Welcome to Fury Road, fans!
El Galeon Fantasma vs. Atlantis, Blue Panther & Diego Hill – Trios match
Blue Panther and Difunto started this match off as they attempt to establish a handle on each other. Most of the fighting has been kept grounded and busting with submission ventures. The moment Hill and Zandokan Jr. stepped in, things began to pick up a little. Junior hit Diego with a massive chop, so Hill returned fire, so much so that it hurt his hand.
Things got out of control when everyone slipped within the ring to attack the opposition. El Galeon Fantasma had Atlantis at their mercy as Zandokan strikes him with a missile drop kick to the chest. Blue became the victim of a 3-on-1 assault when he came back from being tossed aside. Once normalcy came back to the table, Hill was left reeling at the hands of Difunto. He did, however, dodge a collision in the corner with impeccable speed and agility.
Hill was finally able to stump Difunto’s momentum with a thunderous stomp to the spine of the Luchador. He hasn’t moved since, hence the near fall that Barboza interrupted. So, Blue did a great job to make them pay before tagging Atlantis. During a scuffle, Zandokan accidently chopped his teammates while trying to hit Atlantis. Because of this, both Barboza and Difunto sent Zandokan to the outside… whether that was payback or misleading, who could say, really? Regardless, Atlantis performed two back breakkers.
Zandokan tried to powerbomb Atlantis, the big man countered the venture with a roll up victory.
Winners: Diego Hill, Atlantis & Blue Panther
The only thing of note I can mention from the backstage meltdown is when Jesus Rodriguez tried to kick Ikuro Kwon out of a Luchador exclusive party, so Kwon blinded him with the green mist. He warned Don Gato that on November 20, he’ll be there waiting for anyone of these Luchadores to step up to him, and if it just so happens to be Gato, then… he’ll get the biggest ass kicking.
Paul London vs. Shigeo Okumura – Opera Cup Opening Bound
While commentary welcomed Satoshi Kojima, which resulted in a jumbled mess, I have to say, Okumura was successful in disbalancing London off his feet. Shigeo has been showing more aggression and precision in his strikes since Paul seemed to be a tad slower in his response. A drop kick surely shut me up… momentarily. Back and forth kicks from both men came into play as Okumura hit stopped due to a Fisher’s suplex, followed by a clothesline he performed.
Just as London leaped from the air, Shigeo moved out of the way in time and planted his challenge with a driver. It came close to an end. An exchange of chops broke out center of the ring. Paul did surprise me with that Super Kick out of nowhere that almost awarded him the win.
I’m not sure what happened, but Shigeo had London in an effective pinning combination that Paul managed to get out of by either scratching Okumura’s eyes, or face before sitting on his back and grabbing his legs. Unfortunately, Shigeo had no choice, but to tap out. Kojima didn’t like that at all. This version of Paul was unrecognizable to Joe Dombrowski.
Winner: Paul London
Volador Jr. vs. Titan – Opera Cup Opening Bound
During the early goings of this match, Volador and Titan were mostly doing what the last Luchador fight did, and that’s start by keeping it grounded. Submission attempts after submission attempts occurred. Since Volador was trapped, he nearly removed Titan’s mask just so he could escape cheaply. Titan, on the other hand, performed beautifully when he slipped out of Volador’s hold on his neck and transformed that into a Sharpshooter.
Both men had the same idea as they lunge at each other with drop kicks that doesn’t harm the other to its full extent. Later on, Titan used his leg to block his challenger, but it was denied very quickly as Volador slapped it away with ease. Despite that, Titan rebounded with a body dive in and outside of the ring.
Multiple strikes from Titan were impressive to witness, yet it’s Volador’s sudden lower kick to the abdomen that silenced his challenger down to a knee. Titan was able to return fire and was punched out after that as they laid on the mat. Titan impressed by bouncing back with incredible step and a suicide dive. He was looking to finish this match until Volador had his feet up.
Volador had Titan in a harsh Boston crap submission hold, it was very tight. Foolishly, he got up, which allowed Titan to scramble to the bottom rope and force a break. He sure makes up for that with cheapness as everyone’s go-to tonight by removing Titan’s mask without the referee noticing, rolled his opponent up and advanced in the tournament.
Winner: Volador Jr.
Shotzi vs. Alejandra Quintanilla
Shotzi narrowly avoided an incoming Alejandra by using the ropes, then proceeded to shoulder tackle her to the mat. That barely phased Quintanilla since she kipped up with ease like the nonsense of before never occurred. That doesn’t discourage Shotzi from continuing in her pursuit towards the end goal. She delivered a double leg drop between Alejandra’s legs.
Quintanilla did well with those double knees in the corner, however, she missed with her follow-up move. Instead, Shotzi trapped her in a submission-like crucifix. Regrettably for Shotzi, Alejandra slipped away. So, Shotzi retaliated with a Disqus forearm and a few well-placed knee strikes to the face. Quintanilla rebounded with a bulldog. She came close after knocking a kick to Shotzi’s head.
Since that neckbreakker wasn’t enough to put Alejandra away, Shotzi thought an Exploder in the corner might. It didn’t though, no surprise. Quintanilla wanted to execute a super suplex, yet Shotzi thwarted her plans with a massive, winning Senton.
Winner: Shotzi
Mr. Thomas vs. Satoshi Kojima – Lightning match
During Satoshi’s entrance with Okumura by his side, his opponent, Mr. Thomas, bulldozed him before the match could officially begin. It was random to most of the viewers except for me. He literally almost beat Kojima with that spinning body plant move after the bell seven second ago. Mr. Thomas wanted it to be clear that tonight was his night as he chopped Satoshi’s chest. What he didn’t want was Kojima’s reenergized ability that almost pinned him.
Since that release suplex didn’t work, Thomas thought maybe a body splash could. It didn’t. So, Thomas became desperate when he exposed the metal underneath the turnbuckle padding. Kojima got whipped in the exposed area, but Thomas’ karma bit him in the ass for such actions. A Cozy Cutter barely harmed Thomas since the official didn’t even register a one count before he flung Kojima off. That revealed some amazing resilience from Thomas, yet it wasn’t enough to protect him from that lariat.
Winner: Satoshi Kojima
Austin Aries vs. Kushida – Opera Cup Opening Bound
Austin was doing great against someone as talented as Kushida, and that’s with the knowledge that Aries hasn’t been in a ring for the last six years. Aries was now controlling the match to his liking with a knee strike to Kushida’s left arm. As payback, Kushida wanted to injure Austin’s arm, yet he got his foot on the bottom rope just in time. Boo.
God knows what was going on, but all of a sudden, Kushida showed the middle finger to Aries’ face. The egotistic balls of some people have no place in my books. Naturally, Austin pounded his fist into the spine of his challenger, then dragged Kishuda’s head against the top turnbuckle. There was only a one count after all that physical immorality.
Kushida only just escaped, but that knee to his abdomen, then forced into the abdominal stretch stilled him. Maybe Aries could have won if the referee didn’t see him use the rope to his advantage. He for real kicked Austin’s arm. Ha! Kushida capitalized with a drop kick. Everyone loved cheating today, don’t they? Austin blinded Kushida like London did to Okumura, then planted him with a brainbuster.
Winner: Austin Aries
There was supposed to be a match between Bishop Dyer and Mads Krugger, but because CONTRA Unit attacked Mister Saint Laurent earlier, God knows when, this has become a 2-on-1 massacre of the current MLW World Heavyweight Champion. Security was useless as always. At some point, Krugger managed to clear the ring of his aggressors. That may be done, but Alex Hammerstone came at Krugger with a chair. Stay tuned for Slaughterhouse on Oct 4.
TOP PHOTO: Opening match. Courtesy of MLW
