MLW Fusion Review - June 22, 2023

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

MLW World Tag Team Champions Samoan SWAT Team (Lance Anoa'i and Juicy Finau) def. The FBI and The Mane Event in a Three-Way Tag Team Match

I really liked that profile package we got on Mane Event several weeks ago and I'm glad it looks like they might be sticking around in MLW. I didn't see them or The FBI as legitimate threats to the tag titles here, but it was a fun match, nonetheless. It was a nice way to open a show headlined by Samoan SWAT Team's Jacob Fatu, sending the message that they could all end up with gold by the end of the night (spoiler: they did).

Microman def. Beastman

Beastman is a literal giant jobber and has been seldom seen in MLW in the time I've been watching the product (since the fall of 2021), so as ridiculous as it was for Microman to beat him, I can't say I was surprised. The key is that it didn't overstay its welcome. I realize Microman is a fan favorite with the MLW audience, but I feel like he's featured too often for a guy that never factors into any significant storylines.

Jacob Fatu def. John Hennigan to Win the MLW National Openweight Championship

This match was originally supposed to take place on what wound up being the series finale of MLW Underground last May, but The Calling attacking Fatu during his entrance prevented it from happening. This had all the interference you'd expect from Taya Valkyrie and Sam Adonis, but Fatu still found a way to emerge victorious and take the title. I would've preferred a straightforward main event, but this was still entertaining. I know this was taped a while ago, but the timing of this airing now is interesting coming off the rumor that Hennigan is AEW bound where he'll join his wife.

Overall Show

We did hear from The Calling in a quick video package, but otherwise, this edition of Fusion was Calling-free. That automatically makes it a thumbs-up show in my opinion. We were treated to two enjoyable matches in the opener and the main event, plus a title change for the second straight week made it an eventful episode. Microman vs. Beastman was whatever, but as noted, it was fine for the time given. Next week, Mance Warner takes on Adonis in a Leather Strap match.

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