Ahead of next month’s title vs. title match, AEW World Champion Kenny Omega is returning to Impact Wrestling.
Impact Wrestling has announced that Omega will appear alongside Don Callis on Impact next Tuesday (March 23). It will be the first time Omega has appeared on the show since the fallout of making his Impact in-ring debut at January’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view.
Omega and Undisputed Impact World Champion Rich Swann will face off in a title vs. title match in the main event of Impact’s Rebellion PPV on Saturday, April 24. Swann became the Undisputed Impact World Champion by defeating self-proclaimed TNA World Heavyweight Champion Moose at Sacrifice this past weekend.
Callis cut a promo on Impact this week telling Swann that he may be a once-in-a-decade talent — but Omega is a once-in-a-millennium talent. Callis said Swann may be a superstar — but Omega is a god of pro wrestling.
At Hard to Kill in January, Omega pinned Swann when Omega & The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) defeated Swann, Moose & Chris Sabin in a six-man tag match. Omega got the win after hitting the One Winged Angel on Swann.
Next Tuesday’s Impact will also feature Ace Austin vs. TJP for the X-Division Championship, along with Deonna Purrazzo vs. Jazz, Karl Anderson vs. Eddie Edwards, and a sit-down interview with Matt Cardona.
Previously: Austin Aries declared the Grand Championship to be the top title in Impact.
Tonight: El Hijo Del Fantasma, Drago & Aerostar take on DJ Z, Dezmond Xavier & Andrew Everett. Also, Su Yung battles Rosemary.
Show Recap —
– Eli Drake came down to the ring and noted that Scott Steiner had the night off. He pointed out that he’s the only person with a guaranteed title shot.
He announced that he’s cashing in his World Championship title shot next week. This brought out Pentagon Jr. and they had a brief staredown.
– Earlier today, McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Kiera Hogan about her match tonight against Taya Valkyrie. Tessa Blanchard interrupted, but Hogan told her to sit down and watch her defeat Valkyrie.
– Backstage, the returning Grado greeted Joseph Park after working out his green card issues. Aries approached and told them everything will workout despite Pentagon Jr. being the Impact World Champion.
OVE defeated KM & Fallah Bahh
OVE gained control and isolated KM in their corner. Bahh got the hot tag and ran wild, then he and KM both did the steamroller spot on OVE. OVE fought back and sent KM to the floor. For the finish, Jake Crist hit a series of kicks to Bahh’s head and rolled him up for the three count.
After the match, KM apologized for the loss and shook Bahh’s hand. KM laughed as Bahh walked away.
– Mitchell Interviewed Moose backstage. Moose promised to win the Impact World Championship in 2018. Jimmy Jacobs interrupted, challenging Moose to face Kongo Kong next week. Moose accepted.
Taya Valkyrie vs. Kiera Hogan ended with no winner
Valkyrie hit a spear to start the match and was firmly in control, but Hogan made a fiery comeback to take the advantage.
Blanchard came out and attacked Hogan. She beat Hogan all around ringside before nailing her with the hammerlock DDT.
Brian Cage defeated Mick Moretti, Slex, and Brodie Marshall in a fatal four-way match (from World Series Wrestling in Australia)
Moretti nailed Cage with an F-5, but Cage jumped right up to his feet. Cage gave Moretti and Slex a double fallaway slam and nailed a no-touch tope con hilo onto all three on the floor.
Cage went for the discus lariat, but Slex ducked it and executed a German suplex. Cage landed on his feet and hit the discus lariat. He then hit the Drill Claw for the win.
DJ Z, Dezmond Xavier & Andrew Everett defeated Drago, El Hijo Del Fantasma & Aerostar in a lucha libre rules six-man tag match
This was a really good match with lots of fast-paced action, high flying, and innovative moves. Xavier trapped Aerostar in the ropes, with Everett and DJ Z hitting double springboard dropkicks. Everett and DJ Z attempted a double Lionsault but missed.
Xavier hit a flip dive over the top rope, followed by DJ Z hitting a huge dive to the floor as well. Aerostar hit La Bombita, wiping out everyone on the floor. DJ Z hit a frog splash, Xavier hit a final flash, and Everett connected with an awesome looking toe-touch moonsault for a three-way near fall.
Xavier climbed to the top rope, but Aerostar walked across the second rope and caught him with a hurricanrana. Aerostar shoved Everett off the top to the apron, but DJ Z hit the ZDT on Aerostar for the win.
– Backstage, Austin Aries ran into Eli Drake and said he hopes Drake wins next week because Aries knows he can beat him.
Flashback Moment of the Week: Zema Ion (DJ Z) defeated Sonjay Dutt, Kenny King, and Mason Andrews in Ultimate X
Dutt nailed King with a springboard dropkick and a standing Shooting Star Press, but he injured his shoulder on the landing. Eventually, Dutt returned to the match. Dutt and Ion climbed to the top of the X structure and traded shots. Ion sprayed hairspray in Dutt’s eyes and pulled down the belt.
– KM and Bahh discussed their loss from earlier. KM promised to train Bahh. Another employee was found knocked out backstage marked with a red X.
– Last Friday, Eddie Edwards was released from jail after attacking Sami Callihan in the hospital. Tommy Dreamer showed up to pick him up but didn’t want to hear Edwards’ explanation.
X Division Champion Matt Sydal defeated Taiji Ishimori to retain his title
Sydal worked over the leg and locked on a half-crab. Ishimori made a comeback and hit a double foot stomp for near fall. Ishimori hit the tombstone into the double knees, but Sydal fought back and hit a pump handle driver for the win.
– Dreamer tried to talk some sense into Edwards. Dreamer mentioned that he wasted years obsessed with defeating someone, referencing his past feud with Raven. Edwards didn’t want to hear the advice and walked off.
– Backstage, Allie promised to watch Rosemary’s back tonight. Rosemary refused the help and made Allie promise that she will stay in the back no matter what happens.
– At the LAX Clubhouse, Santana and Ortiz were angry because they lost the belts, have no money, and Konnan is still missing.
Su Yung vs. Rosemary never got started
Yung and Rosemary brawled around ringside before the match could start. Yung gave Rosemary the Panic Switch on the floor, and The Undead Bridesmaids came down to the ring with a casket.
Allie ran down and attacked Yung. Rosemary ordered Allie to leave, but she refused. The Undead Bridesmaids attacked Allie and held her down. Rosemary grabbed a kendo stick, but Yung misted her in the eyes.
Yung gave Rosemary a Panic Switch off the stage through a table. She then stuffed Rosemary in the casket as Allie watched.
Next Week: Impact World Champion Pentagon Jr. defends against Eli Drake.
The card for Impact Wrestling’s Redemption pay-per-view now has six confirmed matches.
A six-way match was added to the lineup for the PPV today, with it featuring Brian Cage, Taiji Ishimori, DJ Z, El Hijo Del Fantasma, Trevor Lee, and Dezmond Xavier. Ishimori is working the show despite departing Pro Wrestling NOAH last month, and DJ Z is making another appearance for Impact after returning for the first time in over a year at their WrestleMania week event with Lucha Underground.
Redemption is the company’s first PPV since last November and will take place at the Impact Zone in Orlando, Florida on April 22nd. The main event was originally supposed to be Austin Aries defending his World Championship against Alberto El Patron, but that was changed to Aries vs. Pentagon Jr. vs. Fenix after El Patron was released.
The next match for Redemption will be announced on Monday. Here’s the updated card:
Impact World Champion Austin Aries defending against Pentagon Jr. and Fenix in a triple threat match
Knockouts Champion Allie defending against Su Yung
Eddie Edwards, Moose & Tommy Dreamer vs. Sami Callihan & OVE (Dave & Jake Crist) in a House of Hardcore match
X Division Champion Matt Sydal defending against Petey Williams
Impact Tag Team Champions LAX (Santana & Ortiz) defending against Eli Drake & Scott Steiner
Brian Cage vs. Taiji Ishimori vs. DJ Z vs. El Hijo Del Fantasma vs. Trevor Lee vs. Dezmond Xavier
Over the last two nights, Impact finished their week of television tapings in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada with a few title changes, a career vs. career match, and a couple of debuts.
Results from the shows are listed below, with notes from the previous days of tapings available to read in this week’s edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Notes from Thursday night’s tapings —
– Taiji Ishimori defeated Trevor Lee to win the X Division Championship
This began Ishimori’s first reign as X Division Champion.
– Grand Champion EC3 defeated Fallah Bah and Matt Sydal to retain his title
– Chandler Park defeated Jon Bolen
Former EVOLVE wrestler Ethan Page made his debut for Impact Wrestling as Park here.
– Dan Lambert defeated James Storm in a career vs. career match
Storm cut a promo thanking Jeff Jarrett, Dixie Carter, and Bob Ryder after the match.
– LAX defeated OVE to win the Impact Tag Team Championship
– Kongo Kong defeated Kaito Kiyomiya
Kong won this, which was a match for Impact’s Xplosion TV show.
– EC3 and Petey Williams went to a no contest
The match was thrown out when Sydal attacked EC3.
– Knockouts Champion Laurel Van Ness defeated KC Spinelli to retain her title
Van Ness had won the championship in a tournament earlier in the week.
– Sonjay Dutt, Garza Jr. & Dezmond Xavier defeated Trevor Lee, Caleb Konley & Hakim Zane
– Bobby Lashley & KM defeated Moose & Eddie Edwards
– Kongo Kong defeated Chandler Park
– LAX defeated OVE & Sami Callihan in a six-man tag team Barbed Wire Massacre match
Notes from Friday night’s tapings —
These were matches that were taped for Impact and the upcoming “Genesis” special episode of the show. They’ll air in December and January:
– X Division Champion Taiji Ishimori defeated Dezmond Xavier to retain his title
This was said to be a very good match.
– Rosemary defeated KC Spinelli
Rosemary did a promo after where she was attacked by Hania the She Wolf, who was making her Impact debut.
– Matt Sydal defeated EC3 to win the Grand Championship
– Knockouts Champion Laurel Van Ness defeated Allie to retain her title
Van Ness retained after a ref bump and a title belt shot to the head.
– Moose defeated Bobby Lashley (w/ Dan Lambert and KM)
KM caused Lashley to lose the match. Lashley had enough of American Top Team and he and Moose both beat them up after, then Lashley and Moose shook hands.
In matches that were taped for Impact’s Xplosion TV show:
– Eddie Edwards defeated Hakim Zane
– Impact Global Champion Eli Drake defeated Brett Banks
