This weeks episode comes from Tijuana, Mexico for the 1st week of the MLW x AAA Super Series, two matches on tap for this week’s episode. The main event is for the national open weight championship as champion Alexander Hammerstone takes on the challenger Laredo Kid. The 1st match is Savio Vega and Mance Warner taking on Pagano and Ortiz in a Tijuana Barrio match, which is a street brawl so expect carnage. Note that this event took place back in February before the lock down was put in place so has been recorded with a live crowd.
Tijuana Barrio match
MLW Savio Vega and Mance Warner Vs AAA Pagano and Ortiz.
Alexander Hammerstone decides to to join AJ Kirsch and Rich Bocchini on commentary, before the match kicks off we have an interview with Mance Warner and Savio Vega. Alicia Atout first talks to Mance about his match with MJF, in which he sent MJF out of the company, first he hi-fives Alicia before he tells her how he whooped his ass, hit the “pay window” and sent him packing before having a light beer. In steps Savio who starts to talk up the up coming match, saying he excited for the brawl, so excited he switches to his native language. Once he finishes Mance says he didn’t understand what he said, but he's also pumped before heading to the ring.
They attempt to actually follow the rules of an actual tag match, with Mance and Ortiz on the apron and Pagano and Savio in ring to start the match, this lasts less than minute however, after Pagano is whipped into the corner Savio goes to strike but accidentally hits Mance to floor, Savio then throws Pagano to the floor where he immediately starts brawling with Mance, Ortiz enters the ring and him and Savio start trading shots, as the other two continue to brawl outside. From here the match breaks down and the carnage starts, with so much happening its hard to keep track, there were tables, chairs, ring boards, doors and even a car hood, which may have been AJ Kirsch’s. At one point Ortiz lights a table on fire attempting to throw Mance through it, this backfires and Mance is able to put Ortiz through the flaming table instead. Towards the end of the Match, Alexander Hammerstone who had been on Commentary excuses him self from the desk, as he has to go pick up his order from the pharmacy but this was all ruse as he ends up coming down to ring and delivers a huge boot to the face of Mance, Pagano takes advantage of this as he hits his finisher on Savio to pick up the win.
This match was approx. 17 mins long, for me this match just went on 15mins more than it should’ve, I am not a fan of this style of wrestling, to me there is no art to it, just people doing crazy shit to each other. I am a fan of Mance Warner, I just wish he would cut out all this garbage wrestling, he has an excellent promo and can go in ring with his brawling style. Savio unfortunately has passed his sell by date, he cannot effectively wrestle like he used to which is why he has to compete in these kinds of matches. If this is the style of wrestling Pagano is going to bring to MLW well I cannot say I am excited to see what he brings to company. his partner Ortiz did nothing of note that I can think of during the match other than set himself on fire. Overall I was not fan of this match, I like an old school hardcore match but modern day death matches are not my cup of tea, and honestly I have seen better street fights.
1 and half Star
Video Promo
A promo of Tom Lawler about the recent suspension of King Mo after he used a baseball bat to put Killer Kross out of MLW and Tom is not happy about it, accusing the league official's of Bias as Team Filthy and American top team together were getting too powerful as unit so they had to suspend King Mo. After which he announces that he and team filthy stable mate Dominic Garrini are joining the tag team division so he can take titles from the Von Erichs, who he accuses of hiding in Hawaii.
Video Promo
The Injustice Members Myron Reed, Kotto Brazil and Jordan Oliver, via secret location to avoid MLW management but they do have a message for them, that is they will not pay the 10 thousand dollar fine for what they did to Brian Pillman and they have no remorse for what they did.
Next Week on MLW
Next weeks edition of the MLW super series will see MLW’s Douglas James face off against AAA’s Averno, and the main event will see MLW’s Tom Lawler and Dominic Garrini of Team Filthy go up against AAA’s Puma King and Extreme Tiger.
Back Stage Interview
Konnan is back stage with Alicia Atout as they discuss how well the Super Series is going, but before they can really get into it, Injustice arrive to hassle Konnan into giving them an opportunity against AAA’s Trio Championship, to which Konnan agrees and makes the match there and then.
Video Promo
Psycho Clown responds to the challenge laid out by LA Park last week, of course he agrees to the match and he looks forward to it.
Still To compete in the MLW VS AAA Super Series
Texano Jr, Richard Holliday, Psicosis, Davy Boy Smith Jr, Octango Jr, Psycho Clown
Main Event
National Heavyweight Championship
Champion Alexander Hammerstone Vs Challenger Laredo Kid
We get an interview with Alexander Hammerstone before the match, Alicia Atout asks if he is worried about the fact that the Dynasty have been on a loosing streak as of late, to which he responds by calling it fake news, asking her who told her to push this narrative. He then talks about the fact that he is the Open Heavyweight championship and that he has defeated challengers from all over the world and is on his 10th title defence, the most in MLW history. He talks about Laredo Kid saying that a Luchador is no threat to him, that he is as much a threat as a cockroach.
The Match starts off, with Hammerstone throwing the much smaller Laredo Kid across the ring, each time they lock up. Laredo Kid tries to get the crowd behind him, as he hits Hammerstone with a couple kicks before using his speed and agility to force Hammerstone out the ring, he then flies off of the turn buckle over the ropes colliding with Hammerstone. Once they’re back into the ring it is Hammerstone who takes the advantage with his immense power hitting Laredo Kid with a Uranage for a two count, he then lifts Laredo Kid with a Double underhook stalling Suplex, a move he calls the Spinal countdown, he goes for the pin again on Laredo Kid. Hammerstone then lifts his head up at the count of two, wanting to do more damage to Laredo Kid. Out of no where Laredo Kid starts fighting back, hitting a drop kick from the top rope followed by a suicide dive almost knocking Hammerstone over the guard rail and into the crowd. They then battle around the ring side and Laredo Kid has Hammerstone dazed. Back into the ring Laredo Kid Hits Hammerstone with two moonsaults and goes for a pin but only gets a two count, Hammerstone fights back with two hard shots before hitting a reverse death valley driver only for another two count pin, he complains to the referee about a slow count then goes for his Nightmare Pendulum finisher, Laredo escapes and gets a school boy but Hammerstone kicks out at the count of two. Hammerstone clearly agitated, hits Laredo Kid with a huge clothes line turning him inside out, Hammerstone then perches him up on the top turnbuckle, he then climbs up but Laredo Kid Knocks him down to the ring mat, he hits a 450 splash into the pin, Hammerstone again kicks out at the count of two. Laredo Kid now perches Hammerstone on the top turn buckle, before climbing up, Hammerstone pushes him back down and hits a bicycle kick, he goes for clothes line but Laredo Kidd ducks and Hammerstone takes out the referee. With the Referee down Hammerstone connects a clothesline on Laredo Kid, he goes to the top rope, Laredo Kick hits him with a kick, goes to the top rope with Hammerstone and hits a huge Spanish fly but there is no referee to make the count, Laredo Kid goes to help the referee back into ring, whilst he is distracted Hammerstone catches him throwing him over head with a German Suplex, followed by Power bomb, then he lifts Laredo Kid with his Nightmare Pendulum again, then he grabs the referee before hitting his finish 1,2,3 Hammerstone squares up the series for MLW, with one victory each.
This was a great match, a classic big man vs small man and they both did an excellent job. Hammerstone gets better every time I see him in the ring, he is quick for his size and is as powerful as he looks, he is the meat castle upon muscle mountain (I wonder if that's anywhere near moustache mountain). Laredo Kid is one of the top stars in Mexico and it is easy to see why, he did a great job in this match, landed some incredible moves, he truly deserves to be star he is.
4 Stars
Final Thoughts
Only putting two matches on per episode rather than the usual 3 match show will buy them at least 1 maybe two weeks of more programming for the fans which is good in these strange times, we need entertainment to help with lock down. The first match was god awful, just an absolute mess, the main event saved this weeks episode with the Laredo Kid and Hammerstone match , it was awesome. The promos throughout the show by various performers were all on point, and helped to keep the story lines fresh in our memories. So a decent start the Super Series, the only down was the first match that stops this weeks episode from being great. I apologize for the late up load of the MLW recap and review I promise MLW 106 and the most recent Super Series show will be up tomorrow.
3 and half Stars
Andrew More
Commentaires