First, if you want to watch Labor of Love’s The Exhibition from last week, it is still available for free on LOL’s YouTube channel. Second, this week’s show, MPX’s Mayhem at Mid Cities, is also available for free on their YouTube channel. Free wrestling is truly a wonderful thing.
This was my first time watching an MPX offering, so some of these wrestlers were new to me, which always makes things a little more interesting. Metroplex Wrestling, MPX, is owned by ROH’s Athena, so if you watch ROH, you may recognize some of these names.
News:
- On April 24, Rafael Quintero beat Trevor Lee to win the AAW Title at Crush & Destroy.
- On April 26, Alex Arsenal beat Chris Marval to win the RCW Title at RCW Mania.
- On May 1, Templario beat Kushida to win the MLW World Middleweight Title in Arena Mexico.
- On May 1, the Shooter Boys beat the Verdict to regain the CAP Tag Titles + Bobby Orlando won a Four Way Match to win the CAP Title at CAP’s biggest show ever, Monumental Moment.
- On May 1, Midas Black seemingly turned on his long-time Mane Event tag team partner, Jay Lyon. He abandoned his partner in a match against 5150 at HOG’s Glory at the Globe.
- On May 2, Trevor Murdoch announced his retirement from professional wrestling on NWA Powerrr.
Metroplex Wrestling
Mayhem at Mid Cities
May 2, 2026
MPX Event Center
Bedford, TX
Watch: YouTube
MPX Addicts Title Match
Redd Chambers (c) def. “Primetime” Brock Ali
This is my second time seeing Brock Ali, and he’s really got a punchable face. This is my first look, however, at the MPX Addicts Champion, Redd Chambers, who came to the ring without his belt. Apparently, it was stolen by Lue Cameron last week. By the way, “Addicts” is the name given to the MPX faithful. Why do they have a title named after their fanbase? I don’t have the answer to that question, but I’m glad to know that Redd Chambers is ok.
The show I watched before this one was GCW’s One Night Only event from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, so seeing this match begin with a “Collar and Elbow” into a “Side Headlock” instantly put me in a good mood. These two just went in there and had a wrestling match, and I mean that as a compliment. Chambers is a local who wrestles mostly in the Dallas area, and Ali, from San Antonio, began his career in 2025. Ali trained at Sho Funaki’s Hybrid School of Wrestling, and I promise you this will not be the last time you hear this guy’s name. He is an athlete, he looks great, and if he can talk, then we definitely have something here. He looks like the guy you find talking to your girlfriend when you get back from the bathroom at your local watering hole, so you decide “it’s time to go.” The champion, Chambers, got the win after a “Diving Headbutt” to retain his title.
Demo Diamond def. Vin Parker
Parker, who went to the Rhodes Wrestling Academy, recently appeared on NJPW Academy’s 3rd Anniversary Showcase. He has also made recent appearances for ROH. Diamond is a Texas native who has also made a couple of ROH appearances. Demo, who stands at 6’6,” had the distinct height advantage over Parker, who is another guy I wouldn’t want my girlfriend talking to while I was in “the John.” He has a great look and is in phenomenal shape. So far, from MPX, I have not seen anything silly or ironic, and unlike what I saw from the GCW roster this weekend, these guys are clearly putting in the work. Diamond, who goes by “The Shining Truth,” got the win in a back-and-forth affair, after a “Spear.” Nothing spectacular here, just two young guys learning their craft and not embarrassing themselves or the sport.
Morgan Mercy def. Reiza Clarke
Reiza Clarke, who was recently unsuccessful in challenging Priscilla Kelly for the MPX Women’s Title, has made a few appearances for ROH. Mercy is ½ of Fire & Fury w/ Nova Phoenix, and they currently hold the RCW Women’s Tag Titles. These two “heavy hitters” took turns battering each other until Reiza got the pin after a “Lariat.” I have to be honest, this wasn’t great. But, like the matches before them, they didn’t do anything silly and went out there and had themselves a bit of a “Hoss Fight.” Reiza was the most impressive of the two on this night, but I would like to see either one take on someone they can truly manhandle next time before I form any opinions.
MPX Tag Team Title Match
The Cure (Exodus Prime & Tatum Manning) (c) def. Purple Haze (Prince Alexander & Stevie Hendrix)
The Cure seems to be having some issues “co-existing,” as earlier in the night, they argued backstage over whose entrance music to use. They also had the distinct size advantage in this well-paced modern style tag match. Purple Haze was a more “well-oiled” team, though, as they have been teaming for longer. Exodus Prime is someone I have seen before on ROH, recently losing a Proving Ground Match to ROH Pure Champion, Lee Moriarty. Prime scored the pin for his team after he hit Hendrix with his “Contra Code” finisher. Purple Haze impressed me here, especially after their “Huricanrana into a Powerbomb” combo that you have to see to believe.
3 Way Tag Team Match
JD Griffey & Big J def. Most Wanted (Marcello Fuego & Xavier Gotti) + TJ Slater & Man Man
Just because they call it a “Triple Threat” match doesn’t mean that I have to. Anywho, this was fine, which is my ceiling for multi-person/team matches, nine times out of ten. Slater, who is a very well put-together and impressive-looking powerhouse, was the standout for me in this one.
Alec Bullsdale def. Matthew Palmer
The last two times Palmer was scheduled to face Bullsdale, Matthew found a way to weasel out of the match, but not this time. While making his way to the ring, Palmer began to reconsider when his wife, Athena, came out and told him to get to the ring. This apparently wasn’t a heel, in Palmer, being afraid of his opponent, Bullsdale, but rather a babyface, in Palmer, playing mind games with the heel, Bullsdale. Palmer, the veteran, looked good here and controlled the beginnings of this match until Bullsdale pushed the referee into the corner, crotching Palmer on the top turnbuckle. Palmer quickly regained control and took Bullsdale for a walk around ringside, letting some fans chop him. I have to say that I’m not a fan of having the “Addicts” at ringside getting physical with the wrestlers. It may be “all in good fun,” but you are really asking for trouble.
The match intensified as the “Addicts” started a “This Is Awesome!” chant. Then Bullsdale took over as the fans chanted “Let’s Go Palmer.” The two went back and forth, with near falls and strike exchanges. As the match’s end drew near, Palmer, clearly losing steam, nailed Bullsdale with a series of “German Suplexes,” but it wasn’t enough. Alec returned with a series of “Superkicks,” and that wasn’t enough. Palmer reversed Alec’s pin attempt into a “Crossface,” but Alec got to the ropes. Soon after that, the match abruptly ended. The finish came when Palmer went for a “Sunset Flip,” but Bullsdale hooked both his legs, sat forward, and got the 1-2-3. This was pretty good, and the match of the night. The end did come “out of nowhere,” but that can be a good thing.
MPX Championship Match
Delynn Cavens (c) def. Phil Shark
Ok, one of MPX’s taglines is “No Gimmicks,” and the challenger for the top prize, in the main event, is named Phil Shark, and he wore a shark suit to the ring. He also wore a ridiculous shark head mask during the match. I felt very silly trying to watch this so I’m making this brief. This was Caven’s first defense of the title as he just won it last month from JD Griffey at MPX Destiny. Cavens ripped off Phil’s stupid shark head during the match and later beat him with a “450 Splash,” from the top rope. I didn’t watch the match but after, Big J & JD Griffey attacked the champ & the shark man. I wish John Tenta was still alive so he could have joined in on the beating and squashed this goofball. Unfortunately, Phil Shark & Cavens got the upper hand and sent Big J & Griffey “running for the hills.” Congratulations Phil Shark, you’ve made my Sh@#tlist!
Final Thoughts
I learned something today. If you are going to watch a pro wrestling show and you “want” to like it, make sure to watch a GCW show first. You will undoubtedly be happy with whatever follows. MPX has some very promising talent to watch. I could hear the commentary clearly, and they weren’t screaming like maniacs, which is always a welcome change.
Overall, Phil Shark aside, MPX gets a thumbs up from me, and just like last week, I am happy with my choice!
U.S. INDEPENDENT #2: Best of the Week (Chronologically) [Including matches from last week that I did not see until this week]
- Rafael Quintero def. Trevor Lee to win the AAW Heavyweight Title Match (AAW: Crush & Destroy 2026) [4.24.2026]
- 1 Called Manders def. Gabby Forza (JCW: Opening Day 2026) [4.26.2026]
- The Shooter Boys def. the Verdict to win the CAP Tag Titles (CAP: Monumental Moment) [5.1.2026]
- “Speedball” Mike Bailey def. Amazing Red (HOG: Glory at the Globe) [5.1.2026]
I have not yet seen the following…
- Focus Pro: All the Small Things [5.3.2026]
Sh@#tlist:
- Memphis Wrestling (I saw a man “electrocute” multiple people with his fingers. I’m out)
- Mystery Wrestling (Evil Uno, the owner of the promotion, called this “wrestling,” and actually used air quotes when saying the word wrestling. That’s all I needed to see)
- Phil Shark (I’m not watching a grown man wrestle in a shark costume)
