Tag: KUSHIDA

Tonight’s Impact Victory Road from White Plains, New York, will feature several title defenses, a return, and a match months in the making.

Former Impact World Champions Josh Alexander and Steve Maclin will go head-to-head in a match that originally slated to happen at April’s Rebellion.

Jordynne Grace will return to the ring for the first time since May as she faces rival Deonna Purrazzo. 

X-Division Champion Lio Rush will defend against KUSHIDA.

Knockouts Champion Trinity will defend against Alisha Edwards while Knockouts Tag Team Champions Killer Kelly & Masha Slamovich defend against Gisele Shaw & Savannah Evans.

Impact Tag Team Champions The Rascalz defend their gold for the first time as they face the Motor City Machine Guns.

Digital Media Champion Kenny King will put his title on the line against Tommy Dreamer’s career while Bully Ray takes on PCO under anything goes rules.

The show will also include Crazzy Steve vs. Black Taurus and two pre-show matches.

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Alan Angels defeated Little Guido Maritato

Little Guido facing Alan Angels on am Impact preshow was not something I had on my calendar for 2023, but as the match was about to start, the picture went out with this message being displayed:

he first (and hopefully only) production problem tonight. Thankfully a few moments after that, the show came back on as Guido was working over the shoulder of Angels. As Guido let the referee check on Angels, Angels stood up, raked the eyes, and hit Angels Wings for the win.

–PCO was wandering in the parking lot, and apparently this parking lot in the New York area is the cousin of the NXT parking lot, as PCO was hit by a car driven by Bully Ray.

ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) defeated Moose & Brian Myers

Perfectly fine tag match here, though it does make me wonder what Impact is doing with Moose, given his main event status. I would much rather seem him teaming with Eddie Edwards more often than Myers.

Bey out maneuvered Moose at the start of this match, frustrating him. Bey and Austin continued the assault against Myers, with Moose looking increasingly frustrated on the apron. Moose was able to drop Austin when the referee was distracted and they got the heat on Bey for the next few minutes. Moose slowed it down against Bey and hit a chop, but Bey ducked the next and fired back with 3 chops before Moose raked the eyes and tagged out to Myers.

Bey countered a powerbomb and tagged out to Austin, who immediately ran wild. As this was happening, for a split second, the announcer audio came through the house mic loudly, and then there was awkward silence in the audience as it was a jarring noise. Austin, however, floated through the ropes, bounced of the middle rope, and hit a kick on Myers. Not long after, Bey was able to roll up Myers for the pin as Moose made the dive to try and make the save.

Impact Wrestling Victory Road Main Card

Impact X-Division Champion Lio Rush defeated KUSHIDA to retain

This match ruled. Rush and KUSHIDA are both so good, and I know KUSHIDA has fallen into his role as gatekeeper to the starts in New Japan, but he still has plenty left in the tank. I hope we see him get another run as IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion or something on NJPW Strong, or even here in Impact. Great match.

KUSHIDA started the match chasing after Rush all over ringside and in the ring, but using speed that is not the typical chase, as they weaved in and out of the ropes and the ring in a really cool way. After another chase, KUSHIDA almost punted the arm of Rush, but Rush pulled away to the apron at just the right moment. KUSHIDA grabbed him and put the Hoverboard Lock on, and let go before 5, only to kick the arm and start working Rush over. That opening sequence was so awesome.

KUSHIDA hit a shotei palm strike and put Rush on the top ropes before knocking him off to the apron. Rush had to gouge the eyes to get KUSHIDA away from his arm. KUSHIDA however, was able to go right back to the left arm, and then did an armbar across the bottom rope and turnbuckle on Rush. As KUSHIDA brought Rush back into the ring, Rush rolled KUSHIDA up and hit a spinning kick and a clothesline for a 2-count.

Rush grabbed the X-Division title but the referee did not let him use it. Rush grabbed KUSHIDA’s sunglasses instead, and danced around ringside to boos from the crowd. KUSHIDA rolled Rush up in response for a 2-count and went right for the Hoverboard Lock out of it. Rush countered and sent KUSHIDA to the apron before hitting a handspring kick. Rush went for a lowpe but KUSHIDA caught him with the Hoverboard Lock on the floor.

Back in the ring, Rush went for the Spanish Fly, but KUSHIDA countered again into the Hoverboard Lock. The fans went crazy with how often KUSHIDA was able to counter into it. Rush and KUSHIDA both hit kicks from their backs, trying to spring up to hit their opponent and both were down. Both wrestlers exchanged forearms in the middle of the ring. KUSHIDA caught Rush in a cravat and then hit a series of knees. KUSHIDA accidentally swung his arm into the referee, and Rush low blowed KUSHIDA and hit the Final Hour for the win.

–Santino was backstage with the medical team as PCO laid on a gurney, apparently dead (or unconscious), bur PCO stat right up as soon as the doctor said he couldn’t compete and he screamed for Bully Ray and walked away with the doctors looking completely shocked. He’s basically a zombie, this really shouldn’t surprise anyone in Impact.

Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Champions MK Ultra (Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly) defeated Gisele Shaw & Savannah Evans (w/ Jai Vidal)

Impact made the right call with MK Ultra continuing to win, as they are two of the best characters and workers in the division.

Slamovich and Kelly dominated Shaw in the early part of this match, including Kelly hitting a stalling fisherman’s suplex for a 2-count. Evans low bridged Kelly and they were finally able to get some offence against Kelly. Evans hit a butterfly suplex on Kelly for a 2-count. After kicking Shaw, Slamovich tagged in for the hot tag and ran wild, hitting yakuza kicks all over the ring, but Jai Vidal got on the apron and distracted the referee, allowing them to double team Slamovich.

Evans then accidentally hit a big boot on Shaw after Slamovich ducked. Kelly took out Vidal on the apron, but Evans recovered enough to hit a big boot on Slamovich. Evans picked Slamovich up with a fireman’s carry, but Slamovich countered into a sleeper, so Evans threw her off. Slamovich got up, hit a spinning hook kick and then the Snow plough on Evans for the pinfall.

–PCO was screaming for Bully Ray backstage, and Ray ran up behind him and started beating on him with a chair, screaming that he was just a man. Ray then brought some gasoline out and poured it on PCO. PCO spit gasoline into the eyes of Bully Ray after that though, saving himself from being set on fire.

Crazzy Steve defeated Black Taurus

This wasn’t bad. Steve’s new character is working, I think, as the audience seems to be genuinely creeped out by Steve.

Taurus did not waste any time waiting for Steve, attacking him as soon as the bell rang. Steve bailed to the floor and Tom Hannifan stood up ready to run away. Steve told him to relax and that he was witnessing something beautiful be born. He then got back in the ring and sent Taurus to the corner, setting Taurus on the top rope before hitting a springboard clothesline for a 2-count.

Steve then said he was going to take the eyes of Taurus, but Taurus countered it for a bit until Steve hit a Russian legsweep. After some brief exchanges, Taurus went for a Samoan drop, but Steve countered with a crucifix driver for a 2-count. Taurus managed to hit the pop up Samoan drop after a reset, so the first one may have been a botch, and both men were down. Taurus hit a hard forearm to drove Steve, and hit a second after blocking a punch.

Taurus hit two sling blades, and a Knightfall backbreaker. Steve screamed he was sorry at this point, saying he didn’t want to fight. Taurus turned around, unsettled, so Steve attacked him from behind and went to the floor to pull out a fork he hid under the announce table. Steve’s usage of the fork was blocked, letting the referee take it out of the ring, but Steve gouged the eyes and hit a tornado DDT for the win.

–Gia Miller was with Tommy Dreamer talking about his match with Kenny King. Dreamer said that if tonight was his last match, he was very proud to have it in front of his fans in New York, in the same building he became a wrestling fan when he was 10-years old.

Tommy Dreamer defeated Kenny King (w/ Sheldon Jean) to win the Impact Digital Media Championship in a Title vs. Career match

This was all smoke and mirrors, as it needed to be, despite not being a hardcore match. King got a lot of heat on Dreamer until the end, not dissimilar to a Terry Funk babyface match. This will probably be the worst match on the card, but the crowd was red hot, and Dreamer did work very hard in it. Heartwarming finish, and that is all we need sometimes.

Tommy Dreamer came out wearing Terry Funk inspired gear, and his daughters were in the front row to cheer him on. The crowd was very hot for this, as King hit an arm drag and the fans exploded into “Tommy Dreamer” chants while one person cheered for King. That was amusing. There’s always one fan that has to cheer the heel.

Dreamer hit an arm drag of his own before hitting a Cactus clothesline to the floor on King. Dreamer requested a bottle of water from the fans, spitting it into the face of King. Dreamer then hit the ropes going for a tope by King cut him off with a kick. Credit to Dreamer, he had me believing he was running full force for a dive.

King went to the top rope buy spent too much time trash talking the fans and got hit with a gorilla press. King rolled to the floor and managed to suplex Dreamer on the ramp. King hit an Eddy Gordo kick on Dreamer, and faced off with Dreamer’s daughters, saying he was their father now.

King ended up getting hit with a superplex from Dreamer for a 2-count. Dreamer and King then exchanged punches, with Dreamer hitting his Dusty style punches before hitting a bionic elbow. King got up and hit a spinebuster after a kick for a two count. King went for a superkick, saying “I’m sorry, I hate you!” but Dreamer hit a cutter for a 2-count.

King got out of a Death Valley Driver, and taunted Dreamer’s daughters again after necking Dreamer on the ropes. King then hit a blockbuster for a 2-count. The announcers completely missed Kenny King going for the spinning toe hold, calling it a figure four, but Dreamer rolled him up for a two count.

Dreamer then hit a Death Valley Driver and a Terry Funk style piledriver for a 2-count. Dreamer looked at his Terry Funk shirt and called for a moonsault, but Sheldon Jean distracted the referee, allowing King to cut him off. The referee ejected Jean, and as he was doing that, Heath ran in and hit the Wake Up Call, allowing Dreamer to hit a DDT for the pinfall.

–The hype video for this match was awesome, with Purrazzo doing an awesome voiceover about how Grace couldn’t beat her, while Grace is seen training with the images of her previous losses to Purrazzo playing. This was great.

Jordynne Grace defeated Deonna Purrazzo

Really good match from Purrazzo and Grace here, with Grace finally getting a one on one win over Purrazzo.

Grace hit a northern lights suplex on Purrazzo right away to start the match for a 2-count. Grace fell short on a dive and Purrazzo took advantage, locking on a double wristlock and driving Grace back into the apron. Grace and Purrazzo exchanged elbows as they ran the ropes until Purrazzo tried to hit a head scissors into an armbar, but Grace shoved her off and hit a bodyslam. Purrazzo’s work over the arm made Grace hesitate, but Grace was able to hit a Michinoku driver for a 2-count.

Purrazzo hit a suplex and transitioned to an armbar as soon as Grace kicked out. Purrazzo called for the Queen’s Gambit, but Grace shoved her back to the corner and went for a superplex after driving the face of Purrazzo into her knee. Grace then rolled through straight into a Jackhammer for a 2-count.

Purrazzo and Grace exchanged attempts at the Juggernaut driver, but it ended with Purrazzo hitting a coup d’état for a two count. Grace hit forearms from the apron before both wrestlers hit a clothesline and were down. Purrazzo ran the ropes, but Grace countered and hit a Deadeye for a two count.

Purrazzo was able to hit a head scissors into an armbar, but Grace immediately countered into a pinfall attempt. Purrazzo did not let that stand, transitioning back to the armbar. As Grace tried to escape, Purrazzo went for the Queen’s Gambit. Grace then countered a few attempts at this before finally hitting the Juggernaut driver for the pinfall.

PCO defeated Bully Ray in a No DQ Match

This is what you would expect it to be, but was fun.

PCO attacked Ray as he tried to leave the building, and they ended up on the ramp with Ray throwing PCO down the ramp. He then screamed “Do you know who I am?” with all of his fear suddenly gone. Oops. Should have kept the attack up looking scared to be consistent there. Ray pulled a garbage can out from under the ring and hit PCO with it and the camera shook as he hit it, making me dizzy, though it was not Kevin Dunn production bad.

Ray put three tables in the ring while PCO setup chairs on the floor. Ray punched PCO off the apron, and PCO fell off into the chairs. That was a quick payoff. Ray setup tables in each corner of the ring, except one. Ray setup a fourth table on the floor, but PCO hit him with a garbage can. The bell finally rang as they went into the ring, and Ray sent PCO throw all three tables that he setup.

Ray sent PCO out of the ring through the fourth table, and PCO sat up like nothing, and Ray tried to run away again. Santino Marella came out with security and told him that he had to finish the match. Ray slapped Santino, and Santino pulled out the cobra, and hit it on Ray, sending him right to the feet of PCO. PCO setup a ladder in the ring and tried to hit a flip off the top rope onto Ray on the ladder, but Ray got up and threw PCO onto the ladder and pulled more tables into the ring.

Ray pulled a cowbell out and went to hit PCO with it, but PCO grabbed Ray and chokeslammed him for a 2-count. PCO pulled a cheese grater out and hit a low blow with it. PCO then hit a flip off the top rope onto Ray through a table, but the table didn’t break. PCO set it up in the corner instead and sent Ray through it for the win.

–Eric Young and Scott D’Amore were with Gia Miller talking about Impact 1000, saying that they were there for the very first episode of Impact, and they were going to be there, while D’Amore screamed “Yes! Yes! Yes!” at the camera like he used to as the leader of Team Canada.

Impact World Tag Team Champions The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachery Wentz) defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)

The story of this match is that the Motor City Machine Guns outclassed The Rascalz, who, while talented, were not able to compete without cheating. Unfortunately, they basically got screwed by a dumb referee in the finish, but it does add to the heat for The Rascalz. Sabin and Shelley were honestly unbelievably great in this match, and this was probably the best match on the show thus far, giving Lio Rush and KUSHIDA a run for their money. The Rascalz were good too, but all the little things Sabin and Shelley do really set them apart. Impact is fortunate to have them.

Sabin started the match with Miguel, and the announcers noted that the last time they were one-on-one on Impact, Zachery Wentz debuted and attacked Sabin. Sabin and Shelley used their great teamwork to counter all the attempts of the Rascalz to get on top of the early portion of the match, but after Sabin and Shelley pulled them to the floor, the Rascalz ducked under them and hit stereo superkicks.

Sabin and Shelley didn’t let that advantage last long though, hitting dragon screws on the legs of Wentz, starting to tear apart his knees. Shelley made sure Wentz’s back was to the referee, and he pulled Wentz by his face to the corner to tag out to Sabin. That was a really well done spot, and Shelley is only repaying them for their cheating, while being better at it than the younger wrestlers ala a babyface Ric Flair. That was great.

Shelley did a spinning toe hold on Wentz, and the announcers got the move right this time, but did not note the Terry Funk reference. Shelley and Sabin then got stereo figure four leglocks on both men to the delight of the fans. The story of the match is that thus far is that Shelley and Sabin are far above both Wentz and Miguel in terms of their technique, including using the rules and referee blindness to their advantage.

Wentz managed to hit a handspring into a knee, and tagged out to Miguel. Miguel posed on the floor, so Shelly brought Miguel onto the apron via face pull, but Miguel gouged the eyes and suddenly Miguel and Wentz had some measure of control for a little bit, sending each other into dropkicks on Sabin and Shelley both, who were in opposite corners.

Sabin was able to hit a dragon screw on Miguel, and hit a second on Wentz, and then one on both of them at the same time, as again, the Motor City Machine Guns had an answer to everything the Rascalz were doing. Sabin then hit a tope suicidia to the floor on both wrestlers. Sabin and Shelley hit a double team dropkick and flatliner for a 2-count. Wentz went to the eyes of Shelley, in a bit of revenge, and superkicked Sabin and hit a double stomp for a 2-count.

Miguel went for the belts to try and hit Sabin, but the referee took his belt away. Unfortunately, he missed Wentz hitting Sabin with the belt for a 2-count. Miguel called for spray paint, and as Wentz went for it, Shelley pulled him to the floor and Sabin and Shelley hit a combo superkick and PK. Miguel hit a handspring kick to knock both men off the apron and then hit a tope con giro to the floor.

Miguel went to hit Sabin with the belt again, but Sabin and ducked and then hit a tornado DDT on Miguel onto the belt. As Sabin was going for the pin, John Skylar pulled the referee from the ring. The referee was a complete idiot here, as he thought Shelley may have pulled him out, costing himself the match, rather than Skylar who was right there, and the referee questioned both men. While this was going on, Wentz sprayed paint into the eyes of Sabin and Miguel rolled him up for the 3.

Impact Knockouts World Champion Trinity defeated Alisha Edwards

This was far better than it had any right to be, and it’s because Trinity is so likable and Alisha Edwards did a wonderful job being a heel. The in ring was rough in a few spots, but they worked very hard and had the audience the whole time. This was great. Not a great match, but great for how hot the crowd was.

Trinity was cheered wildly by the fans as she came out, and they threw glowsticks into the ring as she posed with the Knockouts championship. That was great. Edwards grabbed the mic and said she didn’t understand the New York’s fans booing because of their dumb accents. Again, great.

Trinity hit some kicks in the corner, a PK, and a legdrop while doing the splits as the fans chanted “Ucey” which brought a big smile to Trinity’s face. Edwards managed to hit a neck breaker on Trinity out of the corner for a two count. Edwards hit some weak chops to Trinity before going for a tornado DDT, but Trinity countered and shoved Edwards away.

Trinity charged the corner, but ate a drop toe hold into the bottom turnbuckle. Edwards locked on a body scissors and hit forearms to the back of Trinity. The crowd booed her loudly. Trinity hit some short arm clotheslines and a back suplex into a back breaker across both of knees for a 2-count. Edwards countered a full nelson bomb and Trinity went for a kick well above her head and took the head off the referee by accident.

Trinity locked on starstruck and even locked hands together to crank it in even more, but Eddie Edwards broke it up and then setup a table on the floor to put Trinity through. Frankie Kazarian and Traci Brooks ran out and made the save, putting Eddie Edwards on the table and then telling Trinity to hit a dive off the top rope, hitting Edwards with a splash that only broke the table legs. Poor Trinity screamed “Ow!” after that.

Alisha Edwards, meanwhile grabbed a kendo stick and hit Trinity with it. Trinity kicked out to a huge reaction from the crowd. Trinity then hit a full nelson bomb, and I think they were supposed to roll over into starstruck, but something went wrong, so Trinity smartly adjusted and pinned her, and only people watching closely would see it.

–A video played announcing the new inductees to the Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame, announcing Mike Tenay and Don West. This was so perfect. The video then faded out to Tom Hannifan and Matt Rehwoldt, with Hannifan clearly emotional, saying that there was no Impact Wrestling without the voices of Tenay and West, and they were walking the roads that they paved. This was really nice, and I found myself tearing up too because we lost Don West far too soon.

Josh Alexander defeated Steve Maclin

This match ruled. Oh my goodness, I missed Alexander in the main event having these kind of matches. Steve Maclin looked incredible too, as Impact really does have two main eventers who can deliver every time they are out there. This main event was absolutely fantastic and my favourite match of the show, as they wrestled a G1 level main event. Watch this match and enjoy great pro wrestling.

It only seems right for Josh Alexander to be in the main event of an Impact show, and here he was starting where he left off – in a match with Steve Maclin. Both men wasted no time going for hard chops and strikes, with Alexander hitting several hard ones on Maclin on the floor before Maclin drove him into the apron.

Alexander hit a brainbuster on the apron and threw Maclin into the ring. As Alexander got back on the apron and looked back to the audience for a split second, Maclin jumped up and yanked the left arm of Alexander across the ropes and then drove him into the ring post. Excellent spot. Maclin hit a knee drop on the arm of Alexander, and Alexander immediately slapped Maclin in response, so Maclin returned the strike and hit a uranage into a backbreaker on Alexander.

Alexander, however, had a series of German suplexes ready to unleash, hitting ten rolling suplexes with a bridge for a 2-count, and Maclin in kicking out immediately went to an arm lock on Alexander who had to make the ropes. Fantastic spot that highlights Alexander’s ability while showing Maclin’s clear headed thinking.

Maclin hit a lowpe on Alexander and then wrapped Alexander’s arm up in the ring steps before kicking them. Alexander blocked an arm lock with some chops, but fell to the mat when going for a float over at the turnbuckle, and Maclin ran in and locked on the London Dungeon. Alexander was able to dodge a kick and hit a back suplex with his right arm.

Maclin went for an armbar, but Alexander scrambled and hit some palm strikes to the face of Maclin. Maclin went for a busaiku knee on Alexander, but he caught him and went for the ankle lock. Maclin rolled forward, sending Alexander crashing into the middle turnbuckle. Alexande dodged a charge, hit a hard forearm to the back of Maclin’s head, and then hit a torture rack bomb for a 2-count.

Alexander went for a moonsault, but Maclin put Alexander in the tree of woe. Alexander hit a spear in the corner and then hit a KIA on Alexander, but Alexander fell to the outside. As Maclin went for a lowpe in response, Alexander caught him and swiped him aside, forcing Maclin to crash to the floor in brutal fashion. As Alexander tried to drag himself into the ring, Maclin hit a chop block, and Alexander barely made it back in. Both men exchanged forearms in the middle or the ring before trading hard strikes and chops.

Maclin went for a hard haymaker, but Alexander instinctively blocked it with his left arm, letting Maclin hit a brainbuster before going for a diving headbutt. Alexander got his feet up, and rolled him up. Alexander then kicked the inner thigh of Maclin, forcing him to drop to his knees, targeting the formerly injured groin of Maclin, and then hit the C4 Spike for the pinfall.

Final Thoughts

Impact is really on a roll with their specials and PPVs right now, as was another great one. Between their shows and the big AEW shows the last few weeks, I have seen so much good wrestling that it’s almost overwhelming. I’m not complaining though, as this was a delight to watch and I highly recommend checking this show out if you get the chance, especially the main event.