MLW Fusion Results, Highlights, and Grades: Strickland vs Rush
Lawlor’s 7-Month Journey
From his training camp, Tom Lawlor laid it all out on the line ahead of his MLW World Heavyweight Title match with Low Ki at SuperFight. Lawlor reminded everybody of how he got to this point – by defeating 39 other wrestlers in the inaugural Battle Riot.
Lawlor claimed that despite Low Ki claiming a 15-year undefeated streak, Ki has simply been buying victories and muscle to help keep him on top by way of men like Simon Gotch, Sami Callihan, and “the fat skeleton and the skinny skeleton.”
The father of Team Filthy warned Ki that at SuperFight, none of those people will be a factor and it will finally be down to just two men vying for the top prize in Major League Wrestling. At SuperFight, Lawlor will put The Professional out of a job.
How Was It? Good! When Lawlor finds his footing and delivers reigned-in promos he does a solid job.
Lawlor raises some good points here with the quality of victories in Low Ki’s 15-year undefeated streak in MLW. While it’s been clear that Ki has become more and more and more vicious, it hasn’t really been talked about that his recent victories may not be victories at all without Promociones Dorado behind him.
Can Lawlor unseat Low Ki as the World Heavyweight Champion, or will The Professional and Salina de la Renta have another trick up their sleeves in Philadelphia?
Hart Foundation vs Dirty Blondes
Before the match, Colonel Robert Parker chastised the Blondes and demanded that they walk away from this match with a victory. Parker claimed that he and his family brought over a hundred years of tag team experience to the table and wanted to see Brien and Patrick pick up a victory.
The Blondes used their considerable history to their advantage early on to keep the Hart Foundation cut off from one another. With quick switches and the isolation of Pillman, Brien and Patrick looked to be well on their way toward victory.
Pillman came out of nowhere with a cross body block to take Patrick down before both men tagged their partners. With Davey Boy Smith, who has been killing it in NJPW, in the ring, it became a bit of a no-brainer.
Smith dominated both men with his power, handling both men the way Ace Romero handled Ariel Dominguez earlier in the night. DBS planted Brien with a powerslam but was unable to get the victory as Patrick broke up the pin.
Pillman, having recovered outside, dropped Patrick with a big springboard clothesline before Davey Boy lifted Brien to the top rope for a massive superplex for the victory.
How Was It? Unremarkable and confusing that this would main event the episode.
While I understand that The Hart Foundation are in line for a huge World Tag Team Title shot against The Lucha Bros in Philadelphia and focus needs to be placed on them, it feels a bit insane to have this match main event an episode which also featured Shane Strickland vs Rush.
This match was really nothing to write home about but did put The Hart Foundation in the main event with a victory as we barrel toward SuperFight.