This week's MLW Fusion opened with a recap from last week when we saw Cesar Duran fleeing the scene after multiple wrestlers were attacked and laid out in a stairwell. We were promised answers tonight as Joe Dombrowski and Rich Bocchini welcomed us to Atlanta, Georgia, for the next episode of the MLW Super Series.
Samoan SWAT Team (w/ Jacob Fatu) defeated Angel Fashion & Mark Davidson
Fashion appeared in a few losing efforts on AEW Dark last year and he and Davidson were put in the unfortunate position to be on the receiving end of a Samoan bulldozing as Lance Anoa'i and Juicy Finau cannonballed, toped and double clotheslined their way to another quick win.
Finau and Anoa'i continued their quest for the MLW Tag Team titles with another strong win against Puerto Rico's addition to the Super Series. Finau squashed both Fashion and Davidson with a double Samoan drop before Anoa'i picked up the win with a top rope splash.
After the match, Bocchini interviewed Fatu, who mentioned he had unfinished business with Real1, but his attention turned to guest color commentator Willie Mack who joined Fatu before a mutually consented match between the two was booked.
- Last week, Bomaye Fight Club leader Alex Kane admitted to stealing Davey Richards' Opera Cup trophy, This week, he told us that Bomaye is going international with all the wins their team is piling up. But Richards also had a recorded promo for Kane, saying that he has been training with someone they will meet very soon: the debuting Shun Skywalker.
- It was revealed that Court Bauer was meeting Duran behind closed doors due to Duran fleeing the scene of the attacks last week. We saw the aftermath of the meeting as raised voices were heard before Duran walked out on Bauer. Later in the night, Bauer officially took Duran's place as MLW matchmaker.
- Lio Rush will be returning to MLW soon.
- MLW will be returning to the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia in January.
- After weeks of comedy and half-challenges from Mance Warner, Mads Krugger had a serious response for the Southern Psycho, telling him he shouldn't have returned and that he should run.
EJ Nduka defeated Sultan del Aire
We got a recap of the recent change of heart in Nduka as the MLW Tag Team champion made his way to the ring like the Battle Riot elimination of his partner Calvin Tankman and the attack to MLW Champion Alex Hammerstone both cementing his heel turn and placing him as the top contender to the title.
Nduka overpowered his smaller high-flying opponent, catching him coming off the ropes and flattening him with his Verdict spinebuster. A big clothesline and a big spinning one-armed sitout power bomb followed for the quick and decisive win.
Nduka got on the mic and started bad mouthing the crowd, but Hammerstone was quick to run out and get some revenge for the recent attacks. The champion ate a big boot, but got the better of the exchange as he caused both of them to crash through part of the stage, hurting both of them in the process.
- We then saw Fatu backstage apparently warming up and contemplating cashing in his Battle Riot golden ticket for a shot at Hammerstone's title. But, he had a change of heart and said he didn't want to do it while the champion was hurt.
Shun Skywalker (w/ Davey Richards) defeated Myron Reed (w/ Alex Kane) to win the MLW Middleweight title
Richards was a surprise cornerman for Dragon Gate star Skywalker and commentary talked up his abilities as being one of the best to come out of the promotion and highlighted DG's technical, high speed, high flying and cutting edge action.
Skywalker is also the former youngest ever Open the Dream Gate champion, plus a former tag and trios champion.
Reed got his plaudits, too. Commentary team, which also consisted of Reed's training partner Alex Kane, talked up his successful title defenses against Tajiri, Bandido, Shane Strickland, TJP, and Lince Dorado.
Skywalker came off the middle rope and monkey flipped Reed to the floor so he could follow up with a long torpedo dive, firing Reed across ringside. Later on, Reed floored Skywalker with a big superkick and a top rope-assisted face-first drop.
After failing the first time, Skywalker hit a knee-first standing moonsault for a close two count as the champion seemed to be figuratively on the ropes. The cocky Kane said he had reserved a celebration in the VIP area and was jubilant after his man fought back with two cutters, the second being a devastating running over the top rope version that took Skywalker from the apron to the floor.
But the challenger soon stopped the champ in his tracks with a dropkick in mid-air. Skywalker then successfully hit his SSW Tiger Driver he had been going for all match, but Reed still kicked out.
The back-and-forth action continued as Reed caught Skywalker mid-moonsault and hit another variation of a cutter for another close two count.
The action then broke down as both became desperate for the win and tried roll-up after roll-up, eventually culminating in Skywalker getting the lucky break and using all his weight to keep the champion down for the three count to end Reed's long reign as Middleweight champion.
Richards helped Skywalker get the belt around his waist as this marked the Bomaye Fight Club losing both of their singles titles in consecutive matches.
Next Week:
- MLW Openweight Champion Davey Richards defends against SB KENTo
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