MLW Fusion FantasticaMania USA July 18, 2026 Results & Recap: KUSHIDA Steals Templario’s Mask, Bishop Dyer Reunites the Skyscrapers

MLW Fusion FantasticaMania USA was officially brought to Fusion tonight as Major League Wrestling, CMLL and New Japan Pro-Wrestling converged at Festival Hall in Charleston, South Carolina. The international crossover gave tonight’s show a different identity from the recent Atlanta episodes, with KUSHIDA defending the MLW World Middleweight Championship in a frantic four-way opener before Bishop Dyer made a surprising return to reunite with Donovan Dijak and Josh Bishop in the main event. Between those two matches, MLW advanced several important stories involving Satoshi Kojima, Killer Kross, Shotzi, Scarlett Bordeaux, Lady Frost, LaBron Kozone, Diego Hill, Místico, Trevor Lee and the growing mystery surrounding the Serpent. Tonight was efficient, energetic and packed with developments, but the delayed broadcast schedule created some impossible-to-ignore continuity problems that repeatedly worked against the stories MLW was attempting to tell.

Here are the full results

• KUSHIDA (c) defeated Templario, Alan Angels and Taiji Ishimori (MLW World Middleweight Championship)
• LaBron Kozone defeated SoFly Manny Lo
• The Skyscrapers defeated CONTRA MERCS.

Breakdowns & Reactions

The Skyscrapers and Good Brothers rivalry recap

Tonight opened with a video package revisiting the increasingly violent rivalry between the Skyscrapers and the Good Brothers. The package reminded viewers that Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows had been attempting to break the Skyscrapers’ control of the MLW World Tag Team Championship while Mads Krule Krugger had recently aligned himself with Shotzi and the Good Brothers in the widening war surrounding CONTRA Unit.

It gave the main event context without consuming much time, although the story immediately carried a continuity problem. MLW had spent recent episodes presenting Josh Bishop as Donovan Dijak’s new partner after Bishop Dyer was stripped of his championship and locked out during a contract dispute. Tonight’s footage was taped April 12, months before that angle aired, meaning the recap attempted to frame Dijak and Bishop as the “new” Skyscrapers before Dyer suddenly returned later in the same episode.

Grade: B-

What worked

• Quickly established the hostility between the two teams.
• Made the main event feel like the latest battle in a larger war.
• Reminded viewers of Krule’s involvement with the Good Brothers.

What didn’t work

• The taped timeline made the current version of the Skyscrapers difficult to follow.
• The package could not fully explain why Dyer would appear after MLW had already declared him locked out.

MLW World Middleweight Championship: KUSHIDA vs. Templario vs. Alan Angels vs. Taiji Ishimori

FantasticaMania USA began with the exact type of international collision the concept promises. KUSHIDA represented MLW and CONTRA Unit, Templario carried CMLL’s pride, Taiji Ishimori brought New Japan’s junior heavyweight credibility and Alan Angels entered as the outsider trying to steal the biggest victory of his MLW run.

KUSHIDA and Angels opened with quick reversals before Templario changed the complexion of the match with a powerslam on KUSHIDA. Templario followed by catching Ishimori with a hurricanrana and dropkick, immediately demonstrating that he could combine his size with the pace required to survive a four-way middleweight championship match.

KUSHIDA eventually grounded Templario, but Angels broke up his control. The champion then abandoned any pretense of competing honorably and began attempting to loosen Templario’s mask. Ishimori also pulled at it, drawing one of the strongest reactions from the Charleston crowd.

The mask work gave the match an emotional center. In lucha libre, attacking a wrestler’s mask is not a normal shortcut. It is an assault on his identity, honor and lineage. KUSHIDA was not merely trying to create an opening. He was deliberately humiliating CMLL’s representative while carrying CONTRA’s flag into a show built around cooperation between three promotions.

Ishimori landed a handspring spinning kick before Angels hit a Northern Lights suplex for a close near fall. Templario launched himself onto the wrestlers outside, and Angels followed with a moonsault to the floor. Angels continued his momentum with a frog splash, coming within a fraction of capturing the championship.

KUSHIDA attempted the Hoverboard Lock on Templario, but Templario countered by dropping him stomach-first. Ishimori answered with a rolling Death Valley Driver, Templario connected with a jumping knee and simultaneous clotheslines left all four wrestlers down.

The match then shifted into a kneeling forearm exchange before Templario hit Ishimori with a Go to Sleep. KUSHIDA stopped Templario on the turnbuckles and again attacked the arm. Angels returned from a dive and nearly caught KUSHIDA with a quick pin, but the champion escaped, trapped Angels’ arm in a hammerlock and converted the position into a roll-up for the victory.

KUSHIDA retained at 8:43 without pinning Templario or Ishimori. That protected both visiting stars while allowing Angels to remain competitive through multiple believable near falls. The match was fast, clean and never felt disorganized, but it needed several more minutes. Ishimori, in particular, never received a prolonged stretch where the match revolved around him.

Grade: A-

What worked

• All four wrestlers brought a different style and role to the match.
• Templario looked like the most complete physical threat.
• Angels was given enough offense to feel capable of winning.
• KUSHIDA’s attack on Templario’s mask gave the match genuine hostility.
• The finish protected Templario and Ishimori.

What didn’t work

• Eight minutes was too short for four wrestlers of this quality.
• Ishimori felt more like a special attraction than a central part of the match.
• The commercial break interrupted an already condensed championship fight.

KUSHIDA steals Templario’s mask as the Serpent watches

Templario attempted to offer KUSHIDA a handshake after the match, but the champion attacked him, removed his mask and escaped with it. CONTRA-related glitches appeared across the broadcast while an unidentified voice continued teasing the mysterious Serpent.

This was the strongest storyline moment tonight.

KUSHIDA’s heel turn needed more than different entrance music and an association with CONTRA. Stealing Templario’s mask showed that he had embraced the faction’s cruelty and disrespect. The former honorable technician intentionally desecrated something sacred to Templario, leaving the CMLL star humiliated inside the ring.

The problem is that MLW aired the provocation months after the revenge had already taken place. Templario defeated KUSHIDA for the championship on May 1 and successfully defended it against Ikuro Kwon on July 17, one night before tonight’s episode aired. Viewers were therefore shown KUSHIDA retaining a championship that Templario currently holds, followed by the personal attack that should have built toward a title change that already happened.

The Serpent imagery kept the wider CONTRA mystery alive, but MLW must begin offering meaningful clues. Glitches, distorted voices and shadowy threats create atmosphere for a limited time. Eventually, the mystery has to move from suggestion to action.

Grade: A

What worked

• KUSHIDA’s mask theft made his heel character feel dangerous and personal.
• Templario received a clear reason to demand revenge.
• The crowd understood the disrespect and reacted accordingly.
• The Serpent’s presence connected the title rivalry to the larger CONTRA story.

What didn’t work

• The angle aired after Templario had already regained the championship.
• The Serpent tease offered atmosphere without providing new information.
• The broadcast timeline weakened what should have been a major cliffhanger.

Satoshi Kojima explores Charleston

Satoshi Kojima was shown walking through Charleston and enjoying what commentary described as the city’s southern charm. The segment leaned into Kojima’s likable personality and his familiar love of food while also presenting MLW’s new hometown as part of the show’s identity.

The tone was intentionally light after KUSHIDA’s attack. Kojima came across as relaxed and approachable without losing the historical importance he carries in MLW. As the promotion’s first World Heavyweight Champion and its only two-time champion, Kojima represents far more than a visiting New Japan veteran.

The segment also quietly contrasted Kojima with Killer Kross. Kojima was enjoying the city, connecting with people and showing warmth. Kross exists in a colder world built around intimidation, inevitability and violence.

Grade: B

What worked

• Gave tonight’s episode a stronger connection to Charleston.
• Showed Kojima’s natural charisma and likability.
• Provided a needed tonal break after the opening angle.
• Continued building Kojima as the honorable opposite of Killer Kross.

What didn’t work

• The segment was more personality-driven than storyline-heavy.
• Kojima’s championship challenge could have been referenced more directly.

Shotzi’s Graveyard Shift with Scarlett Bordeaux and Lady Frost

Shotzi hosted the Graveyard Shift with the MLW Women’s World Championship when Scarlett Bordeaux entered and directly requested a title opportunity. Before Shotzi could fully respond, Lady Frost joined them and made it clear that she also wanted a championship match.

Shotzi refused to back away from either challenger and said she would fight them both.

The segment efficiently moved the women’s division beyond Shotzi’s recent title defense. Scarlett brings established star power, manipulation and a direct connection to World Heavyweight Champion Killer Kross. Frost brings an entirely different athletic style and enters the championship picture as a wrestler attempting to establish herself in MLW.

Shotzi accepting both challenges fit her character. She did not attempt to hide behind championship politics or force the challengers to eliminate one another. She welcomed the danger.

However, MLW stopped before announcing exactly what the match would be. Shotzi could defend against both women in a triple threat, or the company could schedule separate championship matches. The confrontation established contenders but did not give the audience a date, location or official stipulation.

Grade: B

What worked

• Established two credible challengers in one segment.
• Shotzi came across as a fearless champion.
• Scarlett and Frost offer noticeably different matchup possibilities.
• The segment kept the women’s division active outside a match.

What didn’t work

• No championship match was officially announced.
• Lady Frost’s interruption happened so quickly that neither challenger received much time to speak.
• The rivalry still needs a stronger personal issue beyond wanting the title.

Místico offers Diego Hill an opportunity in Mexico

MLW replayed Austin Aries defeating Diego Hill before showing Hill sitting alone on a staircase and struggling with the loss. Místico approached him, predicted that Hill would become a major star and invited him to join a tour of Mexico.

This was one of tonight’s most valuable character-development segments.

Hill was allowed to react to defeat rather than immediately moving into another match. His frustration made the loss matter, while Místico’s response turned the setback into an opportunity for growth. Místico did not offer empty encouragement. He offered Hill access to a different wrestling culture, international crowds and a chance to develop through experience.

The relationship also strengthens MLW’s partnership with CMLL. The promotions are not simply exchanging established stars for one-night appearances. Místico is attempting to help an MLW prospect develop in Mexico.

The eventual payoff must show visible progression. Hill should return with improved confidence, new offense or a more complete understanding of how to control a match. Otherwise, the tour becomes another promising idea that disappears between tapings.

Grade: B+

What worked

• Gave Diego Hill emotional depth after a loss.
• Made Místico’s endorsement feel meaningful.
• Used the MLW-CMLL partnership to develop a younger wrestler.
• Created a natural explanation for Hill to improve and evolve.

What didn’t work

• MLW did not provide any details about the proposed tour.
• The story will depend entirely on whether Hill’s development is eventually shown.

Trevor Lee is attacked backstage

Rich Bocchini informed Joe Dombrowski that Trevor Lee had been attacked backstage. The assailant was not identified, and MLW provided no additional information about Lee’s condition.

Lee recently became the inaugural MLW Southern Crown Champion, making the timing of the attack important. The attacker could be targeting Lee personally, pursuing the championship or attempting to undermine the title that represents MLW’s renewed southern identity.

The mystery created a hook, but it was extremely thin. There was no security footage, witness, calling card or stolen championship to narrow the field of suspects. Without one additional clue, practically anyone could have attacked him.

Grade: C+

What worked

• Immediately placed the Southern Crown Champion in a new story.
• Created a possible first challenger for Lee’s championship.
• Kept Lee involved without requiring another match.

What didn’t work

• The segment offered no clue about the attacker.
• Lee’s condition was not explained.
• The mystery was too broad to generate focused speculation.

LaBron Kozone vs. SoFly Manny Lo

LaBron Kozone received a strong reaction for his Carolina homecoming before locking up with SoFly Manny Lo.

Manny attempted to establish himself through mat wrestling and chops, but Kozone quickly took control with a wind-up bodyslam. Kozone followed with a belly-to-belly suplex, forcing Manny to regroup outside.

Kozone pursued him, returned him to the ring and delivered a backbreaker across the knee. The Ball Game clothesline ended the match at 2:46.

This was a squash, but it was an effective one. Manny was allowed to show enough ability that he did not look helpless, while Kozone remained dominant and decisive. MLW did not overcomplicate the match with repeated near falls or unnecessary interference. Kozone gained control, demonstrated his strength and finished the job.

The Ball Game is also becoming a recognizable ending. That matters for a wrestler MLW is attempting to establish quickly. Audiences are learning that when Kozone creates the required distance and swings through with the clothesline, the match is over.

Grade: B-

What worked

• Kozone received a convincing and decisive victory.
• Manny showed brief flashes of skill before being overwhelmed.
• The Ball Game continues to be protected as a legitimate finisher.
• The short length matched the purpose of the match.

What didn’t work

• There was not enough time to learn much about Manny Lo.
• Kozone needs a longer competitive match soon to show another layer.

Satoshi Kojima welcomes Kozone under the learning tree

Rich Bocchini interviewed Kojima on the stage before someone handed the veteran a bag of bread. Kozone then approached and indicated that he had been inspired by Kojima and was now aligned with him.

The connection makes sense beyond the comedy. Kojima’s lariat is one of the defining moves of his career, while Kozone is being built around the Ball Game clothesline. Kojima can teach Kozone how to create anticipation, choose the correct moment and make one lariat feel more important than a dozen ordinary moves.

The pairing also connects two different eras of MLW. Kojima represents the promotion’s history. Kozone represents the generation MLW is attempting to build around its weekly return.

Now MLW must turn the mentorship into an actual story. Training footage, tag-team matches and moments where Kozone is forced to apply Kojima’s advice would give the relationship substance.

Grade: B+

What worked

• Created a logical veteran-prospect relationship.
• Connected Kozone’s finisher to Kojima’s legendary lariat.
• Gave Kozone credibility beyond winning short matches.
• Mixed humor with a legitimate developmental story.

What didn’t work

• The segment was brief and mostly symbolic.
• MLW still needs to show what Kojima is actually teaching him.

Killer Kross responds to Satoshi Kojima

Killer Kross stood outside with the MLW World Heavyweight Championship and announced that he intended to sign a contract to face Kojima.

The statement was direct and avoided unnecessary theatrics. Kojima had issued the challenge, and Kross made it clear that he was willing to make the fight official.

The rivalry works because Kojima cannot be dismissed as a nostalgia opponent. He was MLW’s first champion and later returned to become its only two-time World Heavyweight Champion. Defeating him would allow Kross to claim that his reign has surpassed one of the most important champions in company history.

For Kojima, the match presents an opportunity to become a three-time champion and prove that he remains more than a respected mentor.

Kross saying he will sign a contract is not the same as officially announcing the match. MLW still needs to reveal the date and location, but tonight moved the program forward.

Grade: B

What worked

• Kross delivered a direct response without wasting time.
• Kojima’s history gives the potential title match genuine significance.
• The contrast between Kross and Kojima is simple and effective.
• The program moved closer to becoming official.

What didn’t work

• No match date or location was announced.
• The promo was too short to add a deeper personal layer.
• Kross did not explain why defeating Kojima matters to him beyond accepting the challenge.

The Skyscrapers vs. Mads Krule Krugger and the Good Brothers

The main event was advertised as a handicap match featuring Donovan Dijak and Josh Bishop against Krule, Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows. The apparent disadvantage immediately felt suspicious, and the trap was revealed when Bishop Dyer returned to join Dijak and Bishop.

Dijak and Gallows opened with a heavyweight collision, trading strikes and Mafia Kicks. Dyer entered against Anderson, using his size and power to control the corner until Anderson responded with chops.

Krule and Josh Bishop eventually tagged in and exchanged heavy strikes before the match broke down into a six-man brawl. The Skyscrapers isolated their opponents and combined for a back suplex on Anderson, but Anderson created an opening with a spinebuster on Dijak.

Big Damo then marched to ringside and attacked Krule. The two monsters brawled away from the ring, removing both men from the match and leaving the Good Brothers against the three Skyscrapers.

Gallows received the hot tag and ran through the opposing team with clotheslines. Anderson and Gallows attempted the Magic Killer, but Dyer stopped it with a spear. Dijak then rolled Gallows up and placed his feet on the ropes to steal the victory at 9:35.

The finish told the real story of the Skyscrapers. Their size makes them intimidating, but their tactics make them champions. They manipulated the advertised numbers, benefited from Damo removing Krule, prevented the Good Brothers’ finisher and cheated to secure the pin.

Pinning Gallows protected Anderson, who recently defeated Dijak, while Krule never suffered the loss because he was dragged into a separate fight. The Good Brothers can reasonably argue that the Skyscrapers still have not defeated them without interference or illegal tactics.

Big Damo attacking Krule also created another heavyweight rivalry, although Krule is now connected to the Good Brothers, Shotzi, CONTRA, the Serpent and Damo simultaneously. MLW needs to establish which direction is his primary story before the character becomes stretched across too many angles.

Dyer’s return worked as an isolated surprise but made very little sense within the order MLW aired its programming. Recent episodes had already established that Dyer was stripped of the tag title and replaced by Josh Bishop. Tonight suddenly showed him back beside the same team without explaining how the contract dispute had been resolved. That is not a minor continuity issue. It directly contradicts one of the promotion’s most recent stories.

Grade: B

What worked

• Dyer’s appearance created a legitimate surprise.
• The heavyweight exchanges looked appropriately physical.
• Anderson’s spinebuster and Gallows’ hot tag gave the match momentum.
• The finish protected Anderson and Krule.
• Dijak cheating reinforced that the Skyscrapers are opportunists, not honorable monsters.
• Big Damo attacking Krule created another potentially violent matchup.

What didn’t work

• The tape delay made Dyer’s return contradict current television.
• The match ended just as the closing stretch began gaining momentum.
• Damo’s involvement added another direction to an already crowded Krule story.
• The referee missing Dijak’s feet on the ropes was predictable.
• The advertised handicap setup felt less clever once the chronology was considered.

Presentation, production and the taped timeline

Festival Hall looked impressive tonight. The floor appeared full, the lighting was strong and the FantasticaMania presentation helped separate the show from the recent Center Stage episodes. Immediate review coverage also praised the visual production and the roster MLW has assembled.

The crowd audio was far less successful. The enhanced reaction remained almost constantly loud, making it difficult to distinguish genuine emotional peaks from ordinary transitions. When everything receives a similar wall of noise, the most important moments lose some of their impact.

MLW’s social-media promotion emphasized FantasticaMania USA as a collision between three wrestling worlds and heavily promoted the four-way championship match, the Skyscrapers battle and the violence surrounding the event. That was an accurate reflection of the episode’s overall identity.

The larger issue was chronology. Tonight was taped April 12 and streamed July 18. During those three months, Templario defeated KUSHIDA for the Middleweight Championship, Templario defended that championship again and MLW aired an entire contract dispute that removed Bishop Dyer from the Skyscrapers.

A taped show can still work when the matches are self-contained. It becomes damaging when champions, alliances and roster statuses no longer match the stories viewers have already been told.

MLW also promoted the Glasgow Boys as part of tonight’s FantasticaMania presentation, but they did not receive a meaningful appearance on the broadcast. That added another small disconnect between the advertised lineup and the episode that aired.

Grade: C+

What worked

• Festival Hall looked like a strong home venue.
• The lighting and presentation felt major-league.
• FantasticaMania gave Fusion a distinctive international identity.
• The episode moved quickly and avoided filler.

What didn’t work

• The enhanced crowd noise was overused.
• The April-to-July delay created major championship and faction contradictions.
• Bishop Dyer’s appearance did not align with current television.
• KUSHIDA was presented as champion after Templario had already regained the title.
• The Glasgow Boys were promoted without a meaningful appearance.

Best Match and Segment of the Night

Best Match: KUSHIDA vs. Templario vs. Alan Angels vs. Taiji Ishimori

The four-way championship opener delivered tonight’s best combination of speed, variety, character and international significance. Templario brought power, Ishimori brought explosive movement, Angels repeatedly threatened to steal the championship and KUSHIDA held everything together through his technical work and increasingly vicious character.

The match needed more time, but nothing else tonight matched its pace or quality.

Best Segment: KUSHIDA steals Templario’s mask

KUSHIDA refusing Templario’s handshake, attacking him and stealing his mask was the clearest and most memorable piece of storytelling on the episode.

It transformed a competitive title match into a deeply personal rivalry and showed that KUSHIDA has completely embraced CONTRA’s methods. The broadcast schedule damaged the timing, but the segment itself was excellent.

Here is what was announced for next week’s show

• FantasticaMania USA will continue as part of MLW’s multiweek international series.
• Additional involvement from MLW, CMLL and New Japan Pro-Wrestling is expected.
• The fallout from KUSHIDA stealing Templario’s mask remains unresolved.
• Big Damo and Mads Krule Krugger now have unfinished business.
• MLW did not officially confirm any specific matches for next week during tonight’s broadcast at the time of publication.

Final Thoughts

Tonight’s Fusion was a good wrestling show fighting against its own broadcast schedule.

The four-way opener was exactly the type of match FantasticaMania USA should deliver. KUSHIDA’s attack on Templario was excellent heel storytelling. LaBron Kozone continued looking like one of MLW’s most carefully protected rising stars. Místico gave Diego Hill’s development real direction. Shotzi gained two challengers, Killer Kross moved closer to defending against Kojima and the main event advanced several interconnected heavyweight stories.

The show looked good, moved quickly and featured a roster that feels considerably fresher than previous versions of MLW. There were very few wasted minutes.

However, MLW cannot present KUSHIDA as the defending champion one night after the actual champion successfully defended the title elsewhere and expect the audience to overlook it. It also cannot remove Bishop Dyer from the Skyscrapers on television, replace him with Josh Bishop and then air older footage of Dyer returning without clearly explaining when the events took place.

Those contradictions did not destroy the matches, but they weakened the significance of nearly everything surrounding them.

FantasticaMania USA began with enough in-ring quality and storyline movement to make the coming episodes worth watching. MLW now needs to make sure its broadcast timeline stops working against the momentum its wrestlers are creating.

Overall Grade: B

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