MLW Fusion: ALPHA Review - November 3, 2021

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

MLW World Tag Team Champions Los Parks and 5150 Brawled; "Filthy" Tom Lawlor Confronted Cesar Duran

This was quite the chaotic opening. 5150 interrupted Duran and ended up brawling with Los Parks, who I didn't know were the MLW World Tag Team Champions until now. While it wasn't announced on this show, I read in a press release this morning that 5150 will actually challenge Los Parks for the tag titles in a Philadelphia Street Fight at the War Chamber taping this weekend. Lawlor then demanded Duran for a title opportunity and got rewarded with a shot at King Muertes' IWA Caribbean Heavyweight Championship in a Casket match in the main event.

Sea Stars def. Zoey Sky and Willow Nightingale

I'm happy MLW has been spotlighting their women's division on every episode of Fusion: ALPHA for the last month. Unfortunately, the crowd didn't seem too into this. All four women gave it a good effort, but there wasn't anything out of the ordinary or exciting about the action. Holidead pulled Nightingale under the ring toward the end, allowing Sea Stars to double-team Sky and pick up the win. They eventually rescued Nightingale from under the ring and she was covered in "blood."

Alex Kane def. WARHORSE

Kane was named an alternate in the Opera Cup, so he and King Mo attacked Calvin Tankman last week in an attempt to get in. Ultimately, it didn't work, but expect Tankman to get his revenge soon. Kane instead issued an open challenge and got WARHORSE, who did little to impress me personally when he debuted on AEW Dynamite last year. I still think the gimmick is goofy as hell, and if MLW wants to present themselves as being more sports-oriented, then they shouldn't be wasting time on guys like him. Thankfully, Kane went over in the end, but I would've had him beat WARHORSE quicker than he did.

IWA Caribbean Heavyweight Champion King Muertes def. "Filthy" Tom Lawlor in a Casket Match

Lawlor has been in the news lately due to his MLW contract expiring and him now being a free agent, so because of that, the outcome of this clash was never in doubt. Despite that, it was a solid main event. It made me yearn for the Grave Consequences match Muertes had with Rey Fenix in Lucha Underground several years ago, but it told a simple story of Lawlor giving Muertes everything he had only to fall short. Honestly, the best part was seeing Karlee Perez (the former Catrina from Lucha Underground) back by Muertes' side. Hopefully it's a full-time reunion and not just a one-off because it was a Casket match.

Overall Show

The Casket match seemed special on paper even though it didn't end up being anything you'll probably a week from now. However, it was notable in that it likely marked the end of Lawlor in MLW if he doesn't re-sign, and I really hope some of the top companies give him a look. The rest of this show was serviceable albeit not overly exciting. The opening segment was all over the place but served a purpose, while the subsequent two matches were well-wrestled yet lackluster. War Chamber should be entertaining, but I'm not sure when it will be airing as part of Fusion: ALPHA or as its own event on Vice.

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