridging submission putting pressure on Daivari’s neck.

The match broke down with a double suicide dive by Los Parks. Back in the ring, Hijo connected on a flying crossbody to Gotch. The match broke down again into chaos. Los Parks tried their illegal substitution tactic with LA Park Jr., but Daivari spotted it to call the referee’s attention. As the ref’s back was turned, Injustice ran in to grab the legs of Daivari and Gotch to prevent a slam to Hijo. LA Park pounced with a spear to Daivari for victory at 8:21.

The Von Erichs cut a promo from Hawaii with a little dog romping in the background. They still want to do their own Wrestle Island. Marshall wants to book Tom Lawlor versus a hammerhead shark. Since Marshall doesn’t want Lawlor to die, he would step in at the end to stop the shark with the Von Erich claw.

Alicia Atout attempted to interview Salina de la Renta, but it was mostly bickering. Salina confessed that she is addicted to gold and will be coming after Alexander Hammerstone’s National Openweight Championship. She wants to take advantage of Hammerman being too focused on battling the Contra Unit. Salina made a snide comment about Alicia already knowing that due to spending time with her boy toy Richard Holliday. Atout denied any hanky-panky.

Parrow vs Dugan

Parrow returned to MLW to be the greatest heavyweight of all time. He roughed up Dugan in a squash. Parrow caught a flying crossbody to counter with a fallaway slam into the corner. A chokeslam and a sitdown powerbomb ended Dugan at 1:37.

Backstage, Parrow had words for Salina de la Renta and Mil Muertes. He is sick of what he saw Mil do to Savio Vega. “Muertes, Let’s fight!”

Rich Bocchini stated that Team Filthy allegedly snuck away from Filthy Island as stowaways on a boat in order to dodge paying Filthy Island staff. Tom Lawlor was angry about the Von Erichs ruining the show. He had to get 50 stitches after being thrown onto the windshield. Lawlor is sick of the Von Erichs hiding. He dared one of them to step up and wrestle Kevin Ku.

Bu Ku Dao wanted to be just like TJP. Since his mentor treated him like a bully, Dao wants to rumble one-on-one like a man.

Jordan Oliver has his first World Championship match against Jacob Fatu. Ever since Oliver was a little kid, he’s been getting his ass kicked. He knows Jacob Fatu will beat his butt, but Fatu will not outlast him, even if it takes 60 minutes. At the end of the contest, Oliver will be the new champ.

Laredo Kid vs Calvin Tankman

Laredo tried to attack the legs to chop the big man down, but Tankman exploded for a huge shoulder tackle.

Tankman used his power to wear down Laredo. The luchador had enough fire for a flurry of offense with a flying missile dropkick then a flying crossbody down to the floor. Laredo continued his momentum with a flying elbow drop. Tankman rallied with thrust strikes, a spinning backfist, and a powerbomb. Laredo ducked a ferocious clubbing blow and used his quickness to leap for a flying forearm. Tankman had enough and turned up the heat for the finish with a hard slam, backfist, and sitdown piledriver at 6:44.

Backstage, Tankman stated that he has mouths to feed at home and knows that the champ earns big money. Tankman called out Fatu for the title.

Alicia Atout intruded on mirror time for Richard Holliday and Alexander Hammerstone. She was flustered about Salina calling Holliday her boy toy. Hammer gave a shifty glance then addressed Salina’s desire to take his gold. The Dynasty is not afraid of plus-size luchadores. Holiday shooed Atout away. She would never be worthy of breathing his rarefied air. Hammer suspected that Holliday has a crush on the Interview Queen.

Josef Samael had a message for Oliver. There will be another death in the Injustice family, but that’s the consequence of children playing in a man’s world. Fatu jumped in with threats of violence. He loves breaking necks, fracturing spines, and watching them bleed out. Fatu is going to slap Oliver’s bitch ass.

PWI Top 5 for tag teams: 5. Dirty Blondes, 4. Injustice, 3. Violence is Forever, 2. Gotch & Daivari, 1. Von Erichs, Champs: Los Parks.

Gino Medina is angry at Gringo Loco for using that name. He is ripping of Medina’s culture. Medina’s father was part of Los Gringos Locos trio. He will expose Gringo Loco as a rip-off.

Alexander Hammerstone versus LA Park was made official with the MLW National Openweight Championship on the line. Also, Mil Muertes accepted Parrow’s challenge.

MLW World Heavyweight Championship: Jacob Fatu vs Jordan Oliver

Myron Reed and Daivari were ringside for support. Oliver attacked with a suicide dive before the opening bell. Both made way inside the ring to make the match official. Oliver used his speed to knock Fatu out of the ring. Oliver went for a second suicide dive, but Fatu caught him this time for a brutal Samoan drop on the floor.

The match went as Oliver proclaimed. He got his ass kicked trying to outlast Fatu’s gas tank. Oliver’s other strategy was to chip away at Fatu’s legs whenever he could muster energy to attack. Momentum started to swing Oliver’s way when Daivari’s distraction attempt backfired. It allowed Reed to grab Fatu’s foot to keep him planted for a superkick from Oliver. The challenger attacked with a slingshot plancha, but Fatu caught him for backbreaker on the apron.

The match progressed with a terrible edit as if trying to hide something. Rich Bocchini stated that Fatu may have tweaked his leg. Fatu aimed to end it with his springboard moonsault, but his leg gave out on the way up. The delay allowed time for Oliver to spring into action for a super German suplex.

Oliver followed with a flying cutter. He went high-risk once too much as Fatu caught another flying attack for a powerbomb. A pop-up Samoan drop and a moonsault finally put Oliver down for the count at 9:08.

Contra soldiers put the boots to Injustice after the bell to load Oliver and Reed into body bags. Heavyweight Hustle! Tankman hit the ring to thrash Contra and throw blows with Fatu. A shoulder tackle knocked Fatu out of the ring to close the show.

Let’s jam on episode 124 of MLW Fusion.

Alicia Atout asked Calvin Tankman about his presence in fighting Contra Unit last week. He stood toe-to-toe with the world champ. It’s on with Fatu. Injustice popped in to give props and handle business together.

Gringo Loco vs Gino Medina

Gringo had control early. The tide turned when he springboarded into a counter gutbuster by Medina. El Intocable was in charge until Gringo shed him off the turnbuckles then bounced into a springboard moonsault. Gringo piled it on with an inverted DDT. He then tried to get too fancy and slipped on the ropes, so Medina struck with a 540 kick. The two tussled on the turnbuckles only for Gringo to come out on top with a Spanish Fly. Medina was able to kick out on the cover and recovered to rally with Snake Eyes into the turnbuckle, a running knee strike, wheelbarrow toss into the ropes, and a kick to the back of the head. Medina picked up the winning pin at 9:16.

Medina claimed that he had an easy time getting rid of Gringo Loco. In MLW, Medina is in a league of his own. He will see Richard Holliday soon and beat his ass.

Tom Lawlor plans to sue the Von Erichs for ruining Filthy Island and his reputation. He commended ACH for stepping up to wrestle Kevin Ku. Lawlor will be watching carefully.

St. Laurent informed us that a large masked man was seen outside the venue. Could it be Mads Krugger coming for Alexander Hammerstone?

PWI Top 5 for middleweights: 5. Brian Pillman Jr., 4. Bu Ku Dao, 3. Myron Reed, 2. Daivari, 1. Laredo Kid, Champ: Lio Rush.

Atout alerted us that Lio Rush posted an open contract on the locker room wall.

Kevin Ku vs ACH

Dominic Garrini was ringside. Ku focused on ACH’s injured ribs with a gutwrench suplex and backbreaker. ACH had a few spurts of offense as the match progressed. The finish came down to Garrini trying to interfere. The Von Erichs came out of nowhere to pummel Garrini. ACH hit a flying bowling bowl onto both Garrini and Ku. Back in the ring, Ku ran the ropes right into a superkick. ACH was victorious via brainbuster at 10:39.

TJP accepted Bu Ku Dao’s challenge to a singles contest.

After a hype package played for Mil Muertes, Atout inquired about the Dynasty’s reaction to seeing Mil Muertes in MLW. Hammerstone wasn’t worried. They all go down to the Nightmare Pendulum in the end. Your boy Hammer was confident in being triumphant against LA Park.

Los Parks will defend the tag titles against Injustice on the next episode. Injustice has respect for LA Park since he paved the way as a legend, but they are coming for the gold.

The open contract offered by Lio Rush has been taken. Atout set out to crack the mystery of who.

Daivari had a message for Injustice in a foreign language. I don’t know what he said. Jacob Fatu trash-talked Tankman. MLW is Contra’s kingdom. He’ll be dog walking Tankman soon. Fatu will also be watching Injustice’s tag title match closely.

It was announced that Lio Rush will defend the middleweight title on the next episode.

The Never Say Never main event will be Fatu versus Tankman for the heavyweight strap on March 31.

MLW National Openweight Championship: Alexander Hamerstone vs LA Park

Salina de la Renta was ringside. Hoss fight fisticuffs to start. Hammerstone connected on a standing dropkick. Hijo de LA Park and LA Park Jr. came down to monitor the situation. It wasn’t long before they interfered. Papa Park distracted the referee, so his sons could attack Hammer. Back to the big boys duking it out. Hammerstone got the better of LA Park on a superplex.

St. Laurent cut in to inform us that Holliday and Medina tussled backstage and were both ejected from the building.

The two bulls continued colliding. Hammerstone dodged a spear as LA Park crashed into the corner. As Hammerman was setting up a Nightmare Pendulum, Hijo and Jr. hopped onto the apron as a distraction. LA Park came back with a DDT and big running knees into the ropes. LA Park crouched ready for a spear. Hammer anticipated the charge and met LA Park with a knee to the head. After a German suplex, Hammerstone clobbered LA Park with a heavy elbow strike to the back of the head to win at 9:57.

Mil Muertes! The masked man hit the ring to tackle Hammerstone and rain down punches. He smashed the belt on top of Hammer’s head. Mil stood tall in the ring holding the National Openweight Championship. He handed it over to Salina as hers to keep. The Azteca Underground logo closed the show.

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Both episodes delivered intense action and great fun. The buildups to these big matches have been energizing. The promos from Jordan Oliver and Contra set the scene perfectly for Jacob Fatu’s title defense. Oliver did get his ass kicked, but it played out in a way to build drama. The surprise rise of Calvin Tankman popped the shop when he pounced Fatu out of the ring. That future title bout on March 31 is going to be hoss heaven. I can’t wait.

Tankman showed his skills against Laredo Kid. This was a tasty match in the short amount of time to work. Both wrestlers came out looking better. I was also impressed with Gino Medina’s heart to kick out of the Spanish Fly against Gringo Loco. I don’t think Medina stands a chance against Richard Holliday, but I’m now more curious than before to see how Medina stacks up.

I love what MLW is doing with Mil Muertes. Lining up hoss fights is definitely the way to go. Parrow is a beast of a man, and Alexander Hammerstone has the sizzle to go along with his steak. I’m eagerly awaiting those clashes.

The show-stealer honor goes to Hammerstone and Holliday in the bathroom boy toy scene. Their back and forth chit-chat felt like natural friends. A close second was Marshall Von Erich’s plan to save Tom Lawlor by using the Claw on a shark. That’s so ludicrous to the point of hilarity.

Share your thoughts on MLW Fusion. Which match or moment stole the show?

MLW Fusion posts on YouTube Wednesday nights at 7 pm ET, streams on Fubo Sports Network Friday nights at 7 pm ET and 10 pm ET, and airs on beIN SPORTS Saturday nights at 10 pm ET. You can also check out MLW on DAZN, Roku, and Pluto. In addition, MLW is broadcast in over 20 countries.

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