Much like all good things, they must come to an end and this was to be the last episode of the ALPHA series for MLW. It was going to go out in a blaze of glory though as there were three high-stakes fights and a nice dose of Japanese flair to enjoy too. Holidead and Willow Nightingale were going to be unleashed on each other in a one-on-how ever many combatants Holidead brought match, LA Park, the Destroyer of Los Parks was going to battle the Notorious 187 Homicide, 5150’s secret weapon and in the main event, MLW takes us to AJPW as Tajiri defends the MLW Middleweight Title against Atsuki Aoyagi. There was a lot to enjoy and so many questions left to answer too. Let’s get into the action.

Holidead (w/Arez & Dr. Dax) defeated Willow Nightingale (w/The Blue Meanie) via Darkness Falls

Up first tonight was the long-awaited fight between the force of positivity, the babe with the power, Willow Nightingale, and the ultimate evil, Holidead and her army of the strange. Holidead has been pursuing Nightingale since she got to MLW and now she finally had a chance to end things. The bubbly force of MLW needed to be stopped. Nightingale hadn’t come alone though, she had the Blue Meanie with her. They quickly collided with strikes and slams until Nightingale took control with a Superkick. She continued to punish Holidead with corner elbows and booted her down for a senton. Dax interfered and Holidead dragged Nightingale down from the top for a Suplex. The abuse continued with low headbutts and multiple leg drops whilst The Blue Meanie could only look on and throw up a pose if she threatened to attack. Holidead dragged Nightingale out to the apron for another leg drop and tried for Darkness Falls but Nightingale broke free and downed her with lariats. She followed up with a Missile Dropkick but Dax prevented the pinfall. The fight knocked out the ref and Holidead sicked Dax on Nightingale but The Meanie made the save and the match continued uninterrupted. Nightingale downed Holidead again with a Superkick and we got dancing jabs and elbows on her and Dax from the light side team. Arez ruined the fun and Holidead booted Nightingale into Darkness Falls, taking the win. The forces of evil had won again. The numbers had been overwhelming and now, Arez had returned the favour for the briefcase save. Holidead continues to be one of the most dominant forces in MLW but even her dominance was shaken here. This was an excellent opener with both light and dark-sided exchanges throughout.

LA Park defeated Homicide (w/Dr Julius Smokes) via Spear

Next up was an MLW OG showdown. LA Park and Homicide have been through both generations of MLW and now they were finally going to scrap. The Chairman of Los Parks was taking on the top hybrid of the indies. This was going to be awesome. They opened by testing the fan reactions and quickly picked up the pace with a series of counters. Homicide scored the first proper hit with a dropkick and followed him outside with an explosive Tope con Giro. He threw Park back inside and climbed to the top rope but Park caught him out of the air and strutted with him in his arms before dumping him down for a headbutt. He knocked Homicide to the outside with double knees and brutalised him with a chair. He forced Homicide to take a seat and knocked him back out of it with a Suicide Dive. Park threw him back in and Homicide dropped him on his head with a DDT. They traded lariat between the corners and Park strutted into another knockdown. Homicide booted Park into an Exploder and Park chopped Homicide down with more lariats and a vicious knee. Park charged again and Homicide took out his knee, then twisted him up with a nasty Neckbreaker. The Gringo Cutter followed but Park wasn’t ready to die. Homicide tried to attack from the top again but Park threw him down and ended him with a Spear. The Destroyer of Los Parks had gotten a modicum of revenge against 5150 by putting down its veteran in an intense little fight. These two threw a whole lot of bombs and made the most of the time they had. I want more between these two.

Between the Matches:

It's time to celebrate.#MLWFusion
▶️ https://t.co/z79mTaFZVu@RealCesarDuran @SliceBoogie @DannyLimeLight @Konnan5150 @devilsoninlaw pic.twitter.com/VIf31HKCgV

— MLW (@MLW) December 17, 2021

• 5150 opened the show with a video package celebrating their title win as Konnan ran down why 5150 and opened the floodgates for the competition. As per Boogie and Rivera had their barbs to throw and were going to the bank with those Titles. They even interrupted Cesar Duran’s phone call later in the show to bring him into the celebrations. They are confirmed for the Mexico shows now too, Duran promising them the best fighters.
• The Von Erichs checked in for Kauai, Hawaii and between playing Pacman, they received their title match contract for Dallas. The Von Erichs were ready to shut up 5150 and take their titles back. We also got confirmation MLW Azteca begins January 6th.
• KC Navarro had an injury update after getting his neck fractured by nZo.
• We got an all-access look into the life and career of The Judge, EJ Nduka. He talked about being a Dallas native and 3-sport athlete before specialising in football and eventually wrestling.
• MLW showed its first video package for Rok-C, the prodigy debuting in Dallas.

January 6…#MLWFusion
▶️ https://t.co/z79mTaFZVu pic.twitter.com/43llqt9iog

— MLW (@MLW) December 17, 2021

• A new segment, BeinTheRing, highlighted the work of the MLW crew and specifically cameraman Charlie Bruzzese. He got to recount his camera and crew history that took him through MLW and ECW. He was given a special thank you on air too as he entered the Hardcore Hall of Fame.
• Alex Kane and his Bomaye Fight Club addressed Calvin Tankman’s attack and why he pushed charges. Tankman had been arrested and Kane had hired a lawyer to make sure he stays away as Kane makes his empire. Mr. Thomas wasn’t exactly thrilled since he was the one who’d been hit. Tankman gave his side of the story from prison through a phone call. He’d been left in a hole with his thoughts. He was going to make them pay when he got out. Which was going to be very soon.
• A video package teased that Pagano, the Mexican Deathmatch Clown was coming to play. MLW better be ready to smile. He will be in the main event of the January 6th show as he teams with Alex Hammerstone against King Muertes and Black Taurus.
• The show ended with Richard Holliday trying to sell Cesar Duran on the idea of MLW NFTs. Thankfully, Duran was not interested in that BS and tried to walk off. Big Beef stopped Duran in the hall too and was brushed off too. Lastly, Alex Hammerstone confronted El Jefe and left him with a warning to not double-cross him again, as he had with the Matanza Stunt. Duran took the threat and muttered of things to come in Mexico.

MLW Middleweight Title: Tajiri defeated Atsuki Aoyagi via Buzzsaw Kick

Last but not least, the main event. Simulcast from AJPW, Tajiri was putting on his first defence of the MLW Middleweight Title against one of AJPW’s fasted rising middleweights, Atsuki Aoyagi. Tajiri had the experience advantage but Aoyagi has proven his adaptability countless times and was ready to rise to the challenge, especially as he’d beaten Tajiri before. The pair opened with some circling and went into a lock-up, Aoyagi forcing Tajiri to the ropes. They locked up again and Tajiri turned up the chain wrestling, going after Aoyagi’s leg. They scrambled across multiple holds and Aoyagi kept control of Tajiri’s arm. Tajiri took the fight to the corner and delivered a stiff forearm but Aoyagi dodged a second and took the fight back to the mat. Tajiri popped back up and stunned Aoyagi with a gut punch before snapping him back to the mat with a Neckbreaker. They struck it out and Tajiri broke Aoyagi’s neck again. He kept the pressure on Aoyagi’s neck and kept knocking him back down if he tried to get up, killing off his momentum with a running elbow. Tajiri tried to keep Aoyagi’s energy sapped with a Chin-lock and Aoyagi countered an attempted Sleeper with a Back Suplex. Commercials played and when the match returned, both men were finding their feet for another striking exchange. Aoyagi picked up the pace with some flips and athletic arm-drags but Tajiri stuck with him and pushed away a handspring back elbow, choosing to flee instead. Aoyagi got his breath back and followed Tajiri outside with an Asai Moonsault. He brought the fight back inside with a Springboard Missile Dropkick and launched himself onto Tajiri with a standing Moonsault but only got two. He missed a second Moonsault and got locked into the Tarantula but dodged the Buzzsaw Kick and knocked out Tajiri with a handspring kick.

Buzzsaw kick! and @TajiriBuzzsaw retains the World Middleweight championship!#MLWFusion
▶️ https://t.co/z79mTaop3W pic.twitter.com/OLzN488NFv

— MLW (@MLW) December 17, 2021

Tajiri kicked out again and dodged another attempted Moonsault but still couldn’t land the Buzzsaw as Aoyagi blocked and took him out with a step-up Enzuigiri. Aoyagi blasted Tajiri with a 360 kick but still couldn’t get the job done. The champion just wouldn’t give in so Aoyagi risked it all on a 450 Splash and crashed out. Tajiri tried to capitalise with an Inside Cradle but Aoyagi was still cognizant and turned that table on him. Another two-count for the youngster and the last he’d get as Tajiri dropped him on his head with a Piledriver. Tajiri signalled for the end and took Aoyagi’s head off with the Buzzsaw Kick. Aoyagi had put on a hell of a fight but the champion had the resilience to resist his onslaught and picked his moment to murder Aoyagi. This was very methodical but also compelling as hell to watch. Aoyagi is a very interesting fighter and brought his A-game to the champion, even in defeat. It’s hard to tell if he’d earned Tajiri’s respect as the champion just scuttled out. That ends this current run of MLW Fusion shows as we prepare to enjoy the holiday season. It’s been a fun ride but I always love when MLW comes to Mexico and with Pagano already confirmed my interest is spiked. See you all in Mexico for MLW Azteca.

All images courtesy of MLW, Video courtesy of MLW YouTube