Welcome back to MLW and to another special broadcast. This week was Intimidation Games, a super-show with two high-calibre bouts to see it through. Firstly, was another madcap Trios match from the Lucha division of the company as Microman joins Aramis and KC Navarro to take on the Rudo unit of Arez, Gino Medina, and Mini Abismo Negro. This is a tried and tested formula with some new elements to enjoy then, in the main event, Hammerstone had to confront his past once again as he dealt with not one but two spectres of CONTRA. Two monsters had come gunning for his title and he was going to have to stop them both if he could. It would be Hammer vs Mads Krügger vs Jacob Fatu to close the show. Plus, as it’s MLW, there was going to be a whole host of new developments in-between as the crazy world Cesar Duran is concocting never stops spinning. Let’s get into the action.

Arez, Mini Abismo Negro & Gino Medina defeated Microman, KC Navarro & Aramis via Intocable Driver on Aramis

Up first tonight, was some Lucha-libre insanity. It was time for more trios fun as Gino Medina, Mini Abismo Negro and Arez joined forces again to try and conquer the world’s newest wonder Microman, Aramis and the new team member, the Blessed KC Navarro. Every time the Rudos face this team, it’s an uphill battle, would we see a victory here for them or would the Tecnicos prosper once again? Things were going to get ridiculously athletic and pretty intense as there was a lot of bad blood between the two teams. That became apparent instantly as Aramis tried to take the fight to Gino Medina. He wasn’t going to get him that easily and had to work his way towards getting Medina. Alongside that, we got more incredible work from everyone involved. Navarro slotted well into the fast-paced, lawless structure of the match, Arez excelled at keeping the match moving and Mini Abismo Negro was the perfect asshole to keep everyone heated. Microman once again became the star of the show with his impressive manoeuvres whilst everyone either tried to kill or assist him. We even saw him pull off the world’s smallest tower of doom spot. He was channelling every bit of the power he had to steal the show and put the hurting on the Rudos.

Everyone worked their ass off in this one as there was no drag and everyone kept a rapid pace. Strange Sangre wanted to show out but the Tecnicos were not going to make it easy. We had callbacks to their previous encounters with everyone avoiding Microman’s roll-ups and Gangrel taking a bite out of him. Aramis and Medina had threatened to start things and they too finished things with Medina getting another one over the man he’d his victim with a mask pull and unique driver. The villains walked away victorious after one hell of an opening contest. The MLW Lucha division is incredible and everyone in it knows how to put on a show. Medina even took things a step further by stealing Aramis’ mask. This feud is only getting nastier with Medina making Aramis the punching bag for every bit of aggression he has. This is going to get nastier before it’s over…

Between the Matches:

• Alex Kane disrupted the opening messages by invading the introduction area, scaring the life out of Rich Bocchini and Joe Dombrowski in the process. He and Mr. Thomas had swaggered out to lay down the gauntlet for the MLW Tag Titles. He was predicting new champs as the Bomaye Fight Club would end Hustle and Power’s reign. They further staked this claim by getting in the champ’s faces later in the show.
• The Von Erichs were giving back to Dallas by showcasing some of their old family heirlooms and title belts throughout the city starting May 1st.
• David Marquez was backstage and was trying to get an interview with the Champ. He was thrown off-kilter though by Hammerstone’s odd regiment and weirder drinks. The Champ wasn’t concerned though, he’d beaten them before and he’d do it again. Of course, the challengers had statements to make too, Krugger hijacked the broadcast to issue his statement and promised to finish his mission.
• This June will be the 20th anniversary of MLW’s first show. As part of the celebration, MLW is bringing back 1st gen stars. The first announced, The SAT: Los Maximos.
• Myron Reed was livid about being attacked last week. He demanded to know the masked man that had robbed his opportunity. Next week, whoever did it, is getting the opportunity of a lifetime at the Middleweight Title.
• 5150 cut another video shooting down their opponents and informally welcoming Hernandez back into the fold. They also had another stab for the Von Erichs, they’d stolen one of the Von Erichs’ historical titles and were going to take it on a little road trip.

MLW World Heavyweight Title: Alexander Hammerstone defeated Mads Krugger & Jacob Fatu via Nightmare Pendulum on Krügger

Last but not least, the main event. Hammerstone has been a pretty dominant champ thus far but now he was going to have to confront his past again. To become champion, Hammerstone had had to defeat Jacob Fatu. The Samoan Werewolf had never had his rematch so he was in the fold but he wasn’t alone as The Black Hand, Mads Krügger had been entered into the title fray too. Hammerstone had two challengers to contend with but, were they going to focus on the champ or would they be too busy trying to kill each other? Richard Holliday had come out to join commentary to share his dynastic thoughts on the match. Hopefully, this time there’d be a bit less blood. There wasn’t as Hammerstone sent him packing before the match could even begin. That kicked off a chaotic chain of events as both challengers took advantage of the Champ’s diverted attention. Fatu and Hammerstone teamed up to briefly rid the match of Krügger then brought out the bombs on each other, countering at a rapid pace. They kept the pace up as Krügger recovered outside. He made his return felt with a double chokeslam and launched himself onto both foes with a Superman Dive, sending Hammerstone and Fatu flying. The Black Hand was in full control, playing with his food and bringing Hammerstone in for more punishment.

The champ refused to give up despite the punishment Krügger was putting him through, levelling the playing field with a double dose of Spinebusters and Powerslams. His momentum was cut off quickly though as Krügger launched him with a top-rope Fallaway Slam and Fatu almost stole the match with a Swanton on Krügger. It was all getting risky for the champ and the challengers. Fatu and Krügger kept unloading on each other until Hammerstone exploded back into the match with a double dropkick. He hit Fatu with the TKO for two and tried for the Nightmare Pendulum but Fatu transitioned it to Alè Uce. Krügger tried to introduce a chair but Fatu brained him with it and kept the pressure up on Hammerstone, going coast-to-coast with more chairs. Krügger saved the match with his war club and tried to use it on Hammerstone but the champ booted it and him away. He dragged out a ring board and left it lurking in the corner. The ref was clocked so the moves Hammerstone was launching couldn’t be counted. Holliday rushed back to hit 2008 but even that wasn’t enough, even with Fatu’s Killing Moonsault. Fatu speared Krügger through the ring board but overshot in the process, launching himself outside. The Black Hand lurched up, the Nightmare Pendulum connected and Hammerstone had retained, much to Holliday’s chagrin. He’d overcome the odds and the raw power of the challengers to hold that belt another day. It made for an excellent triple-threat with everyone showing out and the ongoing story only briefly interfering. Holliday will now be taking on Davey Richards next week because of his actions. Post-match, just as the show was closing up, a new player came for Fatu. Bestia 666, armed with a chair, had attacked Fatu on the order of Cesar Duran. I think we now know what’s next for the Samoan Werewolf.

All images courtesy of MLW, Video courtesy of MLW YouTube