MLW Fusion Results, Highlights, and Grades: Ki Crushes Daga
Taskmaster Ready To Teach
After a recap of Brian Pillman Jr taking Kevin Sullivan out backstage weeks ago, Kevin Sullivan is on the phone with Tony Schiavone with an update.
Sullivan tells Tony that he’s had concussions in the past but the one he received at the hands of The Hart Foundation is the worst he’s ever had in his career and is still lingering with him today.
Sullivan is no longer sure if there was ever any good in Brian Pillman Jr, speculating that the plan all along was to lure The Taskmaster into a false sense of security before leaving him beaten and bloodied.
He leaves a lasting statement for Pillman before wrapping up the call: “Brian, I’m going to have to teach you a lesson.” Kevin Sullivan is coming for revenge on Pillman, Hart and Smith – but who could he bring along with him to do the handiwork?
Grade: Good. I’m so looking forward to where this goes next and I’m happy to see the storyline pick up again.
This may be the MLW storyline I’m most interested in right now. I’ve enjoyed Pillman from what I’ve seen so far and I love a good revenge story, especially when you sprinkle in the intrigue of who Sullivan could bring to Major League Wrestling to even the odds against The Hart Foundation.
Sullivan made it clear that he cared deeply for Pillman Jr and that what happens next will pain him, but the pain Sullivan feels for his retribution may pale in comparison to what Pillman and his partners will feel.
Konnan’s Lucha Invasion
With Kaci Lennox backstage, Konnan has the revelation that Salina de la Renta is the only reason Low Ki is still the MLW World Heavyweight Champion. Had it not been for her removing the mask from Fenix a few weeks back, the result would have been vastly different.
Konnan promises that he’ll make sure de la Renta and her band of goons don’t have an impact on the outcome of tonight’s main event. Tonight, Daga makes a name for himself and leaves as MLW World Heavyweight Champion.
Grade: Good. A nice lead-in to the main event with Konnan laying out his intentions.
With the main event looming, Konnan is starting to see the pieces of the Promociones Dorado puzzle come together. He understands how de la Renta and her crew work and is adamant about making sure that the fight tonight will be clean with a clear winner. Can Konnan make good on his promise to deliver a new MLW World Heavyweight Champion?
MLW World Heavyweight Title: Low Ki vs Daga
By now, the story that came out in the wake of this match is pretty well-known by everybody. In case you’ve been living under an indie wrestling rock the past month or so, Low Ki nearly ripped Daga’s ear off during this match. With that in mind, it was hard to watch the match and simply enjoy it for what it was when you know at some point Daga’s ear is going to absolutely explode and you’re just waiting for it to happen.
Nonetheless, Ki and Daga absolutely brutalized each other in the ring and out as Daga sought to make waves by becoming the MLW World Heavyweight Champion on his first night in the company. The two started off well enough with some standing submissions and tests of strength in the ring, but after backing the champion into a corner and breaking with a slap to the chest, Ki’s attitude changed.
After another lock up in the center, Ki would break the connection and begin laying into Daga’s chest with chops as things instantly became more physical. Daga would use his speed to dodge the champion before dropkicking him to the floor where the fight continued with Low Ki stealing the advantage away.
Sitting Daga against the corner of the steel barricade, Ki connected with a huge dropkick to the face of Daga sending the challenger into the railing and the railing swinging into the crowd.
Daga would eventually fight his way back, but as he looked to capitalize on his efforts to defeat the champion, Ricky Martinez would make his presence known at ringside to threaten Konnan. The distraction would prove enough to pull the attention of both the referee and Daga away from the action giving Low Ki the opportunity to grab Daga’s ear and simply rip it apart.
With Daga’s exploded cauliflower ear spilling blood all over the ring, Low Ki would ascend to the top rope and connect with a double stomp to the back to pick up the three count in another successful title defense.
Grade: Good, Not Great. A solid match but I’m not sure if they meshed completely at all points.
More than anything, this match continues the story of Konnan attempting to knock Salina de la Renta off of her perch as the most powerful person in MLW. Konnan has led a string of luchador challengers to Low Ki, but the champion has shut every single one of them down.
The door seems open for a Low Ki/Daga rematch down the line with the ear controversy, but it remains to be seen if Ki will make it past Shane Strickland and Tom Lawlor in the coming weeks and months on Fusion. For now, de la Renta and Ki remain on top with no sign of anyone to shut them down.
After the match, Kaci Lennox reminded Low Ki of Tom Lawlor’s intention to take the MLW World Heavyweight Title at Superfight February 2 in Philadelphia. Ki calls Lawlor a “wanna-be pro-wrestler” and threatens that everybody in MLW will respect his reign as champion.