This is the first of two reviews I'm doing on 1/31/19 in order to get caught up on MLW. For this episode, we're getting The Hart Foundation vs. The Dirty Blondes and Shane "Swerve" Strickland vs. Rush.
MLW (1/18/19)- Episode 40
- We start the show with Shane Strickland in the ring. He starts cutting a promo about hating MLW. He's here for the money and the fact that MLW has no one that can match his skills. He calls himself the "Gold Standard." And here comes RUSH. Rush gets on the mic and insults Strickland. He jumps Rush, and it's on.
The bell rings, and Swerve (Strickland) takes the attack to Rush in the ring and on the floor. Rush gets thrown around into the guard rail and against the ring post. Back in the ring, Swerve continues to beat up Rush as he dropkicks the knee of Rush in the corner. Swerve continues to work the knee and transitions between a couple submission holds.
Swerve continues the attack with kicks to the chest of Rush. Rush crumbles to the mat. Rush gets Swerve on the floor and starts going on the attack. They go out into the audience. Rush throws Swerve through some doors and throws a steel trashcan at him. Both are back in the ring. Rush gets the mock kick on Strickland in the corner and does the Tranquilo pose. Heavy chops by Rush. Now he asks Swerve to give him some. Swerve smacks Rush in the face. Rush dropkicks Swerve in the back of the head. Swerve almost rolls up Rush for the pin, but Rush kicks out. Strickland gets a cutter on Rush for another 2 count. Superplex by Rush. 2 count only as Swerve kicks out. Rush is pointing to someone in the audience. He spends too much time working the crowd, and he finally climbs to the top. He misses a senton dive. Swerve climbs up and hits the double stomp. 2 count only. Brainbuster. 2 count only again for Swerve. Swerve is getting frustrated as yet another attempt to get Rush down has failed. Rush and Strickland are going back and forth. Big slap and stomps on the shoulders by Rush. RUNNING DROPKICK TO SWERVE IN THE CORNER! 2 count only. Double Underhook Piledriver (Rush-Driver) gets the 3 for Rush FINALLY.
(Good opening match here that went the better part of 13-14 minutes. Rush continues to impress in the limited number of appearances I've seen him perform. This may be the last time we see him on an MLW show. As for Swerve, I keep hearing conflicting reports on where he's heading next. Still these guys did some good work in here.)
- Salina discusses signing a match between LA PARK and Sami Callihan for next week. LA PARK will not stop until Sami is fired or dead. Wow.
- Next, Ace Romero takes on Ariel Dominguez. Barrington Hughes joins the commentary team for this match. Dominguez is outweighed by about 260 pounds here. He keeps bouncing around trying to avoid Romero, but Romero keeps finding ways to get to him. Romero misses a seated attack on Dominguez. Dominguez throws himself at Ace one too many times and gets slammed. Running splash squashes Dominguez and gives Acey Baby the win. Hughes mouths off at Ace to end the segment.
- Brian Pillman Jr. cuts a promo about beating up Tommy Dreamer.
- Low Ki talks about being an undefeated MLW Champion for 15 years. (This is almost as laughable as the Fabulous Moolah's long reign.) He tells Tom Lawlor that he'll join the list of people who failed to take him down over the years.
- Ricky Martinez takes on Gringo Loco next. Gringo does some high flying moves to start the match, but Martinez is not too impressed. A running neckbreaker cutter by Martinez gives him the advantage. Martinez does the silly Double Legged Head Smash into the mat repeatedly. Shoulder tackle by Martinez. A Superplex by Gringo only gets a 2 count. A cutter off the middle rope by Gringo gets another close count. Salina pulls Martinez out of the way of a Corkscrew Plancha. Martinez rakes the eyes of Gringo. Martinez hits some sort of Gutbuster for the win.
(Nothing to really say about this match. It wasn't much for me. They didn't have much momentum going, and it just seemed to be there. No chemistry.)
- Col. Parker is backstage with the Dirty Blondes. He wants to see some winning out there. He'll have someone's hide if they don't get the job done. Ok then.
- Tom Lawlor cuts a promo about getting the chance to finally get at Low Ki. He promises to make Low Ki go to sleep.
- Matt Striker announces that MLW Fusion will be live from the old ECW Arena Friday Feb. 2nd.
- We get Col. Parker's team of Dirty Blondes taking on The Hart Foundation (Brian Pillman Jr. and Davey Boy Smith Jr.) in the main event. Smith shows off his impressive power and athleticism in the beginning with suplexes and dropkicks. Tag to Pillman. Pillman gets a dropkick in on one of the Blondes. The Blondes make some tags to double team on Pillman. Classic heel double team behind the referee's back as well. Pillman gets away and tags in Smith. Tags on both ends actually. Smith takes out both members of the Blondes. Ten punches in the corner. Running Powerslam only gets 1. Pillman helps Smith fight off one of the Blondes. SUPERPLEX BY SMITH!!!! 1-2-3! A tribute to the Dynamite Kid by Smith.
(Decent enhancement match here for the Hart Foundation. But again, this wasn't special by any stretch of the imagination.)
Overall, this felt more like a Saturday Night's Main Event than an episode of MLW. The main event arguably was the impromptu match at the beginning with everything else being enhancement matches and promos to help set up future matches. There's nothing wrong with that at all for a 45-50 minute show. I'd recommend checking out the first match on this show. Again, it was a good (not great) match that shows off Swerve and Rush quite well.
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
MLW (1/18/19)- Episode 40
- We start the show with Shane Strickland in the ring. He starts cutting a promo about hating MLW. He's here for the money and the fact that MLW has no one that can match his skills. He calls himself the "Gold Standard." And here comes RUSH. Rush gets on the mic and insults Strickland. He jumps Rush, and it's on.
The bell rings, and Swerve (Strickland) takes the attack to Rush in the ring and on the floor. Rush gets thrown around into the guard rail and against the ring post. Back in the ring, Swerve continues to beat up Rush as he dropkicks the knee of Rush in the corner. Swerve continues to work the knee and transitions between a couple submission holds.
Swerve continues the attack with kicks to the chest of Rush. Rush crumbles to the mat. Rush gets Swerve on the floor and starts going on the attack. They go out into the audience. Rush throws Swerve through some doors and throws a steel trashcan at him. Both are back in the ring. Rush gets the mock kick on Strickland in the corner and does the Tranquilo pose. Heavy chops by Rush. Now he asks Swerve to give him some. Swerve smacks Rush in the face. Rush dropkicks Swerve in the back of the head. Swerve almost rolls up Rush for the pin, but Rush kicks out. Strickland gets a cutter on Rush for another 2 count. Superplex by Rush. 2 count only as Swerve kicks out. Rush is pointing to someone in the audience. He spends too much time working the crowd, and he finally climbs to the top. He misses a senton dive. Swerve climbs up and hits the double stomp. 2 count only. Brainbuster. 2 count only again for Swerve. Swerve is getting frustrated as yet another attempt to get Rush down has failed. Rush and Strickland are going back and forth. Big slap and stomps on the shoulders by Rush. RUNNING DROPKICK TO SWERVE IN THE CORNER! 2 count only. Double Underhook Piledriver (Rush-Driver) gets the 3 for Rush FINALLY.
(Good opening match here that went the better part of 13-14 minutes. Rush continues to impress in the limited number of appearances I've seen him perform. This may be the last time we see him on an MLW show. As for Swerve, I keep hearing conflicting reports on where he's heading next. Still these guys did some good work in here.)
- Salina discusses signing a match between LA PARK and Sami Callihan for next week. LA PARK will not stop until Sami is fired or dead. Wow.
- Next, Ace Romero takes on Ariel Dominguez. Barrington Hughes joins the commentary team for this match. Dominguez is outweighed by about 260 pounds here. He keeps bouncing around trying to avoid Romero, but Romero keeps finding ways to get to him. Romero misses a seated attack on Dominguez. Dominguez throws himself at Ace one too many times and gets slammed. Running splash squashes Dominguez and gives Acey Baby the win. Hughes mouths off at Ace to end the segment.
- Brian Pillman Jr. cuts a promo about beating up Tommy Dreamer.
- Low Ki talks about being an undefeated MLW Champion for 15 years. (This is almost as laughable as the Fabulous Moolah's long reign.) He tells Tom Lawlor that he'll join the list of people who failed to take him down over the years.
- Ricky Martinez takes on Gringo Loco next. Gringo does some high flying moves to start the match, but Martinez is not too impressed. A running neckbreaker cutter by Martinez gives him the advantage. Martinez does the silly Double Legged Head Smash into the mat repeatedly. Shoulder tackle by Martinez. A Superplex by Gringo only gets a 2 count. A cutter off the middle rope by Gringo gets another close count. Salina pulls Martinez out of the way of a Corkscrew Plancha. Martinez rakes the eyes of Gringo. Martinez hits some sort of Gutbuster for the win.
(Nothing to really say about this match. It wasn't much for me. They didn't have much momentum going, and it just seemed to be there. No chemistry.)
- Col. Parker is backstage with the Dirty Blondes. He wants to see some winning out there. He'll have someone's hide if they don't get the job done. Ok then.
- Tom Lawlor cuts a promo about getting the chance to finally get at Low Ki. He promises to make Low Ki go to sleep.
- Matt Striker announces that MLW Fusion will be live from the old ECW Arena Friday Feb. 2nd.
- We get Col. Parker's team of Dirty Blondes taking on The Hart Foundation (Brian Pillman Jr. and Davey Boy Smith Jr.) in the main event. Smith shows off his impressive power and athleticism in the beginning with suplexes and dropkicks. Tag to Pillman. Pillman gets a dropkick in on one of the Blondes. The Blondes make some tags to double team on Pillman. Classic heel double team behind the referee's back as well. Pillman gets away and tags in Smith. Tags on both ends actually. Smith takes out both members of the Blondes. Ten punches in the corner. Running Powerslam only gets 1. Pillman helps Smith fight off one of the Blondes. SUPERPLEX BY SMITH!!!! 1-2-3! A tribute to the Dynamite Kid by Smith.
(Decent enhancement match here for the Hart Foundation. But again, this wasn't special by any stretch of the imagination.)
Overall, this felt more like a Saturday Night's Main Event than an episode of MLW. The main event arguably was the impromptu match at the beginning with everything else being enhancement matches and promos to help set up future matches. There's nothing wrong with that at all for a 45-50 minute show. I'd recommend checking out the first match on this show. Again, it was a good (not great) match that shows off Swerve and Rush quite well.
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
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