On February third, MLW looked to escape the controversy of Kings of Coliseum and the lackluster Reload by presenting Superfight live from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and broadcasted live on Triller TV+. Six matches were advertised on the main card, headlined by Satoshi Kojima challenging Alex Kane for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship. 

The show started with its first surprise, with the announce team being Joe Dombrowski and a returning Christian Cole. Absent is regular color commentator Matt Striker, who, last month fanned the flames of controversy with comments about Matt Riddle, doubling down on his phrasing, before allegations of sexual misconduct towards him were made. Whether these played a part in Striker’s replacement is officially unknown. Cole had previous experience doing commentary in MLW during their Tijuana tapings early last year. 

Ichiban vs. Rocky Romero (w/Salina de la Renta & Jesus Rodriguez): 2/3 Falls for the MLW Middleweight Championship 

Our first match is for the MLW Middleweight championship in a two out of three falls match. Ichiban has been a fan favorite since his debut in the MLW Open Draft. He has been feuding with Salina de la Renta and by proxy with Rocky Romero, culminating with the ultimate Lucha Libre insult, the removal of Ichiban’s mask.

The match displayed why Ichiban has gained a following in MLW and why Romero is a respected veteran, with high flying action and solid in-ring psychology. Romero got the first fall when he countered a superplex into a cross body and received help from Jesus Rodriguez holding Ichiban’s foot on the pinfall, going 1-0.

During the second fall, the action picked up after Ichiban reversed a straight-jacket hold, allowing Ichiban to hit a handspring elbow, missile dropkick, and Ichiban Kai for even the score 1-1. The third fall focused on Ichiban’s heart as he showed fire and resilience as he fought through two Sliced Bread #2’s before falling to a reverse piledriver to give the final fall to Rocky, 2-1. 

Winner: And still! Rocky Romero 

After the match, Salina goes after a masked Lucha Goon that has been on stage, before getting dragged away by Rocky and Jesus. 

Davey Boy Smith Jr. (w/MSL) vs. The 1 Called Manders 

Our second match is our Hoss fight, as Davey Boy Smith returns to battle the Second Gear Crews’ 1 Called Manders. DBS has been out of action with diverticulitis and had aligned himself with the World Titan Federation, which has been feuding with the Second Gear Crew. It was a hard-hitting affair, as both competitors utilized a strike-based offense.

Manders was busted open the hard way by DBS’ barrage of elbows. DBS got to show his sadistic side, playing with Manders’ blood, while laying down a beating. The match was mostly a one-sided contest, allowing DBS to look good, while painting Manders as a never-give-up babyface, defiant to the end as he flipped off the referee as he passed out to DBS’ crossface. 

Winner: Davey Boy Smith Jr. 

After the match, DBS continues his attack before meeting with MSL and Christian Cole ringside. MSL states that they are coming for the tag team championships, while DBS chooses to run down the crowd and quote John Laurinaitis. 

Jacob Fatu vs. Yuji Nagata 

A dream match and a swan song featuring long-time MLW MVP Fatu, who has been announced as a free agent. Nagata appears as part of the NJPW partnership. The match was a surprisingly slow contest, as Nagata controlled the pace with technical expertise, working over Fatu’s arm for most of the match. Fatu, however, powered through to hit his Alley Uce followed by the double jump moonsault to beat the legend. 

Winner: Jacob Fatu 

After the match, the theme of the Contra Unit played over the house speakers and a batch of masked Sendai Death Squad members marched to the ring. Contra has not been seen in about two years as Jacob defeated Mads Krügger in a Weapons of Mass Destruction match. Fatu easily dispatched the first wave of Death Squad, before Mads Krügger returned with another wave of Death Squad. The numbers game was too much for Fatu as they held Fatu down and Krügger hit Fatu with his Baklei club. 

Sami Callihan vs. AKIRA: Death Machine Rules Match 

AKIRA has been feuding with the Calling since he was expelled from the group. Last month, Sami Callihan returned to MLW and allied himself with the Calling and cost AKIRA his National Openweight Championship match against Ricky Shane Page. Death Machine Rules is just a hardcore deathmatch. Weapons were used liberally as barbed wire, chairs, pop cans, and a broom came into play. We even had a staple gun stand off as the two took turns stapling each other. Despite innovative use of weaponry, AKIRA fell to Callihan’s piledriver. 

Winner: Sami Callihan 

After the match, the rest of the Calling came out and laid a beating on AKIRA, tying him to the ropes. The Calling then pointed to the stage, where Raven made his return. The figurehead of the Calling made his way to the ring, was given a kendo stick, and swerve bro! Raven laid into the Calling with the kendo stick, before posing with the freed AKIRA. 

We then get an announcement that Satoshi Kojima will take on Minoru Suzuki at Intimidation Games. We also get a video promo from Mads Krügger, stating that he had waited two years and on February 17^th he will end Fatu. 

Averno (w/Salina de la Renta) vs. Místico (w/Cesar Duran) 

Cesar Duran made his return prior to Mistico’s entrance. He had not been seen in over a year, after being kidnapped. MLW has been dropping hints of his return with Lucha goon appearances…and the announcement of Azteca Lucha in May. This is a Lucha Exhibition between old rivals.

Outside of the initial jockeying for position, the match started slowly before building to a frenzied, high-flying pace, reminding us why Mistico was considered one of the best in the world fifteen years ago. After several near falls by Averno, Mistico locked in La Mistica for the submission victory. 

Afterwards we get the announcements that Mistico will challenge Rocky Romero for the MLW Middleweight Championship at Intimidation Games, and at Burning Crush, Jacob Fatu will battle Mads Krügger in a Baklei Brawl. 

Prior to the main event, the shambling corpse of Don King lets us know that MLW champion Alex Kane will defeat this challenge because Bomaye is for the people. 

Satoshi Kojima vs. Alex Kane: MLW World Heavyweight Championship 

Kojima is looking to become the first two-time MLW Heavyweight Champion. Kane has held the belt since August, turning away challenges from Alex Hammerstone, Jacob Fatu, Richard Holliday, Tom Lawlor, Willie Mack, and Matt Cardona.

Kane controlled the pace for most of the match, hitting a myriad of strikes and suplexes, with Kojima occasionally firing off a flurry of offence. Towards the end, Kane showed frustration as Kojima survived the crash landing, Kane maker, and the ankle lock, all signature moves.

This frustration made Kane sloppy, allowing Kojima to counter into a lariat, before setting Kane up for a second, more devastating lariat to wrestle the title from Kane, ending his dominant reign. 

Afterwards, Kojima gets on the mic, and states that he has achieved glory again after twenty years. He celebrates with a beer with Yuji Nagata and beckons us to drink beer and eat bread to close the show. 

MLW is appearing to again be righting the ship after a disastrous January. Superfight brought solid in-ring action, loaded with surprising returns that gave us more questions than answers and good reasons to tune into Burning Crush February 17^th on YouTube. 

What did you think of the title change and big returns? Hit us up in the comment section or follow @thenovaofcass to sound off! Let us know on X @WeLikeSportzPC what you think?

By: Rob Kamerer, host of the MLW Con-Fusion podcast

*Photo courtesy of TrillerTV

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