Andrew’s MLW Fusion Ratings & Review: 8/10/2018

Well I missed last week’s MLW Fusion episode, but Chris Platt did a fantastic job with his review.

After Battle Riot the stories are now facing towards War Games. Team Strickland versus Team Callihan should start building nicely. So let’s see what else they’ve got in store.

Leon Scott vs Barrington Hughes

Leon Scott starts rocking Barrington Hughes with some stiff strikes, before Hughes catches him with an Uranage. After that, he hits the ropes for an Elbow Drop, going for the pin, but Sawyer Fulton and Sami Callihan interfere for the DQ.

Winner: Hughes via DQ

Rating: N/A

Kotto Brazil comes out for the save, at the same time challenging Sami Callihan. Callihan gets riled up, Kotto hits a Dropkick followed by a Tope con Hilo into all the Death Machines.

Kotto Brazil vs Sami Callihan

Brazil had some decent offense on the outside before the bell, but after getting a Missile Dropkick countered into a Powerbomb from Callihan, the match starts. It should be noted that the only reason the match starts is because Sami intimidates the referee and tells him to ring the bell.

This was more of a match than anyone expected. Callihan was taking him lightly early, even insisting the ref give the standing 10 count instead of inflicting more pain. But Kotto got in some great moments of offense. A Body Scissors Vicotry Roll, Code Red and a few different Dropkicks gave him quite a few near falls. The match ends when he attempts an Avalanche Frankensteiner but Callihan holds him, and counters it into a Middle Rope Jacknife Powerbomb.

From that point, he nails the Get Out of Here and the match is done. Kotto gave him a hell of a fight, but Callihan was just too much.

.@TheSamiCallihan nails Kotto
Brazil with a BRUTAL Flatliner!#beINSPORTS #MLWFusion 🇺🇸
(Watch over on https://t.co/xMW7ZGwR3A) pic.twitter.com/0n8lH1QEiY

— FLIP? (@FlippyPro) August 11, 2018

Winner: Callihan via Get Out of Here

Rating: *** 3/4

Teddy Hart and New Hart Foundation promo, getting across the fact they don’t like “Jabroni Fake News” websites.

Kaci Lennox backstage interview with Konnan regarding the situation with Salina de la Renta. Low Ki approaches him and implies that he shouldn’t try to do what he did in other companies.

Falls Count Anywhere MLW Middleweight Championship Match: Joey Janela w/ Aria Blake vs MJF

Right off the Konnan interview we see Janela with a referee walking around backstage, and he finds MJF in a bathroom, beginning the match.

They work down some steps and into the bar area with some awkward spots and strikes. Janela gets the advantage at some point but MJF smartly uses Aria Blake as a human shield to swing the momentum. After the commercial break Janela lands a Double Footstomp from the apron through a chair on MJF’s chest.

Janela shares a swig of beer with a fan and then takes MJF up the ramp to finish the match. After countering a move from MJF with a Back Body Drop, he asks Aria for a kiss before ending the match. Aria plays a little coy, but then clocks Janela with a bottle, helping MJF retain. So Janela gets screwed and well…I guess MJF does too, just a different kind.

Sometimes @MLW is romantic. #MLWFusion pic.twitter.com/OJkLMyQsCL

— Court Bauer (@courtbauer) August 11, 2018

Winner: MJF via Aria Blake heel turn hitting Janela with a bottle

Rating: ** 1/2

Sami Callihan backstage promo revealing the 4th member of his War Games team, Jimmy Havoc. Havoc plays a little hardball telling him he’s “gotta sell him”, but a few jokes about Mexico and an agreement to go to the bar for some Stella Artois leads us to believe he’s as good as in.

Team Filthy and Stud Stable have words that seem to lead to Tom Lawlor accepting a Dojo Fight. 

Going back to Konnan, Rey Fenix and Pentagon come out with their contracts. Konnan asks him if they saw what he said, and they rip up their contracts and walk off laughing with Konnan.

Watch #MLWFusion on https://t.co/m6LhBk9Pw3 beginning at 6:05 p.m. ET tonight and find out more about this interaction between @PENTAELZEROM / @ReyFenixMx and @Konnan5150 pic.twitter.com/JOrQS7dlDQ

— Major League Wrestling (@MLW) August 11, 2018

Kevin Sullivan has words with Brian Pillman Jr after seeing what the Hart Foundation was saying.  Sullivan is trying to steer Pillman away from Davey Boy and Teddy, but Brian says they understand the pressure that he’s under so he respects them.

John Hennigan vs Teddy Hart

Teddy Hart being back in a full time promotion is definitely something. Not sure what, since he tends to be unpredictable, but it’s kind of nice. Hennigan is under another name in another promotion, so this should be good.

Both guys play to the crowd often, and the crowd is split. But it should be mentioned that this is the most alive I’ve heard the crowd since the debut episode. Teddy hits some crazy moves nearly immediately as he counters Hennigan trying to bring him back in from the apron, into a Twisting Cutter. You saw both guys trying their damnedest since the winner of this match gets a shot at Low Ki next week.

.@TeddyHartIsBACK spikes John
Hennigan with the 🇨🇦 Destroyer!!#beINSPORTS #MLWFusion 🇺🇸
(Watch over on https://t.co/xMW7ZGwR3A) pic.twitter.com/5Okiosl8iQ

— FLIP? (@FlippyPro) August 11, 2018

A Code Red into a Top Turnbuckle Assisted Canadian Destroyer, gives Hart a near fall. After that he goes for a few Springboard Moonsaults, but Hennigan eventually gets the knees up and begins his flurry. He pulls off the Sliding Middle Rope German Suplex, right into Starship Pain for only 2. Hennigan then tries Countdown for Impact (That Parkour Elbow Drop), but misses. Hart hits a violent looking Lung Blower, followed by a Top Rope Twisting Asai Moonsault and then a Middle Rope Asai Moonsault, again only for 2.

Each competitor has had words with the referee during this match, but Hart shoots Hennigan into the corner to get it reversed. Hart tries to pop over Hennigan possibly for a Victory Roll or Code Red again, but Johnny sits down and hooks a Double Leg Cradle to steal the win.

Winner: Hennigan via Double Leg Cradle

Rating: **** 1/4

Thoughts:

Really good wrestling and enough story telling to keep me happy. This type of episode is the perfect balance in my opinion. Moved along 3 big stories with Konnan, Team Filthy and War Games. As well as telling stories in matches with Aria Blake’s heel turn, Kotto’s heart and Teddy Hart’s road to redemption.

This was probably my favorite episode of MLW Fusion to date, damn good job.