Tag: impact slammiversary

The 20th anniversary of Impact Wrestling will be celebrated Sunday at Slammiversary — a show that will see every title defended and the return of former Impact/TNA stars.

Impact World Champion Josh Alexander defends against former champion Eric Young in the main event.

Knockouts Champion Tasha Steelz will defend her gold in the first-ever Queen of the Mountain match against Deonna Purrazzo, Chelsea Green, Mia Yim and Jordynne Grace.

The X-Division title will be on the line in an Ultimate X match as champion Ace Austin defends against Mike Bailey, Kenny King, Trey Miguel, Andrew Everett and Alex Zayne.

Impact Tag Team Champions The Briscoes will defend against the Good Brothers while Knockouts Tag Team Champions The Influence defend against Taya Valkyrie & Rosemary.

Moose takes on Sami Callihan in a Monster’s Ball match, and Honor No More battles the returning Nick “Magnus” Aldis, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Frankie Kazarian & a mystery man in a ten-man tag match.

The pre-show will see Impact Digital Media Champion Rich Swann defend against Brian Myers, and the return of the infamous reverse battle royal.

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Rich Swann defeated Brian Myers to retain the Digital Media Championship on Countdown to Slammiversary

Myers was introduced first wearing the Digital Media championship around his waist. When the bell rang, Swann came out fighting hard. Myers fought back though and it was a great back and forth match until Myers landed a spear but only managed a two count. After some more back and forth action, Swann managed to land a cutter on Myers, headed to the top rope and nailed a 450 splash to retain the Digital Media championship.

Shark Boy defeated Johnny Swinger to win the Reverse Battle Royal on Countdown to Slammiversary

The final eight men came down to Bhupinder Gujjar, Chase Stevens, Chris Bey, David Young, Johnny Swinger, Shark Boy, Shera & Steve Maclin. Swinger turned on Young to land his spot in the final two and attempted to win the match by tossing Shark Boy over the top rope but it was pinfall or submission at that point. Shark Boy ended up nailing Swinger with the Chummer for the victory.

Match highlight was 72 year old “Action” Mike Jackson walking around the entire guardrail surrounding the ring and then going old school on Shera.

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The opening video focused on the birth of TNA Wrestling, some of the greatest moments in the history of the company, some familiar voices in Jeff Jarrett, Bob Ryder, Mike Tenay and Don West and then switched to showcasing the current stars of Impact Wrestling and what tonight will mean to them.

Mike Bailey defeated Ace Austin, Alex Zayne, Andrew Everett, Kenny King and Trey Miguel in a Ultimate X Match to become the new X-Division champion

As you would expect, it was very quick in the beginning with every man making a stake to gain the advantage early on. Everett was one of the first to gain momentum after hitting a a springboard twisting corkscrew to the outside to wipe out his opponents instead of making the climb for the title.

After action returned to the ring, Austin, King and Zayne were locked in a scrum and Bailey climbed the cables and dropped them all with his Ultimate Weapon. A Tower of Power by Zayne on every man but Miguel followed next as Trey was able to hold on to metal pillar behind him.

Miguel waved to Zayne and then nailed him with a Super Canadian Destroyer off the top rope. With every man recovering at this point, Miguel, Bailey, King and Austin were the first to their feet and scaled the four cables and it became a four man fight above the ring.

King and Miguel dropped first and Bailey and Austin continued their fight until Everett managed to interfere by climbing on top of the cables just above the hanging X-Division championship. When he attempted to grab the title, Bailey hit him with a hurricanrana dropping him down hard to the mat below.

With Austin and Bailey continuing their battle with the belt fingertips away, Zayne attempted to interfere but was dropped down to the mat as well. Bailey then capitalized and knocked Austin from the cables, positioned himself to secure the title and became the new X-Division champion.

-The announcers paid respect to Bob Ryder and stated that tonight’s show was dedicated to him.

-Backstage, Scott Hudson is with the Impact Originals. Hudson congratulates the Motor City Machine Guns on being the most Impactful tag team in Impact history. Hudson then attempted to find out who their fifth man was tonight but was unsuccessful.

– A video promo was shown featuring Sting praising his time with TNA Wrestling.

Rosemary & Taya Valkyrie defeated The Influence (Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood) to become the new Knockouts Tag Team champions

Rayne and Valkyrie started the match and it was immediate power by Taya. Rosemary came into the match but the tag team champions started dominating by making quick tags and keeping Rosemary from bringing Valkyrie back into the match.

Dashwood eventually failed to capitalize in the middle of the ring and was sent back into her corner allowing Rosemary to finally get the tag to the hot Valkyrie. Rayne was tagged in as well as the power game once again continued from Taya, landing a modified Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count.

Rosemary tagged herself back in and landed an exploder on Rayne before throwing the camera a wicked smile. She attempted a spear next but as she was racing towards Rayne, Dashwood came out of nowhere with a running dropkick wiping her out. Rayne went for the pin but Valkyrie entered the ring and drove Dashwood into the pin attempt.

With all four women now in the ring, the tag team champions gained the advantage but ended up nailing each other in the middle of the ring before getting hit with double spears. After kicking out at two, the champions mounted a comeback after some failed communication from the challengers and after nailing Valkyrie, hit the Collab on Rosemary.

Valkyrie was able to make the save and after some quick offense, Rosemary was able to come back from the dead, nailed Rayne with her modified ddt and picked up the win to become one-half of the new Knockouts world tag team champions.

-A video promo was shown featuring Kurt Angle praising his time with TNA Wrestling.

Sami Callihan defeated Moose in a Monster’s Ball Match

As Moose was making his entrance, Callihan attacked him from behind at the top of the entrance ramp bringing chaos to the match very early on.

Callihan continued ringside by grabbing cookie sheets and smashing them into Moose’s head, busting him open in the process. Before Callihan could celebrate, Moose nailed him with a trash can lid and busted him open as well.

Moose then grabbed some water and a hot dog from a fan at ringside and after eating half of the hot dog, threw the hot dog back at the fan before heading to attack Callihan once again. Moose nailed Callihan with some hard punches leaving his white pants now bloodied from Callihan’s forehead. Moose continued the assault by putting Callihan threw a ringside table before the match finally entered the ring.

Moose attempted to do more damage inside of the ring but after he failed to break the ankle of Callihan with a chair, he missed a spear and landed inside a trash can instead. Callihan grabbed a chair and started pounding the trash can with it before tipping the trash can upside down in the middle of the ring with Moose still in it.

Callihan headed to the outside and grabbed a barbed wire door from underneath the ring as the announcers made reference to Abyss. Callihan set the table up in the corner of the ring and as Moose went to charge Sami, he stopped realizing what had just been setup. Moose attempted to climb up to the top rope and after a failed attempt, managed to get there but Callihan shoved him off the top rope through a table that was setup ringside. Callihan then headed to the outside once again and grabbed a bag from underneath the ring.

Callihan headed back into the ring and scattered thumbtacks all over the mat. He couldn’t capitalize however as Moose was able to grab him and land a sky high into the hundreds of tacks below. Moose then dragged Callihan’s body through the tacks but Sami mounted a comeback and put Moose through the barbed wire door setup in the corner but only for a two count.

With both men bloody and exhausted, we saw a battle in the middle of the ring featuring punches, chops and trash can lids. Callihan gained the upper hand and nailed Moose with the Cactus Driver but only could manage a two count. With Callihan in shock at this point, Moose nailed him with a low blow. It didn’t make much difference at this point however as Callihan was enraged and hungry for the victory.

Callihan nailed a low blow of his own followed by a powerbomb onto a trash can. Callihan then nailed another Cactus Driver but Moose kicked out at one. Callihan grabbed a barbed wire baseball bat, nailed Moose with multiple shots and finally gained the victory after hitting one final Cactus Driver.

The Good Brothers defeated The Briscoes to become the new Impact Tag Team champions

It was all four men in the ring in the beginning but it quickly headed to the outside as both teams were geared up for a brawl. After several minutes battling on the outside, Jay threw a chair into the ring for Mark and it was quickly setup in the corner.

Anderson was in the ring with Mark and after Jay was tagged in, Gallows distracted the referee allowing Anderson to send Jay into the chair in the corner. Momentum didn’t last however as both teams were just too hungry for the titles and the match went back and forth for the next several minutes.

The Good Brothers setup a Magic Killer attempt on Mark but Jay was able to make the save. The Briscoes gained the upper hand and after a double team move on Anderson, they only managed a two count. After some more offense from the Briscoes, they attempted to hit the Doomsday Device but Gallows blocked it and Anderson nailed a massive stunner. The Good Brothers then nailed Jay with the Magic Killer and Gallows blocked Mark allowing Anderson to pick up the win giving us new world tag team champions.

After the match, Mark got into the face of the new world tag team champions but before anything more could take place, music hit the arena and we saw the return of America’s Most Wanted. We are then greeted by James Storm and Chris Harris headed to the ring with beer in hand. Storm grabbed the mic, praised TNA Wrestling, praised tag team wrestling and toasted the men in the ring.

– A video promo was shown featuring Don West and Mike Tenay putting TNA Wrestling on the map in the early days of the company.

– David Penzer introduced Christy Hemme who was seen in the middle of the ring. Hemme with a mic in hand then introduced “Coach” Scott D’Amore equipped with his Team Canada jersey and Canadian flag/hockey stick combo.

Impact Originals (Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Frankie Kazarian, Nick Aldis & Davey Richards) defeated Honor No More (Eddie Edwards, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, PCO & Vincent) (w/ Maria Kanellis)

Christy Hemme was the official ring announcer for this match and after Frankie Kazarian was introduced, Traci Brooks, alongside their son and Earl Hebner were shown at ringside. After the Motor City Machine Guns and Nick Aldis were introduced, we finally were introduced to the fifth member of the Impact Originals, none other than Dixie Carter was introduced. Carter praised the company and thanked fans everywhere before introducing Davey Richards as the fifth member of the Impact Originals. Holy…

The bell rang as there was action everywhere before MCMG was able to settle things down in the ring keeping Bennett at bay. We saw quick tags by both teams before we finally got the tag in everyone wanted in Edwards and Richards. After a brief staredown, Edwards quickly tagged out before anything could take place.

We saw more MCMG offense as Aldis was in control of Taven but as the match started to shift, PCO was tagged into and landed a cannonball in the corner to give HNM the momentum they needed. Honor No More with quick tags and Shelley was in trouble until PCO missed a Deanimator onto the ring apron. Shelley was back in the ring and with perseverance, held off the onslaught of offense by the rest of the members of HNM before finally landing the hot tag to Kazarian.

As Kazarian was ripping apart Vincent, PCO was tagged back in. Kazarian made the tag to Aldis and he was cleaning house before being nailed from behind by Taven who potentially had the line of the night stating to Aldis, “Don’t you touch him! He’s my monster!”

Both teams started battling again and after the ring was down to two men, it was now finally a battle between Richards and Edwards. Richards nailed Edwards with massive kicks before nailing him with a dragon screw leg whip. As Richards locked in a submission, Taven attempted to make the save but was locked into a submission by Richards as well. Shelley then locked in a submission on Bennett while Aldis locked in a submission on Vincent as Sabin and Kazarian bolted towards PCO.

PCO was too much to handle for them, fighting them both off before helping HNM to regain momentum in the match. It wouldn’t last long as the Impact Originals managed to knock PCO off his feet allowing Richards to nail him with the double stomp off the top rope but only for a two count. Richards made the tag to Sabin and Sabin attempted to hit the Cradle Shock but Maria jumped up on the apron causing a distraction.

As Maria was causing a scene, Traci Brooks jumped over the guardrail and hauled Maria off of the apron. PCO grabbed Brooks and brought her into the ring but Kazarian made the save. Kazarian then setup and nailed the Flux Capacitor but the referee was now down and out and Kenny King has hit the ring. Earl Hebner is now on the other side of the guardrail checking on his son Brian while D’Lo Brown headed to the ring.

PCO is nailed with the Sky High and the Frog Splash but there’s no referee and HNM attempted to capitalize once again. It wouldn’t happen however as the Impact Originals were just way too strong and finally managed to down PCO. Earl Hebner saw the opportunity, ripped off his shirt revealing a TNA Wrestling referee uniform and counted to three as D’Amore let us know that he reinstated Hebner for tonight’s event.

After the match was over, the Impact Originals celebrated their victory with their arms raised high together in the ring.

– A video promo was shown featuring AJ Styles praising his time with TNA Wrestling.

Jordynne Grace defeated Chelsea Green, Deonna Purrazzo, Mia Yim & champion Tasha Steelz (w/ Savannah Evans) in a Queen of the Mountain Match  to become the new Knockouts World champion

Mickie James was the special guest enforcer.

After the bell rang, Steelz and Evans stayed on the outside to setup tables as the other four women battled in the ring. After some battling in the ring, they took to Steelz on the outside and Green landed a top rope flying splash while Purrazzo nailed a top rope cannonball to their competitors.

Steelz was rolled into the ring and after a botched pinfall, Green got the three count on the current Knockouts champion. After Steelz refused to go to the penalty box, Mickie James did what she needed to and forced both her and Evans into it. With Green now eligible for the title due to her pinfall over Steelz, both Yim and Purrazzo were now pushing for a win as well.

Steelz got released from the box and her and Evans hit the ring to double-team anyone in their sight. James took exception and entered the ring as well and got in the face of Evans before ejecting her from ringside.

Yim went for the pin on Green and managed to get the three but as Green was entering the box, she nailed James and knocked her out. With both Green and Yim now qualified to win the title, Purrazzo also joined the two, forcing Steelz to tapout and once again send the current champion back to the penalty box.

With Steelz out once again, Yim and Green go at it and it was another botched pin attempt as the referee was not having a good night in this match. The two continued to battle before Steelz was back in the match but not for long as she’s face planted into a waiting ladder twice by Green. Yim then sent Green into the ladder with a diving dropkick before nailing Grace and Purrazzo on the outside with a senton followed up by a package piledriver to Grace for the pin sending Grace to the box.

Yim headed back into the ring and she’s battling Steelz as Green entered the ring. Before Green could do much, James entered the ring and blasted Chelsea with a massive kick, sending her outside of the ring. James then tossed the title to Yim but Purrazzo was now back on the hunt battling Yim on the ladder. Green recovered and took out Yim and it was now Purrazzo and Green climbing the ladder.

Yim got back to her feet and tipped the ladder, sending both Purrazzo and Green crashing through tables outside on the floor in what easily could have been the move of the night. Yim had no time to gain momentum as Grace was released from the box and was quickly pinned by both Grace and Steelz sending her to the box. 

Grace then focused on Steelz and nailed her with the Muscle Buster sending her to the penalty box as well. Grace grabbed the title, climbed the ladder, hooked it high above her and we had a new Knockouts World champion.

– Backstage, Gia Miller introduced Goldy Locks. She thanked her and then introduced the most Impactful Knockout of all-time, Gail Kim. Gail thanked Impact Wrestling for allowing women to be part of the company.

– We saw a promo for Bound For Glory taking place later this year in October.

Josh Alexander defeated Eric Young (w/Violent By Design) to retain the Impact World Championship

Young made his entrance first and when Alexander entered the arena, commentary made note that Alexander, who was wearing gear influenced by Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe and AJ Styles, was undefeated at Slammiversary. When Alexander was getting introduced by ring announcer David Penzer, boos were heard for the current champion as his family was shown ringside.

The bell ring and neither man could gain the upper hand. Alexander finally landed a rolling senton but missed a moonsault from the top. Young attempted one of his own but missed as well and both men soon started to feel more aggressive going head to head on the way up.

Alexander with the momentum and EY was down in the corner, Alexander looked at one of his kneepads and paid tribute to Samoa Joe with some face washing and a running boot. While this was taking place, Deaner was seen setting up a table ringside. Alexander still with the momentum, attempted to nail Young through the table but EY was successful in blocking it.

A frustrated Young started ripping up the ring skirt on the outside before heading back into the ring but Alexander was just way too powerful and even attempted to land a C4 Spike but was unsuccessful.

We’re now met with some back and forth action and tributes to the past stars of Impact including the Stroke, the Black Hole Slam, the B.M.E., the Styles Clash and the ankle lock being brought into the match between Alexander and Young.

With the ankle lock being locked in deep on Young, Deaner tossed some yellow powder into the eyes of referee Brian Hebner, blinding him as Young was tapping out. Alexander took out Deaner and then Joe Doering before charging Young on the apron with his flying crossbody attack. Alexander then returned to focus on Doering, sending him through a table with an Olympic Slam from the ring apron to the outside.

Deaner recovered and entered the ring waiving the VBD flag while Alexander grabbed D’Amore’s flag that was left ringside. Alexander took out Deaner by snapping the flag over his back but was soon met with a massive guitar shot over the head courtesy of Young. Young revived the referee and could only manage a two count. 

A frustrated Young began ripping up the ring even further and nailed a massive piledriver on the exposed wood to Alexander. Expecting this to be the end for Alexander, Josh managed to kick out just before three to a very surprised and frustrated Young.

Young then went for a second rope piledriver on Alexander but failed. Alexander landed a uranage on Young before nailing his C4 Spike on the exposed wood to get the win and retain the world championship.

After the match ended, Alexander climbed the turnbuckle and hoisted the championship as the show came to an end.

Final Thoughts:

A highly entertaining show from top to bottom. Some great tributes, some surprising promos but as a Impact Wrestling fan since the early beginning, I was glad to see them celebrate 20 years tonight.

They changed the business and the tributes in the main event were amazing. Even the reference to “Janice” in the Monster’s Ball match made me want to go back and watch some old Abyss matches.

Go out of your way to watch the full show tonight as it’s well worth it. My thoughts, prayers and strength are with Don West and without him, I may have never truly been a TNA Wrestling fan.