New Knockouts Tag Team champions were crowned at tonight’s Impact Under Siege event on Impact Plus.
The team of Fire ‘n’ Flava (Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz) regained the Knockouts Tag Team titles from Jordynne Grace and Rachael Ellering. The finish had Grace going for a superplex, but Steelz ended up blocking it, dropped Grace, then pinned her with a frog splash. This is Fire ‘n’ Flavas second run with the titles, winning a tournament back at Hard to Kill in January.
This ends Grace and Ellering’s first run with the titles, having won them last month at Impact Rebellion. After Jazz lost her Knockout’s title match at Hardcore Justice, she had to retire per the stipulations of that match, leaving Grace without a partner until Rebellion, where Grace introduced Ellering as her new partner.
In the other title defenses on the card, Josh Alexander successfully defended the X-Division title against El Phantasmo, and Deonna Purrazzo was able to walk away still Knockouts champion after defeating Havok.
Two new matches have been added to Thursday’s Impact Wrestling.
NJPW’s Juice Robinson will face Doc Gallows in a singles match. Finjuice (Robinson and Dave Finlay), the current Impact Tag Team Champions, successfully retained their titles at Rebellion, defeating The Good Brothers (Gallows and Karl Anderson). Finlay, Robinson, and Eddie Edwards will face Kenny Omega, Gallows, and Anderson at Under Siege on May 15 following the end of the last episode of Impact Wrestling, where Omega and The Good Brothers laid out Edwards and Finjuice.
Rachael Ellering, meanwhile, will face Kiera Hogan. Ellering made her in-ring debut at Rebellion as Jordynne Grace’s tag team partner, replacing Jazz who was forced to retire last month. Together, they defeated Hogan and Tasha Steelz to win the Knockouts Tag Team titles.
Segmemts already announced for Impact include:
NJPW’s El Phantasmo debuts
Moose vs. James Storm in a number one contender qualifying match
Rhino vs. Chris Sabin in a number one contender qualifying match
Trey Miguel vs. Rohit Raju in a number on contender qualifying match
A new match has been added to next week’s Impact Wrestling card.
Kiera Hogan will face Jordynne Grace in a singles match. This follows Jazz’s retirement ceremony that took place this week on Impact after losing to Deonna Purrazzo at Hardcore Justice last weekend. Jazz’s final match for Impact took place this past Thursday, where she and Grace defeated Fire ‘n’ Flava (Hogan and Tasha Steelz) in a non-title match.
Later backstage, Scott D’Amore made a Knockouts Tag Team title match for Rebellion on April 25 after Hogan and Steelz complained about being put in a match. However, Jazz told Grace that she was a woman of her word and was done. She suggested that Grace should team with a mystery partner against Hogan and Steelz.
Also announced for this week’s Impact Wrestling:
Eric Young vs. Eddie Edwards
Tenille Dashwood vs. Susan
The Good Brothers vs. The Decay (Taurus and Crazzy Steve)
Two title matches have been announced for Impact’s next Impact Plus special: Sacrifice on Saturday, March 13th.
In the main event, Rich Swann will defend his Impact World title against TNA World Champion Moose. The two had another confrontation on Tuesday’s show after Moose defeated Jake Something to retain the newly reinstated TNA title. Scott D’Amore came out after the two were separated and made the Impact title match for Sacrifice.
Moose earned the title show at January’s Genesis, willfully losing to Willie Mack in an “I Quit” match as Swann offered him the title shot if he would stop beating on Mack and quit. Because D’Amore reinstated the TNA title, it’s a possibility the match is eventually made into a title vs. title match.
The other title match announced was Fire ‘N Flava (Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz) defending the Knockouts Tag Team titles against Jordynne Grace and Jazz. The latter team defeated Susan and Kimber Lee on Tuesday to earn the title shot.
The first team has booked their spot in Impact Wrestling’s Knockouts Tag Team title tournament finals.
On Tuesday’s episode of Impact, Tasha Steelz & Kiera Hogan defeated Taya Valkyrie & Rosemary to advance to the finals of the Knockouts Tag Team title tournament. Steelz & Hogan got the win after Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo and Kimber Lee interfered during the match and took out Rosemary. Valkyrie & Rosemary had defeated Purrazzo & Kimber Lee in the first round of the tournament. At Final Resolution this past Saturday, Purrazzo retained her Knockouts title against Rosemary.
Steelz & Hogan will face either Jordynne Grace & Jazz or Havok & Nevaeh in the finals of the tournament. The finals are being held at Impact’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view on Saturday, January 16.
In the first round of the tournament, Steelz & Hogan defeated The Sea Stars (Ashley Vox & Delmi Exo). Grace & Jazz and Havok & Nevaeh advanced to the semifinals with respective wins over Killer Kelly & Renee Michelle and Tenille Dashwood & Alisha Edwards.
Impact hasn’t announced when the Grace & Jazz vs. Havok & Nevaeah semifinal match will be airing. The next two weeks of Impact episodes will be holiday specials.
The team that wins the tournament will become the first Knockouts Tag Team Champions since the titles were deactivated in 2013.
Impact Wrestling’s Knockouts Tag Team title tournament is down to its final four teams.
Havok & Nevaeh vs. Jordynne Grace & Jazz and Kiera Hogan & Tasha Steelz vs. Taya Valkyrie & Rosemary are the semifinal matches for the tournament. It will continue on next Tuesday’s episode of Impact.
The opening round concluded with Valkyrie & Rosemary defeating Deonna Purrazzo & Kimber Lee on this week’s Impact. Rosemary is challenging for Purrazzo’s Knockouts Championship at Impact Wrestling’s Final Resolution special on Impact Plus this Saturday.
Havok & Nevaeh defeated Tenille Dashwood & Alisha Edwards in the first round of the tournament, Grace & Jazz defeated Killer Kelly & Renee Michelle, and Hogan & Steelz defeated Sea Stars (Ashley Vox & Delmi Exo).
Jazz had recently announced her retirement but returned to the ring for the tournament. Grace & Jazz’s first round match was Jazz’s Impact Wrestling in-ring debut.
The new Knockouts Champions will be crowned as the tournament finals take place at Impact’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view on Saturday, January 16. The winners will be the first team to hold the Knockouts Tag Team titles since they were deactivated in 2013.
Coming out of last night’s Impact, five matches have been officially confirmed for Rebellion.
Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace will defend her title against former champion Taya Valkyrie in a full metal mayhem match at Rebellion. Willie Mack will also challenge Ace Austin for the X-Division Championship, and new Impact signee Kylie Rae will face Kiera Hogan.
Tessa Blanchard defending her Impact World Championship against Michael Elgin and Eddie Edwards in a triple threat match will headline Rebellion. Ken Shamrock vs. Sami Callihan is also set for the event.
The Rebellion pay-per-view was supposed to be held at Terminal 5 in New York City on Sunday, April 19, but that was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Impact noted that they were looking at alternative ways they could produce the event.
Impact is taping two months of television in empty arena form over three days in Nashville, Tennessee this week. PWInsider also reported that “there are plans to move forward with Rebellion in some form and perhaps re-tool the PPV as a special Impact on AXS episode or AXS special.”
Tenille Dashwood has an opponent for her Impact Wrestling debut.
Impact has announced Dashwood vs. Kiera Hogan for their television tapings in Mexico City, Mexico this Thursday. Impact has TV tapings at Fronton Mexico on both Thursday and Friday of this week.
At the end of July, Impact confirmed that Dashwood had signed with them and would be debuting at the Mexico City tapings. She was with ROH prior to becoming a free agent when her contract expired at the end of March.
Dashwood returned to the ring in a match against Allie Kat for Black Label Pro last month. It was her first match in 10 months, with Dashwood revealing last September that she needed to undergo shoulder surgery.
RVD vs. Madman Fulton is also set for Thursday’s tapings, and Impact has announced that Dr. Wagner Jr. will be making an appearance on Friday.
This week’s Twitch stream was hosted by Melissa Santos. Don Callis, who is in Japan doing commentary for the New Japan Cup, made a cameo.
The post-show interview was former Impact wrestler Crimson, who promoted the upcoming Salute to the Troops show on May 11.
X-Division Champion Rich Swann defeated Ethan Page in a non-title match
This was a speed vs. power bout. Swann got the advantage every time he had the space to run around Page, but when Page would get his hands on Swann, he would strike or drop Swann with power moves.
Page gained control by hitting a set of backbreakers and continued working Swann’s back with knees and forearms to the lower back. As the match went on, Page started getting cocky, taking his eyes off Swann, who finally got enough space to connect with a jumping neckbreaker to take Page off his feet.
Swann dodged an incoming Page, tossing him outside and connecting on a tope con giro. Back in the ring, Swann hit a frog splash for a two count. Swann went for the 450, but Page pushed the referee to the ropes, dropping him. Page followed up by tossing Swann to the mat for a two count.
Page and Swann traded some strikes in the middle of the ring that ended with both men kicking each other and Swann dropping Page with a Lethal Injection. Swann connected with the Phoenix Splash for the win. Okay match — it picked up towards the end.
After the match, oVe came out. Sami Callihan cut a promo saying that tonight is the night that Swann finally joins oVe. Callihan said that family is everything — and Swann and Callihan hugged it out in the ring.
Swann put the oVe shirt on and started chanting with them, but behind their backs, he superkicked Callihan and hit a double cutter on the Crists before ripping the shirt off. The crowd popped.
Backstage, Konnan told Santana and Ortiz that he is getting them their rematch against the Lucha Bros. He told them to just pay attention to tonight’s Lucha Bros vs. Rascalz match.
Josh Mathews told us that Brian Cage is next in line for a shot at Johnny Impact’s World Championship as soon as Johnny can return.
Ace Austin defeated Jake Atlas
Austin made his Impact debut tonight with his X-Men Gambit gimmick.
The match was fast paced. Austin and Atlas had a few reversals and counters to begin things — but quickly enough, Austin hit a few unique looking kicks to gain control. Atlas had some hope spots as he caught Austin with a kick and chops, but Austin used his athleticism to dodge Atlas’ offense, jumping around the ropes.
Atlas hit a big Fireman’s Carry for a two count. Atlas went for a kick, but Austin countered with a kick combo, ending with an interesting looking Curb Stomp and finishing Atlas with a running blockbuster, which he calls The Fold. Good showing for Austin, but Atlas looked even better if you asked me.
Rolando Melendez interviewed Johnny Impact and Taya Valkyrie, who were in their house in Los Angeles, California. Melendez asked about letting Brian Cage down, to which Johnny answered that he did, but it was an accident.
Melendez asked about working injured like others do, and Valkyrie brought up that Johnny is getting neck fusion surgery. Yikes — bad timing to make that the kayfabe injury after Tommaso Ciampa’s legit injury.
Johnny said that Cage will get his title shot when he is ready to return. Rolando Melendez is a great character.
Reno Scum cut a promo backstage. Adam Thornstowe said that it took them two years to come back to Impact and that Fallah Bahh and KM were their unfortunate victims. They accepted a rematch against Bahh & KM.
Alisha Edwards came out for a special announcement. Alisha thanked Impact Wrestling and said that her contract is expiring at the end of the month. She said that she enjoys coming out every week, but she also has considered staying home and starting a family. Suddenly, the Desi Hit Squad interrupted.
Rohit Raju cut a promo against the women’s empowerment movement and said that Alisha should indeed go home because it’s her job. Raj Singh said that all the women in wrestling should follow in her footsteps. Gama Singh said that God created women to serve men. Alisha finally had enough and slapped Gama in the face.
When Raj and Rohit got in Alisha’s face, Eddie Edwards came out to help her, but the numbers game was too much for Eddie until Eli Drake came down.
Eli Drake hinted at joining in with the Desi Hit Squad on the attack, but Drake attacked them and defended Eddie Edwards. Drake told Eddie that this was “something to think about” before walking to the back.
Rolando Melendez interviewed Brian Cage, who shut him down about his investigative approach. Melendez showed him the Johnny video from earlier, but Cage blew him off.
Backstage, Eddie and Alisha were talking when Drake walked up to them. Eddie thanked Drake for helping them both. Drake once again suggested they team up and chase the Tag Team, titles.
Alisha actually agreed with Drake and pushed for the tag team too, bringing up that Drake is the only man Eddie has left. Eddie agreed to team with Drake and take on the Desi Hit Squad next week.
The GWN Flashback Moment of the Week was The Wolves vs. The Hardys vs. Team 3D in a ladder match for the Tag Team titles from No Surrender 2014.
Melissa Santos interviewed Killer Kross and Moose. She asked about what is next for them now that they have taken out Johnny Impact and Brian Cage. Moose celebrated with a new suit. Killer Kross said if he or Moose can’t get title shots, then no one is getting title shots, and so if he doesn’t get a shot once Johnny returns, Johnny is going back to the hospital.
The Rascalz were in their roundtable. Dezmond Xavier said that in order to win tonight, they need masks to gain lucha powers — and Xavier revealed he had Kikutaro’s mask. They made fun of Moose’s Pepto-Bismol colored jacket. Zachary Wentz told Xavier to just give Kikutaro his face back. This was funny, but not a lot of substance.
Rosemary, Kiera Hogan & Jordynne Grace defeated Su Yung, Dark Allie & The Undead Maid of Honor (w/ Father James Mitchell) to gain control over Allie in the Dark War
The Undead Maid of Honor was Buggy Nova, formerly known as NXT’s Skylar Moon. Rosemary came out with a big entrance attire — she got a huge pop from the crowd.
The match started with all six wrestlers in the ring, with the babyfaces getting rid of the heels quickly. Alone in the ring, Hogan beat on Yung for a bit. Allie and Rosemary tagged in, but Allie ran away and tagged in the Undead Maid of Honor.
Rosemary easily got the upper hand and locked in the upside down choke. Allie and Grace tagged in. Grace dropped Allie with a German suplex and tagged in Hogan, who also went crazy over Allie, but she got caught in the ropes and the heels took control.
Back from commercial, Yung worked over Hogan. Allie tagged in and got a two count after a clothesline. Team Yung kept working on Hogan for a couple of minutes, getting a near submission and two counts in the process. Eventually, Hogan made a comeback on Allie and worked her way to tag Rosemary.
Rosemary finally had Allie for herself and dropped her with a reverse DDT. Every woman came in and hit their finishers on each other, leaving Rosemary and Allie at the end. Yung went for the mist, but she hit the Undead Maid of Honor instead.
Hogan took out Yung while Grace held Allie, allowing Rosemary to pin the Undead Maid of Honor and win the match.
Rosemary put a collar on Allie and dragged her to the back as James Mitchell had to hold off Yung.
Backstage, Glenn Gilbertti asked Konnan about Don Callis. Konnan instigated Gilbertti by telling him that Callis said he had been hired to become a mascot. Konnan told Gilbertti to go into a room and call out Callis. Gilbertti went in and saw a bald person, who he said his piece to, but the bald person turned out to be Killer Kross, who kicked Gilbertti’s butt.
Back from commercial, Gilbertti walked out from his beating. He was hallucinating and confusing people with Vince Russo, Jeff Jarrett, Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, and name dropping AEW. He finally found Scott D’Amore, who talked him down. Gilbertti walked out and joined Callis on commentary.
In the ring, Josh Mathews introduced Scarlett Bordeaux. Matthews asked about Bordeaux’s talent search, to which Bordeaux responded that none of the entries showed any potential to win a championship. Bordeaux made fun of Gilbertti wearing the turkey suit on Thanksgiving.
Gilbertti got in the ring and asked why Bordeaux would want to wrestle. He said that just by walking around she was the biggest deal, but the only thing that would happen if she wrestled is that she would just suck. Gilbertti said that women’s wrestling hasn’t been good since the last bra and panties match. Bordeaux, in the name of all women, slapped the misogynist Gilbertti.
Bordeaux challenged Gilbertti to her debut match. Gilbertti talked some more trash, telling Bordeaux to go home and do the dishes. He said if after all that she still wants to wrestle, he’ll be there waiting.
Disco Inferno and Scarlett Bordeaux just had one of the best angles I’ve seen in a while on TV — they were both great. I’m sold on that match, which takes place in three weeks on the Against All Odds special episode.
Rosemary, Hogan, and Grace dragged Allie outside. Rosemary told Hogan and Grace that she will take it from there. Grace agreed that they had only signed up to get Allie back. Hogan did not want to let Allie go until she got the old Allie back.
Melissa Santos interviewed Tessa Blanchard about a number one contender’s match she has against Grace. Blanchard said that Impact management is screwing her over for what she did to Gail Kim. Blanchard said that she will defeat Grace and get her rematch.
Impact Tag Team Champions The Lucha Bros (Pentagon Jr. & Fenix) defeated The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz) in a non-title match
Fenix and Xavier started off, but not with the usual reversals and counters one would expect from them. Xavier tried to trick Fenix and caught him off guard with a superkick, but the Lucha Bros were on the top of their game and got control, getting a quick two count with the assisted wheelbarrow slam.
The Lucha Bros took out Wentz, leaving Xavier to take on both Penta and Fenix. He actually managed to dodge them, tossing Fenix into Pentagon with a spear. Wentz came in with a combo on Fenix, a huge running knee, and a springboard knee for a two count.
Fenix caught Wentz with some chops and tagged in Pentagon, who took out Wentz’s knee, but as he went to follow up, Wentz kicked him outside. Fenix went for a jump outside, but Wentz hit an uppercut and tossed him to his brother. Xavier hit an assisted senton over the ring post on both Lucha Bros.
Back in the ring, the Rascalz got a near fall after each guy hit a senton on Pentagon, but Fenix broke up the pin. Finally, after exchanging some strikes, Pentagon picked up the win on Wentz after the superkick and Penta Driver combo. Great short match — the Rascalz looked awesome in defeat.
Backstage, the Lucha Bros were greeted by Konnan. Pentagon and Fenix told Konnan to tell Santana and Ortiz to never touch their masks again. Konnan asked for the rematch, but the Lucha Bros told Konnan to wait.
Konnan said he wasn’t asking, he was telling them and that the next time he saw them, he wanted a date. Konnan walked away. Pentagon told Fenix that they’re not going to take orders from Konnan.
Overall, this was a great show. Impact Wrestling low-key made a big deal of International Women’s Day by putting their own female roster over and not just selling a women’s revolution. While the main event was great, the storyline developments of tonight were the stronger parts of the show.
Next week: Johnny Impact returns, oVe takes on Willie Mack, Rich Swann & Tommy Dreamer, and Tessa Blanchard and Jordynne Grace face off in a Knockouts Championship number one contender’s match.
On the day of the show, Impact Wrestling rounded out the card for their Redemption pay-per-view by adding another match.
Taya Valkyrie vs. Kiera Hogan was announced for the PPV this morning, bringing the lineup up to eight matches. Valkyrie lost to Rosemary in her last match on television for Impact and unsuccessfully challenged for Allie’s Knockouts Championship at Impact vs. Lucha Underground in New Orleans. Hogan debuted for Impact at their tapings in January after signing with the company last year.
Allie will defend her title against Su Yung tonight.
Impact has also teased that they’ll be revealing new title belts for their championships at Redemption. The show is taking place at the Impact Zone in Orlando, Florida and will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Here’s the updated card:
Impact World Champion Austin Aries defending against Pentagon Jr. and Fenix in a triple threat match
Knockouts Champion Allie defending against Su Yung
Eddie Edwards, Moose & Tommy Dreamer vs. Sami Callihan & OVE (Dave & Jake Crist) in a House of Hardcore match
X Division Champion Matt Sydal defending against Petey Williams
Impact Tag Team Champions LAX (Santana & Ortiz) defending against Eli Drake & Scott Steiner
Aerostar vs. Drago
Taya Valkyrie vs. Kiera Hogan
Brian Cage vs. Taiji Ishimori vs. DJ Z vs. El Hijo Del Fantasma vs. Trevor Lee vs. Dezmond Xavier