The most awaited show in backyard wrestling finally happened on April 13, 2002. MLW Spring Slugfest: A New Beginning kicked off in the new MLW Arena with Ryan “Shotgun” Morris coming to the ring and talking about the road to this historic day and all the obstacles in between. He closed by welcoming all to “the big leagues bitch”! Then, former MLW owner $E-Money$ interrupted and came to the ring. Money said that he should’ve been the one delivering the speech that the Shotgun just did because he was the one “with the money to make MLW happen.” He warned those that didn’t take him seriously, especially a wanna-be rich guy, that you never fuck with $E-Money$ and told the competition that they’re “all fucked now.” The Shotgun reminded Money that the Masked Intraviac was the current owner of MLW and he forgot to book Shotgun in a match in the MLW Championship Tournament. Money said that ABH Matt Casey would beat the Intraviac in the first round and win Money’s ownership back. $E-Money$ said that his first act as owner would be to find Morris an opponent for the first round. Morris reminded Money that he doesn’t shoot blanks!

We were than welcomed to the MLW Arena by U.N. Decided and Vance McDougal as they announced that only one match was named in the tournament for the MLW Championship and the rest were all a surprise.

First Round Match in MLW Championship Tournament: MLW Owner Masked Intraviac v.s. ABH Matt Casey

This match had a big build-up on the MLW message board with back and forth insults between the two. The Intraviac came to the ring to the “Humpty Hump” song and continued to insult Casey and his resemblance to Miami Vice star Don Johnson. During his speech, Casey snuck in the ring from behind the Intraviac, tuned up the band, and hit him with the Superkick to get the quickest win in MLW history. Casey beat down on the Intraviac a little more before heading to the back. Intraviac got up and beat down on the referee giving him the Masked People’s stomp!

Result: ABH advances to the semi-finals and the Intraviac loses his ownership and must wear his underoos to the next show.

First Round Match in MLW Championship Tournament: Owen Fart v.s. Hot Shot Eddy Cashmere

Fart made his MLW return and tripped on the ropes on his way in. The Hot Shot, formerly known as the Outlaw debuted his new attitude. Fart attacked Hot Shot right away, but Hot Shot put him down with a big splash. Hot Shot continued to embarrass Fart with countless punches and kicks, but Fart swept Hot Shot’s legs and delivered the Sharpshooter. Hot Shot powered out of the move and got Fart’s shoe off. Hot Shot delivered a boot to the face and the Texas Cloverleaf to get the win by submission

Result: Hot Shot advances to the semi-finals and Fart goes back to being MLW’s driver.

First Round Match in MLW Championship Tournament: Nightstalker vs. Woodside Notorious Neil

The Notorious one came out in his Notorious World Order gear and grabbed the mic to claim that he would be victorious by the end of the night. Nightstalker attacked Neil with some elbow drops, but Neil came back with a clothesline. Nightstalker hit Neil with a low blow and choked him on the mat. Nightstalker than mocked Neil by wearing his bandana, but Neil took off his belt and beat the dark man with it. Nightstalker got the advantage back and attempted a choke slam, but Neil pushed him into the ropes and hit the Big Boot and the Leg Drop for the win. After the match, Notorious beat Nightstalker with his belt and left him for dead.

Result: Woodside advances to the semi-finals

While Nightstalker was still in the ring, an unknown monster jumped into the ring and delivered a vicious forearm knocking out Nightstalker.

First Round Match in MLW Championship Tournament: Big D vs. Handust

The Innovator of Silence waited in the ring for his opponent when a Battered Hand Production music played. And out came Handust! Apparently the “little maverick” was Big D. Handust tried to mess with Big D’s head. Big D delivered an arm bar with some elbows, followed by a clothesline. The two locked up and Handust started tangoing with Big D until D rolled out of the ring! Handust delivered a low blow to Big D followed by the Battered Dreams, but only got a two count. Handust hit Big D with a couple of clothesline followed by a dropping punch to the jaw. Handust beat on D in the corner and whipped him to the opposite corner for a splash, but Big D moved out of the way and hit the Big DDT for the win! Handust threw his wig into the ring before he left.

Result: Big D advances to the semi-finals.

First Round Match in MLW Championship Tournament: Ryan “Shotgun” Morris vs. $E-Money$

Shotgun was in the ring as $E-Money$ was backstage stating that he found the Shotgun an opponent. The “Millionare’s Massacre” remix hit and Shotgun was smiling and out came the once again MLW Owner $E-Money$ naming himself the opponent! Money delayed his entrance trying to psych out Morris. The match finally got underway as Money powered Shotgun into the corner. The two locked up again and the Shotgun countered with an arm bar and a push down. The two locked up one more time and Money pushed Shotgun and into the corner and hit him with some diesel spikes, but Morris countered with a DDT. Money reversed an Irish whip and hit Morris with a clothesline followed by 3 thumbs to the eyes. Money hit Morris with some knife-edge chops, but Morris countered with some of his own. Morris put Money in an STF, but Money countered with a thumb to the eye. Money hit Morris with some left hands and a discus punch followed by an elbow. Money showed off his strength with some pushups. Money hit Morris with a neckbreaker, but only got a two count. Shotgun got back to a vertical base and threw Money out of the ring. Shotgun ascended to the top rope and delivered a flying forearm to Money on the outside! Shotgun threw Money back into the ring and hit him with a uranagi followed by a rolling senton, still only getting a two count. Shotgun ran into Money, only to be hit by a vicious spinebuster. Morris kicked out at 2. Money picked Morris back up and hit him with a stunner, but Shotgun kicked out at 1, showing that the finisher is not as effective as some think! Money hit Shotgun with a belly-to-belly suplex, but only pinned him with a leg, which allowed Shotgun to apply an ankle lock. Money grabbed the ropes, but Shotgun held on for a couple of seconds to increase the damage. Morris beat Money down with some right hands and went to the second turnbuckle. Morris jumped off the ropes, but Money put him down with the Millionare’s Massacre! Morris held on and Money broke the hold. Morris reversed an Irish whip and hit Money with a clothesline in the corner. All of a sudden, the Hot Shot came to ringside, threw Money a chair, and Shotgun leapt off the second turnbuckle to hit the Pistol Whip for the 1,2,3! Shotgun and Hot Shot faced off knowing that they would face each other in the semi-finals.

Result: Shotgun advances to the semi-finals where it will be partner vs. partner and $E-Money$ proves he’s no joke!

First Round Match in MLW Championship Tournament: Chainsaw Chuck vs. MLW Extreme Champion- Pat (also for Extreme Championship)

“Desperado” by the Eagles played and out came Chainsaw Chuck with confetti falling. The first MLW Extreme Champion Pat came to ring with a license plate hidden in his shirt, which he broke over Chuck’s head. Pat stomped on Chuck in the corner, but Chuck drove the broken license plate into Pat’s forehead. Pat got back up and belted Chuck with a chair. Pat hit Chuck over the head with some signs, but Chuck put up a fight and got Pat in the spinning toehold. Pat didn’t tap out, so Chuck hit him with a chair. Chuck was holding the MLW Extreme Championship up with his back turned to Pat, which allowed the real champ to apply the Patmission for the win! Pat continued to beat on Chuck outside of the ring.

Result: Pat retains the MLW Extreme Championship and advances to the semi-finals.

Semi-Final Match in the MLW Championship Tournament: Big D vs. Notorious Neil

It was a David vs. Goliath type match between these two. The Notorious 1 came out in his red and yellow attire for this match to the song “Voodoo Child”. Neil started out with some punches taking Big D down with a clothesline. Neil dropped some elbows on D followed by a knee drop, but only got a two count. Neil went for a big splash in the corner, but Big D hit him with a chop block and worked on the legs of the 6 footer. Big D kept Neil grounded with some knee breakers followed by a clothesline. D went for the figure four, but Neil kicked him off. Neil hit Big D with some right hands in the corner and went for a shoulder breaker, but Big D got down and hit Neil with a neck breaker. Big D went for the pin, but Neil starting Neiling up! Big D tried to phase out the Notorious 1, but fell victim to the Big Boot and Leg Drop to put Neil in the finals! Neil raised Big D’s hand after the match in a sign of solidarity.

Result: Notorious Neil advances to the finals and Big D shows he can hang with the big boys!

Semi-Final Match in the MLW Championship Tournament: Hot Shot Eddy Cashmere v.s. Ryan “Shotgun” Morris

Rebel Arsenal fought for a spot in the finals in this match. The two shook hands and things got underway. Hot Shot went for a test of strength, but hit Morris with a punch, followed by an axe kick. Hot Shot missed a jumping splash and Morris hit him with a kick to the midsection. Morris whipped Hot Shot into the corner and hit him with a clothesline. Hot Shot hit Morris with a rolling kick followed by a snap suplex. Hot Shot hit Morris with some kicks to the back and went for the rolling kick again, but Morris was ready and hit him with a clothesline. Morris went for a pin, but only got a 1 count. Morris whipped Hot Shot to the ropes, and Hot Shot got tripped up. Morris ran in, but Hot Shot hit him with a spinning heel kick. Morris kick out at 2 and swept Hot Shot’s feet from under him. Hot Shot regained control of the match with a clothesline to the outside. Hot Shot draped Morris over the ropes and hit him with a guillotine leg drop. Hot Shot threw Morris out of the ring. Hot Shot dove over the top rope and hit Morris with a flying rolling kick! Hot Shot threw Morris into the ring and tried for a flying clothesline, but Hot Shot got caught in the ropes allowing Morris to clobber him in the head. Morris threw Hot Shot back into the ring and hit Hot Shot with a corkscrew leg drop. Hot Shot hit Morris with a low blow and went for a power bomb, but Shotgun countered with a hurricanranna! Shotgun hit Hot Shot with a spear, but only got a 2 count on the pin. Hot Shot hit Morris with a face buster followed by a neck breaker. Hot Shot beat Morris on the ground, but Morris got back up and hit Hot Shot with a suplex. Morris went for a splash, but Hot Shot got his foot up. Hot Shot picked Morris up and hit him with a Styles clash, but only got a 2 count. Hot Shot hit Morris with a bionic elbow. Hot Shot was going for the Hot Spot, but Morris countered it with the revolver! Morris put Hot Shot in the corner and put a chair in front of him, looking eerily familiar to September 2001! Morris couldn’t get up on the shaky ropes, so he brought the ladder into the ring, climbed to the 4th rung and delivered a flying shoulder block into the chair! The shot busted Hot Shot open and Shotgun got the pin for the win! The two shook hands after the classic match! Shotgun went to the camera and proclaimed that the title was in his grasp!

Result: Shotgun advances to the finals in another great Rebel Arsenal showdown!

Semi-Final Match in the MLW Championship Tournament: MLW Extreme Champion Pat vs. ABH Matt Casey

Casey had the advantage with an easy first round match. Pat brought some extreme weapons into the ring with him. Casey hit Pat with some punches and knocked him down with a clothesline. Pat fought back with some punches, a knee, and a DDT to knock the ex champ down. Pat waffled Casey with a snow shovel. Casey picked up a stop sign and hit Pat with it, but only got a 2 count. Casey beat Pat with a bucket and a whiffle ball bat. Casey showcased in the corner and Pat took advantage by hitting Casey with the shovel followed by a leg drop. Pat hit Casey with a chair to the head, but didn’t go for the pin. Pat took ABH down with a clothesline followed by a T-Bone Patplex. Pat picked up the bucket and placed it on Casey’s head and hit it with the bat. Casey countered with a chop block and got Pat down on the canvas as Pat apparently hurt his right knee. Casey delivered a chair shot to Pat’s head and his knee keeping the big man down. Casey went for the superkick, but Pat sidestepped it, threw Casey into the corner, hit him with 1 big splash, Pat rolled back and prepared to deliver another splash, but Casey was waiting and hit the superkick to end this amazing match! Pat proclaimed that Casey would be the next MLW Champion!

Result: ABH advances to the finals and the Extreme Champ shows he is a top contender in MLW!

Backstage, $E-Money$ was holding the MLW Championship title as he walked out of a locker room saying “He won’t know what hit him.”

Main Event- Tournament Final: Triple Threat Ladder Match for the MLW Championship: Ryan “Shotgun” Morris vs. ABH Matt Casey vs. Notorious Neil

The three founding fathers of MLW met to crown a new MLW Champion! Notorious Neil appeared in his 3rd outfit of the day as the short shorts were back! Neil went after Morris, and Casey intervened with a clothesline. $E-Money$ came to the commentators table saying he wanted to see first hand who the new champ would be. Shotgun and Neil battled in the ring as Casey quickly grabbed the ladder, but was cut off by Neil. Neil and Matt battled on the outside and the Shotgun joined them. Casey threw Morris back into the ring and Neil threw Casey in. The three traded punches and Matt worked on Morris while Neil went to the ladder. Casey ran out and pushed Neil off the ladder. Casey picked up the ladder and hit Neil with it, but Morris came from behind and hit Casey with a chair to the back. Morris delivered some devastating shots to Neil’s head with the chair and went back to Matt. Neil picked up Shotgun and slapped on a bear hug, but Matt hit Neil with a chair from behind followed by a bulldog to the Notorious 1. Neil hit Matt with a backbody drop, but Shotgun hit Neil with a front face Russian Leg Sweep. Neil and Morris battled at the other end of the MLW Arena until Matt rammed the ladder into Shotgun’s face. Neil picked up the ladder and threw it at Matt. Neil put Matt in a full nelson while Shotgun punched ABH’s stomach. Shotgun threw Neil into a wheel barrel and hit him with a diamond cutter. Shotgun picked up Neil and threw him headfirst into a cinder block, busting Neil open! Matt dropped the ladder onto Neil and hit Morris with it as well. Matt threw Morris back into the ring and Neil came back in and hit Matt with a DDT. Shotgun went for an Acid Drop, but Neil threw him off. Matt hit Neil with a bucket, and Shotgun hit Matt with a savate kick. Casey regained the advantage by hitting his opponents with a whiffle ball bat. Casey hit Neil with a flying forearm as Shotgun went to the outside and set up the ladder right next to the ring. Shotgun climbed to the top of the ladder and delivered an impactful frog splash onto Neil! Matt took advantage and beat on his opponents before setting the ladder up to get the belt, but the Notorious 1 threw Matt off the ladder. Neil went back into the ring and beat down on a still hurt Morris. Morris got back up and hit Neil with a Pedigree, but Matt came back into the ring and continued to practice his swings on his opponents. Matt went out of the ring and climbed the ladder, but instead hit Shotgun with a double-ax handle. Neil came back out the ring and hit Shotgun with a knee breaker onto the ladder. Casey was busted open with a ladder shot. Neil choked Matt with a piece of rope and hit Shotgun with a clothesline. Neil threw Shotgun headfirst into the fence, busting Morris open. Casey caught an incoming Neil with the superkick. Casey beat Neil down with a shovel, but Shotgun hit Matt with a roundhouse kick from back in the ring! Morris threw Casey back into the ring and hit him with the Revolver! Notorious Neil got back into the ring and beat both men down with a bucket. Shotgun got out of the ring and threw Neil into the ladder. Matt ran out and hit Shotgun with a bat and ladder to the knee. Neil pearl harbored Matt from behind and hit both men with his trademark back rakes. Neil swung off a swing and hit Casey with a clothesline, but Morris countered with another diamond cutter. All three men went back into the ring. Matt was in the corner and Neil was on all fours as Shotgun used Neil’s back as a launch pad to clothesline Matt. Morris choked Matt on the ropes, but Neil hit him with an atomic drop. Matt hit Neil with a bulldog, but Neil countered with a body slam. Shotgun grabbed a chair on the outside and hit Neil with it 9 times! Matt climbed the ladder on the inside of the ring and jumped on both his opponents! Morris choked Neil with a rope, but Matt broke it up. Casey brought the ladder back outside the ring and hit Neil with some knife-edge chops. Shotgun joined in and all three men traded chops! Shotgun clotheslined Matt into the ring and Neil did the same to Morris. Neil ran into the ring and threw both men to the ropes hit them both with leg drops. Neil went to the ladder, but Matt hit him with a water kettle. Morris went out of the ring and threw both his cousins back in! Shotgun climbed the ladder, but $E-Money$ left the announcer’s position and distracted the Shotgun. Then, out came a masked assailant that knocked Shotgun off the ladder! Neil and Matt battled on the ladder near the ring ropes while the masked man beat on Shotgun with Money looking on. The masked man took off his mask and revealed himself to be the Shotgun’s own partner, the Hot Shot! Neil knocked Matt off the ladder and onto the ring ropes as the Hot Shot delivered the Hot Spot on Shotgun onto a chair! Casey’s foot was tied in the ropes and Neil grabbed the ladder, climbed it, and grabbed the MLW Championship for the victory! Meanwhile, the lucrative madman and his new “investment” gave Morris a double yakuza kick! Neil posed in the ring to end Spring Slugfest!

Result: Notorious Neil is the new MLW Champion and $E-Money$ unveils his plan to the world!