MLW Fusion results: Alex Hammerstone vs. Pagano falls count anywhere

Following the conclusion of the MLW Azteca mini-series from Mexico, MLW Fusion returned from Dallas, Texas with the fallout from Cesar Duran’s Mexican expansion. 

Duran kicked things off by saying how disappointed he was being in Texas after spending the last six weeks in Mexico. He said Alexander Hammerstone is like Texas — all show and no fight — and his reign will be over tonight. That was followed by a new opening video package complete with a new theme, graphics and name banners.

IWA Puerto Rico Caribbean Champion King Muertes defeated Richard Holliday to retain the title

This continued the Hammerstone and Holliday vs. Duran feud as Muertes was used as a hired gun recently by the MLW matchmaker. This was better paced than their last encounter a few weeks ago and had some good, exciting action to kick off the episode.

Holliday had Muertes reeling in the opening minutes, which was different from their last encounter a few weeks ago, but Muertes quickly took back control with a spear. A draping DDT by Holliday followed as he kept getting back into the match, but Muertes stopped him in his tracks, this time with a powerslam and a backstabber.

As Holliday hit his 2008 finisher (twisting suplex), Duran’s masked henchmen ran to ringside and distracted the referee as more masked men were seen backstage brawling with Hammerstone (which explains why he couldn’t help his friend at ringside).

Another henchman entered the ring with a chair behind the distracted ref’s back, but Holliday dropkicked the chair in his face. This momentary distraction let Muertes recover and hit his Straight To Hell finisher (downward spiral) to steal another win.

– In part three of the look into Jacob Fatu, he opened up with an emotional story of a drive-by shooting he witnessed earlier in his life where a close family friend passed away as a result. He said that wrestling saved his life and put out a warning to Hammerstone that he coming back for the MLW World title.

This series has been a great way to distance himself from the CONTRA Unit madman-type character he has played over the last few years, humanizing him in the process. He is currently feuding with Mads Krugger and Ikuro Kwon over the fallout from the CONTRA Unit implosion and will face Krugger in a Stairway To Hell match at the next MLW Fusion taping in Charlotte, NC.

– The culmination of the recent hype videos for a returning MLW superstar happened as the speeding car through the city at night and the sand timer all were clues to the return of Killer Kross, who will return to MLW at the next MLW Fusion taping in Charlotte.

– Jared Saint Laurent then announced that he will be debuting a new superstar, who he called the best pound for pound fighter and the greatest wonder of the world.

– Hammerstone checked on Holliday, who was in the trainer’s room. Holliday seemed down, but he reassured Hammerstone that he will have his back tonight. As Hammerstone left, Holliday had the same look on his face last week when the fan asked for a photo with him and then asked if Hammerstone was with him.

EJ Nduka defeated Ikuro Kwon

It looked like Kwon legit kicked hometown hero Nduka right in the jaw in the opening seconds. But from there, Nduka dominated Kwon, threw him around the ring, and put him away with his running powerslam and spinebuster.

After the match, Kwon got on the mic and called out “the traitor” Fatu who obliged to a hero’s welcome. Fatu took out Kwon with a spinning uranage and obliterated Kwon with a top rope splash through a table.

5150 cut a promo before their MLW Tag Team title ladder match against Los Parks next week, dedicating it to their hospitalized manager Konnan.

MLW World Champion Alex Hammerstone defeated Pagano in a falls count anywhere match to retain the title

This was made after Pagano turned his back on Hammerstone during the MLW Azteca mini-series where he jumped Hammerstone after they had tagged together and beat Taurus and Muertes. Duran had recruited Pagano to further stack the deck against the champion and his friends.

Pagano brought a plastic garbage can into the ring early on, but missed a standing moonsault from the top rope while holding the can and slammed into the mat. Pagano’s punishment continued as he was then sent headfirst into a car hood at ringside.

A plunger to the head didn’t quite stick the way Hammerstone wanted it to, but he made up for the plunger’s lack of suction by dropping Pagano back first onto the ring apron.

Pagano had wooden skewers with him as they briefly brawled backstage through the entrance curtain. Next to the bar area, Pagano used his knees to drop Hammerstone on his head and face for a two count.

Back in the ring, Hammerstone muscled out of a skewer attack to his forehead before jamming the set in Pagano’s head instead. Pagano took a few bumps with the skewers still sticking out his head before taking a burning hammer for a close two count for the champion.

Hammerstone brought a wooden board into the ring but was on the receiving end of a guillotine leg drop and a chair dropkicked into his face as the action swung back and forth. Pagano sat Hammerstone on a chair at ringside and tried to crush him with a low rolling dive through the ropes but Hammerstone moved, leaving Pagano to crash and burn through the chair on to the wooden floor.

In the ring, Hammerstone hit a top rope dropkick that launched Pagano across the ring and set up a wooden board in the corner.

More of Duran’s henchmen ran to ringside to interfere, but Holliday came out and cleared them all with a baseball bat. In the ring, Hammerstone put Pagano away with a Nightmare Pendulum to pick up the hard-fought win.

As Hammerstone celebrated, Holliday stood with the bat watching on as Alicia Atout came down for an interview with the victorious champion. Atout grabbed a mic but as she was faked that it was not working, she slid behind Hammerstone and hit him with a low blow.

Hammerstone dropped to his knees before Holliday then confirmed the turn by walloping Hammerstone with a clothesline to the back of the head.

Holiday took some frustrated cheap shots and screamed at his former Dynastic friend “It was always me!” as Atout also got in on the act with some slaps to the face. As Holliday stood over his betrayed fallen friend, he raised Hammerstone’s own championship belt above his head, kissed his new evil acquaintance and once again declared “It was always me!” as the shocking conclusion to the return episode of MLW Fusion wrapped up.