MLW Fusion Alpha Results: Powell’s Review of Bobby Fish vs. Davey Richards in Opera Cup Tournament Semi-Final Game, Los Parks vs. 5150, 12-Player Survival Tag Team Game

By Jason Powell, editor of ProWrestling.net (@prowrestlingnet)

Major League Wrestling Fusion: Alpha (Episode 8)
Recorded in Philadelphia, PA at 2300 Arena
Aired on November 10, 2021 on MLW’s YouTube page and on FITE TV

The show opened with a photo of Alex Hammerstone and EJ Nduka speaking when Emilio Sparks asked about Hammerstone’s ankle. They said they were talking about the game. Sparks approached Richard Holliday, who blew him away because he was on the phone. Holliday spoke to “Max” and said he appreciated that he wanted to be in the War Chamber match.

Cesar Duran showed up with his masked man. Duran asked about adding to their War Chamber team. Hammerstone and Nduka said they didn’t trust him. Nduka said they don’t make a deal with the devil because they don’t want pitchforks behind their backs. Duran explained how this could be the final battle between MLW and Contra. Hammerstone told him to get right to the point if he had someone he could put in the game. Duran showed the key he wore around his neck …

Rich Bocchini and Joe Dombrowski checked the comments during the entries for the opener. They cut the scenes where Jacob Fatu was rocking and behind held by Atlas Security …

1. LA Park, Hijo de LA Park and LA Park Jr. v Homicide, Slice Boogie and Rivera (with Konnan, Julius Smokes). The game started without Homicide and LA Park. Homicide came out to a great pop, and the broadcast crew assumed he was the reason LA Park didn’t come out. LA Park came out seconds later and looked good.

LA Park, Hijo de LA Park, and LA Park Jr. fought Homicide, Slice Boogie, and Rivera without challenge.

The teams got into a fight and the match was called off. They continued to fight after the bell. They would always fight on stage before a break … [C]

Powell’s point of view: A savage brawl with tables and chairs. At the very least, MLW tag matches are still hardcore style brawls, even when the Von Erichs are absent. The crowd enjoyed the game and were especially ready for Homicide.

A hype graphic Gnarls Garvin as to come… A promo of Josef Samael has been broadcast. He has sworn against the Philadelphia fans and said they have been known to support Losers, so it’s no surprise that they support Hammerstone, Holliday and Nduka. He said it wouldn’t matter because there would be nowhere to run and nowhere to hide in the war room…

The brawl of the 5150 and Los Parks continued behind the scenes. Jacob Fatu was able to escape safety. The fight ended when one of LA Park’s sons lost his mask …

2. EJ Nduka, Richard Holliday, Savio Vega, Blue Meanie, Warhorse and Zenshi against Ikuro Kwon, KC Navarro, King Mo Lawal, Gino Medina, Kevin Ku and The Beastman (with Kimchee) in a 12-man survival tag team match. Once everyone was in the ring, Nduka’s team quickly knocked the other team out of the ring and then settled into a tag team match. Ku pinned Warhorse to eliminate him from the match. Nduka knocked out King Mo, then knocked out Ku to knock them out of the match. [C]

Beastman performed a slam fallaway and a cannonball in the corner on Zenshi, then pinned him down. Savio Vega brought a kendo stick into the ring and worked on Beastman with it until the ref took it off. Beastman took advantage of this distraction and took out Vega. Beastman also took out Blue Meanie, who the mob booed.

Nduka brutalized Kimchee, who tried to intervene. Nduka took down Beastman with a spinebuster and pinned him down, then hit the same move on Kimchee. The referee counted the pin on Kimchee even though he wasn’t actually in the game.

Holliday and Medina ended up fighting at ringside. Holliday tried to come back, but Kwon gave him a great kick. Medina returned to the ring while Holliday was counted. Nduka spinebustered on Medina and pinned him down. Navarro jumped off the third rope at Nduka, who grabbed him, slammed him and pinned him. Kwon attacked Nduka. In the end, Nduka squeezed Kwon over his head, then executed a rough spinebuster and scored the pin to win the match …

EJ Nduka, Richard Holliday, Savio Vega, Blue Meanie, Warhorse and Zenshi defeated Ikuro Kwon, KC Navarro, King Mo Lawal, Gino Medina, Kevin Ku and The Beastman.

Powell’s point of view: The teams were super random, but it was obviously a showcase for Nduka before the War Chamber game. Still, it felt like a “get everyone on the show” game. Navarro and Zenshi have spent some time together in the ring and continue to impress. I jumped for Kimchee. No complaints that King Mo was knocked out without doing much in the ring.

Dombrowski announced that Duran will have another surprise for next week’s War Chamber special …

Behind the scenes, Duran spoke with Willow Nightingale, who said she admires Duran’s work. She said she came to MLW to win the MLW Featherweight Championship, not to make friends. Duran shook his hand. The masked henchman introduced himself and spoke to Duran, who apologized for his conversation with Nightingale… [C]

A hype NZO teaser video coming soon on MLW…

In Duran’s office, Fatu grabbed the henchman. Duran remained calm and told Fatu that no one wants to fight. Fatu freed the henchman. Duran made a play to get between Fatu and Josef Samael, but Fatu said that nothing separated them…

The broadcast crew announced the War Chamber game for next week, then read the tape’s story for the main event…

3. Bobby Fish vs. Davey Richards in an Opera Cup semi-final match. The broadcast team brought up the idea that Fish wanted to take the Opera Cup with him to AEW. Late in the game, Fish applied a hook to the heel. Richards teased with a pat, but eventually escaped the hold.

The wrestlers threw simultaneous kicks, then took turns throwing kicks before throwing simultaneous kicks again. Richards applied an ankle lock which Fish escaped from. Richards kicked Fish in the head, then brainbustered and went for the pin, but Fish was kicked out. Richards applied the ankle lock again and took the victory by submission.

Davey Richards defeated Bobby Fish to advance to the Opera Cup tournament final.

After the game, Richards and Fish shook hands and kissed…

Backstage, Alicia Trump interviewed Alexander Hammerstone, Richard Holliday and EJ Nduka. She noted that Savio Vega would be part of their War Chamber team and wondered who the last man would be. Nduka said Duran had previously used the key around his neck for his brother. Hammerstone said no one had seen Duran’s brother in years.

Holliday said he was not happy that Vega was on their team. “He’s not a babyface like us,” Holiday said. Hammerstone said Holliday is a preteen at best. Funny. Duran’s masked henchman entered the scene and whispered in Trump’s ear. She said something about Holliday getting a title shot.

Hammerstone jokingly asked how he could trust Holliday again. Holliday joked that he would stab Hammerstone in the back, then explained how he would turn on him (it was similar to Paul Orndorff turning on Hulk Hogan). Hammerstone looked at the camera and said that Duran didn’t play mind games with them because he wanted to face Holliday and Nduka, because he wanted to face the best. Hammerstone said they would win War Chamber no matter what games Duran throws at them …

A video package released for next week’s War Chamber game …

Powell’s point of view: A very good game from the main event. The more traditional style in the ring was a welcome change from the first two games. Of course, the different styles are part of what makes MLW fun. The broadcast team have said the next semi-final game will be broadcast in two weeks (this game and the finals were recorded at Saturday’s event in Philly).

The post-match promo with Hammerstone, Holliday and Nduka was a lot of fun. Duran’s brother tease is about the character of Matanza played by Jeff Cobb in Lucha Underground. It’s weird that these characters are talking about baby faces and heels, but seemingly unaware that Cobb wrestles in NJPW and even appeared on AEW TV. Either way, I fell in love with the Holliday tour storyline and the tween conversation, and Hammerstone looked really good to say he was welcoming the challenge from his two buddies. I started late with the screener this week, so my audio review for this episode will be available later tonight or, more likely, Thursday morning.

Listen to “Podcast 11/18 Pro Wrestling Boom with Jason Powell (Episode 136): Court Bauer on MLW Reboot, Pandemic Precautions and More” on Spreaker.

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