wrestling / TV Reports
Winfree’s MLW: Fusion (Ep. 173) Review 7.13.23
Image Credit: MLW
Loading...Well everyone, it’s time to visit the land of MLW again. Never Say Never happened last Saturday and there are some unfortunate things to come out of that. Strapping up Alex Kane was disappointing, but not unexpected as Hammerstone might be wind up his time with MLW and hadn’t been seen too much lately. The truly unfortunate thing from Never Say Never was the conclusion to the “who’s bankrolling the Bomaye Fight Club” when it was revealed that human piece of garbage Don King was the money behind the group. I’d like to congratulate MLW on finding one of the few people in the promoter space genuinely and legitimately worse than Vince McMahon, that took some doing but by golly you did it. Never Say Never had several matches taped before the six match PPV so I imagine we’ll be drawing from some of that toing forward, as usual I’ll try and keep you appraised of what taping the matches come from.
First the post fight press conference with Alex Kane and Mr. Thomas. Kane claims the league stacked the deck against him but he knocks barriers down. He claims Hammerstone and people like him get mad when the rising generation is disrespectful, but he says Hammerstone still hasn’t earned his respect, then loses his place in the script and has to repeat himself to find it. He made Hammerstone tap out, and he’ll do it again if necessary. This is Alex Kane’s empire, and some pointless yelling “Bomaye” concludes that.
Tonight we’ll get the rematch between Delmi Exo and Taya Valkyrie, Delmi won the wXw women’s title at Never Say Never but the match in question with Taya was from the Battle Riot event. Also from Battle Riot Willie Mack vs. John Hennigan vs. Lio Rush for a shot at Alex Kane, plus Opera Cup action.
Taya Valkyrie talks in the back, tonight is the night and she’s spent the last 12 years carving her own path and is happy continue leaving a trail of bodies in her wake. She’s the craziest bitch Delmi will ever meet and she’s going to prove it tonight. That match is up first. Delmi Exo is in the back as well and gets an interview. She acknowledges the attack from Taya a few weeks ago, but she’s sending Taya back to Jacksonville tonight.
Match #1 – MLW Women’s Featherweight Title Match: (c) Delmi Exo vs. Taya Valkyrie w/ John Hennigan
Hennigan has joined commentary, I’m sure that wont become grating almost immediately. They go right into a hockey fight then Exo with some chops, Taya responds with some of her own. Back elbow from Exo then she drops Taya into the corner, and Taya heads out of the ring but Exo baseball slides her. Taya slams Exo into the ring post, then chops her. We’ve got some ringside brawling and Taya drops Exo on the apron and we get a cut. We don’t miss much as we come back to Exo rolling into the ring. Corner stomps from Taya. Taya with a snapmare then grabs a rest hold. Some leg kicks in the corner from Taya, then Taya tries to go Bodhran beating and gets to the full 10. Exo avoids a corner kick and hits a Backstabber. Bit of a flurry from Exo but Taya shoves her off only to eat a cross legged Fisherman’s suplex for 2. Some corner work from Exo then a basement dropkick to the head for a 2 count. Second rope dropkick from Exo, as commentary has spent about a full minute discussing feet. Taya tries to fight back, she trips up Exo and hits a Curb Stomp but poses rather than follow up. Next Taya stomps Exo into the corner and covers her for a near fall. Taya wants a Road to Valhalla but Exo counters into a Victory Roll for 2. Exo fights off another attempt and lands a kick, then tries a Delmi Driver but Hennigan is over here for a distraction now and Taya back drops out of the position. Exo shoves Taya into Hennigan on the apron then rolls her up for 2, but Taya lands a clothesline. Exo with a slow motion La Mistica and Taya taps out.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Delmi Exo retained the title in 8:59
Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: That felt really disjointed, a fair number of slow spots and Exo got a little slower and sloppier as the match went on. On the positive side there was some decent physicality here and Exo’s reign getting going by beating Taya twice is about as good an endorsement as MLW is capable of giving. Boy that commentary was poor though, Hennigan was an active detriment.
Exo celebrates with the belt after the match.
We get a recap of Mister Saint Laurent and Davey Boy Smith Jr. joining forces and turning on Microman. Oh and don’t forget that Matt Cardona is coming to MLW soon, courtesy of their ongoing Draft, which will be updated again tonight.
In the back our roving reporter is waiting to get a word with Court Bauer, who’s yelling on the phone in his office. Bauer comes out and tells everyone to never do business with Don King. Good life advice, pity it’s decades too late for all the boxers he financially abused.
Another recap of the 2023 roster Draft, Kevin Blackwood and Matt Cardona. Our new addition to the roster is O’Shay Edwards, who’s attached to the Bomaye Fight Club.
Our next match comes from the War Chamber event.
Match #2: Ken Broadway vs. TJ Crawford
They tie up, hit the ropes and Broadway gives a clean break but TJ chops him. They hit the ropes and Broadway lands a back elbow then a Japanese armdrag and a chop. More rope running and Broadway hits a tilt a whirl backbreaker for 1. TJ with a kick to the knee then he kicks the ropes into Broadway’s face and lands a running boot. Some corner work from TJ and a body shot then a slightly modified Ore Ga Taue for a 2 count. Some more strikes from TJ, but Broadway fights back with a discus clothesline and both men are down. Broadway with some punches now then a discus elbow and a spinning powerbomb then an elevated spinning Flatliner for a near fall. TJ blocks a running kick and snaps Broadway down by the arm. TJ kicks the mouthpiece out of Broadway then hits a dropkick and follows up with a sit out rotating butterfly slam but only a 2 count. Slap from Broadway, but TJ crushes him with a wheel kick then a bounce back Stunner, only 2. Broadway fights off a brainbuster and elbows the back of TJ’s head then lands a punt kick. Travis Plex from Broadway and that’ll do it.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Ken Broadway won in 6:00
Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: This one felt solid, both guys got to show off their stuff, it was pretty clean in terms of execution, all in all a good outing from both guys.
We’re reminded that Ricky Shane Page and Akira won the tag team titles at Never Say Never, so Akira is a double champ as he also holds the middleweight belt.
We get the announcements for the four man 2023 Opera Cup tournament. Davey Boy Smith Jr. will battle Calvin Tankman with Tracy Williams vs. Tony Deppen on the other side. Winners to square off for the Cup itself.
Mance Warner has joined commentary, because it lets him hit the pay window more than once. Let’s see if Mance is better on commentary than Hennigan.
Our main event comes from the Battle Riot event.
Match #3 – Triple Threat Match: Willie Mack vs. Lio Rush vs. John Hennigan w/ Sam Adonis
Some staring, then Hennigan yells at some people in the crowd. They all circle, tease a lock up then Lio and Hennigan both bail leaving Mack alone in the ring. Lio and Hennigan argue about who fights Mack, they waste time and Adonis distracts Mack allowing Hennigan and Rush to double team Mack. Some kicks from Hennigan then a splash from Lio. They kick Mack out of the ring, then Lio rolls up Hennigan for 2. Hennigan and Lio kick each other, then Lio avoids Hennigan before Hennigan lands a head kick. Lio fights back with kicks of his own and we get a stand off. Mack heads back into the ring and he throws Hennigan into Lio and scoop slams Hennigan. Mack then Pounces Lio but Hennigan hits him with a second rope kick. Hennigan wants Starship Pain, but takes too long and Mack blocks it then hits a Samoan Drop, and we get a cut. We come back just after Mack hit a kip up then he hits a standing moonsault to Hennigan but Lio breaks up the pin. Lio with some corner strikes to Mack then a boot but when he dives a Mack he’s caught, then Lio counters a Samoan drop into a Poisoned Rana for a near fall. Now Lio goes up top, but Mack avoids a splash and hits a pop up elbow strike to send Lio flying. Hennigan with some kicks to Mack, then a small package for 2. Mounted elbows from Hennigan then a chin lock. Hennigan hauls Mack up but Mack fights back with strikes but runs into a clothesline from Lio. Hennigan then superkicks Lio out of the picture. Mack avoids a corner attack and lays in chops to Hennigan. Hennigan tries a springboard kick but Mack kicks him out of the ring. Mack sets to dive but Lio trips him then hits heat seeking dives onto Hennigan and Mack. Lio up top, but misses a Frog Splash. Mack hits a Stunner but Hennigan is in, he blocks a Stunner and then Adonis gets involved only for Hennigan to run into him, then Mack with a bridging School Boy for the 3 count.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Willie Mack won in 8:45
Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: These three are all good quality wrestlers and this was about what you’d expect from them. Mack as the first challenger to Kane is a decent choice, Mack being a good veteran hand to help smooth out Kane’s still very evident rough edges and weaker spots.
Mack celebrates to close the episode.
