Welcome back to MLW and to another Lucha-infused episode from Cesar Duran’s temple of violence. To the uninitiated, this might seem like an odd title but the title Smoking Aces refers to a 2006 film in which a band of colourful assassins are sent to kill a mob snitch. Duran had sent his own band of colourful assassins after Microman as the world’s smallest wrestler had been leaking info from his office. It was time for the consequences so Duran had enlisted Strange Sangre to deal with him, though he wasn’t alone. He had Taya Valkyrie and Lince Dorado backing him up. Plus, we’d get the long-awaited debut of the Samoan SWAT Team. We’d seen Jacob Fatu and Juicy Finau wrecking the place, now it was time to see what Lance Anoa’i added to this monstrous unit. Plus, who knows what else is going to happen in the wonderful world of MLW. Let’s get into it.

The Samoan SWAT Team (Juicy Finau & Lance Anoa’i w/Jacob Fatu) defeated Los Aztecas (w/Cesar Duran) via Samoan Splash

Up first tonight was the debut of a deadly new team within MLW. Cesar Duran was in the ring running his mouth with a new batch of Los Aztecas goons. These were the deadliest fighters out of Mexico and could strike fear into the hearts of anyone… including Jacob Fatu, the man constantly clowning his ass right now. That brought out the Samoan Werewolf who was debuting the real new deadly team, the Samoan SWAT Team. Lance Anoa’i and Juicy Finau were bonding Samoan and Tongan blood into one supreme ass-kicking unit. Duran made the match and Los Aztecas were destroyed whilst Fatu laughed along on commentary, watching his boys kick the absolute hell out of Duran’s “fearsome force.” Even a no DQ rule change couldn’t alleviate the beatdown Los Aztecas were receiving as a goon with a chair was just punched away and taken Coast to Coast by Anoa’i. We had a few more shows of strength before Finau crushed the original pair with a double Samoan Drop and Lance ended things with a massive Samoan Splash. It was pure carnage in that ring and another round of catharsis for Fatu as he embarrassed the hell out of the boss man once again. What a debut for one hell of an intimidating unit. The victory couldn’t be celebrated as Real 1 (FKA nZo) bottled Fatu and pummelled the hell out of him. Seems the Real 1 is still hurt about his car and had left Fatu needing staples.

Between the Matches:

• Jacob Fatu was outside the venue auctioning off the things he’d taken from Cesar Duran’s office. Lance Anoa’i and Juicy Finau joined in and introduced us to wrestling’s hottest shopping channel, the Polynesian Chop Shop selling off items “acquired” from wrestlers. Duran broke up this charade and insulted them all but did not bring the police in since he isn’t exactly the arbiter of morality and justice. This also set up the match that kicked us off.
• Los Maximos demanded a title shot at the MLW Tag Team Titles. They run things in Philly and as MLW OGs they wanted that smoke. One way or another, they were coming for Hustle and Power, expect the unexpected.
• Killer Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux continued to tease their impending return to MLW with their signature cryptic tape. Tick tock MLW.

• Richard Holliday cut one hell of a sinister promo in the suit stained with Hammerstone’s blood. The colour and taste of crimson have unleashed some deadly in Holliday. He has developed a taste for blood and he wants more. Holliday has cracked and will do anything to become the new champion at Kings of Colosseum.
• MLW action figures and collectables are on the way courtesy of a collaboration with Boss Fight Studio. They teased figures for Hammerstone, Mads Krügger and Jacob Fatu as well as weapons and a ring.
• Davey Richards and Myron Reed had a catch-up after Reed’s success with Richards dropping a hint about wanting to face Reed. All in the spirit of competition, of course.
• Alex Kane will present the Thrilla in Philla next week by giving someone the chance to take his title under his twenty-minute time limit.

Microman, Taya Valkyrie & Lince Dorado defeated Strange Sangre (Arez, Holidead & Mini Abismo Negro w/Dr. Dax & Gangrel) via Victory Roll-up on Abismo

Here came the assassination attempt. Microman was going to have to fight for his life as Duran had sent Strange Sangre after him. Arez, Holidead and Mini Abismo Negro were the team in action but the rest of the group was lurking outside, ready to strike. Thankfully, Microman wasn’t alone and had the new MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion, Taya Valkyrie and Lucha Lit Lince Dorado backing him up. It was going to be one hell of a car wreck Lucha fest of a match but would the world’s greatest wonder leave the building in one piece. Yes, he would. The diminutive dynamite scored another victory over Mini Abismo Negro and Strange Sangre with a crafty roll-up reversal. This came at the end of another manic match full of Lucha shenanigans, more heated brawling and battling between Holidead and Taya Valkyrie and a lot of Sangre abuse on Microman. We even got a full-on chase sequence as the whole of Strange Sangre tried to capture and kill their target. Microman hid under the ring and pulled a bit of a magic trick by turning into the Blue Meanie when they tried to pull him out. That little aid gave him and his team the chance to unload on Strange Sangre and get his group the win. It was a fun cluster of a match with everyone getting their moment and Strange Sangre’s evil schemes getting foiled again. I love both groups here and love the chemistry they’ve developed through this cat and mouse game with Microman. It’s led to great moments and great matches with Microman always managing to find the upper hand and win.

It turned out that Strange Sangre wasn’t done though and they never needed to end Microman in a match. They swarmed post-match and started issuing a kicking on the fan favourite. Taya and Dorado were knocked away and the end seemed near when a familiar theme hit, Enter Sandman. That’s right, a second ECW legend had come to aid Microman, taking the scenic route to deliver beer to fans and build the tension. Once he was in, the kendo stick shots came thick and fast to Strange Sangre. He’d even brought a micro-sized kendo stick for Microman too. They bludgeoned away Strange Sangre and celebrated with a beer. It was a feel-good end to another failed assassination attempt on Microman. Long may he bring us his unique brand of Lucha. Next week we’ll see the Thrilla in Philla and Lince Dorado gets another match as he is unleashed on the Real 1. The Lucha Lit season has begun.

All images courtesy of MLW, Video courtesy of MLW YouTube