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LIVE, ONGOING MLW FUSION TV TAPING COVERAGE FROM NYC

Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of MLW's Fusion TV Tapings from The Melrose Ballroom in Long Island City (Queens), NY!

PRE-SHOW NOTES:

The show is completely sold out, to the point those who asked about having guests were told there was no room.  It is beyond packed in here.

Mistico had a pre-show meet and greet with a massive line.

There are slated to be four episodes of Fusion taped tonight.

Atlas Security is in the house.

No sign of Bishop Dyer, aka the former Baton Corbin at the show.  There's been buzz that Corbin could be WWE-return bound but the story being passed around today at the taping was that he has an acting gig.  No idea if that's accurate.

Tracy "Hot Sauce" Williams makes his return tonight, appearing for the first time in three years for the promotion.

Mistico is only working tonight as he has to travel to Japan this weekend.

The 2026 Opera Cup tournament will commence tonight.

The early planning for the 2026 Chamber of Horrors match is already underway.

The legendary George Napolitano is shooting photos at ringside tonight.

Finally, I am personally ecstatic to report that Vladimir the Superfan is in the house and sitting in the front row,  Vlad even brought a Knicks jersey with him!

TV TAPING

The show opened with a video package showing MLW highlights from over the course of the promotion.

They've added some pyro to the proceedings.

The crowd chanted, "Knicks in five" as the show started.

EPISODE ONE

Zamaya vs. Lady Glory

Glory was billed from Puerto Rico.  The crowd chanted, "Boriqua."  Zamaya came out in spikes and makeup and big hair, sort of like Bull Nakano.  Glory had some early offense but ate a big clothesline.  Glory was slammed into the mat face-first several times.  Zamaya choked her against the ropes.  Zamaya nailed a fisherman's suplex and nailed a running knee strike.  She covered Glory but pulled her up during the count, nailed a DVDR and scored the pin.

Your winner, Zamaya!

This was obviously about spotlighting Zamaya, who looks like a star.

Joe Coffey vs. LaBron Kozone

They locked up and Coffey went after the arm.  Kozone surprised him with a clothesline into a takedown and cinched in a side headlock.  Coffey chopped him an Kozone responded in kind.  Kozone nailed a knee strike for a two count.  Coffey went to the floor.  Kozone set up for a strike but was tripped by another member of Gallus.  Coffey began working him over with bodystrikes in the corner.  Kozone battled back.   Coffey went for a Boston Crab but Kozone escaped and flipped up.  He nailed a running knee strike.  The crowd was super behind Kozone.  Coffey cut him off and locked in the Boston Crab.  Kozone finally escaped and kicked Coffey away, but was nailed with a big headbutt.  Coffey missed a move off the ropes.  Kozone lifted and tossed him.  They had a great sequence exchanging strikes.  Kozone drilled him.   Coffey came back with a running dropkick in the corner.  Kozone snatched him with a Michinoku Driver for a close two count.  Gallus tried to get involved but were fought off.  Coffey nailed a moonsault for a two count.   They battled back and forth.  Kozone nailed a back suplex.  Coffey returned with one of his own.  Kozone escaped a backslide attempt and nailed a rolling kick.  He nailed a powerbomb for another close two count. He nailed a big lariat and scored the pin.

Your winner, LaBron Kozone!

Very good match.  Kozone had a lot of fun offense and strikes.  Coffey came off like a badass.

MLW Champion Killer Kross and Scarlett came to the ring for a promo.  Big pop when they came out.    Kross welcomed NYC to MLW.  He said it was a great day to be a New Yorker.  The crowd chanted for the Knicks.  He said, "You're damn right."  He said it was also a beautiful day to be MLW Champion.  The Skyscrapers, Josh Bishop and Dijak, came out.  Kross said he and Bishop fought in a no holds barred match and he has something special.  Dijak said you should be talking about the captain of the team, him.  Kross said he doesn't think Bishop needs Dijak's permission to accept a title match.  Matt Riddle came out and said everyone here knows that he owes Riddle.  The Skyscrapers began brawling with Kross and Riddle as security and referees hit the ring and failed at restoring order.  Riddle has cut his trademark long shaggy hair.    Scarlett suggested something to Kross and he said they've got themselves a NYC Street Fight.

Opera Cup: Anthony Greene vs. Diego Hill

Hill sparkled early with some nice moves and resiliency.  Green went to the floor to regroup.  He avoided a sliding kick but was drilled and tossed in the ring,  Hill took a Knicks jersey from Vladimir the Superfan and put it on for a big pop.  Green drilled him and scored a two count, then cinched in a single-leg crab.  Hill came back with a leaping kick.   Greene cut him off with a cutter, sending Diego to the floor and then hit a dive.  Green pulled the Knicks jersey off Hill and spit on it.  Those antics allowed Hill to recover and nail a running big boot, sending Greene to the floor.  He then hit a space flying tiger drop to the outside.  Diego worked over Greenme but was caught with a suplex and a DDT.   Greene was sent outside to the entrance ramp but superkicked Hill as he went for a move.  The crowd chanted for Diego.  Diego charged the ramp and leapt into a cutter for a big pop.   He nailed a Spiral Tap and scored the pin.

Your winner, Diego Hill! 

Matt Riddle vs. CONTRA Unit's Brick Savage with Josef Samael 

Riddle gets manhandled early on.  He fired back with kicks and strikes but was clotheslined down.  Savage is a big, thick scary man.  He elevated and dropped Ruddle, who crashed rudely.  Savage missed a moonsault.  Riddle fired back and went for a twisting dive but was and slammed.  Savage drilled and slammed Riddle, scoring the pin.

Your winner, Brick Savage!

This was obviously about making Savage a player here.

EPISODE TWO:

Opera Cup: MLW National Openweight Champion Austin Aries vs. Tracy Williams

Aries cut a heel promo before the bout, ripping the fans and putting himself over.   Some very good back and forth grappling and reversals and escapes early on. Williams nailed a series of knee strikes and a slam.    Aries came back and worked over Williams with elbows before coming off the ropes with an elbow to the back of the neck for a two count.  Williams naiked a big boot.  Austin came back with a slam.  He kept working over Williams, who fired back and and nailed a series of leaping forearms in the corner.  They battled to the top, where Williams executed a superplex for a two count.  Aries battled back with a roaring elbow strike for a two count.  He locked on the Muta Lock but Williams made it to the ropes.  They battled to the ropes again, where Williams nailed a DDT on the top turnbuckle and cinched in a armbar submission.  Aries battled back and backdropped Williams over the top to the floor.  Aries brought him back in, nailed a running dropkick in the corner, then hit a brainbuster for the pin.

Your winner, Austin Aries!

Opera Cup: Okumura vs. Oddyssey

Oddyssey is the former Odyssey Jones in WWE.  He offered a handshake but was kicked away by Okumura.  Oddyssey showed off his power early.    The crowd liked him playing to them.   Okumura went for a hiptss but was blocked.  Okumura drilled him and hit a back senton splash for a two count.  Oddyssey took control and nailed a splash off the ropes for the pin.

Your winner, Oddyssey!

Opera Cup: MLW Southern Champion Trevor Lee vs. Mistico

Mistico received a standing ovation and one of the longest reactions for anyone on the show thus far.  The crowd chanted his name and then 'lucha.'

They locked up with Mistico getting the better of the early exchange.  Lee came back and drilled him into the buckles, then came off with a bodypress.    They went back and forth before facing off.  The crowd chanted for Lucha.  Mistico nailed several kicks but was dropped across the top turnbuckle.  Lee worked him over and scored several near falls.  Mistico made a comeback attempt with a head scissor but was caught with an over the knee backbreaker.  Lee cinched in a low abdominal stretch.    He nailed several stomps and knee drops.  The crowd began verbally taunting Lee. He continued assaulting Mistico, who finally came back with a flying back elbow off the ropes.  Mistico nailed a bodypress off the ropes, then hit a springboard lucha armdrag.  Lee went to the floor, where he was hit with a dive.  Another masked man came out and began mocking Mistico.  The distraction allowed Lee to roll up Mistico for a two count.  They went for kicks at the same time and knocked each other down.    They battled on their knees, exchanging strikes.    Mistico shocked him with a rapid fire rana for a close two count.  Mistico went for a move off the top but was kicked as he came down.  Lee covered him for a two count.  The crowd chanted, "This is awesome."  Mistico set up and kicked Lee in the head in the corner.  Lee came off the ropes but was caught with a superkick.  Lee nailed a German suplex into the buckles and a back suplex for a pinfall attempt but Mistico kicked out at two.  Lee went to the ropes but was caught with a series of kicks to the head while on the top.  Mistico nailed a Spanish Fly into the ring but the masked man outside the ring pulled the referee out.  Mistico went for a dive on him.  Lee went to kick the masked man but he took out Lee.  Mistico attacked and unmasked him and it was Austin Aries.  Lee returned to the ring but Mistico could not and was counted out.

Your winner, by countout, Trevor Lee!

Austin Aries cut a promo saying Mistico couldn't win the Opera Cup this year, which means he's going to be the winner.

EPISODE THREE:

MLW Middleweight Champion Templario vs. Soberano Jr.

Soberano tried to shoulderblock the champ down.  It didn't go well.  Templario chopped him hard.  They battled with some nice lucha action.  Soberano went for a dive but was caught and kicked hard in the chest.  Templario went for a tope suicida but was kicked as he came through the ropes.  The crowd was all over Soberano, who gave them the finger.  Ah, the universal language!   Soberano worked over the champ, elevating and kicking him as he crashed down.    Soberano worked over Templario until missing a splash in the corner and getting kicked hard in the back.  The battled continued with near falls.  Soberano teased taking off Templario's mask several times.  He came off the ropes but was caught and suplexed down hard for a two count.  Soberano nailed a running knee but was struck down.  Soberano caught Templario in the ropes.  They battled to the outside, where he drilled the champ down to the apron and scored a two count.  Templario pulled Soberano off the buckles into a wheelbarrow suplex.    Soberano was powerbombed into the ring from the buckles but he kicked out at the last second.  Soberano came back with a Canadian Destroyer.  He nailed spinning dive for a two count.  Templario nailed a big powerbomb for another two count.  Soberano nailed a leaping knee.  Templario nailed a big slam and hit Project Ciampa for the pin.

Your winner, Tempario!

Big Mexico chant after the bout.

Lightning Match: Mark Coffey with Wolfgang vs Beastman with Kim-Chee

Mark avoided a charge at the bell.  He nailed Beastman.  Mark was worried and tried to tag out to Wolfgang.  He wasn't interested.  Beastman hit a running charge in the corner.  Mak nailed some bodyblows but was caught with a big sideslam.  Beastman whipped Coffey hard into the buckles and then hit a cannonball into the corner.  Beastman went to the ropes for a move but missed a Vader Bomb.   Coffey nailed a leg lariat and scored the pin.

Your winner, Mark Coffey!

The Glasgow Boys cut a promo saying they are coming for the Good Brothers and the MLW titles.

MLW Women's Champion Shotzi Blackheart & Lady Frost vs. the debuting Saya Kamitani & Rina

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