MLW Fusion: Jason Cade And Jimmy Yuta Steal the Show
Credit: MLW.com
Kevin Sullivan has been urging Brian Pillman Jr to separate himself from the toxicity of Teddy Hart and Davey Boy Smith Jr for weeks. Did Sullivan finally get through to Pillman, or will the son of The Loose Cannon forge a different path?
Teddy Hart was up to his regular antics again this week as he talked trash on his way to the ring to face Vandal Ortagun. As he circled the ring, Hart complained that MLW was trying to screw him but that the fans were still behind him. Hart is treading an interesting line here as he is attempting to appeal to the crowd by thanking them for appreciating and remembering him while rallying against those in power in MLW, and professional wrestling, for trying to hold him down and paint a certain narrative of him.
This all feels like it continues to speak to a theory I have that Hart is struggling to grow from where, and who, he was 15 years ago. With the same attitude, a similar move-set, and a familiar faction in a rebooted Hart Foundation, Teddy is floating somewhere between 2003 and 2018. We’ve still yet to see if he has what it takes to break out of the cycle he has perpetuated for himself and grow into a stronger, better, smarter performer.
Before the match, Teddy dumps water on the referee – Rich Bocchini and Tony Schiavone on commentary make note that this is the same official who Hart claims delivered a slow count for him in his match against John Hennigan. The reason for the discrimination against him, in Hart’s mind? An American referee who is biased against Canadians.
The match becomes a statement piece for Hart who actually does take his time and works a slowed-down pace against Ortagun. Hart finishes Vandal off with a pair of lung blowers – one out of an Electric Chair and the other out of a powerbomb – sandwiched around a cradle, hammerlock DDT. Hart could have grabbed the win after the DDT but pulled Ortagun up before the three to deliver more punishment.
Later in the show, cameras would catch up with the Hart Foundation backstage. Kevin Sullivan came onto the scene which immediately incited Hart who began to run down the legend. Sullivan urged Pillman to separate himself from Hart who has been “blackballed everywhere [he] went” throughout the years. Things turned physical with Hart sucker punching Sullivan all the while telling Pillman that he had to make a choice, right now, between Kevin Sullivan and The Hart Foundation.
After struggling with the decision briefly, Pillman would shatter his cane above the head of a beaten, bloodied, and slumped-down Sullivan in the corner of the room. To make sure the message was sent loud and clear, Pillman let Sullivan know that “I said I respect you, Kevin – I never said I liked you.”
Pillman has made the choice and has fully aligned himself with the attitude and stylings of Hart and Smith. I’m not so sure Pillman will be the spark that pulls Hart out of his slump, but rather could be what makes this faction one of the most unpredictable and dangerous in all of MLW.
Pillman is prepared to make his in-ring debut at War Games on September 6 against Vandal Ortagun, who Hart defeated earlier in the show. Pillman could be looking to make an example out of Ortagun by being even more dominant against Ortagun than Hart was tonight. War Games is going to be one to watch as it will set the tone for Pillman’s MLW in-ring career.