A solid line up for show 95, starting with Davey Boy Smith Vs Simon Gotch in a no holds barred match with no ropes and no rules. Finishing with a Main Event of MJF Vs Marshal Von Erich and sandwiched in the middle, a middleweight title match between Champion Myron Reed Vs Drago from the AAA promotion, as well a TV appearance of top Lucha star Air Wolf. Show kicks off with a quick video package recapping previous weeks episodes highlighting all of tonight's matches and angles and then straight into the action.
The first match up was a no holds barred match, Davey Boy Smith against Simon Gotch. Davey is still angry with Contra over the fire ball to Teddy Harts face. Simon Gotch is accompanied to the ring by Josef Samael. There are no rules and no ropes to this match and the only way to win is via submission or knockout. This match is a technical master piece, Davey boy’s technical acumen is second to none and he really showed it here. His transitions from holds to submissions, the way he would move from side guide to full mount was beautiful, true wrestling at its finest. Of course this is professional wrestling and there was a story to be told as well, so Simon Gotch managed to take advantage for short period. Eventually Davey puts an end to the match via belly to back suplexes making sure to drop Gotch right on the back of his head, eventually the referee comes Gotch’s aid putting an end of the match via Knock out. This type of match may not be everyone's cup of tea, it certainly is mine, yes it slow paced, no there were no dives, there were no flips, this was catch wrestling and I loved it, however I did feel the match came to sharp end, off the suplexes.
3 and ¾ stars. (This would’ve been 4 stars had not been for the flat finish)
A set of video packages follow the first match.
First package is for Intimidation Games 2020, Saturday April 18th, Chicago tickets available at Luchatickets.com for $10.00.
Second Package for the Life Styles of Rich and Dynastic, newest member Gino Medina is sitting with Richard Holliday and Alexander Hammerstone, Hammerstone is bragging about the sponsorship deal he picked up in Japan in whilst on tour with Noah. The deal for a Japanese soda, and as it would turn out, the sponsorship deal is not worth much money at all. Side note I have tried this Soda at Sunnycon last year and I love it. Holliday states it’s okay he’d get his lawyer, slash father, to set up proper deal and they’ll get the soda’s in store nationwide. I love the Dynasty they’re an excellent group why AEW did not sign the whole group along with MJF still confuses me, this is another excellent segment.
Third Package plays back last weeks main event between Mance Warner Vs Jimmy Havok barb wire match won by Warner, after the match face still drenched in blood he addresses the camera, stating he is done with Jimmy. He then looks to future and talks about wanting to put gold around his waist, and calls out Open weight champion Alexander Hammerstone. Mance Warner is a fantastic talker, I am so glad he is done with Jimmy Havok and I’m looking forward to seeing a programme between Warner and Hammerstone.
Final Package is “Lawler does Dallas”, the camera is following Tom and the latest member of team filthy Dominic Garini, as they go around the Von Erichs home town of Dallas. On this episode Dominic and Tom enter a cowboy shop, where they purchase boots and belt buckles. This was good segment I’ve not seen much of Tom being funny and in these segments it will be good to see more of his personality come through.
On to the middleweight championship match, Champion Myron Reed takes on Drago of AAA, Drago is here to defend the honour of his promotion and its promoter Konnan, Myron is accompanied to the ring by his fellow Injustice cohorts, Kotta Brazil and Jordan Oliver. Jordan gets on mic and he is brilliantly annoying you just want to smack him in his smug face, he tries to get the crowd to chant for “Hot Fire” Reed, no one joins in. The match gets underway, this match is much more frantic and fast paced compared to the last, plenty of flips and dives, confirming why they call it MLW fusion, so many different styles. Injustice may be annoying but there is no taking away their athletic ability Myron Reed is no exception a variety of diving cutters and spring board dives always followed up some show boating makes you want to hate him, still wearing his body protector which plays a factor once more, his Injustice buddy’s cause distraction after distraction. Drago did not get a huge amount of offence in, you could see he was still tired from competing an earlier in the night but despite this still managed to pull of some excellent Lucha arm drags and dives but despite his efforts he is unable to overcome the constant interference from Jordan and Kotta. Myron Reed is able to hit his spring board 450 splash to pick up the win. There was situation during the pin fall where the referee did not want to make the three count, it will be interesting to see where this going.
3 and half Stars
Couple of back stage segments follow the 2nd match;
Segment One is an Interview with Alicia Atout and Low Ki, Alicia is talking to Low Ki about him being the Knock out King of MLW following many matches finished via referee stoppage. Just as Low Ki is trying to respond, along comes former MMA star King Mo and his Coach, they discuss how they managed to KO one of Low Ki’s trainer partners Roger Graice. This looks to be up coming feud between Low Ki and King Mo, this will be good for King Mo to get in the ring with one of the most experienced wrestlers in MLW.
Segment two is for Contra Unit, a quick promotion of next weeks main event between Brian Pillman Jr vs Jacob Fatu for the heavyweight title. News comes from back stage that Air Wolf had been attacked back stage by mask men and will not be competing, Contra Unit takes credit for the attack apparently it was their Sentai death squad. A video promo from Contra follows, Samael talks about ending the hart foundation once and for all with Jacob Fatu standing the back.
Main Event Time, MJF Vs Marshal Von Erich, a video promo plays for the Von Erichs prior to match, we also have Tom Lawler on commentary. MJF enters the arena first he’s not alone of course he has his Dynasty cronies with him, Gino Medina and Alexander Hammerstone, of course MJF has to take Mic and damn he is good cutting a very touchy promo on the Von Erichs, he’s better than us and we know it. Out comes von Erich to massive ovation being in the home town of the Von Erich’s Dallas Texas, Tom Lawler is not happy about it, just before the match kicks off, the Referee kicks outs the two members of Dynasty. MJF and Marshal have classic old school type match, MJF works as an amazing heel, after forcing Marshal to miss chop, hitting the ring post instead, MJF does a magnificent job of working the hand and arm over, the commentators point out if Marshal hand is bad he wont be able to apply the Von Erich Claw. Despite MJF working over Marshal’s hand and arm, he is able to fight back after hitting some big moves, the crowd gets pumped, Marshal hits one of best moonsaults I have seen for man his size. This of course brings the Dynasty members out once again, Marshal manages to take care of them before applying the Claw to MJF, making him tap out. This was an excellent match, MJF works like a true pro for someone so young, the way he controlled the match and fans is amazing, Marshal Von Erich is absolute stud he is future star.
4 Stars
Overall this was great show this week, 3 truly solid matches the advancement of story lines was evident to see. The guys they let cut promos were all excellent this weeks, the video packages once again were all done professionally and looked good. MLW remains to be one of the best sleeper promotions always offering young talent to break out. As always MLW is free to watch on YouTube.
4 Star Show
Andrew More
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