July 20th, 2018
A video package is shown, hyping up Strickland’s defense of the MLW World Heavyweight Championship against Low-Ki, which is also a $60,000 Bounty Match.
Rich Bocchini and Tony Schiavone welcome us to the show, and hype tonight’s main event. Also tonight, Tom Lawlor will take on Jimmy Havoc. We go to the ring for a Prospect’s Match.
Kiki Roberts vs. Kahuna Khan
Kiki and Kahuna shake hands, only to be interrupted by Su Yung and Zeda. This is the same thing that happened the last time we saw Yung and Zeda, just a pure beatdown of both men. Let’s hope MLW has something planned for these two, because it’s definitely one of the most interesting aspects of MLW at the moment.
The Stud Stable bully Fred Yehi in the back, before Team Filthy walks in on them. The Stud Stable retreat, as Tom Lawlor tells Yehi that they have his back. Lawlor gives him the official UFC Reebok walkout gear, and Yehi shakes hands with them. Yehi hands over his mask to Simon Gotch… So this’ll be something.
A short video package for Lawlor vs. Havoc is shown, and this has been a rather on and off again rivalry, so we’ll see how the “grudge match” goes.
Grudge Match: Tom Lawlor w/Team Filthy (and Fred Yehi) vs. Jimmy Havoc
So this one was no DQ, and they sure played to it, bringing out all of the weapons possible. The crowd was into this at times, but during some portions it seemed like they didn’t care that these two were hitting each other with chairs or giving each other paper cuts. The lemon spot to a paper cut is always nice, and it’s not used too often. Like usual, Havoc bled quite a bit in these types of matches, but the finish was totally flat and just didn’t let this get into the great territory. Havoc nailed a poorly looking Acid Rainmaker, which commentary didn’t pick up on, and even the three count was a bit botchy. That aside, this was a good match, but could’ve been a lot better with an invested crowd (the crowd always seems to be a struggle, maybe they need a new venue).
Winner: Jimmy Havoc
Match Rating: ***1/4
Sami Callihan says he was the one who took out Shane Strickland last week. Callihan made Strickland who he is today, but decided to stab him in the back for the money. Callihan is done having some friends, because he wants some money now. Strickland isn’t the same that he was when Callihan trained him, and the fans are getting into his head. Strickland isn’t on Callihan’s level, and never will be. This is now about Callihan ending Strickland.
Barrington Hughes and Kotto Brazil are arguing as an interview tries to take place. Shane Strickland walks in and says he knows what he’s doing tonight.
Battle Riot is hyped, which will be a TWO HOUR SPECIAL next week.
Low-Ki is training before his match, as Salina De La Renta walks up with a briefcase, full of $60,000. Low-Ki says he’ll get the job done here tonight, and Salina will be sitting at ringside to watch.
$60,000 Bounty – MLW World Heavyweight Championship: Shane Strickland (c) vs. Low-Ki
This was a good main event, but just didn’t enter the great territory, with quite a bit holding it back. First of all, I can’t stress enough how much the lack of crowd reaction takes away from these matches. They’re hot coming in, but down the stretch, you need a great crowd to make a title change feel important. Here, the crowd was completely shocked, but overall it was a really flat finish. There weren’t any good near falls to make you believe Strickland would retain, or Ki would win the belt. All of that aside, Strickland had a rather lackluster run as Champion, but the Bounty gimmick had more potential, so it was a shame it ended so soon. This was a good main event with some nice action, but not much more. Why Low-Ki?
Winner: Low-Ki
Match Rating: ***1/4
After the match, Salina De La Renta enters the ring to hand Low-Ki the briefcase, as the two pose in the center of the ring while Shane Strickland’s girlfriend checks on the former champion.
Final Thoughts:
This was a pretty good week of MLW Fusion, another easy 50 minutes to sit through. My problem with the show is the live crowd. There have been countless matches, and important main events where the crowd just doesn’t care, and it really takes away from the matches. Overall, we had a good show this week, with the continuation of Yung and Zeda, who knows what’s next for them. Also, Jimmy Havoc got a win in a good hardcore brawl, as well as Low-Ki winning the MLW Title. The crowd was absolutely shocked, the title change felt random, and the Bounty gimmick had a lot more potential. Anyways, I keep harping on the negatives, but this was a pretty good show this week, I’m just hoping that the New York crowd for Battle Riot next week is great, that show should be awesome.
Final Rating: 7.2/10