Alex Shelley will look to defend his Impact Wrestling World title on this Thursday’s Impact Wresting on AXS TV as he faces Jonathan Gresham.
Shelley will be hoping to pick up the sixth title defense of the championship he won in June. He is coming off a successful defense against former titleholder Josh Alexander at last month’s Bound for Glory.
Gresham, the former Ring of Honor World Champion, is still looking for his first taste of Impact gold. This is his first shot at the company’s biggest championship.
In a clash of former Knockouts Champions, Deonna Purrazzo will take on Tasha Steelz.
In a match that has been building for weeks and intensified due to several attacks, Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer will defend against Crazzy Steve who earned the shot via a Feast or Fired briefcase.
Here’s the current lineup that was taped following last month’s Bound for Glory:
Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Jonathan Gresham
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Tasha Steelz
Impact Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer defends against Crazzy Steve
There is no timetable for when Impact World Champion Alex Shelley will return from an injury that resulted in him being pulled from last Friday’s Turning Point.
Impact head Scott D’Amore said an interview that Shelley will “need a little bit of rest and a little bit of time” before he needs to return to Impact, adding “it’s going to be a good change for him to rest and recharge.”
According to PWInsider, Shelley suffered an “extremely pulled” calf muscle during he and Chris Sabin’s tag team bout against Josh Alexander & Moose on Impact’s October 26th UK tour opener in Scotland.
The 40-year-old was then pulled from Turning Point the next night in Newcastle, England, as he and Sabin were set to face Brian Myers & Moose. Frankie Kazarian took his place. Shelley made an appearance Friday, but did not wrestle for the remainder of the tour.
Working in Shelley’s favor is that Impact has just two live events remaining this year: the comedy Throwback Throwdown 4 on Saturday, November 11th and Final Resolution on Saturday, December 9th. There are no TV tapings scheduled for the rest of the year as the company prepares to return to TNA branding in 2024.
Shelley has been champion since this past June’s Against All Odds and has six title defenses under his belt.
Alex Shelley did not wrestle at Saturday’s UK Invasion tour show in Coventry. Frankie Kazarian again replaced him and tagged with Chris Sabin.
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An injury caused Impact World Champion Alex Shelley to miss Friday’s Turning Point event in the United Kingdom.
Shelley was supposed to team with Chris Sabin at Friday’s show in Newcastle, but Frankie Kazarian replaced Shelley in the match. Sabin & Kazarian faced Moose & Brian Myers.
Kazarian vs. Rich Swann vs. Trey Miguel was supposed to take place at Turning Point. With Kazarian replacing Shelley, the three-way bout was changed to a singles match between Swann and Miguel.
“Shelley was backstage at Turning Point and he was said to be ‘really badly limping.’ The IMPACT World Champion was also extremely frustrated about being unable to wrestle at Turning Point,” Cultaholic wrote. “It is unclear how long Shelley will be out of action and if he will be in action at the remaining two shows of the UK Invasion Tour in Coventry is unknown.”
Shelley & Sabin faced Josh Alexander & Eric Young in a tag team match at night one of Impact’s UK Invasion tour in Glasgow on Thursday.
The Turning Point special from Friday will be available to watch on Impact Plus starting on Friday, November 3.
The UK Invasion tour concludes with shows in Coventry on Saturday (October 28) and Sunday (October 29). Shelley & Sabin vs. Alexander & Young vs. Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster is scheduled for Saturday. Shelley defending his Impact World Championship against Alexander is scheduled for Sunday. Impact hasn’t announced if Shelley will still be competing in those matches.
The Bound for Glory main event will be shown in its entirety on this week’s episode of Impact Wrestling.
At Bound for Glory, Alex Shelley defeated Josh Alexander to retain the Impact World Championship. That complete match will air on Impact this Thursday (October 26). Impact has also announced that “exclusive highlights” from Trinity vs. Mickie James and Will Ospreay vs. Mike Bailey will be shown on Thursday’s episode.
Impact Wrestling wrote:
Relive the earth-shattering event that was Bound For Glory 2023, featuring an unforgettable night of action from Chicago. See exclusive highlights from the Knockouts World Championship match as Trinity defended against Mickie James, and the epic showdown pitting Will Ospreay vs. ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey. Plus, the IMPACT World Championship match between Alex Shelley and Josh Alexander will be shown in its entirety! Tune in to IMPACT! this Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders.
Bound for Glory took place on Saturday night and ended with the announcement that TNA Wrestling will be making its return starting with Hard to Kill in January 2024.
Impact held a set of television tapings the day after Bound for Glory. Those matches will air on Impact in the coming weeks. Spoilers from the tapings can be found here.
Bound for Glory — Impact Wrestling’s biggest event of the year — emanates from Cicero, Illinois’ Cicero Stadium tonight.
The pay-per-view will be headlined by Alex Shelley vs. Josh Alexander for the Impact World Championship, and Trinity vs. Mickie James for the Knockouts Championship.
Will Ospreay makes his return to Impact, taking on “Speedball” Mike Bailey in a match that could steal the show.
KENTA is also back in Impact for the show, challenging Chris Sabin for the X-Division Championship.
Two Tag Team title matches are set as The Rascalz defend their titles against Ace Austin & Chris Bey while Deonna Purrazzo & Tasha Steelz challenge Killer Kelly & Masha Slamovich for the Knockouts Tag Team titles.
There will be a Monster’s Ball match between Steve Maclin, Moose, Rhino, and PCO in addition to the annual Call Your Shot gauntlet match.
Tonight will see Mike Tenay, Don West, and Traci Brooks inducted into the Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame. The inductions are taking place on tonight’s pre-show, which begins at 7:30 PM Eastern.
Pre-Show Hall of Fame inductions:
Traci Brooks
Gail Kim, also an Impact Hall of Famer, inducted Brooks. The two worked together extensively and have known each other since 2000 when they started wrestling school together. She said they wrestled in their first bikini match together (which they hated) and their first hardcore match (which they didn’t know about beforehand).
Brooks came out with husband Frankie Kazarian and their son, Rebel. She did the usual, thanking her parents and brothers. She then thanked Kazarian, her in-laws, and told her son to dream big. She then thanked Kim, who was her also her maid of honor. She also thanked Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, The Beautiful People, So Cal Val and others in addition to a slew of men’s wrestlers, executives, the fans, and others.
Brooks is the third-ever woman inducted. This was a pretty straightforward and emotional speech, but you could tell it meant a lot to her to be inducted.
Mike Tenay & Don West
Scott D’Amore inducted the legendary announcing duo. West, of course, sadly passed away in December of last year after a battle with cancer while Tenay has been out of the pro wrestling spotlight since his Impact/TNA days were done, save for a few appearances with Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.
D’Amore told a story about how West accidentally auctioned off a Team Canada jacket prior to 2017’s Slammiversary that was actually D’Amore’s. He said he was the best salesperson in this or any other business. “He had to be. He sold Scott D’Amore memorabilia!”
Both Tenay and West’s families were in attendance. Tenay then accepted the honor, coming out to the old rap-rock TNA theme which I haven’t heard in decades.
Tenay spent the majority of the speech putting over West, his story and how Tenay’s son said West was his favorite announcer. He said in wrestling, you make many acquaintances but not many true friends but to him, West was a true friend.
Tenay told some Bobby Heenan stories and then thanked some people including Eric Bischoff, Zane Bresloff, the Jarrett family, the Sahadi family, Konnan, Keith Mitchell, and others.
He joked his granddaughter asked him if he should be called “Mr. Hall of Fame” and he said it would be a good idea if she wanted to be in the will. He thanked his wife (“the true Hall of Famer in the family”) to close things out and then pitched to Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt.
This was a good speech and worth checking out on YouTube.
Main Show:
X-Division Champion Chris Sabin defeated KENTA to retain the title
According to Cagematch, this is their first ever singles match but they did share the ring earlier this year on opposite sides of a trios match.
Sabin set the record tonight with his 13th Bound for Glory match. He’s in his tenth reign as champion so the title might as well be renamed after him at this point.
Since this was the opener, you know it would be good with two veterans. This was competitive with KENTA nearly getting the pin with his feet on the ropes after a roll-up and then again after a double foot stomp to the chest. KENTA called for the GTS (in Chicago, no less) but Sabin got out of it, only to be slapped repeatedly.
Sabin got the pin after the Clothesline from Hell, Michigan and the Cradle Shock for his second successful title defense.
PCO won a Monsters Ball match over Steve Maclin, Moose and Rhino
PCO’s deal is up at the end of this month after another interesting run in Impact. All four men were kept in separate dark rooms for 24 hours with no food, water or light with all squinting when their doors were opened up. Malnourishment going into a fight is no way to go.
This was a brawl from the start with Maclin attacking Rhino as he came out followed by Moose laying him out. PCO then came out a few minutes later for his last big entrance. Moose’s attire was akin to plaid pajama pants with red sneakers. I kinda like it! He then backdropped PCO over the top rope into a ladder in a gnarly looking spot.
PCO got on a roll, focusing on Maclin. He hit a De-Animator (swanton) onto Maclin as he laid on the outside of the ring in another gnarly spot. I don’t know how long PCO’s body will hold up, but he is certainly going until the wheels not only fall off but explode into flames.
Moose got the upper hand on PCO and spread thumbtacks onto a bed of cinder blocks on the outside of the ring, followed by a power bomb that saw tacks go into the back of PCO’s head. Ouch.
Rhino re-entered the fray and answered the fans and got not just a table, but a barbed wire table that went unused…for a few minutes. Bully Ray eventually came out and pushed Maclin off the top rope through the table, revenge for Maclin calling him “soft” recently.
PCO and Moose went at it, made more ridiculous with PCO wearing tacks all over his head and shoulders. Moose then got gored by Rhino with a chair in his hands, laying out both of them. PCO then hit another Re-Animator from the top and got the surprise win to end a pretty wild and entertaining match. How about that?
Chris Bey & Ace Austin defeated The Rascalz to win the Impact Tag Team titles
This feud goes back months as Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz cost Bey & Austin the titles at Slammiversary and then again in their subsequent rematch for the titles. Bey & Austin won a Feast or Fired briefcase and, imagine this, a Tag Team title shot was in there. The Rascalz are looking for their fourth defense of the titles they won by defeating Subculture.
Interesting fact: Wentz and Miguel went into this match undefeated as a duo (8-0) dating back four years. While these four have shared the ring a lot in the past around the world, this is only their second-ever tag match against each other and the first in Impact.
Similar to the opener, this was competitive. All four guys showed out thanks to their athleticism and knowledge of each other. The end came when Wentz accidentally sprayed Miguel with spray paint and then got hit with the Art of Finesse/Fold combo to give Bey & Austin their second title run.
I think they are running behind on time as they went right to an Ospreay/Bailey video package.
Will Ospreay defeated “Speedball” Mike Bailey
This was originally slated for the inaugural Impact x NJPW Multiverse United PPV, but Ospreay had to pull out with a shoulder injury. This is their fourth-ever meeting, but the first outside the UK. Ospreay has won all of them to date.
His NJPW UK/US title was not on the line here. He is scheduled to wrestle as part of Impact’s UK tour for one date for what it’s worth.
From the start, this had the big fight feeling as the fans kicked it up a notch. Both men were going 100mph at the onset, eventually slowing the pace down for. like, a minute or so. An Ospreay chop knocked Bailey to the floor. However, Bailey avoided a dive, jumped on the top rope, and nailed Ospreay with a twisting leap.
These two continued to have ridiculous sequences where just as one guy got the advantage, another rallied to regain it like when Ospreay hit an Os Cutter on the ring apron. As Bailey barely made it back in, he hit another one that got two. Later, the two had an incredible “you frickin’ gotta see this” kicking exchange that ended with a Hidden Blade out of nowhere.
Bailey nearly got the win on multiple occasions, including off an Ultimo Weapon and Meteor Rain (flipping fisherman’s buster off the top). Ospreay matched him with a Styles Clash and a Storm Driver ’93. Ospreay followed with another Hidden Blade and a Storm Breaker to get the win to close an excellent match.
As much as Ospreay has got his flowers for being so god damn good at this, Bailey has earned the right to make his name on an even bigger stage.
Jordynne Grace won the 20-person Call Your Shot gauntlet match
For the uninitiated, this is an intergender match where two wrestlers start and another one enters after two minutes. The final two then go heads up to determine the winner. Eliminations are over the top rope. The winner earns an Impact title shot of their choosing anytime, anywhere over the next year.
Jake Something and Eddie Edwards (the 2020 winner) kicked things off followed by Kenny King (3), complete with a cape. Who doesn’t love a good cape in pro wrestling? Edwards and King used to be in the Honor No More faction and teamed up on Something.
Juventud Guerrera (!) was the fourth entrant, followed by Johnny Swinger (5). Guerrera eliminated King after a sequence and after Swinger randomly hugged the former WCW star, Crazzy Steve attacked both men with a Fest or Fired briefcase. Gisele Shaw (6) came out as security got Steve out of there. Shaw then got Swinger out of there as Steve threatened to attack Swinger with a fork. Tommy Dreamer then emerged to run Steve off as they brawled throughout the crowd.
Jody Threat (7) was up next as these entrances definitely didn’t feel like two minutes each. KiLynn King (8) entered as we’re on a run of female entrants. Guerrera was eliminated by Edwards after stupidly jumping on the ring apron after a move. That led to the debuting Sonny King (9) who tossed Shaw out of the ring.
About 30 seconds later, Bully Ray (10) entered the fray. he immediately squared up with King in a sentence I never thought I’d write in 2023. King danced, Ray danced and then, nothing happened. Matt Cardona (11) returned which led to Ray teaming with King to do the Whazzup drop on the “Indy God.”
Jordynne Grace (12) went face-to-face with old rival Ray, but that got dissipated quickly. Eric Young (13) was up pretty quickly after as these entrance times are all over the frickin’ place. He eventually eliminated Young as Joe Hendry (14) was up next followed by Brian Myers (15). He tossed out Hendry quickly and after hugging Cardona, they tossed out a charging Kiss.
Heath (16) was up next and delivered a slew of Wake Up Calls before getting tossed by Myers. Kazarian (17) and Rich Swann (18) were in next as the ring continued to fill up. Jonathan Gresham (19) came in and got his first elimination on Threat and then got into it with his wife, Grace.
Dirty Dango (20) was the final entrant and was tossed out by Dango virtually the second he got in the ring. Oleg Prudius (the former Kozlov in WWE and Dango’s second) then got in the ring and laid out some wrestlers before security tossed him. Cardona and Myers tossed Kazarian as Gresham and Grace tried to eliminate each other.
Swann got tossed and then Young got eliminated by Cardona and Myers. Something got rid of Gresham and then went on a run against Cardona and Myers, but a Myers low blow led to his elimination. Cardona then eliminated Myers in a surprise, giving us our final four. Grace eliminated Cardona while Ray took out King, leaving us with Ray and Grace to determine the winner. Again, a sentence I didn’t think I’d type in 2023.
Ray’s power was too much early on, but he kept missing big moves. Grace eventually hit a Grace Driver to get the pin and win, becoming the first women’s wrestler to win it. She then wasted no time in calling her shot: a Knockouts title match at January’s Hard to Kill. Hey now!
This was a fun 30 minutes with some surprises and twists.
Knockouts Champion Trinity defeated Mickie James to retain
If you’re reading this, you know James never lost the title in the ring and had to vacate the gold earlier this year due to multiple injuries. Trinity has been on a run since debuting with the company in June, defeating Deonna Purrazzo for the title. This a first time ever bout and one has added intrigue considering James’ husband now works on Fridays for WWE.
After the last two matches, the crowd was tired for this early on. An interesting sequence woke them up with Trinity shaking her butt in James’ face in the corner which James retorted to with a lewd gesture to show she was up for it. Or, something like that.
This was entertaining when it was all said and done. After a sequence, Trinity eventually got the tap off her Starstruck submission, reapplying it twice for more leverage. I think this Impact run has been a good experience for Trinity. While she could make her way back to WWE at some point, this run on her own will pay dividends down the road.
– Moose said that no matter what, he is going to walk out of Hard to Kill as the Impact World Champion. He owns one of the Feast or Fired briefcases, you see.
Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defeated Josh Alexander to retain
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but this was a competitive match. The backstory is that Alexander, like James, had to relinquish the title earlier this year due to injury. Shelley defeated Steve Maclin, whom Alexander was set to defend against in April, in June and has defended it ever since.
Shelley worked over Alexander’s surgically repaired arm and also his fingers for some time with Alexander eventually locking in a Bret Hart-esque figure four around the outside ring post to temporarily regain advantage. The injured arm was the focus because even with surgery, it never truly has healed, right?
The closing stretch saw Alexander attempting to ensnare the ankle lock and a leg lock with Shelley escaping and slapping Alexander’s head gear off. Shelley hit Shellshock, but didn’t go for the pin right away and kicked Alexander’s mouthpiece out with a superkick followed by another Shellshock for the definitive pin and win. So, there you go.
Alexander will now face Ospreay at the Bound for Glory TV taping Sunday while we don’t know what is next for Shelley.
Then, we got the most surprising news of the night: Impact is rebranding as TNA starting with January’s Hard to Kill. Yes, you read that right and there’s a video to prove it:
TNA IS BACK!
TNA Wrestling RETURNS starting from Hard To Kill on January 13 LIVE on PPV from the Palms in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/2qyaiDxvKI
Alex Shelley vs. Jonathan Gresham will be taking place at Impact’s TV tapings in Cicero, Illinois on Sunday, October 22. If Shelley is still champion, his Impact World title will be on the line in the match.
Shelley is defending the Impact World Championship against Josh Alexander in the main event of Bound for Glory on Saturday, October 21. The pay-per-view is being held in Cicero as well.
Alexander vs. Will Ospreay is also set to take place at the October 22 tapings. That will be an Impact World Championship match if Alexander wins the title from Shelley at Bound for Glory.
Shelley became Impact World Champion by defeating Steve Maclin this June. In March, Alexander had to vacate the title due to a torn triceps. Alexander made his return at July’s Slammiversary PPV.
The updated card for Impact’s Bound for Glory fallout tapings is listed below:
Josh Alexander vs. Will Ospreay
The Rascalz (Trey Miguel, Zachary Wentz & Myron Reed) vs. Black Taurus, Laredo Kid & Juventud Guerrera
The Impact World title will be on the line at the company’s 1000th episode of Impact Wrestling on AXS TV in addition to a tag team match featuring two of the company’s Hall of Famers.
Announced Wednesday, current titleholder Alex Shelley will put the title on the line against former X-Division Champion and current Tag Team Champion Trey Miguel who is looking for his first Impact World title. This is his first Impact World title opportunity since July 2020.
The episode is being filmed at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York on Saturday, September 9th, to air the following Thursday.
This will be their fourth-ever singles match and the first in Impact since May 2022. Miguel is 2-1 against Shelley with all matches taking place in 2022.
Unless he defends at Victory Road the night before, Shelley will be looking for the fifth defense of the title he won at June’s Against All Odds.
Announced on Busted Open Radio Wednesday, former Knockouts Champion and Impact Hall of Famer Gail Kim will make her return to the ring for the first time since 2019’s Rebellion.
Later on, it was revealed that Kim, a current Impact executive, will team with former rival and fellow Hall of Famer Awesome Kong, challenging “any Knockout past or present to either stand with them or against them.”
BREAKING: If @MeanQueenK is returning to the ring at #IMPACT1000, SO IS @gailkimITSME! Gail and Kong will UNITE on Sept. 9 in White Plains, NY and Gail has invited any Knockout past or present to either stand with them or against them!
The Knockouts title will be on the line in the headliner for Sunday’s Emergence streaming special from Impact Wrestling.
After defeating Deonna Purrazzo for the gold at July’s Slammiversary, Trinity will defend for the first time and against the former champion in a rematch.
Impact World Champion Alex Shelley will be in eight-man tag team action as he teams with former champion Josh Alexander, KUSHIDA & Chris Sabin against Bully Ray, Moose, Brian Myers & Lio Rush.
Impact Tag Team Champions Subculture (Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews) will defend against The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) while the Knockouts Tag Team Champions MK Ultra (Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly) will defend in a four-way.
IWGP World Champion and former X-Division Champion SANADA will make his return to Impact as he faces Jake Something in a non-title match.
The rest of the card from Toronto features a Kenny King Digital Media title defense, a no DQ battle between Eric Young and Deaner and more.
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Mike Bailey defeated Alan Angels
This match was awesome, and they will be hard pressed to have a better one on the main card.
Mike Bailey was very over with this Canadian audience for Impact Emergence. Bailey took most of the early portions of the match, hitting kicks, a triangle moonsault to the floor, and many other fast paced moves. Angels managed to trap Bailey’s head in the top turnbuckle, but instead of the superkick to the face, Angels hit a dropkick. Angels and Bailey then exchanged a series of strikes, which included an awesome spinning kick from Bailey, before Angels hit a lariat and both men were down.
Angels went to the top rope, but Bailey cut him off. Angels trapped the head in the turnbuckle again, but Bailey fought out. Angels pulled Bailey from the top rope, sending him crashing back first onto the turnbuckles. Angels then hit a frog splash and a twisting butterfly suplex for a 2-count. Angels went for a it a second time, but Bailey back body dropped Angels and hit a moonsault into double knees on Angels.
Bailey missed a tornado kick but managed to hit a standing Spanish fly on Angels for a 2-count. Angels went behind Bailey and snapped his neck like a movie neck break. This did not break Bailey’s neck and kill him, thankfully. Bailey hit a tornado kick in the corner before hitting Ultima weapon for the win.
while Canada was not. This got heat in Canada, as America is the foreign heel outside of the US.
This led to Joe Hendry and Yuya Uemura making their entrance to a brand new theme played by and produced by Joe Hendry. Hendry and Uemura came out with matching gear and danced like a boy band down to the ring, and it was incredible.
JoYa (Joe Hendry & Yuya Uemura) defeated The Good Hands (Jason Hotch & John Skylar)
This was a ton of fun, and there is absolutely a tag team title run in waiting for Hendry and Uemura eventually. It must happen.
Hendry and Uemura were very over with the audience, easily getting the crowd behind them no matter what they did in this one. It was not long before Hotch and Skylar were getting the heat on Uemura. Hendry kept getting fired up and trying to save his partner, but the official kept cutting him off. However, this referee was a smart one, and she noticed that Hotch and Skylar changed places without tagging, and demanded they switch, which allowed Uemura to recover enough to escape their grasp and tag out to Hendry.
Hendry sent Hotch into a front facelock by his own partner, and then hit a neckbreaker on Skylar to drive Hotch down with a DDT. Hendry then picked up Skylar in a running powerslam position and launched him into a cutter from Uemura for the 3-count.
Impact Emergence 2023 Main Card
–The show opened with a very nice tribute picture to Terry Funk and Windham Rotunda before having a 10-bell salute.
Eric Young defeated Deaner (w/ Kon) in a No DQ match
Young hit the ropes as the match started and hit a tope suicida to the floor on Kon. Young pulled a ladder out from under the ring and hit Kon with it before coming back in the ring. Young dumped Deaner onto the ladder, but as Young hit the ropes, Deaner responded with a drop toe hold that sent Young face first onto the ladder. Kon pulled the ladder through the ropes while Young was on it, sending him crashing to the floor.
Deaner hit Young with some cookie sheets in the ring. Deaner grabbed a staple gun and tried to use it on Young. Young tried to fight out of it, so Deaner raked his eyes and stapled the hand of Young. Deaner sent Young into a chair in the corner. On the outside, Kon got involved again, but Young managed to handcuff him to the corner. Young stapled the hand of Deaner, and was about to piledrive him on a pair of chairs, but Kon ripped and broke the handcuffs, came into the ring, and chokeslammed Young through the chairs for a 2-count.
Deaner tried to get Kon to help him with a spike piledriver, but Young fought out and hit a Death Valley Driver on both men onto a barbed wire board before hitting a piledriver on Deaner on the board for the win.
–Gia Miller was backstage interviewing Joe Hendry & Yuya Uemura and Uemura asked if Gia could give him a JoYa, and Gia proceeded to sing it with gusto. This was great.
–We got a video of Taylor Wilde sitting on the floor as doctors checked on her, and KiLynn King blamed Jody Threat for it. Threat denied it. Santino showed up and made them a team to replace Wilde, while calling Threat “Jody Treats.”
Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Champions MK Ultra (Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly) defeated Death Dollz (Jessicka & Courtney Rush), Jody Threat & KiLynn King, & Gisele Shaw & Savannah Evans
This wasn’t too bad, and was given enough time for the fans to get into it, especially with getting the heat on Kelly. MK Ultra is a great team, and Impact is doing a great job establishing them.
Shaw and Slamovich started the match, but the action got particularly violent once Slamovich and King were in the ring beating on each other. King and Kelley ended up in the ring, but the Death Dollz baited King in and tagged in on King, letting Jessicka hit a running crossbody on Kelly, but she missed the Evans blind tagged in. Shawn and Evans then targeted Kelly, getting the heat.
King managed to tag back in and resume beating on Kelly. Threat asked for the tag, but King kept refusing. Threat protested again, and King tagged her hard, so Threat continued working over Kelly. Threat hit a German suplex on Kelly before tagging out to Rush, and cheering before realizing that King was her partner, and not Death Dollz.
The announcers noted this was the second time Death Dollz lured an opponent in for a tag. Kelly managed to hit a double DDT on Death Dollz and the tag was made to Masha Slamovich, who started murdering everyone. As Slamovich was taking everyone out, Rush rolled her up for a 2-count. Everyone started hitting big moves after this, ending with Kelly dumping Threat to the floor with a lariat. After clearing the ring MK Ultra hit what looked like a double team Ganso bomb/Kawada driver for the win.
–Johnny Swinger was with Gia Miller, and he called her Vanna, before saying that he told Greg Gagne to take a year off and come back as a tag rope, and asked Miller to smarten him up to “this internet gimmick”. Miller then asked if Swinger had what it took to win, and Swinger suddenly got serious, saying he has wondered that since he was 12 and his uncle was wrestling in Maple Leaf Gardens. He said that he used to sleep in ring trucks and setup the ring before he broke in, and that he was going to win tonight because it all came to this for him. This was actually awesome.
Impact Digital Media Champion Kenny King (w/ Sheldon Jean) defeated Johnny Swinger
I wanted Swinger to win this match so badly, and it made me sad that he lost here.
King was surprisingly aggressive in this match, but soon paid for it, as Swinger kicked the middle rope into King’s lower regions. Swinger then said he was going to use his head and fell over hitting a headbutt to the breadbasket. King didn’t go down for a shoulder tackle, and Swinger protested. King told him to stay there, and they hit the ropes and did a crisscross until Swinger jumped over a drop down and hit an elbow.
King distracted the referee, allowing Sheldon Jean to choke Swinger on the ropes. Swinger ended up hitting a slingshot into a flipping leg drop on King, which was entirely unexpected. Swinger said he was going to go for a dive, and King was pulled out of the way by Jean. Swinger went to the top rope, and Jean got on the apron to try and get involved, and as he jumped off he shoved the ropes and Swinger crashed on the ropes. The referee ejected Jean, and as she was doing that, Heath ran in and hit a Wake Up Call on King. Swinger then went to the top rope to try a moonsault, but King cut him off and hit the Royal Flush for the win.
–King and Jean continued beating down Swinger after the match. Tommy Dreamer and security came out to defend Swinger, and King laid out Dreamer. I am not a fan of this transition unless Swinger and Dreamer become a team and Dreamer helps him win this Digital Media title.
–Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Josh Alexander, and KUSHIDA were backstage talking about how Bully Ray, Moose, Lio Rush, and Brian Myers were facing them tonight. KUSHIDA promised that they would not escape.
The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachery Wentz) defeated Subculture (Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster) (w/ Dani Luna) to become the Impact World Tag Team Champions
This match was awesome. A little overbooked with false finishes, but it was excellent. I expected the Rascalz to win here, and it was the right call for now. Subculture are definitely an act that Impact should keep using though, as they are consistently great.
Miguel and Andrews started the match, with Miguel surprisingly engaging in the ground game with Andrews. Andrews can high fly well, but the ground game usually goes far for those trained in the British style, and Andrews did not disappoint, hitting a dead arm drag on Miguel. Wentz pulled Miguel from the ring to help them reset. The reset worked and the Rascalz were able to isolate Flash Morgan Webster and get the heat on him for several minutes.
Wentz almost got a kimura on Webster, but Webster made it to the ropes to escape, Miguel hit a back suplex onto the apron on Webster before hitting a slingshot senton from the apron to the inside. Wentz hit a double stomp to the arm of Webster, continuing where he left off with the submission.
Webster managed to kick away from Wentz and tag out to Andrews, who ran wild taking both men out, and then Subculture hit stereo tope con giros to the floor on both men. Webster missed a 450 splash, but rolled through and tagged out to Andrews, who hit a double team blue thunder bomb on Miguel for a 2-count.
Both teams exchanged strikes in the middle of the ring until Subculture hit stereo headbutts, but then all 4 kicked up, and The Rascalz hit a spectacular series of kicks. Miguel and Wentz went for a double team move where Miguel did a moonsault and Wentz shoved him in midair into landing on Webster. However, he got the knees up and a Canadian destroyer was hit. Subculture missed a tope, letting the Rascalz hit hot fire & flame from the ramp to the floor onto both men.
Miguel hit a Cross Rhodes on Andrews but it was broken up. While Miguel sprayed Andrews with paint, ABC came down to keep The Rascalz from cheating to win. The Good Hands came down and everyone brawled around until Dani Luna hit a crossbody off the top rope onto the Good Hands. Andrews hit Miguel with the Stundog Millionaire and Webster hit a senton for a 2-count. Wentz ran in and they isolated Webster again and hit a double stomp into burning hammer on Webster for the win.
Bully Ray, Brian Myers, Moose, and Lio Rush were backstage and Ray was thrilled about Rush being there, saying that he was smiling because he was glad to finally be on their side. Ray said he was now included in the group text, and Rush said that he had always been ready, but he wondered if Bully Ray was because of PCO. Moose said not to worry about that, and that they were all scumbags while Rush was a scumbag in training.
–We saw Deonna Purrazzo & Trinity preparing for their match.
Eddie Edwards defeated Frankie Kazarianin a Back to School match
This would have been much better as a live match, but honestly, it wasn’t bad. I hope their next match is live and given time, as they’re both great workers.
When the announcers pitched to the match, they had tech trouble and couldn’t get the video to play right away. We saw Kazarian entering the school with a voice over from an old Killer Kowalski promo before entering the school. It fade to Eddie Edwards pulling up to the school with a Jeep the same colour as he green gear. Colour coordination in the heel here, while the same nostalgic music played.
Edwards paused at the same places Kazarian did, noting the photographs of their trainer, and the one signed to Kazarian. The music then got serious as they both entered the gym. Kazarian tried to explain what happened with him accidentally hitting Alisha Edwards. Edwards asked if it hurt Kazarian when he beat Bobby Lashley for the Impact title, or when he became the first foreigner to win the GHC championship in NOAH, rather than him. Edwards than sat in Kowalski’s chair, essentially saying that he was the true successor to their trainer.
Kazarian hit a cheap shot and they got into the ring and started fighting. Kazarian dumped Edwards to the floor but ate a drop toe hold into Kowalski’s chair from Edwards. Kazarian used the gym equipment to hit a hurricanrana on Edwards before throwing him into a pillar. Kazarian hit a springboard leg drop before going for the chicken wing. Edwards fought out and hit a backpack stunner for a 2-count. Edwards went for a Tiger driver, but Kazarian hit an inverted piledriver. Alisha Edwards came in and distracted Kazarian at this point, letting Edwards hit the Boston Knee Party for the win. He then kissed his wife over Kowalski’s chair and left.
Kazarian sadly went back to the photo table, and Alisha Edwards hit Kazarian with a kendo stick while Edwards taunted him, calling him a failure. Eddie Edwards then broke the photo Kazarian brought to the gym over Kazarian’s head, leaving him laying.
SANADA (Just 5 Guys) defeated Jake Something
This was a very good match, with SANADA being treated as a star by the Impact audience and Something looking like he could keep up with the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Something didn’t win, but he definitely walked out of this with higher stock. SANADA also got a bit of a nice homecoming with Impact, since he spent his excursion there.
SANADA entered wearing his Great Muta tribute gear. It wasn’t long into the match before SANADA tied Something up in the ropes with the paradise lock. SANADA hit a dropkick to release him and then a few elbows. Something flipped backwards out of a back suplex and then hit a Vader body press and a clothesline for a 2-count.
Matt Rehwoldt noted that Something would get a championship opportunity at the IWGP World Heavyweight Champinship if he beat SANADA. You can take the man out of WWE, but it’s harder to take the WWE speak out of the man. To his credit, Hannifan called the title a belt after this though, so take that Vince McMahon!
SANADA hit a plancha to the floor on Something, which got the crowd on their feet. SANADA hit a forearm from the apron but missed a dive off the top ropes, causing him to roll through and end up in the opposite corner, with no time before Something hit a huge spear in the corner on SANADA. SANADA managed to hit the ropes and float over from a Destino into a skull end on Something. Something managed to power out, but SANADA hit a magic whip on Something.
SANADA hit a TKO on Something, but Something kicked out at 2. SANADA then followed up with a big moonsault, but Something kicked out again to the surprise of the fans. SANADA almost hit deadfall, but Something countered out and then caught a moonsault attempt with a Greetings from Asbury Park for a 2-count.
SANADA hit a dropkick, and tried to hit a hurricanrana, but Something rolled through it, hanging onto SANADA’s leg, and hitting a powerbomb for 2. The crowd started to get into Something more here, beyond just cheering SANADA, which I think is the point of this match. Something went for into the void, but SANADA hit an enziguri and a shining wizard before going for deadfall again, but Something powered out yet again and hit a big right hand on SANADA. Something went for into the void again, but SANADA quickly countered into deadfall for the win.
Josh Alexander & Time Machine (Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, & KUSHIDA) defeated Bully Ray, Lio Rush, Moose, & Myers
I’m really not sure about pinning Alexander right now when you’re probably warming him up to face Shelley, but they got time to warm him up again before Bound for Glory in October. This was a fun, but definitely overbooked, tag match. That said, it was still quite good.
Ray, rather nicely, said into the camera during his entrance, “God bless the Funker, and God bless the Fiend” before going right back into character and hugging Lio Rush, which Rush did not look thrilled about.
Myers spent the early parts of the match getting beaten up by the entire babyface turn, which is his role, and Shelley continued working over the arm like he did on Impact on Thursday. Myers protested this attack, as one does, and tagged out to Moose. Moose then pointed at Alexander. Alexander put Moose in the tree of woe and then did the “O Canada” that Petey Williams used to do.
Sabin tagged in and went to the top rope, but Bully Ray cut him off and tagged in. The announcers noted how Ray hated Sabin since Sabin beat him for the Impact World Championship years ago. The announcers speculated that this was only a team for Ray until something more valuable was presented to him, which is actually a great point about his character. It’s a little thing, but a way for new viewers to become acquainted with characters. Really good job by Rehwoldt here.
Ray decided to pull a table out despite this being a normal tag match. Josh Alexander responded to Ray by pulling out a table of his own. Sabin went for a sunset flip on Myers, but Myers tagged out to Moose before the move was hit and was able to resume beating on Sabin. Nice little spot to keep the heat. Sabin managed to hit an enziguri on Myers, which finally let him tag out to Alexander who suplexed everyone all over the ring, including catching Rush as he went for Rush Hour.
Moose tried to powerbomb Alexander, but Alexander countered and tried for a C4 Spike. Moose countered out and ran up the ropes to try and hit his crossbody, but Alexander dodged and locked on an ankle lock. Myers ran all the way around the ring, climbed the ropes, and hit a flying elbow on the referee to save Moose.
Time Machine took out Myers with a triple kick in the corner. Sabin tried to hit a suicide dive on Moose, but Moose caught him and hit a uranage through the table that Ray setup earlier. That looked brutal, as the table broke in several places and Sabin went through it like butter. Moose fought off the hoverboard lock from KUSHIDA and walked him around the ring to place him on the other table allowing Rush to hit the Final Hour off the top rope to the floor through the table.
Ray then went directly after Shelley, and asked for another table from Moose. Ray went to powerbomb Sabin off the ramp and through the table, but Shelley tried to fight back, hitting a superkick on Moose. Right as Ray cut him off and went for the powerbomb though, the lights went out and came back up with PCO fighting with Ray on the ramp.
PCO then tried to chokeslam Ray off the ramp and through the table, but Myers made another save, low blowing PCO. Ray, Moose, and Myers then powerbombed PCO off the stage through the table, but PCO immediately sat up and no sold it and the crowd roared. That was awesome. As PCO chased after Bully Ray, Steve Maclin ran in and took out PCO from behind before brawling with Alexander. Unfortunately, as this happened, the camera caught PCO just standing up and walking off stage casually.
Security ran out to break them up, as they continued to try and brawl. Everyone seemed to forget there was a match going on, and again, to the credit of the announcers, they pointed this out. Alexander walked back to the ring and got hit with a uranage from Moose. Moose missed a spear, but got his feet on the ropes for a pinfall attempt. Alexander kicked out. Shelley and Alexander crashed into each other when Myers shoved Alexander, leading to Shelley and Alexander arguing. Alexander turned around and got hit with a spear from Moose, and managed to get the pin.
–Impact aired a video, showing that Jordynne Grace was returning to Impact at Victory Road. It seems she has signed with Impact again.
Impact Knockouts World Champion Trinity defeated Deonna Purrazzo to retain
This was a decent match. Trinity’s in ring still isn’t quite there, but that doesn’t really matter if you are over, and she absolutely is. She comes across as a star, and she is so easy to root for, so all of that overcomes a lot. This was still a perfectly fine match, and both women worked very hard, and I’m happy to see them both be highlighted as a main event act. You have to think Trinity vs. Jordynne Grace will happen down the line with Grace coming back to Impact as well.
Gail Kim joined the commentary team for the match, talking about her own history with both Trinity and Purrazzo, back to the start of their careers. Purrazzo took down Trinity, but Trinity managed to hit an axe kick, and also two kicks from the ropes on Purrazzo. Purrazzo slowed it down after this for the next few minutes, taking it to the mat. Both went down with a double clothesline, and I think one fan screamed “Double clothesline!” ala MJF/Cole, which made me chuckle.
Trinity was able to get back on top with a Samoan drop and then a crossbody off the top rope for a 2-count. Purrazzo went right to the arm of Trinity, hitting a Pentagon Jr. style arm breaker on Trinity before hitting a Russian legsweep and floating over into a Fujiwara armbar. Trinity managed to make it to the ropes to break the submission.
Trinity drove Purrazzo face first into the mat and then hit a split legged moonsault for a 2-count. Purrazzo hit a superplex on Trinity, who went back to the top rope. Trinity blocked a strike after an exchange and went for a full nelson bomb, but Purrazzo blocked it. I’m not sure what the next move was, but it got a two count. A sort of flipping STO?
Purrazzo and Trinity ended up back-to-back and stood up leaning on each other. Purrazzo went for the Fujiwara armbar again, but Trinity countered in into starstruck. They were close to the ropes, and the damage done to the arm of Trinity earlier all played into why Purrazzo was able to escape. Trinity blocked Queen’s Gambit and then hit the full nelson bomb for a 2-count. Trinity tried to hit a full nelson bomb off the ropes, but Purrazzo managed to puller her down back into an armbar, but Trinity countered again, hit a Code Red, and locked on Starstruck right out of it, forcing the tap out for the win. The show faded away as Trinity celebrated.
–The show then closed with Impact announced that Will Ospreay was returning to Impact Wrestling on October 21 for Bound for Glory!
Final Thoughts
This was a fun show, overall. It will be greatly overshadowed by the phenomenal AEW All In earlier today, but Impact still delivered a quality outing here. They are definitely starting to setup the card for Bound for Glory, and starting to put all the pieces together. Where they struggled in the early part of the year with some of what they are doing, they seem to be in a much better place now, selling out shows, and generating some buzz online. This was another easy thumbs up show.
For the second time, Impact Wrestling and NJPW will come together for a co-promoted event as part of Multiverse United 2 from the famed 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The show will feature three title matches, headlined by Impact World Champion Alex Shelley, who will defend his title against former IWGP Heavyweight Champion and wrestling legend Hiroshi Tanahashi.
In another, NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Giulia will make her debut in this series as she defends against Deonna Purrazzo, Gisele Shaw and Momo Kohgo in a four-way.
X-Division Champion Lio Rush will team with former champion Trey Miguel to battle IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi & Mike Bailey.
In another fast-paced affair, it will be Chris Sabin vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Rich Swann vs. Kevin Knight vs. BUSHI vs. Mao vs. El Desperado in a seven-way scramble
NJPW TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. will team with Shane Haste to battle Moose & Eddie Edwards.
Other featured matches include Bullet Club vs. The World in a 12-man tag, Impact Digital Media Champion Kenny King defending against Yoshinobu Kanemaru and more.
Uemura and Hendry did a dramatic pose at the end of Hendry’s music, and Taguchi wandered into the shot and gave a thumbs up before Wato and Romero also joined in. I already love this match. Romero and Heath started the match as the announcers talked about Romero’s recent exploits and success in CMLL.
Romero hit a hurricanrana on Heath and tagged out to Taguchi, and Taguchi posed on the middle ropes preparing for his Funky Weapon to be used. Unfortunately, he wasn’t looking at who ran into him, and did not realize that Heath sent Romero into his posterior. Not to be deterred by this, Taguchi continued utilizing his Funky Weapon on Hendry and Heath before tagging out to Wato, who Hendry lariated to death.
Wato sent Heath crashing into Hendry and hit a move on both men before hitting a hurricanrana on Uemura. Wato, Romero, and Taguchi all hit planchas to the floor. Wato attempted to springboard into the ring, but Heath cut him off and beat Wato around ringside before tagging out to Hendry.
Hendry hit a stalling vertical suplex on Wato for a 2-count. Uemura slammed Wato and tagged out to Heath. Wato actually hit a wake up call on Hendry and tagged out to Romero, who hit two forever clotheslines on him. Hendry blocked the third and hit a fallaway slam on Romero and Wato at the same time.
Taguchi missed a Funky Weapon attack on Uemura, and Uemura hit the ropes and hit a hard forearm and bulldog on Taguchi. Uemura hit a huge uranage on Tauguchi and a crossbody for the pinfall.
Impact Digital Media Champion Kenny King defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (Just 5 Guys) to retain
Good match, though hurt by it being two heels and the fans not really knowing who Kanemaru is (which is a shame, because he’s really good).
Kanemaru and King did crisscross in the middle of the ring before Kanemaru dropkicked King right in the knee to take the bigger man down. Kanemaru continued his basic offence with headlock takeovers until King raked the eyes and necked Kanemaru on the ropes. Kanemaru hit an inverted DDT on King to make a bit of a comeback, before missing a moonsault, but landing on his feet and hitting the ropes right away before nailing a tornado DDT for a 2-count.
Kanemaru went for the moonsault a second time, but only got a 2-count. Kanemaru hit an enziguri on King and then tried to spit whisky into the face of King, but King dodged and hit an Eddy Gordo kick before hitting a royal flush for the win.
Impact x NJPW Multiverse United II Main Card
Chris Sabin defeated MAO, Kevin Knight, Rich Swann, YOH (CHAOS), BUSHI (LIJ), Frankie Kazarian and El Desperado (Strong Style) in a scramble match
Great match here to open the show, with all eight men being given a shot to shine. Sabin winning was probably the right call.
All eight men did a lock up, creating a huddle, before there were 4 headlocks, and then 4 planchas to the floor, with Kevin Knight looking like he landed face first on the floor. MAO faced off with Swann alone in the ring, cartwheeling over MAO and hitting a kick. YOH came in and took it to Swann, hitting a drop toe hold and a dropkick.
Knight came back in and dropped YOH with a hip toss into a cartwheel and dropkick. Sabin sneaked back into the ring and hit a Manhattan drop and a European uppercut in the corner. Desperado and MAO ended up in the ring, and Desperado offered a handshake and forearmed Desperado right in the face to the delight of the crowd.
7 men all locked submissions on each other, and BUSHI ran around the ring trying to figure out who to lock a submission on, before deciding on YOH and falling back into the ropes to break the submission. All 7 men then beat on BUSHI for his lack of assistance towards any of them. Desperado and MAO tried to hit a superplex on Swann, but Kazarian and Sabin hit a tower of doom power bomb on the 3 men, letting Knight hit a huge splash on Swann for a 2-count.
MAO was making himself a star in this, as all 8 men entered a scramble with MAO hitting a cutter before others hit a series of moves. Sabin hit a flatliner on Knight while hitting a DDT on YOH and a cradle shock for the win.
BUSHI went to shake hands with Sabin, but spit black poison mist into Sabin’s face.
Moose & Eddie Edwards Zack Sabre Jr. & Shane Haste (TMDK)
Sabre was very over when he came out as the fans sung his name. Edwards and ZSJ started the match with a great technical exchange, but Sabre soon made him pay like everyone else does too, tearing at the arm of Edwards before tagging out to Haste, who hit a dropkick to the head on Edwards for a 2-count.
ZSJ tagged back in and proceeded to tie Edwards up and work over the arm, tagging out again to Haste. Edwards did manage to hit a backpack stunner on Haste, and Moose got a 2-count out of it. Moose held the arms of Haste back before hitting a brutal chop that dropped Haste to the mat. Moose and Edwards kept control of Haste, beating him down with hard strikes.
Haste managed to hit a hurricanrana on Edwards and tagged out to ZSJ. ZSJ then locked on an octopus stretch on Edwards, but Edwards fought out. Edwards was quickly trapped in a submission again by Sabre, then he kicked Moose in the face which just made him angry. Moose charged at Edwards but ZSJ pulled the ropes down and sent him crashing to the floor before hitting a PK from the apron.
Edwards and Sabre exchanged chops and kicks, ending with Edwards hitting a blue thunder bomb and both men were down. Haste and Moose tagged in and started brawling. Haste hit a big cannonball in the corner for a 2-count. Moose hit a big uranage and then a pump kick on Sabre, but Sabre responded with a tornado DDT on Moose while Edwards ran in and hit a lariat on Sabre.
Moose and Haste got up and started exchanging forearms. Haste went for the dynamic bomb, but Moose countered into a powerbomb of his own. Haste rolled through and Moose flew into a flying triangle choke from Sabre. Sabre, while being held by Moose in the air, switched to a rear naked choke which allowed Haste to hit a flying knee on Moose to drop him. Moose missed a spear and Haste got a 2-count with a roll up. Moose managed to hit a spear on Haste for the pinfall.
NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Giulia (Donna del Mondo) defeated Momo Kohgo (Stars), Deonna Purrazzo & Gisele Shaw to retain
Giulia and Kohgo came across as massive stars to this audience, with Giulia, in particular, looking incredible. This match was 100% designed to get Giulia over to American audiences. This was great.
Shaw and Kohgo were headlocked by Purrazo and Giulia respectively, before Giulia and Purrazzo tried to face off to a great reaction from the audience. Gisele Shaw took credit for women’s wrestling, but then ate a dropkick to the face from Giulia. Giulia used Kohgo as a weapon to kick Purrazzo before hitting a backsuplex for a 2-count.
Kohgo ran up the ropes and hit a crossbody on Giulia for a 2-count. Shaw broke up a second pinfall attempt. Purrazzo hit a Russian leg sweep on Shaw before going for the Queen’s Gambit, but Shaw fought out. Purrazzo hit the ropes, but Giulia puled her from the ring, letting Kohgo hitting a crossbody off the top rope onto both Giulia and Purrazzo.
Shaw tried to hit a dive to the floor, but fell a little short, crashing into the apron and then falling onto the others. A few fans chanted something very rude but were silenced by the rest of the audience. Who would have thought that would happen in the ECW Arena in 2023? All 4 wrestlers hit a series of move before falling to the mat, and struggling to get to their feet before brawling back and forth.
Giulia and Kohgo had a brief alliance before Purrazzo and Shaw broke it up, leading to Shaw kicking Purrazzo on the top ropes. Shaw managed to hit a Spanish fly on Purrazzo, but it was broken up by Kohgo and Giulia. Kohgo hit a tornado DDT on Shaw but ate a drop toe hold into the corner and a Saito suplex by Giulia. Purrazzo rushed in and hit the Queen’s Gambit on Giulia, but Giulia kicked out.
Purrazzo locked an armbar on Giulia while Shaw locked one on Kohgo, and they started kicking each other while holding the submission. This turned into an all out brawl with Purrazzo. Shaw hit a spinebuster on Kohgo, but soon ate a Northern Lights Bomb from Giulia on Shaw for the win.
Kohgo attacked Giulia after the match but ate the Glorious Bomb for her attack.
Sami Callihan defeated Douki (Just 5 Guys) in a South Philly Street Fight
If you like hardcore matches, this is one for you. Good match here, and Douki really did get over with the audience, especially with that last near fall.
Sami Callhian grabbed the mic before the match and said that they were missing something tonight, thinking they were missing some extreme violence in the ECW Arena. He then suggested they have a hardcore match, and Douki agreed, hitting an enziguri on Callihan and a tope suicida. Douki grabbed a chair and started beating on Callihan.
Callihan caught Douki as he tried to charge and hit a Death Valley Driver on the floor. Callihan threw chairs into the ring, and the fans chanted “Just 5 Chairs!” but Callihan laughed and threw a sixth chair in. Callihan grabbed his 8×4 photo and gave Douki a papercut on the webbing of his fingers and on his armpit.
Douki hit a throat thrust, but Callihan hit an exploder suplex through a setup chair for a 2-count. Callihan hit Douki with a chair. Callihan put a chair in the corner and tried to send Douki into it. Douki blocked a German suplex and hit an enziguri. Callihan tried to charge Douki, but Douki dropped into a splits and laid facedown on the mat as Callihan flew over him and into the chair lodged in the corner.
Douki pulled out a kendo stick and started hitting Callihan with it. Callihan blocked a shot and stole the cane before posing and screaming “Sandman pose!” Douki blocked the kendo stick shot with a chair and hit a drop toe hold onto the chair before posing like Tommy Dreamer. Douki hit a flying stomp on Callihan as he was covered in chairs for a 2-count.
Douki went for a slingshot DDT, but Callihan caught him and hit a slingshot suplex into a twist and shout on Douki. Callihan setup a ladder in the corner and tried to powerbomb Douki onto it, but Douki countered with a hurricanrana, sending Callihan in face first and hitting the slingshot DDT for a 2-count. Douki put the ladder on Callihan and tried to hit a senton, but Callihan moved and Douki crashed hard into the ladder. Callihan hit a lariat and then the Cactus Driver ‘97 for a 2-count that everyone thought was a finish, including some people chanting rudely at the referee, but he was right.
Callihan setup 4 chairs (Just 4 Chairs?!) and went for the Cactus Driver on the chairs, but Douki fought out. Callihan then grabbed Douki low and hit the Cactus Driver on the chairs for the pinfall.
This was a really good match. Fujita was given a lot of chances to shine and show that he is a young lion on the rise.
Akira & Fujita started the match, exchanging some basic technical wrestling. Fujita hit a big dropkick on Akira before hitting some hard chops. TJP blind tagged in and hit a series of moves with Akira on Fujita. Eagles tagged in and launched himself off the back of Fujita into a dropkick on Akira.
Eagles hit a low dropkick on Akira letting Fujita roll into a leg lock on Akira, who made it to the ropes quickly to escape. Akira hit a hurricanrana on Fujita before TJP grabbed his hand and assisted him in running up the ropes into a dive onto both Eagles and Fujita. Akira responded to a hard chop by Fujita with an even harder one. TJP tagged in and launched Akira from an electric chair into a senton for a 2-count on Fujita.
Eagles put a leg submission on Akira to work him over, leaving him limping. Akira managed to hit a poison rana on Eagles and crawled over to TJP for the hot tag. Akira and TJP hit the Alley Oop while TJP then hit a frog splash for a 2-count on Fujita. Fujita hit a belly-to-belly on TJP for a 2-count. Eagles accidently hit a superkick on his own partner, leading to Catch 22 being able to hit the Knee Knee for the pinfall.
–Speedball Mike Bailey was backstage, talking about his win at the All-Star Junior Festival the night before and how he was going to soon challenge the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi. But for tonight, they will be teaming together against Lio Rush & Trey Miguel.
Bullet Club (Ace Austin, Chris Bey, KENTA, Clark Connors, Alex Coughlin & David Finlay) defeated The World (The DKC, PCO, Josh Alexander, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & El Phantasmo)
I’m a bit surprised that Josh Alexander’s return match was one in a losing capacity, but he was not pinned, so it’s not a big deal. NJPW’s goal is to clearly continuing trying to establish Finlay’s version of Bullet Club as a top heel faction, and this match helped towards that.
David Finlay and Tama Tonga started the match, with Finlay spitting in the face of Tonga, who started brawling immediately. Not long after it broke down to a brawl between everyone on the floor. By the time Tama Tonga and Finlay were back in the ring, PCO tagged in and Finlay backed away and tagged in Alex Coughlin.
PCO and Coughlin exchanged hard chops to the delight of the fans. Coughlin effortlessly hit a wheelbarrow suplex on PCO, but PCO stood up, screamed, and hit a clothesline that took both men to the floor. A brawl broke out between everyone as this happened. The DKC and Clark Connors ended up in the ring, with The DKC hitting a flipping dropkick on Connors, but Connors responded with a big powerslam.
Alexander tagged in and ran wild, suplexing everyone, but was soon overwhelmed by the numbers of the Bullet Club. Ace Austin pulled a card from his sleave and gave a papercut to the webbing of Alexander’s finger. Bullet Club and The World team broke down and brawled all over the place until PCO hit a moonsault over the corner post to the floor on everyone. The DKC then tried to hit a splash on Finlay, but Finlay got his knees up and hit a massive powerbomb for the 3-count.
Both teams continued brawling after the match, but Bullet Club eventually stood tall in the ring.
Trey Miguel & Lio Rush defeated Mike Bailey & Hiromu Takahashi
This was a really good match, with all 4 men looking great, and an unexpected heel win from the X-Division champion. Another Impact star goes over in this. This is making me think Tanahashi has to win in the main event, because NJPW has took a lot of losses on this one.
Bailey and Lio Rush got in the ring and as Bailey offered a handshake to Rush, who slapped him. They then moved so fast that I would have to type around 300 words a minute to keep up. Bailey hit a kick on Rush and got a 2-count. Takahashi and Bailey hit a double dropkick on Rush to the delight of the fans.
Rush and Miguel managed to isolate Takahashi and hit a series of hard ground and pound strikes, only breaking to tag out.
Rush hit a fisherman’s driver on Bailey for a 2-count. Rush hit a dive on Bailey on the floor and both men exchanged kicks in the ring that dropped them both. Miguel and Takahashi exchanged hard chops and uppercuts before Takahashi finally hit a falcon arrow for a 2-count. Miguel and Rush started double teaming Takahashi, with Rush hitting a spinning kick to a downed Takahashi for a 2-count.
Takahashi hit a pop up powerbomb on Miguel, but Miguel countered a superkick from Takahashi into a school boy. Takahashi and Bailey hit double superkicks on Miguel before Takahashi picked up Miguel in a fireman’s carry, and Bailey flew of the ropes with an Ultima Weapon. I was worried this would drive Takahashi face first into the mat, but he seemed to barely avoid that. Regardless, Rush broke up the pinfall attempt. Miguel slid to the floor into a tornado DDT on Bailey while Rush hit a springboard stunner on Takahashi for a 2-count.
Takahashi and Rush spilled to the floor and Takahashi went for the Time Bomb on the floor, but Miguel launched himself off the apron onto the back of Rush into a meteora. Back in the ring, Miguel managed to just distract the referee enough after a Death Valley Driver by Takahashi for Rush to recover and hit a low blow to roll up Takahashi for the win.
Rush grabbed a mic and said that things have changed since the last time him and Takahashi were in the ring, as he had a title of his own now. Rush said it wasn’t enough though, and he wanted more. He wanted the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, and Takahashi appeared to accept the match. Mike Bailey was not happy about this, as Takahashi wanted the match now, but Rush left, saying he had a date elsewhere. It now seems like Rush and Bailey are in competition to see who gets the shot first. Takahashi screamed “YEAH!” and the fans chanted it at him. Gimmick infringement!
Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to retain
I do not say this lightly, but this was the biggest win of Alex Shelley’s career, beating who may be the greatest wrestler of all time. Hiroshi Tanahashi was a key person in the career of Shelley when he was in Japan, and now he got to beat one of his mentors in the main event of a joint PPV between Impact and NJPW. This match was excellent, and Tanahashi had the fans believing he could win, which he always does. If you enjoy a Japanese style main event match, like a G1 main event, you’ll love this match. It would have fit in with almost any of the matches of the G1.
Tanahashi and Shelley started off slow, working a more grounded and technical style. Shelley stopped a corner charge and hit a knee to the arm of Tanahashi off the middle rope while Tanahashi was grabbing the ropes. Shelley began doing what he does best, working over the arm and trying to wear Tanahashi down.
Tanahashi repaid Shelley for the arm attack and went after the knee of Shelley, including working him over on the floor. The fans screamed “One more!” as he stomped Shelley’s knee, so he responded, asking if they wanted one more. They screamed yes at him, and he obliged to a great reaction. Tanahashi is the best, getting the most out of stomping a knee.
Tanahashi sent Shelley into the ring, but Shelley got up quickly and hit a slingshot over the top rope to the apron onto the arm of Tanahashi. Shelley hit a flying knee off the apron and started to attack the arm around the ringpost. Shelley, at this point, essentially started working as the heel in the match as the fans were chanting for Tanahashi.
It got a little divided, but Shelley was standing on the hair of Tanahashi before looking at the fans as they chanted. Shelley slowly came back in, so Tanahashi grabbed Shelley’s right leg and then dropkicked the left leg so Shelley was forced to fall to the mat. Tanahashi resumed stomping the leg in the corner before hitting a dropkick to Shelley’s left leg which was draped over the ropes.
Shelley started hitting forearms to Tanahashi’s left arm while Tanahashi kicked the left knee of Shelley. Shelley burst from the ropes with a forearm that dropped Tanahashi. Shelley baited Tanahashi in and hit a sliced bread #2 for a 2-count before transitioning into the Border City Stretch. Tanahashi got his foot on the ropes, but Shelley leaned back and locked in in further and only broke when the referee got to 4.
Tanahashi rolled to the apron but couldn’t escape the attack and Shelley did an arm breaker over the ropes. Tanahashi was willing to take that though, as it afforded him a chance to grab the left leg of Shelley and hit a dragon screw through the ropes. Tanahashi then hit a dropkick to Shelley’s left knee and locked on a cloverleaf.
Tanahashi stumbled forward trying to lock it in, unable to fully lock it on dew to his arm, but Tanahashi went right back to the knee with another dragon screw. Shelley and Tanahashi exchanged strikes, with Tanahashi grabbing the left leg of Shelley, so Shelley responded with an enziguri with his right leg to drop the legend.
Tanahashi and Shelley exchanged forearms again, showing their fighting spirit. Tanahashi hit a European uppercut that dropped Shelley. He went for a twist and shout, but Shelley cut him off with an arm breaker. Shelley got Tanahashi up in a fireman’s carry, but Tanahashi slipped out and hit three twist and shouts before hitting a sling blade for a 2-count. Tanahashi called for the High Fly Flow but Shelley moved and Tanahashi crashed to the mat. Shelley the Boma Ye, a big knee, to the back of the head of Tanahashi before hitting a Rainmaker for a 2-count. Shelley hit the finishers of Tanahashi’s biggest rivals – Shinsuke Nakamura, with the Boma Ye, and Kazuchika Okada, with the Rainmaker.
Tanahashi held on with an Irish whip attempt and hit a sling blade before going to the top rope again, but Shelley cut him off. Shelley put Tanahashi into a fireman’s carry and then hit an air raid crash from the top rope and Tanahashi barely kicked out. Shelley hit a superkick to the face of Tanahashi before hitting Shell Shock for the pinfall.
Final Thoughts:
One of the things that surprised the most about this show as not its quality, but how many matches Impact had on the winning side. I suspected it to be much more balanced than it was, but it is clear by some of the post match angles and challenges that were setup that NJPW was happy to put the Impact guys over in this one for the most part. Ironically, it was Josh Alexander on the losing side in his match, while ABC got the win. Nonetheless, this was a great show and one that is worth watching.
Ahead of next Sunday’s Emergence, the Impact World title will be on the line on next Thursday’s Impact on AXS TV.
While the challenger — Brian Myers — is confirmed, his opponent is not. Current titleholder Alex Shelley is defending his title against NJPW legend Hiroshi Tanahashi this Sunday at Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2. The winner of that bout will defend against Myers next Thursday.
Impact Knockouts Champion Trinity will face Jody Threat in non-title action just days before she defends the gold against former champion Deonna Purrazzo at Emergence.
For the first time ever, former X-Division Champion Chris Sabin will face Samuray del Sol, the former Kalisto in WWE, who made his Impact debut last Thursday.
Former Tag Team Champions ABC (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) will take on recent antagonists The Good Hands (John Skyler & Jason Hotch)
The card is rounded out with Deaner vs. Laredo Kid.
Here’s the current lineup:
Impact World Champion Alex Shelley or Hiroshi Tanahashi defends against Brian Myers
Knockouts Champion Trinity vs. Jody Threat in a non-title match
Chris Sabin vs. Samuray del Sol
ABC (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) vs. The Good Hands (John Skyler & Jason Hotch)
Impact Wrestling presented its second night of television tapings from Chicago’s Cicero Stadium on Saturday.
There was one change from the advertised lineup for the show. Taylor Wilde had been scheduled to face Knockouts Champion Trinity in a non-title match but was replaced by Jody Threat. It is not clear what led to the change.
Samuray Del Sol made his Impact debut this weekend. The former Kalisto wrestled Chris Sabin on Saturday.
The results of night two of the tapings are below courtesy of Impact Asylum:
Gisele Shaw defeated Heather Reckless
Champagne Singh defeated Russ Jones
KUSHIDA defeated Mike Bailey
Deonna Purrazzo defeated KiLynn King
Killer Kelly defeated Jessicka & Savannah Evans in a three-way
Moose defeated Kevin Knight
Kon vs. Eric Young went to a no contest
Bully Ray defeated Black Taurus in a no DQ match
The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) defeated Rich Swann & Sami Callihan
Knockouts Champion Trinity defeated Jody Threat to retain
Deaner defeated Laredo Kid
ABC (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) defeated The Good Hands (John Skyler & Jason Hotch)
Chris Sabin defeated Samuray Del Sol
Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defeated Brian Myers to retain
Spoilers for night one of Impact Chicago Heat on July 28th have not come out. Matches from the tapings will begin airing on AXS TV on Thursday.
The promotion is building to Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2 on August 20th from Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena, followed by Emergence the week after in Toronto.
Ahead of their visit to Chicago this weekend for two nights of TV tapings, Impact Wrestling has announced match lineups for both events.
The tapings, which kick off Friday and wrap up Saturday, will lead into the company’s two big August events: Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2 on Sunday, August 20th and Impact Emergence on Sunday, August 27th.
For those in attendance that want to submit results/spoilers, drop us an email at [email protected].
Saturday is highlighted by Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defending his title against Brian Myers while Knockouts Champion Trinity will be in non-title action against former champion Taylor Wilde.
Friday:
Samuray Del Sol, Black Taurus & Laredo Kid vs. Bully Ray, Moose & Brian Myers
Mike Bailey & Jonathan Gresham vs. The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz)
ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) vs. Rich Swann & Sami Callihan
Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry defends against Yuya Uemura and Kenny King in a three-way
Saturday:
Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Brian Myers
Deonna Purrazzo vs. KiLynn King (w/ Taylor Wilde)
Eric Young vs. Kon (w/ Deaner)
Moose vs. Kevin Knight
Knockouts Champion Trinity vs. Taylor Wilde (w/ KiLynn King) in a non-title match
In a clash of leaders from their respective companies, Impact World Champion Alex Shelley vs. former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi is official for Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2.
The pay-per-view is set for Sunday, August 20th from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
On Wednesday, Impact posted a video to social media where Shelley challenged Tanahashi for the event which “Ace” later accepted. The match will be for Shelley’s title.
While the two have been on both the same team and opposite ends of various tag team matches through the years, this will be their first-ever singles match.
Here’s the current card:
Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Hiroshi Tanahashi
Lio Rush & Trey Miguel vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Mike Bailey
Only one match was announced for next Thursday’s AXS TV show: one that will see the Digital Media title on the line.
New champion Kenny King will defend the gold for the first time since winning it at Slammiversary as he takes on former champion Joe Hendry and Yuya Uemura in a three-way.
The three men (and Sheldon Jean) were part of a tag team match on Thursday’s Before The Impact pre-show that helped set this in motion.
In another new bout announced Thursday, Time Machine (Impact World Champion Alex Shelley, KUSHIDA & Chris Sabin) will team with Josh Alexander to take on Bully Ray, Moose, Brian Myers & X-Division Champion Lio Rush.
After things started simmering last Thursday, the eight-man bout was made Thursday after KUSHIDA and Shelley defeated Moose and Myers. Ray started attacking Shelley which brought out Alexander to even the odds. Rush then joined the fray and attacked Shelley which brought out Sabin to even things out and run Rush off.
It was Sabin’s first appearance since Rush jumped him before their Slammiversary match which saw Rush defeated a weakened Sabin for the title. KUSHIDA has the next shot at Rush after winning an Ultimate X match at Slammiversary.
Alexander has yet to wrestle since March due to a torn triceps that forced him to relinquish the Impact World title. There is also intrigue between himself and Shelley as the former has made his intentions clear that he wants his title back.
Here’s the current card:
IWGP World Champion SANADA in action
Impact Knockouts Champion Trinity defends against Deonna Purrazzo
Time Machine (Alex Shelley, KUSHIDA & Chris Sabin) and Josh Alexander vs. Bully Ray, Moose, Brian Myers & Lio Rush
Alex Shelley wants to put his Impact Championship on the line against Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Impact posted a video on Wednesday of Shelley issuing a challenge to the Ace of New Japan for Multiverse United 2 on August 20.
Shelley said:
Tana-san, you were a big sempai to me for years in when I was in New Japan Pro Wrestling and I looked up to you because you are the Ace. Well, guess what? I’m the joker. Come August 20, world-famous 2300 Arena, go ahead, challenge for this. I’m going to show you why now I’m the best in the world.
Shelley defeated Steve Maclin at Against All Odds 2023 to win the Impact World Championship. He has since defended it against Brian Myers, Maclin, and most recently against Nick Aldis at Slammiversary.
Only one match has been officially announced for Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2. The show takes place from Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena and will air live on FITE TV.
Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2 announced lineup:
Lio Rush & Trey Miguel vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Mike Bailey
