MLW returns to Cicero Stadium in Cicero Illinois to host Lucha Apocalypto. The feed was broadcasted the next day due to the continued use of technical difficulties. Joe Dombrowski and a non-medically cleared “Filthy” Tom Lawlor are calling the action this evening. 

The show opens with the return of Cesar Duran who welcomes us to the show and demands a “Lucha” chant. 

Hechicero & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Kevin Knight & Esfinge 

Kevin Knight is still being announced as a member of the Bomaye Fight Club but is not repping the movement in either gear or music. That is my only complaint for this match. Lots of back-and-forth action to get the crowd worked up and serve as an introduction to Lucha Libre for those who may be uninitiated. There was a bit more technical wrestling than what most Lucha fans are used to…but that is the beauty of Lucha. Despite a valiant comeback attempt by Esfinge, Hechicero delivered a massive backbreaker, followed by a pop-up rolling leg nelson to pin Esfinge to the mat. 

Backstage, Salina de la Renta and crew are giving their welcome to the show when Salina is delivered a note. Evidently Cesar Duran had been kidnapped…again. 

Chain Match Alex Kane w/Mr. Thomas vs. BRG 

BRG continues to be a pain in the side of the Bomaye Fight Club, running his mouth. BRG is reluctant to be chained to Alex Kane…with good reason. As soon as the match begins, Kane utilizes the chain as a weapon whipping and tossing the upstart around the ring. BRG is busted open as the suplexes begin to be thrown. Kane looked to have the victory locked in with a chain assisted Fade to Black when the Anderson’s arrive to take out Mr. Thomas. BRG capitalized on this distraction to lock in a quick rollup with his feet on the ropes to secure the victory before making a hasty exit. 

A promo video of Mads Krugger. Krugger asks if AKIRA is ready to be a martyr for MLW and promises to tear him apart piece by piece. 

MLW Featherweight Championship: Janai Kai (c) vs. Lluvia vs. Persephone 

Kai is double teamed early and sent out of the ring. Lluvia and Persephone do good Lucha things in the ring meanwhile. The story of this match is that pretty much anytime Kai shows up, she is beaten until she exits the ring or there is a concern who is going to get the pin. Despite this, Kai is locked in a tandem submission. However, this strategy fell apart when Lluvia accidentally cross bodied Persephone, allowing Kai to hit a roundhouse kick on Lluvia and locking in the Demon’s Clutch on Persephone to retain the championship. 

Afterwards, Delmi Exo interrupts the celebration to accuse CONTRA of kidnapping Cesar and wanting a championship fight right now. Kai appears to accept when a Sendai Death Squad member intercepts Delmi but is immediately taken out by a chair. This gives Kai enough time to make her escape as security makes sure the two are separated. 

Salina de la Renta is backstage and demands CONTRA release Cesar Duran under the threat of dire consequences. 

MLW National Openweight Championship Street Fight Bad Dude Tito (c) w/Jesus Rodriguez vs. Matthew Justice 

Rodriguez gets to do the ring announcing before the match abruptly starts in the entranceway. Justice controlled this brawl into the crowd until Rodriguez provided distractions. Tito then showed he was not afraid to be hardcore, utilizing a weapons-based offense to supplement his power. Justice survived a DVD on the floor, Brainbuster on a stack of chairs, and a modified Tequila Screwdriver off the apron through a table. Rodriguez finally received his comeuppance to allow Justice unimpeded access to jump off balconies like a crazy person on his way to become the new National Openweight Champion! 

Joe Dombrowski is looking to interview MLW Champion Satoshi Kojima, but CONTRA members Ikuro Kwon and Minoru Suzuki attack the champion before he can get a word in. Everyone’s favorite fast-food breakfast sandwich comes to save the day and demand a Tag Team Championship match right now. Luckily, we were potentially saved a change as the match was thrown out after Suzuki dealt with ref bias by chucking the ref out of the ring. Of course, there was a big pull apart brawl to end the “match”. 

Magnus, Felino, & Barbaro Cavernario vs. Atlantis, Atlantis Jr., & Star Jr. 

Our legacy trios match of the evening. Atlantis and Felino showed that they could still go as they battled alongside the next generation of Lucha Libre. Lots of triple team action by the rudos, picking apart the technicos one by one. Luckily, Atlantis showed why he was a legend in Lucha as he turned the tides, allowing Star Jr. to pick up the pace, before finally Atlantis Jr. put Felino away with a frog splash. 

Cesar Duran’s Azteca goons arbitrarily enter the ring only to fall victim to a Dijak Hijack. Dijak demolishes the goons and cuts a promo calling out the MLW locker room, trying to shoot himself into a work. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor finally has enough even though he is not cleared to compete, leaving the commentary booth to confront Dijak, only to lead to another pull apart brawl. Luckily Lawlor is allowed to return to commentary. 

MLW Middleweight Championship Misitico (c) vs. Titan vs. Averno 

Main event time as we head into the triple threat match. MLW’s golden calf has two challengers to contend with…luckily breaking up the match a bit more to allow Mistico’s half-hour epics to flow a little bit better. However, we were still subjected to long stretches of time to which Mistico was beaten down by both challengers, often at the same time. Despite the rudo cheering crowd, Mistico found the strength to rebound on multiple occasions, with the final time hitting La Mistica on both competitors but locking it in on Titan to retain the championship. 

Almost immediately after the match, Barbaro Cavernario attacks and removes the mask of Mistico. He takes the mic and, while parading Mistico’s mask, lays down a challenge at Kings of Coliseum January 11^th for the MLW Middleweight Championship. 

Backstage, Jesus Rodriguez interrupts Salina de la Renta to say they found Cesar Duran. The camera follows as the group heads out to find Cesar tied to a chair. As he’s released, Cesar states he doesn’t know who kidnapped him. Salina starts making threats of retaliation as her water breaks. She is ushered away as Cesar lags behind. He looks at a note in his pocket before rejoining his daughter as the show ends. 

Once again, MLW manages to host an amazing show that is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The action was top notch, without the head scratching storyline directions usually taken, but everyone is talking about how the broadcast was postponed due to technical difficulties. Whereas these things do happen, this has been an albatross for MLW since they left Triller TV, while announcing bringing in two big names for the production department. That being said, I reiterate that there were no bad matches on this show and is well worth the price point (free on YouTube). 

Photo Credit: MLW

Rob Kamerer is the host of the MLW Con-Fusion podcast and contributor for the Urban Wrestling Network. He can be found on Twitter & Facebook.

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