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IGNITE Rewind returns as we take a look into the IGNITE Wrestling video vault for matches you may have missed at IGNITE. Technically Numero Uno (Jaden Newman & Sage Phillips) vs Critical Mayhem Kennadi Brink (now WWE Ref Jessika Karr) vs Lacey Lane (now WWE Star Kayden Carter)
In this episode, The Tag Team Tournament continues as Vice City faces off against Chris Mason & Christian Valor. Skrilla The Great then goes one-on-one with Justin Fleaux. Micah Taylor squares off against Dawson Kimbrell. Then in the main event, Big Smuve vows to defend the VCW Heavyweight Championship against any member of the Upper Echelon.
last night’s season finale of MLW Fusion ended with the reveal of Azteca Underground’s El Jefe, Dario Cueto. The storylines have had Azteca Underground, ran by Cueto, acquiring de la Renta’s Promociones Dorado, and de la Renta finding herself in trouble with the organization due to recent happenings. Salina was “kidnapped” last week, and her being captured last night by Cueto was said to be her “swan song,” several news outletsCueto is played by Spanish film & TV star Luis Fernandez-Gil. PWInsider has confirmed that he is now signed to a long-term MLW contract. Fernandez-Gil made his pro wrestling debut in 2014 as the boss of Lucha Underground, until he was shot and killed off at the end of season three. He then played the role of Dario’s father, Antonio Cueto, in season four, until the final episode aired in November 2018. The Cueto character was later brought back to life in a bizarre angle with Aerostar.
MLW has plans for the Cueto character to be a regular part of the new season of Fusion, which will begin taping on Saturday, July 10 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA. It was noted that since there has been talk of a second MLW series being launched, and as the company starts with Vice TV, it is possible that the series could involve the Azteca Underground storyline and concept. Cueto made a reference in last night’s vignette to the idea of a new temple being created, something that Azteca Underground has also teased on their official Twitter account in recent weeks.
The post-credits scene that aired on last night’s Fusion season finale was filmed in secret last month, in Los Angeles. Only a few select people in the company were involved or even aware of the segment being produced, and they were reportedly sworn to keep it a secret.
MLW Founder Court Bauer noted to PWInsider last night, “Just like with Vice, we delivered on the hype with tonight’s season finale. We started this mystery storyline last June dropping breadcrumbs on Pulp FUSION and almost a year later, fans got the satisfaction of the return of one of wrestling’s truly great villains.”.
MLW reportedly opted not to finish de la Renta up, and she will not be returning to the promotion going forward. The vignette that aired last night was the final appearance for her character, as it was implied that she was sacrificed off-camera, by Cueto.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has reportedly decided to extend Japan’s ongoing state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo until May 31 and has added Aichi and Fukuoka to the list of affected areas. The official announcement is expected tomorrow.
However, restrictions on events will be relaxed. All events will be allowed to go ahead with the lesser of 5,000 people in attendance or any number lower than 50 per cent of the venue’s capacity.
In theory, this should allow wrestling events to go ahead as currently scheduled. Any postponements or cancellations will be reported on as announced.
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling Explosion
Deathmatch wrestling legend Atsushi Onita has launched his own wrestling company called Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling Explosion.
The ‘E’ in the company’s name stands for explosion and its main focus will be on exploding barbed wire deathmatches.
FMW-E’s debut show will take place on July 4 at the Tsurumi Fruit & Vegetable Market in Yokohama.
Onita, 63, said Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega’s exploding barbed wire deathmatch at All Elite Wrestling’s Revolution pay-per-view was the catalyst for the company’s birth.
Hidetaka Kajiki, owner of Japanese construction company Kofu-Field Co Ltd and FMW-E president, promised the company will have worldwide distribution. It remains to be seen what broadcasting deals FMW-E is able to secure.
FMW-E’s introductory press conference has been uploaded onto its YouTube channel, which can be watched on the link below. The first portion of the video has English subtitles until the 5:24 mark.