Sometimes, a match is so good that it doesn't just steal the show. It steals the week. This show had one of those matches.
MLW Thoughts
- A replay of the shanking from last week is shown. Looking back on it, I don't think we needed to see someone get stabbed on TV even in an obviously choreographed way.
- Our first match is Gringo Loco taking on Mexican wrestling legend LA PARK (accompanied by Salina de la Renta). Salina's New Year's Resolution is more violence from her stable, according to a pre-taped interview. Well, how do you top stabbing a guy in the ring? Are we bringing in lightsabers next, for God's sakes? The two wrestlers shake hands and salute the crowd before Park suckerpunches him and begins the attack. They start fighting into the crowd. Park attacks Gringo with someone's cardboard sign. I can't tell if Gringo sold it, but I hope he didn't. Back in the ring, Park continues to use his size advantage to dominate Gringo. Park continues to dominate Gringo in the ring and on the floor. He throws Gringo into a guard rail and then powerbombs him through a bed of chairs... on the concrete floor. That just sucks no matter how you try to protect yourself. LA Park is having a blast playing with the crowd while Loco is selling pain on the floor.
Back in the ring, LA Park continues to play the crowd until Gringo hits a cutter from the top rope. 2 count. Gringo goes after the mask of Park and does a suicide dive over the top rope to the floor a moment later. They fight up to the entrance stage. Gringo then climbs up the lighting grid and NAILS A CROSSBODY OFF THE TOP OF IT! Basically, it's like diving off a ladder, if not a bit higher. Park is rolled back in the ring. Gringo climbs up the corner after wasting time shouting with Salina. He misses a Corkscrew Dive off the top rope. Park covers for a 2 count. Park goes on the attack in the corner on Gringo. The referee was trying to stop Park, but Gringo kicks Park causing him to fall back on the referee. Gringo hits a frog splash, but it's on the referee instead of Park. Spear by LA Park. 1-2-3.
(The crowd was chanting "this was awesome." I say this was good, not great. The problem here is that there were too many smoke and mirrors here with the brawling on the floor. And LA Park was playing the crowd way too much and stalling for time. Once the match picked up and Gringo finally started fighting back, the match became good. Loco did some nice moves, but I can't call this anything more than a good TV match.)
- Kotto Brazil cuts an interview about the alleged nightclub incident. He's wearing an eyepatch over one of his eyes. He's coming for Ricky Martinez. His one eye is on him.
- Salina's group has been fined and apparently, Salina's promoter license is being reviewed for possible action. Konnan does an interview on the phone saying he's going to be ok after the attack.
Low Ki cuts a promo talking about his upcoming match with Tom Lawlor. He promises to make an example out of Tom Lawlor that no one will ever forget. One of Lawlor's allies, Fred Yehi, cuts a promo saying he wants to fight Low Ki next week.
- Footage from Ace Romero's victory over Simon Gotch is shown. Ace plans on spending 1/2 of it on food. The other half he plans on spending on something he can't mention on TV. Ok then. He then says he's going after the MLW World Championship.
- Tommy Dreamer cuts a promo about his Singapore Cane Match with Brian Pillman next week. He goes over the history of the Singapore Cane match (the real life incident involving a young man being caned) and his caning angle with The Sandman in ECW. Pillman has a date with a Singapore Cane, and he has no idea what he is about to experience, according to Dreamer.
- Pentagon Jr. takes on Teddy Hart (with The Hart Foundation) in the main event. Jeremy St. Louis (beIN Sports anchor) is given a bunch of things from The Hart Foundation to wear. And does Pentagon Jr. care if The Hart Foundation is out with Teddy Hart? Nope. Remember, he has "Cero Miedo." Pentagon turns down the handshake. The strikes start from both men. Nice superkick by Pentagon. Teddy reverses a suplex into a Guillotine on the top rope. A rope-assisted Cactus Piledriver. TOP ROPE MOONSAULT TO THE FLOOR BY TEDDY HART! Pentagon eventually throws Teddy into a ring post and goes after The Hart Foundation. He insults one of their mothers in Spanish (I'll let you do the translation). PENTAGON NAILS A CANADIAN DESTROYER ON TEDDY HART ON THE EDGE OF THE RING! HOLY BLEEP! Package Piledriver in the ring for a 2 count. (Oh my God. That Canadian Destroyer spot on the edge of the ring was one of the most sick things I've seen in a while. So much could have gone wrong there. Thankfully, Teddy Hart seems to be ok.)
Pentagon goes to the top rope and HITS A JUMPING CANADIAN DESTROYER ON TEDDY HART! 2 count only! The crowd chants "This is awesome." This time, they are right. Heavy chop on the ropes by Pentagon. Teddy Hart climbs on Pentagon and knocks him down with a dropkick. A NICE MOONSAULT OFF THE TOP ON PENTAGON gets a 2 count for Teddy. A Moonsault Elbow Drop off the top rope by Hart gets a 2. Kick to the face of Hart by Pentagon. Pentagon Driver only gets 2 for Pentagon! Geez. (Folks, this is match of the week by far. You have to see this.) Pentagon kicks Pillman on the floor into the rail. Both Pentagon and Hart are on the top rope. Hart knocks him off and hits another moonsault on a standing Pentagon. Hart comes off again and hits his own Canadian Destroyer! Moonsault again off the ropes gets a 2 as Pentagon BARELY kicks out. Teddy goes for a jumping DDT off the top rope, but Pentagon catches him. A surprise roll-up almost gets Pentagon. Lungblower by Hart. Hammerlock DDT by Hart. POWERBOMB LUNGBLOWER! 1-2-3! Teddy Hart wins.
(What an absolutely great match here between Teddy Hart and Pentagon. These guys told a great story during the match and did some sick moves in the process. There may have been too many Canadian Destroyers and moonsaults for some in this match, but that doesn't take away from the fact that these two men put on one hell of a show that was head-and-shoulders above any other match this week on TV in any company. )
Overall, this is a good show in my opinion, but that last match was great. Add to that some storyline progressions in the Lawlor/Low Ki situation. MLW continues to do more with less than other companies with twice the talent roster.
Check this episode out in the video below. At the very least, you owe it to yourself as a wrestling fan to watch Hart vs. Pentagon. Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
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