MLW Fusion Results, Highlights, and Grades: The Fall of the House of Swerve
Strickland Stays Silent
In a segment from earlier in the day, a gaggle of reporters tried to get the thoughts of Shane Strickland leading into his match with Low Ki for the World Heavyweight Title. Continuing to show his distaste for everybody around him, Strickland simply walked past the reporters without so much as acknowledging them.
Much like last week’s segment with Kaci Lennox attempting to interview Strickland backstage, there isn’t really enough here to grade on other than Strickland’s ability to walk and not speak – for which he receives shining marks in both categories. Though quick, the piece is important to the Saga of Swerve in helping to show Strickland as a bitter and dejected former champion looking to once again find his place in MLW.
Kotto Can (Get Jumped From Behind)
Following his win over Trey Miguel earlier in the night, Kotto Brazil offered up his thoughts on his coming World Middleweight Title ladder match. Or, at least, he attempted to.
Brazil began to speak about how MJF didn’t represent the championship the way it should be represented and was immediately attacked by Friedman from behind. The champion laid into Brazil in a tight corridor, bouncing him off of the wall before laying into him with a series of boots.
Once again, MJF delivered a blistering line before departing the scene: “News flash, bud – Kotto can’t!”
Grade: Good. MJF is coming unhinged heading into Miami.
MJF was very obviously overcompensating for something on commentary earlier in the night. By running down Brazil so loudly, it became clear that he was, in fact, threatened by the challenger for his World Middleweight Title. Here, we not only get to further establish MJF as someone who is desperate and nervous heading into Zero Hour but also Brazil as someone to be taken seriously. Given the chance, Brazil has proven that he should not be overlooked and he could cap off a tremendous year by becoming the World Middleweight Champion on December 14.
The Eater of Dreams
Backstage, Brian Pillman Jr and Teddy Hart built to next week’s match where Pillman will take on Tommy Dreamer. Hart began by running down Dreamer, stating that the Innovator of Violence isn’t, and never will be, the American Dream. He concedes that Dreamer is “a little better” than Kevin Sullivan but nowhere near Brian Pillman, Bret Hart, Owen Hart or Davey Boy Smith.
Pillman weighed in claiming that while there is a long list of legends who have contributed to the business, Dreamer is nothing more than a has-been trying to be his favorite wrestler. Dreamer, Pillman suggests, is still dreaming of becoming Dusty Rhodes while trying to stay relevant with a match against the “youngest, brightest star” on the MLW roster.
Pillman warned Dreamer that the last time his cane met an old man, Kevin Sullivan was left in a pool of blood with a cracked skull. Hart hastily interrupted here with some bizarre rhyme for no apparent reason before Pillman wrapped up by telling Tommy that he is “the dream eater” and would eat any dream still left in the heart of Tommy Dreamer.
Grade: Good. Would have been better without Teddy Hart’s rambling.
Hart’s opening piece was fine and laid out a solid foundation on which Pillman could build. For whatever reason, Hart felt the need to jump into the middle of one of Pillman’s sentences which just threw the flow off quite a bit. Pillman’s delivery was very good and with room to continue growing, I think he could be a powerhouse in the business if he makes the right moves.
Marko Stunt vs Gringo Loco
This was the debut for Gringo Loco as he took on the much smaller and quicker Marko Stunt. Despite being the larger of the two men, Loco showed that he won’t be outmatched when he comes to high-flying and acrobatics. Loco is someone who can move with just as much sharpness as wrestlers half his size, but few can keep up with Stunt.
After catching Stunt coming off of the top rope, Loco used his strength to press Stunt overhead with a press slam before delivering a pair of moonsaults for a two count. Loco took the air but missed with a corkscrew splash leading to a Stunt recovery. Coming off of the ropes, Stunt would be propelled into the air by Loco into a satellite codebreaker for the victory in a quick match.
Grade: Fine. A missable match, but short enough to enjoy it for what it was.
The news of Marko Stunt’s injury coming out of LA Confidential is hugely disappointing for MLW, as Stunt was coming off of a series of matches set to build himself up in Major League Wrestling. With a still as-of-yet unaired match with Ace Romero, Stunt has at least one more televised appearance with MLW before he goes the way of Joey Janela and Joey Ryan.