Major League Wrestling taped its ‘Never Say Never’ event on July 12th at The Coliseum in St. Petersburg, Florida. The show streamed on August 12th on YouTube, featuring Emmy Award-winning actor Paul Walter Hauser taking on former UFC fighter “Filthy” Tom Lawlor.
Full results and thoughts below:
– Opera Cup Tournament 1st Round: Místico submitted Magnus via La Mistica
– Opera Cup Tournament 1st Round: Bad Dude Tito over Danny Jones
Clip of Paul Walter Hauser’s new Apple TV+ show The Instigators with Casey Affleck
– Brett Ryan Gosselin pinned Jake Crist via The Key to Victory: Bobby Fish was on commentary, aligned with BRG as they hit Crist with a spike piledriver on the exposed floor.
– AJ Francis over Davey Boy Smith Jr. w/ Saint Laurent via DQ: The referee DQ’d Smith because he wouldn’t break a rear naked choke after the five count. Smith wrestled in jeans like his father wore during his 1999 WWE run.
– “God Queen” Delmi Exo w/ Cesar Duran pinned Renee Michelle with the Delmi Driver (package piledriver)
Interview with Gigi Rey: The Canadian indie wrestling standout says she’s looking to make her mark in the featherweight division. Renee Michelle got in her face.
– Opera Cup Tournament Round 1: Alex Kane w/ Faye Jackson defeated Mr. Thomas
– MMA Cage Match: Paul Walter Hauser beat “Filthy” Tom Lawlor:
American Top Team MMA Gym in Coconut Creek, FL, was the designated battleground. Lawlor was dressed in a Cobra Kai Gi, smoking a cigarette and drinking shots of Jäger. The “fight” started in the cage but spilled over to a boxing ring.
Hauser delivered with a White Russian Leg Sweep and speared Lawlor through the cage. Lawlor drilled Hauser with a Death Valley Driver through a table with food on it for a two count. Hauser ate a bag of chips as he struggled to get to his feet.
Lawlor yelled at the referee for calling a rope break in a fight. The ref enforced both MMA and Pro Wrestling rules. Hauser escaped a rear naked choke. Lawlor hit himself in the head with his own nunchucks, allowing Hauser to deliver a Flatliner for the 1-2-3.
– CONTRA (Mads Krueger, Ikuro Kwon, Minoru Suzuki) defeated MLW World Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima, Matt Riddle, AKIRA: Akira was pinned when he took a chair shot from Krueger after pushing Kojima out of the way.
Final Thoughts:
MLW is the #4 wrestling promotion in the United States behind TNA, AEW, and WWE. The product has an MMA influence that makes the shows feel fresh in several aspects. Matches are called fights, and the women’s division is designated the featherweight division.
Viewer discretion is advised as MLW is not family-friendly. While the cursing, mature storylines, and violence are far from gratuitous, they are consistent enough not to catch a viewer off guard.
Storylines like the top lieutenant of Acztec Underground leader Cesar Duran getting his daughter pregnant are intriguing, but the execution needs improvement.
The roster has a good mix of world-class talent, well-traveled mid-level names, and up-and-coming wrestlers from the independent scene. That’s not to say there aren’t a few thorns.
Renee Michelle needs to work on her game. I’ve seen her wrestle several times, and she always looks timid and narrowly avoids landing on her head after an errored move or spot.
Backstage assaults with many masked assistants are brutal to watch as punches and kicks lack intensity and look fake. MLW needs to either hire better extras or give better direction.
According to Forbes.com, MLW’s tickets are currently the highest they’ve ever been. Their expansion is slow and steady as a small promotion in an increasingly crowded space. Ultimately, MLW won’t be able to make a big push until they hold more shows and sign exclusive talent.
RingsideLogic.com 