Csonka’s MLW: Fusion Review 5.25.18

Csonka’s MLW: Fusion Review 5.25.18 (Episode Six)

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Santana Garrett defeated Chelsea Green @ 7:55 via pin [**½]
– Simon Gotch’s Open Challenge: Simon Gotch defeated Danny Santiago @ 0:45 via pin [NR]
– MLW Title Match: Champion Shane Strickland defeated Pentagon @ 21:58 via pin [***¼]

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– You can check out a review of last week’s show at this link.

– Barrington Hughes arrives with Champion Shane Strickland. Salina de la Renta arrives and says Strickland’s car isn’t the only thing he has on rental (referring to the MLW championship).

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

Santana Garrett vs. Chelsea Green: They shake hands and we’re friends to begin. Garrett looks to ground the action, Green quickly counters back as they work some standing switches. They pick up the pace, working some nice counters and into a stand off. Green slaps Garrett, ending the niceties. Garret cuts her off, cradling Green for 2. Green cuts her off with knee strikes, covering for 2. Green follows with clubbing strikes as she reverts a bit to Laurel Van Mess mode once her makeup gets smeared. Green works her over in the corner, repeatedly stomping Garret into the buckles. Green grounds the action, Garrett fires up and they trade strikes. They work to he apron and Green lays in kicks until Garrett cuts her off. Back in and Garrett hits a high cross off the top for 2. The back handspring elbow and Russian leg sweep gets 2. Green fights her off, heads up top, and hits the backstabber for 2. Garrett battles back with a DDT for the win. Santana Garrett defeated Chelsea Green @ 7:55 via pin [**½] This was the first televised ladies match for MLW, and it was a nice, clean, and solid back and forth match. Garrett has a ton of potential, and could easily be the star of their women’s division.

– Tom Lawlor cuts an insincere apology promo on Jimmy Havoc. He comes of as a spectacular asshole here.

Simon Gotch’s Open Challenge: Simon Gotch vs. Danny Santiago: Gotch is out with Team Filthy. If you last 5-minutes with him, you will be rewarded with $250. Danny Santiago arrives, wearing a gi. Santiago is a Capoeira guy. Gotch hits a suplex and Gotch piledriver for the win. Simon Gotch defeated Danny Santiago @ 0:45 via pin [NR] This was a fine little segment, continuing to cement team Filthy as complete assholes.

– Joey Janela & Aria Blake exit MJF’s locker room.

– MJF is interviewed, and he smells smoke. He finds domestic beer and a ruined locker room along with a used condom.

– We get a recap of the Pentagon vs. Strickland rivalry.

MLW Title Match: Champion Shane Strickland vs. Pentagon: Salina de la Renta is out with Pentagon. A mariachi band enters the ring and performs the Mexican National Anthem. Pentagon beat Fenix twice to earn the title shot. This is Strickland’s first title defense. Pentagon plays to the crowd, and Strickland attacks with strikes. They trade and Pentagon hits a superkick, but Strickland wipes him out with a running knee strike. To the floor they go, Strickland lays in strikes and is in control. they brawl into the crowd and then work back into the ring, where Strickland springboards into a superkick. Back to the floor they go as Pentagon lays in chops and chokes out Strickland with a cable. Pentagon then ties Strickland in the ropes and lays in chops. Pentagon lights him up as Strickland finally escapes. Post break, and Low Ki is sitting in the entrance way as Pentagon continues to control. He lays is wicked leg kicks, and covers for 2. Pentagon continues to punish Strickland with kicks, and then takes time to scare the ref. Strickland now fires back with knee strikes, and then lays in chops and rights. The 619 follows but Pentagon hits a superkick, but Strickland rebounds back with a cutter for 2. Pentagon cuts him off, going back to the kicks, and then attacks the arm but Strickland counters the arm break spot and looks for an arm bar. Pentagon escapes, and hits a pair of sling blades and they trade kicks and work into a double down. Post break, and they are back brawling on the floor. They work to the apron and Pentagon hits a destroyer! Back in and Pentagon covers for 2. Pentagon follows with kicks, just punishing Strickland. Strickland counters the superkick and hits a kick to he back of the head for 2. Pentagon then hits fear factor for a really good near fall. Pentagon gets a chair, sets it up, and takes Strickland up top. He follows, but Strickland fights him off and pentagon ends up in the chair. Strickland flies in gets caught with a powerbomb and package piledriver for 2. Salina argues with the ref, but Pentagon mists her by accident. Strickland hits the knee strike and top rope double stomp for the win. Champion Shane Strickland defeated Pentagon @ 21:58 via pin [***¼] This was an overall good match, but it felt lacking. It didn’t feel like an important title match or main event, and lacked intensify and honestly went a bit too long. They built this for weeks and hyped this as Strickland’s first title defense and tried to make it feel like a big time match, but it just never felt like that to me. I’ve seen a lot better from both.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

6.4

The final score: review Average

The 411

Week six of MLW: Fusion was another solid show as they introduced the ladies, continued building team Filthy as assholes, seemingly set a Janela vs. MJF feud, and gave us a good main event. MLW: Fusion continues to be a solid weekly hour of TV, but feels like it should be more.