MLW Fusion Results, Highlights, and Grades: September 7, 2018
Credit: MLW.com
The action emanates from New York City as the last batch of matches from the Battle Riot taping hit the air with the in-ring debuts of PCO, Homicide, Rey Horus, Drago, and Richard Holliday (aside from their appearances in the Battle Riot match). Can the Lucha Bros fend off another pair of challengers when they defend their MLW World Tag Team Titles against Horus and Drago?
MLW War Games is set to air next week on Fusion, but this week is all about the MLW World Tag Team Titles as Fenix and Pentagon continue to add names to the list of those left in their wake as they continue to dominate the tag team division. They aren’t the only ones looking to carve out their legacies in MLW, though, as we see the singles debuts of PCO, Homicide, and Richard Holliday. This week’s matches were taped back in July when MLW presented Battle Riot from New York City, so there isn’t a ton of storyline progression here – but a solid wrestling show nonetheless.
Fred Yehi vs Richard Holliday
Holliday is a trainee of Paul Roma with just a few years of experience under his belt against the more-experienced Yehi who now has “Filthy” Tom Lawlor and Simon Gotch at his side as a part of Team Filthy. The experience gap shows here, as Tony Schiavone and Matt Striker point out on commentary from time to time.
As a first look at Holliday, this was just fine. He’s rough around the edges and it feels like everything he’s doing is at about half-speed, but Yehi is able to lead him along to a match that is completely average but not bad at all. Holliday certainly has the ability and doesn’t look bad or dangerous out there at all, but something about him just lacks a certain “oomph” that would push him to the next level.
Being in the ring with someone who has a bit more of a unique look and personality probably doesn’t help Holliday here, either, who may be the default model for the CAW in WWE 2K19. Holliday, who is billed as “The Most Marketable Man”, has some good facials out there and hits a nice spinning vertical suplex/neckbreaker but is mostly kept at bay by Yehi. Yehi picks up the win with a vicious Koji Clutch that he couples with hammer-fisting Holliday in the face.
Grade: Fine. Nothing extraordinary and nothing bad, just a middle-of-the-road match to start things off and give the MLW audience their first glimpse at Holliday.
Holliday is the 2018 ECWA Super 8 tournament winner and I think he’ll have a lot more to show in MLW if given the chance. If you’re interested in a quick look at him where he gets to showcase a bit more of his in-ring style and personality, check out this match against RJ Rude from Limitless Wrestling: