MLW Fusion #121 2/10/2021

MLW Fusion #121 2/10/2021

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2021/02/mlw-fusion-120-232021.html

Laredo Kid and Lio Rush did some trash talking to start the show. Kid said he wants to be double champ and Rush said he is the middleweight champ and nobody can do anything about it. The announcers pushed it as a once in a lifetime title for title match.

ACH vs Brian Pillman Jr.

ACH's ribs are taped up from the Fatu match a couple of weeks ago. Team Filthy came out on the stage. Pillman cartwheeled out of a wristlock then rolled on his back and tapped him with a foot. ACH hit a nice leg lariat. ACH put a surfboard on Pillman but he hit the ropes pretty fast after. Pillman hit a powerslam for 2. ACH leg sweeped him and dropkicked him. They traded some forearms and Pillman hit some rather weak strikes.

Pillman was sitting on the top and ACH did a springboard flip kick then hit a brainbuster to win. I have never seen a kick like that before and that was very cool. This match didn't really gel for some reason.

Team Filthy surrounded the ring on ACH then 3v1'd him. The Von Erich's then came in for the save and all six brawled until Team Filthy ran for it.

ACH and The Von Erich's did a promo. They said not to mess with Texas and they must stick together.

Filthy Island is next week.

Savio Vega did a promo in reference to Selena de la Renta's offer to buy it. He said business in Puerto Rico was tough but there is no price tag on IWA Puerto Rico. He said it is made for the fans and not for people to buy.

Zenshi vs Calvin Tankman

Tankman hasn't been around since possibly December. Zenshi did a leg sweep but Tankman wasn't phased. Zenshi flipped around and did a handspring into a dropkick. Zenshi hit some dropkicks but then took one from Tankman. Tankman hit a standing spinebuster for 2. Tankman threw Zen with a hiptoss. Zen jumped on Tankman but he caught him and powerbombed him. Tankman did a running SSP but Zenshi moved then hits his own for 2.

Tankman sits up with Zenshi on him and Contra's Krugger interrupted for a second. Tankman hit a big pounce on Zenshi. Tankman hit a big clothesline which Zenshi sold well but it was only for 2. Zenshi did a cartwheel kick and a handspring into a pele kick. Zenshi hit a top rope 619 and did a 450 on a standing Tankman, but landed on his feet and took the Tankman Driver. Tankman then won it in a good big man vs little man match with both guys looking good here.

They showed clips from the Baklei Brawl. Hammerstone suffered a concussion during it. Contra did a promo. Their hype man said Hammerstone had met his demise and Injustice will soon too.

They played some clips from the past and showed Contra taking out Kotto Brazil, who was a partner of Injustice but was retired by them.

 Lio Rush as interviewed in a parking lot. Rush said tonight's match was a huge oppurtunity...for Kid, not him. He said he would win and gave the camera man $20 to get his bag. 

Alicia Atout interviewed Richard Holliday. She said he was the self-proclaimed Carribean champ which he didn't like. Alicia wanted to know why the NBA ref was involved in that match. Richard said he was a friend and a global citizen, but that had nothing to do with it. Holliday said he didn't know about last minute betting on him. Holliday said he didn't know about the ref gatekeeping the corner and said there are only 4 corners. Richard said the interview was over and she'd be hearing from his lawyer.

We had the Top 10 rankings. Ki was at #3, Lawlor was at #2 and Hammerstone is still at #1.

Contra Unit (Daivari and Simon Gotch) vs Injustice (Myron Reed and Jordan Oliver)

Fatu jumped Injustice as they entered. The refs came up to break up the brawl and Reed did a flip tope onto Contra. Reed did a superkick onto Fatu and Oliver hit a 2nd rope cutter. Oliver yelled into the camera that he wants "that f**king belt", which they did not bleep out.

Tom Lawlor's Filthy Island Control Center - They said Rocky Romero will be on the show and Dominic Garrini will face Mauna Loa. Selina de la Renta said the offer to Savio Vega was not optional and Vega will pay the price. She said Mil Muertes will be coming after him and will be made into a king of death against him. She said Vega will meet Muertes in an Aztec Jungle Fight. Kimg Mo meets Low-Ki in a no halls barred match.

MLW Middleweight Title vs AAA Cruiserweight Title - Lio Rush vs Laredo Kid

I think they did a pretty good job with this one and it is cool to see a rare interpromotional title vs title match. They have about 14 minutes left for this. Rush runs the ropes but pauses before running into Kid and goes to another rope. They both try to dropkick each other.

Kid chases Rush on the outside. Kid hits a higher angle side slam than usual and slows down Rush. Kid is on the apron and Rush handsprings the ropes to kick him off. Rush hits a big lariat on Kid for 2. Rush euro uppercuts him to the back of the head. Rush ducked a crossbody off the 2nd rope and enzugiri'd him. Rush missed a uraken and took a hard slap.

Kid then michinoku drivered him. Kid moonsaulted off the first and second ropes for 2. Kid tied up Rush with a reverse figure four then did a jumping neckbreaker to him. Rush bounced off the bottom rope into a stunner and sold his leg then hit a big frog splash from the top to win. This was disappointing. It was slow and they didn't do any of the flying or high speed wrestling you would expect. This also only ended up going 10:25 which would have been fine, but they worked it like a 20 minute match.

Rush wanted to know what time it was after and said it was rush hour. He said the Middlweight title belongs to him and it will stay with him. He said Laredo Kid failed like everyone else who steps up to him. Rush said he will be called the greatest wrestler in the world.

Overall thoughts: Kind of a disappointing episode. Only Tankman/Zenshi delivered and like a lot of big MLW matches, the final product doesn't meet the hype.