Watch Major League Wrestling: FUSION Friday night at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on beIN SPORTS. Search the full listing of dish / cable carriers offering beIN SPORTS here.
Miss tonight’s show? Don’t worry! MLW releases the show for FREE on the MLW YouTube channel Saturday nights at 6:05pm!
This week’s episode of MLW: FUSION included three incredible matches, but there was plenty going on outside the ring, as well. We saw the national television debut of a second-generation superstar, friction between Konnan and Salina de la Renta, the further and perhaps final dissolution of Team TBD and the unveiling of the August Top 10.
Sami Gets Paid …
If what MLW cameras caught backstage between Salina de la Renta, World Heavyweight Champion Low Ki and Sami Callihan is to be believed, there may be an unholy alliance that could continue rocking MLW to the core.
Low Ki handed Callihan a wad of bills, while de la Renta looked on. Callihan seemed to offer a business arrangement, while the founding member of Black Friday Management and the impresaria of Promociones Dorado seemed to accept.
“I don’t like you,” Callihan said to the World Champion. “But I like money.”
Before a somewhat hesitant handshake seemed to cement the deal, Low Ki was heard to say “Perhaps we should continue business.”
… Then Stomps Swerve
Of course, Low Ki’s payment to Callihan was likely part of the bounty he collected from defeating Shane “Swerve” Strickland for the World Title. Callihan was revealed to have attacked Strickland’s knee prior to the match.
The former champ was looking for his revenge in this one-on-one fight with the Worldwide Desperado. While Strickland put up a valiant effort and took the fight to Callihan, in the end he couldn’t withstand the onslaught or the damage done to his knee.
Callihan survived a Swerve Stomp, which likely didn’t have its usual effectiveness due to the knee injury. Of course, Callihan worked over the knee throughout the match. Following attempted outside interference from his Death Machines, Callihan stomped one more time and Strickland’s damaged right knee. He quickly followed that up with a vicious piledriver and Strickland could take no more, as Callihan picked up a huge victory over the former champion.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Konnan Dissed by de la Renta
Following his appearance in the Battle Riot last week, Konnan was backstage this week. MLW cameras caught up to him discussing a “contract” and “dinero” with Rey Fenix. But the owner of Promociones Dorado came around the corner with Pentagon Jr. While Penta seemed happy to see Konnan, de la Renta was not. She admonished Fenix for talking with the legendary luchadore and stormed off with the World Tag Team Champions, leaving Konnan questioning what just happened.
Pillman Jr. Praised by Sullivan
Brian Pillman Jr. made his national television debut during this episode of MLW: FUSION. He was about to be interviewed backstage by our very own Kaci Lennox, when the Taskmaster Kevin Sullivan came on screen.
Sullivan, who had a legendary feud with Pillman’s father Flyin’ Brian Pillman, had nothing but amazing things to say about the younger Pillman. Sullivan even mentioned that it was him who told MLW CEO Court Bauer to sign Pillman Jr.
“I don’t know if the people watching TV know how great this guy is,” Sullivan told Lennox. “He comes from a pedigree. His Dad was one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. I’ve seen this guy wrestle all over the country without a defeat. He’s the hottest thing. Brian, when you’re going up and down the road, remember this: there’s pitfalls. I’ll be there for you … you’re going to be the biggest thing in wrestling today.”
Pillman Jr. was humble in accepting the praise from someone who has become a mentor to him. He even ended his statement with an homage to one of the most famous statements ever made by his “Loose Cannon” father.
“I appreciate the praise, Kevin. But, personally, I have a lot of work to do,” Pillman Jr. said. “We can’t simply take my father’s accolades and parade them around me like I can perform the same. My father respected you and that respect runs in the family … bookerman!”
Hager Gets Gotch
In the ongoing feud between Team Filthy and the Stud Stable, chalk one up for Col. Parker’s boys. The All-American Jake Hager came away with an impressive victory over Simon Gotch on this week’s show. With the Dirty Blondes on one side of the ring with Col. Parker and Team Filthy members “Filthy” Tom Lawlor and Fred Yehi backing Gotch, there was a possibility for mayhem.
But this one mainly stayed in the ring. Hager took the early advantage, attacking Gotch in the corner before the bell. Gotch never fully recovered. Hager worked over Gotch’s left arm and stayed with that strategy for much of the match. The bad blood between Team Filthy and the Stud Stable was on full display. Gotch, who was beaten down and injured, defiantly spit in Hager’s face being slapped by the 300-pounder. That seemed to enrage Hager. The Bellator-contracted fighter stepped back and delivered a thunderous boot to the face of Gotch, before covering him for the pinfall victory.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Time for the Top 10
A crazy, action-packed July and the entry of some new talent into Major League Wrestling had a definite effect on this month’s Top 10. Here’s a look at how league officials stacked up the talent as we headed into August:
World Heavyweight Champion – Low Ki
1. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor
2. Shane “Swerve” Strickland
3. Jimmy Havoc
4. Pentagon Jr.
5. Sami Callihan
6. Jake Hager
7. John Hennigan
8. Teddy Hart
9. Rey Fenix
10. ACH
Havoc Halts King
Fans weren’t likely expecting an overly technical matchup in this week’s opening match. Not with the brawling bounty hunter Brody King matching up with Jimmy Havoc, the self-proclaimed King of the Death Match. While there was plenty of pure fighting and battling all over the arena, it was actually a technical wrestling move which secured the victory for Havoc.
England’s Most Dangerous Man was still sporting a bandage on his left arm from a massive laceration in a grudge match with Lawlor a couple weeks back. That grueling bout with Lawlor seemed to affect Havoc throughout this matchup. King had the upper hand for much of the match. At one point, King hit a piledriver, a gut-wrench powerbomb and his Go Home Driver in succession, but a two-count only followed each of those high-impact maneuvers.
Havoc was looking for the Acid Rainmaker, but King countered with an attempt at a chokeslam. Havoc used a counter move of his own and ended up pinning King with a Victory Roll to have his hand raised.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Team TBD DOA?
In a backstage interview, Jason Cade and Jimmy Yuta once again had a verbal spat over the friction that has surrounded their tag team recently. But it became more than verbal near the end of the interview. As Yuta started to walk off the set, Cade grabbed the microphone and blasted Yuta in the back of the head, sparking a brawl and prompting league officials to break them up.
Don’t Miss The Action!
Tune in at 8 p.m. ET every Friday, then watch the replay at 11 p.m. ET. Set a reminder in your phone. Set your DVR. But whatever you do … don’t miss any action-packed episode of Major League Wrestling: FUSION.
As part of beIN SPORTS #FridayNightFury lineup, MLW airs to a nationwide audience every Friday at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. MLW: FUSION on beIN Sports is available on all major carriers, including DirecTV, Dish Network, Verizon FiOS, Comcast, Sling, Roku, Fubo TV and more. MLW fans can also stream beIN SPORTS using the beIN Connect app for wireless devices.
How to watch Major League Wrestling
Check out www.MLW.com/fusion for more information! beIN SPORTS has a full listing of dish / cable carriers offering beIN SPORTS here.
