Csonka’s MLW Fusion Review 8.17.18

Csonka’s MLW Fusion Review 8.17.18

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– The Hart Foundation defeated ACH & Rich Swann @ 10:10 via pin [**½]
– MLW Title Match: Champion Low Ki defeated John Hennigan @ 14:15 via pin [***]

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– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

– In memory of Jim Neidhart.

The Hart Foundation (Smith & Hart) w/Pillman vs. ACH & Rich Swann: Swann & ACH have a tag title match next week. The Hart Foundation has the Canadian Anthem played before the match. Smith immediately overpowers ACH. Smith shoves him several times, and challenges ACH to charge him. Instead, ACH takes out the knee with a dropkick. Smith cuts him off and tags Hart in. Swann tags in as well. They lock up and Hart immediately grounds things, and starts working the arm. Hart hits a lucha style arm drag, but Swann picks up the pace and hits a dropkick. Hart cuts him off and hits a snap slam for 2. Hart follows with a code red and Smith dumps ACH. Smith then tosses Swann over the top and onto ACH. Post break, and Swann cuts off Hart up top. ACH knocks Smith to the floor, Swann RANAs Hart off the top and then hits a frog splash for 2 as Smith makes the save. ACH looks for a sharpshooter, Pillman distracts him, but ACH locks it on anyway until Smith makes the save. Swann up top, Pillman low blows him, and Hart hits the electric chair/lumbar check for the win. The Hart Foundation defeated ACH & Rich Swann @ 10:10 via pin [**½] this was a solid match, but the Hart Foundation didn’t shine at all. Unless they get added to next week’s tag title match, it was silly of them to win here. If you wanted them to win a debut and impress, have them kill some small dudes. Also, he’s early in his run, but Brian Pillman Jr. feels like he’s doing nothing more than a tribute act to his father. Which I appreciate, but he needs to find his own identity.

– The hype War Games, and Abyss has joined Sami’s War Games Team. Sami & crew attack team Strickland until Tommy Dreamer arrives to make the save.

– Konnan cuts a promo about getting Fenix & Pentagon to leave Salina and her shitty contracts

Team Filthy & The Stud Stable’s Dojo Fight: The Stud Stable arrives at the dojo and even brought a referee with him. It’s Hager, the Dirty Blondes, and Parrow. Hager talks shit, but it will be Parrow fighting Lawlor. Lawlor keeps it MMA style, grounds Parrow until Parrow overpowers him and repeatedly slams him to the cage. Lawlor jumps up, grabs a pipe, and hits a RANA on Parrow before working a kimura. Parrow taps. The Stud Stable bails and attacks Seth Petruzelli after they locked Lawlor in the cage. It was fine, a nice change of pace angle, but it didn’t make me want to see a match or anything, despite the fact that I really like Lawlor.

– Seth Petruzelli has been transported to a local medical facility.

MLW Champion Low Ki vs. John Hennigan: Hennigan comes in with his ribs taped up following the attack by Sami & His goons; Low Ki is actually wearing regular gear. They lock up work into some back and forth until Ki locks on a hanging arm bar in the ropes. Hennigan now grounds things, and starts working the knee and grounding Ki. Ki escapes, they lock up and Ki then grounds things with a head scissors. Hennigan escapes, but Ki takes him back down and looks for an arm bar. Ki then locks on a guillotine, but Hennigan makes the ropes. Ki now lays in kicks, follows with a head butt and then connects with strikes. Hennigan now cuts him off with a back breaker and follows with a Russian leg sweep for 2. The enziguri follows, but Ki cuts off the springboard by kicking out Hennigan’s legs. Post break, and Low Ki works the abdominal stretch. Hennigan escapes, hits a spin kick and follows with strikes. The sliding German follows and Hennigan heads up top has to roll through on the elbow, but connects with a disaster kick for 2. Hennigan back up top and Ki crotches him, follows him up and locks on a hanging dragon sleeper in the tree of WHOA. Ki now rips off Hennigan’s rib wrapping, but Hennigan hits a standing Spanish fly (dumping Ki onto his head) for 2. Hennigan then misses starship pain and Ki hits the top rope double stomp for 2. Ki follows with a head kick for the win. Champion Low Ki defeated John Hennigan @ 14:15 via pin [***] They tried to present something different from what you’d expect out of these two, and while it was a good match overall, there’s also something to be said in regards to playing the hits/doing what works and playing to your audience properly. No one wanted to see Ki & Hennigan work holds and grapple in work that went absolutely nowhere. There was very little in terms of their signature stuff, and the crowd wasn’t very engaged as the match really lacked in terms of creating any drama in regards to a possible title change. It was disappointing.

– NEXT WEEK: Simon Gotch & Fred Yehi vs. The Dirty Blondes, Pentagon & Fenix defend against ACH & Rich Swann

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

6.2

The final score: review Average

The 411

This week’s episode of MLW Fusion was a solid show, but a downgrade compared to last week’s show. The opener was solid, but far from a great outing from the Hart Foundation. The dojo challenge was ok, and extended the feud between the two stables, leading to a match next week. The main event was good but really felt as if it was missing something.