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Hey folks, and welcome to my weekly review of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s Mayhem, airing on TSN2 in Canada and on MyAEW.com everywhere. Mayhem this week was once again broadcast from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and it was another solid hour of action building to the sold-out Northern Rising event in Toronto next month. Let’s go!
EPISODE EIGHT OF MAYHEM
Mayhem flies by every week. With commercials removed, the show is only about 43 minutes, and MLP makes each one count while maintaining a nice flow that doesn’t feel rushed. What’s more, MLP manages to highlight its various divisions pretty equitably. Unlike some promotions where the tag team division, for instance, seems like an afterthought, MLP treats each division with respect.
There were four matches this week, including an excellent main event between MLP Interim Canadian Champion Stu Grayson and Johnny TV. I’ll get to that momentarily.
The show kicked off with a solid match between AEW’s Ace Austin and “The Octopus” Jonathan Gresham. Following a tentative feeling-out process, they traded holds and some big spots before Austin caught Gresham with a surprise pin. It was a fun opener, and I’d like to see these guys go at it again.
Jody Threat and Alexia Nicole had a quick match, trading some big, stiff shots before Threat made quick work of her opponent with an F5.
Michael Allen Richard Clark vs Zach Gowan was mostly a showcase for what an absolute jerk Clark is. Gowan caught him with a moonsault for a sudden pin, and I’m not sure we’re done with these two just yet.
Elsewhere, we were shown Adam Copeland’s promo that was released online last week. In it, Copeland challenged Steve Maclin to a match at Northern Rising, which Maclin was quick to accept. Maclin also threatened to see Copeland before Northern Rising, so I’m curious what - if anything - comes of it.
1st Faction’s Brent Banks and Sheldon Jean did a great job positioning themselves as the top tag team in MLP. I’m looking forward to next week’s #1 contenders match between the Good Brothers, Subculture, Capitain Suicida and Neon, and the Grizzled Young Veterans.
The other short promos throughout the show were solid. Psycho Mike appeared to have an existential crisis following last week’s attack by Maclin, and for the second week we got a promo from incoming tag team Sinner & Saint. They seem like an interesting act. Finally, Rohan Raja demanded a match against a luchador at Northern Rising. Good stuff.
HIGHLIGHT
The Grayson vs Johnny TV was my favourite match this week, and I really enjoyed Grayson’s determined promo on Josh Alexander to end the show. I’ve only been watching MLP since Mayhem debuted, but Grayson has presented as an excellent Interim champion in that time. He carries the title with poise, and he is believable in the role. I’m looking forward to the Grayson vs Alexander match at Northern Rising to determine who the “real” champion is.
Thanks for reading! See you back here next week.
Eric Lewis is from New Brunswick, Canada. He’s been a pro wrestling fan for as long as he can remember, at least back to WrestleMania VII. During his journalism career, he was fortunate to interview wrestling legends including Bret Hart, Trish Stratus, Booker T, JJ Dillon, Christian Cage, Ted Dibiase, Lanny Poffo, and The Honky Tonk Man.
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