Post by fifthhorseman on Jul 6, 2019 19:55:21 GMT -5
MLW FRIDAY NIGHT HEAT
EPISODE 33
60-second video montage recapping the events of last week’s show, followed by title graphics and explosive pyro.
Joey Styles: “Welcome to MLW Friday Night Heat! I’m Joey Styles, and I’ll be calling the action for the next 90 minutes – so strap in and prepare to be entertained by the best wrestlers on the planet! I’m joined on color commentary by Waylon Mercy and Bray Wyatt, collectively known as Southern Comfort, and gentlemen, we’re starting things off with a bang tonight, so let’s go straight to the ring where Howard Finkel is ready to go.”
MLW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
TED DiBIASE (c, w/JBL) vs. HAWK (w/Animal):
vs.
Styles noted that earlier in the week, MLW Owner George Steinbrenner didn’t think his World champion was being challenged enough… and the massive Hawk made for quite the formidable challenger. Both men had their most trusted allies in their corners, and the match was the proverbial contrast in styles, reminiscent of the Ric Flair/Hawk matches during the NWA Bash days. The big Road Warrior battered the “Million Dollar Man” from pillar to post, but DiBiase retaliated by attacking his foe’s left knee. It ended in controversy, though; after the ref was distracted by Layfield and Animal on the outside, DiBiase smashed Hawk’s head into the ringpost, then rolled him up with a handful of tights for the pin at 18:19.
The Road Warriors were furious, and they went right after the two top men in the Conglomerate. However, the odds drastically changed a few moments later when EC3, Luke Harper, and Erick Rowan joined in. Then it got even worse, as America’s Most Wanted and the Briscoe Brothers charged into the fight as well. Finally, a veritable troop of MLW officials ran down the ramp, led by Commissioner Chuck Norris, and as peace was eventually restored, the show cut to
COMMERCIAL
The ring was empty. Almost. Finkel was standing in one corner, silently observant, as Norris stood in the middle with a microphone in his hand. He held up one hand, then said, “Well, that isn’t how I figured the show was going to begin, but it was certainly was exciting. Nonetheless, I’m getting a little tired of these large-scale brawls, and mark my words – I’m going to put a stop to it.”
“But that’s not why I’m here tonight. Tonight, I have an announcement to make… and if he’s listening backstage, Ted DiBiase – this concerns you. Beginning next week, we’re going to kick off not one, but two tournaments, to determine the top contender to the MLW World Heavyweight championship… and in the process, showcase the immense talents of the athletes competing here in Major League Wrestling. So, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you… the MLW Pure-Nament, and the MLW-Warnament.”
“The Pure-Nament will be fought under a unique set of MLW ‘pure’ rules, to be determined before we begin based on the input of our championship committee. It will feature 16 of our most technically-proficient wrestlers, and we will see who the best pure wrestler on our roster is.”
“The War-Nament will also feature 16 incredibly skilled competitors, but they will not be held to those same scientific standards. In fact, every match in the War-Nament will be fought under ‘Last Man Standing’ rules. Once the bell rings, it will be anything goes – unless, and I want everyone to understand this perfectly clear, unless someone interferes in the match. These matches will be fought one-on-one. No exceptions, either side. Interference equals disqualification.”
“We’ll be announcing the brackets shortly. However, we have a show to continue, so Howard, the microphone is all yours.”
Styles: “Wow. That is huge news from the Commissioner – I can’t wait to see those brackets!”
The MIDNIGHT EXPRESS vs. WAR MACHINE (w/Jim Cornette and Keith Lee):
vs.
The crowd was still buzzing as the two teams began to battle. Like the previous match, it was another power vs. agility showcase. However, Hanson and Rowe both had surprising speed, and Lane and Eaton were always ready to throw hands. It was ten minutes of bell-to-bell action, and after a series of near-falls by both teams, Lee distracted Lane just enough from the outside to allow Rowe to hammer him with a running double knee-strike. Cornette was ecstatic, and War Machine scored the upset win at 10:07.
COMMERCIAL
TABLES MATCH
SID VICIOUS (w/Dave Batista) vs. STEVE WILLIAMS (w/Barry Windham):
vs.
SID VICIOUS (w/Dave Batista) vs. STEVE WILLIAMS (w/Barry Windham):
vs.
A quick video package from last week’s Leviathan/Death and Taxes match was shown to set up this unique contest. The only way to win was to powerbomb your opponent through a table in the ring; the cornermen could assist in getting the table, but could not touch either competitor. Vicious was eager to get his revenge, while Williams bounced back and forth in the corner, confident that he could powerbomb “Psycho Sid” once more.
No contrast in styles here – these were two behemoths wailing on each other. It was a streetfight, plain and simple, and they fought knowing that it wasn’t going to be a long one. Both evaded getting put through a table once, but when the MLW Intercontinental champion slid a second table to his partner, “Dr. Death” made his move. A big shouldertackle, a kick to the gut, and Williams lifted the 300-pounder up like he was a cruiserweight. Windham was already celebrating on the outside, and a second later, the match was over; Vicious was sent through a table for the second straight week.
The bell rang at 8:55, and as the two NWA alumni celebrated in the ring, Batista stood on the ring steps in disgust. He shook his head, and then slowly reversed his path, and walked up the ramp alone. Wyatt and Mercy was laughing amongst themselves at what they had just witnessed, while Styles sat gape-mouthed before saying, “Typical Batista. Always looking out for himself. Fans, we still have time before our next scheduled commercial break to show you this recorded message from the MLW World Tag-Team champions themselves – Edge and Christian!”
They were in Las Vegas. They had just finished presenting at the NHL Awards Gala for the second straight year, and they used that platform to deliver their message: they were on a roll, and unstoppable. The two-time champs dropped a series of names – the Real Main Event, the One Percent, and the men they defeated for the titles at Heatwave, Rick Rude and Curt Hennig. They would take on the Stanley Cup-winning St. Louis Blues, the 1927 New York Yankees, and the Avengers all at once if they could.
And then they paused for a five-second pose.
COMMERCIAL
Wyatt: “I like this guy!”
STEEL CAGE MATCH
The REVIVAL vs. TULLY BLANCHARD and ARN ANDERSON (w/JJ Dillon):
vs.
The REVIVAL vs. TULLY BLANCHARD and ARN ANDERSON (w/JJ Dillon):
vs.
Styles: “This is MLW, and that means there are no escape rules. The only way to win is by pinfall or submission!”
As Finkel made the big-fight intros, the two teams looked up as the cage was lowered around the ring. This match would be fought under regular tag-team rules, at both teams’ request. It was a very hard-fought match, as one would expect. The teamwork exhibited by the two duos was superb, and the opposing teams were mirror images of one another. Blanchard and Wilder paired off against each other often, as did Anderson and Dawson. There were very few pin attempts early on, so the intensity of the battle built with every minute, every tag, and every collision with the cage.
Dillon’s presence was neutralized by the steel cage, and aside from dispensing advice, he was a non-factor. Blood was spilled on both sides; Blanchard was cut above his right eye, while Dawson wounded above his left. It was a brutal affair, just like their previous match at Heatwave, but this time, it ended with a decision. “Double-A” did the honors, hitting Dawson with a filthy spinebuster, picking him up, and hitting him again with his patented move. His partner dove across the ring to block Wilder, and at a soul-testing 22:38, the Horsemen earned the victory, giving their stable some much-needed momentum. The show closed with Dillon escorting his weary, battered clients from the cage, and the Revival checking on each other inside of it.