MLW is going live with their Fusion television show for the first time in company history. One hour of their huge Miami card Zero Hour will be featured as a special event on beIn SPORTS at 8pm ET on Friday, December 14. Dragon Lee vs DJZ, Rush vs Rich Swann, and the multi-man ladder match for a now vacant World Middleweight Championship are the planned bouts.
MLW President Court Bauer joined Sunday Night’s Main Event to discuss details about the huge news, among other things. The fifteen minute conversation begins at the 39 minute mark if you would like to listen for yourself.
Why go live? “Sports properties that are live ultimately are worth more. That’s the bottom line. Live sports programming has immense value to networks.” Can’t argue with that logic.
Bauer is bringing in buddies who worked in WWE production to help make sure MLW’s first live show goes as smoothly as possible.
Bauer said they had the opportunity to go two hours, but he decided to do the less is more approach. Nail the first special and leave the fans wanting more. In an era where WWE has at least five hours of television programming each week, it is nice that MLW wants to get in and get out. I appreciate that. Give me your best and don’t settle with the rest.
On the topic of talent signing elsewhere, Bauer said that about 75% of the MLW roster is under contract. Everyone on the fast track is locked up. He keeps the other 25% open for flexibility. That definitely helped the upcoming Miami cards that have been hampered by injuries and free agency.
Two current injury situations are Tom Lawlor and MJF. Lawlor hurt his hand and MJF banged up his elbow. Both are day-to-day. Lawlor’s status is uncertain. Earlier today, MLW announced that MJF will be unable to compete, and as a result he’s out of the Middleweight title ladder match. The winner will be crowned champion of the division.
Bauer verbally painted a funny picture of Konnan on roller skates. Konnan had a hip replacement earlier this year and has been working cardio. I hope MLW is filming some training montages of Konnan on his roller skates. Since he is in Miami, he should be wearing the short shorts.
Bauer finished by mentioning the Rocky story in relation to Konnan’s return to wrestling. The Rocky trailer describes Sylvester Stallone as, “Tough, handsome, talented, sexy, sensitive, dynamic, brilliant.” Um, well, I guess the same could be said about Konnan. Will that movie be foreshadowing to how the championship bout with Low Ki will play out? Who will be Konnan’s Adrian?
MLW super-shows Never Say Never and Zero Hour in Miami have been hit by injury and free agent defections. They’ve lost Fenix, Marko Stunt, Joey Ryan, PCO and now MJF. Tom Lawlor are day-to-day. The current cards are as follows:
Never Say Never (December 13)
- Pentagon Jr. vs. Teddy Hart
- Falls Count Anywhere: Sami Callihan vs. LA Park
- No Holds Barred: “Filthy” Tom Lawlor vs. Simon Gotch
- Rush vs. Shane “Swerve” Strickland
- Dragon Lee vs. Rich Swann
- DJZ vs. Hijo de LA Park
- Dezmond Xavier vs. Andrew Everett
Zero Hour (December 14)
- No DQ World Heavyweight Championship: Low Ki vs. Konnan
- World Middleweight Championship Ladder Match:
MJF vs.Kotto Brazil vs. Jason Cade vs. Andrew Everett vs. Dezmond Xavier - Singapore Cane Match: Tommy Dreamer vs. Brian Pillman Jr.
- Rush vs. Rich Swann
- Battle of the Super Heavyweights: Ace Romero vs. Barrington Hughes
- Dragon Lee vs. DJZ
Those are two dynamite fight cards. The top match that sticks out to me is Low Ki vs Konnan. The curiosity to see a legend back in the ring is intriguing.
Next is Rush in a non-CMLL match. I’ve never seen Rush wrestle outside of Mexico, so it will be interesting to see what he brings to the ring against highly capable dance partners.
The third on my mind is the super heavyweight battle. I’m not familiar with neither Ace Romero nor Barrington Hughes, but how could any hoss lover pass up this hype line.
The ring will be reinforced next Friday night in Miami as a 400 pound walking jumbo jet rumbles with the 469 pound Caramel Colossus for the first time ever!
Sign me up.
If you are wondering why Sami Callihan will be fighting LA Park even though Callihan was hired by Salina de la Renta, MLW crafted a nifty tale. Truth is a spot opened up on the card when PCO signed with ROH. Don’t let that get in the way of a good story.
MLW claims, “Rumblings about a falling out,” between Callihan and Promociones Dorado. One theory is that de la Renta is mad at Callihan for not taking out Tom Lawlor hard enough in their Chicago Street Fight. A different theory is that LA Park was uncivil toward Callihan backstage. Thus, the request. That explanation works for me.
Which Miami matches make you most eager?
One other note. For those wondering about the buys on the Tom Lawlor MMA PPV, I mean the Chuck Liddell vs Tito Ortiz PPV, early estimates may be in the 25,000 to 30,000 range.
As for tonight’s MLW Fusion episode, Rush will be making his MLW debut against Sammy Guevara. That should be a fantastic fight. Teddy Hart has a warm-up for his future bout against Pentagon. Ace Romero debuts against Marko Stunt. 400 pounds versus 125 pounds. Who did Stunt piss off?
There will also be updates on the Tom Lawlor vs rat bastard Simon Gotch feud and the Shane Strickland story about him quitting MLW.
MLW Fusion airs live on beIN SPORTS Friday nights 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT with replays at 11 pm ET. New episodes are posted on YouTube Saturday nights at 6:05pm ET.