Andrew’s MLW Fusion Results & Ratings: 8.22.2026

Well I’m marginally delirious after two late nights of Clown Shows, but they were fun and MLW did have their second best show sine coming back last week…so it might be the delirium speaking, but I have some hope. The Good Brothers being the new champs, The Skyscrapers have to figure out what to do since we know Dyer is back in WWE, so we’ll have to see how he leaves. Maybe we’ll actually get a match with Zamaya instead of just a vignette.

Lots of things are in flux, but I’m pretty sure we have a Triple Threat for the Austin Aries’ Openweight Championship involving Mistico and Averno. So, let’s hope that doesn’t suck. The rest, I guess we’ll find out!

pic.twitter.com/pbLwzfISd4

— MLW (@MLW) August 22, 2026

Ratings:

• Lightning Match: Zamaya vs Angelica Risk: Zamaya wins via Death Valley Driver – Squash
• MLW Southern Crown Title: Trevor Lee vs Kushida: Trevor retains via Cave In – *** 1/4
• MLW National Openweight Championship: Averno vs Austin Aries (c) vs Mistico: Aries retains via Brainbuster – *** 1/2

Results:

Killer Kross opens the show to good crowd reaction as he takes in the adoration. I guess Kross was told to get “MLW Nation” over, I don’t really think everyone’s group of fans needs some tribalistic weirdo sweeping nickname. But Kross gets to the point, asks for someone to step up, The Skyscrapers walk up. Dijak starts putting over Dyer, then puts himself over, the crowd hates him, Bishop then grabs the mic, says he didn’t come here to talk, he came to fight. SO, Bishop attacks Kross, and they start brawling as Dyer and Dijak just stand back and watch security and the locker room try to separate the two big men. 

The separation happens, Kross seems pleased that Bishop stepped up and just muses over the new challenger as Dijak and Dyer collect Bishop and they walk away. 

Lightning Match: Zamaya vs Angelica Risk

Zamaya comes out with Throat Chops, throttles Angelica into the corner and she’s being deliberate but intense. Crossface Clubbing Blows from Zamaya, and she’s dominating another opponent. Angelica tries to fight back with Palm Strikes and Double Chops, Big Boot and a Tornillo after the boot, so Angelica has some space, but Zamaya just gets pissed off, Lariat turns Angelica inside out. Death Valley Driver and Zamaya wins.

I like Zamaya a lot, but I need to see her in better matches than squash crap. I want more competitive matches like against Priscilla Kelly, no more squashes. 

“I take over, bro.”

Matt Riddle (@SuperKingofBros) is ready for the Opera Cup, and he’s still insisting @realKILLERkross owes him a favor!

▶️ https://t.co/kOQorKYbGj pic.twitter.com/C8RKu5IYCC

— MLW (@MLW) August 22, 2026

MLW Southern Crown Title: Trevor Lee vs Kushida

Normally this would have potential, but since Kushida is in his heel era, it might just be current Contra Unit garbage.

We get a World of Sport start, mat and chain wrestling, both looking for Ankle picks and submissions, no strikes yet, just counters, Headscissors and Headlock take overs, Kushida is more of the polished technician but we go to commercial at a stalemate.

Another Danny Mcbride and Don Gato commercial, it’s ridiculous, but amazing.

Back to the show Drop Down, but Trevor catches Kushida with a Manhattan Drop, a few big Kicks, a Round Kick takes Kushida to the outside, Trevor wants a PK but Okumura steps in the way and stalls Trevor so Kushida can slide back in first to soften up the arm. Arm Kick, Twist and Knee Driven into the bicep, and Kushida keeps softening up the Hoverboard Lock target. Kushida throws Trevor to the outside, distracts the referee and Okumura gets in some cheap shots before throwing Trevor back in. Kushida ties up Trevor in some kind of Spinning Toe Hold or Indian Deathlock looking move. Kushida lets him up, lights him up with Chops, seats him in the corner like Shattered Dreams, but Kushida hits the John Woo Dropkick to make Trevor spill forward. Arrogant cover from Kushida is barely a 2, but Kushida starts big brothering Trevor. Trevor fights up, but Kushida kicks the bad arm, then drives it into the mat for a near fall.

Kushida with a Facelock, into a Bow and Arrow, really trying to weaken the upper body, Arm Wringers back to back but Trevor throws Forearms, rope run, Trevor ducks two of Kushida’s moves and lands an explosive Lariat. Splash into a Backbreaker for two, but Trevor transitions it to the Half Crab. Okumura helps Kushida get to the ropes. Trevor gets distracted, Roll-Up, but Trevor kicks out. Sloppy O’Connor Roll sequence into the ropes but the referee stops the pinfall because of the ropes. Kushida misses the Baseball Punch, they hit the Double Down Lariat spot. Trevor counters the kicks, but Kushida catches him with the Cartwheel Dropkick into a Moonsault for two, but as soon as Trevor kicks out, Kushida locks in the Armbar. Trevor tries to power out, Kushida runs the ropes gets caught with a Spanish Fly! Okumura gets on the apron to stop the count.

Kushida unties his belt, tries to use it to choke Trevor but Trevor Snapmares him away, PKs Okumura, double dodges and Cave In from Trevor for the win.

Not a bad match, but the Contra crap was distracting and took away a lot from a match that wasn’t awful. 

Josef Samael walks out with a new hoss. He looks like Jeff Cobb and Jacob Fatu had a baby. This random dude wipes out security, but then Ikuro Kwon and Big Damo come out to stop the extra security. Random dude continues to attack Trevor, and this is dumb because while I know it’s Brick Savage, they don’t name him. This was a major sin of AEW to randomly debut people that weren’t known, and who cares about him looking dominant if we can’t put a name with color by numbers heel hoss tactics. 

MLW National Openweight Championship: Averno vs Austin Aries (c) vs Mistico

Averno and Mistico is a historic rivalry between both CMLL and AAA. Averno was even offered a WWE contract to help Sin Cara, but when Sin Cara got injured, they changed their plans and never employed Averno. 

Mistico instantly walks out of the ring to try and get his two heel rivals to attack each other, but no one takes the bait. So they all have to start, Averno and Aries attack him but he turns things around and it turns into a Locomotion Cradle sequence just for flash pinfalls from everyone. No strikes again, just Cradles, Takeovers and Headscissors. Aries powders out of irritation, Averno attacks Mistico and Averno looks to take off Mistico’s mask…Aries just smiles and tells him to enjoy himself. Averno decides to distract the referee, so Aries starts clawing and then Bell Claps Mistico. Aries and Averno are ganging up on Mistico, Averno even bites Mistico’s foot. That’s…a special level of hatred.

Averno drops Mistico onto the timekeeper’s table, Aries gets involved, Averno grabs a foot, Aries kicks it then Dragon Screws Mistico for fun. Mistico is basically in a handicap match. Averno is working Mistico over on the outside, and Aries is in no rush to help anyone. Averno wants silence, removes some hand tape for a loud Chop. Back from commercial, Aries and Averno grab Mistico, crotch him against the post and then Wishbone him for giggles. They throw Mistico back in but Mistico is out of place so Aries has to kick him a few times to get him to scoot, Slingshot Senton, Averno and Aries go for another tandem attack but Mistico turns it around, crotches Aries levels Averno, hits a Gamengiri on Aries, but Aries fights as they’re up top, Bell Clap, Aries Sunset Flip but Mistico kicks out into the Last Chancery so Averno breaks it up. Then Aries breaks up Averno’s pinfall. So things finally explode, they posture, but Mistico is slow to the spot so they’re standing there too long. Mistico hits a Tiger Feint on Aries, Headscissors on Averno into the Rope Bounce Arm Drag as Averno grabs Mistico, Mistico goes for La Mistica but Averno powders out to avoid losing to the finish. Mistico dives on Averno, then Dives on Aries.

Mistico is in control, rolls in Averno, but Averno kicks out. Mistico plays to the crowd too long, they both look slow and lazy right now. Averno reverses a Whip but eats a Kick into a Code Red for two. La Mistica try again but Averno turns it into a Facebuster. Aries breaks it up, Neckbreaker in the ropes on Averno, but Averno kicks out. Averno counters the Brainbuster but turns it into Devil’s Wings, and Mistico breaks up the pinfall. Aries and Mistico go back and forth, Benadryller from Mistico, Power Slam from Averno, Discus Forearm from Aries and a Superkick, they’re all down. Springboard Double Back Elbow from Mistico, Plancha and bounces Aries off the post. Mistico collects Averno, goes for a pinfall but Averno kicks out. Roll-Up, no, Averno goes up, but Mistico cuts him off with an Enzuigiri. Spanish Fly that takes too long, but Mistico can’t get the cover, I guess too exhausted. The psychology is inconsistent. Mistico goes for a pinfall but Aries rips the mask off and then puts it on himself, Brainbuster on Averno and Aries retains!

The match could’ve been better if Mistico didn’t suck. Too slow, takes too long to execute spots…I have no clue why his crap works in Mexico. 

Overall Score: 6/10

No bad, but not good. Zamaya being in action is nice, but the Squash is unnecessary. Bishop stepping up to challenge Kross is something I personally enjoy, but it definitely felt weird and out of nowhere. Debuting a new Contra member without declaring a name or something, is moronic. Overbooking the Kushida match with hacker interference, lights going out and Okumura’s crippled ass trying to interfere is stupid. Then the main event had some decent moments, but again, Mistico is slow, and plays to the crowd when it doesn’t make sense. After you roll a guy in, he kicks out and then retreats to the corner…you land one kick and decide to play to the crowd. You ain’t Rob Van Dam or Miyu Yamashita, your kicks ain’t shit. Plus all the superhero stuff, after getting double teamed for 8 minutes he just pops into babyface fire and sells nothing. It’s pathetic watching him attempt to wrestle.

But I will say, the format of the show is more in line with last week. Keeping it simple and trying to put on some okay matches. So it was boring, the quality was lame, but at least the show itself felt to make more sense and feel less like trying to fit 2 hours of carny garbage into a 45 minute bag.