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Welcome to PWInsider's live, ongoing MLW Opera Cup coverage from NYC at the Melrose Ballroom!
Pre-show Notes:
There will be at least one surprise tonight.
MLW will return to the Melrose Ballroom on 7/16/20.
MLW is selling a special one of a kind Opera Cup canvas signed by all the competitors for $100. They are also selling a signed Saturday Night Superfight PPV poster for $50.
The Stronghearts are doing a VIP ticketholder signing.
The legendary George Napolitano is in the house.
They announced Shinjiro Otani will not be competing tonight.
They aired a video feature on The Opera Cup.
Maverick Chris Calaway vs. Dr. Dax
Calaway took the fight to him but was hit with a big Beal Toss across the ring. He wiped out Calaway and pinned him
Your winner, Dr. Dax!
Short squash.
They tossed out some t-shirts to the crowd.
Opera Cup: TJ Perkins vs. Brian Pillman Jr.
They had some nice back and forth action before facing off. Pillman took him to the mat with a side headlock but TJP worked his way out. They had words and locked up again. This time, Pillman was caught in the side headlock. He escaped and they went back and forth. Perkins went for a spinkick but Pillman shoved it aside and told him that he was in Pillman’s house. The crowd went back and forth with dueling chants.
Pillman was sent out on the apron. Perkins rebonded off the buckles with a kick. Pillman was drilled with a backbreaker and covered for a two count. Perkins locked up Pillman in a Sharpshooter before turning it into a Muta Lock. Perkins cinched on a rear chinlock. Pillman escaped but was trapped in the Octopus.
Pillman escaped and tried to run the ropes but Perkins cut him off and took him down to the mat, snapping his arm. He nailed a back suplex but missed a swanton off the top. Pillman lit him up with chops and powerslammed Perkins for a two count.
They battled to the top where Perkins nailed a superplex and then slammed Pillman again. Pillman came back with a superkick but was nailed by Perkins. Perkins went for a kick but missed. Pillman hit a neckbreaker variation for the pin.
Your winner, Brian Pillman Jr!
Pillman was interviewed by Alicia Atout. He did a babyface promo saying tonight would be his night and a star would be born. He said 2020 would be his year.
Good match,
Low Ki vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
They circled each other, wary as they tested each other out. They went back and forth with some really nice mat work. Smith brought Ki to the mat and worked him over with a grinding headlock. They battled to the floor, where Smith stomped at Ki. He sent Ki into the barricade and brought him back into the ring.
Smith continued working Ki over as the crowd tried to rally the former MLW Champion. Smith slammed Ki and stomped him across the chest. Smith cinched in a bearhug. Ki escaped and nailed a series of kicks to the chest. Smith cut him off and fired back with a big uppercut. Ki gained control and came off the top with a big double stomp across the back.
Ki tried to slam Smith but was blocked. Smith drilled him across the back. Ki came back with a dropkick through the ropes that sent Smith to the floor. Ki dragged him around the ringside area, drilled him with chops. Smith reversed a whip into the apron. He pressed and tossed Ki into the ring but Ki landed on his feet and drilled Smith.
Ki went for a top rope double stomp but Smith moved out of the way. Smith nailed a powerbomb for a two count. Ki fought back and finally slammed Smith to a big pop. Ki went to the top. Smith pulled him down for an attempted running powerslam but Ki escaped and locked on a sleeper. Smith went down but was able to flip over, trapping Ki under him for a three count.
Your winner, Davey Boy Smith Jr!
Very good match with some stiff action.
Ki raised Smith’s arm after.
They aired a video on King Mo Lawal.
Opera Cup: Timothy Thatcher vs. Richard Holliday.
The crowd chanted, “Thatcher’s gonna kill you.”
Early on, Thatcher used some striking and kicks but was kicked off by Holliday. Thatcher used a double leg takedown but was nailed. Holliday nailed a series of rights and uppercuts, dazing Thatcher. Thatcher came back to grab a single leg crab but Hollday fought his way out and sent Thatcher into the buckles. He rolled up Thatcher for a two count.
Holliday was drilled with several kicks to the legs from the mat but still maintained control, stomping away on Thatcher. Thatcher drilled him across the chest with a series of clubbering blows. Thatcher sent Holliday into the ropes but was nailed on the rebound. They exchanged chops and strikes.
Holliday took him down and worked him over. Thatcher went for a back suplex but Holliday nailed him with an elbow. Thatcher fired back with a big chop. They battled into the corner, where Thatcher attempted a superplex but was shoved off. He returned and went for it but Holliday turned it over in mid-air, scoring a two count.
Thatcher finally caught him in an armbar and forced the submission.
Your winner, Timothy Thatcher!
If you enjoy back and forth grappling and strikes, this is for you.
Opera Cup :MJF vs. Alex Hammerstone.
MJF tried to convince Hammerstone to lay down for him but when he poked Hammerstone, it didn’t work out that way. MJF shoved him in the face and Hammerstone attacked him, knocking him to the floor. Hammerstone hit a dive to the outside, then hit a missile dropkick from the top after MJF was tossed back into the ring. MoJF screamed, “Oh Sh**!” when he saw Hamerstone launch, which was funny.
MJF cut him off and stomped away at Hammerstone, then scissored him on the mat, trying to force a submission. He locked on an abdominal stretch, using the ring ropes for leverage, a la Mike Rotunda. The ref caught him and kicked his arm off, allowing Hammerstone to reverse it into a hiptoss.
Hammerstone nailed a big overhead belly to belly suplex and then a big underhook into a slam for a two count. The crowd was into Hammerstone’s offense. MJF cut it off with a thumb to the eye but was nailed with several big boots. He fired back with a superkick, only to eat a big lariat. The crowd chanted for Hammerstone.
Richard Holliday distracted the referee. MJF low blowed and small packaged Hammerstone for a two count. Hammerstone cut him off with a boot to the face and hit a big sit-down powerbomb for the pin.
Your winner, Alex Hammerstone!
MJF did a great job here as the obnoxious villain, helping Hammerstone get the best reaction from a crowd I’ve ever seen.
MJF offered his hand after and when Hammerstone took it, MJF collapsed in exhaustion.
Coverage continues on Page 2!
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