MLW Fusion Results (12/23/20): Tom Lawlor vs. Low Ki In The Opera Cup Finals
Credit: MLW
This week on MLW Fusion presented by newlawoffice.com, the time has come to crown a new Opera Cup Champion and it’s two men with a storied past as Tom Lawlor takes on Low Ki in the finals of the tournament. That’s the major main event set to take place, but first we get a look at the league’s ever-budding tag division as we see the return of The Dirty Blondes and Aria Blake all under the representation of one Col. Robert Parker.
MATCH 1
The Dirty Blondes (Leo Brien & Michael Patrick w/ Aria Blake) vs. Ariel Dominguez & Daniel Starling
Leo Brien begins the bout with Starling who gets an immediate right hand. Brien is a super quick force as he lays very hard into Starling before he tags in Patrick who is all about force and power. Tag back to Brien delivers a series of big-time elbows. A pin attempt gets a two count. It’s not much longer before Patrick positions Starling on the shoulders of Brien for a top rope powerslam and the easy pinfall.
WINNERS: The Dirty Blondes
A large security presence thwarted viewers from seeing Hammerstone go after Mads Krugger last week. We see Hammer working out and he thinks it was a dumb move to put Hammer on the shelf. It’s given him time to rebuild and train non-stop for an entire month just for one match. Just when he was so close to getting to Fatu, but then they put the monster on him – “The Black Hand.” Hammer knows that Krugger can take anything he gives him, but one thing: The Nightmare Pendulum. At Kings Of Colosseum, he swears he is going to put Krugger down with that very move. To him, Krugger is just an obstacle standing in his way towards the MLW World Title.
In addition to The Openweight Title match at Kings of Colosseum, Salina de la Renta apparently has a bombshell to drop too.
Alicia Atout approaches an intensely training Low Ki backstage. The Opera Cup is important to him because he’s conquered everything in his path and sets his sights on big things. Two centuries worth of lineage this Cup holds, but Low Ki and Tom also have a history. He knows his weaknesses, he knows his strengths. It doesn’t matter what Lawlor brings to the table. He always brings his cronies, but Low Ki is always ready: “You better believe it.”
After commercial Alicia Atout returns with some new matches lined up for Kings of Coloseum. We have Jordan Oliver taking on Simon Gotch in what has been a longstanding grudge and The Von Erichs will be defending their World Tag Team Titles against those very Dirty Blondes we witnessed tonight.
Myron Reed was initially upset that Lio Rush was running from him, but then he realized this was the biggest match of Lio’s career. The only problem is that this MLW Middleweight gold has The Young GOAT’s name written all over it and the same will be said for that “W” come January 6. Lio will then have to face the fact that he’s no “Moneyweight” but just a “Brokeweight.”
As Alicia accounts for the Openweight Title bout set between Hammerstone and Krugger the feed gets interrupted and we see “The Black Hand” himself.
He says who is behind the mask doesn’t matter. He was excommunicated in the darkness, but the black flag of CONTRA and Josef Samael pulled him out of that. Kings Of Colosseum will be Hammerstone’s reckoning.
It’s time for MLW Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Top 10 Rankings:
10) Calvin Tankman, 9) Laredo Kid, 8) ACH 7) Mads Krugger 6) Richard Holliday 5) Myron Reed 4) LA Park 3) Low Ki 2) Tom Lawlor 1) Alexander Hammerstone
A heated LA Park is working out his anger in the gym when his two sons approach to ask him what’s wrong. He’s irate that MLW is giving opportunities to those “fat pigs” in The Dirty Blondes. His sons can’t help but agree. LA Park has been here since the dawn of MLW in 2002. In 2020 we need title shots, otherwise they’ll retire from the league.
We see the tale of the tape between Lawlor and Low Ki. The Filthy One has the height and weight advantage, but we’re all aware of the quickness of Low Ki. The remaining question is – will Team Filthy get involved?
MAIN EVENT
2020 Opera Cup Finals
Tom Lawlor (with Dominic Garrini and Kevin Ku) vs. Low Ki
As Tom Lawlor enters for the finals he had a few statements beforehand. Once he takes that Trophy, he plans to far get away and will celebrate on “Filthy Island.”
Bell rings and the two feel one another other in their respective styles. Lawlor takes Ki down with a leg sweep, but that quickness comes into play and he gets Tom against the ropes.
Back on their feet, Lawlor gets the upperhand and grounds Low Ki as he sets his sights on Ki’s right arm. He then changes his attention to stretch The Professional in a bow and arrow, but no dice. Back to their feet once more.
The stalemates continue, but Low Ki really stands out with a speedy transition into a Key Lock. Lawlor tries to roll into a cross armbreaker and Low Ki rolls him up for a brief one count.
More jocking for position, but the two trade some swift pin attempts. This is indeed two men who know one another very well. Low Ki goes for another submission, and both men seem to volley for armbreakers. Lawlor goes for an anchor hold, but settles for a backslide and gets a two count.
Lawlor attempts a gutwrench and after a few kidney shots does so. A crisp powerbomb gets a pin attempt, but that’s all.
Knowing Lawlor’s game, Low Ki managed to bring some back-up with him and it’s the Tag Team Champions in Marshall and Ross Von Erich. Low Ki says those past setbacks won’t hinder him from taking the trophy tonight.
Lawlor keeps Low Ki low with more ground game. He sets aim for Low Ki’s leg and pretzels it up. Low Ki frees himself and hits a double stomp, but Low Ki does show a bit of favor to the knee.
Despite this, Low Ki continues to utilize his legs and does so with a ground head scissors. Lawlor rolls free and sticks to his gameplan by wrenching the knee with some Indian Deathlocks. A pin attempt breaks up the attack and Low Ki takes a moment to recoup on the outside as that knee is indeed troubling him. Ki gets back in and wants some ground attack, but the men get level and an enziguri frees Ki up from Tom’s leg attacks.
Back in the ring, Ki stays on the offense and it’s intense as he gives Lawlor some major corner elbows. The official has to check on Lawlor due to this, but Tom does major damage with a back breaker (even Tom favors his own knee after that one) A cover for two.
The two men get to their feet, but Lawlor has a plan in mind as he hyperextends Low Ki’s arm in a very unsettling way. Lawlor lays some heavy forearms in the corner and the ref admonishes Tom to pay attention to his count. Ki doesn’t want any check-ins by the ref as The Professional continues. Knees to the forehead loosen Low Ki up for a harsh suplex courtesy of Lawlor. He hooks both legs for a two count.
Big forearm shot by Tom and he follows up with two more. Low Ki suddenly wraps around a standing guillotine, and Lawlor tries to lower himself so Ki can’t lock it in. Despite that Low Ki does and Tom literally has to bite the ropes to free himself.
Lawlor soon finds his footing and it’s back to the gameplan: wear down the legs. Lawlor has a sharpshooter on Ki who struggles to make it to the ropes.
Thigh kick to Low Ki and Lawlor follows up with a dragon screw. Then, it’s figure four time and Low Ki is feeling the pain. Lawlor holds the leg in place, but with some coaching from The Von Erichs Low Ki finds a bit of rest by rolling over to reverse the tension. Lawlor powers him back over and attempts a key lock. Ki somehow finds the ropes.
Lawlor manages to kick and uppercut Ki, but Ki finds his groove with some hard running shots and soon springboards off the ropes with a kick. He covers for a very near fall. More harsh kicks to Lawlor now, A flurry of kicks to the nose has to dizzy Lawlor as it gets Low Ki a two count (and some time to get feeling back in the knee).
Low Ki jumps at Lawlor in the corner but Lawlor catches him and slams him down hard. He covers, 1-2-no!
Lawlor signals for the end, but Low Ki battles back. Ki hits The Ki Crusher very close to the ropes and finds his left leg taking a good amount of pressure in execution. When executing the move, Ki’s leg gets caught over the bottom rope and he immediately reaches for that knee.
Despite this, he stays on task and still utilizes his legs to pop Lawlor hard with a running front dropkick. Tom is very loopy due to those two major moves which prompts the official to check on him as Ki continues to weigh out the trouble of his left knee. Ki must believes he smells blood in the water and charges at Tom full force with a rolling kick in the corner. Ki undoubtedly hit the bullseye, but finds his back on the mat allowing an all but out of it Tom to gather enough awareness. He topples on top of Ki for the pin attempt, 1-2-3!
WINNER and 2020 Opera Cup Champion: “Filthy” Tom Lawlor
Ki absolutely went for broke in those final moments and may have had Lawlor down and out, but circumstance and opportunity got in the Lone Wolf’s way and we have a 2020 Opera Cup Champion in Tom Lawlor.
These results were written by @DOMINICDEANGELO but are COURTESY OF MLW.COM. Watch the full episode of this week’s MLW Fusion below: