For the first time since 2011, Kazuchika Okada will step foot into a TNA Wrestling ring.
It was announced tonight that Okada will make his TNA Wrestling return at the promotion’s television taping in Las Vegas on Sunday, January 14, 2024. Snake Eyes is the name of the taping. It’s taking place from the Palms Casino Resort.
Impact Wrestling’s name change back to TNA officially goes into effect starting with Hard to Kill on Saturday, January 13. The pay-per-view is also taking place at the Palms Casino Resort.
Before reaching superstardom in NJPW, Okada spent time on excursion in TNA from 2010-2011. He was given the name Okato in TNA with a character inspired by The Green Hornet.
A video package that aired during Thursday’s Impact said Okada was denied his chance to shine while in TNA and is now returning at Snake Eyes looking for redemption.
Will Ospreay has also been announced for Snake Eyes. Ospreay, who has signed a multi-year deal with AEW, is still under contract with NJPW until February 2024.
Okada’s NJPW contract is also set to expire at the end of January. Sports Illustrated reported earlier this week that Okada is “seriously entertaining” the idea of signing with a promotion other than NJPW, which would mean WWE or AEW.
Matches from TNA’s Snake Eyes taping will air on future episodes of Impact.
Before starting with AEW full-time, Will Ospreay will accomplish his goal of stepping into a TNA Wrestling ring.
It was announced today that Ospreay will compete at TNA’s television taping in Las Vegas on Sunday, January 14. Snake Eyes is the name of the taping. It’s taking place at the Palms Casino Resort one day after TNA’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view.
Impact Wrestling’s name change back to TNA Wrestling officially goes into effect starting with Hard to Kill.
Ospreay wrestled three matches for Impact Wrestling this October, returning to the promotion for the first time since 2016. He defeated “Speedball” Mike Bailey, Josh Alexander, and Eddie Edwards.
After his match against Alexander, Ospreay spoke to the crowd and declared that he needs to step foot into a TNA ring. Ospreay said Christopher Daniels vs. Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles from TNA is the first match that he ever saw — and it’s what made him want to become a pro wrestler.
Ospreay was unveiled as AEW’s new blockbuster signing at last month’s Full Gear PPV. Before opting to sign with AEW, Ospreay reportedly received a “seven-figure level” contract offer from TNA.
Ospreay is still under NJPW contract until February 2024.
Matches from TNA’s Snake Eyes taping will air on future episodes of Impact on AXS TV.
TNA Wrestling is bringing an Impact Plus special to New Orleans in February 2024.
It was announced today that No Surrender 2024 will be held at the Alario Center on Friday, February 23. The next night, TNA Wrestling will hold a set of television tapings at the venue. Bayou Blast is the name of the tapings.
No Surrender will stream live on Impact Plus and Impact’s Ultimate Insiders YouTube service.
Moose, Jordynne Grace, Eddie Edwards, Alex Shelley, Josh Alexander, Masha Slamovich, and Killer Kelly are featured on the graphics for the events.
Tickets for both shows are going on sale at 10 a.m. Central time this Saturday (December 9).
Impact Wrestling is officially rebranding back to TNA Wrestling starting with the promotion’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view on Saturday, January 13, 2024.
Here’s a look at the promotion’s upcoming schedule:
Saturday, December 9: Final Resolution (Impact Plus special) at Don Kolov Arena in Toronto
Saturday, January 13: Hard to Kill pay-per-view at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas
Sunday, January 14: TV taping at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas
Friday, January 19: TV taping at Osceola Heritage Park in Orlando, Florida
Saturday, January 20: TV taping at Osceola Heritage Park in Orlando, Florida
Friday, February 23: No Surrender (Impact Plus special) at the Alario Center in New Orleans
Saturday, February 24: TV taping at the Alario Center in New Orleans
Before Will Ospreay opted to sign with AEW, he reportedly had a big offer on the table from Impact Wrestling.
PWInsider reports that Impact Wrestling “was very much in the running to land Ospreay,” with Impact making what sources close to the situation described as a “fantastic, massive offer” to sign him. One Impact source told PWInsider that it was a seven-figure level offer.
That Impact source told PWInsider that it was likely the largest contract offer that Impact Wrestling had made to a wrestler since Anthem Sports & Entertainment acquired the company.
“The same source noted that when Ospreay worked the recent Chicago weekend events, he seemed to be having such a great time, several talents assumed he was coming in full-time next year, especially when he cut a promo about wanting to compete in a TNA ring,” PWInsider wrote.
Ospreay wrestled for Impact three times last month, competing at Bound for Glory, the post-Bound for Glory television tapings, and at Turning Point.
While speaking with Sports Illustrated in October, Ospreay confirmed that Impact Wrestling was in the running to be his next pro wrestling home. Ospreay said he was looking to explore every possible option in his free agency.
When asked about those comments Ospreay made, Impact president Scott D’Amore said last month that Impact Wrestling would love to have Ospreay in their promotion. D’Amore noted that he had conversations with Anthem Sports & Entertainment regarding Ospreay.
Before their Knockouts Championship match at Hard to Kill, Trinity & Jordynne Grace are set to team up at Final Resolution.
Impact Wrestling announced today that Trinity & Grace will face Deonna Purrazzo & Gisele Shaw in a tag team match at Final Resolution 2023 on Saturday, December 9. The show is taking place from Don Kolov Arena in Toronto.
At Bound for Glory last month, Grace won the Call Your Shot gauntlet match. Grace then immediately declared that she would be using her title shot to face Trinity at Hard to Kill in January 2024. Impact Wrestling is officially rebranding back to TNA Wrestling starting with that pay-per-view.
Trinity won the Knockouts Championship from Purrazzo this July. Since then, Trinity has successfully defended the title against Purrazzo twice. As a stipulation of her loss to Trinity at Turning Point, Purrazzo can not challenge for the Knockouts title again while Trinity is still champion.
Final Resolution will stream live on Impact Plus, Impact’s Ultimate Insiders YouTube service, and Fite TV. Here’s the updated card for the show:
Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. Josh Alexander & Zack Sabre Jr.
Trinity & Jordynne Grace vs. Deonna Purrazzo & Gisele Shaw
“Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Trey Miguel
Moose vs. Rhino
Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer defends against Deaner
A new match announcement has been made for Final Resolution 2023.
Impact Wrestling revealed today that “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Trey Miguel will take place at Final Resolution on Saturday, December 9. The show is taking place from the Don Kolov Arena in Toronto and will air live on Impact Plus, Impact’s Ultimate Insiders YouTube service, and Fite TV.
Impact stated that Bailey and Miguel are both looking to build momentum as the promotion enters a new era. Starting with January’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view, Impact Wrestling will rebrand back to TNA Wrestling.
Bailey is coming off a loss to Will Ospreay at Bound for Glory last month. Bound for Glory also saw The Rascalz (Miguel & Zachary Wentz) lose the Impact Tag Team titles to Ace Austin & Chris Bey.
Impact wrote:
Mike Bailey and Trey Miguel have both had incredible years. ‘Speedball’ is coming off one of the greatest performances of his career, a breathtaking showdown against pro wrestling megastar Will Ospreay at Bound For Glory. Meanwhile, Miguel was IMPACT World Tag Team Champion alongside his fellow Rascal, Zachary Wentz, who made his long-awaited return to IMPACT Wrestling. But as 2023 winds down and the return of TNA approaches, Bailey and Miguel must now face each other to see who will enter the new era with an all-important momentum boost. Who will take their career to the next level? Find out when Bailey battles Miguel [at] Final Resolution.
Final Resolution is Impact Wrestling’s last major event of 2023. The updated card for the show is listed below:
Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. Josh Alexander & Zack Sabre Jr.
Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer defends against Deaner
The Digital Media Championship will be on the line at Impact Wrestling’s last major event of 2023.
It was announced today that Tommy Dreamer will defend his Digital Media title against Cody Deaner at Final Resolution 2023. The show is being held at the Don Kolov Arena in Toronto on Saturday, December 9. It will air live on Impact Plus, Impact’s Ultimate Insiders YouTube service, and Fite TV.
Dreamer has been Digital Media Champion since winning the title from Kenny King at Victory Road this September.
On the November 9 episode of Impact, Dreamer defended the title against Crazzy Steve. The match ended with Dreamer losing by disqualification but retaining his title. The DQ happened when Dreamer used a fork as a weapon. After the match, Dreamer continued attacking Steve with the fork and left him bloodied.
In addition to being Impact Wrestling’s last special event of 2023, Final Resolution will be the company’s last major show before Impact Wrestling rebrands back to TNA Wrestling starting with Hard to Kill in January 2024.
Final Resolution is also set to feature the Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. Josh Alexander & Zack Sabre Jr. The match is Sabre’s Impact Wrestling debut.
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
It’s 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 he’ll 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 “Our partner is completely wrong.” I laughed. Konnan talked about Impact returning to the TNA name, saying they have gone full circle. Kid went for an O’Connor 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 fireman’s 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 Alexander’s 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 fireman’s carry and hit an avalanche rolling fireman’s 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 didn’t 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.
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 company’s 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 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.
“It’s 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.
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. Hendry’s 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 “We Will Rock You” 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)
Purrazzo’s 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 wouldn’t 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 Impact’s tour of the UK, as Hannifan mispronounced Coventry again. Ah well, you can’t 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 doesn’t 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.
One of the United Kingdom’s top up-and-coming wrestlers has signed a contract with TNA Wrestling.
At Impact Wrestling’s UK Invasion tour show in Coventry on Saturday, it was announced that the 19-year-old Leon Slater has signed a long-term contract with TNA. Slater made his Impact Wrestling debut on night one of the tour this past Thursday.
Slater signed his TNA contract in the ring at Saturday’s show. He faced Frankie Kazarian at the event.
Earlier this month, Slater was crowned the winner of Revolution Pro Wrestling’s British J-Cup tournament. He also made his NJPW debut this month, competing at Royal Quest III in London. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney retained their titles against Slater & Cameron Khai.
TNA Wrestling will make its return starting with Hard to Kill 2024 in January. The name changed was revealed at the end of Impact’s Bound for Glory pay-per-view last weekend.
It was announced this Tuesday that PCO has signed a new contract to remain with TNA. That was touted as the first signing of the new era of TNA Wrestling.
Alex Shelley did not wrestle at Saturday’s UK Invasion tour show in Coventry. Frankie Kazarian again replaced him and tagged with Chris Sabin.
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An injury caused Impact World Champion Alex Shelley to miss Friday’s Turning Point event in the United Kingdom.
Shelley was supposed to team with Chris Sabin at Friday’s show in Newcastle, but Frankie Kazarian replaced Shelley in the match. Sabin & Kazarian faced Moose & Brian Myers.
Kazarian vs. Rich Swann vs. Trey Miguel was supposed to take place at Turning Point. With Kazarian replacing Shelley, the three-way bout was changed to a singles match between Swann and Miguel.
“Shelley was backstage at Turning Point and he was said to be ‘really badly limping.’ The IMPACT World Champion was also extremely frustrated about being unable to wrestle at Turning Point,” Cultaholic wrote. “It is unclear how long Shelley will be out of action and if he will be in action at the remaining two shows of the UK Invasion Tour in Coventry is unknown.”
Shelley & Sabin faced Josh Alexander & Eric Young in a tag team match at night one of Impact’s UK Invasion tour in Glasgow on Thursday.
The Turning Point special from Friday will be available to watch on Impact Plus starting on Friday, November 3.
The UK Invasion tour concludes with shows in Coventry on Saturday (October 28) and Sunday (October 29). Shelley & Sabin vs. Alexander & Young vs. Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster is scheduled for Saturday. Shelley defending his Impact World Championship against Alexander is scheduled for Sunday. Impact hasn’t announced if Shelley will still be competing in those matches.
The Bound for Glory main event will be shown in its entirety on this week’s episode of Impact Wrestling.
At Bound for Glory, Alex Shelley defeated Josh Alexander to retain the Impact World Championship. That complete match will air on Impact this Thursday (October 26). Impact has also announced that “exclusive highlights” from Trinity vs. Mickie James and Will Ospreay vs. Mike Bailey will be shown on Thursday’s episode.
Impact Wrestling wrote:
Relive the earth-shattering event that was Bound For Glory 2023, featuring an unforgettable night of action from Chicago. See exclusive highlights from the Knockouts World Championship match as Trinity defended against Mickie James, and the epic showdown pitting Will Ospreay vs. ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey. Plus, the IMPACT World Championship match between Alex Shelley and Josh Alexander will be shown in its entirety! Tune in to IMPACT! this Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders.
Bound for Glory took place on Saturday night and ended with the announcement that TNA Wrestling will be making its return starting with Hard to Kill in January 2024.
Impact held a set of television tapings the day after Bound for Glory. Those matches will air on Impact in the coming weeks. Spoilers from the tapings can be found here.
