We open up this week’s episode with a Jacob Fatu video package. He cuts a promo calling out The Calling. He also tells John Hennigan, “you know what I’m coming for!” Music plays as we go into the intro for the show.
The announce team for this episode are Joe Dombrowski and Matt Striker. Now in the arena, Dombrowski hypes tonight’s main event for the MLW National Openweight Championship Match between John Hennigan (c) and Jacob Fatu. Delmi Exo’s next opponent for MLW Never Say Never, is also being advertised to be announced later in the show.
We go to the ring for the opening contest, which is a Triple Threat Match for the MLW Tag Team Titles. Mike Falvo is the ring announcer. Introduced first are The Mane Event, followed by The FBI, and lastly the Tag Team Champions, The Samoan SWAT Team are announced. Dombrowski then hypes the match later in the show between Microman and Beastman.
MLW Tag Team Championship Triple Threat Match: The Samoan SWAT Team (Lance Anoa’i & Juicy Finau) vs The Mane Event (Jay Lyon & Midas Black) vs The FBI (Little Guido & Ray Jaz)
The Match starts by Mane Event and FBI attacking the champs. Once both Lance Anoa’i and Juicy Finau are on the floor, The Mane Event and The FBI start battling each other in the ring. Ray Jaz jumps over the top rope and lands on Anoa’i and Finau outside. Little Guido then attempts to jump on Juicy but he catches him. Lyon does a flip through a circus ring held up by Midas Black, and through the middle rope onto FBI and Juicy. Then Black goes to the top rope, but Lance grabs him and throw’s him outside to the opponents below. Lance then flips over the top rope, hitting The FBI and Mane Event, but avoids hitting Juicy for the most part.
The SWAT Team are back in the ring and working on Mane Event who they brought back into the ring. The FBI tries to attack the champs from behind but failed in that attempt. All mayhem breaks loose with all three teams. The ending comes when Juicy does a Samoan Drop on Lyon . Lance then hits frog splash to complete their finisher for the three count.
Result: The Samoan SWAT Team (c) defeats The Mane Event & The FBI.
We get replay highlights of the match. Then a video package of The Calling. Raven called out Jacob Fatu and the rest of the Samoans in MLW.
Dombroswki hypes up the main event again. He also states that an update of the Opera cup will be given later. Microman vs Beastman is also announced again
We go to the back where Mister Saint Laurent yells at a MLW rep saying never send royalties directly to Microman. They come to his office in Toronto. Microman vs Beastman is advertised next as we go commercial break.
We get a commercial for MLW Never Say Never. Back from the break we are shown clips of last week when Delmi won the Women’s World Title. We get an MLW.com exclusive of Taya Valkyrie backstage, upset with herself losing to Delmi. She yells at the cameraman, saying can she help him with something? She complains about losing to a nobody. She tells the cameraman to get out of her personal space and leave her alone.
We are shown a clip of Battle Riot V when Mance Warner and Sam Adonis eliminated each other. We are then shown last week when John Hennigan and Sam Adonis were choking out Mancer Warner. Dombroswki said Adonis and Hennigan will have to pay a $2500 fine or they will be suspended. Cameras caught up to Mancer who cuts a promo on Adonis and Hennigan in the stairwell. Then Mancer challengers Adonis to a leather strap match.
Back to arena, the main event is promoted again. In the ring, Mike Falvo is set to announce the next match. Beastman comes out first with Kimchee. Next, Microman is introduced with MSL.
Microman (W/MSL) vs Beastman (W/Kimchee)
This was short match. Beastman used his size to beat up on Microman. Beastman went up to the top turnbuckle but missed leg drop. Kimchee throws weapon in the ring. As the ref is distracted by Kimchee, Microman uses it and hits Beastman’s with a low blow! He does a very obvious & cooperated tornado ddt to pick up the win.
Result: Microman defeats Beastman via pinfall.
Next is a video showing Sam Adonis talking to John Hennigan, who was getting ready for his title match on a rooftop. Hennigan dedicated the match to his wife, Taya Valkyrie. Adonis then told Hennigan that he will be at the announce table, calling the match with the announce team. We go to a commercial break.
Dombrowski talks about the Opera Cup and announced Davey Boy Smith Jr as the first entrant into the tournament. He also reminds the fans that Alex Kane was banned from the tournament after stealing the cup last year.
Dombrowski hyped the Never Say Never live event on July 8th. He then announces the MLW Featherweight Champion Delmi Exo will be taking on wXw Champion Ava Everett in a title vs. title match. He went over the current card including MLW World Championship Match between Alex Hammerstone (c) and Alex Kane. As well as a fans being the weapons match for the MLW World Tag Team Championship, when the Samoan SWAT Team (c) takes on Akira & RSP of The Calling. Timothy Thatcher will be facing Tracy Williams. Lastly he spoke about rumors that the pressure is getting to B3CCA before heading into her live music performance at Never Say Never.
Next, Sam Laterna interviewed Alex Kane and Mr. Thomas in what appeared to be backstage. Kane was upset over not being allowed into the 2023 Opera Cup tournament and said that it’s a conspiracy. Mr Thomas then blamed Alex Hammerstone. Kane said that he has his ticket and hopes that Hammerstone will be in the house. On a side note, it’s interesting that MLW went ahead and aired this pre-taped promo being the match has been set for MLW Never Say Never already.
Dombrowski talks about a Big Apple Grapple talent search for next week. Sam Adonis joins the broadcast team. Jacob Fatu is introduced by Falvo first and then John Hennigan with Taya Valkyrie.
MLW National Openweight Championship Match: John Hennigan (c) (w/Taya Valkyrie) vs. Jacob Fatu
Fatu starts out quickly and shoulder blocks Hennigan as we go to a break.
Back from the break, Valkyrie entered the ring and distracted Fatu, which led to Hennigan taking out Fatu’s leg from behind and taking control.
Hennigan threw Fatu to the floor and followed him. Fatu went on the offensive taking the fight to Hennigan at ringside. Hennigan eventually made his way back into the ring and caught Fatu with a kick. Hennigan is gaining control of the match as we go into our final break.
Hennigan went up to the top rope but Fatu knocked him off to the floor. Fatu performed a suicide dive, followed by a crossbody block from the ropes for a near fall. Fatu then hits a standing moonsault for another near fall.
Hennigan came back with a Moonlight Drive for his own near fall. Hennigan then went for Starship Pain, but Fatu avoided it. Adonis left the broadcast table and started yelling at Fatu from the balcony. Hennigan went to grab a chair, but the ref saw this and grabbed the chair while Fatu hit Hennigan with a superkick. As the referee was removing the chair, Valkyrie came in the ring and hit Fatu with the Openweight Championship belt. Hennigan went for the pinfall, however Fatu kicked out right at the last second. Delmi Exo came down to deal with Valkyrie.
Mance Warner joins the action and starts attacking Adonis in the broadcast booth. Footage is then shown of The Calling attacking Lance Anoa’i in the parking lot. Fatu completes a top rope moonsault and had the pinfall, however Valkyrie pulled the ref from the ring breaking up the count. Delmi chased Valkyrie, who ran into Juicy Finau who is now at ringside. Hennigan hits Fatu with a kick as Juicy carried Valkyrie to the back with Delmi following.
Back in the ring, Hennigan hits a Poison Rana and then a knee strike on Fatu. Hennigan then hits Starship Pain and goes for the cover, but again, Fatu kicks out at the second. The crowd is into the match chanting “this is awesome!”
Hennigan and Fatu battled each other back and forth. In the closing moments, Fatu threw a superkick and then performed his Samoan Drop. He followed it with his double jump moonsault to pick up the pinfall to become the new champion!
Result: Jacob Fatu defeats John Hennigan by pinfall to become the new MLW National Openweight Champion
Sam Adonis accepted Mance Warner’s challenge. Dombrowski announced Mance Warner vs. Sam Adonis in a strap match for next week’s show.
Going back into the ring, Fatu grabbed a mic. He told the crowd it felt good to be back home in NYC. Fatu said that on behalf of him and the bloodline, thank you. Fatu told the fans in attendance to grab a drink, light a blunt, and get this thing going! Fatu exits the ring to the crowd cheering and bows on the stage to close out the show.
This was a great ending to this show. Much like the MLW Featherweight Championship last week, this main event delivered! I’m happy to see Fatu with another title on him. I am also very interested to see where they go with this Samoans and Calling rivalry. Looking forward towards next week’s Fusion and Never Say Never on July 8th.
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