MLW One Shot Recap and Review
Eric Bischoff agreed with MLW owner, Court Bauer, to help MLW one time. It turns out that time was at the MLW One Shot YouTube free event on December 5th at the NYC Melrose Ballroom. As I sat down to watch this, I realized that I hadn’t watched MLW in almost a year and was looking forward to reacquainting myself with the promotion.
The event started with Eric Bischoff walking out to a huge reception from the packed crowd. As he’s warming up the crowd we get the Filthy Bros (Matt Riddle and Tom Lawlor) coming out stating they are there for a good time. Lawlor jokingly asks EZ E if he came to MLW to sink it like he did with the two other companies. We see Eric fake wince while telling the crowd he wants them to have fun. So he adds the stipulation to Riddle’s match against Donovan Dijak tonight. If Matt loses then Dijak will get his MLW World Championship shot. I love this stipulation if nothing more it gives me an opportunity to laugh if Riddle loses.
Kings of Colosseum Announced
After Lawlor and Riddle leave the ring, Bischoff has a big announcement for January’s Kings of the Colosseum. He is known for creating big matches and dropping bombshells. This show will also be a free event on January 11th in Dallas, TX. It will have the Gravity Gamble match. Several briefcases will hang above the ring. Some will contain weapons while others will be empty. Only one will hold the ultimate prize. The guaranteed title shot.
Several different wrestlers were shown on the video package. AKIRA, Matthew Justice, Mads Krule Krugger, BRG, and Trevor Lee were all seen. Will this be all of the wrestlers in this match?
Bischoff wasn’t pleased as Mads Krugger comes out interrupting and goes towards Eric. He is saying that no one tells him or CONTRA what to do. We hear quietly Eric say that he has a mercenary of his own for tonight. It’s the Giant Babathunder.
Match 1
Mads Krule Krugger vs Babathunder
I will give it to MLW both these men are HUGE, but they weren’t afraid of taking risks during the match. They did suplexes like they were flicking away lint. Babathunder had a strength and size advantage on Krugger. However, Krugger quickly caught Babathunder in a rear naked choke for the victory.
This match was exactly what a squash needed to be. It gave the event a quick start with a surprise right off. I remember that CONTRA is always in control at MLW and it appears a year hasn’t changed that.
Winner: Mads Krule Krugger
Post match we see the rest of CONTRA run in the ring and Krugger gives Babathunder two choices: join CONTRA or leave in a body bag. For Babathunder, the choice appears to be simple and easy. He says, “Hail CONTRA!”
So much for being Eric Bischoff’s mercenary tonight. We see Eric Bischoff join commentary with Joe Dombrowski. Joe asks Eric if he’s got any ulterior motives and Bischoff smiles. Then we see an obvious pretaped segment because Bischoff is in it with no time to run backstage. We see Paul Walter Hauser defending the name of Paul London backstage against the Andersons (CW and Brock Anderson). They mock Hauser as Eric comes in to shake Hauser’s hand. Of course, Bischoff is interested in making matches. He thinks that Paul Walter Hauser should join Matthew Justice to face The Andersons tonight.
Alex Kane and Mr. Thomas come into view as Hauser and The Andersons are leaving. Kane doesn’t trust Eric Bischoff at all.
Match 2
Ava Everett vs Delmi Exo
This match was horrible. Yes, I like women’s wrestling, so I’m allowed to say when it’s awful. There was a point where Everett continued hitting her head against the ring post after Delmi Exo had quit pretending to punch. I understand that the God Queen has beaten everyone around, but they have to get better talent around her. Delmi Exo got Everett with a solid kick that rocked her and it set Ava up for the Delmi Driver and then the pin.
Winner: Delmi Exo
Cesar Duran joined Exo in the ring and issued a warning to Janai Kai. Delmi Exo grabs the microphone and says that she wants Kai at Kings of Colosseum in a Title vs Hair match. Then Duran goes to bother Eric. He wants to have some “Hot Lucha Action,” but Eric dismisses it. They argue which leads to Eric changing Mistico’s match tonight against Trevor Lee. If Mistico loses then he loses both his Middleweight Title and his mask.
Match 3
Fans’ Choice Match: Alex Kane vs Bobby Fish
The choices were a taped fist match, UWFI rules match or a kickboxing match. The fans chose UWFI rules. The referee comes out to explain when the point system comes into play with point deductions for rope breaks and too many strikes. There are no pinfalls. Just knock out your opponent or submit them.
The stipulation is in Alex Kane’s favor since his favorite move is the suplex in many different forms. Bobby Fish is really off his game and Kane takes advantage with a T-Bone suplex then hit a brainbuster. Fish isn’t able to answer the ten count, so the referee calls for the bell. This match was boring and I wasn’t expecting that at all. I expected more of a showing from Bobby Fish, but he just wasn’t able to put it together.
Winner: Alex Kane
After the fight, Bischoff is shown on the big screen. He’s in the production truck. Eric Bischoff tells Alex Kane that he is FIRED. Kane goes wild and takes his anger out on the MLW security. Mr. Thomas has to settle him down.
Match 4
World Middleweight Championship: Mistico vs Trevor Lee
This match is a clash of styles, but it really feels like both Trevor Lee and Mistico have one another well-scouted. Lee keeps throughout the match attempting to tear Mistico’s mask. While Lee is close to winning, the champ stops his momentum by delivering a Spanish Fly for the win.
Winner: MLW World Middleweight Champion Mistico
I felt like this match was clunky and Mistico’s matches usually aren’t. Trevor Lee still hasn’t gotten better in the ring and is still doing exaggerated facials that get on my nerves.
Match 5
Donovan Dijak vs Matt Riddle
This was the hardest-hitting fight of the night. Both Riddle and Dijak don’t care to get stiff with one another. Riddle caught Dijak in a chokehold and it looked like Dijak was ready to submit. It forced Saint-Laurent had to get involved. The referee disqualified Donovan Dijak.
The beginning of this match was unbelievably hard-hitting, but then it slowed down as it got to the disqualification. It rubbed the fans the wrong way. I hope they go for a rematch soon.
Winner: Matt Riddle
As Dijak looked to attack Riddle even further, but Tom Lawlor runs to the ring for the save.
Match 6
EZ E’s Roulette: The Andersons vs Matthew Justice and Paul Walter Hauser
The roulette wheels lands on New York City Street Fight. Matthew Justice is excited to get started. We learn that Justice and Paul Walter Hauser have never teamed together, but they show a lot of teamwork as they fight CW and Brock Anderson. The Andersons try to escape as Justice and Hauser catch them. Chaos becomes the norm as weapons are used. Hauser drives CW through a table. Right afterwards, Hauser hits an open turnbuckle. Brock covers for the win.
Winners: The Andersons
Every time I see Paul Walter Hauser, I’m more and more impressed with his comprehension of pro wrestling. I thought this was a good match. You can tell they were hiding Hauser and Justice’s weaknesses as a team in the street fight setting, but it was still a fun match.
Match 7: Main Event
MLW World Tag Team Championship: COXYMAX vs CONTRA
Starting off the match, we see how well Kojima and Suzuki know each other. Kojima beins his machine gun chops. It leaves Suzuki unphased. COZYMAX shows off how well they work together as a tag team. They isolate Suzuki and Ikuro Kwon from one another so they can’t tag. Okumura hits Kwon with a Super Koji Cutter for the pin. They become the new tag team champions and first-ever MLW two-time Tag Team Champions.
Winner: MLW World Tag Team Champions COZYMAX
As COZYMAX celebrates, MLW cuts to Eric Bischoff outside of the Melrose Ballroom. He’s seen having a phone conversation with someone and has some MLW documents in his hand. He says to this person that he has, “Everything you need to know…and then some.” What’s going on?
Well this free event impressed me because I didn’t have to pay for it and it got me interested in MLW again. I’m sure that’s just what Court Bauer had planned. If I would have had to pay for it, I don’t think I would have at all. I know I will check in, but will I watch it weekly now? Hmm…I’m not sure just for the simple fact that there’s a lot of wrestling on all the time that is better. But my interest has been piqued.
The Unlocked Info will keep you in the loop on MLW. In the meantime, if you would like to watch the whole MLW show. Here it is.
