Maxwell J. Friedman never lost the World Middleweight Championship. Teddy Hart won it in a ladder match after MJF was forced to relinquish it due to injury back in December. Tonight, Hart walked out of the ring with the title after pinning the former champion. But backstage after the match, MJF and an apparent new ally were intent on making sure Hart didn’t walk out of the arena.
World Middleweight Championship
Teddy Hart defeated MJF
Friedman has not been happy about League officials forcing him to relinquish the World Middleweight Championship after fracturing his elbow a few months ago. Since being cleared, he’s been demanding a title shot against new champion Teddy Hart.
In Saturday night’s MLW FUSION Main Event, MJF was granted that title shot. While MJF more than held his own in the match, his own miscalculation may have cost him the match. The official was down after a collision with Friedman and MJF brought a steel chair into the ring. But the veteran Hart sniffed out the attack. Hart wrestled the chair from MJF, jammed it into his throat and took advantage. An electric chair lungblower followed by a corkscrew moonsault led to a pinfall victory as Hart retained the title.
But after the match, backstage, our own Kaci Lennox was attempting to interview Hart when the champion was attacked. “Most Marketable” Richard Holliday laid into Hart and then held him as MJF hit him in the ribs with a chair. With the rest of the Hart Foundaton not in the building to help him, Hart was heard screaming about broken ribs as MJF and Holliday continued to attack and left Hart laying.
Is this a new alliance between Holliday and MJF? What is Hart’s condition as we head into Intimidation Games in just two weeks? Stay tuned to MLW.com and our social media channels. We’ll try to update Hart’s condition as soon as possible.
World Championship Rematch Confirmed
Earlier this week on her Instagram account, Promociones Dorado impresaria Salina de la Renta posted a video. In it, she stated former World Heavyweight Champion Low Ki was owed a “contractually obligated rematch” after “Filthy” Tom Lawlor choked out The Professional to win the World Title.
Low Ki and de la Renta wanted their rematch as soon as possible. Negotiations quickly took place to hold the match at Intimidation Games in Chiacago on March 2. Lawlor had just one request. He wanted the match inside a steel cage. League officials obliged.
Live from Chicago in just two weeks, Lawlor will make his first title defense against the former champion Low Ki. Be there to see this World Championship rematch by visiting MLWTickets.com. Or watch live on beIN SPORTS!
Ace Austin defeated Rich Swann
In an important Middleweight Division matchup, youngster Ace Austin squared off with Rich Swann. Both are looking to position themselves for a shot at Hart’s World Middleweight Championship.
Austin pulled off what some may have considered an upset. After landing a knee strike, Austin climbed the ropes and hit a high-impact reverse splash. As the official made the count, he seemed to have a bit of a hitch as his arm came down between the second and third count. But he counted three nonetheless.
Swann was incensed …
Swann Swats Staffers
Following the loss to Austin, he confronted the official who tried to explain the three-count to him. Swann was hearing none of it and struck the official twice. League officials will surely be looking at that situation.
But Swann wasn’t finished. Our own Rich Bochinni entered the ring and tried to get a word with Swann. “You have been a different person, a different competitor the last few months. What is up with you?” At that point, Swann grabbed the microphone, screamed “You want different?” and struck Bochinni in the face, knocking him down in the corner of the ring.
Still, Swann wasn’t finished. He then went outside the ring and accosted the ring announcer before throwing a temper tantrum and launching the ring announcer’s chair at ringside.
Is Swann facing repercussions from the League? What has caused this sudden change in attitude? More to come on Swann’s status in the coming days and weeks.
Alexander Hammerstone defeated Ariel Dominguez
In his MLW debut, Alexander Hammerstone was impressive. The 6-foot 3-inch, 251 pound Hammerstone is one the most physically impressive competitors in professional wrestling. He manhandled the smaller Ariel Dominguez for much of the match, showing his power on numerous occasions.
Hammerstone gorilla pressed Dominguez like he was a child. He tossed him 10 feet across the ring with a release suplex. Finally, when he hit his vaunted Nightmare Pendulum, he walked out of the ring with his first MLW victory.
There will surely be more tests in his future, but Hammerstone certainly looked the part in his first foray into an MLW ring.
Don’t Miss The Action!
Tune in at 9 p.m. ET every Saturday. 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.
MLW airs to a nationwide audience every Saturday on beIN SPORTS. Check out www.MLW.com/fusion for more information! beIN SPORTS has a full listing of dish / cable carriers offering beIN SPORTS here. MLW fans can also stream beIN SPORTS using the beIN Connect app for wireless devices.
Of course, if you miss the show on beIN SPORTS, every episode of MLW: FUSION is uploaded to our YouTube channel (youtube.com/majorleaguewrestling) at Noon ET every Sunday. MLW FUSION is also available on Tuesdays via FITE TV.
