Impact Wrestling and AAA ran a joint event on Sunday.
The show took place at the Showcenter Complex just outside of Monterrey, Mexico, and was headlined by The Motor City Machine Guns & El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Trey Miguel and Los Vipers.
Matches taped at the show will air on future episodes of Impact Wrestling on AXS TV.
The results below are courtesy of Cagematch.net.
AAA/Impact Wrestling Ultra Clash on November 26, 2023:
Kenny King is reportedly gone from Impact Wrestling.
Fightful Select reported on Thursday that King has asked for and was granted his release from the company “this week”. His most recent run with the company dates back to last year, when he has part of the Honor No More stable. Back in September, he had lost a title vs. career match against Tommy Dreamer at Victory Road, where Dreamer defeated King to win the Digital Media Championship. His last match for the company took place in October, where he and Sheldon Jean lost to Ace Austin and Chris Bey.
King has spent most of his career going back and forth between Ring of Honor and Impact Wrestling. After spending three years with Impact Wrestling between 2012 and 2015, he returned to Ring of Honor in 2015, where he won the ROH Television title twice and the ROH Tag Team titles two more times. Towards the end of his run in ROH, he had been a part of the La Faccion Ingobernable stable along with Rush, Dragon Lee, and Bestia del Ring.
When ROH went on hiatus at the end of 2021, King returned to Impact Wrestling along with a group of other former ROH stars. In July, he defeated Joe Hendry to win the Digital Media title.
A highly anticipated matchup airs on tonight’s episode of Impact Wrestling.
For the first time ever, Will Ospreay and Josh Alexander share the ring on Impact tonight. The match was taped at Impact’s post-Bound for Glory television tapings and has received rave reviews,
Ospreay defeated “Speedball” Mike Bailey at Bound for Glory and also competed at Impact’s Turning Point special, picking up a win over Eddie Edwards.
Alexander was unsuccessful in his attempt to win the Impact World Championship from Alex Shelley at Bound for Glory.
Another first-time-ever bout on tonight’s show will see Trinity face off with Sonny Kiss.
Myron Reed makes his Impact debut tonight, joining up with his Rascalz stablemates against the luchador trio of Laredo Kid, Black Taurus & Juventud Guerrera.
Steve Maclin & KiLynn King vs. Bully Ray & Jordynne Grace, Ace Austin & Chris Bey vs. Kenny King & Sheldon Jean, and Moose vs. Heath are also part of the lineup for tonight.
Impact World Tag Team Champions ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) (Bullet Club) defeated Kenny King & Sheldon Jean to retain
Good opening tag match, which aired just as it was reported that Kenny King had been granted his release from Impact.
King and Austin started the match, locking up. Bey and Austin dominated King in the early parts of the match until Sheldon jean pulled Bey from the ring allowing King to throw Austin to the outside, while Jean sent Bey flying into the ring post to begin getting the heat. Bey managed to tag in Austin after dodging some attacks and leaping off the back of King. Austin hit a kick on King for a 2-count.
Bey tagged back in and they went for the 1-2-Sweet, but Jean made another save, pulling Austin from the ring and hitting a leg lariat. Bey took Jean out with a dropkick but turned into a Tiger Driver for a 2-count. King hit a nice blockbuster off the apron on Bey and Jean hit a pop up neckbreaker on Bey for a 2-count.
King missed a toreno to the floor and Bey hit him with a tope con giro before ABC hit the 1-2-Sweet for the pinfall on Jean.
–MK Ultra claimed to be the ones that controlled the Knockouts Division, and that they were going to reshape reality, and that they were unstoppable.
Moose (w/ Brian Myers) defeated Heath
Itâs a bit ironic that this show featured two guys back to back who are leaving (or likely leaving) Impact, with Heath being the second one. Solid match here, but nothing too special. Moose actually getting a win and looking to establish some momentum before Hard to Kill is a good thing though, since heâll be challenging for the title then.
Moose used his power and size to dominate the early parts of this match, dumping Heath to the floor in a hard floor bump, but Heath fought back with a hurricanrana to counter a powerbomb and hit a tope to the floor where it looked like Moose saved his life by catching him. Heath hit a flying knee and leg lariat back in the ring, and a powerslam after Moose hit the ropes for a 2-count. Myers interfered, allowing Moose to hit a spear and get the pinfall.
–Moose and Myers continued the assault on Heath after the bell, but Moose bailed as Rhino ran in and hit a Gore on Myers.
–Myers and Moose cut a promo on Rhino backstage, where Moose promised to end the career of Rhino at Final Resolution.
Laredo Kid, Black Taurus, Juventud Guerrera defeated The Rascalz (Trey Miguel, Zachery Wentz, & Myron Reed) in a Lucha Rules Match
The finishing sequence of this match was awesome, and Black Taurus looked awesome and like one of the most dangerous wrestlers in the world as he defeated Reed.
Myron Reed made his debut in this match, along with Juventud Guerrera returning to Impact after a very long time away from the company. Konnan also joined the commentary team. Seeing Juvi is always cool. The pace of this match was fast, as expected, and the lucha rules allowed there to be dives early on with Miguel hitting a top con giro to Black Taurus.
The Rascalz were able to isolate Kid, letting Miguel hit the Three Amigos on Kid. Matt Rehwoldt compared it to Eddie Guerrero and Konnan said to Hannifan âOur partner is completely wrong.â I laughed. Konnan talked about Impact returning to the TNA name, saying they have gone full circle. Kid went for an OâConnor Roll but Miguel blocked it and there was a triple team back suplex, into a neckbreaker, into a standing shooting star press for a 2-count. That as awesome.
Miguel tried to super plex Miguel, but Kid rolled through and powerbombed him off the ropes, allowing Juvi to tag in. Juvi hit a crossbody on Reed and Wentz, before hitting a combo flatliner and DDT on them both. Juvi hit a hurricanrana and a basement dropkick on Miguel before hitting a lariat before tagging out to Kid who ate a super kick from Wentz. Taurus came in and hit a pop up Samoan drop on Wentz before setting up Juvi for the 450 splash.
Wentz and Miguel cut him off and they immediately went to work on Laredo Kid, hitting and awesome triple team dropkick that involved Reed and Wentz flipping Miguel into the air before hitting the basement dropkick. That was awesome. Laredo Kid hit a flipping DDT on Wentz, while Myron Reed flew over the ropes into a cutter to the floor on Taurus who was on the apron. Wentz hit a UFO Cutter on Kid, and Juvi hit a Gory Special on Wentz. Black Taurus came in and hit Destination Hellhole on Reed for the pinfall.
Bully Ray & Jordynne Grace defeated Steve Maclin & KiLynn King
This was a decent tag match, with Grace going over as she should have as they build to her title match at Hard to Kill.
Grace and Ray did not seem happy to be teaming together, but decided to work together against their common enemies. Ray & Maclin started the match, with Maclin showing clear cuts and scars from the barbed wire he fell into in Monsters Ball at Bound for Glory. Maclin hit a flying forearm on Ray to drop him before tagging in to KiLynn King.
King did not hesitate to go after Ray, who was her trainer, hitting a series of hard forearms. Ray hit a back elbow and led the fans in chants for Jordynne Grace, so it seems he really has turned babyface. Grace hit a shoulder block on King, but King shrugged it off. Grace went for a suplex on Grace, but King fought it off and hit a kick before hitting a choke bomb into the corner.
Grace fought out of a firemanâs carry and tagged out to Ray, who was thrown off the top rope by King. Maclin tagged in and continued beating on Ray, but Ray hit a spear, sort of, after Maclin hit the ropes. Ray tagged out and Grace went right after King, hitting a series of strikes ending with a low European uppercut on King and a Vader Bomb for a 2-count that Maclin broke up. Ray dumped Maclin to the floor allowing Grace to hit the Juggernaut Driver for the win.
–Bully Ray grabbed the Call Your Shot trophy and held it while standing behind Grace. Instead of hitting her with it, he told her to take it, and she pulled it away from him, while Ray looked on with intensity as he clearly wanted to win it at the PPV. However, Ray offered his hand to Grace, and they shook, and Ray raised her hand in victory.
Trinity defeated Sonny Kiss
Kiss and Trinity had an equal exchange in the opening portion of the match, with both going for a dropkick at the same time and kicking up afterwards. Kiss countered a wheelbarrow attempt from Trinity, spinning Trintiy around the ring. Kiss hit a snap suplex and a standing moonsault for a 2-count.
Kiss hit a handspring back elbow to Trinity, who was caught in the tree of woe for a 2-count. Kiss got double underhooks on Trinity, but Trinity rolled through and then hit a bulldog on Kiss. Trinity hit a springboard kick and the splits into a legdrop on Kiss for a two count. Trinity hit a bulldog into the middle turnbuckle and hit a split legged moonsault for a 2-count.
Kiss draped Trinity across the middle rope in the corner and hit a handspring into a legdrop in the corner. Trinity dodged an attack, hit a headscissors into a DDT before hitting a full nelson bomb for the pinfall.
–Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin were backstage, and the Motor City Machine Guns talked about Josh Alexander facing Ospreay tonight, while talking about Josh Alexander and Zach Sabre Jr. teaming together to face them at Impact Wrestling Final Resolution.
Will Ospreay (The United Empire) defeated Josh Alexander
My goodness, this was a great match. This should surprise anyone as Ospreay and Alexander are two of the best wrestlers alive today. This was not quite as good as Ospreay/Bailey, but I suspect there will be some that liked this one more. Excellent match.
Ospreay picked up the speed after a brief lock up, hitting a hurricanrana that sent Alexander to the floor before hitting a tope to the floor. As they came back from break, Ospreay was chopping Alexander in the corner. After slamming Alexanderâs head into a turnbuckle a third time, Alexander fired back with a forearm that sent Ospreay crashing to the mat. Ospreay went for an enziguri, but Alexander caught it and went for an ankle lock.
Ospreay tried to escape, so Alexander transitioned into a Scorpion Death Lock but Ospreay made the ropes. Ospreay hit a mafia kick and then a backbreaker on Alexander. Ospreay went for an OsCutter, but Alexander caught him and went for a German suplex, but Ospreay charged the corner, ducking at the last second to drive Alexander face first into the turnbuckle again, and then hit a standing shooting star press for a 2-count.
Alexander ducked a clothesline and hit a series of German suplexes. Alexander flipped out of one, hitting an enziguri and went for a hurricanrana, but Alexander stopped it and powered Ospreay into a powerbomb onto his knee for a 2-count. Alexander stopped a springboard from Ospreay with a forearm and his a crossbody to the seated Ospreay, who was on the apron.
Alexander hit a Northern Lights Suplex for a 2-count. Ospreay managed to hit a spinning kick off the ropes after a few minutes where Alexander was throwing Ospreay repeatedly into the turnbuckles. Ospreay hit a series of Kawada kicks and then some hard chops. Alexander ate the chops and begged for more, and Ospreay obliged.
Alexander caught Ospreay with one arm in a torture rack, but almost lost Ospreay. He cleverly waked to the ropes, let Ospreay stabilize himself on the ropes, and then hit a torture rack bomb for a 2-count. Alexander picked Ospreay up in a firemanâs carry and hit an avalanche rolling firemanâs carry off the middle ropes for a 2-count. Ospreay countered a clothesline from Alexander by grabbing the arm and flipping backwards into a tiger driver on Alexander for a 2-count.
Ospreay hit a Yakuza kick in the corner and the Cheeky Nandos kick before going for something off the top rope, but Alexander cut him off. Alexander went for a German suplex off the top rope, but Ospreay drove the back of his head into the face of Alexander to send him off the ropes and going for a twisting moonsault, but Alexander moved and Ospreay landed on his feet but his knee or ankle went out.
Alexander immediately responded with an ankle lock. Every time Ospreay would escape and go for a move, Alexander would immediately counter into the ankle lock, finally forcing Ospreay to grab the ropes. Ospreay managed to hit a Stundog Millionaire when Alexander picked Ospreay up on his shoulders, and then hit an OsCutter while limping for a 2-count. Opsreay went for the Hidden Blade, but his leg gave out and he collapsed.
Alexander responded with some headbutts, as both men were on all fours before hitting hard forearms back and forth. Alexander managed to hit a Chaos Theory for a 2-count. Ospreay managed to hit the OsCutter on Alexander, and held on transitioning into the Storm Breaker, but as he spun Alexander in the air, he transitioned into a tombstone on Ospreay for a 2-count. Alexander went for the C4 Spike, but Ospreay floated out and nailed Hidden Blade for a 2-count. Ospreay immediately transitioned to the Storm Driver 93, and hit another Hidden Blade and a Storm Breaker for the win.
Final Thoughts
This was a one match show, and Impact knew it. The wrestling on the show other than that match really didnât matter, despite most of the show being really great. In fact, this episode was very much so total nonstop action in a very literal sense. The rest of the show featured a few hints for Final Resolution and Hard to Kill.
Mickie James is no longer listed as an active competitor on the Impact Wrestling roster.
Her profile has been removed from the company’s roster page. PWInsider is reporting that James is taking “a break” from Impact, citing sources within the company.
It was also noted that the relationship between James and Impact remains strong, she’s considered a company legend, and could return “at any time.”
James is believed to have been working without a contract in Impact since returning in 2021. In June, it was reported that she was still a free agent despite regularly appearing on Impact programming and winning the Knockouts title.
Fightful would later report that Impact considers James as “a woman of her word” and that “there’s never been any real concern of her going back on commitments.”
James was forced to vacate the Knockouts title in April due to injury. She returned in September and would unsuccessfully challenge Trinity for the title she never lost at Bound for Glory 2023 on October 21.
The new incarnation of TNA Wrestling is returning to Orlando in January 2024.
It was announced today that TNA Wrestling will hold television tapings in Orlando, Florida on Friday, January 19 and Saturday, January 20. Matches from the tapings will air on future episodes of Impact.
The tapings are being held at Osceola Heritage Park in Orlando. Tickets are going on sale at 10 a.m. Eastern time this Saturday (November 18).
“TNA Wrestling has a long, rich history in the City of Orlando, as Universal Studios was the companyâs home from 2004 to 2018. TNA Wrestling held multi-day shows at the Osceola Heritage Park in January 2023 and May 2022,” TNA Wrestling wrote.
Alex Shelley, Moose, Josh Alexander, Eddie Edwards, Chris Sabin, Tommy Dreamer, Ace Austin & Chris Bey, The Rascalz, Trinity, Jordynne Grace, Courtney Rush, Jessicka, and Gisele Shaw are advertised for the tapings.
At Bound for Glory last month, it was revealed that TNA Wrestling is making its return in January 2024. The name change officially goes into effect starting with TNA’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view on Saturday, January 13.
Hard to Kill is taking place from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The promotion is also holding post-PPV television tapings in Vegas on Sunday, January 14.
Trinity made her Impact Wrestling debut this past April, eventually following up by winning the Knockouts title after defeating Deonna Purrazzo at Slammiversary.
Since then, the former Naomi in WWE has successfully defended her title against Purrazzo in a rematch, Mickie James, Alisha Edwards, and Emerson Jayne.
However, this January at TNA Hard To Kill in Las Vegas, she has perhaps her toughest challenge yet as she defends against former two-time Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace.
In a recent conversation you can watch in full above, Trinity spoke about becoming champion, leading the Impact women’s division, her favorite career moments this year, and more.
Winning The Knockouts Championship
She explained that her goal coming into Impact was to win the Knockouts title, but she had no idea how long that journey could take.
“I was willing and ready to do whatever I had to do to accomplish this goal, and it’s just been an incredible journey, all of it, the whole the whole experience with Impact.”
Fatu said winning the championship felt “very, very surreal” and described feeling nervous in preparation for the big moment.
“I was so nervous and there was so much to prepare for — so much unexpected things that I stress about because I want every performance to be perfect and be my best. But you just have no control over that when you’re wrestling in front of a live crowd. You never know what’s going to happen. So I really didn’t have time to think or process the getting good in the wind. I was just so…just in it. And then when it was finally over, it was such a lot of surreal and relief and happiness and just an overwhelming flow of joy and tears and everything.”
She went on to credit Purrazzo for elevating her and being one of her favorite people to wrestle because she has learned so much from her.
“She’s one of the best, one of my favorite people to fight because she just elevates anybody she’s in there with. She’s such a phenomenal wrestler and I feel that I’ve grown and learned so much having to go against her more than once.”
Leading the “fierce” Knockouts division
As Knockouts Champion, Trinity is at the mountaintop of the women’s division. She explained that she does feel an “incredible amount of pressure” because the locker room is filled with so many women that are capable of being in her spot and leading the division.
“It’s an incredible amount of pressure because I feel that we have such an incredible roster, locker room, strong talent, and every woman is capable of leading and holding it down. So it definitely makes me want to just continue to be my best, because the second I’m not there, there’s going to be someone there to to fill that role.”
She went on to add that having that kind of division pushes her to be better in every way.
“They really push me to be better in every aspect of the division and wrestling. I want to represent our ladies the best way I possibly can. And, we’re fierce. The whole locker room is fierce.”
Challenges she has faced since joining Impact
Joining a new promotion can be challenging as you find your way and work with new people. Trinity described what the biggest challenges have been for her so far while working with Impact including wrestling longer, main event matches.
“I definitely think the the type of matches that I have been in that I have never experienced before. Also, getting more time, main eventing shows, it’s not easy. But I also feel that that’s what I needed to grow and also to believe in myself. And, to be put in those positions to prove to myself and everyone that I’m capable. I’m very thankful for Impact for giving me that space and opportunity to just show who I am without limitations.”
The best version of her
When Trinity had just signed with Impact, we had spoken about the big career change in her life, going from WWE to her new home. She had mentioned in our last interview that she didn’t know if she was going to actually return to pro wrestling.
I asked her about how she felt going from that period in her life to where she is now, both holding gold and main eventing.
Fatu agreed that this is the best version of herself so far, but that she is still “growing and evolving” and that she feels this isn’t the “last evolution” of her that fans will see.
“I think that the time away and that time off (between WWE and Impact) really helped me to navigate, to figure out what I really wanted and what I needed to do for myself and just as a performer and the impact I wanted to have on women’s wrestling. I was able to really think about all those things and process it all and really miss it.”
Fatu added that she had gotten to a point where she was just very “burned out mentally, physically and emotionally” and thought she might be done.
“But having that time away really helped me through to just see clearly that I wasn’t done. And there’s more of me to give in the wrestling business, and to my fans and to just come back and finish in a way that I feel is really respectable and good for me.”
She further explained that it didn’t feel right to her to just stop and end her career.
“It didn’t feel right to me, you know, stopping where I was. It just wasn’t sitting right in my spirit, and so it motivated me to come back and I’m here and I’m so happy that I did. But I also I’m happy for that experience.”
Hard To Kill
On January 13th, Trinity kicks off the year with one of her toughest challenges to date against Jordynne Grace at Hard to Kill.
Grace won the Call Your Shot gauntlet at Bound for Glory which earned her a championship opportunity of her choosing. Grace chose to come after Trinity and the Knockouts title.
She has never faced Grace before, but said she’s going to practice very hard so that’s she confident when she gets into the ring with her.
“Jordynne is definitely someone that I have never faced and never faced anyone like her. And I’m going to be training and practicing very hard so that I’m confident in myself when I step in that ring with her. I think she may be one of my toughest challengers so far, and I just want to make sure that I’m prepared. When I step in the ring with her in Vegas in January. I got a couple of months to get some new stuff down that I think I’m going to need for her because baby girl is strong and baby girl is one of the best.”
A TNA World Championship match is official for the Hard to Kill pay-per-view set for Saturday, January 13, 2024.
Impact Wrestling officially announced Thursday that current World Champion Alex Shelley will defend what will then be known as the TNA World title against Feast or Fired briefcase winner Moose at Hard to Kill.
Moose won a Feast or Fired briefcase containing a contract for a World title match at Impact 1000 in September. Shelley has held the World title since defeating Steve Maclin for the Championship at Against All Odds in June.
The World title bout joins a Knockouts World Championship match between Trinity & Jordynne Grace as the first two bouts set for Hard to Kill.
Hard to Kill will be held at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Here is the lineup for the show so far:
TNA Hard to Kill, Saturday, January 13, 8 p.m. Eastern time on pay-per-view —
TNA World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Moose
TNA Knockouts World Champion Trinity defends against Jordynne Grace
Zack Sabre Jr. will make his Impact Wrestling debut at the Final Resolution pay-per-view set for Saturday, December 9.
Impact announced Thursday that Sabre will team with Josh Alexander in his Impact debut against legendary tag team the Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin).
Sabre & Alexander vs. Shelley & Sabin will headline Final Resolution, Impact’s final pay-per-view of the year, and the final pay-per-view before the company reverts to its former TNA name.
Final Resolution will air at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Impact Plus and as a pay-per-view on FITE TV.
Motor City Machine Guns vs. Sabre & Alexander is the only match announced for the show to this point.
Sabre currently holds the NJPW World TV Championship and is the first and only title holder in the belt’s history after winning a tournament final to establish the first champion at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 at the Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2023.
Shelley is currently the Impact World Champion, while Sabin currently holds Impact’s X-Division Championship.
The much-anticipated first time ever clash between Will Ospreay and Josh Alexander will headline next Thursday’s Impact Wrestling on AXS TV.
Alexander was unable to wrest the Impact World title from Alex Shelley at October’s Bound for Glory while Ospreay picked up a victory over “Speedball” Mike Bailey in what many have called a match of the year candidate.
The Impact Tag Team titles will be on the line as ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) defend against Kenny King & Sheldon Jean after a backstage confrontation Thursday led to the match being made.
Former champions The Rascalz welcomed a new member to the group Thursday in former MLW Middleweight Champion Myron Reed. Reed, Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel will take on Juventud Guerrera, Laredo Kid & Black Taurus in trios action.
Knockouts Champion Trinity will face Sonny Kiss in non-title action as the former AEW talent makes his Impact singles debut.
After their own backstage confrontation Thursday, World title no. 1 contender Moose will take on Heath.
In a match made out of last month’s Call Your Shot gauntlet match, Jordynne Grace will team with Bully Ray against Steve Maclin & KiLynn King. This was made during Thursday’s show in a heated backstage segment.
Here’s the full lineup:
Josh Alexander vs. Will Ospreay
Impact Tag Team Champions ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) defend against Kenny King & Sheldon Jean
The Rascalz (Myron Reed, Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) vs. Laredo Kid, Black Taurus & Juventud Guerrera
Moose vs. Heath
Trinity vs. Sonny Kiss
Bully Ray & Jordynne Grace vs. Steve Maclin & KiLynn King
Impact World Champion Alex Shelley will defend his championship against Jonathan Gresham on tonight’s Impact Wrestling on AXS TV.
Shelley is gunning for his sixth title defense while Gresham, the former Ring of Honor World Champion, is searching for his first Impact title of any kind.
A feud that has built for weeks will finally come to fruition as Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer will defend against Crazzy Steve who earned the shot by grabbing a Feast or Fired briefcase at October’s Bound for Glory.
Two former Impact World Champions and rivals will square off as Eric Young takes on Eddie Edwards.
In a clash of former Knockouts Champions, Deonna Purrazzo battles Tasha Steelz. The two teamed up at Bound for Glory and were unsuccessful in defeating MK Ultra for the Knockouts Tag Team titles.
Two former Digital Media Champions will reignite their feud as Joe Hendry takes on Brian Myers.
**********
After last week’s sojourn to the October UK tour, Impact returns to Chicago for the post-Bound for Glory TV taping for this week’s episode.
Following an extensive look at last week’s show, we kick off with a battle of former Knockouts Champions who recently failed to in their effort to win the Knockouts Tag Team titles. Thus, they resume action against each other.
Tasha Steelz defeated Deonna Purrazzo
Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt really drilled home that these two have been longtime friends, complete with still photos. That’s when you know it’s serious.
Because of their friendship, this was more of a friendly competition than a heated match. However, it did include twerking from both competitors so there’s that.
Things kicked up late when Steelz thought Purrazzo was trying to break her arm and fired up. After two straight cutters, Steelz got the pin and no doubt win. We’ll see about that friendship.
The result here, and in recent weeks, certainly won’t quell any rumors that Purrazzo may be on her way out as her deal is up at the end of the year. But, PCO also was thought to be gone and ended up re-signing so anything’s possible.
– Impact Tag Team Champions ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) were backstage having a conversation about how they will the TNA tag champs when the named change takes place when Santino Marella walked up to conversate.
That led to Kenny King and Sheldon Jean interrupting because King wants a Digital Media title rematch. ABC didn’t take kindly to it and you’ll never believe this: these two teams will meet next week for the titles.
Crazzy Steve defeated Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer by DQ
As part of the build to this, Steve stabbed Dreamer in the back with a fork, ending their friendship. Steve hasn’t been taken that seriously in Impact as he has lost, well, a lot through the years. He earned the shot here by taking one of the briefcases in last month’s Feast or Fired bout.
This was built around how sadistic Steve was being toward Dreamer, but when you saw some of the stuff Dreamer endured in ECW, getting his eyes raked seems rather tame.
Steve went into the briefcase late in the match and got a fork, saying he had to end Dreamer.
Dreamer stopped him by biting his hand and hitting a cutter, followed by him driving the fork into Steve’s head for the DQ that busted him open. Dreamer then snapped and said, “You wanna feel pain, Steve? Fork you!” and somewhat drove the fork into his head. Yes, this happened.
You can skip this.
– Jonathan Gresham cut his usual intense promo about how he is going to beat Alex Shelley for the title tonight.
Brian Myers defeated Joe Hendry
Hendry is coming off a great run on the UK tour and all the fans in attendance waved their hands and told Hendry, “We believe.” I think I believe too.
Hendry said that the rebrand of TNA will actually begin tonight as Myers will no longer be known as “Edge’s bitch” but now will be known as “Adam’s bitch” which got a laugh from the fans. That was a good line.
This was a meeting of former Digital Media Champions and past opponents. I like Hendry, but there was nothing must-watch here. Even Hannifan and Rehwoldt were cracking jokes about wieners in apparent boredom.
This went on for a lot longer than it needed to, especially on a Thursday when there’s been so much wrestling already this week. Myers poked Hendry’s eyes while the referee was tied up with both men and hit his Roster Cut clothesline for the pin and win. Given Hendry’s popularity, I find that to be a curious decision.
– The hype has begun for Josh Alexander vs. Will Ospreay has begun as we’ll see that match next week.
Ospreay, with his NJPW UK title somehow completely intact, talked to Gia Scott. The tl;dr: he is ready for Alexander and wants to know if Alexander is ready to face the best.
Eric Young defeated Eddie Edwards (w/ Alisha Edwards)
Much like Hendry vs. Myers, this came out of the Bound for Glory Call Your Shot gauntlet match where Edwards eliminated Young. These two former Impact World Champions also have an extensive history against each other.
Alisha got involved on a few occasions, distracting Young at one point as he went to the top rope. Young eventually battled and hit his elbow drop for a nearfall. Alisha again distracted Young as he was going for his piledriver finisher, leading to an Edwards Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall of his own.
Alisha tossed in a chair to her husband who pulled it away and got distracted. Edwards then held Young for Alisha to nail him with a kendo stick, but Young ducked and Edwards got nailed. Young hit the piledriver and got the pin as Hannifan drove home the fact TNA is returning in January. Did you hear that yet?
This was a house show opener that was neither good nor bad. It just was.
– Brian Myers was wondering why Moose wasn’t out there to back him up earlier and Moose said it seemed like Myers was all set. As they started to grumble a bit, Heath walked in and challenged Moose to a match. Moose accepted, asked Myers, “How’s that for loyalty?” and walked away.
– Sonny Kiss caught up with Gia Miller. If you remember, Kiss made his surprise debut in the Call Your Shot gauntlet which feels like it was a year ago at this point. Knockouts Champion Trinity walked up and was thrilled to see Kiss, saying she would talk to management to see if they could do a match next week. Well, that was quick.
This was a rare squash match on Impact and one that featured Prudius (the former Koslov in WWE) wrestling in his first match in 12 years. Dango joined the commentary team, essentially turning this into a handicap match.
After Prudius beat up both men, Dango jumped back on the apron, got a tag, hit a reverse DDT to get the win.
– Jordynne Grace, owner of the Call Your Shot gauntlet trophy, said she will make history at Hard to Kill and got interrupted by Bully Ray who wanted a handshake. KiLynn King then walked into the frame and said it was pure luck Grace won. Ray, who trained King, told her to “back it down a notch.” These two exchanged words and then Steve Maclin walked in and called Ray soft. Ray told him off, King walked away, and that was that.
– The Rascalz cut a backstage promo after losing the Impact Tag Team titles and they weren’t too upset about losing them. Why? Because they now have former MLW Middleweight Champion Myron Reed in the group.
Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defeated Jonathan Gresham to retain the title
If you’re a time traveler, you would have to suspend your belief for the timeline on how this came to be. You see, this was taped the day after Bound for Glory and then, the crew headed to the UK for a tour. There, Shelley injured his calf in a tag team bout and had to pull out of the remaining matches so he could recover. However, that match aired before this one did. Got all that?
Gresham upped his latest heel mannerism, using his wrist tape to distract the referee so he could attack Shelley. He also decided to hold on a figure four for a few seconds longer even though Shelley grabbed the bottom rope because he was stuck. What a heel!
These two have shared the ring a lot through the years, both as opponents and as teammates. This was their sixth singles bout against each other and the first in Impact.
The story was Gresham working over Shelley’s knee with Shelley managing to do just enough to evade him temporarily before getting attacked again. In turn, Shelley focused on Gresham’s arm to set up for the Motor City Stretch.
As expected, this was very good. Gresham was fantastic as a heel with all these little shortcuts he would take out of nowhere to drive the fans crazy. The nearfalls were really good as well, especially a dizzying series of pin attempts in the closing minutes.
Shelley eventually got the pin after hitting a superkick and Shellshock for the win. This is worth going out of your way to see and honestly could have been a main event on one of their monthly specials.
Trinity is officially set to put her Knockouts Championship on the line against Jordynne Grace at Hard to Kill.
Impact Wrestling has confirmed that Trinity vs. Grace for the Knockouts title will take place at Hard to Kill on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The pay-per-view is taking place at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. It marks the start of a new era with Impact Wrestling changing its name back to TNA.
Trinity vs. Grace became official for Hard to Kill after Trinity retained her Knockouts Championship against Deonna Purrazzo at Impact’s Turning Point special in the United Kingdom. Gail Kim was the special guest referee for the title bout. Following the match, there was an angle between Purrazzo and Kim. It ended with Kim laying out Purrazzo with Eat Defeat.
Grace earned a title shot of her choosing by winning the Call Your Shot gauntlet match at last month’s Bound for Glory PPV. Immediately after her win, Grace declared that she would challenge for the Knockouts Championship at Hard to Kill.
Trinity defeated Mickie James at Bound for Glory to remain Knockouts Champion. She’s held the title since July.
Impact World Champion Alex Shelley has issued an apology for having to miss indie dates that he was scheduled for.
Shelley hasn’t wrestled since competing in a tag team match on the first night of Impact Wrestling’s UK Invasion tour last Thursday. He’s dealing with a two-location calf strain.
On social media on Friday, Shelley posted an apology for having to cancel dates for Game Changer Wrestling and Wrestling Revolver.
“Itâs not much – I let @IMPACTWRESTLING handle big things. I just wanted to apologize to @GCWrestling_ and @PWRevolver fans for being advertised and having to cancel,” Shelley wrote. “I love both companies dearly and their fan bases, and if I could wrestle, I would.”
Shelley stated that he’s still able to train and is going to be okay. His injury is a “two location calf strain in the gastroc muscle belly and the myotendinous junction.”
Shelley vs. Jonathan Gresham will air on next week’s episode of Impact. Shelley’s Impact World Championship will be on the line in the match, which was taped at Impact’s post-Bound for Glory television tapings.
Shelley has been Impact World Champion since defeating Steve Maclin for the title this June. Shelley recently retained the championship against Josh Alexander in the main event of Bound for Glory.
Alex Shelley will look to defend his Impact Wrestling World title on this Thursday’s Impact Wresting on AXS TV as he faces Jonathan Gresham.
Shelley will be hoping to pick up the sixth title defense of the championship he won in June. He is coming off a successful defense against former titleholder Josh Alexander at last month’s Bound for Glory.
Gresham, the former Ring of Honor World Champion, is still looking for his first taste of Impact gold. This is his first shot at the company’s biggest championship.
In a clash of former Knockouts Champions, Deonna Purrazzo will take on Tasha Steelz.
In a match that has been building for weeks and intensified due to several attacks, Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer will defend against Crazzy Steve who earned the shot via a Feast or Fired briefcase.
Here’s the current lineup that was taped following last month’s Bound for Glory:
Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Jonathan Gresham
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Tasha Steelz
Impact Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer defends against Crazzy Steve
After presenting a Bound for Glory recap episode last week, Impact Wrestling is back with new matches tonight.
Tonight’s Impact will feature matches taped at the promotion’s UK Invasion tour in Glasgow, Scotland. Impact Wrestling returned to the United Kingdom last week for its first full tour in the country since 2016.
Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. Josh Alexander & Eric Young headlines tonight’s show. Shelley retained his Impact World Championship against Alexander in the main event of Bound for Glory.
Trinity also made a successful title defense at Bound for Glory, defeating Mickie James. Trinity defends her Knockouts Championship against Scottish wrestler Emersyn Jayne tonight.
Moose, Brian Myers & Deonna Purrazzo team up in a six-person tag team match against Mark Andrews, Flash Morgan Webster & Dani Luna.
In the finals of the Glasgow Cup, Joe Hendry takes on Frankie Kazarian tonight.
Plus, Grado makes his Impact return in a match against Trey Miguel.
Joe Hendry defeated Frankie Kazarian to win the Glascow Cup
This was a very solid opening match, and Hendry got to win in front of his home country crowd in Scotland.
It appears by the time they finally arrived in Glascow, Hannifan learned how to pronounce Glascow. The production of the show was noticeably worse than usual as Hendry made his entrance, and spoke on the mic about how it was a privilege to bring Impact Wrestling back to Scotland. Hendryâs promo was a very good babyface promo about proving he was worthy of being on the Impact stage. I can tell the crowd was cheering loudly, but the micing of the arena was quite terrible.
This was a very solid professional wrestling match, with Kazarian and Hendry working a basic, effective opening match to warm up the crowd. Hendry showed some power with a stalling suplex for a two count. Hendry hit an elbow drop for a two count. Kazarian shoved Hendry from the ropes to the floor to get a little heat on Hendry. Hendry made a comeback and hit a fallaway slam before doing the âWe Will Rock Youâ beat and the fans started singing the song.
Hendry launched Kazarian off his shoulders into a face plant and hit a cutter for a two count. Kazarian popped up out of nowhere and hit Fade to Black for a two count. Hendry hit a superplex on Kazarian and both were down in the middle of the ring. Hendry and Kazarian exchanged some pinfall attempts before Hendry hooked the leg and got Kazarian out of nowhere.
–Deonna Purrazzo, Moose, and Brian Myers cut a promo on Subculture about their match tonight. They badly need to white balance the camera.
–Joe Hendry was backstage after his win, and said that he was not going to let Simon Miller disrespect him and he was going to beat him at Turning Point tomorrow night.
The Most Professional Wrestling Virtuosas (Moose, Brian Myers, & Deonna Purrazzo) defeated Subculture (Mark Andrews, Flash Morgan Webster, & Dani Luna)
Purrazzoâs team had to win this one with Purrazzo going on to face Trinity tomorrow night at Turning Point, but they gave Subculture everything in losing here, and they did not feel out of place with the larger stars in the company.
As Rehwoldt was saying that Myers wouldnât be taken down without a fight, he was taken down with a fight through an arm drag from Webster. Luna and Purrazzo did a series of standing switches ending with Luna hitting a back elbow and then a suplex for a 1-count. Purrazzo rolled to the corner and tagged Moose in.
Moose overpowered Webster and Luna both, before Andrews tagged in. Andrews hit two chops that just made Moose mad, but Andrews hit a dropkick off the middle rope. Andrews went to the top rope, but Moose hit the ropes and crotched him before hitting a few chops of his own. Purrazzo hit a short arm clothesline on Andrews before tagging out to Myers, who hit a suplex.
Moose, Myers, and Purrazzo continued to get the heat on Andrews for the next few minutes, making quick tags, while the audience taunted Brian Myers. Andrews tagged in Luna after hitting an enziguri on Myers, and it led to all of Subculture powerbombing Moose for a 2-count that Purrazzo and Myers broke up. Purrazzo then locked in the Fujiwara armbar on Luna, but Andrews broke it up.
Webster kicked moose with a kick from the apron, but Moose ended up running up the turnbuckle and hitting a suplex on Webster, while Andrews flew into the ring with a splash on Moose. Myers cut him off, but Luna took him out, and then Purrazzo hit a pump kick on Luna, followed with a double clothesline and everyone was down. Andrews hit Moose with Stundog Millionaire, while Purrazzo hit a pump kick on Webster. Luna dragged Purrazzo to the floor while Moose hit a hotshot on Andrews and hit the spear for the win.
–Josh Alexander and Eric Young were backstage standing under a purple light for some reason. They talked about their differences, but how there was respect between them, and there was no better way for them to test themselves than face the Motor City Machine Guns, and how the two Canadians will take on Subculture tomorrow night as well.
–Tom Hannifan and Matt Rehwoldt talked about Grado being back in Impact for the next match.
Grado defeated Trey Miguel
This was a total comedy match with Grado doing several comedy spots, including holding the arms of Miguel behind his back and letting fans chop him. As Grado celebrated, Miguel shoved him into the ring post. Miguel then posed and trie to pin Grado cockily, but Grado kicked out. Grado went for a bionic elbow, but Miguel kicked him in the stomach, hit the ropes, and then ate a bionic elbow anyway.
Grado charged the corner and had the funniest sell of a superkick I have seen in awhile for a 2-count. Miguel missed a double stomp and ate a Death Valley Driver from Grado for a 2-count. Grado went for the Wee Boot, but Miguel blocked it. Grado hit a spike small package for a 2-count and then hit the Wee Boot for the win.
–Eddie Edwards cut a good promo on Will Ospreay about their different paths in Japan, Edwards in NOAH, and Ospreay in NJPW, but that Edwards is the best in Impact, and he is going to have a very hard match at Turning Point.
Trinity defeated Emersyn Jayne
This was not a squash, as Trinity gave Jayne a lot in this match.
Jayne took way more in this match than I expected, with Trinity spending a lot of time selling, including Jayne catching Trinity on a crossbody and hitting a Northern Lights Suplex for a 2-count. Trinity hit a kick and a bulldog into the middle turnbuckle before hitting a flying forearm and elbow. Jayne hit a falcon arrow for a two count. Trinity hit a full nelson bomb for the win after this.
–A hype video aired about Impactâs tour of the UK, as Hannifan mispronounced Coventry again. Ah well, you canât win them all. This video was actually really great, including Grado trying to cut a promo but Moose making noise in the background and interrupting his thoughts.
–Trinity talked about her victory against Emerson Jayne, and how she was going to have the final match with Purrazzo in their trilogy, because if Purrazzo loses, she will not be able to challenge for the title again as long as Trinity is champion.
The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) defeated Josh Alexander & Eric Young defeated
This was basically a house show main event tag, but that doesnât mean it was bad. This was a fun match overall, with both teams doing what they could to bring an easy, entertaining match to the audience. By the end, this was excellent, and it would hard to be any less than that with these four in the ring.
Shelley and Alexander shook hands as the match started, showing respect between the two since their main event at Bound for Glory. Shelley and Alexander showed some great technical wrestling, picking up where they left off a few weeks ago, with Shelley tying Alexander up in the ropes. Alexander and Shelley both went for their finishers, both countering, and Shelley escaping the ring before Alexander got an ankle lock on.
Sabin tagged in while Eric Young tagged in on the other side. Shelley and Sabin faked out Young on the floor and isolated him briefly, but Young dumped Sabin to the floor and then tagged out to Alexander. Alexander and Young isolated Shelley for the next few minutes. Shelley and Alexander exchanged submission attempts again, and Alexander went for the ankle lock, but Sabin ran in and broke it up, letting Shelley hit a dragon screw legwhip on Alexander.
Shelley charged the corner, but Alexander got his foot up. Shelley caught it and sent it to Sabin on the apron, who hit a dragon screw over the ropes. Shelley responded with one of his own as well, s they aimed to rip apart the knee of Alexander. That was a really cool sequence of moves. Sabin stomped the knees and tagged back out to Shelley, and the assault continued.
Young was desperate to get in the ring as Shelley put a figure four leg lock on Alexander. Young ran int to try to break it up, but Sabin ran in and put a figure four on Yonng to the delight of the crowd. Alexander hit a vertical suplex and tried to tag out to Young. Shelley hit a flatliner into the corner on Young, allowing Sabin to hit a missile dropkick on Young. Alexander rushed in and hit a series of German suplexes on Sabin.
Alexander hit a belly-to-belly suplex for a two count. Sabin went for Cradle Shock, but Alexander countered into trying for the C4 Spike, but Shelley countered with a hurricanrana. Sabin hit a flying kick for a 2-count that Young broke up. Alexander slipped out of Cradle Shock again, but ate some elbows until Alexander rolled through and locked on an ankle lock.
Alexander locked on a sharpshooter, but Sabin fought to the ropes. Alexander had to let go because of the damage done to his knees earlier, but he did what he wanted to wear Sabin down. Young went to the top rope for a doomsday device, but Sabin shoved Alexander into the corner and hit the Cradle Shock for a 2-count on Alexander.
Young bit the face of Sabin and hit a big flying elbow, but Young was not legal, but Sabin kicked out once Young tagged in. Sabin hit a Tornado DDT on Young and went for Cradle Shock, but Young slipped out and called for a lariat, but he walked right into the cradle shock for the 3.
Final Thoughts
This was a mostly nothing show of Impact, and aside from the very good main event, it was a largely missable show. It was nice seeing Hendry win in his hometown, but this was basically a house show as Impact spins it wheels until TNA comes back in the new year.
Scott D’Amore says Impact Wrestling’s “door is open” for CM Punk.
D’Amore told PWMania recently that it was a pleasure to have Punk visit backstage at the promotion’s recent tapings in Chicago.
“Itâs not a secret, CM Punk was backstage the day after Bound for Glory,” D’Amore said. “Thatâs nothing new. He was backstage earlier this year when he was under contract at AEW and they were just getting ready for the debut of Collision, so we have a pretty open policy.”
“If you want to come by and visit, as long as youâre respectful to our crew, you will be respected. He was a pleasure to have when he came around, so is there a possibility he is here in the future? You never know.”
“Is there going to be a place for veteran talent and senior talent in TNA Wrestling? Of course, you know, the value canât be understated of good senior veteran talent right now with name recognition and drawability as well. The door is open.”
Will Ospreay was also at Impact Wrestling’s Chicago TV tapings. At Bound for Glory the night before, he wrestled Mike Bailey in what some are calling the best match in Impact history. It was given a rating of five and one-quarter stars by our own Dave Meltzer, the highest rating a match in the promotion has ever received. The only other five-star match in Impact history was Christopher Daniels vs. Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles from TNA Unbreakable 2005.
D’Amore says Ospreay was also a pleasure to have backstage.
“Will Ospreay just came in and did three events for us,” D’Amore continued. “He was a pleasure to have around you know, and I mean, I think itâs great for Will to let his his feelings be known about how much TNA Wrestling meant to him. You know, he said heâs a TNA kid. He was inspired to be a wrestler watching AJ Styles on TNA Wrestling.”
“And to me, thatâs one of the cool things, that we are part of inspiring a guy whose contract is up in February of 2024. Whereâs he going? Who knows? For him to sit there and say no, matter what happens in February of next year, you know, Iâm always going to be supportive of whatâs going on at TNA was so special to me, thatâs cool to come out of the mouth of the arguably you know, in my opinion, the greatest wrestler in the world right now.”
