MLW returns to YouTube with their next premium live event Burning Crush. Hailing from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia PA, featuring the fallout from Superfight.

After an introductory video highlighting the events of Superfight, Alex Kane enters the stage with mic in hand. Kane talks about the evolution of the Bomaye fight club into a movement, and the loss of confidence after his loss of the MLW Heavyweight Championship to Satoshi Kojima. Kane ends with the thought of stepping away for a bit.

Bomaye member & Kane hype man, Mr. Thomas arrives & gives a pep talk to Kane, telling him today is day one if Kane wants to recapture the MLW Heavyweight Championship. Kane agrees when they are interrupted via video by AJ Francis. The former Flop Dolla makes several claims that are objectively not true, laying out the challenge to Alex Kane. Kane responds to these claims by invoking the name of Swerve and accepting Francis’ challenge. 

Wasted Youth & Nolo Kitano vs. Griffin McCoy, TJ Crawford, & Tony Deppen 

Wasted Youth is being represented by Marcus Mathers & Austin Luke, rather than Mathers & Dylan McKay. Luke is an auxiliary member of the group on the indies. Wasted Youth and Kitano have had issues with the tandem of McCoy, Crawford, & Deppen. The action starts fast after faking respect by McCoy, Crawford, & Deppen, with Wasted Youth taking to the air. Lots of high-flying action and unique tandem office are heavily featured before Tony Deppen sneaks a running knee strike on a distracted Marcus Mathers to get the victory. 

Next is a video from the calling, declaring that Raven was a false prophet. Now without Raven, there will be blood. 

Delmi Exo vs. Zayda (w/Brett Ryan Gosselin) vs. Tiara James vs. Notorious Mimi 

A fatal four-way representing most of the Featherweight division. Salina de la Renta, manager of the Featherweight champion, Janai Kai, joins on commentary and puts down the division as the match occurs. The match itself was an exhibition for each member of the match, getting ample opportunity to showcase their skills. Zayda picks up the victory after Delmi gets into a verbal altercation with Salina, allowing Zayda to dump Delmi out of the ring and hit the I’m Prettier Tomakaze on Mimi to pick up the win. 

Following the match, Salina attacks Delmi before getting into it on the mic with Zayda and BRB. 

We receive a video from Mads Krugger, explaining that he had waited two years to get his revenge on Jacob Fatu. 

MLW National Openweight Championship: Ricky Shane Page vs Jake Crist 

This is Jake Crist’s debut for MLW, what he had done in MLW to warrant a title match is beyond me. However, Crist makes the most of his opportunity, starting with a tope suicida, tope DDT, & Asai moonsault before falling victim to RSP’s power game. Crist makes a comeback before falling victim of the numbers game, taking out Cannonball before being attacked by Sami Callihan. AKIRA returns to make the save, doing a stage dive with a chair and Crist putting Cannonball through a table with a chair. 

In the back, Cesar Duran makes a deal with Court Bauer to become matchmaker of MLW once again. Afterwards, Mister Saint Laurant makes a deal to get WTF a tag team title shot. 

On the Concourse, COZYMAX with bag of bread meets the Second Gear Crew. The two teams agree to a tag team title match in the future when WTF interrupt. MSL is upset about WTF not getting a title shot before COZYMAX. Kojima stuff bread into MSL’s mouth to end the segment. 

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor (w/MSL) vs. Matthew Justice 

Matthew Justice attacks before his entrance, brawling with Tom Lawlor around the ring. MSL takes hold of Justice as Lawlor is tossed into the ring, allowing Lawlor to control the match for quite a while. Eventually Lawlor becomes cocky, doing a Fargo strut and stripping his U.S. flag onesie, allowing Justice time to hit a spear.

MSL runs interference, preventing a Justice victory. The 1 Called Manders teleports from Blue Grass Iowa to even the odds, giving MSL a lariat. However, this distraction means that Justice did not see a roundhouse kick coming, giving Lawlor the victory. Afterwards, Joe Dombrowski gets a word with Lawlor, who runs down the crowd. As soon as this “interview” is over, Justice flies through the ropes into Lawlor & MSL. 

It is announced that Big Bad Tito will make his MLW debut at Intimidation Games. 

Cesar Duran is out with the microphone. He puts over bringing in the best luchadores to MLW and will continue with Azteca Lucha by bringing in Mistico, Barbero Cavernario, and Atlantis! Salina de la Renta interrupts and the spar on the mic, before agreeing to a MLW Middleweight Championship match between Mistico and champion Rocky Romero. Duran whispers something to Salina who knocks him down before being restrained by Jesus Rodriguez and Rocky Romero. 

Lumber Jack & Jill: Love, Doug vs. Brett Ryan Gosselin (w/Zayda) 

The latest match in the feud between Love, Doug and Brett Ryan Gosselin, now with lumberjacks and Jills. The groups outside the ring play an integral role in the match, tossing BRG into the ring and beating down Doug. Doug dives onto the crowd as the opposing Jacks and Jills battle ringside. Zayda offers added distraction as BRG hits Zayda’s I’m Prettier finisher to pick up the win. 

Calling 2.0 have a bit noting something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. The blue being the Blue Meaning. 

COZYMAX vs. WTF (Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Richard Holiday) 

Okumura & Holliday start & Holliday is thoroughly outwrestled. DBS & Kojima are tagged in and reach a stalemate in the strength department. Okumura back in & is promptly beaten until making the hot tag to Kojima. Things break down from there as DBS is taken of with a tumbleweed to the arena floor by Okumura. In the ring, Holliday dodges one Kojima lariat before running into a second to give COZYMAX the victory, breaking WFT’s win streak. 

Baklei Brawl: Jacob Fatu vs. Mads Krugger 

If you enjoy weapons-filled brawls, this is the match for you. Krugger made his return at Superfight, attacking his former teammate and foe. Fatu had problems keeping Krugger down, with Krugger getting up and dropping Fatu with various slams and chair shots.

Krugger was put through two tables, but survives this & the best of Fatu’s offense, including the Alley Uce, the swanton bomb, & even the moonsault. After taking a running hip attack, Krugger responds with a fireball and his scorched Earth facebuster to end Fatu’s run in MLW. The last visage we have of Fatu is being put into a body bag, draped in the black flag of Contra, & carried out of the arena. The show ends with Krugger’s black glove held high. 

This appears to be Fatu’s swan song in MLW, as it has been announced that Fatu is a free agent. Fatu was a core member of MLW for the last five years and it was fitting for him to leave at the hands of an old foe in a wild brawl.

Overall, the show met expectations, and is definitely a step up from the last, lackluster YouTube special. Each match was fun, and the show presented several surprises to advance storylines. The show itself is free on demand on the MLW YouTube channel and is worth a look. 

Rob Kamerer is the host of the MLW Con-Fusion podcast and contributor of the Urban Wrestling Network. He can be found on social media @thenovaofcass. 

By Rob Kamerer

Photo courtesy of MLW