MLW Underground results: The final episode

This marked the final MLW Underground before their long hiatus that eventually saw the creation of Fusion. Next week, we return to current day as the new season begins.

The final episode saw the Extreme Horsemen put the Tag Team titles on the line against the Samoan Island Tribe.

They were still hyping the Steve Corino vs. Shane Douglas World title match that never happened. We saw highlights throughout the night of their encounter two years prior when the first-ever MLW champion was crowned. Multiple six-man tags were also built up and hyped for the next set of tapings.

Dark Fuego and Pete Wilson defeated Roderick Strong and Matt Cross

This was an excellent start to the show: an absolute spotfest but a good one and one that will surprise you and keep you on the edge of your seat.

In present day, Cross was just announced as the final MLW draft pick to return for this season, so it was fitting he and debutant Strong were featured on this final Underground.

Strong certainly went on to make a name for himself in the wrestling world and this MLW appearance in 2004 just goes to show what could have been if the company was able to stick around for a few more years. Between CM Punk, Samoa Joe, Low Ki and Bryan Danielson, Strong and his trademark backbreakers would have fit in perfectly.

Fuego (aka Jack Evans) wowed the fans with an array of high flying combined with a mysterious, dark character, but he was floored when Strong blocked a hurricanrana with a power bomb onto Strong’s own knee for a killer backbreaker. Moments later after shaking off a top rope dropkick, Strong power bombed Wilson over the top rope onto Fuego and his own partner, Cross.

They brawled through the crowd toward a balcony area where Fuego and Wilson started their comeback. Fuego and Wilson climbed the balcony and hit a pair of stereo moonsaults from what must have been at least 15 feet in the air. Back in the ring, Cross hit a swanton off the top rope, but their opponents fought back and hit a pair of stereo 450 splashes from opposite corners for the win.

Low Ki (w/ Gary Hart and Mr Woo) defeated Chad Collyer

Ki continued his run of impressive performances with another hard-hitting win against the unlucky Collyer. Ki hit hard but still needed some outside interference to get the W/

The commentary team was full of praise for Ki in the early going, saying he is so focused and always ready for a fight that he attacks and kicks the maids when they enter his Japanese hotel room.

After an early exchange of wristlocks and armbars (to the delight of the Jericho circa ’98 inspired crowd), Ki focused on Collyer’s neck as his point of attack. But Collyer’s comeback also included a neck attack as he was able to hit a German suplex to kick start his comeback.

Out of nowhere, Ki hit a Shining Wizard, Collyer then reversed a Dragon Clutch into another German as they entered into a parade of two counts toward the finish. Ki’s mysterious assailant Mr Woo (aka Ryze) gave Collyer a cheap shot behind the referee’s back and Ki rolled him into the Dragon Clutch for a second time to pick up the win.

MLW Tag Team Champion The Extreme Horsemen (CW Anderson and Simon Diamond) defeated The Samoan Island Tribe (Mana and Samu) in a weapons match to retain

This was a wild brawl to end the show. Weapons, two bouts of interference and a big twist at the tail at the finish were used to hide the faults and accentuate the positives of this slight clash of styles.

The Tribe showed their intentions by scattering weapons around the ring before they got underway. By the time the Horsemen arrived and the ring introductions were over, the plunder was pushed aside so Mana could begin the match by repeatedly headbutting Anderson.

The weapons were brought out soon enough as Samu threw a chair into Diamond’s face as he came off the top. The ring bell was in use between Mana and Anderson on the outside.

Steve Corino interfered but accidentally knocked Diamond down with a discus lariat. Samu then looked to have the match won, but Anderson broke up the pin with a chair shot to the back.

Anderson then hit Mana with three unprotected chair shots in a row to the head which did not age well. An annoyed Corino then brought the announcers table into the ring and in a reverse of pro wrestling 101, the Horsemen actually successfully put Mana through the table they brought in with an Anderson spinebuster.

The second interference spot of the match led to the finish as JJ Dillion came to the ring and tried to hand Anderson a chair. Anderson seemingly refused the chair and pushed Dillion down who then offered Mana the chair and signaled to hit Anderson.

However, with Mana’s back turned, Dillion removed his shoe and clocked the unsuspecting Samoan in the back of the head while the Horsemen hit a double superkick into the chair from the front. That led to the all-important pinfall for the final MLW Tag Team champions for a long time.

Final Thoughts:

With this being the final episode of MLW Underground they could have shown from this era, it is a step in the right direction and could be a message of sorts that MLW now intends to return to weekly first-run shows from now on.

Who knows what the future holds, but the foreseeable future, we will have fresh new first-run programming and storylines to sink our teeth into.

Will Alex Hammerstone win the Battle Riot and finally get a shot at Jacob Fatu? Will the Von Erichs finally get their hands on “Filthy” Tom Lawlor? Will CONTRA Unit feel threatened by Cesar Duran and Azteca Underground? There are lots of questions to answer in front of a ruckus Philadelphia crowd and we start getting some answers next week.