Would anyone fathom Paul Walter Hauser taking on “Filthy” Tom Lawlor in a MMA cage fight? Never say never as it went down on Saturday night! MLW returned to St. Petersburg to put on another major show that had some grudges to settle and an Opera Cup tournament to progress!
However, CONTRA continues to run rampant on the roster as they’re shown taking out Okumura before they face off against Kojima, Matt Riddle and AKIRA tonight!
It’s time to get to the action as a family affair goes down in the opening round of the Opera Cup.
MATCH 1
Opera Cup Opening Round
Magnus vs. Mistico
The two luchadors know one another very well in the ring as Magnus and Mistico happen to be cousins and this was very evident in this opening bout. Magnus was a game competitor for Mistico but the latter showed why he is the World Middleweight Champion as the pressure of the tournament didn’t get to him.
His awesome athleticism was on full display.as both men got St. Pete chanting “this is awesome” before Mistico sealed the deal with his headscissors fujiwa armbar that prompted Magnus to immediately submit.
WINNER and ADVANCING: Mistico
Backstage we see Salina trying to lay out plans in advance of the birth of her baby which causes Cesar Duran to lay out the rules for herself and her baby daddy. If he represents AZTECA in violence, he’ll have to wear the golden AZTECA henchman lucha mask. If not there will be trouble. The baby daddy agrees.
MATCH 2
Opera Cup Opening Round
Danny Jones vs. Bad Dude Tito (with Salina de la Renta)
With Danny Jones making his league debut in the Opera Cup, many people likely assumed that Tito would have easy work ahead of him, but that was NOT the case. Jones showed up and delivered some beautiful suplex onto the National Openweight Champion. He even took Tito off his feet with a massive lariat. However, Tito kicked out off that and put Jones into a big-time screwdriver! 1-2-3.
WINNER and ADVANCING: Bad Dude Tito
In the locker room, Mr. Thomas and Alex Kane are chatting about their own Opera Cup fight tonight, but they’re not concerned of it breaking BOMAYE. As Alex leaves, popping out of the bathroom is MSL with a briefcase full of money trying to sway Mr. Thomas. T ain’t having it, but he and Kane will take his cash!
The next fight Joe Dombrowski is joined by Bobby Fish on commentary for a battle between two middleweight talents!
MATCH 3
Brett Ryan Gosselin vs. Jake Crist
BRG is full of arrogance and Crist makes him pay with his hard-hitting and fast-paced style. Despite that said arrogance, BRG displayed that he can match the intensity of Crist.
BRG delivered a series of harsh elbows followed up by a lariat, but Crist eventually caught the young star off guard with a DVD for a near fall. This caused BRG to resort to a well-timed eyepoke before hitting a spinning fisherman’s suplex for the 1-2-3.
WINNER: Brett Ryan Gosselin
Fish decided to continue his broadcasting role by trying to get an interview with BRG. Gosselin is ever-so-cocky after his victory which prompts Jake to interrupt. Bobby takes exception to that and then BRG once more starts attacking Crist. However, the fix appeared to be in as it was BOBBY who joined in on the beatdown as he and BRG pulled back the padding to give Crist a piledriver on the wooden floor! Why Bobby why?!
MATCH 4
AJ Francis vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. (with MSL)
This was indeed a bout of strength and power as DBS had one heck of a time getting Francis off his feet. AJ used his pro football background to do just that to Davey and even hit him with a sidewalk slam reminiscent to Kevin Nash.
Francis even took some time for showmanship as he taunted DBS before dropping a big elbow on the Bulldog.
However, Bulldog shows his diverse offensive skills by trapping the big man Francis in a chokehold, Francis collapses on the ring rope, the ref begins to make the five count, DBS doesn’t lighten up and gets disqualified!
WINNER via DQ: AJ Francis
DBS can’t be pleased with not getting the official W, but still decides to celebrate on the entryway.
MATCH 5
Renee Michelle vs. Delmi Exo (with Cesar Duran)
Renee is clearly trying to make her name known in MLW as she controlled a good deal of this fight, giving herself time to play to Duran and the crowd. However, she’s far from inexperienced as she takes Delmi off her feet with an on-the-button shotgun dropkick! However, Delmi shows why she’s a former Featherweight Champion by connecting with the Delmi Driver and getting the 1-2-3!
WINNER: Renee Michelle
Post-fight, Joe Dombrowski introduces fans to another rising star in the Featherweight division in Gigi Rey. Rey speaks of her intentions in the league. Renee takes exception and calls Gigi disrespectful after the match she just had. Gigi said she was “sorrey” Renee couldn’t beat a former champion cause that wouldn’t happen to her. Michelle said she wouldn’t have a problem stepping into “the devil’s den.”
MATCH 6
Opera Cup Opening Round
Mr. Thomas vs. Alex Kane (with Faye Jackson)
The bell sounds, the BOMAYE brothers shake hands and it’s down to business. Mr. Thomas catches Kane off-guard with his natural strength in several moments, but Kane stuck to what got him the World Championship in the first place: suplexes. However, it was a well-timed spear that took Thomas down for the pinfall win.
WINNER and ADVANCING: Alex Kane
Post-fight there is no ill-will between Thomas and Kane as the former wants the latter to go get that Opera Cup cause BOMAYE is for the people!
We see Cesar Duran, Salina and baby daddy walking outside as Salina makes more suggestions to her “papa” about future plans. Duran plays along, but once the happy couple leaves, he gets on the phone and makes some plans of his own.
It’s MMA cage fight time!
MATCH 7
MMA Cage Fight
Paul Walter Hauser vs. Tom Lawlor
This fight looks like a tough one for PWH as Lawlor immediate goes on the attack to get some shots in on his thespian adversary. However, Hauser musters energy to give it back to Lawlor. Tom decides to use a stool in the octagon for him and Hauser to get on top of the cage and slug it out. Sure enough, the battle ends up spilling to the outside of the octagon and in throughout the America Top Team dojo! Weapons are quickly used including kendo sticks and the aforementioned stool!
The two utilize the environment which includes a ring to get some offense in on one another. Hauser does manage to get the brawl back in the cage eventually by tackling Tom through it.
Tom manages to get Hauser in a chokehold and it looks to be curtains for the Cobra Kai actor, but Lawlor suddenly stops because he wants to inflict more pain on Hauser. He grabs nunchucks and looks to take Hauser out, but accidentally hits himself when Hauser ducks! Hauser suddenly hits him with a flatliner, covers and gets the pinfall win!!
WINNER: Paul Walter Hauser
This is a massive victory for Paul Walter Hauser and Lawlor CANNOT be happy with the outcome!
It’s main event time.
MAIN EVENT
CONTRA Unit (Mads Krugger, Minoru Suzuki & Ikuro Kwon) vs. Satoshi Kojima, Matt Riddle & AKIRA
This fight spills all over the place as it’s utter chaos in St. Petersburg! CONTRA shows their diabolical chemistry between one another as they look to dissect Riddle, Kojima and AKIRA, but the trio show their best offensive work to bring it to Krugger’s crew.
CONTRA aims to isolate Riddle, but the BRO has other plans and so do his teammates. AKIRA gets Kwon caught and let’s KOJIMA lay it into the the death pit fighter.
As AKIRA and Kwon battle it out on the apron, Krugger sets up a table and powerbombs Kojima through it! When Mads looks to unleash more violence with a steel chair, AKIRA pivots and takes the bullet for the World Champ! Krugger takes advantage and covers AKIRA for the 1-2-3!
WINNERS: CONTRA Unit
Post-fight, CONTRA drapes the flags over their fallen foes and Krugger’s band of bandits stand tall!