A new champion was crowned Saturday night in Milwaukee, live on beIN SPORTS as MLW presented Fury Road. Alex Hammerstone is the first-ever National Openweight Champion after defeating Brian Pillman Jr.
In addition, Teddy Hart successfully defended his World Middleweight Championship against Jimmy Havoc. Of course, CONTRA Unit wasn’t going to let a live special go without making an impact. The global dealers in violence abducted World Champion “Filthy” Tom Lawlor. In addition, we learned that Salina de la Renta will have another opportunity to produce an episode of FUSION.
National Openweight Championship Match
Alexander Hammerstone defeated Brian Pillman Jr.
Both Brian Pillman Jr., a member of the Hart Foundation, and Alexander Hammerstone, a member of The Dynasty, came to the ring by themselves for this championship encounter.
Pillman defeated Rich Swann in the semifinals of the tournament to advance to the title bout, while Hammerstone topped Gringo Loco in his semifinal contest.
The championship match was hotly-contested inside and outside the ring. Pillman had the advantage early on the outside, tossing Hammerstone into the steel barrier.
But Hammerstone regained control back inside the ring. At his first opportunity, Hammerstone hoisted Pillman into the Nightmare Pendulum and delivered a massive impact with his favorite maneuver. Hammerstone covered Pillman and had MLW’s newest championship strapped around his waist.
Following the match, Hammerstone said it was the “equitable outcome of all The Dynasty’s hard work” on MLW’s Twitter account. Hear more of Hammerstone’s reaction below:
World Middleweight Championship
Teddy Hart defeated Jimmy Havoc
This one had all the makings of a hard-core match, but with England’s Most Dangerous Man challenging the leader of the Hart Foundation that was almost to be expected. In fact, both men carried steel chairs to the ring.
Hart was in charge through the early going. But when the match went to the outside, Havoc was in his element. Hart was busted open when Havoc sandwiched his head between the steel ring post and a steel chair. Havoc then went to work on the back of Hart with multiple suplexes onto the steel guard rail that Hart had previously leaned against the ring apron.
That weakened back almost scored the World Middleweight Championship for Havoc, when he put Hart into the Sharpshooter. Hart was able to muscle his way to the ropes to break the hold.
Finally, a bloodied and battered Hart was able to score the victory when he caught Havoc with a spike DDT on one of the steel chairs that was brought into the ring. He ducked the Acid Rainmaker and scored with a Canadian Destroyer to set up the DDT that finished it.
CONTRA Unit Abducts Lawlor
The Global Dealers in Violence got their hands on World Champion “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, essentially abducting him, beating him and cutting his hair. Josef Samael drove a point home at the end of a video CONTRA sent to MLW, demanding it be aired, stating the group can do anything they want, whenever they want.
Gringo Loco defeated Myron Reed
Our live special opened with Reed and Loco. Reed came to the ring with tape over his mouth, once again protesting what he feels has been unfair treatment by MLW officials. But when referee Doug Markham, who has been the target of most of Reed’s ire, went to check Reed for any illegal objects, Reed wouldn’t allow it. That would come back to hurt Loco later.
During the match, Reed thought he had the bout won. But Markham caught him using the ropes for leverage and would not count the pinfall. Following a number of near falls, Reed put his hands on Markham and was distracted. Eventually, this distraction led to a Gringo Loco rollup and a three count for a big live, national television victory for Loco.
Reed didn’t react well to the loss, pulling an object that looked like brass knuckles out of his tights and blasting Loco with it before leaving the ring area.
Salina Will Serve as EP Again
Following one of MLW’s most successful episodes ever of FUSION, Salina de la Renta has been given another opportunity to serve as Executive Producer of MLW’s weekly television show.
de la Renta announced she will be in charge of the June 15 episode. The impresaria of Promociones Dorado promised more details on her episode of FUSION in the coming weeks.
