MLW FUSION REPORT: The Von Erichs prevail in Chain Ropes Match

MLW Fusion was headlined by The Von Erichs taking on Violence is Forever in a "Chain Ropes Match", El Jefe is unhappy & more.

Photo Courtesy: MLW

MLW Fusion #126

March 24th, 2021

GILT Nightclub – Orlando, FL

By: John Siino

Commentary: Rich Bocchini & Saint Laurent

Campaign of Horrors

We start with Josef Samael saying that week after week the Injustice infidels talk about rising up against CONTRA. They may fool the fools, but he can smell the fear, he can feel it. And last week CONTRA showed just how pathetic Injustice really is. And next week at Never Say Never, CONTRA will unleash a campaign of horrors like anything they’ve ever seen, especially for Calvin Tankman. And just like everybody else has said they’ll take the title from Jacob Fatu, he will face the execution and there is no escaping the public execution that awaits him next week, but first, he has to survive tonight.

Gino Medina vs. Zenshi

Right from the get-go, Medina starts throwing stuff at Zenshi before the bell even rings. Medina backs away a bit, but Zenshi is able to take him down with a headlock. Zenshi comes back with a dropkick knocking Medina to the outside. They slide back in and out until Medina just takes a breather on the outside. Medina starts attacking Zenshi in the corner, but Zenshi comes back with a hurricanrana, a leg sweep, and a standing moonsault for a 2 count. Zenshi tries to springboard but falls into the knees of Medina, who follows up with a big knife edge chop for a 2. Medina continues to do the same and slows Zenshi down with a couple of stretches. Medina starts stomping the hands of Zenshi, puts him on the top rope, and tries to take off his mask. Zenshi counters back with a Spanish Fly, Pele kick, and twisted senton but fails to get the pin. Medina hits a Snake Eyes and on the roll-up twists up Zenshi’s mask causing Zenshi to get flustered and walks into a kick he calls Eat Defeat as Gino gets the pin.

Winner: Gino Medina by pinfall at 7:13

Breaking News

Alicia Atout backstage with some news on tonight’s main event. Tom Lawlor is claiming he is injured and not able to compete tonight. Officials are looking for a plan B.

We go to a pre-recorded black and white video from Myron Reed talking about his match from Kings of Colosseum and getting revenge on Daivari next week.

Gringo Loco vs. Mil Muertes (w/ Salina de la Renta)

Muertes still comes out with Alex Hammerstone’s National Openweight Championship. Gringo starts pushing and dancing around Muertes but it doesn’t phase him at all. Muertes fights back with a spear and starts mounting him with punches and shoulder blocks in the corner. The referee tries to stop him, but Muertes continues and throws Gringo to the outside. Muertes starts throwing and tossing Gringo around the ring area, including a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on the outside. Back inside, Muertes takes Gringo down with a clothesline and starts choking him out before getting into the ref’s face. Muertes uses the rope to slingshot Gringo’s neck first, but Gringo attempts a comeback, but only gets a 1 count after an Ace Crusher. Muertes stops Gringo with a chokeslam and a powerslam but gets a 2 count both times. Muertes distracts the referee as Salina starts choking out Gringo on the ropes. They tussle a bit back and forth, but Muertes catches a springboarding Gringo right into the Straight to Hell for the three-count.

Winner: Mil Muertes by pinfall at 7:30

Hammer Issues

Alexander Hammerstone backstage says he is sick of the tweets and the text messages of people asking if Mil Muertes has beaten him for his Championship. He said he spent over a year working his ass off to make that title mean something, but Muertes steals it, parades around with it to take pictures on social media with his belt, but he doesn’t have enough time to answer his challenge. So he issues it again, April 14th, he can get his title shot for the MLW National Openweight Championship.

Lawlor Out: Match Still On!

Alicia Atout with an update on tonight’s main event; she heard back from the doctor that Tom Lawlor has an injured bicep and will not be cleared to compete. League officials have met with both teams, and she can confirm the match is still on, and the Von Erichs will fight Violence is Forever in a Chain Ropes match tonight, as ACH will sit this one out.

Heavyweight Hustle

We get a video hyping up Calvin Tankman explaining his ‘I Can’t Quit attitude’, as he has people relying on him. Some of these guys don’t have kids, but he’s 25 years old with a 6-year-old. He’s got 10 years to pay for a car and 12 years to pay for college. If you think he’s not out here giving everything he’s got for his daughter, you got another thing coming. That’s the difference, while everybody else will quit and fold, he will dust himself off and keep swinging for the fences because there is no give up or no other option besides him taking care of his family. Great and natural promo from Tankman here, really authentic.

Pro Wrestling Illustrated Tag Team Top 5

  • 05 – Dirty Blondes (Leo Brien & Michael Patrick)
  • 04 – CONTRA Unit (Daivari & Simon Gotch)
  • 03 – Injustice (Myron Reed & Jordan Oliver)
  • 02 – Violence is Forever (Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku)
  • 01 – Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich)
  • MLW World Tag Team Champions – Los Parks (LA Park, Hijo de LA Park & LA Park Jr.)

Bu Ku Dao Injury Update

Dao is going to be out two to three weeks after what occurred last week before his match with TJP. And we hear that fans from his home country of Vietnam have sent ‘get well’ tweets to him in his current home of New Orleans. We then see tweets from TJP saying “I will fight you like a grown man… as soon as you’re tall enough to be one” and in response to what Bu Ku Dao has to say about TJP; “Probably just a short sentence, if I had to guess.” For his actions, TJP has been fined $2500, but next week we will hear from Bu Ku Dao.

Zad (Sentai Death Squad) vs. Calvin Tankman

Zad is a soldier representing the Sentai Death Squad, who does take off his helmet but still has on a mask and face paint covering up most of his face. Zad is a pretty big guy on par with Tankman, but Tankman gets on him right away with chops in the corner and a big pounce to knock him down. Tankman follows with a spinebuster and a giant backfist to the back of the head for the pin.

Winner: Calvin Tankman by pinfall at 1:02

After the bell, Jacob Fatu, Daivari & Simon Gotch all walk out but Tankman dives onto all three of them as Injustice runs out to even out the fight. Inside, Tankman hits the Tankman Driver on Daivari as everybody else fights to the back.

That Yellow Coward!

The Von Erichs are backstage and say it’s pretty convenient that minutes before their match, Tom Lawlor gets an injury and he’s just a yellow coward. They decide to redirect this energy onto Garrini and Ku and talk about how they can use the chains and ropes as weapons tonight.

El Jefe is Not Happy

Salina de la Renta is on her way out and gets asked if Mil Muertes will accept Alex Hammerstone’s challenge. She says not only does she accept, she just signed the dotted line from that juiced-up idiot’s challenge. The interviewer starts asking if she’ll go on record about the recent rumors of Azteca Underground, but Salina cuts him off and says that’s way above his pay grade and starts cursing him out in Spanish. An Azteca Underground associate interrupts and says ‘No comment’, and tells Selena that El Jefe is not happy and he wants to meet, as Salina looks worried.

Upcoming Fights

  • March 31st – MLW Never Say Never
  • April 7th – MLW Underground
  • April 14th – MLW National Openweight Championship: Alex Hammerstone vs. Mil Muertes
Filthy Tom Lawlor backstage saying that Team Filthy is not going to let tonight go to waste because Garrini & Ku are going to take the steel chains and will wrap them around the Von Erichs and break their hands so they can’t do the Claw anymore and then choke them unconscious with that very steel. Finally, the Von Erichs will pay for their transgressions at the hands of Violence is Forever.
MLW Never Say Never 2021 – Control Center
  • Jordan Oliver vs. Simon Gotch
  • Myron Reed vs. Daivari
  • MLW World Heavyweight Championship: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. Calvin Tankman
Chain Ropes Match: The Von Erichs (Marshall & Ross Von Erich) vs. Violence is Forever (Kevin Ku & Dominic Garrini) w/ Filthy Tom Lawlor
As promoted, the ropes and turnbuckles are replaced with steel chains and Lawlor is outside ringside with his arm in a sling. No tag rules, as all four men brawl to start. Marshall goes for the quick pin attempt after the Von Erichs start hitting suplexes and Lawlor tries to get involved pretty quick, but the Von Erichs kick at him and as they are distracted, Garrini and Ku attack them and start wrapping the chains over them. Lawlor outside is trying Marshall in the ropes, showing no arm injury while Ku and Garrini inside are tying up Ross. All four start brawling again inside as the wear and tear of the ropes shows on their skin. The Von Erichs are able to take down Ku and Garrini but fail to get the pin. Violence is Forever put on simultaneous submissions with a heel hook and Guillotine choke, but Ross is able to throw Ku off of him to break up Garrini’s hold on Marshall. All four men start brawling again, but Violence is Forever ends up tossing Marshall onto the ropes and outside the ring. Garrini hits a Go to Sleep into a Dragon Suplex by Ku but Ross is able to kick out. While the ref is attending to the referee, Lawlor throws a pair of brass knuckles into the ring, but Marshall intercepts them and knocks out Ku and Garrini, and applies the Claw on Garrini, and gets help from Ross to hit the Claw back suplex for the pin from Marshall on Garrini.
Winners: The Von Erichs by pinfall at 7:40
 
We end the show with a video package hyping up next week’s Never Saw Never card with promos from all the competitors.
About John Siino 359 Articles
New York native and reporter at POST Wrestling. He is also Associate Producer at POISONRANA, co-host of 'Collision Course' and the host of the 'Shot in the Dark' podcast.