Csonka’s MLW: Fusion Review 4.20.18

Csonka’s MLW: Fusion Review 4.20.18

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Austin Aries defeated ACH @ 17:35 via pin [***½]
– Barrington Hughes defeated Chico Adams @ 0:10 via pin [NR]
– #1 Contender’s Match: Pentagon defeated Rey Fenix @ 17:11 via pin [***½]

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– Rich Bocchini and Tony Schiavone are on commentary. They welcome us to the show.

Austin Aries vs. ACH: We get a short screen in screen promo from ACH. Ar5ies has his pile of belts with him. They shake hands and here we go. They lock up, work to the corner and we get a clean break. Aries takes things to the ground, ACH works back to his feet and Aries quickly counters and takes him back down, covering for 2. Aries goes for the last chancery, but ACH escapes and powders. Back in and Aries blocks a takedown, but ACH hits a shoulder tackle. He picks up the pace, and takes control with arm drags. Aries now its arm drags and a basement dropkick. Aries now attacks the taped up ribs of ACH, ACH fires back with a kick and dropkick for 2. He follows with a knee drop for 2. More knee drops follow, and ACH then follows with chops. ACH now takes Aries to the floor with a dropkick. Aries blocks the PK and works him over on the floor. Aries follows with a senton atomico and that gets 2. He continues to work over the ribs of ACH, and hits the elbow off the second rope, covering for 2. Aries works a stump puller variation, but ACH counters, rolling him up for 2. Aries stays focused on the ribs and then hits a neck breaker in the ropes. Aries then misses the missile dropkick. ACH starts to fire up, hits a dropkick and then a clothesline. He heads up top, and the big splash misses. ACH counters the dropkick and hits a slingshot cutter for 2. Aries fights off the brainbuster, and hits the pendulum elbow for 2. ACH counters out of a brainbuster, and then follows with an apron PK. Back in and ACH up top, and hits the big splash for a good near fall. Aries boxes the ears, lays in strikes, but ACH levels him with a lariat for a really good near fall. They work to the apron. And Aries hit an apron DVD. Back in and ACH gets a cradle and then stomps on Aries. The 450 eats knees and Aries cradle shim for 2. The last chancery is applied, but ACH gets the ropes. Aries hits the rolling forearm and corner dropkick, the brainbuster finally puts ACH away. Austin Aries defeated ACH @ 17:35 via pin [***½] This was a very good back and forth match, that got better the longer it went on. Starting off the series with a 17-minute match with no commercial breaks was a good way to kick off the debut show.

– We get a Jimmy Havoc promo. He promises to bring blood to MLW.

Barrington Hughes vs. Chico Adams: Hughes is a 400 plus pound man known as the Caramel Colossus. Hughes hits a uranage and wins immediately. Barrington Hughes defeated Chico Adams @ 0:10 via pin [NR] SQUASH

Pentagon vs. Rey Fenix: The winner here gets a shot against MLW champion Shane Strickland. Salina de la Renta is out with Pentagon. You can “research” her at this link. This is a battle of brothers here. Pentagon takes off his glove, and then lays in kicks and they trade pin attempts. They pick up the pace; trading superkicks and we get a double down. Fenix hits a back elbow and hits a cool lucha arm drag. They brawl to the floor; Fenix fights him off and then hits a suicide dive. Fenix follows with kicks, and then posts Pentagon. Back in and Pentagon cuts off the springboard attempt with a dropkick. Pentagon follows with leg kicks. And back to he floor they go. Pentagon lays in shotgun like chops, and the crowd wants more. He delivers more chops, but Fenix moves and Pentagon chops the post. He’s pissed and lays in leg kicks after stealing a fan’s hat and wearing it. Fenix runs off of the apron and hits a RANA, sending Pentagon into the crowd. Pentagon fires back with a superkick, and back in we go. Fenix fires up with a series of kicks, and then hits a springboard missile dropkick for 2. Fenix heads up top, but gets crotched, and Pentagon then hits a backstabber for 2. Post break, and Pentagon hits sling blades, covering for 2. Fenix now fires back with kicks, and hits a cutter for 2. Fenix up top, Pentagon cuts him off and now he heads up top. He pulls Fenix up with him and Fenix counters with a Spanish fly for a good near fall. Pentagon now hits the powerbomb across the knee, covering for 2. Pentagon follows with a destroyer, again, covering for 2. They now trade strikes from their knees and then to their feet. Pentagon then hits a sick pop up powerbomb, and does the arm break spot. The fear factor follows for the win. Pentagon defeated Rey Fenix @ 17:11 via pin [***½] This was another very good match, these two have worked with and against each other so much that things have to go very wrong for them not to have a high quality match. They kept a good pace, the crowd was into it the entire time, and it was just a ton of fun.

– They hug post match.

– Next week, MLW Champion Shane Strickland faces Jimmy Havoc.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.5

The final score: review Good

The 411

This was a really good and strong debut for MLW TV. Rich Bocchini and Tony Schiavone are a good commentary team, the production looks good and there was no bullshit; this was just a good wrestling show featuring some fun talents. MLW showed a lot of potential with the show and made me look forward to their next show.