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Hey folks! Welcome to my weekly review of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s Mayhem, airing on TSN2 in Canada and on MyAEW.com everywhere.
In the six weeks Mayhem has been on, MLP has done a good job efficiently packing a lot into a mere 60 minutes (minus commercials). Along with some good action, they’ve had solid promos, attacks and enough drama to build the excitement.
This week’s main event is a great example. Following several weeks of compelling promos and attacks, I couldn’t wait to see how the match between MLP Canadian Women’s Champion Gisele Shaw and Dani Luna would play out. It’s a testament to good storytelling, great performers, and - given MLP’s tight time constraints - good editing.
On to the show!
EPISODE SIX OF MAYHEM
Speaking of the women’s title match, I would be remiss not to start with it. This was a great match with Shaw and Luna beating the hell out of each other. There were some stiff shots and some good selling by both. I was disappointed by the somewhat cheap finish of Luna running into the exposed turnbuckle to lose the match, but hopefully that just means there’s a round two in our future.
MLP Canadian Champion Josh Alexander made his anticipated return and faced off with Interim Champion Stu Grayson. This was a great way to close the show, and I’m curious where we’re headed. The Northern Rising PPV, one might assume.
Jay Lethal vs Psycho Mike was a solid match before Steve Maclin interfered, making his MLP debut and setting Lethal up for the win.
I expected PCO versus Kris Chambers to be a squash match, but Chambers got in a bit of offense before PCO beat him down and won with a scary-looking moonsault. With the post-match angle of Chambers and Taylor Rising attacking PCO, it seems like this one’s not quite over.
The Adam Copeland promo, this time focused on how MLP can be a haven for young talent, was great. I enjoyed the Priscilla Kelly tease as well.
HIGHLIGHTS
It’s a toss-up for me this week. The women’s title match was excellent, and the finish left me wanting more. Maybe a return match at the Northern Rising PPV, where I initially anticipated this feud was heading? I hope so - this shouldn’t be Luna’s only shot.
The return of Josh Alexander and his face-off with Stu Grayson was the other highlight. This should be fun.
STRAY THOUGHTS
Since Mayhem, on MLP’s YouTube channel, Stu Grayson announced he was vacating the Champion’s Grail that he won only weeks ago from Rohan Raja. I don’t understand the purpose of this belt, but perhaps this was a way to drop it quietly from the show.
Despite my earlier comment about MLP using its time wisely, it seemed odd that the Maclin backstage promo had him simply repeating what he’d already said clearly into the camera outside the ring.
In the wacky world of wrestling, I can totally see Mike’s “who wants to see a bodyslam?” being a weirdo gimmick on a bigger stage one day.
Thanks for reading! See you back here next week.
Eric Lewis is from New Brunswick, Canada. He’s been a pro wrestling fan for as long as he can remember, at least back to WrestleMania VII. During his journalism career, he was fortunate to interview wrestling legends including Bret Hart, Trish Stratus, Booker T, JJ Dillon, Christian Cage, Ted Dibiase, Lanny Poffo, and The Honky Tonk Man.
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