Tag: impact results

Impact Wrestling results: Moose vs. Cage, Santana vs. Fenix

Posted on by Antonio Garza

Rich Swann defeated Dave Crist (w oVe) by DQ in an Ultimate X qualifying match

Dave started the match strong with a jumping knee and immediately took control of the ring. Swann got tossed outside the ring, where Jake Crist got a quick shot on the apron. Back in the ring, Dave maintained control, grounding Swann with chokes and strikes until Swann found an opening to toss Dave outside. Swann took out both Crist brothers with a tope con giro. 

Back in the ring, Swann was now in control. He connected with several strikes and a Lethal Injection for a two count. Swann went for a Phoenix Splash, but Dave moved away and Swann hit the ground. Dave locked in a sleeper on Swann, but suddenly, Jake got in the ring and attacked Swann, giving him the win via disqualification.

Sami Callihan got in the ring and pushed away both Crist brothers, likely mad because Jake cost his brother the match, but the announcers sold it as being out of Callihan’s usual behavior. Willie Mack made his way to the ring and got in a fight with oVe, ending with Callihan and Mack having a small pull-apart before oVe walked away to the back.

Moose was interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell. He talked about not being worried about Eddie Edwards in tonight’s main event against Brian Cage since Edwards is locked up in an insane asylum. Moose told Cage that machines die, but legends are forever.

Back from commercial, Swann and Willie Mack were backstage talking. Mack was asking why Swann kept him from fighting Callihan. Swann answered that he’s known Callihan for many years and doesn’t want to start a war against him or oVe. He told Mack to let it go.

Josh Mathews introduced Taya Valkyrie and Tessa Blanchard to the ring. Mathews started the interview with Valkyrie, who said that this rivalry has seen Blanchard constantly cheat to win and disrespect authority in order to retain the Knockouts Championship, but come Homecoming, she is taking the title.

Blanchard’s response was that Valkyrie wouldn’t even know how a champion behaves. Blanchard said that ever since Valkyrie came to Impact, she just loses, so she won’t be losing the championship against Valkyrie. Both wrestlers came face-to-face, but Mathews separated them and announced that their match at Homecoming will have an added stipulation. To make sure there are no more issues with referees, Mathews introduced the special guest referee for Homecoming — Gail Kim.

Back from commercial, Blanchard was saying backstage that no one has been able to take the Knockouts Championship from her, and now Impact is stacking the odds against her. She said that she respects Gail Kim, but she’ll run through her if Kim gets in her way.

Trey Miguel defeated Trevor Lee in an Ultimate X qualifying match

Great match. Lee and Miguel started off with a series of reversals, working on each other’s arms and ending with a German suplex by Lee — but Miguel landed on his feet into a stalemate. They continued with reversals, but this time with more athletic moves and counters — until Lee caught Miguel with a kick to the back and finally got the upper hand.

Lee focused on Miguel’s back until he got distracted talking smack to Miguel, giving him the time to recover and start a comeback. Miguel hit a series of kicks from all corners on Lee, getting a two count for his efforts. Miguel set Lee’s head in the corner like Will Ospreay usually does for a superkick, but Miguel hit a 619 into the corner instead, followed by a dragonrana for the win.

Pentagon Jr. and Fenix cut a promo saying that their match with LAX at Homecoming will be friendly, but the Lucha Brothers are walking out the champions. Fenix addressed tonight’s match with Santana and said he’ll show Santana what is coming for them come January 6.

Dark Allie and Su Yung cut a promo from an unknown location. Dark Allie said that Allie is gone and got into riddles about the beginning and the end, and how the ending is the beginning of the end. There was no substance to this promo, but it seemed like a threat to Kiera Hogan.

The GWN Flashback Moment of the Week was the Ultimate X match with Amazing Red defending against Homicide, Chris Sabin, Suicide, Alex Shelley, and Christopher Daniels.

LAX and Konnan were in their clubhouse. Konnan scolded them about challenging the Lucha Brothers, saying that all partnerships will be broken once the titles get in the way, and so Konnan won’t be backing them. 

Fenix (w/ Pentagon Jr.) defeated Santana (w/ Ortiz)

Fantastic match. They started with some lucha-style reversals and arm drags. Santana sent Fenix to the outside with a hurricanrana and followed with a tope con giro. Santana wasted time playing to the crowd, allowing Fenix to recover. He caught Santana with a spinning kick and a top rope moonsault. 

Inside the ring, Fenix went for a Swanton — but Santana dodged and hit a running knee for a two count. They got into a strike-off that ended with Santana hitting a uranage for another two count. They fought in the apron, with Fenix hitting a rolling cutter for a two count. They started reversing Germans until they turned it into reverse ranas on each other back-to-back. 

Fenix and Santana kicked each other several times, one being a Penalty Kick by Fenix as he was walking the ropes into a hanging Santana. That got a big near fall. Santana came back and hit an alley-oop into a sit-out powerbomb for a two count. Fenix went for the Fenix Driver,  Santana reversed to a roll, and Fenix kicked out.

Fenix kicked Santana about five times and hit the Fenix Driver for the win. This was a must-watch match. 

Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell was interviewing Killer Kross. She asked about Kross’ actions from last week, but Kross ignored her question and instead talked about Johnny Impact not being able to defeat Brian Cage on his own. Johnny Impact interrupted him, telling Kross to stay away from him and Taya Valkyrie.

Kross talked some trash to Impact, forcing Impact to get physical. Kross told Impact that it is this aggressive side that he will need if Impact hopes to defeat Cage.

Kiera Hogan was backstage. She realized that the real Allie is gone and that her promise to have Allie’s back until the end was real, but the end is here, and now it’s time to fight. 

We went to Shady Acres Psychiatric Hospital, where Raven was playing chess with some random guy talking about aliens. Suddenly, Eli Drake of all people interrupted him. Drake was paying Raven a visit to see another one of those guys that started the whole hardcore craze.

Drake told Raven to watch Drake at Homecoming — so he can witness him ending Abyss and hardcore wrestling. This was weird, but if you have Raven wearing a hospital robe, you have to get as much out of it as you can.

Jordynne Grace defeated Ruby Raze (w/ Katarina)

The match started with a collar-and-elbow lock-up, but Raze quickly let us know that she had the power advantage. Grace used her speed and knocked down Raze in the corner and hit her running knees and elbow combination. Katarina distracted Grace, giving Raze the opening to attack her from behind with a German suplex and get the upper hand for a bit.

Raze choked Grace and dropped her with a draping neckbreaker for a one count. Raze went for a chokeslam, but Grace fired up and powered herself out of it. After trading some forearms, Grace got Raze in the corner and dropped her with a powerbomb.

Katarina tried to get involved, but she was blocked and dropped with a Muscle Buster on top of Raze. The finish saw Grace hit a Vader Bomb for the win. This was an okay hoss fight, but overall a great showing for Grace. 

Back from commercial, The Desi Hit Squad were all talking about Scarlett Bordeaux, so she suddenly appeared. They all tried to make a case for the talent search. Bordeaux brought up that KM and Fallah Bahh were trying to get some momentum back, so she proposed that The Desi Hit Squad take on KM & Bahh.

Moose defeated Brian Cage by DQ

Like a proper big lad’s wrestling match, they started challenging each other with shoulder blocks. Moose took the advantage when he poked Cage’s eyes, only for Cage to come back with a hurricanrana and get some offense in. They brawled outside the ring, where Moose accidentally chopped the ring post, hurting his hand, so instead, Moose had to rely on whipping Cage into the guardrails. Cage recovered and hit an apron bomb on Moose. 

Back in the ring, Moose once again used dirty tactics to get the upper hand and started going for Cage’s head. Moose whipped Cage around some more and hit the Okada dropkick, launching Cage to the outside, where he continued to toss Cage around into the rails. Moose started playing to the crowd more and more — until Cage recovered enough and hit a tope con giro and got back into the match.

Cage hit a huge spinebuster and dodged a Game Changer. But as he tried to go for a second rope move, Moose countered with the Go To Hell and senton combo for a two count.

Cage hit a deadlift suplex from the apron into the ring for a near fall. Moose and Cage started chopping each other, hitting forearms and headbutts, but they ended up hitting each other with crazy lariats. Cage seemed to have injured his wrist.

Cage hit an ugly powerbomb with his knees buckling under him with Moose mid-air — thankfully Moose landed okay. Moose responded with a spear and they went to the floor.

Out of nowhere, Eddie Edwards, wearing a hospital gown, ran down and attacked Moose. Edwards ran wild on Moose, hitting some suicide dives and bringing out his kendo stick, which he used on Moose to chants of “Whack-a-Moose,” until Moose ran away and Edwards celebrated in the ring to close the show. Good match until the finish.

Overall, this was a great show inside the ring. Most of Homecoming’s card has taken shape as the Ultimate X match was finalized tonight, as well as Impact confirming that Gail Kim will be the referee for the Knockouts Championship match. Edwards will be facing Moose in a falls count anywhere match at the pay-per-view.

Impact Wrestling results: Impact & Valkyrie vs. Moose & Blanchard

Posted on by Antonio Garza

The cold open focused on all of the currently announced matches for Homecoming and the debut of The Rascalz, which seems to have garnered more buzz than expected. 

Jake Crist (w/ oVe) defeated Willie Mack in an Ultimate X qualifying match

Good opener. The match started with Willie Mack overpowering Crist and using his athleticism to take the early upper hand. Mack got distracted when Sami Callihan grabbed his foot as Mack was running the ropes, allowing Crist to cut off Mack’s dive attempt and get control of the match.

Crist mostly went for quick chokes, distracting the referee every now and then so Callihan could get some cheap shots on Mack. After a few minutes, Mack finally made a comeback by catching Crist with a big lariat, a pop-up forearm, and a Codebreaker for a near fall. 

Mack went for a top rope move, but Crist cut him off and went to hit a superplex, only for Mack to counter and hit an ugly looking sunset flip powerbomb — Crist pretty much landed on his head. He managed to get up and hit a superkick to level out Mack, who followed with an exploder to the turnbuckle for a two count.

Mack placed Crist in the tree of woe and went for a Coast to Coast, but he got stopped by the distraction of oVe. That gave Crist the opportunity to hit a top rope cutter for the win. Jake Crist qualifies for Homecoming’s Ultimate X match.

Back from commercial, Tessa Blanchard cut a promo saying that Taya Valkyrie is nothing more than Johnny Impact’s wife because she doesn’t have the Knockouts Championship. Blanchard said that Valkyrie only has Johnny, but she has Mr. Impact Wrestling himself — Moose. Moose cut a promo too, saying he sent Eddie Edwards to a mental hospital, and tonight he defeats Johnny Impact. Good work by both.

Dark Allie (w/ Su Yung) defeated Heather Monroe

Monroe went for the attack early on, hit a flurry of forearms, elbows, and went for a quick pin, only for Dark Allie to kick out at one and hit a backstabber to cut her off. Allie started her offense with strikes on the mat and stomped and choked Monroe against the ropes. When Monroe tried to make a comeback, Dark Allie simply stopped her and stayed on the offensive. Allie hit a neckbreaker and a senton for a two count.

The finish saw Monroe dodge a superkick, only to catch a second one, followed by a Codebreaker, and Allie finally picked up the win. This was somewhat sloppy and longer than it needed to be. 

After the pin, Dark Allie put on Su Yung’s dirty glove and locked in the Mandible Claw on Monroe until Kiera Hogan came down for the save. Hogan tried to talk some sense into Dark Allie, only to be taken out with a forearm by Allie. Su Yung joined the attack, and Dark Allie finished Hogan off with a Codebreaker.

Back from commercial, Willie Mack and Rich Swann were talking about oVe interfering in Mack’s match. Swann doesn’t want to start a war with oVe and talked Mack out of doing so too. Swann asked Mack to back him up next week as he takes on Dave Crist in another Ultimate X qualifying match.

The Desi Hit Squad (Rohit Raju & Raj Singh w/ Gama Singh) defeated Damien Drake & Manny Lemons

Raj Singh started the match against Drake, overpowering him and forcing him to tag Lemons, who is somewhat bigger and made a stand against Singh, only to be overpowered too. Drake came in — and once again got overpowered and taken out with a knee version of the Doomsday Device.

The Desi Hit Squad continued with the double team as they stomped Drake in the corner, making quick tags. Lemons came in without a tag, but he got taken out with a series of rolling cannonballs in the corner. The finish saw the Desi Hit Squad win with a fireman’s carry and jumping knee combination. This was an okay squash.

Backstage, Matt Sydal and Ethan Page were getting ready. Sydal was sharing his teachings, pushing Page to open his third eye. Page was doing curls instead and blowed off Sydal, telling him that he needs to get ready too.

Back from commercial, Katarina was being interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell. Katarina talked about Jordynne Grace coming in and using her to try and get over. She warned Grace that when someone crosses Katarina, they disappear, just like Grado and Joe Hendry got taken out by Murder Clown. She introduced Ruby Raze as her new enforcer.

The GWN Flashback Moment of the Week was Chris Sabin cashing in Option C and winning the World title from Bully Ray at 2013’s Destination X.

McKenzie Mitchell was waiting outside the Impact offices, waiting for Eli Drake to come out. Drake has an invitation from Abyss to a Monster’s Ball match for Homecoming, and Drake was complaining to Impact office that a piece of paper is not how a match should become official, but he will take on the challenge and make an example out of Abyss. 

Back from commercial, The Rascalz were doing their That 70’s Show skit, but this time, Scarlett Bordeaux was with them, telling them that she was impressed with their match last week. She then suddenly disappeared into smoke. 

Ethan Page defeated Matt Sydal in an Ultimate X qualifying match

This started with both men doing a series of locks and reversals, with Page showing that he has learned Sydal’s style and coming to a stalemate. As Page started getting the upper hand, Sydal got more aggressive, showing that he hasn’t taught Page everything that he knows. That prompted Page’s aggressive side to also come out. Both started going back and forth, with Page using his strength advantage and Sydal using his speed and superior technical expertise.

Sydal took Page down with a jumping kick and started his offense, taking out one of Page’s legs and targeting the head, earning a two count after a running knee to the corner. Page made a comeback as he caught Sydal’s plancha into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker out of nowhere. Page got a near fall after a big boot and hit a cutter on the apron, with both men landing on the floor. 

Back from commercial, we found both men chopping each other. Page got the advantage and set Sydal on the corner, only to be countered. Sydal took down Page with a hurricanrana. Sydal started to chase the Shooting Star Press, but Page managed to cut him off and hit a Swanton Bomb for a near fall.

They started trading quick roll-ups and reversals until Page managed to keep Sydal down on one of those for the three count and qualify for Ultimate X. After the match, Sydal put over Page.

We jumped to Shady Acres Psychiatric Hospital with Eddie Edwards playing chess with Raven! Edwards was going crazier saying that he doesn’t belong here, that everyone says he takes things too far, but Raven told him that he hasn’t gone far enough and he shouldn’t allow Alisha or anyone to decide how far he takes his actions.

Raven got Edwards a keycard in order to escape and told him that he owes him one as Edwards ran off.

Back from commercial, Pentagon Jr. and Fenix were backstage and were met by LAX and Konnan, who told them to keep it friendly, even bringing up Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez not fighting because they’re in the same camp. He asked both teams that they promise to keep it friendly, but they were already starting to talk about who the best tag team is, and as usual, Pentagon got in people’s faces with his Cero Miedo taunt, causing Konnan to get mad and storm off.

McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Johnny Impact and Taya Valkyrie. Impact said that he is preparing for Homecoming, but tonight he has to take on Moose, and it’s a special night since it’s the first time he and Valkyrie are tagging together. Valkyrie said that tonight, Tessa Blanchard gets a small taste of what La Wera Loca is bringing to Homecoming. 

Impact World Champion Johnny Impact & Taya Valkyrie defeated Moose & Knockouts Champion Tessa Blanchard 

Impact and Moose started the match, with Johnny getting the upper hand and forcing Moose to run to Blanchard and tag her. The women came in, with Valkyrie working a lucha style and also getting the upper hand until both Moose and Blanchard found themselves outside the ring and taken out by Impact and Valkyrie’s synchronized assault.

Back in the ring, Impact and Valkyrie got distracted playing to the crowd, allowing Moose and Blanchard to attack them and toss them outside the ring. 

Back from commercial, Blanchard had control over Valkyrie, working her back with a series of kicks and running knees and taunting Impact to “save her.” Moose tagged in and pretended to attack Valkyrie, but because of the mixed tag rules, he only cheap shotted Impact and tagged in Blanchard again.

Blanchard locked in a really painful looking submission. She started chasing the Hammerlock DDT, but Valkyrie countered, dodged a spear launching Blanchard into the post, and Valkyrie finally made the hot tag to Impact. 

Impact came in and ran wild on Moose, hitting a standing Shooting Star Press for a two count. Impact started to chase Starship Pain, but Moose dodged and they began trading kicks. Impact countered a Go to Hell with a rana, but Moose came back with a senton for a near fall, and as he tried to follow with a spear, Impact dodged and hit a neckbreaker, but he was too close to the ropes for the pin. 

Blanchard and Valkyrie got tagged in, with Valkyrie controlling the action this time. Blanchard hit a ripcord cutter out of nowhere for a two count and once again looked for the hammerlock DDT. She got countered on and taken out with a German suplex pin by Valkyrie, but Moose pulled the referee out of the ring to stop the count.

Impact dove on Moose, leaving Blanchard open for Valkyrie to hit a curb stomp and lock in an STF for the submission win.

After the match, Moose hit Impact with a spear. Valkyrie got distracted with Moose, allowing Blanchard to hit her from behind. Killer Kross came down, and as Blanchard was about to hit Valkyrie with a chair, Kross stopped her, grabbing the chair off her hands. Brian Cage ran down and took out everyone, sending them away. Cage helped Valkyrie up — and Impact and Cage ended the show by getting in each other’s face.

Overall, this was a fun show for Impact, particularly strong inside the ring and escalating the ongoing stories towards Homecoming. Next week, Moose takes on Cage and Santana faces Fenix. And in the last two Ultimate X qualifiers, Trey Miguel debuts against Trevor Lee and Rich Swann takes on Dave Crist.

Impact Wrestling results: Eli Drake vs. Tommy Dreamer, Rascalz debut

Posted on by Antonio Garza

The Lucha Brothers (Pentagon Jr. & Fenix) defeated Rich Swann & Willie Mack

Fenix and Swann started the match by chain wrestling and having an athletic exhibition into a stalemate. Pentagon and Mack came in and traded taunts at each other until Fenix and Swann got involved and everyone superkicked each other. Pentagon and Mack continued trading kicks. Swann got tagged in. He and Mack double teamed Pentagon and Fenix, but the Lucha Brothers manage to counter with synchronized superkicks. 

Pentagon hit a Wazzap Dropkick to Swann, then the Lucha Brothers followed it up with a Fenix spinning kick and a Pentagon codebreaker combo on Mack. They got a near fall after an assisted plancha by Fenix.

Mack came back with a pounce, sending Pentagon to the floor, and then hit a tope con giro. Swann hit a Phoenix Splash to the outside on Mack and Pentagon, and finally, Fenix hit a tornillo on everyone. 

Back from commercial, Mack and Fenix were in the middle of a strike-off with knife-edge chops and forearms. Fenix ended up with the upper hand and went for a top rope move, only to be blocked by Swann, so Fenix hit a reverse rana on Mack. Pentagon then dropped Swann with a Fear Factor on the apron, with the assist of Fenix’s foot stomp.

Back in the ring, Pentagon and Fenix hit the leg-scissors splash to pick up the win. Great opening match.

After the match, Impact Tag Team Champions LAX (Santana & Ortiz) came out without Konnan. Ortiz cut a promo putting over the match we just saw and asked who are next for LAX, running down all the teams they’ve defeated in the last year. Santana got the mic and said that they have defeated everyone, but they haven’t given their familia a chance for the championships. Santana challenged the Lucha Brothers for Homecoming. Pentagon & Fenix accepted.

Josh Mathews ran down the card for tonight and announced that next week, we start the qualifier matches for Homecoming’s Ultimate X match.

We got a video package for Brian Cage and Johnny Impact’s World Championship match at Homecoming. Cage cut a good, short promo about doing whatever it takes to finally achieve his destiny and win the World title.

Back from commercial, we were backstage at the LAX clubhouse. Konnan was berating Santana and Ortiz about acting without telling him. Konnan used the Juventud Guerrera vs. Rey Mysterio feud as an example that friendly matches with friends tend to become personal when championships get in the way. Konnan walked out on them at the end saying he knows what he needs to do.

Jordynne Grace defeated Katarina

The match started with Katarina trying to grapple with Grace, only to be easily overpowered. Katarina tried changing her game to strikes, but once again, Grace overpowered her. Finally, Katarina relied on raking the eyes to get some offense in and gained control of the match.

Katarina’s offense consisted mostly of trying to choke out Grace and get as many kicks in as she could. Katarina managed to keep the upper hand for longer than she should have, even getting a close two count after a jumping DDT. Grace finally made a comeback when she hit a huge pounce, followed with a running knee to the corner, a running elbow, a Vader Bomb, and used the bear hug for the submission win. The match started sloppy, but it got better as it went on.

KM and Fallah Bahh were backstage talking about losing their chance at a championship match with LAX, but they’re still in Las Vegas, so tonight they are hitting the town and winning some money. After a quick cut, KM and Bahh were crying because they lost all their money. Suddenly, Scarlett Bordeaux made an appearance, telling them that if they want to impress her, there is a lot of competition. 

GWN’s Flashback Moment of the Week was the Ultimate X with Low Ki defeating Andrew Everett and Trevor Lee to retain the X-Division Championship. 

Backstage, referee Brandon Tolle came into Tessa Blanchard’s locker room, imposing his authority with Blanchard and saying that in the ring, it’s the referee who sets the rules and neither he nor the rest will take Blanchard’s antics, referring to Blanchard punching Tolle a few weeks ago.

Back from commercial, McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Tommy Dreamer, who once again took a swipe at millennials, saying that Eli Drake doesn’t care about the men and women that paved the way for him to be where he is. Dreamer made fun of Drake copying The Rock and Steve Austin’s mannerisms. He said that at the end, people will talk about Dreamer’s career and not Drake’s. Good promo.

Taya Valkyrie defeated Ray Lyn

Valkyrie debuted new music and a new tron video tonight, officially dropping the “Queen” gimmick. The match started with Ray Lyn trying to mock Valkyrie, getting some great offense in, but the match quickly turned around as Valkyrie hit several running strikes to a cornered Lyn.

Valkyrie went for the Road to Valhalla, but Lyn blocked it and got some more kicks in, only to lose focus by trying to mock Valkyrie again. Valkyrie countered Lyn, hit a curb stomp, and locked in a new submission that is like an elevated version of an STF. This was technically a squash, but still a great showing for Ray Lyn.

Tessa Blanchard ran down during Valkyrie’s celebration. Referee Tolle tried to impose his authority, but Blanchard took him out, choking out the ref until the rest of the staff came out to stop her. No one dared to touch Blanchard — until Gail Kim of all people came out and pulled Blanchard off the referee. Valkyrie hit a spear before Blanchard managed to escape. 

We got another video package for Impact and Cage’s match at Homecoming. This time it was Impact’s turn to talk. He put over Cage’s undefeated streak, but at Homecoming it won’t be like the rest of Cage’s matches. Suddenly, behind Johnny Impact, we saw a shadow walk into the frame — and it was Killer Kross.

Kross told the camera to get away, since he needed a moment with Mr. Hennigan. Kross once again implored that Impact rely on him for his match with Cage. Impact blowed him off and walked away. Really great execution on Kross’ entrance.

The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier &Zachary Wentz) defeated Mike Sydal & Chris Bey

Mike Sydal is indeed Matt Sydal’s younger brother. Xavier and Sydal did a series of fast-paced reversals. Wentz got tagged in and hit a Bronco Buster on Bey. The Rascalz hit a kick combo on Sydal and followed with stereo tope con giros to the outside. Back in the ring, Wentz hit the Hot Fire Flame moonsault on Sydal for the pin. Short match, but a great showing for The Rascalz.

Backstage, Kiera Hogan was with McKenzie Mitchell. Hogan said that no matter what we’ve seen, she believes that Allie’s soul is still in her because when she had the chance to attack Hogan, Allie didn’t. Hogan begged for Allie to “come home.”

Back from commercial, we were in a mental hospital with Alisha Edwards trying to talk to a drugged out Eddie Edwards, but the doctor took her away and said Eddie needs rest.

We then saw Moose come to visit Eddie. He had a copy of Eddie’s book, but Moose complained that he is not mentioned in the book, nor Alisha leaving Eddie, nor ending in a mental hospital, saying that this book is a farce and that Eddie will stay in this hospital, but that he’ll take care of Alisha.

McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Drake, who said that his problem is not with hardcore wrestling, but with Impact Wrestling allowing it. Drake said that he never had problems with Dreamer, but it seems he has struck a nerve, and so if Dreamer wants to mess with him, he’ll need to take care of him tonight and make an example.

Back from commercial, Matt Sydal and Ethan Page were talking. Sydal explained that he keeps stumbling along his way to enlightenment. Page tried to cheer up Sydal, but with a certain set of words that triggered Sydal, and so Sydal announced that they will face each other in one of the Ultimate X qualifying matches in order to teach him the path to enlightenment.

Tommy Dreamer defeated Eli Drake by countout

They started the match with Dreamer getting the better of Drake at the collar-and-elbow tie up. Drake tried to change the game into strikes, but Dreamer got the upper hand once again, so Drake decided to walk away and get counted out.

Josh Mathews said that he had word from Impact officials that this match was being restarted under no disqualification rules.

Eli Drake defeated Tommy Dreamer in a no DQ match

The match began during commercials, so when we came back, Dreamer was already beating Drake up the ramp with a garbage can full of weapons being brought out. Dreamer started going around using some of the weapons, including a ring bell shot and using a fan’s cane. Drake suplexed Dreamer on the ramp, finally turning the match around, leading to Drake working over Dreamer inside the ring and getting mostly punches and some weapon shots in. 

Dreamer and Drake kept going back and forth, exchanging big moves with a chair. Dreamer hit a DDT for a two count, but as he went for the Death Valley Driver, Drake threw Dreamer into a trash can and hit the Gravy Train for a huge near fall, with Dreamer becoming the first to kick out.

An annoyed Drake put a chair around Dreamer’s neck. Drake hit a baseball swing like EVIL would, leaving Dreamer down for the pin. Not that good of a main event, even with the weapons being introduced.

Backstage, Drake found a few balloons and a card. We didn’t see what the letter said, but Drake seemed surprised as the episode went off the air.

Impact Wrestling results: Eli Drake’s Gravy Train Turkey Trot

Posted on by Antonio Garza

This edition of Impact was all built around the five-on-five turkey suit match, with references to previous Thanksgiving matches. It was full of segments to build both teams and more of a special episode than part of the ongoing storylines. 

McKenzie Mitchell opened the show by introducing tonight’s Eli Drake Second Annual Gravy Train Turkey Trot match between Team Eli Drake and Team Fallah Bahh. Drake cut a promo inviting everyone to stick around. They have a raffle they’ll use to select the members of each team.

A GWN Flashback Moment of the Week showed last year’s Gravy Train Turkey Trot match between Team Eddie Edwards and Team Eli Drake. Team Eddie Edwards won when Edwards pinned Chris Adonis, who ended up in the turkey suit. They only showed the end of the match, but the whole segment of getting Adonis to adorn the suit.

Back with Mitchell and Fallah Bahh, the first member of Team Bahh is KM. They did some comedy about food. 

Back from commercial, Drake got his first pick from the raffle, which turned out to be Katarina. Katarina tried to reason with Drake as to why she will be an asset. 

We got another GWN Moment of the Week, this time recapping 2007’s inaugural Turkey Bowl. Samoa Joe defeated AJ Styles and Chris Sabin with the winner getting $25,000 and Styles having to wear the turkey suit. Stipulations aside, this was a great match. 

Back with Mitchell, Bahh grabbed his second team member from the raffle, and it’s Kikutaro! This was a pleasant surprise. 

Back from commercial, Scarlett Bordeaux came out with an entourage of the “Sexxy Show” dancers. Bordeaux didn’t say anything after her entrance — we just cut to another set of video entries for her talent search. Videos included Shark Boy and the Michael Jackson impersonator wrestler. 

Drake spun the raffle and revealed the third member of his team — Jake Crist. All of oVe came out, hinting that Sami Callihan and Dave Crist will be out there to back Team Eli Drake up. Callihan threaten Jake Crist not to lose. 

We got videos from some of the Impact roster talking about their favorite Thanksgiving memory.  

Bahh now picked the fourth member for his team. It turned out to be Desmond Xavier, who is already working his stoner gimmick. 

Back from commercial, Drake picked his fourth member from the raffle. After making fun of Bahh, he revealed it is Rohit Raju from the Desi Hit Squad, who all came up. Again, Gama Singh hinted that they will all be out there to support Team Eli Drake. 

We got another set of videos of favorite Thanksgiving memories with Rich Swann and Trey Miguel.

Bahh made his final selection for tonight, which is Alisha Edwards. KM asked Alisha if she’ll be able to handle Katarina, and then Fallah Bahh said a bad joke (“What type of music do pilgrims listen to? Plymouth Rock.”)

Back from commercial, Drake made his final pick, Glenn Gilbertti! Yes, Disco Inferno is back and is using this match as his entry to the Scarlett Bordeaux Talent Search.

An Ultimate X match to crown a new X-Division Champion was announced for January’s Homecoming pay-per-view. Gilbertti came out again with Mitchell and said he invented the Ultimate X match. 

We got a video package with the history of Option C and all the wrestlers that have cashed it in and won the title out of it, ending with Brian Cage’s cash-in announcement from last week. 

Back from commercial, Drake, along with his team, cut a promo saying that tonight, none of them will be wearing the turkey suit. Everyone in the team got a chance to talk except Jake Crist since Sami Callihan did the talking. At the end, Bordeaux came in dressed as a pilgrim saying that she’ll be out there scouting for talent. 

Team Fallah Bahh then cut their promo. Bahh did all the talking, with KM translating for him. He hyped everyone up.

Team Fallah Bahh (Fallah Bahh, KM, Dezmond Xavier, Kikutaro & Alisha Edwards) defeated Team Eli Drake (Eli Drake, Jake Crist, Rohit Raju, Katarina & Glenn Gilbertti) w/ oVe & The Desi Hit Squad

Before the match started, everyone made the oath that if any of them are the one to get pinned or submitted, they will wear the turkey suit. 

Katarina and Alisha started the match, with the latter using her speed advantage to get some offense in and get a few two counts. They tagged in Jake Crist and Kikutaro, who snuck to get control and tag in Xavier. Jake got away and tagged in Drake, which again played on the power vs. speed matchup, with Drake getting control this time.

Raju and Bahh got tagged and Bahh kept control of the match until Gama Singh got in the ring, distracting Bahh and allowing Raju to take out Bahh’s knee and tag in Gilbertti. Drake and Gilbertti started to double team Bahh, but Bahh made a comeback and finally got KM tagged in. 

Everyone came in and sequentially locked each other in Figure Four headlocks, with Bahh rolling them into a Human Centipede Boston crab at the end, but suddenly, Bordeaux came out trotting around the ring, distracting everyone, and then just walked to the ramp and sat to watch.

Back from commercial, everyone was back into the match with Team Eli Drake having cut off Kikutaro and working over him. After several tags, Kikutaro made a comeback on Raju and got a tag to Xavier, who ran wild on everyone. Xavier hit a dive on everyone outside, followed by a plancha by Bahh.

Inside the ring, Alisha and Katarina had some near falls. Finally, Gilbertti came in and all of Team Bahh rolled over him — even the ref got a chance to. Bahh went for the kill, but Gilbertti countered and went for the People’s Elbow, only to miss and get pinned by Bahh after a Banzai Drop. 

After the match, Josh Mathews reminded Gilbertti that he took an oath that he would wear the turkey suit. Gilbertti said he wouldn’t do it. Bordeaux came down to the ring and told him to put the suit on, and so he did. Bordeaux told him he looked like an idiot before walking out. 

This was a one-match show, but everything celebrated reaching that match, and as the Thanksgiving special that it is, it did not at any point feel like part of the canon storylines going into Homecoming nor affecting the seriousness of those stories and the wrestlers involved. 

Impact Wrestling results: X Division title on the line

Posted on by Antonio Garza

This was the first episode from Impact’s tapings in Las Vegas, Nevada. The in-ring action on the show was strong, with several stories kicking off towards January’s Homecoming pay-per-view.

The cold open recapped Brian Cage going to Rockstar Pro to find Sami Callihan and getting taken out by Callihan’s crew. It also touched on Moose defeating Eddie Edwards last week and covered Johnny Impact defending the World Championship against Killer Kross. 

Knockouts Champion Tessa Blanchard defeated Ray Lyn in a non-title match

Lyn is a Pittsburgh-area indie wrestler. Blanchard started the match by pushing in Lyn with a lock-up, but Lynn showed some speed and managed to get some offense in. Blanchard quickly cut her off, dropping her with a military press and a cutter.

Blanchard continued working Lyn’s back with a kick. Lyn made a comeback and hit a top rope hurricanrana, but Blanchard was able to regain control of the match. The finish saw Blanchard hit a turnbuckle bomb and the Buzzsaw DDT for the win. This was good for the time it got. Lyn didn’t get to do much, but what she did, it looked great.

After the match, Blanchard cut a promo on Taya Valkyrie. She said that Valkyrie just keeps coming up with excuses because she can’t win the title. Blanchard said she is a better Knockouts Champion than Valkyrie could ever be and that Valkyrie won’t be more than Johnny Impact’s wife.

Valkyrie came out to confront Blanchard, but she ran away. 

Valkyrie got the mic. She defended being Johnny Impact’s wife, saying she is also the Guera Loca and La Perra del Mal. Valkyrie said she spoke with Impact Wrestling’s management and they have signed a title match between Blanchard and Valkyrie for Homecoming.

Fallah Bahh and KM talked about needing to win something tonight. KM told Bahh that they got a match with LAX tonight, and if they win, they get a title match and will be one step closer to being with Scarlett Bordeaux.

The Rascalz did a That 70’s Show/stoner-style segment and were talking about what their name should be. Dezmond Xavier got a text that they have a match in two weeks. There was a laugh track here for some reason. This came out looking good, but let’s see how a stoner gimmick gets over.

Impact Tag Team Champions LAX (w/ Konnan) defeated Fallah Bahh & KM in a non-title match

This was all back and forth, with Bahh and KM getting a lot of good offense — but coming short at the end. Bahh and Santana started the match. Santana used his speed to try and headlock Bahh, but Bahh busted out some quickness himself and, thanks to his size, completely blocked Santana’s attempt at a shoulder block.

They traded arm drags, and Bahh actually got the upper hand on this lucha exchange. Santana dodged a Banzai Drop and went for a moonsault, but Bahh rolled out of it. Don Callis put him over as moving like a junior heavyweight. Santana offered to shake Bahh’s hand, then snuck an enzuigiri to finally gain control.

Ortiz came in and they double teamed Bahh a bit, but Bahh turned it around on both of them and got KM in for the Steam Rollers. Bahh and KM started working on Ortiz with quick tags, but Ortiz managed to get out and drop them with a DDT/dropkick combo before tagging in Santana.

LAX started working over KM, but once again they traded control when KM dropped them with a double suplex. Bahh came in and took it to both of them with butt thrusts to the corners. KM and Bahh hit an assisted Samoan drop for a near fall and prepped for a second rope Banzai Drop, but once again, Santana got out of it and took out Bahh.

Ortiz came in and LAX hit a moonsault/leg drop combo on KM for the win. This had a lot of fast-paced action.

Heather Monroe, from The Killer Baes, was interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell. Monroe is debuting tonight vs. Su Yung. Monroe introduced herself and sounded confident. Kiera Hogan interrupted her and warned her that Yung is not like anyone else on the roster. She told Monroe to be careful out there.

Bordeaux was arriving to the arena. Some guy wanted a picture with her, but some other random guy defended her. Bordeaux claimed she recognized this person and took him with her.

Konnan and company headed to the back and were making fun of Santana for getting out-wrestled by Bahh. They talked about the OGz and about not seeing them for a while. Konnan said that Pentagon Jr. and Fenix took them out for good. Santana and Ortiz told Konnan that they want to give Pentagon and Fenix a title shot at Homecoming. Konnan told them not right now and walked out.

The GWN Flashback Moment of the Week was Sami Callihan’s debut during LAX vs. oVe at Bound for Glory 2017.

Matt Sydal and Ethan Page were seemingly outside the building. Sydal said that everything is again on their side as he gets a match with Johnny Impact tonight and he’ll show that his third eye makes him better.

It was announced that Homecoming PPV tickets are going on sale on Monday.

The Desi Hit Squad were all relaxing at a hotel and talking about food. Gama Singh talked about Indian food, then Rohit Raju brought up Thanksgiving food. Gama Singh talked him down about there being nothing to be thankful about. Next week, they’re going to ruin Thanksgiving. 

Eli Drake came down to the ring. He cut his promo about being the “Last of a Dying Breed” and said that he has dropped the lawsuit since it was all a plan to lure in Joseph Park and Abyss. He ran down wrestling by saying that it’s full of skinny kids and fat slobs, but all the fans want is Eli Drake.

Drake blamed Abyss for all the new guys thinking that taking crazy bumps is what it takes to be a superstar in wrestling today. He claimed that he will get rid of all the stunts and garbage and bring back wrestling. Tommy Dreamer came out and interrupted Drake as he was finishing up. 

Drake ran down Dreamer, calling Dreamer the prime example of what he is trying to get rid of. Dreamer went with the skinny jeans millennial diss on Dreamer. Dreamer put over hardcore wrestling and put over Konnan for introducing Eddie Guerrero to ECW and thus all the lucha revolution started.

Dreamer brought up Sabu, Mick Foley, and finally put over Abyss for being hardcore. Dreamer said that the most hardcore are actually the fans who pay to come to the shows. 

Drake came back by saying that Dreamer is just jealous that he could never touch what Drake can do with the mic and in the ring, to which Dreamer got heated and said he would rather fight. They teased wrestling, but Drake walked out. What’s with wrestlers going after millennials this week?

Josh Mathews mentioned that next week, we’re getting another Turkey suit match between Team Eli Drake and Team Fallah Bahh.

Alisha Edwards confronted Moose. She told Moose that Eddie Edwards is on his way and that for the best of everyone, Moose should leave. Moose, looking like a million dollars, told Alisha that if Eddie comes in, he’ll simply call 911 and get rid of him, so she doesn’t have to worry.

The referees were talking backstage saying that they can’t allow what happened with Tessa Blanchard to happen again and they agreed that this may be an unsafe working environment. Bordeaux walked by, hypnotized them, and tried to show off.

Bordeaux told them that what she likes the most is power and authority, and a man that can impose that authority. This is the perfect type of small comment that would be great to become something in the ring. She still had that random guy from outside, but he was shirtless and all drawn on.

Impact World Champion Johnny Impact defeated Matt Sydal (w/ Ethan Page) in a non-title match

The match started with both men measuring each other and chain wrestling for control. They did the usual junior heavyweight opening that ended with Sydal kicking Impact out of the ring and finally taking control of the match. Inside the ring, Sydal worked over Impact’s left leg via submissions and kicks. Sydal hyper extended Impact’s knee and hit a quick dropkick for a two count. 

Impact started to make a comeback by dropping Sydal with a backbreaker. Impact’s offense was mostly strikes and kicks, earning a two count after a knee to the face. Impact hit a sliding German suplex and set up Starship Pain, but he got distracted with Page, so Sydal rolled him up for two.

Impact blocked Sydal and once again went for Starship Pain, but Page pulled Sydal out of the ring, so Impact jumped over the turnbuckle and took out Page. 

Sydal used the distraction to take control of Impact. He dropped Impact with a kick and was preparing for the Shooting Star Press. Impact blocked him and went for a Spanish Fly, Sydal blocked it and countered with a Meteora, but he couldn’t capitalize. Sydal went for the Here We Go Driver, but Impact countered and finally managed to hit Starship Pain to pick up the win. Great match, if only they could get more time. 

Killer Kross then came down to the ring. Kross was over with the crowd tonight, this being his hometown, saying this is the voice of Sin City. He told Impact that tonight he won’t rip his head off. Instead, he accepts his defeat from last week’s match. The fans chanted for another match.

Kross realizes that perhaps he may not be the catalyst of change, and maybe Johnny Impact is. Kross said if he can’t make things change, he can make sure Impact can. 

Kross put over Impact as a role model. He told Impact that everyone is out there chasing Impact, except him. And when Impact needs help, Impact can call him. Kross offered a handshake, but Impact instead turned it down and told Kross that he doesn’t trust Kross and wants nothing to do with him.

In any other city, this would had made Impact a big babyface. But being in Kross’ hometown, it made Impact look like a jerk. It gives Kross a good reason to keep chasing Impact though. 

Katarina walked in on Jordynne Grace training. She tried to recruit Grace as a team and was talking nice until she casually said that on a different night, she could have won their match. Grace responded by telling Katarina that they may as well fight again in two weeks and find out.

As Alisha threatened, Eddie Edwards indeed got to the arena and went after Moose, but Eddie got taken by bunch of psychiatric nurses. Eddie is off to a mental hospital.

Su Yung defeated Heather Monroe

Even after getting an interview, Monroe didn’t get her entrance. Yung started the match with control. She set Monroe up in a Tree of Woe and hit a neckbreaker from it for a near fall. Yung immediately went for the glove. Monroe got a small hope spot with a series of strikes and kicks, but Yung dodged one of her kicks, slapped Monroe, and hit the Panic Switch. Yung locked the Mandible Claw on for the submission win. 

Yung kept the claw locked in after, but Kiera Hogan came out for the save. Suddenly, we got the “Psycho Bunny” Allie out. She was wearing all black and half of her face was painted like Rosemary. She has a new song too. Hogan was distracted by Allie, and Yung attacked her from behind with the Panic Switch.

Yung and Allie walked to the back together arm-and-arm, confirming that Su Yung owns Allie’s soul.

X Division Champion Brian Cage defeated Sami Callihan (w/ oVe) to retain his title

Callihan tried to jump Cage, but Cage dropped him with a clothesline first. Cage started tossing Callihan around the ring. Callihan hit a hurricanrana, so Cage showed off with a rana and a dropkick. Cage went for a powerbomb, but Callihan blocked it — only to be taken out again with a series of kicks. 

Cage went for a running lariat, but Dave Crist held his leg from the apron, causing the referee to impose his authority and kick both Crists out to the back. Cage was still on the floor and Callihan went for a senton from the apron, but Cage caught him in mid-air and dropped him with a suplex to the floor. 

Back from commercial, we saw that Callihan dropped Cage with a piledriver on the apron, rammed Cage’s knee into the steps, and with a submission hold, tweaked Cage’s knee. A limping Cage got a near fall with a powerbomb on Callihan. He went for another, but Cage countered into a guillotine lock.

Callihan hit a running DVD into the turnbuckle that looked terrible for Cage’s neck. Callihan went for a piledriver, Cage countered into a German, and Callihan countered into an ankle lock that Cage easily escaped. Cage hit a deadlift suplex from the apron and the F5 for a near fall as Callihan got his foot on the rope.

Callihan started hitting Cage like in their Bound For Glory match, then followed up with a piledriver for a near fall. He transitioned into the ankle lock again, dropping to the mat, but Cage actually dragged him to the rope for the break. Callihan got to the second rope, going for the Canadian Destroyer, but Cage blocked it — only to take a Code Red for a near fall.

Cage no sold and got up. He dropped Callihan with a powerbomb and the Drill Claw for the win. It seemed like we missed a lot during the commercial and the finish felt rushed, but from what we got, this seemed like a good match.

After the match, Cage took the mic and said that at Homecoming, he is cashing in Option C and wants a shot at Johnny Impact’s World Championship. I didn’t know that was still a thing or that it could be used outside of Destination X, but we got ourselves a main event for Homecoming. I do believe that the X Division Championship is now officially vacated and Cage and Callihan’s feud is done for now.

Impact Final Hour results: World title match, Jordynne Grace debuts

Posted on by Josh Molina

Impact returned this week with their “Final Hour” special episode. Austin Aries has not appeared on television since Bound for Glory and they have made no mention of him, so when he returns it looks like they are setting up for a big surprise moment.

Pentagon Jr. & Fenix defeated The OGz

Much of the match was the OGz toying with the smaller wrestlers. Fenix and Pentagon used their typical high-flying moves. Pentagon hit a dropkick into the groin of Homicide. They doubled-teamed Hernandez, but he powered out of it. Hernandez went for a superplex on Pentagon, but Pentagon pushed him back and hit a Finn Balor-like double-leg kick onto Hernandez as he hung from the top rope upside down.

Fenix then hit a swanton off the top rope for a near fall. Pentagon then flung Fenix onto Homicide for the victory. At one point, King tried to interfere but got knocked backwards.

Jordynne Grace defeated Katarina

Don Callis said Grace, making her Impact debut, reminded him of Rhyno. The crowd screamed “Jordynne is going to kill you.”

Katarina got the early advantage, hammering on Grace in the corner, but Grace powered out of it, press slamming Katarina. Grace is being billed as some sort of female monster. Her clotheslines were more like short clubs.

If they were trying to get Grace over as a killer, they didn’t because Katarina got in a lot of offense. Grace eventually won with a bear hug submission.

X-Division Champion Brian Cage defeated Sami Callihan by DQ

Brian Cage returned to Ohio and Rockstar Pro Wrestling, to what he called a “bingo hall.” Oddly it looked like there were at least as many people in the crowd here as there are at some Impact television tapings. A week ago, Callihan had an imposter show up at the event and beat up on him. This week, it was the real Cage.

Cage, in workout clothes, hammered on Callihan with clotheslines early in the match. Cage is unique because he has an incredible physique, yet moves like a little guy. Cage was dominating the match when the rest of Ohio Versus Everyone, Dave and Jake Crist, ran into the ring and started double-teaming Cage for the disqualification. Cage hit a double belly-to-back suplex on the Crist brothers.

Several unidentified wrestlers came to the ring and Cage gave them F5s. Six wrestlers, including the Crist brothers, held Cage on both sides of his body and Callihan hit him in the face with his title belt. Josh Mathews screamed “It took Sami Callihan and every minion in Ohio to get after Brian Cage.”

Callihan then hit a spike piledriver as the crowd chanted “O.V.E.”

Moose defeated Eddie Edwards

Moose plays a heel really well. It’s a character that if portrayed in WWE would get over big. This was sort of a grudge match. The two used to be buddies, but Moose went heel to team with Austin Aries and Killer Kross and at one point kidnapped Eddie Edwards’ wife, Alisha.

Moose is a big guy but shows a lot of athleticism.

Moose hit an incredible powerbomb on Edwards from inside the ring onto the stage. Moose flung Edwards and knocked him out cold. Alisha Edwards came out to tend to her husband. Don Callis screamed “she needs to be careful, this guy is a piece of degenerative garbage.”

Edwards squirmed on the ramp and tried to get back in the ring. Moose tried to spear Edwards back into the ring, but Edwards stepped aside and Moose crashed into the ring.

Edwards was still out from the powerbomb, however, and Moose hit a spear inside the ring for the three count.

Joseph Park, who looks a lot like the guy from Penn and Teller, announced in the ring that he had filed a lawsuit against Impact Wrestling for “unsafe working conditions” on behalf of Eli Drake. Park referenced the fact that his “brother” Abyss once put Drake through a table at Bound for Glory, but that he deserves a pass because he is a Hall of Famer.

Drake, however, turned on Park, giving him a low blow. He then started kicking him, yelling that he was the one who had ruined the business and outed him as the real Abyss.

“You have a broken down, depleted body and should call it quits,” Drake said as he was kicking him. Drake pulled out a chair and hit him in the stomach, the back, leg, and back again.

Callis screamed “why doesn’t Abyss come out and save this sap?”

Drake got in his face and said people like him, who love hardcore wrestling and tables and thumbtacks, were responsible for the death of wrestling.

They continued the Allie-is-possessed angle. James Mitchell confronted Allie on a stairwell. At Bound for Glory, Allie was possessed when she entered the “Undead Realm” against Su Yung. Ever since, Allie has been acting like she needs an exorcism, with Kiera Hogan trying to help her.

“You are fighting a battle you can’t possibly hope to win,” Mitchell told Allie. He said a long time ago he was in her position and tried to fight the darkness, but realized he couldn’t. He told Allie to embrace the darkness. Allie was about to shake Mitchell’s hand when Hogan tried to stop her. Allie rebuked her, however. Yung appeared out of nowhere next to James Mitchell.

“It’s not what I want, but it is how it has to be,” Allie said, and walked away with the two of them.

Impact World Champion Johnny Impact defeated Killer Kross to retain his title

This was a good, but slow-paced match. Impact played the crowd well as a fan favorite. He hit his spinning “Countdown to Impact” elbow dive off the top rope for a near fall. Kross toward the end hit Impact with a powerbomb.

He went for a choke, but Impact reversed it and superkicked him. Impact hit a hurricanrana and then the Starship Pain to retain the championship. They are really trying to build Impact up as a fan favorite. Kross looked good as a personality, but he seemed to tire early after getting in a lot of offense.

Impact Wrestling results: Tessa Blanchard vs. Taya Valkyrie rematch

Posted on by Josh Molina

This week’s show dragged with too many pre-taped backstage segments promoting next week’s special Final Hour episode. The show’s opener highlighted an otherwise drab Impact. 

Rich Swann defeated Willie Mack

The match began with a choreographed sequence where Mack tried to do the same aerial moves as Swann. At 285 pounds, Mack moves impressively. He’s not as agile or smooth as Swann, but he comes close. After the opening spot, Mack started with a series of power moves to slow down the pace of the match. Mack hit a running vertical suplex and threw a heavy frying pan chop that knocked Swann down.

Mack went coast-to-coast with a dropkick from one side of the ring to the other on Swann, who was tied up in the turnbuckle. Mack hit a cutter after throwing him up in the air and catching him. Mack got the crowd going with a “This is awesome” chant. After Mack gassed, Swann hit a 360 splash off the top rope leading to a near fall.

Mack rallied and hit a butt bomb in the corner on Swann, then a standing moonsault for a near fall. Mack tried for the pin again after hitting a cutter, but Swann got a leg on the rope.

Mack went to the top rope and missed a frog splash. Swann then hit a phoenix splash (that was slightly botched when his knee hit Mack’s head) for the win.

Commentators Josh Mathews and Don Callis hyped up the quality of the match. “We’re basically starting with main events now, who’s booking this stuff?” Callis said.

We got an Ohio Versus Everyone promo where Sami Callihan tried to bait Brian Cage to meet him for a fight in Ohio.

We then got another long analysis segment with Mathews and Callis.

The Desi Hit Squad (Raj Singh & Rohit Raju) defeated The Beach Bums

Beach Bum member TJ Crawford started the match by simulating a surfing motion. This was a squash match. Raju hit a knee while Sing held one of the Beach Bums up on his shoulders in a Samoan drop position. This is the new version of the Desi Hit Squad, with Raju and Gama Singh’s son, Raj Singh.

We got another pre-taped segment with the OGz walking around the city trying to act like gang members. The segment was filmed in black and white. Then they cut to LAX and Konnan at a bar drinking. If Impact doesn’t survive its current ratings slump, it might be because of these months-long pre-taped segments.

There was another pre-taped segment with Moose talking about how Eddie Edwards wasn’t a true friend. They were hyping next week’s “Final Hour” episode and a match between Moose and Edwards.

Then there was a Rockstar Wrestling pre-taped segment in Ohio where oVe and Callihan challenged a guy that they introduced as Brian Cage, but he clearly was not. Callihan berated the guy for being “15 pounds lighter” than the last time he saw him.

This was basically the Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart little person segment from 1997. Callihan pinned the guy quickly after some help from Dave and Jake Crist. Callihan then introduced himself as the new X-Division Champion, in an odd segment. Since it was Ohio, the crowd, those who understood what was happening, cheered for Callihan.

Another — another — backstage segment, Eli Drake encountered Joseph Park. Park tried to take a selfie with Drake. Drake asked Park if he was a real attorney and Park said he was still certified as a lawyer in seven states. He suggested Drake should join a class-action lawsuit to sue Impact Wrestling. Drake walked away and called Park his catchphrase, Dummy.

Another backstage segment.

The Desi Hit Squad was gathering. Gama Singh was explaining to Raju that with his guidance and tag teaming with his son, the team would be successful. Scarlett Bordeaux, who is playing the role of Missy Hyatt in the 1980s, was there.

Gama Singh started singing to Bordeaux and Raju tried to embarrass him, telling Bordeaux that he is a 65-year-old man who is happily married. Singh said “that’s not true.” Bordeaux said to Singh “Aren’t you from India? That’s where they invented the Kama Sutra.”

Singh responded, “of course.”

Bordeaux told him she is holding a talent search and that Singh should send her a video of the Kama Sutra.

Taya Valkyrie defeated Knockouts Champion Tessa Blanchard by DQ

Finally, a match. It’s been said a lot, but Blanchard should be in WWE alongside Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and Ronda Rousey — she has big-league presence.

Blanchard led the match, slowing it down methodically like an old school 1980s NWA match. Valkyrie hit Blanchard with a spear and got a near fall. She hit a couple of chops to the chest. Blanchard sells everything really well. Valkyrie hit a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall.

Valkyrie missed a clothesline and Blanchard hit a cutter. Valkyrie turned the tables and hit a moonsault on Blanchard for another near fall. Blanchard rolled to the outside of the ring and Mathews called her a “third-generation knockout.”

Valkyrie hit a splash off the top rope on Blanchard onto the outside. Blanchard got herself intentionally disqualified when she punched the referee, whom she’s had problems with. That was a true, old-school heel move. Callis mentioned Tully Blanchard about 100 times during her match.

We got another pre-taped segment to hype next week’s main event between Killer Kross and Impact World Champion Johnny Impact. Both of these guys talk too much. Johnny Impact lacks charisma and Kross looks like he is trying to come across meaner than he is.

Both guys were sitting down in different locations talking, while they showed clips of both guys in the ring.

There was a promo for Jordynne Grace, who was working out with weights. She said she has been a wrestler for eight years. Grace said she is the strongest female wrestler in the world.

The Global Wrestling Network Flashback Moment of the Week featured Gail Kim defeating Candice LeRae.

Another backstage promo with Fenix, speaking in English and Pentagon Jr.,who spoke in Spanish.

Brian Cage then cut a backstage promo saying he would defend his X-Division title against Sami Callihan at Rockstar Wrestling next week.

“I am not a man. I am a machine,” Cage said.

LAX (Santana & Ortiz w/ Konnan) defeated Matt Sydal & Ethan Page

Santana and Ortiz are both really strong wrestlers, which makes the fact that they are caught up in this months-long angle with the OGz even more disappointing.

Sydal is still obsessed with trying to get people to open their third eye.

Sydal and Page worked as a traditional tag team, cutting off the ring and keeping Santana in the ring for most of the match. Santana eventually escaped and made the tag. Ortiz hit a huricanrana, a splash in the corner, and then a stiff-legged splash on Page. Sydal and Page turned the tables after Sydal broke up a pin attempt. They hit simultaneous kicks to Ortiz’s head.

LAX rallied and hit a spinning suplex onto Ortiz’s knee for the victory.

There was another backstage segment with Allie looking into the mirror. Kiera Hogan interrupted her and begged Allie to tell her what is wrong. Allie said she has had some “darkness or void” inside her since the Bound for Glory Su Yung possession vignette.

Hogan promised to help Allie overcome her demons.

Pentagon Jr. (w/ Fenix) defeated Homicide (w/ King and Hernandez)

The OGz are trying to hurt Pentagon Jr. as a way of baiting Konnan to disobey the gang elders and break the ceasefire.

Pentagon hit Homicide with some vicious kicks to start the match. Homicide countered and bit Pentagon’s fingers. Callis said “there were no rules in the street where Homicide grew up.”

Homicide went for a superplex, but Pentagon slipped out underneath and then jumped to the top rope and hit a double stomp for the near fall. The two traded chops, but then Pentagon got the advantage with more hard kicks.

Pentagon snuck a school boy roll-up for the quick three count, prompting Hernandez to jump in the ring, but Fenix fought him off. King then jumped into the ring and hit Fenix with a black sock that had some weapon inside of it. The three of them triple-teamed Pentagon and Fenix and left them in the middle of the ring to end the show.

Impact Wrestling results: Johnny Impact vs. Fenix

Posted on by Josh Molina

The episode seemed to set up some new angles and storylines, and again, there was no sign of Austin Aries. 

For the first time, Scarlett Bordeaux actually appeared in the ring.

Josh Mathews acted surprised and said “she’s not on the runsheet,” prompting Don Callis to say, “She’s on my runsheet. She’s on the list.”

Bordeaux strutted to the ring with her gyrations. She’s doing a worldwide search for her next talent to manage. She took a seat on a leather chair near the ramp to watch the upcoming match.

Sami Callihan defeated Trevor Lee

The camera frequently panned over to Bordeaux, whose outfit revealed ample skin. Callihan controlled the match until Lee shocked everyone with a moonsault off the top rope onto Callihan outside the ring. Jake Crist was at ringside and kept distracting Lee. At one point he pushed Lee off the top rope, who then fell and stun-gunned himself, allowing Callihan to deliver a spike piledriver for the win.

X-Division Champion Brian Cage came to the ring and hit Callihan with an F-5. The Crist brothers then pulled Callihan out of the ring.

Even though Lee lost, he has a lot of charisma and is emerging as a star.

There was a backstage segment with King freaking out because “the boss” called another ceasefire between the OGz and LAX. This angle really needs to end.

More backstage work with Gama Singh and Rohit Raju, who will collide later in the show. Singh is Raju’s manager, but has challenged Singh to a match as some kind of test.

Impact Tag Team Champions LAX defeated The Heavenly Bodies in a non-title match

Eli Drake was on commentary and the segment was designed to hear him talk. Drake has filed a lawsuit against Impact for creating an unsafe work environment. This was mostly a squash match for LAX, although the Heavenly Bodies got in some offense. Ortiz got the pin after delivering a neckbreaker off the top rope while Santana held a member of the Heavenly Bodies on his shoulders.

Another backstage segment with Tessa Blanchard and Taya Valkyrie. They set up a rematch for the Knockouts Championship next week.

LAX were leaving the arena when they ran into Matt Sydal, who tried to convince Konnan that he wasn’t doing the best job for Hernandez and Ortiz and that they might want to open their third eye. Konnan called Sydal’s approach “gangster” before taking his team and walking away.

McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Killer Kross and Moose, whose mic skills are painful. Moose said they were going to beat Fallah Bahh so bad that he was going to stop speaking gibberish and start speaking English by the end of the night. They set up a match between Fallah Bahh and KM for later.

We got a pre-taped video segment of Fenix, showing his rise to stardom and his development with his brother Pentagon Jr. Fenix is taking on Johnny Impact for the World Championship later in the show.

Gama Singh defeated Rohit Raju

Singh introduced himself as “one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.” He said he defeated Bret “The Hitman” Hart, Bad News Allen, and Abdullah the Butcher.

It was a setup. Raju didn’t want to fight Singh. Singh slapped Raju a few times and gauged his eyes, but then an unidentified man came into the ring and delivered a gutbuster to Raju, allowing Singh to get the unofficial three count for the pin. The assailant, not the referee, made the three-count. The crowd chanted “You deserve it.” The three of them then embraced and walked off together. I guess Raju passed the “test.”

Johnny Impact gave an interview backstage calling Fenix family, but that sometimes “family fights.”

They showed some bizarre videos of what people sent in to Bordeaux in hopes of winning her managerial services. Bordeaux watched the videos from her iPad in the bathtub.

Moose & Killer Kross defeated Fallah Bahh & KM

Kross seems like the kind of guy WWE would want. Bahh has a lot of charisma and the crowd really gets behind him when he walks around the ring pounding his head screaming “Bahh,” over and over.

Bahh did his roll over Kross, laying his 300-plus pounds over Kross. He then laid out Moose. Instead of rolling over him, he put his foot in Moose’s mouth, to the disgust of Callis. KM hit an impressive dive through the ropes onto Moose and Kross, and Bahh hit a dive on both men from the apron.

Moose and Kross got mad and turned the tables inside the ring, but they got gassed and Bahh hit a suplex and a Samoan drop on Moose and then Kross. Eddie Edwards dragged Moose from the apron to the backstage area, leaving Kross alone. But it didn’t matter. Kross choked out KM for the victory.

Backstage, Edwards and Moose were fighting on the roof of the Melrose Ballroom. Moose stole Edwards’ kendo stick and started beating him with it. Moose choked Edwards out and nearly pushed him over the edge of the roof, until Moose ran away and locked Edwards out, leaving him on the roof.

From 2008, the GWN Flashback Moment of the Week featured Kevin Nash & Sting vs. AJ Styles & Samoa Joe. Kurt Angle and Booker T ran into the ring to beat up on Styles and Joe. It was crazy to see all of these guys inside the Impact ring. Styles was busted open. Again, they kept the flashback to about two minutes, much less than the full matches they had been showing for months.

Su Yung defeated Kiera Hogan

This was a decent match. Hogan works hard and Yung has a great, creepy gimmick.

Yung was beating up on Hogan on the ramp outside the ring when Allie appeared, only to get stared down by Yung. Ever since Bound For Glory, Allie has been under some kind of Yung trance.

Yung won the match with the Panic Switch (a long airplane spin into a face slam) on Hogan.

Impact World Champion Johnny Impact defeated Fenix to retain his title

Mathews and Callis treated the match like it was a big deal, a clash of legends.

The two shook hands before the match started. There were dueling chants of “Johnny” and “Let’s go Fenix.” It was a small crowd, but they worked hard.

The match started with the two of them wrestling inside the middle of the ring, but then they both started running around the ring. Each attempted leg kicks on each other. The match was hindered by the amount of respect the two were showing each other. This was the kind of match that Jim Cornette would have hated because it felt overly scripted and choreographed early on.

There were several spots featuring both guys attempting the same moves simultaneously on each other. Fenix hit a move from the outside where he ran and jumped on the second rope, spun, and did a springboard off the top rope into a corkscrew splash on Impact.

Each guy traded dynamic aerial moves into near falls. “We hope this match goes on all night,” Mathews screamed.

Impact seemed to be hobbling a bit on his knee. Impact hit several knees and an impressive Shooting Star Press for the near fall. Impact did a dive off the top rope and missed, but landed on his feet. Fenix hit a springboard elbow off the top rope onto Impact.

The crowd was screaming, “This is awesome.”

Impact hit the Starship Pain for the three count victory, in a match that felt more like an athletic display than a traditional wrestling match. The match was also hurt by Mathews’ incessant promotion of it like it was some classic.

Impact embraced Fenix near the bottom turnbuckle after the match.

The OGz then attacked Fenix, in an attempt to bait Konnan to break the ceasefire. It was Pentagon Jr., however, who ran into the ring for the save.

As the show was wrapping up, they cut to the backstage area where Killer Kross said all roads lead to him. As he walked away, the camera showed Impact laid out, with the title belt on top of him.

Impact Wrestling results: Aries cuts epic promo on Johnny Impact

Posted on by Josh Molina

For the third straight week, Impact Wrestling took place from Mexico City, Mexico. Austin Aries cutting a worked-shoot promo on Johnny Impact was this week’s highlight.

Rich Swann kicked off the show, lacking the smiles and joviality that he usually shows in his ring entrance. He’s facing Matt Sydal, whose pointing to his third eye is so relentless that it is absolutely comical.

Matt Sydal defeated Rich Swann

Swann got off to the early advantage, hitting a dive off the top rope to the outside of the ring less than one minute into the match. The two brawled outside and Sydal crawled under the ring. Swann pulled up the apron to look for him and Sydal decked him.

Swann either sold the storyline of being angered by Sydal’s attempts to get him to open his third eye or he’s really unhappy for some reason. He looked grumpy all the way through the match.

Swann was on the top rope ready to do a dive onto Sydal when a guy in street clothes jumped on the apron and powerbombed Swann as the referee had his head down tending to Sydal. Announcers Don Callis and Josh Mathews said “who is this man” and “where’s security?”

After the match, Mathews then figured out that it was Ethan Page. Not a great start to this feud between Sydal and Swann, which they have been building up for weeks.

There was a video package with Ohio Versus Everyone.

In another video package, Moose called Sami Callihan on the phone. It was interrupted by Scarlett Bordeaux, who came to ringside to do commentary. Bordeaux touches her hair almost as much as Sydal touches his forehead looking for a third eye. Bordeaux flirted with Callis, who  purposely spilled his bottled water for effect.

Eli Drake came to the ring next wearing a shirt that said “that is not an insult” on the front and “that is a fact of life” on the back.

Drake took the microphone to continue his open challenge.

Drake called out all the “technicos” in the back. He told the crowd “silencio.”

“None of the luchas can lucha like lucha,” he said.

La Parka defeated Eli Drake via countout

Out came La Parka (the AAA version, not LA Park). He hammered on Eli Drake with chops, but Drake gained the upper hand after he hit a very awkward looking reverse neckbreaker. Drake grabbed a chair, but La Parka took it away from him. He tried to hit Drake with it, but Drake ran from the ring and back to the dressing room.

La Parka looked really limited in his skill set.

During the commentary, Mathews asked Bordeaux what she was looking for in a wrestler.

“I want someone who does whatever it takes to win,” Bordeaux said.

We got a confrontation between LAX and the OGz backstage.There’s still a ceasefire between the two “rival gangs” — so Konnan couldn’t do anything when King spit water in Konnan’s face and then walked away. This feud has long ran its course.

Backstage, Sydal and Page challenged Swann and a partner of his choice at Bound For Glory.

Murder Clown (w/ Katarina) defeated Joe Hendry (w/ Grado)

Grado is taking his joke character to the extreme, looking increasingly more out of shape with each appearance. Hendry showed a bizarre video that attempted to mock Murder Clown. It was Hendry in a clown mask squeezing his red nose and singing.

This was a bad match. Murder Clown is well over 300 pounds and wrestles like it.

He struggled to body slam Hendry at one point. Hendry, however, successfully hit a fallaway slam on the big guy. Murder Clown recovered and hit a splash off the top rope for the win. Grado tended to his friend, when Murder Clown brought a table to the ring. Callis screamed for Murder Clown to “please go after Grado.”

Grado tried to defend Hendry, but Katarina hit a low blow on her ex-boyfriend. Murder Clown put Hendry on the table and then jumped on him from the top rope for the finish. This was an attempt to get Murder Clown over as a star on one match.

Eddie Edwards found Moose, who was sitting next to Alisha Edwards. She had apparently been apprehended by Moose against her will. Moose started to explain what a bad friend Eddie was and Eddie tried to tell him that Austin Aries was only using him for protection, but didn’t really care about him.

Alisha then threw a glass of water in Moose’s face and fled, but not before Killer Kross ran into the room and tried to choke out Eddie. Alisha threw a kendo stick to her husband, who hit Kross and the two escaped.

Eddie then called Johnny Impact and told him to go after Aries. Impact spent the next few minutes running around backstage looking for Aries.

Impact then came to the ring and called out Aries, who responded, walking to the ring wearing an arm sling.

Aries said he injured his arm from trying to protect himself from Impact’s beatdown last week.

Impact said he didn’t care if he was injured because he didn’t want to beat him up tonight, but at Bound For Glory. Impact dared Aries to come to the ring at the event without Kross and Moose.

Aries guaranteed that Moose and Kross would not be at ringside. He said he didn’t need any help to beat Impact.

Aries then did a worked-shoot, asking Impact who he was and pointing out his many character changes as Johnny Nitro, Johnny Mundo, John Hennigan, or “Johnny Survivor.”

“Your whole career you have been trying to put eggs into 15 Easter baskets and you haven’t filled any of them yet,” Aries said.

Aries said Impact “looked” like he should be a pro wrestler, but that he was really a “pretend pro wrestler.”

Aries basically berated him for never living up to his full potential and being more of a show than an authentic wrestler. He told him that before he becomes “Johnny 205,” Aries would give him an opportunity to unlock his potential, and have him join his stable, just like Moose did.

Impact just stood there and took all the insults and then said “hell no.”

Aries hit Impact with his left arm and then took off the sling on his other arm. Impact countered with a crescent kick and Aries rolled out of the ring. Impact held the belt up high.

Backstage, a shirtless Brian Cage said he was coming to the ring later to destroy the “Ohio punks.”

There was another backstage segment with Gama Singh verbally abusing the Desi Hit Squad.

In the Flashback Moment of the Week, it was Sting vs. Hulk Hogan from Bound for Glory 2011.  Ric Flair was at ringside. Dixie Carter was at ringside cheering for Sting. Hogan tapped out to the Scorpion Deathlock, but Flair jumped into the ring. Eric Bischoff, Scott Steiner, and Bully Ray then came to ringside and started to beat up Sting.

Hogan was apparently so offended by the Sting beatdown that he turned on his friends and joined Sting to clean house in the ring. A bloodied Hogan and Sting then celebrated in the ring together.

We got another backstage segment with Scarlett Bordeaux, as wrestlers tried to impress her to win over her managerial services.

Next was an episode of the Smokeshow where Petey Williams tried to impress Bordeaux. Trevor Lee looked on in disgust.

It’s not really clear what they are trying to do with Bordeaux, but whatever it is, it’s not working.

There was a backstage segment with the Lucha Brothers challenging oVe later in the show.

Su Yung defeated Kiera Hogan (w/ Allie)

Yung got the win after a helicopter spin into a front slam. Hogan was distracted momentarily after the undead bridesmaids jumped on the apron when Hogan was on the top turnbuckle. After the match, Yung summoned the bridesmaids to bring out the casket, but Allie broke it up. Yung, however, put the mandible claw on Allie and then Hogan and slammed Hogan into the coffin. Yung stood on the coffin.

When they came back from commercial, Allie was freaking out in the back for allowing her friend to be put inside the casket.

They advertised a match for next week: Edwards, Impact & Fallah Bahh vs. Aries, Moose & Kross.

They hyped up the Tessa Blanchard vs. Taya Valkyrie Knockouts title match set for Bound For Glory.

Fenix, Pentagon Jr. & Brian Cage defeated Sami Callihan & Dave & Jake Crist by DQ

Cage is an incredible high-flyer for being such a huge, jacked-up guy.

This was a disappointing match. The referee disqualified Callihan after he pushed him. After the match, Fenix hit a rolling cutter on Callihan. Cage hit a Brutus Beefcake knee on Dave Crist and then suplexed him from inside of the ring to the outside onto the other members of oVe and Fenix and Pentagon.

Fenix then hit a corkscrew dive from the top of the ringside railing onto everybody.

The show ended with the wrestlers brawling outside of the ring.  

Impact Wrestling results: Tag team main event, Blanchard vs. Apache

Posted on by Josh Molina

Impact opened with its usual extended recap of last week’s show.

Tessa Blanchard made her way to the ring first. She hails from Charlotte, North Carolina, and it just feels like one day Blanchard vs. Charlotte Flair is gonna headline a WrestleMania. There’s a good story to tell. But tonight, it’s Blanchard vs. Faby Apache for the Impact Knockouts Championship.

Knockouts Champion Tessa Blanchard defeated Faby Apache to retain her title

It’s been said before, but it’s worth saying again, Blanchard is a star on both sides of the ball. She has great offense and sells brilliantly. Apache has great ring generalship and a sense of charisma in the ring too.

Blanchard hit a couple of short-arm clotheslines, followed by a side suplex. Apache applied a reverse figure four leglock to slow Blanchard down. She hit a double arm front-face slam.

This was a really good back-and-forth match, but Blanchard successfully defended the title with a buzzsaw DDT. Blanchard carries herself like a star. Afterward, she grabbed the microphone and said she is the best wrestler and best athlete in professional wrestling.

“Tessa Blanchard is undeniable and the diamond of the Knockouts division,” she said.

Taya Valkyrie appeared on the big screen and challenged Blanchard to a match at Bound for Glory on October 14. Blanchard seemed to accept before walking away.

There were several video segments with Eddie Edwards, then oVe, then Eli Drake walking around Mexico sight-seeing and sampling Mexico’s foods.

Brian Cage defeated Jake Crist (w/ Sami Callihan and Dave Crist)

Cage is absolutely jacked, but still flies around the ring like a cruiserweight.

He was on offense early, driving Jake into the corner and hitting him with clotheslines. Cage gave him a high back body drop, but missed a spear in the corner and fell outside of the ring. Callihan then threw him into the rail. Crist went for an armbar, but Cage picked him up and slammed him. Cage dropped him with a clothesline and then hit him with a left-footed 619.

Cage delivered an elbow off the top rope for a near fall. He delivered a sit-down Alabama slam for another near fall.

Jake hit a cutter from the top rope, but Cage kicked out after one. Cage hulked up and hit a body slam into a face slam for the win. Callihan then rushed the ring and attacked Cage. Dave Crist hit Cage with a low blow.

The lights went out. And when they returned, Dave’s hat was in the ring and Pentagon and Fenix appeared on the screen, with Dave tied up and gagged in a chair. With Callihan and Jake distracted, Cage hit a dive from the ring to the outside.

There was a backstage interview segment with Austin Aries, Moose, and Killer Kross.

There was another advertisement for Chris Jericho’s cruise.

In the Flashback Moment of the Week, the original LAX battled AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels inside a steel cage. Styles looked more muscular in this match compared to today. Homicide pinned Styles with a wicked-looking reverse butterfly suplex on his neck. Once again, the best match on the show so far featured the champion from another promotion.

There was a backstage segment with Grado, Joe Hendry, and Katarina. Katarina asked to make up with the buddies, but she tricked them and introduced her new friend, Murder Clown. She told Hendry that he would face Murder Clown next week.

Scarlett Bordeaux appeared on location in Mexico City. She issued a global talent search for one local man or woman for her to manage who can get her attention “24/7.”

LAX (Santana & Ortiz) defeated The Desi Hit Squad (Rohit Raju & Gursinder Singh)

They gave LAX a big entrance with a Spanish-language introduction. This was a slow-paced match, largely because of the DHS. Santana is a good high-flyer for his size, although wearing a Puerto Rican-flag arm sleeve wasn’t exactly endearing to the Mexican crowd.

Santana got the win with a reverse neckbreaker from a Doomsday Device position, pinning Raju. Gama Singh, as usual, looked angry with his team after their loss.

The OGz appeared on the big screen. King trashed Konnan, saying he has spent a career leaching off other wrestlers, such as Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio Jr. King showed the mask that Konnan used to wear in his early days in Mexico. He lit the mask on fire and watched it burn.

Backstage, Fallah Bahh covered KM with his robe. KM was laid out on the couch wearing a neck brace after last week’s beatdown at the hands of Aries, Moose, and Kross.

We got a backstage interview with Blanchard, sitting down in a red chair. She accepted Valkyrie’s challenge. Earlier, Valkyrie called her a “bitch.” Blanchard said at Bound For Glory, she would show her one.

Kiera Hogan & Allie defeated Su Yung & The Undead Maid of Honor

Allie was not good here, with her chops and offense missing by a mile. Hogan is athletic and carried most of the match. Announcers Josh Mathews and Don Callis spent a good part of the match trying to get people to order merchandise from the Impact website.

Yung applied the mandible claw on Hogan, but Allie hit a kick to the head to break it up. Hogan then hit a reverse neckbreaker on Yung for the win. This was not a good match, with lots of botched spots.

Matt Sydal and Rich Swann appeared on location in Mexico City, and Swann challenged Sydal to a match next week on Impact.

Moose & Killer Kross defeated Johnny Impact & Eddie Edwards

Edwards is essentially doing a Dean Ambrose crazy man gimmick. Moose exudes a lot of arrogance and comes across as a strong heel. Kross lacks charisma, but looks mean. Aries, by the way, looks like a half-pint standing next to the two.

Once again, the show was hurt by the crowd’s lack of enthusiasm.

Impact and Edwards carried this match. Kross and Moose look like the kind of guys who would get big pushes in WWE for their size alone.

All four wrestlers were down towards the end of the match after a series of kicks. Aries then jumped into the ring and acted like he was going to hit Impact with the belt. Impact sprung up and grabbed the belt from Aries. Impact kicked Aries and then hit him with the belt, sending Aries flying out of the ring.

Kross then hit Impact from behind with a side suplex. Edwards clobbered Kross with the kendo stick when the referee wasn’t looking, and Moose hit a spear on Edwards to get the win.

Impact Wrestling results: Austin Aries vs. El Texano Jr.

Posted on by Josh Molina

After the intro package recapping last week, Josh Mathews opened the show saying, “Tonight we make history for the first time ever as Impact Wrestling comes to you from Mexico City, Mexico!”

Lots of empty seats in the crowd, which never really got into the show. Dead silence filled many of the segments.

oVe (Sami Callihan, Dave Crist & Jake Crist) defeated Aerostar, Hijo del Vikingo & Laredo Kid

This was a typical Lucha Libre-style match with plenty of aerial moves and high spots. All three of the Mexican wrestlers did moonsaults off the top rope onto the outside of the ring on oVe. Hijo del Vikingo one-upped Bray Wyatt, walking on his hands for several steps in the ring. Vikingo hit a moonsault off the top rope. Laredo Kid followed with a 450 splash, although he wobbled a bit on the top rope before pulling it off.

The luchadores went for triple superkicks on oVe, who hit triple piledrivers for a near fall.

oVe won with a triple cover after Callihan hit an RKO on Vikingo, who was perched on Dave Crist’s shoulders.

Backstage, Matt Sydal tried to convince Rich Swann again to open his third eye and become tag team partners.

In another backstage segment, Tessa Blanchard kicked a Mexican female wrestler out of the dressing room area. Faby Apache then walked in and told Blanchard to be more respectful and Blanchard left the dressing room area.

Eli Drake came to the ring for an extended promo. He continued his weekly open challenge. Out came the Bruiser Brody-like Trevor Lee

Eli Drake defeated Trevor Lee

Drake has great charisma and Lee moves in the ring with a lot of athleticism.

Lee dominated most of the match until Drake pulled Lee’s long black hair and then bodyslammed him. Drake won with the Gravy Train.

There was another backstage segment with the OGz, with King talking about how violent he plans to be when he gets into the ring.

King defeated Kronoz

King won in seconds after a spinning backfist. The OGz triple-teamed Kronoz briefly to start the match.

We got a backstage segment with LAX. Santana and Ortiz tried to get Konnan to break the ceasefire with the OGz. This has to be among the worst feuds of the year.

Faby Apache defeated Alisha Edwards

Apache quickly applied an Indian deathlock. Later, she put Alisha in a surfboard.

Alisha got in some weak looking elbows. Apache did a good job of complaining to the referee every time Alisha kicked out of a pinfall attempt.

Alisha finally took Apache down with a hard clothesline and then a front-face slam, but she made a mistake by taking too long to go to the top rope. She jumped off the top and Apache caught her and rolled her over. She then hit a powerbomb for the win.

After the match, Apache took the microphone, and after having some difficulty finding the hard camera, spoke in Spanish to the crowd. Apache challenged Knockouts Champion Tessa Blanchard to a title match the following week.

There was a brief interview with El Texano Jr., who will face Impact Champion Austin Aries later in the show. Texano said he has two partners too, his fist and his bullrope, to counter Killer Kross and Moose.

There was another Bound For Glory promo.

Scarlett Bordeaux appeared backstage, this time with her hair pulled back.

Rich Swann danced to the ring.

Pentagon Jr. & Fenix defeated Matt Sydal & Rich Swann

Pentagon was extremely over with the crowd. This was really the only match the audience got into. 

This match featured probably the four best high-flyers in Impact. Sydal spent most of the match pointing to his mythical third eye.

Fenix hit an impressive rolling cutter on Sydal and Swann. He followed that up with a 720 plancha over the top rope onto both of them. Later, Swann hit his own reverse moonsault over the top rope onto both Lucha Brothers.

Pentagon hit a dangerous-looking piledriver on the apron on Sydal. Fenix then got the win over Swann with a suplex into a spinning powerbomb.

After the match, oVe ran to the ring. It looked like Pentagon and Fenix were going to get triple-teamed until Brian Cage showed up to even things up and send the Ohio contingent back to the dressing room.

Another backstage interview aired with Aries, Kross and Moose, who has a new outfit that resembles early 1980s Randy Savage.

There was another backstage segment with members of the Desi Hit Squad getting massages. Of course, Gama Singh interrupted and forced them to train and beat each other up instead.

There was a pre-taped video segment featuring Joe Hendry and Grado, who both recently split from their manager Katarina.

In the TNA Flashback Moment of the Week,  Petey Williams took on Chris Sabin and Matt Bentley. There’s a problem when the best and longest match on the show happened a decade ago, under the ownership of a different company.

They showed a package of Abyss, who will be inducted into the Impact Hall of Fame.

Impact World Champion Austin Aries defeated El Texano Jr. to retain his title

Aries walked down to the ring as slowly as he possibly could, with a lot of attitude and arrogance.

Despite his slow walking to the ring, Aries is very good when he wants to be. He has impressive agility and athleticism. The match began like most Aries matches, with him evading Texano’s moves and then showing off in the corner to celebrate his evasive skills.

Texano is a big, thick guy who can also perform aerial moves, but he gassed out quick.

Aries wastes a lot of time in between moves by playing to the crowd or talking smack to the referee. Texano got his best offense in when he scratched Aries’ back. Texano hit Aries with some weak-looking clotheslines. Texano spent a lot of time on the mat gasping for air.

At one point, Aries grabbed Texano’s bullrope. The referee grabbed it and took it away. Aries then tried to grab his belt — and the referee snatched that away. As the referee was throwing the belt out, Texano grabbed his bullrope and whipped Aries with it. He appeared to almost get the pinfall, but Aries put his foot on the ropes.

Aries then won the match with a suplex into a DDT.  

Johnny Impact appeared on the screen to say that he might not be medically cleared in time to challenge Aries for the championship at the October 14 Bound for Glory show. Impact then ran into the ring and clobbered Aries with a series of right hands. When Moose and Kross tried to intervene, Eddie Edwards ran to the ring to make the save.

Impact Wrestling results: Austin Aries vs. Fallah Bahh

Posted on by Josh Molina

The show opened with Austin Aries, Moose, and Killer Kross walking very slowly down the ramp for an interview segment. Moose had a new outfit this week, wearing all black and a gold chain.

The three sat on a gold sofa and chairs and Aries was going on about what a great Impact World Champion he is when KM and Fallah Bahh started to walk ringside

KM cut a good promo, suggesting that Aries was just using Moose and Killer Kross and that their friendship was not as tight as that of KM and Bahh’s. He said KM and Bahh were an example of what true friends really are and that true friends don’t stab each other in the back.

Aries acknowledged that the last couple of weeks have been “hectic” and then offered Bahh a title shot. Bahh accepted with a handshake to set up the main event.

Pentagon Jr. & Fenix defeated Trevor Lee & Caleb Konley

The luchadores are pretty spectacular with their synchronized high-flying moves. Lee and Konley wrestle like a traditional heel tag team, cutting off the ring and utilizing a clever double-team behind the referee’s back. Lee wrestles and looks a bit like Bruiser Brody.

After several near falls, Fenix got the victory after hitting a cradle piledriver where Pentagon Jr. jumped from the top rope onto Lee’s buttocks for the spike piledriver.

oVe then appeared on the screen and challenged Pentagon, Fenix & X Division Champion Brian Cage to a match at Bound for Glory.

Backstage, Bahh looked stressed out about his title shot against Aries and KM tried to build his confidence. KM found Eli Drake and asked him to motivate Bahh.

There was another long advertisement for Chris Jericho’s cruise.

The Global Wrestling Network Flashback Moment of the Week featured Kevin Von Erich introducing his two sons, Ross and Marshall for a tag team match against the Bromans. The Bromans got themselves disqualified just as they were about to lose, but Kevin Von Erich ran into the ring to do some of his signature spots, including his stomach claw.

There was a backstage interview segment with Allie and Kiera Hogan. Allie doesn’t talk like a professional wrestling character — she came across more as a sort of mean, annoyed everyday person. Allie badmouthed Tessa Blanchard, calling her “spoiled and entitled.”

Then we got another backstage interview with Blanchard, who comes across as a big star with big league charisma. She said next week, when Impact is in Mexico, the world will see why Blanchard is “undeniable.”

Alisha Edwards defeated Katarina

Fresh off her heel turn against Grado and Joe Hendry, Katarina got a long ring entrance and plenty of camera time. As the match was about to start, Grado walked to the ring with a microphone in his hand.

Grado, playing a pure joke character, was wearing a fanny pack. Hendry took the microphone and said he put together a custom video just for Katarina.

They dissed her in the video, with Hendry singing a song called “Access Denied.” With Katarina distracted, Alisha rolled her up for the three count. Although Grado and Hendry are supposed to be the good guys, scorned by Katarina, together they came across as creepy and as though they were bullying a woman.

There was another backstage segment with KM and Bahh, but this time Scarlett Bordeaux appeared out of nowhere and motivated Bahh.

We got an interview segment with Johnny Impact, who was “recovering at home” after he was triple-teamed a week ago by Aries, Moose, and Kross. In what looked like a FaceTime video, Impact said that Aries was insecure about his abilities and that he would make him pay at Bound for Glory.

LAX (Santana & Ortiz) defeated The Fraternity

Konnan was at ringside. The match was highlighted by Trent Gibson running from the ramp into the ring, but Ortiz intercepted him and gave him a chokeslam onto the ramp. LAX won with a Doomsday Device and pinfall over Gibson.

King then came to the ring with Hernandez and Homicide from the OGz, continuing the feud that seemingly will never end. They taunted Konnan’s crew, knowing that a ceasefire in the gang warfare was called a week ago.

King said he regretted that the little kid he struck in the car three weeks ago “is still breathing,” in an attempt to get Konnan to hit him and break the ceasefire. Ortiz and Santana held Konan back from presumably hitting King.

There was another backstage interview segment with Aries, Moose, and Kross. Aries said that after tonight, Bahh will be “gone” and then he will go on to Bound for Glory to defeat Johnny Impact.

Backstage, Bahh suddenly had the confidence in himself for the Aries match, motivated by Bordeaux. Rich Swann approached him and tried to fire him up. Swann turned around and ran into Matt Sydal, who is still trying to get Swann to open his third eye. Swann blew him off and walked away.

There was a Hall of Fame segment where they said next week they would announce its newest member.

X Division Champion Brian Cage defeated Kongo Kong

Cage moves really well for a big jacked-up guy with muscles.

He took Kong to one knee with some kicks, but struggled early with Kong’s power. Both of these guys seem like people WWE would be interested in. Even though he weighs more than 300 pounds, Kong hit a dive over the top rope from the outside ramp onto Cage for a near fall.

Cage powerslammed Kong and then hit a moonsault from the second rope. Kong hit a rolling bomb into the corner on Cage for a near fall. Cage went for a tornado punch, but Kong caught him and chokeslammed him. Cage reversed the momentum, however, and pinned Kong with an F-5, a move he struggled to apply, but it worked.

After the match, Cage grabbed the microphone, huffing and puffing, and said he accepted oVe’s challenge and that he was going to decimate everyone.

Impact World Champion Austin Aries defeated Fallah Bahh to retain his title

Bahh came to the ring with the other wrestlers trying to fire him up during his walk. Aries, who has to be the slowest walker in professional wrestling, came out accompanied by Moose and Kross.

The match began with Aries showing off his athleticism, avoiding the rotund Bahh’s one-dimensional attacks. Aries then locked up with Bahh and Bahh put him in a side headlock. Aries elbowed and slapped his way out of it, whipping Bahh into the ropes.

Bahh got tired chasing Aries back and forth in the ring before he collapsed to one knee to catch his breath and Aries laughed. Aries did jumping jacks and flips as Bahh tried to recover. Bahh then got mad and started chopping Aries and pounding on him in the corner.

Whenever Bahh got the upper hand, however, Aries used his athleticism to escape.

Aries went for a sunset flip and Bahh tried to sit on him, but Aries slipped out. At one point, Aries stepped on Bahh’s back and pulled his hair back, which looked painful.

Aries, in a show of his arrogance, attempted a suplex — but Bahh countered and suplexed Aries instead. Bahh hit a Samoan drop, but Aries kicked out. Bahh hit a belly-to-belly suplex on Aries for a near fall. Bahh then did his patented roll over Aries. In a show of athleticism, Aries spun out of it and applied a reverse neck crank, a move Aries calls the Last Chancery, but Bahh slithered to the ropes to break the hold.

Aries went for a dropkick into Bahh in the corner, but Bahh crescent kicked Aries in the face. Bahh went for a Yokozuna splash, but Aries popped up and powerbombed Bahh and then applied the Last Chancery for the win.

Aries continued to attack Bahh after the match. KM tried to help Bahh, but Moose and Kross laid KM out. Moose put a chair on KM’s head and Kross used another chair, slamming it into his face.

The show ended the way it began, with Aries, Moose, and Kross celebrating.

Impact Wrestling vs. The UK results: Sami Callihan vs. Jimmy Havoc

Posted on by F4W Editors

At Wrestling MediaCon in Manchester, England yesterday, the stars of Impact Wrestling took on local British talent.

One interesting thing to note is that this was clearly an important show for the promotion, with their president Ed Nordholm in attendance and the show having streamed on Impact’s Twitch channel. In terms of attendance, it seemed to be a similar sized crowd to the Revolution Pro Wrestling event earlier in the day.

– Rich Swann defeated Matt Sydal and Trevor Lee in a triple threat match

A fun triple threat to open the show, although not to the standard set by RevPro’s British Super J-Cup. This very much stuck to the usual triple-threat formula with guys taking turns to disappear so the two men in the ring could fight one-on-one. It did however start with a fun exchange, as Lee and Swann complained about the smoke used in Sydal’s entrance not clearing quickly enough. Likewise, Lee became irate at Swann refusing to lock-up and instead dance in the center of the ring.

The finish came out of nowhere with Swann rolling up Sydal for the victory. Given the abruptness of the finish and Swann’s interactions with the referee, there was more than a hint that maybe Lee was late with a planned interruption.

– Adam Maxted & Robbie X defeated Lucas Steel & Jake McCluskey

This was a really fun tag team match that played to the babyface/heel formula really well, as the WOS Wrestling regulars (Maxted & Robbie X) made for a good little man-big man team. Maxted began by roughhousing his opponents, and given his level of experience, looked really good here. He then tagged in Robbie X, who used his quickness and balance to run rings around his opponents.

Steel and McCluskey would rally, successfully isolating Robbie X. The Scot ultimately made the tag, with Maxted sending the heels flying. His flying neckbreaker looked particularly good. The finish came with Robbie X hitting a running Shooting Star Press on McCluskey while Maxted held Steel on the outside.

– Su Yung defeated Lana Austin

A surprisingly even match that saw Yung throw a chair into the ring to create the distraction so she could spit mist into Austin’s eyes before hitting the Panic Switch. Austin is a Manchester native, and so despite not being affiliated with a major promotion, she was pretty over throughout the match. She started strong, but Yung would gain the upper hand whenever they brawled outside the ring.

Midway through the match, Yung placed Austin on a chair outside, took her dress off, and then did a cannonball off the ring apron onto her. Strangely after this point, there was no more brawling. Austin dominated the match until the finish. While that may have been odd storytelling, the action was good with Austin looking very impressive in defeat.

– Impact Tag Team Champions LAX (Santana & Ortiz) defeated Jody Fleisch & Johnny Storm to retain their titles

This was a great match as the veteran team of Fleisch and Storm put on an incredible performance before falling to the Street Sweeper. The match started fast, with both Brits turning back the clock with incredible high spots. For example, when LAX moved out of the way of Fleisch, Storm would tag in and dive over the top rope onto them.

The Impact Tag Team Champions established control, isolating Fleisch, who did a terrific job of playing babyface in peril. However, all hell broke loose when he tagged in Storm, as the Brits went crazy in the finishing stretch. Not only did Fleisch hit an Asai moonsault on LAX, but Storm came up with all sorts of innovative ways to throw him onto their opponents.

Terrific match. By the end it was getting the best reactions of the day. Afterwards, Storm and Fleisch teased dissension with LAX — before endorsing them.

– Joe Hendry defeated Eli Drake

The crowd reactions were interesting, with Hendry getting by far the louder negative reaction from a divided crowd and Drake having a loud cheering section. It’s worth noting that Hendry frequently appeared in Manchester as a heel for What Culture Pro Wrestling.

After the craziness of the previous contest, this was a pretty basic match, but it was fine for what it was. The story was very much Drake controlling Hendry, save for the occasional hope spot (such as Hendry going for the Hendry Lock), but Drake ultimately losing due to a lapse in concentration. Drake went to pick Hendry up, but Hendry countered into a cradle for the win.

– Eddie Edwards & Justin Sysum defeated Moose & Nathan Cruz

Edwards and Sysum secured the win after Edwards laid out the opposition with a kendo stick.

– Sami Callihan defeated Jimmy Havoc in a barbed wire baseball bat deathmatch

Havoc was easily the most over person on the entire show, with loud chants for him from the second he entered. This had one violent weapons spot after another, although there wasn’t the high-impact stunt falls you sometimes get in these matches. There was, however, a fair amount of blood shed, particularly from Havoc.

Indeed, there was relatively little brawling on the outside, which was a positive considering they weren’t putting the match on the big screen. They both used chairs, including several nasty spots where they threw them at each other’s head. A fun exchange saw Callihan stapling paper to Havoc’s body, only for Havoc to return the favor by using the paper to give Callihan paper cuts, including one on his tongue. Both then made the cuts worse by pouring lemon juice on each other.

While Callihan was first to retrieve the baseball bat, Havoc got to use it first. He quickly took it apart, wrapping the barbwire around his arm as he teased several Rainmakers. By the time the finish came, Havoc was barefoot, with Callihan having taken his boots off in an attempt to force him to stand on the thumbtacks that were in the ring.

There was a fun spot where Havoc managed to jump over the thumbtacks despite being whipped in their direction. However, he was less lucky when he went for a double-foot stomp from the top rope, jumping feet first into the thumbtacks. Callihan quickly capitalized with a piledriver for the victory.

Fun match that probably ended before it reached a crescendo, but given the number of people who left during the match, they probably took it as far as they could. Given Impact Wrestling’s current direction, Havoc would be worth using on a more regular basis.  

Final thoughts —

A fun show that, with a running time of less than three hours, just flew by. All the action was good, with the less experienced British talent clearly motivated to make the most of the opportunity. However, the veterans Storm, Fleisch, and Havoc stole the show, with the Tag Team title match and the main event both being spectacular in very different ways.   

You can watch Impact Wrestling vs. The UK on Impact Wrestling’s Twitch channel.

Impact Wrestling results: Moose explains his heel turn

Posted on by Josh Molina

On an Impact episode with lots of backstage interviews and video packages, Moose explained his heel turn, Katarina finally turned on Grado, and Johnny Impact challenged Austin Aries for Bound for Glory.

The show began with a recap of last week’s ReDefined episode.

Petey Williams defeated Rich Swann.

Matt Sydal joined Josh Mathews and Don Callis on commentary.

Swann dared Williams to do the splits. When Swann turned his back, Williams tried a schoolboy roll-up for the win.

Swann hit a springboard cutter and then looked at the hard camera with an over-acting look of puzzlement after the near fall. Later, Williams applied the Sharpshooter, but Swann escaped. Swann hit a standing moonsault. Swann hit a 450 splash off the apron to the ringside floor.

Sydal came to the ramp to distract Swann when he went for the Phoenix Splash. He missed, and Williams hit a rolling piledriver for the victory.  

They showed a clip of Austin Aries walking to the arena earlier in the day with Moose and Killer Cross. Aries might be the slowest walker in the business.

Backstage, Sydal ran into Swann and tried to convince him of the benefits of opening his third eye. Swann told him to “stay the hell away from me.”

The Desi Hit Squad defeated Joe Hendry & Grado (w /Katarina)

Gama Singh introduced the Desi Hit Squad.

As usual, Grado largely played the fool in the match. He wrestled in his shirt to start the match and tried to imitate Dusty Rhodes’ dancing and elbow moves. Hendry hit a fallaway slam on both Desi Hit Squad members at the same time. Later, Grado missed a rolling buckle bomb. The Desi Hit Squad then pinned Grado after a knee and powerbomb slam.

Katarina freaked out after the match. She said, “What is wrong with you? Week after week you lose. You are an embarrassment. I don’t love you.”

She turned to Joe Hendry. 

She told Grado she was in love with Hendry. She kissed Hendry, but — to the surprise of everyone — Hendry pushed her away.

He told her that she, not Grado, was the embarrassing one. Katarina, stunned, slapped him and ran up the ramp.

Grado looked befuddled in the middle of the ring while everything was going on. 

They showed another long advertisement for Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager cruise. 

The GWN Flashback Moment of the Week featured Bully Ray vs. Jeff Hardy in a cage at Lockdown.

Bully Ray powerbombed Hardy from nearly the top of the cage. Hulk Hogan, on crutches, and Brooke came down to the ring. D-Von Dudley climbed into the cage and handed Bully Ray a hammer. He used it to hit Hardy and win the TNA Championship.

Backstage, KM thanked Scarlett Bordeaux for bringing he and Fallah Bahh closer together.

Eli Drake came to the ring and called out anyone from the back to face a “former World Champion.”

Out came Stone Rockwell, who apparently has a show called “Adventures with Stone Rockwell” on Impact’s Twitch channel. He introduced himself as Impact Wrestling’s one and only action-adventure superstar.

Drake challenged Rockwell to a match. He attacked him from behind and pinned him with the Gravy Train in seconds. 

Knockouts Champion Tessa Blanchard defeated Su Yung to retain her title

Yung entered the ring without her Undead Brides.

Blanchard stalled at the beginning of the match. She’s really like an old school heel, showing shades of Ric Flair, and emerging as possibly the most charismatic female wrestler in the industry.

Blanchard tried to set up a chair outside the ring, but the referee broke it up. Mathews had a good line when he said “Tessa is a demon in the gym, but Su Yung is just a demon.”

Yung sat Blanchard on the chair and then hit a rolling flip off the apron onto Blanchard. She rolled her into the ring for the near fall. Later, Blanchard hit an RKO off the top rope onto Yung. Yung kicked out and Blanchard screamed loudly in frustration. Blanchard rallied and hit a short-arm Buzzsaw DDT to retain the title.

After the match, the Undead Brides came to the ring carrying a casket. Yung attacked Blanchard from behind. She dragged Blanchard to the casket on the ramp and put her in the casket. As she was about to close it, Allie and Kiera Hogan ran from the back to help Blanchard.

Blanchard pushed Allie away, said “I don’t need your help,” and walked away with her title belt.

In the never-ending storyline, Konnan and King were summoned to an undisclosed location. Three men sat at a table and told them the violence was getting unbearable after King accidentally hit a child while driving a car in an episode two weeks ago.

The mystery men called a ceasefire until Bound for Glory on October 14. They ordered a match between Homicide, Hernandez & King and Santana, Ortiz & Konnan. Konnan tried to shake King’s hand, but he walked away.

oVe (Sami Callihan, Jake Crist & Dave Crist) defeated Zachary Wentz, Ace Austin & Trey Miguel

This was a spotfest to highlight the independent wrestlers. Wentz, Miguel, and Austin hit sequential dives from the ring to the outside on oVe.

oVe rallied. They work well together as a six-man team. Callihan, from Dave Crist’s shoulders, hit an RKO on Austin, who was on the shoulders of Jake Crist, to get the three count. Callihan then hit a double-arm DDT on Austin after the match.  

“I said it before, I will say it again, the best trio walking the planet today,” Callihan screamed to the crowd after the match. Callihan said oVe was from Ohio and that “We are taking over everything.”

Aries walked slowly to the ring with Killer Kross and Moose. The crowd chanted “You sold out” at Moose.

Moose attempted to explain his heel turn from last week. He said when he was in the hospital after his match with Aries at Slammiversry only Kross and Aries cared about him. None of his other so-called friends bothered to visit him, he said.

Aries then took the microphone and went on about what a great athlete Moose is, when Johnny Impact came out.

Impact said he was disappointed with Kross and thought he would set his sights higher than just being someone’s bodyguard. Aries said “not just somebody’s bodyguard, the champ’s!”

Impact challenged Aries to a title match at Bound For Glory.

Aries called Impact to the ring and told Moose and Kross not to interfere. Impact instead challenged Aries to step out of the ring and fight him on the ramp, unless he wants to stay in the ring and prove that “the banana in your pants is just as small as everyone thinks it is.”

Aries was enraged and ran to the ramp. Impact got the best of him, so Moose and Kross joined in and dragged Impact to the ring and beat him down. Moose wrapped a steel chair around Impact’s head and Aries hit the chair with another chair to close the show.  

Impact Wrestling results: Mexican Death Match

Posted on by Josh Molina

This show was marked by lots of silliness, strange events, and subpar wrestling. The main event featured four pinatas, a staple gun, a baseball bat, and Legos. 

Eddie Edwards opened the episode. He was wearing a Rocky shirt underneath a black leather jacket. He was carrying a kendo stick. He called out Impact World Champion Austin Aries, who took the bait and came out to the ring with his bodyguard and tag team partner, Killer Kross.

Aries, carrying his own microphone, while walking the ramp said: “I am the greatest professional wrestler walking the planet.”

After some back-and-forth, Edwards hit Aries with his microphone. Kross nailed Edwards with the kendo stick and then put him in a rear naked choke while Aries slapped on the figure four leglock. Aries then put Edwards’ head inside a steel chair and grabbed another chair. As Aries was about to swing the chair to hit Edwards, former number one contender Moose ran to the ring.

Moose grabbed his own chair and cleaned house on Aries and Kross, chasing them out of the ring. It was Moose’s first appearance since his Slammiversary loss to Aries.

Matt Sydal defeated Zachary Wentz

Wentz, who Josh Mathews called an “Independent darling,” looked good, hitting a corkscrew crossbody block and a big dive over the top rope to the outside on Sydal. Sydal ran under the ring and then came out on the other side. He ran sneakily around the ring and clubbed an unsuspecting Wentz.

Wentz hit a standing moonsault but hit Sydal’s knees when he tried a running Shooting Star Press. Sydal hit a knee, a kick, and then a reverse swinging neckbreaker for the win.

They promoted Impact’s first television tapings in Mexico City on September 13 and 14. Then they showed a promo for Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager cruise, where Mathews said it would be Ring of Honor vs. Impact, advertising Marty Scurll vs. Sami Callihan and LAX vs. The Young Bucks.

In the flashback match of the week, Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian, dressed like the Road Warriors, called out James Storm. In a singles match, Storm pinned Daniels, but AJ Styles, with short hair, came to the ring and clotheslined Storm.

Fallah Bahh was walking backstage and gave a gift back to his partner KM.

Fallah Bahh & KM defeated The Desi Hit Squad (Gursinder Singh & Rohit Raju)

What was in the bag? New ring attire for KM. KM wore blue wrestling pants underneath a white thong, like Bahh wears. KM also took off his shoes and wrestled barefoot.

Last week, Scarlett Bordeaux, during her “Smokeshow” segment, told KM to follow Bahh’s lead more often, so this was KM’s attempt to listen to her.

This was a joke match, with KM painfully trying to wrestle barefoot and get used to his new ring gear.

Bahh threw his typical hand thrusts and chops, and he and KM did their patented roll over both members of the Desi Hit Squad. Bahh got the pin on Raju after a Yokozuna splash in the corner.

Grado ran into Bordeaux in the back and told her that he feels inadequate and can’t impress his girlfriend Katarina, who seems enthralled with Grado’s tag team partner, Joe Hendry. Bordeaux told him that she would help him next week if he joined her for an interview, but first he had to do something for her.

They then cut to clips of Grado, dancing shirtless, at a strip club, with Bordeaux and her doting assistant watching. Grado will be a guest on Bordeaux’s “Smokeshow” next week.

Kiera Hogan (w /Allie) defeated Alisha Edwards

This was a back-and-forth match. Hogan hit a running splash, a knee, and kick in the corner on Edwards. Hogan, who has red and yellow hair, won with a swinging neckbreaker.

After the match, Allie grabbed the microphone and called out Knockouts Champion Su Yung. She promised revenge against Yung, who defeated her friends Madison Rayne and Rosemary.

She said that every time she is about to pin Yung, Tessa Blanchard makes an appearance — so she challenged Blanchard and Yung to a triple threat match next week.

They showed Johnny Impact at a swimming pool talking about how he was going to defeat Kongo Kong, when out of nowhere, Kong attacked him. They fought back-and-forth, but the fight was spliced, and not continuous, looking like it was heavily edited. Kong tried to spear Impact into the pool, but he moved and Kong crashed into the pool.

Backstage, Blanchard accepted Allie’s challenge, but asked that the match be for the championship.

Rich Swann did an interview where he said he joined Impact because it was the buzz of the pro wrestling world and that he wants to be the X Division Champion.

Brandon Tidwell & Mr. Atlantis defeated Trevor Lee & Caleb Konley (w/ Eli Drake)

For some reason, Mr. Atlantis pinned Konley with a roll-up in a quick match. The highlight of the match was Drake on commentary. Don Callis at one point asked if Drake could replace Mathews, and Drake said yes — if someone wants to give him a second paycheck.

OGz (w/ King) run over young LAX fan

Konnan and LAX were celebrating after winning their street fight a week ago against King and the OGz. They showed them, at night, at some sort of house party, talking about how the feud was over. As they were leaving to go to Konnan’s car with a group, including a young kid wearing a championship belt, King and the OGz raced across the street in an attempt to hit the group. Everyone else got away, except for the kid.

In a poorly-filmed segment, the group turned around and saw the boy laying out in the middle of the street. The group ran over to him and looked down on the boy to end the segment.

Sami Callihan defeated Pentagon Jr. in a Mexican Death Match

This was essentially a falls count anywhere, no disqualification match, with lots of pinatas. The match started with both men swinging steel chairs at one another. Mathews said the moment was a “big fight feel,” which is the most overused phrase by wrestlers in the Impact and the WWE.

There were of tough spots in this match. Callihan powerbombed Pentagon onto two chairs inside the ring, but only hit one of the chairs. 

They used four pinatas in the match, all of which contained some type of weapon. One of them included a staple gun. Pentagon stapled Callihan’s arms and crotch and then his hat to his head. He then ripped that hat off.

Hair clippers were inside another pinata. Pentagon attempted to shave Callihan’s beard, but Callihan fought him and threw the clippers outside the ring. A third pinata contained a baseball bat that Callihan used a few times. He put a garbage can over Pentagon’s head and then hit the trash can. A fourth pinata contained Legos.

Callihan piledrived Pentagon on the Legos for the near fall. Pentagon hit a low block, then piledrived Callihan on the Legos, but Callihan kicked out.

Pentagon brought a table into the ring. Callihan took control and eventually piledrived Pentagon onto the table for the win.