Mahabali Shera and ODB both made their returns to Impact Wrestling tonight.
ODB made her return after Jordynne Grace defeated Susan in a match. ODB made the save for Grace and her tag team partner Jazz after Susan, Deonna Purazzo, and Kimber Lee attacked them. ODB later told Grace and Jazz that she was working her food truck nearby when she saw the attack, so she decided to help.
Shera also returned, aligning himself with former Desi Hit Squad teammate Rohit Raju. He helped Raju score a win over TJP. TJP had tried to go under the ring during the course of the match, but Shera was under the ring and took out TJP, allowing Raju to get the win.
ODB has appeared sporadically for Impact Wrestling over the last couple of years. She most recently appeared at last year’s Hard to Kill event, where she lost to then-champion Taya Valkyrie and Jordynne Grace in a triple threat match for the Knockouts title. Shera had not been seen on Impact since early last year, though he has made recent appearances on Impact’s Xplosion show. He also made several appearances last month for Ohio Valley Wrestling, competing in a battle royal for the OVW Heavyweight title.
The man formerly known Mahabali Shera is reportedly no longer under WWE contract.
PWInsider reported today that Amanpreet Singh Randhawa has been released from WWE. There were no further details regarding when or why the release happened.
Randhawa, 27, signed with WWE back in February. He mostly competed on Florida house shows, usually losing to more established talent. After a period of sporadic appearances, he had started to wrestle more in the last month, with his final match being a loss to Brennan Williams back on September 6.
Originally starting his career in 2011 as part of Impact’s King Ka King project in India, Randhawa is most well known from his run in the company from 2014-2017 as Mahabali Shera. Although he never made it past the midcard, an attempt was made to get him over as a viral sensation by having him innovate a dance move called the Shera Shake, but it never really took off.
Two NXT house shows took place on Thursday night, with a Florida loop stop in Ocala and most of the television roster on the road in Columbus, Ohio. Here are the results for each show:
Image and results from Ocala courtesy of @FLWrestlingFan. Estimated attendance: 300 people.
– No Way Jose defeated Marcel Barthel
Jose hit his pop-up punch to win.
– Buddy Murphy cut a promo in the ring and issued an open challenge for later in the night.
– Aliyah defeated Zeda
– There was an in-ring segment where Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler went back and forth with Dory Funk Jr. (who makes appearances when NXT comes to Ocala) before Babatunde Aiyegbusi showed up to fight.
– Babatunde Aiyegbusi defeated Wesley Blake by DQ
Chad Lail caused the disqualification. Blake, Cutler, and Lail ganged up on Aiyegbusi until Funk ran them off with a whip.
– Mahabali Shera defeated Dan Matha
Shera was making his NXT debut here after WWE announced last month that he had reported to the Performance Center. He won with a roll-up.
– Roderick Strong defeated Raul Mendoza
This was said to be a great match. Strong won by submission with the Strong Hold.
– NXT Women’s Champion Ember Moon defeated Reina Gonzalez
This was said to be an excellent match as well. It was the first time Ricochet has wrestled at a Florida NXT show, though he was on the road tour last week in matches against Murphy. A match between them definitely has to be on television soon.
Submitted by reader Kevin Milem from the show in Columbus
– The Street Profits defeated Adrian Jaoude & Cezar Bononi
This was a good match despite the crowd not being as familiar with Jaoude and Bononi. Montez Ford took most of the punishment until Angelo Dawkins got the hot tag.
The Street Profits won after Ford hit a frog splash off the top rope.
– Dakota Kai defeated Lacey Evans
Evans controlled almost the whole match. Kai took a bad bump between the ropes and straight to the floor at one point but was okay.
Kai made a comeback near the end, landed a running kick in the corner, used another kick, and hit a double stomp off the top to win. While she was celebrating, Shayna Baszler came out through the crowd and attacked her and choked her out.
– Lars Sullivan defeated Dijak
Surprisingly, this was a competitive match. Dijak was able to get some offense, but Sullivan beat him by using the Freak Accident. After that, Sullivan went to leave but came back to hit the Freak Accident again.
– The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) defeated Heavy Machinery & Kassius Ohno
This was a really good match with some funny moments. The crowd was behind Ohno since he’s from Ohio. Cole also got a huge pop.
Heavy Machinery used bear hugs for the first part of the match, then Undisputed Era trapped Tucker Knight in their corner and worked on his knee and leg. Heavy Machinery went to pancake Fish and O’Reilly outside of the ring, but they moved out of the way. That distracted Ohno, allowing Cole to pin him with a roll-up.
– Shayna Baszler defeated Kairi Sane by DQ
Baszler worked over Sane’s arm for the whole match. She had it won but pulled Sane up before the three count. She was going to give Sane more punishment, but Dakota Kai came out and kicked Baszler in the back and caused the disqualification.
Kai kept kicking Baszler and did her running kicks, then Sane came off the top rope with the Insane Elbow. Baszler was the only person who drew real heat from the crowd.
– Aleister Black defeated Velveteen Dream
This was probably the best match on the show. Dream was over huge with the crowd, getting “Say my name” and “Velveteen” chants.
They did lots of back and forth and it was similar to their TakeOver match. There was lots of action, with Black coming out of it victorious.
Almas and Gargano started, with Almas mostly in control but Gargano getting some offense. Gargano was finally able to go for the tag, but Vega ran around and pulled LeRae off the apron. Almas then continued beating down Gargano.
Finally, Gargano was able to tag in LeRae and she put a beatdown on Vega. The biggest spot in the match was Almas going for his double knees in the corner but LeRae jumping in front and stopping him. She then started hitting Almas with some big forearms.
The finish of the match was cool. Both Gargano and LeRae hit superkicks, did the head scissors into the Gargano Escape, and Vega tapped out.
Another former member of the Impact Wrestling roster has signed with WWE.
WWE announced yesterday that Amanpreet Singh, who previously wrestled for Impact as Mahabali Shera, has reported to the Performance Center after signing with the company. The WWE.com article on Singh joining the Performance Center didn’t mention Impact or his previous persona by name, but it noted that he’s wrestled in his home country of India, as well as in the United States and United Kingdom.
“I came to the U.S. with the dream that someday, I am going to make my country proud,” Singh told WWE.com. “I would consider myself fortunate if I am able to become a positive role model for the youngsters of my country and impact lives. I don’t think I can find a better platform than WWE to empower myself to empower others, especially those back at home.”
Singh began his pro wrestling career in 2011, joined Impact in 2014, and departed the promotion last year. He was prominently featured on Impact’s television tapings in India in 2017, winning a Sony Six Invitational Gauntlet.
Previously: Alberto El Patron & James Storm battled Bobby Lashley & Ethan Carter III in a wild main event.
Tonight: It’s the last night in India and the final Impact before Slammiversary. It features Alberto El Patron, Eddie Edwards, James Storm & Mahabali Shera vs. Bobby Lashley, Davey Richards, Ethan Carter III & Kongo Kong.
Show Recap —
– Earlier tonight, Jeremy Borash and Bruce Prichard hosted several Slammiversary contract signings in the ring. The signings aired in quick succession and included Rosemary and Sienna, Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards, James Storm and EC3, and Bobby Lashley and Alberto El Patron.
During the Lashley and El Patron signing, Edwards, Storm, Richards, and EC3 remained at the table. Before a brawl could break out, Prichard announced the eight-man main event for later tonight.
Sonjay Dutt & Matt Sydal defeated Low Ki & Trevor Lee
Dutt and Sydal controlled the early part of the match until the heels briefly took over. Dutt and Sydal made a comeback and cleared the ring. The heels isolated Sydal in their corner. Dutt got the hot tag and ran wild. Dutt took out Low Ki with a dive to the floor and Sydal hit the Shooting Star Press on Lee for the win.
– A training video of NFL free agent DeAngelo Williams aired. He discussed his passion for wrestling and the respect he has for wrestlers past and present.
Eli Drake & Chris Adonis defeated The Mumbai Cats
Adonis and Drake dominated the match, which came to an end when Drake hit the Gravy Train.
– King Mo was announced as Bobby Lashley’s corner man at Slammiversary to counter Alberto’s father Dos Caras.
Swoggle defeated Rockstar Spud in a Mumbai Street Fight
Spud viciously attacked Swoggle in the corner until the ref tried to stop him. Spud pulled the ref’s pants off and chased him in the corner. Swoggle pulled off Spud’s pants and put him through the table to win the match.
– J.B. and Joseph Park completed their training. J.B. told Park to find his inner monster and handed him an Abyss action figure.
Rosemary, Allie & Braxton Sutter defeated Sienna, Laurel Van Ness & KM
All six competitors brawled to start the match until the men went one-on-one. Rosemary scored a near fall on Van Ness and the match broke down into another brawl. Rosemary spit the green mist at Sienna, but she pushed Van Ness in the way. Allie took out Sienna, then Rosemary hit the Red Wedding on Van Ness to win the match.
– Joseph Park tried to find his inner monster and found Abyss’s favorite weapon Janice nearby.
Alberto El Patron, Eddie Edwards, James Storm & Mahabali Shera defeated Bobby Lashley, Davey Richards, Ethan Carter III & Kongo Kong
The heels jumped Shera before the match started and before his partners were introduced. Shera had to be taken to the back for medical attention — making it four-on-three.
EC3 teased starting the match with Storm but quickly tagged out to Lashley. The heels took over and kept Edwards on their side of the ring. Edwards tried to make a tag, but the heels pulled Storm and El Patron off the apron.
Shera made his return to the ring and ran wild on the heels. Kong missed a splash in the corner and Shera picked him up for a big slam. El Patron made the blind tag and hit the double foot stomp on Kong to win the match for his team.
Up Next: Impact’s second marquee event of the year, Slammiversary XV, takes place this Sunday night. The lineup features:
Impact World Champion Bobby Lashley (w/ King Mo) vs. GFW Global Champion Alberto El Patron (w/ Dos Caras) with both titles on the line
Knockouts Champion Rosemary vs. GFW Woman’s Champion Sienna with both titles on the line
DeAngelo Williams & Moose vs. Eli Drake & Chris Adonis
James Storm vs. Ethan Carter III in a strap match
Jeremy Borash & Joseph Park vs. Josh Mathews & Scott Steiner
X Division Champion Sonjay Dutt vs. Low Ki in a two-out-of-three falls match for the title
Eddie Edwards & Alisha Edwards vs. Davey Richards & Angelina Love in a Full Metal Mayhem match
Impact/GFW Tag Champions LAX vs. Laredo Kid & Garza Jr. vs. Drago & El Hijo del Fantasma vs. Naomichi Marufuji & Taiji Ishimori for the titles
