MLW Fusion results (8/22): Vetter’s review of Austin Aries vs. Mistico vs. Averno for the MLW National Openweight Title, Trevor Lee vs. Kushida for the MLW Southern Crown Title

By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)

MLW Fusion (Episode 208)
Taped May 9, 2026, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at The Signal
Streamed August 22, 2026, on the MLW’s YouTube Channel, beIN Sports, Veeps

This is the second episode from this taping. From a production standpoint, MLW has never looked better. Joe Dombrowski and Tom Lawlor were on commentary, and Joe said it was a sellout.

* Killer Kross entered the ring, carrying his MLW Title. The crowd chanted, “You deserve it!” He beat Satoshi Kojima recently, and he wants to know who is ready to step up! The Skyscrapers (Donovan Dijak, Bishop Dyer, and Joshua Bishop) came out of the back. (There was a clear edit, as it appears Dijak accidentally referred to Dyer as Baron Corbin, because Kross corrected Dijak and called him an idiot.) Joshua Bishop jumped in the ring and brawled with Kross! Several security guards separated them.

1. Zamaya vs. Angelica Risk. Zamaya hit some punches and threw the (much shorter!) Risk to the mat. Lawlor noted that Zamaya has been dominant. This is a “lightning match,” so a clock counts down from 10:00 in the corner. (No way do they come close to reaching the time limit.) Risk hit a dropkick, but Zamaya hit a decapitating clothesline, then a DVD for the pin. Yep, it was really that short.

Zamaya defeated Angelica Risk at 2:00.

* On the stage, Rich Bocchini interviewed a (still long-haired) Matt Riddle. Matt reiterated that Kross “owes me, bro.” Matt announced he is entering the 2026 Opera Cup, and he vowed that “I take over, bro.”

* Another teaser vignette for HATE, a heel women’s faction from Japan.

*  Backstage, Shotzi Blackheart walked up to Corinne Joy and Jazzy Yang. Shotzi offered to give them a match! Jazzy won “rock, paper, scissors” to get the match. However, Lady Frost approached them, and she taunted Shotzi.

2. Trevor Lee vs. Kushida (w/Okumura) for the MLW Southern Crown Title. They immediately tied up on the mat and had a standoff, and they went to a [C] at 1:30. Don Gato vodka!

They were trading basic reversals as we returned. Lee hit a huracanrana and a roundhouse kick to the chest. Kushida went to the floor and hid behind Okumura. As they re-entered the ring, Kushida snapped Lee’s left arm, and he began targeting it. He hit some chops and made a cocky one-footed cover for a nearfall at 5:00. Kushida hit a running Divorce Court armbreaker for a nearfall; I don’t think I’ve seen that. Lee hit a clothesline in the corner, a backbreaker over his knee, and locked in a half-crab at 7:00. Okumura interfered and distracted Lee.

Kushida went for a cover and grabbed the ropes, but the ref saw it. They hit stereo clotheslines and were both down. The commentators said, “Something is going in back!” and the screen flickered. Kushida hit a basement dropkick. Dombrowski said the “building’s power grid has been compromised!” Kushida applied a cross-armbreaker. Lee hit a mid-ring Spanish Fly for a nearfall, but the ref stopped counting to admonish Okumura, who had hopped on the apron. Kushida hit a Pele Kick. Kushida choked Lee with a belt! Lee kicked Okumura! Lee nailed the Cave-In leaping stomp to Kushida’s collarbone for the pin! Good action.

Trevor Lee defeated Kushida to retain the MLW Southern Crown Title at 10:39.

* Lee got on the mic and said not only was that his first title defense, it’s his first title match since his baby girl was born! A nice crowd pop for that. Josef Samael came to the ring, and he was joined by the massive Texas-based Brick Savage! Brick beat up Lee. (Again, Brick has the build and size of Bronson Reed.) Dombrowski and Lawlor claimed they had no idea who Brick is. Ikuro Kwon and Big Damo also came out. Savage hit a double clothesline on security guards, and he chokeslammed Lee. “This man is a father!” Dombrowski shouted. I’ll call that a perfect debut for Brick Savage.

* Next week will feature Matt Riddle vs. Bishop Dyer.

3. Austin Aries vs. Averno vs. Mistico in a three-way for the MLW National Openweight Title. Aries came out first; I think the champ should almost always come out last. But he grabbed the mic to cut a heel promo. Averno is clearly in this one to eat the pin. Mistico ducked out of the ring and suggested the other two fight. However, Averno and Aries attacked him. Mistico hit a huracanrana on Averno and an armdrag on Aries at 1:00. Austin rolled to the floor and jawed at the fans. Averno teased removing Mistico’s mask; Lawlor pleaded for the mask of the disgusting Mistico to remain in place. Averno and Mistico fought to the floor.  [C]

As we returned, the heels threw Mistico crotch-first around a ring post at 4:30. Aries hit a slingshot senton back into the ring. Mistico hit an enzuigiri in the corner on Aries. Those two fought on the ropes in the corner. Aries got a sunset flip for a nearfall and went for the Last Chancery submission hold, but Averno broke it up. Of course, Aries got up and began shoving Averno. Mistico hit a 619 on Aries and a huracanrana on Averno. Mistico dove through the ropes onto Averno at 8:30. He got back into the ring and dove onto Aries.

In the ring, Mistico hit a Code Red on Averno for a nearfall. Averno hit a faceplant for a nearfall on Mistico. Aries snapped Averno’s neck in the ropes and got a nearfall. Averno hit an Angel’s Wings on Aries for a nearfall at 10:30! Mistico hit a Go To Sleep on Aries. Averno hit a powerslam on Mistico, and suddenly everyone was down! Mistico hit a springboard double back elbow. He hit a flying huracanrana to the floor on Averno at 12:00. Aries was knocked down on the floor. In the ring, Mistico got a nearfall on Averno.

Mistico rolled up Averno for a nearfall, then a top-rope Spanish Fly! All three were down, and we got a “This is awesome!” chant. Aries yanked off Mistico’s mask! The crowd loudly booed! Aries put the mask on his own head, grabbed Averno, hit a brainbuster, and pinned him. Mistico stayed stomach-first on the mat, covering his face, so he didn’t move and try to break up the pin. I liked that finish. Lawlor said only Aries is “despicable enough to think of doing something like that.” Lawlor then called it a “scumbag move.”

Austin Aries defeated Averno and Mistico in a three-way to retain the MLW National Openweight Title at 14:06.

Final Thoughts: An absolutely excellent episode. The opening segment with Kross and the Skyscrapers worked for me. You knew that on paper, that main event was going to be really good, and it was. Everyone knew that Averno was there to eat the pin, but they found a creative way to get there. Kushida vs. Lee was quite good, but I know they have an even better match in them.

I was thrilled when MLW announced they had signed Brick Savage. Like North Carolina indy star LaBron Kozone, MLW went out and got a big independent wrestling free agent — someone who wasn’t ex-WWE or ex-AEW. Like Kozone, Savage is in his 30s and is a polished in-ring performer. He has good size and is so imposing. Likewise, I’ve heaped praise on Corinne Joy in my indy reports, and it’s worth reiterating that she’s still a teen and had her first-ever match in spring 2025. I can come up with a dozen female wrestlers who I’d rather see enter MLW rather than another ex-WWE name in that slot.

I’ve said this several times recently — if both TNA and MLW were in my town on the same night… based on their rosters right now, I’d be going to MLW.