Douglas James Vs Septimo Dragon
Straight into the action this week. This match starts of fast and furious with excellent athleticism, flips and counters, within the first few minutes both competitors land suicide dives to the outside. It is Septimo Dragon who starts to getting the better of Douglas James, with an array of moves that leave no doubt in anyone’s mind, why he is considered top be one of the top young Lucha competitors. Its Douglas James’s kicks that help bring him back in to the match, the former kick boxer shows off a variety of lethal kicks that leave Septimo Dragon rocked. As Septimo Dragon fights his way back into the match with dogged determination, the two just start trading shots leading to a double knock down as they both land high round house kicks. Once they’re both back on their feet, Douglas James is able to use his kick boxing to once again take advantage, but after Septimo Dragon is able to reverse a GTS attempt, he hits a massive reverse pile driver, only to get a two count. James then switching to another level drives Septimo into the corner turnbuckles with a running death valley driver, he then jumps into a Guillotine choke, and is able to get the submission victory.
This was a great opening contest, 10 minutes of solid action both being able to shine during the match, Septimo Dragon is a future star for sure, with a dazzling array of high flying moves and incredible balance. I am big fan of Douglas James with a legit fighting background that he incorporates into his wrestling style, without having to rely on it, he has done a great job acclimating into the world of professional wrestling. Due to his legit fight experience I feel he would’ve have been a better fit for Tom Lawler’s Team Filthy, over Erick Stevens who does not quite fit in with that group.
3 stars
Parking Lot Cam
Due to tonight's main event between Mance Warner and MJF being an empty arena match, with the added stipulation of looser leaves the company, there have been rumours that Dynasty plan to take Mance out before the match. A Camera man catches up with Dynasty member Richard Holliday asking if the Dynasty are planning on taking out Mance. Holliday avoids the question calling the camera man annoying, then takes a call from Gino Medina where he mentions Logan’s name, before telling the camera man to get out the way, he has something to take care of.
Back Stage interview
Alica Atout is back stage with Mance Warner, she asks him if he is prepared for tonight's match, as he plays off the crowd so much, how is he going to find not having any of fans there to watch and cheer for him. He responds by telling her that yes he loves it when the crowd gets behind him and that he loves the MLW fans, but its good that they will not be there live as he doesn't want them to see what he is going to do MJF tonight. Mance promises to bring the violence to MJF and that he deserves everything he’s got coming. Alicia follows up by saying she is concerned that the other members of Dynasty will try to interfere in the match, to which he responds f*** them, and promises to lay them all out, before saying that he has friends too and maybe they’ll be there, you’ll have to wait and find out.
Video Recap
Last week’s footage of the attack on Bryan Pillman Jr by the members of Injustice replays, due to which all three members, Kotto Brazil, Jordan Oliver and Middleweight champion Myron Reed have all been suspend and fined.
Next Week on MLW
Next week is the start of the MLW and AAA super series starts, some names that have been slated to compete during the series are; Davey Boy Smith Jr, Hijo Del Vikingo, Mance Warner or MJF and Psycho Clown, who has been challenged by LA park and his two sons to a 6 man tag match. Also, Alexander Hammerstone will be defending his National Open Weight Championship as he takes on Laredo Kid.
Back Stage Interview
Alicia Atout is outside the Dynasty locker room, hoping to get a chance to speak to MJF, however Holliday and Hammerstone answer the door to tell her that that will not be happening, before shutting the door, as not to waste the rarefied air.
Back Stage Interview
Alicia Atout is back stage with Savio Vega now, as she wants to discuss the blood feud which has lead to tonight’s main event. Savio says he expects the match to become extra violent, and lets the MLW audience know that he is pulling for Mance Warner as he calls MJF a coward.
PWI top ten contenders for the MLW heavyweight title
10. King Mo
9. Low Ki
8. Mance Warner
7. MJF
6. Richard Holliday
5. Brian Pillman Jr
4. Tom Lawler
3. Davey Boy Smith Jr
2. Myron Reed
1. Alexander Hamerstone
Champion: Jacob Fatu
Video Recap
A video from last weeks main event plays out the final moments of the Match which led to King Mo getting the victory over Low Ki, following this win American Top Team and Team Filthy intend to hold a press coference in two weeks time.
Back Stage Camera
A back stage camera has caught both Hammerstone and Holliday roaming the corridors with weapons in hand as they confront Mance Warner, but while their attention is focussed on Mance Warner, Savio Vega is able to attack the Dynasty members from behind. The footage is interupted for a break, when it returns both Hammerstone and Holliday have been taken out, Savio promises Mance that he’ll watch over the Dynasty members.
Von Erich Video package
A video from the Von Erich compound plays as they talk about the quarantine caused by Covid 19, they send out a positive message about families and communities coming together and supporting each other. Then they turn their attentions to Team Filthy as they let them know what they think about them and that they will be coming for them.
Back Stage Promo
A camera has finally caught up with MJF, as he tells Mance that he has underestimated him, with Mance only thinking that he is just some spoilt rich boy who has been handed everything, after which he tells of personal story of hardship. He follows up that he too can be violent and that Mance will see he’s not the only psycho in MLW.
Main Event
Empty Arena Match Looser Leaves MLW
Mance Warner Vs MJF
As the match kicks off both competitors are already in the ring, so no entrances. You can see that the arena is completely empty bar some ring crew and camera men, not even the announcing team, who must have been back stage watching a video feed. The bell rings, MJF spits his gum in Mance’s face, which only enrages Mance further. MJF gets out of the ring to avoid Mance’s onslaught. They start to battle ring side throwing each other into the guard rails, which are still set up, despite the lack of crowd. MJF then escapes over the said guard rails to get some space, he throws a chair into Mance, giving him the opportunity to launch Mance into the chairs, which are also still set up. The match is being held under falls count anywhere rules, MJF tries to pin Mance after another chair shot, but Mance kicks out. As Mance starts to fight back once more, MJF heads up the bleachers to get away from him but Mance sends MJF tumbling back down. Mance tries to pin him, but MJF kicks out. MJF finds a broom and pins Mance up against the wall by choking him with the broom, the referee and camera man try to stop MJF, MJF lays out the camera man, for getting involved, he then grabs a lit cigarette off of someone from the ring crew and stubs it out on Mance’s forehead. MJF once again tries to escape, even stealing a phone from another member of the ring crew and trying to ring a Taxi, Mance manages to stop him and actually gets MJF back into the ring, after throwing him through a set of chairs and just trying to do as much damage on the way. Once in the ring the two just start trading punches back and forth, Mance is able to get the better of the exchanges and after some Dusty style jabs he hits MJF with bionic elbow, MJF recovers with thumb to Mance’s eye, but Mance answers back with pop up head butt followed by a huge clothes line and MJF is out for the count 1, 2, 3 Mance picks up the pin fall and MJF will have to leave the company.
This match was not as violent as I first expected, but MJF is not a deathmatch wrestler, or a hardcore guy. He is classic heel wrestler, who cheats to win. As such this match could’ve been better, but when you put two polar opposite styles against each other, sometimes a match does not click. There was a lot of running away or trying escape mainly by MJF, and I honestly do not think there was any attempt of some sort of wrestling move or hold during the entire match by either guy.
2 and Half Stars
Final Thoughts
There were only 2 matches on the entire show, which had much shorter run time than normal, at a total of 40mins rather than the usual length and both matches were only round 10-12 minutes, so there were a lot of video packages to make up the time. Anything involving the Dynasty is usually gold and this episode was no different. Holliday and Hammerstone have both got great personalities and it will be shame not to see MJF with them any more, but I feel they’ve improved enough, that although we’ll miss MJF they do not need him any more, with how far they have come in their own personalities to escape MJF’s shadow. The Main event was a little disappointing, I am not fan of Death Match wrestling and MJF does not suit this style of match although he did his best, Mance was not able to do to much, likely at the request of MJF and/or AEW so he never got to unleash his style, I still would’ve just preferred a normal one on one match.
3 stars overall
Andrew More
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