Blood & Thunder (2022)

Blood & Thunder (2022)
PromotionMajor League Wrestling
DateJanuary 21, 2022
CityDallas, Texas
VenueGilley's Dallas
Event chronology
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Blood and Thunder chronology
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2023

Blood & Thunder (2022) was a professional wrestling supercard event produced by Major League Wrestling (MLW), which took place on January 21, 2022, at Gilley's Dallas in Dallas, Texas. The event was a television taping for MLW Fusion, and it was the second event under the MLW Blood and Thunder chronology.

Production

Background

On November 15, 2021, MLW announced that it would be holding Blood & Thunder at Gilley's Dallas in Dallas, Texas on January 21, 2022.[1][2]

Storylines

The supercard consisted of several matches that result from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches, with results predetermined by MLW's writers.[3] Storylines were played out on MLW's mini-series, Fusion: Alpha and Azteca, as well as the league's social media platforms.

On November 11, 2021, MLW announced on their website an "open door" policy, allowing free agents from outside the league to compete on MLW shows.[4] Various wrestlers have since been announced for the card, including: Dragon Gate's Ho Ho Lun,[5] All Japan Pro Wrestling upstart tag team Jun and Rei Saito,[6] former ROH Women's World Champion Rok-C,[7] second generation wrestler Miranda Gordy,[8] Mexican mini-estrella Mini Abismo Negro,[9] and former WWE wrestler Buddy Matthews.[10]

On December 10, 2021, it was announced that The Von Erichs (Marshall and Ross Von Erich) would challenge for the MLW World Tag Team Championship, currently held by 5150 (Danny Rivera and Slice Boogie), in a Texas Tornado match at Blood & Thunder.[11] However, on January 20, the Von Erichs announced on Twitter that they've tested positive for COVID-19, leaving them off the show.[12][13] A replacement team will be announced at the event.

At War Chamber, The Hammerheads (Alexander Hammerstone, EJ Nduka, Richard Holliday, Savio Vega, and Matanza Duran) defeated Contra Unit (Jacob Fatu, Mads Krügger, Ikuro Kwon, and Two Sentai Death Squad soldiers) in the titular match.[14] After the match, a frustrated Krügger blamed Fatu for the loss, with Kwon attempting to play peacemaker. Fatu, in turn, fought back against Krügger, turning face. Contra Unit would disband in the aftermath, with most of its members going AWOL.[15] On January 4, 2022, it was announced on MLW.com that matchmaker Cesar Duran had booked a grudge match between Fatu and Krügger for Blood & Thunder.[16]

On the September 29, 2021 episode of Fusion: Alpha, Alex Kane made his singles debut.[17][18] Over the next few weeks, Kane and American Top Team teammate King Mo Lawal attempted to recruit Calvin Tankman into their fight camp, but Tankman ultimately turned them down. In retaliation, Kane and Lawal attacked Tankman on the October 27 episode; jamming a power cord into his eye and leaving his face bloody in an attempt to take him out of the Opera Cup tournament so Kane would take his place.[19][20] On the special November 25 "Fusion on Thanksgiving" episode, Kane cost a medically cleared Tankman his semi final match against TJP. Later that night, Kane bested Zenshi, Myron Reed, Alex Shelley, and surprise entrant A. C. H. in a ladder match to win the vacant MLW National Openweight Championship. Tankman tried to attack Kane after the match, but was stopped by security.[21][22] On the December 1 episode, Kane introduced a new associate, Mr. Thomas, and announced that he had left American Top Team to create his own fight camp: the Bomaye Fight Club.[23][24] At the end of the penultimate episode of Fusion: Alpha the following week, Tankman attacked Kane and Thomas in the parking lot.[15] On the Fusion: Alpha series finale, the pair announced that they had pressed charges on Tankman and had him arrested.[25] On January 6, 2022, it was announced that Kane would defend the National Openweight title against Tankman at Blood & Thunder.[26]

On the premiere episode of MLW Azteca, MLW World Heavyweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone and Pagano defeated Black Taurus and King Muertes in an Apocalypto tag team match.[27] After the match, however, Pagano turned on Hammerstone, as he, Muertes, and Taurus beat down Hammerstone before men in Azteca Underground masks carried the champion away.[28] While attempts to contact Cesar Duran were supposedly futile, it was announced on MLW.com that Hammerstone will defend his World Heavyweight title at Blood & Thunder against Pagano in a falls count anywhere match.[29]

At Fightland, Yoshihiro Tajiri won the MLW World Middleweight Championship in his debut, defeating champion Myron Reed, Aramis, and Arez in a four-way match.[30] On January 12, 2022, it was announced that Tajiri will defend the title in an MLW ring for the first time, facing Reed and a mystery participant in a three-way match.[31]

Results

No.Results[38]StipulationsTimes
1King Muertes (c) defeated Richard HollidaySingles match for the MLW Caribbean Heavyweight Championship[32]7:34
2Alex Kane (c) (with Mr. Thomas) defeated Calvin TankmanSingles match for the MLW National Openweight Championship[26]8:08
3EJ Nduka defeated Ikuro KwonSingles match[33]2:23
4Davey Richards defeated A. C. H.Singles match[34]8:58
5Aramis, El Dragon and Microman defeated Arez, Gino Medina and Mini Abismo Negro (with Dr. Dax)Trios match[35]15:46
6Alexander Hammerstone (c) defeated PaganoFalls Count Anywhere match for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship[29]17:15
7Saito Brothers (Jun Saito and Rei Saito) defeated Budd Heavy and Gnarls GarvinTag team match[6]5:10
8TJP defeated Buddy MatthewsSingles match[10]20:21
9KC Navarro defeated Ho Ho LunSingles match[36]3:29
10Myron Reed defeated Tajiri (c), Matt Cross, and BandidoFour-way match for the MLW World Middleweight Championship[31]8:48
115150 (Danny Rivera and Slice Boogie) (c) (with Dr. Julius Smokes) defeated Los Parks (El Hijo de L.A. Park and L.A. Park Jr.)Ladder match for the MLW World Tag Team Championship10:18
12Miranda Gordy defeated Rok-CSingles match[37]7:38
13Jacob Fatu defeated Mads KrüggerSingles match[16]4:54
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

References

  1. ^ "MLW returns to Dallas Jan. 21". Major League Wrestling. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  2. ^ "MLW Blood & Thunder Set For Dallas On January 21, 2022". Mandatory. November 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  3. ^ Grabianowski, Ed (13 January 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  4. ^ "MLW institutes open door policy for free agents". Major League Wrestling. November 22, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "Hong Kong's Ho Ho Lun debuts in Dallas". Major League Wrestling. November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "All Japan's Saito Bros debut in Dallas". Major League Wrestling. November 8, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  7. ^ "Rok-C makes Dallas debut as first open door entrant in MLW". Major League Wrestling. November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  8. ^ "Miranda Gordy debuts in Dallas". Major League Wrestling. December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  9. ^ "Mini Abmiso Negro debuts in Dallas Jan 21". Major League Wrestling. December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Buddy Matthews debuts tonight in Dallas". Major League Wrestling. January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  11. ^ "5150 vs. Von Erichs Texas Tornado Match in Dallas". Major League Wrestling. December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  12. ^ "Von Erichs placed on COVID reserve list". Major League Wrestling. January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  13. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (January 20, 2022). "The Von Erichs Test Positive For COVID-19, Off MLW Blood & Thunder". Fightful. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  14. ^ Coder, Brie (November 17, 2021). "MLW War Chamber Results: The Hammerheads Vs. Contra Unit". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  15. ^ a b Coder, Brie (December 9, 2021). "MLW Fusion Alpha Results: 5150 Vs. Los Parks In A Philly Street Fight, Nzo Debuts". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Jacob Fatu vs. Mads Krugger signed for Dallas". Major League Wrestling. January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  17. ^ Coder, Brie (September 29, 2021). "MLW Fusion Alpha Results (9/29): Alex Hammerstone Vs. Tom Lawlor, Aramis Takes On Arez". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  18. ^ "Fusion ALPHA Recap: Tom Lawlor Challenges Alex Hammerstone For National Openweight Title". Major League Wrestling. September 30, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  19. ^ "MLW Fusion: Alpha Results: Davey Richards Vs. TJP In The Opera Cup Finals". Wrestling Inc. October 27, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  20. ^ "Fusion ALPHA Recap: Opening Round Of Opera Cup Finishes With TJP vs. Shelley, Fish vs. Moriarty". Major League Wrestling. October 28, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  21. ^ "MLW Fusion Results (11/25): National Openweight Match, Opera Cup Semifinals Concludes". Wrestling Inc. November 26, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  22. ^ "Fusion On Thanksgiving Recap: National Openweight Ladder Match, Garvin Debuts & Opera Cup Semi-Finals". Major League Wrestling. November 26, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  23. ^ "MLW Fusion: Alpha Results: Davey Richards Vs. TJP In The Opera Cup Finals". Wrestling Inc. December 1, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "Alex Kane announces Bomaye Fight Club". Major League Wrestling. December 4, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  25. ^ "Bomaye Fight Club press charges against Tankman". Major League Wrestling. December 14, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  26. ^ a b "Alex Kane vs. Tankman for National Title signed for Dallas". Major League Wrestling. January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  27. ^ "AZTECA Recap: Hammerstone & Pagano Battle Muertes & Taurus In Apocalypto Match". Major League Wrestling. January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  28. ^ "Hammerstone's whereabouts unknown". Major League Wrestling. January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  29. ^ a b "Pagano vs. Hammerstone Falls Count Anywhere signed for Dallas". Major League Wrestling. January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  30. ^ "Fightland On VICE TV Recap: Hammerstone Faces Fatu in 'Title For Title'". Major League Wrestling. October 3, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  31. ^ a b "Tajiri vs. Myron Reed vs. ??? Title Bout in Dallas". Major League Wrestling. January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  32. ^ "King Muertes vows destruction in Dallas this Friday at Blood & Thunder". Major League Wrestling. January 16, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  33. ^ "EJ Nduka open contract challenge in Dallas". Major League Wrestling. January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  34. ^ "Davey Richards vs. ACH set for Dallas Jan. 21". Major League Wrestling. December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  35. ^ "Mixed size trios match added to Dallas Jan 21". Major League Wrestling. January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  36. ^ "Dragon Gate's Ho Ho Lun vs. KC Navarro this Friday in Dallas". Major League Wrestling. January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  37. ^ "Rok-C vs. Miranda Gordy signed for Dallas". Major League Wrestling. December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  38. ^ Reichlin, Michael (January 23, 2022). "MLW Blood & Thunder Results from Dallas, TX (1/22/22)". sescoops.com. Retrieved January 23, 2023.