MLW on Vice TV. Big moment and opportunity for MLW. Can they deliver?
Nice video package to welcome us to Fightland.
Can barely hear the commentators welcome us to the show over the generic intro music
Four-Way Match for the MLW World Middleweight Championship: Myron Reed (c) vs. Aramis vs. Arez vs. Tajiri
Everyone in the ring and no intros for anyone. Not smart given the big stage they are on. Everyone shakes Tajiri's hand but Arez uses it to jump Tajiri. Everyone goes for fancy lucha spots and quick covers but the ring is too small for 4 guys in the ring at the same time. Aramis and Arez get alone in the ring and do a bunch of moves while Tajiri and Reed hang out outside. Reed takes out both men eventually before Tajiri comes in and takes everyone out with kicks. Action spills to the outside and all the young guys do dives and we go to commercial.
We are back and everyone is laying on the floor as the fans chant MLW. Reed hits a flying Ace Crusher over the top rope to the floor on Aramis. Rolls him in and hits a 450 but Tajiri breaks it up and hits a Brainbuster. Arez and Tajiri battle back and forth. Aramis back in and gets put in the Taranchula and Arez kicks him. Just more chaos as Arez and Aramis battle in the ring before hitting dives on the floor onto Tajiri and Reed. Aramis hits a Spanish Fly on the floor. But Arez hits a Made in Japan in the ring for a near-fall. Arez hits a splash but Reed catches him with a cutter. Tajiri breaks it up and goes back and forth with Reed. Referee gets bumped and Tajiri mists Reed. Buzzsaw Kick and Tajiri is the new champion. This was a crazy spot fest but had no flow at all. Guys in and out and the action wasn't all that special. Tajiri winning was nice but he didn't do much all match. Not a great first impression from MLW.
**1/4
Mads Krugger cuts a promo on Hammerstone and we see backstage footage of CONTRA attacking backstage attendants as they look for Hammerstone.
We are back and commentary hypes up next week's show headlined by Tom Lawlor vs. Davey Richards in a First Round Match in the Opera Cup. Also Will Ospreay coming to MLW. That's cool.
We get a bunch of talking heads including Uncle Dave. They talk about WWE possibly being for sale. WHY THE FUCK IS MLW WASTING TV TIME TO TALK ABOUT WWE?!
And now they are talking about AEW?! What the fuck is the point of this?! This is seriously the biggest waste of TV time I have ever seen! They talk about Ospreay coming into MLW. Glad they finally talk about SOMETHING MLW related. I can not get over how bad this segment was. MLW just threw away valuable TV on this bullshit.
CONTRA looks for Hammerstone as the roster jumps them and all get locked behind a door to prevent any interference in the World Title match.
No DQ Champion vs. Champion Match: MLW World Champion Jacob Fatu vs. MLW National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone
They announce this match will be No DQ so we are guaranteed a winner and double champion. Hammerstone in big match white gear. Fatu charges at the bell, but Hammerstone backs him into the corner and uses his power. Mixed reaction for Hammerstone. Fatu replies with chops and a splash in the corner. A pair belly to belly's by Hammerstone and he clotheslines Fatu out only for him to land on his feet. Fatu runs him into the corner and lights him up with chops. Fatu gets a chant by the fans. Fatu works him over and they brawl to the floor. Moonsault off the guardrail! That's insane for a man the size of Fatu. Fatu hits a Piledriver on the apron as we go to commercial.
We are back as Hammerstone can barely stand right now. Fatu runs him into a chair in the corner. Fatu hits a coast to coast dropkick with a chair into Hammerstone! Holy fuck! Only 2! We get dueling chants for both men. Hammerstone hits a side Suplex to get an opening. Exploder into the corner by Hammerstone. Hammerstone fires up and lays in strikes before a bicycle kick for a near-fall. German suplex! And a powerbomb (Hammerstone doesn't QUITE get Fatu all the way up for it) for 2 as we suddenly go to commercial. Weird spot for that as the match was firing on a cylinders.
We are back and Fatu hits a pop-up Samoan drop and a Swanton. Hammerstone rolls to the floor. Fatu suicide dives into him! Hammerstone knocks Fatu off the apron as he comes in and hits a dive off the top onto him. Hammerstone to the top and hits a nice missile dropkick. Both men are back up and face to face. Back and forth strikes from both men. Hammerstone tries to headbutt a Samoan. Bad move. Multiple headbutts, but Hammerstone responds with clotheslines. Joseph grabs Hammerstone's leg. Fatu clotheslines him over the top. Joseph uses his spike and hits Hammerstone in the throat. Fatu sets up a table in the ring as Hammerstone is down selling. Fatu puts him on the table and covers him with the CONTRA flag. Springboard Moonsault through the table for 2! Hammerstone fires up and does his best Hogan impression to not much of a pop. Hammerstone hits a big powerslam and a TKO for 3. Very flat finish but this match was good. Fatu is so impressive and needs to be in a bigger company. Hammerstone is impressive but I question him as a babyface. Not the home run match MLW needed tonight but the moment was still good.
***1/2
Hammerstone celebrates as we close out the night.
MLW had a chance to deliver here tonight and well... they didn't. The opening 4 way match was a hot mess of action with no real flow. The AWFUL talking heads segment that I will never understand how it was allowed to air on television. However, MLW did have a solid main event but it was far from the classic that MLW built it up to be. Hammerstone's big crowning moment was nice and Fatu looked super impressive but overall I don't see this show making anyone a new fan of the company and I don't see a reason for me to jump back into MLW except for the occasional big match. Shame.
Follow me on Twitter @AlexKalil for more thoughts and opinions.
Comments