Major League Wrestling June 15 ECW Arena results

Reported by Bob Magee of WrestleView.com
On June 16, 2002 at 08:55:04

Major League Wrestling debuted at the ECW Arena to an enthusiastic crowd of over 500 people last night.

The show was built around the initial MLW Heavyweight Tournament.

The tournament's first round matches:

  • Jerry Lynn defeated La Parka

  • Shane Douglas defeated Steve Corino, with tremendous dueling promo segments by Douglas and Corino. One of Corino's comments about the events in the latter days of ECW started "&%$# Paul Heyman" chant from a sizable portion of the crowd. Other chants on behalf of Eddie Gilbert were also heard.

  • Taiyo Kea defeated The Wall (who replaced Bam Bam Bigelow, who was present at the building, and walked out with very little notice due, refusing to do a job for Taiyo Kea, according to MLW staff)

  • Vampiro defeated Christopher Daniels

  • In a Trios match ..Ultra Taro Jr., Super Hentai, defeated Prince Nana vs. "Crowbar" Devon Storm, Abunai, and Rising Son two falls to one. Even though the traditional lucha rules (where the captain is pinned or both the other members of the trio for a fall to count), it seemed that the crowd didn't understand the rules.

    In the second (semifinal) round of the tournament:

  • Shane Douglas defeated Jerry Lynn...but with a foot on the ropes, leaving an issue for subsequent shows.

  • In a basically forgettable non-tournament match, "Fear Factor" P.J. Friedman defeated Shirley Doe.

    Then, the second semifinal...and final... match...

  • Vampiro and Taiyo Kea worked the match of the night to a time limit draw, followed by a five minute overtime. Another was to begin...when Shane Douglas ran in, and suddenly the match became a three-way Heayvweight title.

    Shane Douglas pinned Vampiro to become the first MLW Heavyweight Champion.

    Douglas then did an angle reminescent of the 1994 NWA Tournament angle at the ECW Arena, where he threw down the NWA Title and "started" Extreme Championship Wrestling. Referee John Finnegan then did an angle, along with Pennsylvania State Athletic Commissioner Frank Talent, telling Douglas that he WAS the Champion, that he WOULD defend the belt, and that he'd be "suspended in the State of Pennsylvania if he didn't defend the belt at the next show".

    MLW returns to the ECW Arena on Saturday, August 3rd.