MLW Fightland
September 14, 2024
Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia
Commentary: Joe Dombrowski & Christian Cole
RESULTS
- Opera Cup Semi Final:KENTA over TJP via pinfall (10:23)
- Opera Cup Semi Final:Mistico over Bad Dude Tito Escondido via pinfall (8:05)
- Donovan Dijak over Timothy Thatcher via pinfall (8:18)
- The Andersons over Bomaye Fight Club via pinfall (10:39)
- Okumura over Adam Priest via pinfall (6:42)
- MLW World Heavyweight: Satoshi Kojima (c) over Mads Krule Krugger via DQ (7:08)
- Opera Cup Final: Mistico over KENTA via submission (17:43) (Recommended)
Opera Cup 2024 Semi Final: TJP vs. KENTA
KENTA defeated AKIRA & Bobby Fish to get here, while TJP replaced Davey Boy Smith Jr. who had to withdraw due to an injury and defeated Tom Lawlor to get to the semifinals tonight. KENTA attacked TJP before the bell rang, but TJP came right back with a head scissors sending KENTA to the outside where he hit him with a springboard basement dropkick. They start brawling on the outside where TJP uses a water bottle before heading back inside where TJP put on a sharpshooter, but KENTA is able to grab the bottom rope to break it up. KENTA escapes to the outside for a breather, but TJP goes right after him, as KENTA keeps rolling out of the ring when entered. KENTA takes control by driving TJP into the apron and barricade. KENTA keeps TJP in the corner, choking him out with his boot before kicking away at TJP’s back and going for multiple pin attempts. TJP comes back, by snapping KENTA’s arm back as the crowd seems behind him. KENTA hits two suplexes before putting on an Octopus Stretch but is unable to hold on. After a face wash, TJP tries a Mamba Splash, but KENTA is able to get his knees up and follows with kicks to the corner and a top rope double stomp, but TJP kicks out at two. After they go back and forth, trading strikes, TJP hits a tornado DDT but misses the Mamba Splash again. They tussle for a bit, but the referee is distracted as KENTA lands a couple of low blows followed by the GTS to get the pin and the win.
Winner: KENTA by pinfall at 10:23, to advance
Opera Cup 2024 Semi Final: Bad Dude Tito Escondido vs. Mistico
Mistico defeated fellow CMLL luchadores Atlantis Jr. & Magnus to get here, while Bad Dude Tito Escondido had to get past Danny Jones & Alex Kane. This is a battle of two current MLW champions with Mistico holding the World Middleweight Championship while Tito is the current National Openweight Champion. Mistico uses his speed to go after Tito with kicks, as commentary mentions how Mistico just defeated Chris Jericho the night prior at the CMLL 91 Aniversario show (although AEW would give a different result, earlier that night on Collision). Mistico sends Tito to the outside, hitting him with a tope suicida but Tito stops him from hitting another one. Tito stays in control, hitting an exploder suplex and gets a two count, by putting his foot on Mistico’s chest. Tito stays on top of Mistico with punches before hitting an exploder suplex for another two. Tito puts on the Camel Clutch before keeping Mistico down with chops, but Mistico comes back with a Tijeras and Gamengiri, before hitting a springboard crossbody for two. Tito blocks La Mistica, by hitting a powerbomb for two but Mistico escapes out of the Tequila Screwdriver attempt and bounces off the ropes into a crucifix pin to get the win.
Winner: Mistico by pinfall at 8:05, to advance
Warriors In A Garden
We go to earlier this week, where Brett Ryan Gosselin, Bobby Fish & The Andersons are in New York as BRG is making fun of Paul London for complaining about his injured ribs and the Bomaye Fight Club thinking they run Atlanta. CW Anderson says they are warriors in a garden, while the rest of them are just gardeners in a war because you can’t have the view without the climb as Brock Anderson says that if anybody in the locker room think Atlanta is their city, that The Andersons have been running Atlanta for half a century. BRG tells Alex Kane to calm down and he is tearing his weight through him and Atlanta, and they will run them through the goddamn ground.
Kevin Knight Is Coming Soon
We get a vignette for Kevin Knight coming soon to MLW
Donovan Dijak (w/ Saint Laurent) vs. Timothy Thatcher
After making a surprise appearance last month at Summer of the Beasts in Queens, Donovan Dijak makes his MLW wrestling debut tonight against Timothy Thatcher. They start the match locked up in the corner, as Thatcher continues to put on a side headlock to wear Dijak down, but this quickly transitions into an uppercut exchange. Dijak stays on top with kicks and elbows, before driving his knee into Thatcher’s ribs for a two. Dijak hits a backbreaker but as he tries a splash from the ropes, Thatcher is able to get his knees up (without knee pads). Running European uppercut in the corner from Thatcher, but Dijak comes right back with a release suplex for two. Dijak keeps Thatcher in the corner with strikes, but Thatcher is able to reverse out and into a suplex for two. Dijak back body drops Thatcher to the outside, and as he tries to get back onto the apron, he gets knocked off by Dijak who meets him there with an elbow drop. Back in the ring, Thatcher hits a back suplex and right into an armbar and rear naked choke hold, but Dijak breaks it up by backing into the corner, twice. Discuss boot from Dijak followed by Feast Your Eyes to get the win on his MLW debut.
Winner: Donovan Dijak by pinfall at 8:18
Joe Dombrowski enters the ring to get a word with Saint Laurent & Dijak, as Laurent says Dijak is a world class athlete who will fight anybody. And just like Thatcher has accepted the open contract, they have more and call out anybody. Dijak says anyone, anytime, anywhere before calling out Tom Lawlor, Minoru Suzuki, Matt Riddle & Satoshi Kojima and says they aren’t shoot fighters, but shit fighters and tells them when ‘they sign on the line, their ass is mine’ unless they are just a little bit chicken and if so, he’ll bring an uninvited fight to them.
Pit-Fighters
We got a promo for MLW Pit Fighters, which was taped the same day as Fightland but will air on September 26th. They announce that Matt Riddle will face off against Tom Lawlor in a Vale Tudo Rules match in the main event for Pit-Fighters.
The Andersons (CW Anderson & Brock Anderson) vs. Bomaye Fight Club (Alex Kane & Mr. Thomas)
Brett Ryan Gosselin & Bobby Fish come out and join commentary for this match but kick out Christian Cole as they join Joe Dombrowski. CW Anderson & Alex Kane start the match, as BRG questions how Atlanta would be cheering for the Bomaye Fight Club. All four men quickly get into each other’s faces, before it’s back to Kane & CW, as Kane keeps knocking CW down with shoulder blocks before he tags in Mr. Thomas who hits a big boot before taking down Brock Anderson with a slam, as Kane follows with a splash for two. CW is able to dodge Kane in the corner and take control as he and Brock keep him in their corner while tagging in and out. Kane is able to escape and tag out to Thomas who is trying to fight off The Anderson, but CW traps him up in a leg lock. Thomas escapes and tags out to Kane who takes out the Andersons with suplexes. Kane tries to hit a splash to CW in the corner, but the referee gets in between and is taken out as a result. Thomas takes out Brock with a top rope splash as Kane pretends to make the three count. BRG & Fish ran in and started attacking Kane & Thomas and started using a chair. Kevin Knight comes out and dives off the stage onto BRG, Fish & CW as Thomas sets his eyes on Brock in the ring. John Layfield comes out unexpectedly, as The JBL World Tour continues (AAA, GCW, TNA, and now MLW) and he takes out Thomas, hitting him with the Clothesline from Hell before whispering something in Brock’s ear before leaving. Brock goes to cover Thomas, as the referee wakes up and makes the pin.
Winners: The Andersons (Brock Anderson & CW Anderson) by pinfall at 10:39
What's @JCLayfield doing in MLW?? #MLW @betonline_ag 👀
WATCH NOW: https://t.co/rFioTxebXa pic.twitter.com/QUqCu84MDF— MLW (@MLW) September 15, 2024
The Rogue Horsemen
BRG gets on the mic and says everyone is witnessing history, and they had another ace up their sleeve and calls them four a championship franchise in the making and nobody in the back could hold a candle to any of them. They walk together into war, kick-ass, make the ladies fall in love and break their hearts. And they will continue to do this, week after week, night after night as they are the best. CW takes the mic and tells MLW they need to be cleaned up, and you are looking at the janitors. CW starts talking about how he used to be part of the Extreme Horsemen in MLW, as Brock’s father created The Four Horsemen, but this is their apocalypse, and you are looking at the rise of The Rogue Horsemen.
We see Bad Dude Tito Escondido in the back angry that he lost his match earlier as he bumps into Matthew Justice and tells him to watch where he’s going. They get into a shoving match, as officials go to keep them apart.
Adam Priest vs. Okumura
Okumura stars the match, working on Adam Priest’s arm and taking him down as it looks like Contra Unit is hacking into the feed. Priest runs the ropes and tries to take Okumura down, but it fails as Okumura bounces back and knocks him down as they trade off takedowns. Priest offers his hand but it’s a trick as he takes a cheap shot to Okumura and hits a missile dropkick before they take it to the outside and fight against the barricades. Back in the ring, Priest starts stomping away and hits a snapping suplex for two. Okumura stops his momentum with a backbreaker before putting Priest on the top rope where he hits a Cozy Cutter for two. Okumura stays on top, blocking a suplex from Priest before hitting an uppercut and the Fisherman Buster to get the pin and win, as we see another Contra Unit hack.
Winner: Okumura by pinfall at 6:42
Bitch Ass Contra
Contra Unit does indeed come out, as it’s Ikuro Kwon and the Sentai Death Squad on the ramp, but AKIRA runs out with a Kendo Stick and takes them all out. We see Matt Riddle and Satoshi Kojima in the back, as Riddle tells Kojima he wished he could stay and watch, but he has to take care of some business for MLW in California, but when they fight it will be a ‘Superfight’ for Kojima’s championship, as they get into another ‘Bitch ass Contra’ chant. As Kojima leaves, Saint Laurent & Tom Lawlor walk in and say if Riddle has any balls, he will put up his guaranteed title shot from winning Battle Riot against Lawlor at the main event of Pit-Fighters. Lawlor says it’s good to see Riddle and he remembers hanging out with Riddle in the stands at UFC and he thought Riddle was a fan. Riddle tells Lawlor he’s on for the match stipulation.
MLW World Heavyweight Championship: Satoshi Kojima (c) vs. Mads Krule Krugger
Mads Krule Krugger attacks Satoshi Kojima before the bell ring and starts tossing him into the corners and chops away, as Kojima tries to fight back. They head to the outside where Krugger drives Kojima into the barricade and apron, before tossing him head-first into the ring post. Kojima tries to re-enter but gets taken down back first onto the apron as commentary mentions this is how Kojima is celebrating his birthday. Krugger puts Kojima back in the corner but misses the splash, as Kojima comes back with machine gun chops. Kojima continues with three DDTs, but Krugger keeps getting up. Krugger stops Kojima with a boot and back suplex, for a two. Kojima comes back with a Cozy Cutter but only gets two. Kojima sets up for another one but gets stopped and hit with a chokeslam. Kojima gets right up and hits a lariat but only gets a two count, as Janai Kai is there to just break it up. We see in picture-in-picture that AKIRA & Okumura are attacking Minoru Suzuki and the Sentai Death Squad in the back. Back in the ring, Krugger attempts to throw a fireball into Kojima’s face, but it unfortunately falls way short and hits closer to Kojima’s feet instead. Regardless, Kojima sells this as if he’s been burnt in the face, as commentary oversells it, and you can see the look of the fans in the front row that say it all. The referee grabs a towel and water for Kojima before calling off the match.
Winner: Satoshi Kojima by disqualification at 7:08, to retain
Commentary mentions Janai Kai taking out the referee, but the camera doesn’t catch it as commentary points out that Kojima is somehow burned pretty badly. Krugger holds up the MLW World Championship before Kai brings in a body bag, but Kojima is nowhere to be found. Matt Riddle’s music hits, as he actually hasn’t left for California as he comes out now with his hair magically braided and has a face off with Krugger. Ikuro Kwon comes out and tries to stop Riddle, who knees him and takes him to the back. AKIRA shows up in the ring and takes out Krugger and Kai with a lead pipe as they all head to the back.
We have a very angry Bomaye Fight Club in the back as Alex Kane challenges Brett Ryan Gosselin to an Atlanta Street Fight which I assume was taped for MLW Pit-Fighters.
Opera Cup 2024 Final: KENTA vs. Mistico
A first time match-up from these two, as we have a Mexico vs. Japan final to determine the 2024 Opera Cup winner. KENTA starts teasing Mistico by slapping away at his mask before going to coward in the ropes and just toys with Mistico. The commentary team talks about the severity of Kojima’s injuries and hopes to have an update in the coming days. Mistico bounces off the ropes with a back elbow before sending KENTA to the outside where he hits him with a plancha suicida. Mistico tries to re-enter the ring, but KENTA knocks him off the apron and starts attacking him around the ring, before sending him back in and starts choking him against the ropes. They trade off chops in the corner, before they head back to the outside as KENTA stays in control. KENTA goes for multiple pin attempts before getting tripped up onto the ropes where Mistico hits the 619 followed by a missile drop kick as he sends KENTA to the outside and hits him with a corkscrew plancha. Back inside, Mistico kicks away before heading to the top rope, but KENTA is able to dodge him. KENTA stops Mistico off the ropes with a dropkick before kicking away at him on the ropes, followed by a draping DDT. KENTA comes back with a dropkick in the corner and a top rope double stomp, but Mistico kicks out. KENTA goes for the GTS, but Mistico escapes out and tries to go for a poison rana, but they fall back with Mistico going for the pin regardless, getting two. The referee gets taken out during the next sequence, as KENTA hits a DDT and goes to grab a chair from under the ring. Mistico is able to dodge the chair shot, and dropkick KENTA in the face with the chair in between. KENTA comes back with a low blow and the Busaiku knee, as the referee wakes up just in time but only gets a two-count. Mistico takes control and hits a springboard crossbody followed by La Mistica as KENTA taps out.
Winner: Mistico by submission at 17:43, to become the 2024 Opera Cup Winner
FINAL THOUGHTS
Not the best showing from MLW with this show, but the first time encounter between two legendary wrestlers from Japan & Mexico, made the finals of the Opera Cup stand out and a reason to seek out the match. Even though I appreciate the short length of this show I feel like some matches suffered as a result. The semi-final matches felt a bit rushed, and Dijak and Thatcher had the potential to be something special if it had just been given a bit more time. John Layfield continues to pull out more stops in this JBL World Tour and the mystery remains on why he’s gone on to help wrestlers such as Nic Nemeth, Mance Warner and now Brock Anderson in AAA, GCW, TNA and now MLW. Piggybacking off of AEW Grand Slam in two weeks are two other local shows nearby in Queens with House of Glory and NWA, and it wouldn’t shock me if Layfield shows up at a show or two during that stretch. The fireball spot was unfortunate, but it only made it a bit more embarrassing to have the commentary bring up the severity of the stunt, which was nowhere close to being executed, and the laughter and looks from the crowd only made it more obvious. I understand that was your plan, but once you see it clearly didn’t land, you must resort to a plan B that hopefully all moments like this would have, as it’s never a safe bet to work. The obvious pre-taped segments where you can clearly see it was a different day from the venue look or style of the wrestlers, mixed with this new stable just being another rehash of the Horsemen certainly made some decisions seem lazy.
Usually, the tapings that accompany these live YouTube shows seem to be just a filler show, but the Pit-Fighters theme with the Mortal Kombat type of feel and a handful of interesting gimmicks could actually make that September 26th show the more satisfying and entertaining event of the taping that day, and I’m actually looking forward to seeing how it’s presented as the initial buzz I saw from those in attendance had some positivity towards the matches.
