Major League Wrestling had their latest event, Intimidation Games 2024, that streamed live on TrillerTV+. Here is a review and recap of the event that took place in front of a sold out standing room only crowd at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York.
MLW Middleweight Championship Match: Mistico (w/Cesar Duran) vs. Rocky Romero (w/Salina de la Renta & Jesus Rodriguez)
The crowd was electric, and this match was an excellent way to kick off the card. The crowd chanted, “This is awesome,” as soon as the bell sounded.
Romero did a good job working the crowd, especially when attempting to remove Mistico’s mask. Rocky controlled most of the match.
Mistico made a comeback and hit Romero with a missile dropkick from the top rope, sending him to the floor outside. Mistico then hits a dive over the top rope.
Back in the ring, there was back-and-forth action with some near falls. The ending saw Mistico spinning Romero to the mat and applying a Fujiwara Armbar, causing Romero to tap out immediately!
Result: Mistico defeats Rocky Romero via submission to become new champion!
NYC Street Fight Match: The Calling (Sami Callihan & Rickey Shane Page (w/Cannonball) vs. Akira & Jake Crist
The Calling came out first, but then Akira and Crist ran to the ring and started brawling with Callihan & RSP. This match saw its fair share of chairs and wood boards.
At one point during the match, Callihan took Crist’s fingers and gave paper cuts between them. There was no stop action, with something always happening during the match.
Towards the end of the match, the Blue Meanie popped out from under the ring and started fighting with Cannonball. After RSP hit Akira, Callihan hit a low blow kick on Crist, and Page immediately got a backslide on Crist to pick up the pinfall.
Result: The Calling (Sami Callihan & Rickey Shane Page) defeated Akira & Jake Crist.
After the match, RSP & Callihan continued to beat up Crist & Akira until Jimmy Lloyd ran in and made the save. Callihan gets on the mic and says that he wants to keep fighting.
Raven appears on the screen. He said, “You think you can play while daddy’s away? Well, daddy’s come home.” He then referred to his stable as “The Response.
Alex Kane vs. Bobby Fish
It was nice seeing Bobby Fish back in an MLW ring, and it was interesting to see how Alex Kane would respond on his first match back after losing the MLW World Championship.
Fish used heel tactics, such as a low blow to Kane while the ref was out of position. He controlled most of the match.
Kane made a comeback with a shoulder tackle and a spear for a near fall. He then applied a sleeper hold on Fish. The referee checked on Fish, who was out and called for the bell.
Result: Alex Kane defeated Bobby Fish via submission.
After the match, Kane grabbed a mic and said, “Bomaye is for the people!” AJ Franci$ walked onto the stage and interrupted Kane. AJ cuts a promo on Kane and talks down to him.
The crowd chanted “Bottom Dollar!” at Francis and “Bomaye” for Kane. Francis said this would come down to “ritual combat,” some people in Kane’s ranks aren’t as loyal as he thinks they are. The camera panned in on Mr. Thomas, who shook his head in disagreement.
The possible Mr. Thomas heel turn was already being teased at MLW Burning Crush when he convinced Kane to stay and make another run at the MLW Championship.
MLW World Tag Team Championship Match: Second Gear Crew (Matthew Justice & 1 Called Manders) (c) vs. World Titan Federation (Tom Lawlor & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) (w/Saint Laurent)
The match between the two teams started on the floor. Once the match was in the ring, Lawlor & DBS took control of the match.
Manders makes a comeback, hits a spine buster on Lawlor, and makes the tag to Justice, who hits a double shoulder tackle and clotheslined Lawlor to the floor.
Things broke down in this match when Lawlor pulled the ref to the floor to stop what would’ve been a pinfall victory for the champs over Smith.
Manders slides a table in the ring, and Justice hits a tornado DDT on Lawlor through the table. The ref comes back into the ring and counts for near fall. The referee let the apparent use of the table go.
Laurent swings his helmet at Manders, causing Manders to punch him. Brett Ryan Gosselin runs down to the ringside to distract the referee. Smith hit Manders in the head with the helmet as Lawlor rolled up Manders for the pin!
Result: World Titan Federation (Tom Lawlor & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) (w/Saint Laurent) defeated Second Gear Crew (1 Called Manders & Matthew Justice) to become new Tag Team Champions.
NJPW World Television Championship Match: Matt Riddle (c) vs. Big Bad Tito
The match was a short, fast-paced match that barely lasted 5 minutes. Both Riddle and Tito performed a lot of moves during that time.
The ending came when Riddle caught Tito with a Gotch-style Tombstone piledriver to pick up the victory.
Result: Matt Riddle defeated Bad Dude Tito to retain is championship.
Jesus Rodriguez explains the “$5,000, five-minute challenge.” If any opponent can last more than 5 minutes with MLW Featherweight Champion Janai Kai, they will get $5000. Salina held a bag with a big “$” symbol on the side.
$5,000, Five-Minute Challenge Match: Janai Kai (w/Saina de la Renta) vs. Zoey Cannon
The match was a squash match to make Kai look even more dominant, as it took her less than a half minute to dispose of Cannon.
Kai hit a hard kick to Cannon’s face in the corner. Cannon collapses as her head hits the turnbuckle, causing the ref to call for the bell.
Result: Janai Kai defeats Zoey Cannon in less than 30 seconds.
MLW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Satoshi Kojima (w/Okumura) (c) vs. Minoru Suzuki
The match was a good, hard-hitting, tough battle. It saw numerous chops and forearms. Suzuki did a great job as the heel as the crowd was firmly behind Kojima.
The ending of the match was spectacular, with so much action and near falls. Kojima needed a suplex and three vicious clotheslines to get Suzuki down. It was a tremendous main-event match!
Result: Satoshi Kojima defeated Minoru Suzuki to retain his MLW Heavyweight Championship.