MLW Fusion LIVE Results, Highlights, and Grades: 5-Way Ladder Match

Backstage, Kaci Lennox was awaiting Tom Lawlor who burst through a door before telling Kaci that this isn’t a time for talking but, rather, a time for action. He stormed off leaving a flustered Lennox standing alone in the hallway.

With a pre-taped press conference segment, it was announced that Rush and LA Park would headline MLW’s April 4 card in New York City. Rush laid out his goal for his future in MLW at Fightland when he promised to bring the feud with LA Park to the United States via MLW and he has made good on that promise.

The two luchadores went nose to nose and traded verbal barbs while a sinister grin grew on the face of Salina de la Renta standing between them. In just four short months, another huge lucha main event will top an MLW card as the company hopes to become the talk of Wrestlemania week.

Dragon Lee vs DJZ

With both men making their Fusion debuts on the night of MLW’s first live broadcast, there was nothing but opportunity for both of these fighters. Solid performances from either wrestler could lead to a future World Middleweight Title match against new Champion Teddy Hart.

With more chemistry than most of the guys in the opening ladder match, Dragon and DJZ found themselves at a standoff before DJZ found the right moment to fly from the ring to the floor onto his prone opponent.

Back in the ring, though, Dragon Lee used his strength and striking advantages to slow the pace to his own liking and punish DJZ. After dropping DJZ across his knee with a double underhook neckbreaker and a snap German suplex, he still fell victim to a rebounding DJZ with a jump-up DDT leaving both men laying on the mat.

Both men found themselves jockeying for position on the top rope with attempted superplexes, but it was Dragon Lee who was able to trap DJZ’s legs into the top rope to deliver a double stomp from the top rope to the arena floor.

DJZ continued to shift the balance of the match by countering a Dragon Lee powerbomb into the evening’s second Canadian Destroyer for a two count as Lee was able to reach out and grab the bottom rope. After a counter of another rolling DDT from DJZ, Dragon Lee delivered two consecutive Dragon Drivers for the victory.

Grade: Good. A solid, though unremarkable, debut for both men.

This was a solid palate cleanser after the messiness of the ladder match. Dragon Lee and DJZ worked well with one another and I’d absolutely welcome both of them back to MLW in the future.

Dragon Lee is a bit more well-rounded from what I’ve seen of both wrestlers in various promotions, though DJZ could be someone who shines if given the opportunity to grow as part of a company’s long-term plans.

In the parking lot of the arena, Salina de la Renta and her Promociones Dorado compadres were set to leave the scene of their crimes. Salina, fed up with the prying MLW cameras, explained, “We’re gonna go party! We’re gonna go on a boat!” which may have been my favorite line of the night.

Before they could make their hasty exit, though, Tom Lawlor entered the scene brandishing a two-by-four like a modern-day “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and clocked Ricky Martinez in the face. Lawlor found himself in a tussle with Los Parks while Salina hopped into the group’s waiting limo and took off.

As we rolled on, we got a sneak peek at the coming H2 series featuring Teddy Hart and Brian Pillman Jr. As announced by MLW this past week, The Hart Foundation will soon have their very own series on the MLW YouTube channel. The full series is slated to begin later this month and promises to give the trio “a blank canvas” to do with whatever they desire.

Before the main event, Simon Gotch delivered his thoughts on his upcoming fight with Tom Lawlor from his home in California. For Gotch, it doesn’t matter who wins or who loses. Gotch warned Lawlor that, despite who dominates in their No Ropes, No Holds Barred Match that the nightmares for the leader of Team Filthy have only just begun.