Impact Wrestling has added four matches to their television tapings in Mexico City, Mexico.
Impact is taping TV at Fronton Mexico tomorrow and Friday. Michael Elgin vs. Rhino, Impact Tag Team Champions The North (Josh Alexander & Ethan Page) vs. LAX (Santana & Ortiz), and Rich Swann & Willie Mack vs The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz) are set for Thursday’s tapings.
Jessicka Havok vs. Su Yung has been confirmed for Friday.
As was previously announced, Tenille Dashwood vs. Kiera Hogan and RVD vs. Madman Fulton are set for Thursday. Dr. Wagner Jr. will be appearing on Friday.
Elgin and Rhino’s feud began when Elgin was Gored at Slammiversary XVII. Elgin lost to Impact World Champion Brian Cage at the pay-per-view, then hit Cage with the title belt after the match and went to attack Don Callis. A masked man then appeared and gave Elgin a Gore.
Impact didn’t specify if The North vs. LAX is a title match. The North won the titles from LAX at Bash at the Brewery last month.
At Slammiversary, The North retained against LAX and The Rascalz in a triple threat match. There was an injury angle with Santana during the match. In his place, Daga teamed with Ortiz as they unsuccessfully challenged for The North’s titles on the Impact episode that aired last week.
LAX’s contracts with Impact are set to expire this summer.
Impact Wrestling continues with the fallout of Slammiversary and the Mash-Up tournament. This week’s episode kicks off the St. Clair College set of tapings from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Twitch stream was hosted by Melissa Santos.
Opening video had a different feel from the usual opening video, this one had classical music, with quick cuts to an orchestra. It built three of tonight’s matches and the fallout of Tessa and Callihan heading into a number one contendership match at Unbreakable a week from tonight.
Jordynne Grace defeated Kiera Hogan
Before the match can start, Madison Rayne came down and joined the commentary table.
Match started with both women rushing at each other, they exchanged some strikes and tackles that ended with Grace in the floor taking a suicide dive from Hogan, but Hogan blocked it and hit a Belly-to-belly on the floor. Grace went for a Apron-slam, but Kiera escaped, kicked her off, and hit a second Suicide dive. This one was a bit ugly when Hogan went head first into the guardrail.
Back in the ring, Hogan got a two count and started working over Grace with kicks and chokes. Jordynne nailed Hogan with a big right to the jaw, but Hogan came back with a couple herself. Hogan hit her running hip attack combo to the corner. Hogan went for a Monkey Flip, but Jordynne finally blocked her, overpowered her, and dropped her with a powerbomb.
Jordynne hit the Grace Driver for a two count. Grace kept the offense, but Hogan kept dodging with desperation strikes to get some distance. Hogan finally caught Grace’s arm on the ropes and got the chance to hit three running dropkicks to the corner for a big near fall.Hogan delivered a big kick to the back of the head and went for a neckbreaker, but Jordynne blocked it and hit the Vader Bomb for another big near fall. Jordynne went for the Grace Driver once again, but Hogan escaped and hit a superkick to once again send Grace to the floor. On the floor, Grace delivered an Electric Chair drop, teasing the countout. Grace made the count, but Madison had to help Hogan in the ring.
Back in the ring, Grace pinned Hogan with the O’Connor Roll into the European Clutch. Really good match by these women, Kiera Hogan has improved so much.
– Brian Cage cut a promo from the locker room. He said that tonight, he’s going to send Elgin to the hospital in the street fight main event.
– Taya and Rosemary talked about their match at Slammiversary. Taya told Rosemary that Havok won’t stop following her and she needs Rosemary’s help. Rosemary said there is no deal because they’re contract ended at the pay-per-view unless Taya were to offer her the championship. Johnny Bravo said he’ll take care of it.
– Sami Callihan came down to the ring and called out Tessa Blanchard. Callihan said that he originally thought that wrestling Tessa was going to be easy, but he was wrong and Tessa showed that she had fire and heart. He said that they earned the right to fight one more time for the No. 1 contendership spot at the Impact World title. He said that he is a hero for giving Tessa equality, not like other people that wouldn’t give Tessa the credit. He said that there is no intergender wrestling, it’s just professional wrestling, and told Tessa that he respects her.
Sami Callihan offered a handshake, but told her that next week, there is no respect. They shook hands professionally, but Callihan slapped Tessa’s behind and called her ‘toots’. Tessa didn’t let go of the handshake and in return, beat up Callihan, dropping him with the Magnum.
– oVe talked plans backstage. Callihan berated the team for not backing him, but Dave reminded Callihan he told them to stay backstage. Callihan addressed Tessa, telling her that he tried to be a good guy, but Tessa sucker punched him and has now infuriated him. He said Tessa takes on Madman Fulton next week.
Moose defeated Ray Steel
Moose overpowered Steel from the get go, blocked the Irish whip, picked him up, dropped him on the ropes, and hit No Jackhammer Needed for the win. Total squash.
After the match, Moose cut a promo saying that he sees things clearer now and he has realized that the only way to get a title shot is not not be loyal to this company. He said that all the former champions are now gone, yet he, who has been there for years, who calls himself Mr. Impact, has nothing. Instead he gets a local jobber. Moose went to Apron-bomb Steel before walking out.
– Johnny Bravo found Havoc and told her to leave Taya alone, pretty much offering his body instead. Havoc beat him up and so Bravo ran away shouting they’ll do this the hard way then. Bravo is hilarious in his own way.
– We got a video package of The North defending their championship titles at Slammiversary. They made no reference of Santana’s injury, making it seem like a strong win for the team.
– The Rascalz were at their Treehouse talking about how last week was really weird. They talked that the weird thing was another team being added to their Slammiversary match. Dezmond told them that they have a match against The North next week. Once again, they argued about who would be the team, but this time, Wentz offered his spot because he’s going to a Jonas Brothers concert with Gail Kim, who made a cameo. The North vs Dezmond and Trey Miguel for the titles next week.
– Impact Plus Flashback of the Week was James Storm vs Bobby Roode Street Fight at Bound For Glory 2012.
– Melissa Santos interviewed Kiera Hogan about losing tonight. Madison Rayne came out talking trash, but they both just ended up dissing Santos instead.
– Backstage, Ace Austin tried to do magic tricks to Alisha Edwards, trying to invite her out for dinner. He got rejected. Another woman walked up to him, but Austin said that he’s not into single women.
Rob Van Dam defeated Willie Mack
Given that Willie Mack calls his Frog Splash the 6-star Frog Splash, it took forever to get to this match. Most of RVD’s promos when he returned were about people trying to imitate him and he being here to show how things are done.
Match started with a collar and elbow tie up that was followed by a shoulder tackle by Mack and a consequent spinning kick by RVD. They exchanged a couple more locks until Mack hit a big Wheel kick, dropping RVD. Mack copied RVD’s taunt.
They went for more headlocks and a Jr. Heavyweight sequence of reversals and counters that ended in a standoff. They exchanged forearms before the match spilled to the outside. RVD slammed Mack into the ring post and hit a rolling senton from the apron on Mack.
Back in the ring, Mack hit a running elbow and kick combo, followed with the cannonball to the corner, and ended with the Samoan Drop and Moonsault combo for a two count. Mack rushed the corner, but RVD dodged and kicked Mack down. RVD hit the Split-legged Moonsault, but Mack got his knees up. Mack hit a Backstabber for another two count.
RVD hit a springboard kick and a top rope senton for a two count. RVD followed with some running lariats, superkick, and the Rolling Thunder, but Mack countered the pin for a near fall. Mack hit a desperation cutter to get some space. The exchanged strikes once again, but Mack hit an Exploder. Mack went for the 6-Star Frog Splash, but RVD moved out of the way and scissored Mack for a two count. RVD kicked Mack and hit the 5-Star Frog Splash for the win. Long match, it felt slow at points, making RVD look old, but overall an ok performance.
– Ace Austin tried to do the ‘put your hand in the box’ trick, he even took his hands off the box. Stone Rockwell interrupted him.
– LAX talked backstage. Konnan told Ortiz that he’s been drinking too much. Ortiz told him that he has too much in his mind, he wants revenge on The North. Konnan told him to not let his emotions get in the way. Konnan told Ortiz that Daga is taking Santana’s place for now. Ortiz rejected the idea and walked out. Happy to see Daga back on Impact.
– Santos interviewed Michael Elgin about tonight’s match with Cage. He said that both Cage and Impact management are stupid for allowing him to use weapons when he’s already been dangerous without them. He said that Cage needs to focus on him and not his fiancee.
Jake Crist defeated Rich Swann to become the NEW X-Division Champion.
This match comes from Jake Crist pinning Rich Swann at last week’s Mash-Up Tournament.
Side headlock takedown from Crist to start the match. Swann and Crist exchange a couple of reversals fighting for control. Crist maintained neck control for a good amount of time, always regaining it after Swann would escape. Swann would get control until he sent Crist outside and followed with a Twisting dive.
Dave Crist interfered behind the referee’s back, but Swann took him out with a superkick, yet unfortunately, it was enough of a distraction for Jake to hit a Tope Suicida.
Back from commercial, Jake Crist is working over Swann in the corner, with constant interference of Dave Crist. Jake locked in a modified Koji Clutch for a submission tease, but Swann managed punch himself out. Jake locked in a Camel Clutch, but Swann once again escaped, only to take a superkick, knocking him down to the corner. Jake rushed the corner, but Swann caught him with a kick and hit a big clothesline to finally get some momentum.
Swann hit a couple of strikes and a kick combo for a two count.
Both men traded kicks before Jake Crist hit a DVD for a two count. Jake hit a huge powerslam into the buckles for another near fall. They traded forearms in the middle of the ring until Swann got a Spinning kick in and went for the Macho Man Diving Elbow for a two count. Swan went for a Phoenix Splash, but Jake cut him off, hit a Superplex and neckbreaker for a two count. Jake got yet another with a Sunset Flip.
They traded kicks until Swann finally got the Phoenix Splash, but Dave Crist helped his brother put his leg on the ropes. Swann went after Dave, which ended with Swann hitting a double Os Cutter on the Crists. Fulton came down tossing Swann into Crist’s Cutter. Jake Crist hit another cutter and pinned Rich Swann to win the X-Division Championship! This was a great match. Jake Crist had been an underrated talent for so long.
– Backstage, Jake Crist told Sami that he won, only for Sami to tell him that ‘they’ did it. Sami said he was proud until he accidentally said that he did what Sami wasn’t able to do. Jake Crist said he wants to be called the ‘Golden Draw’. Sami was just incredibly annoyed by Tessa and wasn’t happy for his friend.
Brian Cage vs Michael Elgin Never Started.
Brian Cage didn’t come out during his entrance; he instead dragged himself to the ramp and out behind him was Michael Elgin with a chair. Elgin hit Cage with the chair as they approached the ring.
Finally in the ring, Elgin choked out Cage and called out for a mic. Elgin talked trash about this match not being non-title, proving that Cage was weak, and so tonight he is going to break the machine again.
Elgin continued torturing Cage with a one man Con-chair-to. Security came out, but Elgin took them all out. They were actually big dudes. Once he cleared the ring, he set up Cage for a kill shot. Melissa Santos came out trying to stop Elgin but suddenly the masked man from Slammiversary came out. He went for the Gore only to be met by Elgin’s chair.
A second masked man came out and unmasked, revealing Rhino, who Gored Elgin before heading to the crowd to celebrate. Wait, so who was the other masked man?
Final Thoughts:
Great show by Impact. It was really strong inside the ring, and the storylines building towards Unbreakable were solid.
Next week, Tessa battles Madman Fulton, plus The Rascalz challenge for the tag team championships against The North.
A big week for pro wrestling in Dallas wraps up tonight with Slammiversary XVII.
The Impact World Championship will be on the line, with Brian Cage defending his title against Michael Elgin. Elgin made his Impact debut by attacking Cage at April’s Rebellion pay-per-view. Cage won the World title from Johnny Impact at that show but suffered a back injury in the process, which has been worked into his feud with Elgin.
Three other title matches are set for tonight. Taya Valkyrie defends her Knockouts Championship against Rosemary, Havok, and Su Yung in a Monster’s Ball match. Johnny Impact is cashing in his X-Division title shot for a match against Rich Swann. And after winning the Tag Team titles from LAX on Friday night, The North (Josh Alexander & Ethan Page) will defend against LAX and The Rascalz.
In a big intergender matchup, Tessa Blanchard will face off with Sami Callihan. Plus, Moose takes on RVD, Eddie Edwards and Killer Kross meet in a first blood match, and TJP will issue an open challenge.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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WILLIE MACK DEFEATED TJP, JAKE CRIST & TREY MIGUEL
A crazy opener. This was all action.
Highlights included Miguel hitting a double stomp off the top while TJP had Crist in a Romero Special.
The finish saw Crist hit a cutter off the top to Miguel. Mack jumped in with a Six Star Frog Splash and stole the pin.
IMPACT TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: THE NORTH DEFEATED LAX & THE RASCALZ TO RETAIN THE TITLES
Page and Alexander retained in a short match. Page broke up a Rascalz pinfall on Ortiz with a powerbomb, and Alexander stole the pin.
They did an injury angle with Santana to give LAX an out on the finish. He rolled outside and started selling his knee. Konnan was ringside, and they called out a referee and a doctor.
Highlights included Page and Alexander throwing guys around like the Steiners. Alexander hit a top rope fallaway slam, and Page hit a senton bomb. Dezmond Xavier hit some cool dives for The Rascalz as well.
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Sami Callahan cut a promo. He promised to beat Tessa Blanchard in the first intergender PPV main event in history.
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FIRST BLOOD MATCH: EDDIE EDWARDS DEFEATED KILLER KROSS
They did a video package with a lot of religious imagery before the match, and Kross entered wearing a priest’s collar. Edwards was dressed for a street fight.
Edwards got some shine, attacking Kross on the stage before the bell with a kendo stick. Kross cut him off with an apron bomb.
They traded chair shots. Kross kicked the kendo stick out of the ring as Edwards reached for it. They fought on the top rope, and Edwards crotched Kross.
With Kross draped in the ropes, Edwards hit the Boston Knee Party. He followed up with a tiger driver on the floor.
Edwards broke the kendo stick over his knee, and jammed the broken pieces down Kross’s throat. Kross spit up blood, and Edwards got the victory. A good brawl.
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They cut to a backstage investigative reporter who was looking for a word with Tessa as she arrived at the building. She pushed the reporter into the wall, and said nothing.
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RVD cut a promo. He was glassy-eyed. He said he respected Moose, who wasn’t waiting outside the Impact offices campaigning “the writers” for a match with RVD. He came right after RVD because he knew that’s where the money is. RVD promised to live up to the Mr. PPV moniker.
MOOSE DEFEATED ROB VAN DAM
RVD’s appearance in the pre-match promo was concerning, to say the least. He looked totally fine here, though. He did all of his trademark stuff, just slower than vintage RVD.
RVD hit a spinning wheel kick and a slingshot dive as he established the early advantage. Moose cut him off. Moose hit a delayed dropkick in the corner, then a vertical suplex.
RVD made a comeback, backdropping Moose over the top rope to the ramp. Back inside, RVD hit a split-legged moonsault. Moose hit the Go To Hell, but RVD kicked out. They traded DDTs.
Moose hit a low blow, but the ref missed it. Moose grabbed a chair from under the ring, and RVD hit the Van Daminator. He covered, but Moose forced a rope break.
RVD hit a drop toe hold on the chair. He went for a frog splash, but Moose rolled out of the way, so RVD hit the chair. Moose hit a spear for the pin. A fine match.
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Taya cut a promo. She promised to remain the “Impack” Knockouts Champion.
MONSTER’S BALL IMPACT KNOCKOUTS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: TAYA VALKARIE DEFEATED ROSEMARY, SU YUNG & HAVOK TO RETAIN THE TITLE
What is a Monster’s Ball match, you ask? From WikiPedia: “The key premise of the match was that all contenders are sequestered alone in a locked room without light, food, or water for twenty-four hours before the match. This stipulation is intended to induce extreme feelings of aggression in the competitors.
The locked away stipulation was simply forgotten about, however, and not mentioned since the sixth one. It is now simply a Street Fight, as the match has to end inside the ring.”
Taya grabbed a staple gun and went after Havok, but Havok avoided it. Rosemary clotheslined Havok to the floor. Taya pulled an 8×10 out of her gear, and stapled it to Yung’s forehead.
Havok set up a chair, and dropped Taya onto the chair with an elbow smash. Rosemary hit Havok with a missile dropkick, then hit her with a cookie sheet.
Yung brought a “demon collar” into the ring, and attached it to herself and Rosemary. She sent Rosemary head-first into a chair set up in the corner.
Taya used a ladder as a weapon on Havok. They did a stacked up superplex spot, and Rosemary suplexed Yung on the ladder. Rosemary speared Taya.
Rosemary dumped thumbtacks on the mat. She teased suplexing Taya on the tacks, but Taya hit a bulldog. Yung sprayed red mist in James Mitchell’s eyes. Taya put Rosemary through a table with a uranage.
The finish saw Havok use a super-tombstone off the second rope to Yung on the tacks. Taya jumped in and stole the pin.
Everyone worked hard and the match was much better than it looked it would be on paper. This is a nitpick, but it was hurt by the fact that they used the same finish they used in the two previous multi-person matches.
IMPACT X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: RICH SWANN DEFEATED JOHNNY IMPACT TO RETAIN THE TITLE
Johnny Bravo came to ringside with Impact. He threw streamers into the ring when Impact was announced. The Johnnys are entertaining, but it’s a total midcard comedy act.
The Johnny’s used a variety of heel tactics to get the edge early. Bravo gathered up some tacks from the previous match and spilled them in the ring, distracting the ref.
Swann hit a cartwheel into a splash in his first comeback. Impact cut him off, hitting a Johnny’s Edge for a nearfall. Impact went for a springboard attack, but Swann nailed him with an uppercut.
They traded strikes on the top rope, and both fell to the floor. They teased a double countout, but both made it back inside. Impact hit a Spanish Fly off the second rope, then hit another on the mat for a nearfall.
Swann took out Bravo with a leg lariat over the top. Impact missed a dive. Impact hit Starship Pain for a nearfall. Swann popped up and hit two cutters. He followed with a phoenix splash for the pin. A very good match.
IMPACT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: BRIAN CAGE DEFEATED MICHAEL ELGIN TO RETAIN THE TITLE
They started off with a striking battle. Cage sent Elgin outside, then hit a tope con giro. Elgin cut him off with a knee strike and a dragon suplex, then hit a superplex. Elgin hit a back suplex on the apron.
Back inside, Elgin missed a twisting senton, but was back on offense immediately. Cage came back with a tornado DDT, a 619, and an inverted falcon arrow for a nearfall. Elgin came back with a powerbomb, a lariat, and a crucifix bomb for a nearfall.
Elgin hit a buckle bomb, but Cage popped right out of the corner, hitting a discus lariat. They exchanged a series of knee strikes and superkicks. Elgin hit the last kick, setting Cage up for a buckle bomb. Cage reversed into his own buckle bomb.
Cage went for an F-5, but Elgin reversed it into a Canadian Destroyer for a nearfall. Cage hit a jumping knee strike, then connected with an F-5 for a nearfall.
Cage went for a Drill Claw, but his back gave out. Elgin hit a kick to the head, then a series of slaps. He teased an Elgin Bomb, but Cage used a sunset flip for the pin out of nowhere.
Elgin hit Cage with the title after the match, then posed with the belt. Don Callis got up from the announce desk to talk sense to Elgin. Elgin threw Callis into the ring.
A masked man ran in and hit a Gore on Elgin for the save.
The pace these guys maintained was impressive, and this was a fun sprint.
SAMI CALLAHAN DEFEATED TESSA BLANCHARD
Tessa got a superstar reaction.
She hit a tilt-a-whirl headscissors, sending Sami outside. Tessa hit two suicide dives. She went for a third, but Sami caught her. He whipped her head into the barricade twice, then hit a DVD on the floor.
Sami hit an apron bomb. They teased a countout, but Tessa made it back in at the count of eight. Tessa hit a neckbreaker, but Sami cut her off again with a big boot. Sami teased a powerbomb off the ramp, but Tessa turned it into an awesome cutter. They crawled back to the ring, and beat the count back inside.
Tessa hit a series of strikes. Sami flipped her off. Tessa hit a Samoan drop. She teased Magnum, but Sami popped up, so Tessa rolled through and landed on her feet. Tessa hit a DDT. She teased a second DDT, but Sami blocked it.
Sami hit a shoulder breaker, then used an STF. After a struggle, Tessa forced a rope break. Sami teased a second roe piledriver, but Tessa blocked it, then hit a codebreaker off the second rope.
The ref tried to force a break in the corner, but Tessa caught him with an accidental bow, and the ref took a bump. Sami grabbed a baseball bat. He hit Tessa. A second ref ran out to count the pin, but Tessa kicked out. The second ref took a bump.
Tessa hit a low blow, then grabbed her own baseball bat. She used the bat, then hit Magnum, but Sami kicked out.
Tessa rolled through into a crossface. Sami teased tapping out, but stood out of the hold instead. He hit a package tombstone for a nearfall.
Tessa got up and gave Sami the thumbs down sign. Sami hit a Cactus Special piledriver, and got the pin.
Sami grabbed both baseball bats after the match. He teased using them. Instead, he gave Tessa her bat back as a sign of respect.
The main event worked. Tessa is really a special talent, and Sami played his role to perfection. The finish sort of sucked the life out of the building, though.
This week’s episode was from Impact’s television tapings at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York. The opening video recapped the ongoing story between Moose and RVD, Jessicka Havok’s return, Sami Callihan antagonizing the Knockouts, the escalating feud between Eddie Edwards and Killer Kross, and Michael Elgin taking out everyone in front of him.
The Twitch stream was hosted by Don Callis at some points. Callis wasn’t in all of the commercial breaks, so we got a couple of Flashback Moments too.
Tessa Blanchard defeated Jake Crist
The match started with fast-paced action as Blanchard went straight for Crist with forearms, a cutter, and a trifecta of suicide dives. Blanchard quickly went for the Magnum, but Crist caught her with a superkick as she came down.
Crist worked over Blanchard and raked his arm all over her face. He got cocky and gave Blanchard a small chance for her to come back with more forearms, but the offense didn’t last long as Crist locked in a great looking modified Koji Clutch until Blanchard made the ropes.
Crist got a couple of moves in, then Blanchard started a slow comeback via strikes, finally managing to take him down with a tornado DDT counter for a two count. Crist caught Blanchard with a Death Valley Driver for two.
Blanchard hit three superkicks and suckered Crist into the Magnum for the pinfall victory. Strong win for Blanchard — the build to Impact’s intergender matches is going good and makes the whole story with Glenn Gilbertti worth it in hindsight.
After the match, the rest of oVe came out to berate Jake Crist. Blanchard got out of the way, but locked eyes with Callihan and called him out.
Without wait, Eddie Edwards came out for the next match.
Madman Fulton (w/ Sami Callihan) defeated Eddie Edwards
Edwards took out Dave Crist and Callihan, then clotheslined Fulton to the outside as they started brawling around the ring before the match started. Fulton chokeslammed Edwards onto the apron and finally tossed him into the ring and the bell rang.
Fulton tossed Edwards around the ring, hit a second chokeslam, and then hit a third vicious one. Fulton hit a double underhook suplex for a two count. As he went for a running clothesline, Edwards hit a desperation dropkick to earn a couple of seconds.
Fulton went to powerbomb Edwards to the floor, but Edwards held on and reversed it into a rana. Edwards landed a German suplex and a Blue Thunder Bomb to earn a two count.
Callihan kept distracting from the outside, so Edwards took him out with a dive. Edwards grabbed his new kendo stick, but suddenly, Killer Kross was on the screen with Sandman tied up. Kross tortured Sandman as he teased Edwards. The distraction gave Fulton the time to recover, hit the End of Days, and pin Edwards.
– Backstage, Alisha Edwards tried to talk Eddie out of getting into another crazy war, now with Killer Kross. Eddie didn’t want to listen to her.
Moose defeated Tommy Dreamer
Dreamer took advantage of Moose coming out hot, but Moose had the power advantage and quickly gained control outside the ring. Dreamer managed to reverse Moose and whip him to the ring post and drop him over the shoulder. Dreamer then started removing the floor pads, only for Moose to drop him back-first onto the apron.
Back in the ring, Moose choked out Dreamer against the ropes and tortured Dreamer with strikes and chokes, but he kept underestimating Dreamer. Eventually, Dreamer hit a desperation cutter, dropping Moose and earning a couple of seconds to recover. They traded blows until Dreamer got the Dusty Elbow and dropped Moose with a DDT for a two count.
Dreamer hit a superplex for another two count. Moose whipped Dreamer into the buckle and went for a spear, but Dreamer blocked it and hit one of his own. After failing to pin Moose, Dreamer went for a steel chair, but Moose pulled the referee to protect himself, kicked the chair into Dreamer’s face, and hit No Jackhammer Needed to pin Dreamer for the win.
This was an okay match — nothing special. Dreamer using the chair felt backwards considering Moose is the heel.
After the match, Moose attacked Dreamer with the chair and went for a Van Terminator, but RVD came out for the save before Moose could hit it.
– Backstage, Taya Valkyrie and John E. Bravo were looking for Rosemary. Taya told Rosemary that she needs her to deal with Su Yung and Havok. Taya offered Rosemary a shot at the gold if she takes care of the pest.
– Melissa Santos interviewed Johnny Impact and Bravo. Impact talked about Elgin making a big mistake by attacking him last week after he helped him. Impact said he gets his payback tonight — and after he’s done with Elgin, he’s cashing in his X-Division title shot at Slammiversary.
Knockouts Champion Taya Valkyrie defeated Su Yung (w/ Father James Mitchell and Havok) by DQ
They started the match by trading slaps and forearms. Yung went for an early Panic Switch, but Taya blocked it and hit a rolling German. Taya went for the running hip attack, but Yung dodged and hit some strikes before Taya once again hit a German, but into the turnbuckles now, getting a two count.
Taya hit the running hip attack and running knees into the corner for another two count. She started getting more and more comfortable, playing to the crowd, until she gave Yung enough time to recover and get some offense in.
Yung hit the turnbuckle crawl rana for a two count and locked in something similar to Napalm, but Taya made the ropes. Yung hit a draping DDT for another near fall. Yung finally went for her glove.
Yung went for the Mandible Claw, but Taya blocked her and hit a Curb Stomp for a two count. Yung kept chasing the Claw, but Taya instead hit an armbreaker and started working on Yung’s arms.
Taya went for a moonsault, but took too long and gave Yung the time to stop her and for Havok to get in the ring and attack Taya for the disqualification. This was pretty good and clean given the participants.
Yung seemed mad with Havok for costing her the title. All three ganged up on Taya, but Rosemary came out for the save.
James Mitchell took the mic and told Rosemary that this was a time for celebration and said that at Slammiversary, all four women present are invited to a Monster’s Ball. Everyone except Taya seemed excited for this four-way Monster’s Ball match.
– Ace Austin cut a promo in the ring. He was arrogant and brought up that he is the only one in Impact that is still unpinned and undefeated. He said that he is the future of the X-Division and beyond, and soon, Impact will be the Ace Division.
Austin made his intentions clear for the X-Division Championship and made an open challenge. Out came the returning TJ Perkins.
TJ Perkins defeated Ace Austin
TJP got the upper hand quickly with speed, tossing Austin outside with a rana and following up with a springboard dropkick to the floor. Austin hit a forearm, rammed TJP into the apron, and landed a knee strike.
Back in the ring, Austin went for a rana, but TJP countered into a powerbomb and followed with a flying crossbody and the Detonation Kick for the win.
This was good, but too short. It was underwhelming for Austin’s first loss, but a great return for TJP. It’s best to get rid of Austin’s streak so he can start a proper feud now.
– Backstage, Eddie Edwards was looking for Kross before going to commercial.
– The Rascalz cut a promo from their tree house. They talked about their upcoming Tag Team title shot at Slammiversary. Konnan joined them and put them over as great upcoming kids, but he said that they lacked respect. Konnan told them to earn respect in the ring and get work done in the ring. Konnan then asked for a hit of whatever they were smoking. Good promo by Konnan.
– The Impact Plus Flashback Moment of the Week was the mask vs. hair match between Pentagon Jr. and Sami Callihan from last year’s Slammiversary.
– Eddie Edwards finally found the hooded man that Kross had, but it was a swerve and Kross blindsided him. They brawled until Alisha Edwards tried to stop Eddie again. Kross was spitting blood asking for more, and it seemed like Eddie drank the blood as he rose with a mouth full of it, scaring his wife away. I don’t think this writes off Kross, but it was pretty brutal.
– Callihan cut a video promo. He said that he is a calculating man and knew that Blanchard wanted to be treated as equal and make history. He challenged Blanchard to a one-on-one match at Slammiversary and promised to treat her like he treated Pentagon Jr., Brian Cage, and Rich Swann.
X-Division Champion Rich Swann defeated Johnny Impact and Michael Elgin in a non-title triple threat match
Elgin and Johnny argued with each other over who would take out Swann first until they decided to work together against him, but Swann smartly decided to exit the ring and let Elgin and Johnny fight it out for a bit until he came back with a flying crossbody.
Elgin was sent outside and kept there while Swann and Johnny traded reversals inside the ring. Swann hit a tornillo on Elgin, followed by one from Johnny. Swann and Johnny started a battle of one-upsmanship until Elgin came back in the ring and took them out with a double German suplex.
Elgin worked on both of his opponents with running clotheslines, but once again he couldn’t handle both of them at the same time. Swann hit a jumping rana on Johnny, tossing him on top of Elgin for a two count. Swann chased the 450, but Elgin blocked him and hit an Air Raid Crash. Johnny hit a running knee and standing splashes on both men.
Elgin went for a German on Johnny, who blocked it and got a discus lariat instead. Elgin hit a Thunder Bomb for a two count. Elgin went for the Elgin Bomb, but Swann stopped him and all three men traded superkicks. Swann got the final hit with a double cutter on both men.
Swann went for a superplex on Johnny, but Elgin got him in an electric chair, setting him up for a Disaster Kick from Johnny, which then became a reverse rana on Elgin. Johnny went for Starship Pain on Elgin, but Elgin dodged. Elgin went for a lariat, but Johnny dodged that.
Johnny and Elgin traded superkicks until Johnny hit a Spanish Fly on Elgin, but as he landed, Swann surprised Johnny with a 450 from the other corner for the win. Great match given the short time it got.
After the match, Swann celebrated — but Elgin stood up behind him. Swann hit Elgin with a roundhouse kick and connected with a spinning back kick on Johnny, but John E. Bravo came in with the big red X and took out Swann.
Elgin and Johnny traded words, but suddenly, World Champion Brian Cage finally made his return, took out Johnny Impact and John E. Bravo, and faced off with Elgin. Elgin went to attack Cage, but Cage took him out with a jumping knee and a powerslam. Cage looked healed and has good motion.
Final Thoughts —
Good episode. It wasn’t the go-home show, but it did a great job at building some of the final touches for Slammiversary with the announcement of new matches and the return of Cage. The show inside the ring was really strong, but the matches were not particularly long.
Michael Elgin got a win over Willie Mack ahead of his upcoming title match against Impact World Champion Brian Cage at Slammiversary XVII on July 7.
The North earned a Tag Team title shot at Bash at the Brewery on July 5 by defeating Rob Van Dam & Sabu. The Sandman also wrestled on the show. What year is this?
Two of the six matches on the episode saw wrestler’s pants fall down. The Twitch version of the show was riddled with technical issues during commercial breaks.
Show Recap —
A storyline recap video kicked off the show.
Josh Mathews welcomed us to the Melrose Ballroom in New York.
Mathews and Don Callis talked up the Moose and RVD feud. Moose has challenged RVD to face him at Slammiversary.
The North (Ethan Page & Josh Alexander) defeated Rob Van Dam & Sabu
Sabu got a single-leg takedown, and Alexander rolled to the ropes. Alexander took a chest-first turnbuckle bump. Sabu dropped him with a clothesline. RVD tagged in, hitting a slingshot leg drop, then a vertical suplex.
Alexander forced RVD into The North’s corner. Page tagged in, and RVD hit a spinning back kick, then worked a Fujiwara armbar. Sabu tagged in. RVD and Sabu hit a tandem Rolling Thunder. Sabu used a Camel Clutch, hit Page with a chair, then went back to the Camel Clutch.
RVD got a tag, then he and Sabu used tandem leg drops for a near fall. The North used an illegal double team to gain the advantage on RVD. Alexander hit an inverted atomic drop, and Page hit a backbreaker.
The North used a series of quick tags and worked RVD over in their corner. Page missed a charge into the corner. RVD hit an enzuigiri, then Sabu got a hot tag. Sabu ran wild with a chair and used the weapon to hit a step-up leg lariat.
Sabu and RVD set up a table in the ring. Sabu hit an Arabian facebuster off the top rope to Alexander, sending him through the table. Moose ran out and shoved RVD off the post.
Page used the distraction to jump in and take out Sabu. Sabu’s pants fell down. The North hit their double-team finisher, with Alexander pinning Sabu.
Mathews said that Page and Alexander earned a tag title shot at Bash at the Brewery with their win.
Tommy Dreamer waddled out to the ring, throwing Moose back inside. They teased RVD hitting a Van Terminator, but Moose escaped.
RVD looked good here, considering the mileage on his body. Sabu’s botch and pants falling down were very on-brand.
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During the commercial break on Twitch, they showed a split screen of Don Callis and Melissa Santos. Callis tried to throw it to Santos, but Santos couldn’t hear him. Callis asked why she couldn’t hear him. Santos’ audio wasn’t working either. Callis gave shout-outs to Twitch users in the chat. This was embarrassing.
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Back from commercial, Moose confronted The North backstage. Moose was upset that they beat RVD and Sabu, but didn’t “take them out.”
Havok (w/James Mitchell & Su Yung) defeated Masha Slamovich
Squash city.
Havok no-sold a couple of strikes from Slamovich, then hit a right hand. Havok hit two backbreakers and a vertical suplex. She missed a charge into the corner, and Slamovich fired up. Havok blocked a kick and pushed Slamovich down.
Havok hit a sidewalk slam, then a chokeslam. Havok hit a tombstone and got the pin.
Mitchell cut a promo after the match and said that Rosemary needs to get her anger under control. Mitchell said he was a diplomat when she tried to steal his demon bride, Su Yung. He said she committed the ultimate sin, and put her hands on him.
Mitchell said Havok flattened Rosemary, breaking the spell of the demon collar. He said it’s his personal mission to make sure that Havok becomes the Knockouts Champion and uses Rosemary’s carcass as a launch pad.
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Commercial break time. Santos still couldn’t hear Callis. Callis said they were working on Santos’ audio. Santos’ video dropped out, then Callis’ audio dropped. Callis waved an iPad around.
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Gama Singh introduced Raj Singh and urged the crowd to bow down to him.
Deaner hit a shoulder tackle, some right hands, then a fist drop. Singh rolled outside, and Deaner hit a suicide dive. Singh ended up with a bloody nose after the dive.
Deaner climbed to the top rope, but Singh cut him off. Singh hit a neckbreaker, then a leg drop. Gama Singh connected with a right hand from the floor.
Singh hit a dropkick to the back and got a near fall. Deaner hulked up and hit a series of strikes. Deaner hit a lariat, then the Deaner DDT. Gama jumped on the apron, disrupting the match. Gama feigned a heart attack on the floor.
Raj used the distraction to hit a facebuster for the pin. Deaner looked good here. Singh has good size and a good look, but he’s very green.
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Michael Elgin cut a promo. He promised to send Willie Mack to the hospital later. Johnny Impact interrupted Elgin. He said Mack isn’t going to the hospital if it’s up to Elgin. He said if Elgin needs his help, all he has to do is ask.
Elgin declined help and walked off. Johnny was upset that Elgin didn’t compliment his hair.
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Callis’ audio wasn’t working again. He made some gestures and continued talking as though we could hear him. We couldn’t.
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Rosemary cut a promo. She said Mitchell has a type, monsters. She said he couldn’t control his last monster, what makes him think he can control Havok?
Rosemary told Mitchell they’re on a collision course — and to bring it on.
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The Impact Plus Flashback Moment of the Week showed the Dudleys and Tommy Dreamer fighting off Rhyno, Spud, King Mo, and EC3, then putting Dixie Carter through a table.
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Callis’ audio was working during this break. He said he enjoyed watching Dixie go through the table. He said he won’t ever go through a table because he’s not a mark.
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Sami Callihan entered the women’s locker room. Tessa Blanchard told him to bring his friend Jake Crist next week to face her.
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Madison Rayne defeated Jordynne Grace
Kiera Hogan came out to join the commentary team for this match. She said she’s done making friends in this business, because she always gets stabbed in the back.
Grace and Rayne locked up. They did some solid chain wrestling, and Rayne used a quick cradle for a near fall. Rayne escaped a side headlock, but ran into a shoulder tackle. Rayne rolled to the apron, and Grace knocked her off into the barricade.
Back inside, Grace hit a back elbow for a near fall. She followed with a delayed vertical suplex for a two count. Grace hit some forearm strikes. Rayne used a Koji Clutch, but Grace sat down into a submission of her own. Rayne escaped, then they traded a series of quick cradles.
Rayne hit an enzuigiri and a dropkick. They stepped to the apron. Rayne rolled to the floor, then took Grace’s legs out. Grace tried to send Rayne into the post, but Rayne blocked. Rayne hit a cutter on the floor. They teased a countout, but both made it back inside.
Rayne tried for a Northern Lights suplex, but Grace blocked it with a front facelock. Rayne used a crucifix bomb for a two count. Rayne went to the top rope. Grace teased a Muscle Buster. Rayne teased a tornado DDT. Grace ended up hitting a Muscle Buster, but only got a two count.
Grace hit a short clothesline. She went to the second rope, but Hogan distracted her. Rayne cut Grace off. Off the distraction, Rayne hit Cross Rayne and got the pin. This was a good match.
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Callis hit a tech guy with a right hand during the break, blaming him for the audio issues. Callis urged viewers to send cards and letters to Gama Singh after his “heart attack” earlier in the show.
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Killer Kross defeated The Sandman
Sandman attempted a sneak attack during Kross’ entrance. Kross intercepted him, but Sandman still managed to get the early edge. He hit 10 punches in the corner and was immediately blown up.
Sandman managed a couple of kendo stick shots, but Kross caught him in a choke, and the ref called a stoppage finish.
Eddie Edwards ran down to make the save for Sandman. Kross escaped before Edwards could get his hands on him. Mathews said that Edwards and Kross’ feud may end with someone in a body bag.
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LAX were shown hanging out in a bar. Konnan said that Ortiz and Santana need to start taking their matches more seriously. The Rascalz entered and said that they’re the best tag team in the world. A brawl broke out, and LAX came out on top.
LAX said The Rascalz will get their rematch. LAX defending their Tag Team titles against The Rascalz is official for Slammiversary.
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Callis read a series of compliments about himself from the chat.
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The Smoke Show
Scarlett Bordeaux and Fallah Bahh welcomed Taya Valkyrie and John E. Bravo to The Smoke Show.
Bordeaux said that if Taya doesn’t defend her title next week, she’ll be stripped. Taya made a stripper joke about Bordeaux.
Bordeaux said she heard that Taya has to face Su Yung next week. Everyone in this segment was unlikeable.
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Mathews and Callis plugged Dreamer vs. Moose, Valkyrie vs. Yung, and Blanchard vs. Jake Crist for next week’s show.
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Callis hyped the main event. He said that Elgin is a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and that he beat Kenny Omega for the title. Actually, that was the Intercontinental title.
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Michael Elgin defeated Willie Mack (w/ Rich Swann)
Elgin’s torso and arms were covered in baby oil.
They started with an exchange of strikes. Mack took Elgin off his feet with a shoulder tackle. Mack hit a blockbuster, a dropkick, and an exploder suplex. Elgin rolled to the apron. Elgin pulled Mack to the apron, where they traded strikes. Elgin hit a superkick, then sent Mack to the floor with a dropkick.
After a break, Elgin had a chinlock on Mack. Mack broke the hold, but Elgin hit a dropkick. Mack hit a couple of clotheslines, then a wheel kick. Mack used a leg drop for a near fall. Mathews informed us that Willie Mack loves to have a good time.
Mack hit a spinebuster for a two count. He went for a stunner, but Elgin blocked it. Elgin hit a series of superkicks. Elgin sat Mack on the top rope and hit a superplex for a two count. Mack’s trunks started falling down.
Elgin missed a charge into the corner. Mack hit something resembling a guillotine leg drop, dropping Elgin to the floor. Mack teased a dive, but Elgin pulled Swann in his way. Elgin slammed Swann on the apron.
Back inside, Elgin hit a buckle bomb, then an Elgin Bomb, and pinned Mack. This was a slightly above average TV match.
After the bell, Elgin teased another Elgin Bomb, but Swann made the save. Johnny Impact ran in, making the save for Elgin. Johnny dropped Swann with a spinning uranage.
Elgin shook hands with Johnny. Johnny turned his back, and Elgin hit him with a suplex. Elgin then went after Mack again. He buckle bombed him into the post. The show ended with Elgin making the championship belt motion around his waist.
Impact Wrestling has officially announced the World Championship match for their next pay-per-view.
Impact World Champion Brian Cage will defend his title against Michael Elgin at Slammiversary XVII on Sunday, July 7. The event is being held at Gilley’s Dallas in Dallas, Texas.
Video of a promo from Cage, who suffered a legitimate back injury at April’s Rebellion PPV, aired on last night’s Impact. Cage vowed that he would be at Slammiversary and would defend his title against Elgin.
Cage won the Impact World Championship by defeating Johnny Impact at Rebellion. Elgin then made his Impact debut and laid out Cage in a post-match angle.
Elgin defeated Johnny Impact and Pentagon Jr. in a triple threat number one contender’s match on the May 3 episode of Impact.
X-Division Champion Rich Swann & Willie Mack defeated Elgin & Johnny Impact on last night’s episode, with Elgin walking out on Johnny at the end of the match after Johnny was thrown into him. During an interview earlier in the show, Johnny indicated that he would cash in his X-Division title shot for a match against Swann at Slammiversary.
Slammiversary XVII is taking place the night after the American Airlines Center in Dallas hosts the opening night of this year’s NJPW G1 Climax. WWE Raw will also be at the American Airlines Center on July 1.
This week’s Twitch stream was hosted by Melissa Santos. She ran the show and gave a small update on Brian Cage, who will defend his Impact World Championship against Michael Elgin at Slammiversary XVII on July 7. They also showed an Impact Plus Flashback from Jeff Hardy’s debut for TNA, challenging AJ Styles for the X-Division title.
Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer & Sabu (w/ Super Genie) defeated Moose & The North (Ethan Page & Josh Alexander)
Page and Dreamer started the match with a quick exchange for wrist control. It quickly became Sabu vs. Alexander, who easily overpowered Sabu at first, but Sabu would use his style to drop Alexander with a tornado DDT.
Moose came in and asked for RVD. They went for the collar-and-elbow lock, with RVD being fast enough to escape Moose’s strength. RVD hit a Rolling Thunder on Moose, along with a Sabu leg drop. Dreamer came in and went for the atomic elbow, but Moose pulled the referee in front of them to distract him. Moose hit Dreamer with a low blow.
Back from commercial, Moose and The North were still in control of Dreamer. Moose went for a Rolling Thunder on Dreamer with a chair, which Dreamer managed to toss to Moose’s head. Dreamer got an opening to drop Moose with a DDT, then made the tag to RVD.
RVD ran wild on Page, getting a two count with a split-legged moonsault. Sabu dropped Alexander with a DDT while Page and RVD spilled to the outside.
Sabu got a couple of chairs and did a couple of his signature jumps — even Super Genie joined in for a corner splash on Alexander. Sabu did a step-up dive over The North on the outside. Sabu was just throwing chairs everywhere while Dreamer was setting up a table now with Page on it.
Sabu went for a dive, but Alexander blocked him. Dreamer dropped Alexander with the Spicolli Driver, only to take a spear from Moose. RVD took out Moose while Sabu set up a table inside the ring, again with Page on top. Sabu hit the Arabian facebuster. RVD hit the Five Star Frog Splash on Page for the win.
Not exactly a great match, but it was a nostalgia showcase for the ECW originals.
– Impact World Champion Brian Cage gave an update from his house. He told us that he feels better. He’s been cleared to train again, but not to wrestle. He cut a promo on Michael Elgin, who has bragged about attacking Cage and said he’s going to send Cage’s friends to the hospital. Cage claimed that no matter what, he’ll be at Slammiversary defending his championship.
On Twitch, Melissa Santos unofficially said that as of today, Cage has been cleared to wrestle again and is currently in Germany.
– Backstage, Moose cut a promo saying that he has thought about this all wrong. He misjudged Killer Kross and The North’s ability to help him, and so now he’s going solo.
Total squash. Disco started the match cutting a promo, telling Blanchard that he gave her credit for being one of the most talented women out there — but then Disco brought her down saying it doesn’t really count for much. He made fun of women drivers and the women’s revolution. He then brought up that Blanchard had daddy issues, and so tonight, he was going to be her daddy.
Blanchard took him down with strikes and pinned him after an elbow about 30 seconds in.
– LAX cut a promo from their clubhouse. They were talking about going back to New York when smoke appeared on the screen, but it wasn’t Scarlett Bordeaux, it was The Rascalz.
The Rascalz told LAX that they’re ready for a Tag Team title shot. LAX denied offering them a title shot, but as it happened in the tree house, no one can remember. They all agreed and Konnan confirmed the match.
– Melissa Santos interviewed Rich Swann and Willie Mack about their match with Elgin & Johnny Impact. Swann said that as much as Elgin has tried to injured them, they’re still standing. Swann and Mack said that tonight, they win.
The Deaners defeated The Desi Hit Squad (Rohit Raju & Raj Singh w/ Gama Singh)
Cody Deaner and Raju started the match with a short sequence of counters and reversals, fighting for wrist control, but Raju infuriated Cody when he grabbed him by the beard. The Deaners went for a double team, but Raj pulled out Raju to save him, only to be taken out by a dive from each of the Deaners.
Back in the ring, Cody hit a gutbuster on Raju and a big boot. Raj pulled Cody’s leg, giving Raju the opening for a running kick and a two count.
From here on, Desi Hit Squad worked over Cody for a couple of minutes. Cousin Jake came in with the hot tag and overpowered both Desi Hit Squad members, hitting a huge spear on Raj. The Deaners went for their finish, but Raju returned for the save and hit a foot stomp for another two count when Jake broke up the pin.
Jake hit a Black Hole Slam on Raj for a two count. Raju tricked Jake into running into the post. In the ring, Cody rolled up Raj for the win with a schoolboy. Okay match.
– Killer Kross cut a promo on Eddie Edwards. He pretty much said that tonight, he’ll punish Edwards in their street fight. Awesome promo by Kross.
– Santos interviewed Elgin about teaming with Johnny Impact, but instead, Elgin addressed Cage returning. Johnny interrupted and said that at Slammiversary, he may cash in his X for a shot at Rich Swann’s X-Division title. They agreed that tonight they will send Swann and Mack to the hospital.
– Elgin & Johnny are also taking on Tommy Dreamer & The Great Muta at Impact’s A Night You Can’t Mist, which is airing live on Impact Plus on June 8.
Other matches announced for A Night You Can’t Mist are Eddie Edwards vs. Sami Callihan in a street fight, Rich Swann vs. Willie Mack vs. Teddy Hart for the House of Hardcore title, Taya Valkyrie vs. Jordynne Grace for the Knockouts title, and Billy Gunn vs. Joey Ryan.
Eddie Edwards defeated Killer Kross in a street fight
Edwards ran into the ring and a brawl started immediately. Edwards hit an early pescado to gain control. He dropped Kross with a couple of backbreakers on the apron before pulling out a bunch of weapons from under the ring.
Kross returned with a suplex on the floor and Edwards started clutching his ankle. Kross hit a couple of knee strikes and rammed him into the ring post. Edwards tried to hit a suicide dive on Kross, only to be met by a trash can. Kross then dropped Edwards with a brainbuster on the floor.
Back in the ring, Kross went for a slam, but Edwards escaped and hit a Blue Thunder Bomb onto a trash can. Edwards hit Kross with the trash can lid a couple of times, but Kross wouldn’t drop until the third try. Edwards only got a one count.
Edwards brought out a small ladder. He went for more trash can lid attacks, but Kross locked in the straightjacket lock instead, only for Edwards to get released after about 10 strikes with a baking board.
Kross brought out two chairs and set up a table with the ladder, then hit a two-handed chokeslam onto the ladder. Kross brought out a bunch more chairs and set up a pile in which he went to hit a second rope brainbuster, but Edwards managed to fight back and escape. He dropped Kross with a sunset bomb onto the pile of chairs, getting a two count.
Eddie went for a Tiger Driver onto chairs, but instead Kross reversed and dropped Edwards in a weird version of a Vertebreaker. Kross delivered a second two-handed chokeslam onto more chairs. Kross hit a Doomsday Saito, but he still wouldn’t go for the pin.
Kross went for the kill, but suddenly The Sandman hit the ring. Sandman hit Kross with a kendo stick, giving Edwards the opening to hit the Boston Knee Party and get the win. This was a great and really violent match. Sandman gave Edwards a new kendo stick — don’t enable this man!
– During the commercial, there was a special Twitch post-match celebration with Sandman and Edwards. They played “Enter Sandman “by Metallica and did the beer can gimmick.
– Somewhere in the Undead Realm, James Mitchell met with Rosemary. Mitchell told Rosemary he was tired of her and reminded her that everything that has happened was all Allie’s fault for not following on his warnings. Then it was Allie that went looking for him. He even gave her back as they agreed, but it was still Rosemary that kept making things wrong and blaming him.
Mitchell kept saying the truth until Rosemary got tired of him and attacked him. This really made Rosemary seem like the heel since Mitchell was making a really good point there.
– The Impact Plus Flashback of the Week was Raven vs. Rhino in a Raven’s Rules match from TNA Unbreakable 2005.
– oVe cut a video promo. Sami Callihan addressed Fallah Bahh and Scarlett Bordeaux. He talked trash to the Knockouts like if they’ve been hanging out with Glenn Gilbertti. Please tell me we’re not doing Sami Callihan vs. Tessa Blanchard. Bahh & Bordeaux will face Jake & Dave Crist next week.
Also next week: Knockouts Champion Taya Valkyrie vs. Rosemary in a non-title match, and Impact Tag Team Champions LAX will defend their titles against The Rascalz.
Rich Swann & Willie Mack defeated Michael Elgin & Johnny Impact (w/ Johnny Bravo)
Swann and Mack surprised Elgin and Johnny with topes to start the match. In the ring, Mack and Swann worked over Johnny with quick tags. Mack got a one count after a rolling cannonball. Mack and Johnny traded slaps — and Johnny actually got in Mack’s head, distracting him and getting the upper hand.
Elgin and Swann came in, with Swann having the speed advantage, but Elgin used his strength to block Swann’s moves. Swann managed to hit a suplex on Elgin.
Johnny and Elgin had a bit of miscommunication that ended with Johnny being tossed to the floor — where Swann dove on him. Mack came in, only for Elgin to hit a DVD on Mack onto Swann (who was in the corner), earning a two count.
Elgin and Johnny kept control of Swann for a couple of minutes, also working with quick tags, big spots, and making sure that Swann stayed away from Mack. Swann would end up finding the opening to tag Mack, who came in and ran wild with exploder suplexes on both Elgin and Johnny.
Mack went for a double stunner, but he got blocked and hit a double lariat instead. Mack hit a couple of fireman’s carries and a gutbuster for a two count.
Johnny went for Moonlight Drive, but Elgin blind tagged in and caught Mack with a handspring back elbow. He caught Swann with a powerslam, then dove over Mack and Johnny. Swann followed with a dive while Elgin and Johnny argued about that last dive.
Back in the ring, Swann and Mack went for a slingshot neckbreaker and big time elbow combo for a two count on Elgin. Swann went for the Phoenix Splash, but Elgin dodged and hit a couple of superkicks to take out Swann. Johnny tagged in, and along with Elgin, hit a Disaster Kick and German suplex combo for a two count.
Johnny hit Moonlight Drive for a two count and went for Starship Pain, but Swann dodged and caught Johnny with a kick. Mack returned and hit a step-up enzuigiri on Elgin, then gave Johnny a Samoan drop and moonsault.
Elgin chopped both Mack and Swann and got a double superkick in return. Mack and Swann hit Johnny with a Rock Bottom and neckbreaker for a two count, with Elgin breaking up the pin.
Elgin took out Swann with a chop. Mack hit a meteora on Elgin. Johnny hit a Spanish Fly on Mack, only to get taken out by a spinning kick by Swann.
All four men traded strikes in the middle of the ring, ending with tandem superkicks by Elgin and Johnny. Elgin went for the Elgin Bomb, but Swann rammed Johnny into Elgin, who decided to walk out on Johnny. In the ring, Swann caught Johnny with a cutter and a 450 splash for the win. This was an awesome match.
Final thoughts —
A great show inside the ring thanks to the main event and the street fight. Storyline developments are still in a weird place, but it does feel like things are moving forward.
The Great Muta will team with Tommy Dreamer against Johnny Impact & Michael Elgin at “A Night You Can’t Mist.” The show is named after Muta and is taking place at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, June 8.
Former ECW World Champion Jerry Lynn, who works as a coach/producer for All Elite Wrestling, will be the special guest referee for the match.
Muta most recently wrestled in the United States over WrestleMania weekend in New York City last month. He was a surprise entrant in the Honor Rumble match on the ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard pre-show and teamed with Pentagon Jr. & Tajiri against Low Ki & LAX for House of Glory Wrestling.
Impact Plus launched at the beginning of this month, replacing the Global Wrestling Network and serving as a rebranded version of it.
A Night You Can’t Mist is in partnership with Dreamer’s House of Hardcore promotion.
The fallout from Rebellion continued as this week’s Impact took place from the former ECW Arena.
This week’s Twitch stream was hosted by Melissa Santos, who celebrated her birthday tonight with the stream. Later in the broadcast, Don Callis joined in to give his post-show analysis.
“Disco Inferno” Glenn Gilbertti defeated Alisha Edwards, Ashley Vox, Jordynne Grace, Karissa Rivera, Kiera Hogan, Madison Rayne, Scarlett Bordeaux, Solo Darling, Tasha Steelz, and Tessa Blanchard in a Knockouts battle royal
When the episodes started, half of the participants were already in the ring. Disco Inferno came out at the end and cut a promo saying that when Scarlett Bordeaux defeated him, it was a fluke. He talked trash about women’s wrestling, saying that this should be a bra and panties battle royal. He got tons of heat.
The bell sounded and all the women kicked Disco out, but he left from under the ropes and joined commentary. For the entire match, he was an insufferable barrage of misogynist comments, with Josh Mathews and Don Callis making fun of him. Disco did bring up that he was still in the match halfway through it, killing the swerve.
Back in the ring, half of the wrestlers ganged up on Blanchard an the others focused on Grace. Blanchard and Grace broke out at points and went to get face-to-face, but they got taken out by the rest of the wrestlers.
Bordeaux and Kiera Hogan did some synched buttocks-themed moves. From there on, each woman started taking turns to get some moves in until Blanchard eliminated Vox and Rivera.
Darling eliminated Steelz, only to get eliminated by Grace. Blanchard eliminated Alisha Edwards with a military press.
The newly heel Kiera Hogan faced off with and eliminated Grace. Knockouts Champion Taya Valkyrie ran in and attacked Rayne and beat her up around the ring, tossing her back for Blanchard and Bordeaux to eliminate her.
Back from commercial, the final three — Hogan, Blanchard, and Bordeaux — were all fighting in the ring. Blanchard hit a codebreaker on Hogan, only to take a powerbomb and a plancha by Bordeaux. Hogan clotheslined Bordeaux, eliminating her from the match.
Blanchard went to powerbomb Hogan out of the ring, but they both landed on the apron, where they traded strikes, ending with Blanchard blocking a kick and tossing Hogan. Suddenly, Disco ran back in, clotheslined Blanchard, and eliminated her to win the match and earn all of tonight’s available heat.
Blanchard returned to the ring to beat him up, but Disco ran away from her.
– We got footage from last week with Michael Elgin attacking Willie Mack in the parking lot after the show. They brawled for a bit until Elgin powerbombed Mack into a truck.
– Back from commercial, Rolando Menendez interviewed Elgin about his hit list. Elgin said that he has learned that when he wants something, he needs to take it for himself, and so he has been taking out the competition. Rich Swann walked up to Elgin in defense of Mack and got in a fight with Elgin. They got into a pull-apart.
Rosemary defeated Su Yung in a Demon Collar match
As soon as the chain was locked, there was a short tug of war and they went quickly into strikes. Rosemary had the upper hand early, choking Yung with the chain and tossing her around. Rosemary locked in the Upside Down and tried hanging Yung over the ring post.
Back in the ring, it was Yung who pulled the chain to ram Rosemary into the post over and over again. Yung brought out a chair, where she sat Rosemary and took her out with a stiff rolling senton when the chair didn’t give. They brawled into the ramp and took each other out with a double clothesline.
Once again in the ring, they traded strikes until Yung took down Rosemary. Yung tried to use the chain as a whip, but Rosemary dodged and hit a Russian side leg sweep. Yung used the chain as a brass knuckle to earn a two count.
Yung hit the Spider Crawl and a draping Pedigree for another two count. Yung brought out her glove. Rosemary escaped the Claw and hit the Red Mist and a spear. Rosemary then hit the Red Wedding and picked up the win.
This was Rosemary’s best performance since coming back from injury. Rosemary won possession of Yung and can now use her as a bargaining chip against James Mitchell and her father — Kevin Sullivan.
– Backstage, Melissa Santos went to talk with Madison Rayne, who said that Taya Valkyrie is avoiding her and hiding behind this 30-day no defense clause. Rayne said when the day comes next week, she will be taking the Knockouts Championship.
Madman Fulton (w/ Sami Callihan) defeated Randy Shawn
Shawn tried attacking Fulton, but he didn’t even get the attention of the big man, who was just waiting for Callihan to give him the green light. Once he did, Fulton tossed Shawn around, no sold some strikes, hit a couple of chokeslams right from the canvas, and hit the End of Days to win the match. Great and total squash.
After the match, Fulton went to attack Shawn again, but Callihan pulled him off.
– Santos interviewed RVD about coming back to the 2300 Arena. RVD said that him and this arena made each other famous. He said that Tommy Dreamer asked him, and so next week, they’re going one-on-one.
– Menendez interviewed the Impact medic about Brian Cage’s condition. We were told that he had a radical spinal contusion and some issues with his sciatica. The medic said that Cage is already walking, but that he can’t properly predict when, and if, he can return to action.
Killer Kross defeated Eddie Edwards
Edwards tried to rush the ring, but Kross caught him and took him down early. Edwards recovered and sent Kross to the outside, then followed with a pescado and a dive.
Back in the ring, Kross hit a suplex and stomped on Edwards. Kross got a two count with a clothesline and continued working on Edwards until Edwards fired up and hit a desperation Blue Thunder Bomb. Edwards hit a Frankensteiner for a one count, then hit a Tiger Driver for two.
Edwards went for the Boston Knee Party, but Kross blocked him. Edwards went for his kendo stick, but Kross blocked him again and hit the Doomsday Saito for the win. This was a dominant win for Kross — good match until Edwards went for the stick.
After the match, Kross took out Edwards with a kick. He zip-tied Edwards on the ropes. When Kross went to deliver a series of kendo stick shots — reminiscent to the Tommy Dreamer ECW angle many years ago — Kross instead broke the kendo stick in front of Edwards.
It seems like Kross has taken over the angles Eli Drake had that could progress Edwards out of his hardcore gimmick.
– The Rascalz were in the Treehouse, with Dezmond Xavier and Trey Miguel arguing about eating. Zachary Wentz was nervous about getting a Tag Team title shot against LAX. Wentz and Xavier agreed to go train. We then got a ’90s training montage with all three Rascalz.
– The Impact Plus Moment of the Week was Brian Cage vs. Kongo Kong from the July 5, 2018 episode of Impact.
– Backstage, Josh Alexander was berating Ethan Page about refocusing on the tag titles. Page said he’s not done with RVD. Moose walked up and told them that LAX can wait, but they only have one chance to be the first to take out RVD. Moose said that next time, he’ll be there with them.
Rich Swann defeated Michael Elgin by DQ
Swann came out dancing, so I guess he wasn’t as mad as he was earlier.
This was a power vs. speed match. They started with a shoulder-and-elbow lock-up. Elgin easily overpowered Swann, who used his speed to get around Elgin. They did a sequence of reverses and counters to show that Elgin also has some speed, but Swann took him down with a rana regardless.
Elgin blocked a Lethal Injection and went for a delayed suplex, but Swann got out. Elgin set up Swann in the ropes, then hit an elbow and a release German suplex where Swann landed right on the top of his head. Scary spot.
Elgin gave Swann a chop that was high on the WALTER scale. Elgin whipped him around the corners, then hit a springboard plancha for a two count. Swann hit a jawbreaker to get some space from Elgin, but Elgin caught Swann in the corner and went for a superplex. Swann managed to take down Elgin from the corner and went for a dive, but Elgin caught him with a dropkick in the middle of the air for another two count.
Swann countered a powerbomb into a DDT to finally take Elgin down. Swann dodged an Elgin charge, sending him outside the ring, then proceeded to follow with two topes and a top rope Swanton to the floor.
Back in the ring, Swann hit a flying elbow for a two count. Swann went for the Phoenix Splash, but Elgin dodged. Elgin hit a couple of clotheslines in the corner and a Falcon Arrow for a two count.
Elgin hit a couple of stiff clotheslines in the middle of the ring, but Swann countered the last one and hit a couple of kicks himself. Elgin delivered the last clothesline and followed with a swinging side slam for two.
Elgin went to hit a move from the top rope, but Swann escaped and hit a rana instead. Swann hit a Lethal Injection and a second rope 450, but Elgin kicked out at 2.99. Swann went for another Phoenix Splash, and once again, Elgin dodged. Elgin hit a running lariat and a sit-down crucifix bomb, but Swann kicked out at 2.99 this time.
Elgin hit a Buckle Bomb. Swann hit two poison ranas, but he still couldn’t keep Elgin down for the three. Chants of “this is awesome” filled the arena.
Swann went for a rana from the apron, but Elgin caught him and powerbombed him into the ring post. Elgin hit a second powerbomb into the post and received a warning from the referee. Elgin attacked the official and hit a third powerbomb to the post, getting himself disqualified.
Even with the finish, this was an awesome main event.
Elgin ran off the referee and went to attack Swann in the ring with an Elgin Bomb, but Willie Mack came out and attacked Elgin. Mack hit a Samoan drop and a moonsault, but when he went for the cannonball, Johnny Impact came out and attacked Mack and Swann. Elgin and Johnny got face-to-face to close the show.
Final thoughts —
Great episode for Impact. There was a tease of the ECW nostalgia that will play out in the coming weeks, but the meat of the show with Swann and Elgin was top-notch wrestling.
Fallout from Rebellion was the theme of this week’s episode of Impact from the Rebel Entertainment Complex in Toronto. The opening video was a full recap of the Rebellion pay-per-view, showcasing all of the matches.
The Twitch stream was hosted by Melissa Santos from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, where Impact was having television tapings. There was a great cameo from Disco Inferno talking trash about the Philly fans and some of the Knockouts until Taya Valkyrie came out to get rid of him. Valkyrie then bullied Santos instead. Matt Striker also made a surprise appearance.
– Michael Elgin came down to the ring to open the episode. He cut a promo saying that Brian Cage wasn’t there to open the show, which is usually the tradition for a new champion. Elgin said it’s all because he took Cage out.
Elgin talked trash to the Canadian crowd for cheering on Cage instead of him. Elgin compared himself to Georges St-Pierre and Wayne Gretzky. He sent Cage a message, telling Cage that he left Japan to become the Impact World Champion.
Johnny Impact came out to interrupt Elgin. He told Elgin that he can’t just come out and jump the line. They talked trash to each other before Johnny finally claimed that it was him that sent Cage to the hospital. Johnny said that as the former World Champion, he deserves his rematch.
Suddenly, Konnan of all people came out to interrupt them. Konnan said that once again, Pentagon Jr. and Fenix are under his management, and he is here to represent Pentagon. Konnan said he thinks Pentagon is the one man to have a claim to the title.
Elgin tried to attack Konnan, but Pentagon came out and brawled with Elgin. They had a pull-apart, with Johnny getting a cheap shot on Elgin before taking off. Elgin took out the group of security and called out Johnny. The fans were mostly behind Pentagon.
– Josh Mathews and Don Callis gave an update on Cage, saying that he is recovering at home. Elgin, Johnny, and Pentagon are set to face off in a number one contender’s match later, with the winner getting the next shot at Cage’s World title.
Ace Austin defeated Petey Williams
Austin offered a handshake, but he pulled Williams into a headlock. That advantage didn’t last long as Williams got him with a dropkick to the back, a rana tossing Austin outside, and a dive on him.
Back in the ring, Austin took out Williams and hit a dive himself. Austin did a couple of headstands on the apron and dodged Williams’ offense. Williams did the corner National Anthem, but he gave Austin time to recover and come back with a springboard kick for a two count.
Austin got an armbreaker, slicing Williams’ fingers with the playing card while at it. Williams got a two count with a schoolboy. He hit a German suplex and a Russian leg sweep. Williams finally started chasing the Canadian Destroyer, but Austin was ready to cut him off with a kick for another two count.
Austin hit the Curb Stomp, but Williams reversed The Fold. Austin hit a swinging neckbreaker, and when he went for a second stomp, Williams reversed into a Sharpshooter. It was broken when Austin got to the ropes.
Austin hit a big top rope famouser for a two count. He hit a headscissors takedown from the top rope, then followed with The Fold to take the win. Good match, but it was starting to drag when the finish came.
– Somewhere in the Undead Realm, Rosemary was walking around with the stolen Undead Maid of Honor. She is waiting for the firefly to come out.
– oVe cut a video promo. Sami Callihan said that Impact management screwed him by banning his family from being out there for his match against Rich Swann at Rebellion. Callihan made the challenge for a four-on-four oVe rules match next week.
Rosemary (w/ The Undead Maid of Honor) vs. Kiera Hogan ended in a no contest
Hogan started with a couple of forearms on Rosemary and dodged Rosemary’s attacks. Hogan hit her running hip attack combo, then hit a rana and a top rope plancha. Rosemary cut her off with a sidewalk slam and went to attack her. Hogan took down Rosemary with a kick to the knee and followed with a couple of superkicks for a two count.
Hogan went for the finish, but Rosemary hit a big German suplex to cut her off. Rosemary went for a spear, but Hogan dodged it. Rosemary locked in the Upside Down. Hogan kicked Rosemary, with Rosemary crashing into the ramp. Rosemary shoved her down to the floor.
Suddenly, Su Yung came out with her Undead Bridesmaids and attacked Rosemary. Hogan teased helping Rosemary, but she decided not to. In the ring, the Undead Maid of Honor and Yung took their turns attacking Rosemary. Pretty bad match — Rosemary hasn’t looked good since her return from injury.
– Melissa Santos interviewed Taya Valkyrie, asking how she felt after defending her Knockouts Championship at Rebellion. Valkyrie said she has defeated everyone and there is no one left.
Madison Rayne walked up and said that she pinned Valkyrie last time. Rayne challenged Valkyrie to put the Knockouts title on the line against her tonight. Valkyrie blew her off, telling Rayne that one day she’ll get the match, but it’s up to Valkyrie to say when.
– Josh Mathews announced that The Great Muta returns to Impact for the Impact Plus special event “A Night You Can’t Mist” on June 8 from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.
– The Impact Plus Flashback of the Week was the first blood match between RVD and Rhino from TNA Final Resolution 2010.
– Valkyrie had a meeting with Impact management. Melissa Santos was outside hearing the meeting along with us. Valkyrie came out and told Santos that this is how things are dealt with, and she announced that she doesn’t have to defend the title for 30 days — so if Rayne wants a fight next week, she can have it, but it won’t be for the Knockouts Championship.
– Santana and Ortiz were backstage. Ortiz was binge drinking and Santana called him out, but Konnan came in. He told LAX that in two days, they’re defending their Tag Team titles at Code Red. Ortiz told Konnan that The Rascalz invited them to the Treehouse.
Fenix defeated Eddie Edwards
They shook hands to start the match. They went to have a fast-paced sequence with counters and reversals, going for wrist control. Eventually, Edwards found himself on the floor, which frustrated Edwards enough to pick up his kendo stick, but the referee stopped him.
Fenix once again kicked Edwards, and once again Edwards went for the kendo stick, only to get kicked again by Fenix. Edwards finally dropkicked Fenix to the floor and got a bit of control of the match.
Suddenly, we got the visual that Killer Kross was on the ramp watching the match.
Back in the ring, Edwards started stomping on Fenix, but Edwards kept getting distracted by Kross’ presence, giving Fenix the opening to hit a crucifix bomb for a two count. Edwards hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for two.
Edwards once again distracted himself with Kross, giving Fenix time to recover and exchange some chops before superkicking Edwards and hitting a cutter. Edwards hit a big forearm and a Tiger Driver for a 2.99 near fall.
Kross took Kenny the Kendo Stick and offered it to Edwards, and it was this distraction that gave Fenix the opening for a couple of kicks and a spinning Muscle Buster to pin Edwards.
Kross walked away with the kendo stick. Kross was wearing a T-shirt that said “Every great hero needs an even greater villain,” which I’m guessing is a hint towards Cage vs. Kross down the line.
– Backstage, Tommy Dreamer offered his help to Rich Swann for next week’s battle against oVe. Swann said he had Willie Mack and they were missing one more man. Suddenly, Scarlett Bordeaux came up and hinted at offering her help. Swann tried to talk her out of it, but she brought up Fallah Bahh instead.
– Rob Van Dam made his return to Impact Wrestling. He used his same old theme song, which is still terrible, but it now holds a nostalgic spot in my heart.
RVD cut a promo saying that he could just go on naming names he wants to wrestle, but instead he talked about seeing all the wrestlers do his moves. He said he wants to show them the difference between imitating the hero and being Rob Van Dam.
Ethan Page then came out. He had a couple of chairs and taunted RVD with them, showing him how to use chairs for once — by sitting down. They talked a bit of trash before Page disagreed about RVD being everyone’s hero — because Page would never do one of RVD’s signature moves.
RVD offered to face Page right now. Page told him they’ll face each other next week. RVD responded with a Van Daminator instead. RVD’s promo was a bit egotistical, but the reception of the fans was huge.
– Backstage, Josh Alexander berated Page for picking up matches with RVD instead of focusing on the Tag Team titles. Moose, dressed like Taichi, met up with them and told Alexander that he’ll team with him against LAX.
– We got a video package about the Tessa Blanchard vs. Gail Kim match from Rebellion. Kim said some words about her thoughts on the match and the moment of coming back to face Blanchard. She said that retiring like a champion left her with a sense of incompleteness, and putting over someone like Blanchard had given her the closure she needed.
– We then saw a video from Rebellion with Tully Blanchard congratulating Tessa backstage and talking about seeing her blossom into a great wrestler.
Michael Elgin defeated Johnny Impact (w/ Johnny Bravo) and Pentagon Jr. in a triple threat number one contender’s match
Johnny Impact came out with the X he won at United We Stand, reminding us that if he loses tonight, he still has a plan B in his pocket.
They started by trading quick roll-up attempts but went to a stalemate. Elgin and Johnny found themselves outside, with Pentagon taking them out with a baseball slide. He chopped and kicked Elgin, then went back to the ring to work on Johnny.
Johnny dodged Pentagon, but when Johnny went for a springboard, Elgin cut him off and hit an apron bomb. Elgin hit a German suplex and a clothesline on Pentagon. He went for a superplex, but Pentagon slipped out and hit a foot stomp onto a tree-of-woe position.
Pentagon went for a top rope move, but Elgin cut him off with a kick and once again went for a superplex, but instead Pentagon and Elgin traded chops, giving Johnny time to return and hit a German on Elgin as he superplexed Pentagon. The crowd popped for this spot.
All three men started exchanging strikes in the ring. Pentagon hit a springboard crossbody and a superkick on Johnny, then one on Elgin, who came back with a clothesline on both Pentagon and Johnny, followed by suplexing Johnny into Pentagon. Elgin hit a huge clothesline on Johnny, but Pentagon broke up the pin.
Pentagon and Elgin exchanged strikes and once again found themselves on the top of the ropes. Johnny took out Pentagon and hit a spinning Razor’s Edge on Elgin for a two count. Johnny went for the Countdown to Impact, but Elgin rolled out and hit an enzuigiri and a superkick.
Elgin went for the Elgin Bomb, but Pentagon returned with a couple of slingblades on both and a Pentagon Driver on Elgin for a two count. Pentagon hit a powerbomb backbreaker on Johnny for another two count.
They all fought on the apron, with Pentagon taking out Elgin with a couple of superkicks. Pentagon went for a Spanish Fly on Johnny, but he got cut off. Johnny went for a rana to the floor, but he botched it and they fell to the floor instead. Johnny made up for it by using a chair on Pentagon.
Back in the ring, Johnny hit a running knee on Elgin and set up Starship Pain, but Elgin dodged, hit a huge lariat, and then the turnbuckle bomb and Elgin Bomb combo for the pin.
Really great match for the time they got, though it didn’t seem like the crowd wanted to boo or cheer.
Final thoughts —
A really packed fallout episode for Impact Wrestling. It was a storyline heavy show — for the most part setting up some of the programs that will take us through the first part of episodes that will build towards Slammiversary in July. Aside from the Rosemary vs. Hogan match, the wrestling was really good.
Brian Cage, who captured the Impact championship tonight from Johnny Impact at the Rebel Complex in Toronto, suffered a back injury in the match.
The injury is believed from the spot where he took a Spanish fly off the ramp and onto the floor. He continued the match, but shortly after the show was over, Cage was barely able to walk and was rushed to the hospital.
Cage had gone into the ring with cupping marks all over his back. Cupping is a therapy treatment popular in Japan since the 70s and gained some American use in the 2016 Olympics. But that would indicate that he went into the match with some back issues.
After the match was over, Cage was confronted by the debuting Michael Elgin. It ended up being physical when Elgin attacked Cage, laying him out with the Elgin bomb, setting up a possible future title match between the two.
Michael Elgin made his debut for Impact Wrestling tonight, immediately catapulting himself into their world title scene.
Brian Cage defeated Johnny Impact to win the Impact World title at tonight’s Rebellion pay-per-view. After the match, Elgin appeared on the stage and made his way to the ring. Following a staredown, Elgin jumped Cage, took the title and gave him the Elgin bomb. He then posed with the title before leaving.
Elgin has been associated with New Japan Pro Wrestling since 2015, winning both the Intercontinental and NEVER titles on one occasion. He did not re-sign with the company earlier this year and left last month on March 24, teaming with Colt Cabana and Toa Henare to defeat Satoshi Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Shota Umino. His contract officially expired on 4/1.
Since leaving NJPW, Elgin has mostly worked the Canadian independent scene. He’s also previously worked for Ring of Honor, where he held their world championship on one occasion.
NJPW announced two departures tonight, as both Michael Elgin and Teruaki Kanemitsu are gone from the promotion.
Elgin’s contract was not renewed and expired on March 31st. He had been part of the promotion since 2015, and signed a contract in 2016. He most recently was a part of the New Japan Cup tour, participating in the tournament but failing to topple Kazuchika Okada in the first round. His final match with the company was on 3/24, teaming with Colt Cabana and Toa Henare to defeat TenKoji and Shota Umino.
Kanemitsu has also left the promotion. He was a young lion whose career was derailed with a cervical spine injury in late 2016 that kept him out of action for over two years. He made his return this past December, teaming with Ren Narita in a losing effort against Ayato Yoshida and Shota Umino during the Road to Tokyo Dome tour. He didn’t wrestle again after his return bout.
The second night of the New Japan Cup took place tonight in Aichi, continuing with four opening round tournament matches, most notably Kazuchika Okada taking on Michael Elgin in the main event.
Undercard quick results:
– Chase Owens and Taichi Ishimori defeated Tomoaki Honma and YOSHI-HASHI
Owens defeated Honma with the package piledriver.
– Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano and Satoshi Kojima defeated Minoru Suzuki, Taichi and Davey Boy Smith Jr.
Yano pinned Smith after countering the bulldog bomb with a bridging cover.
– EVIL and Shingo Takagi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. and Taka Michinoku
Takagi pinned Michinoku after the pumping bomber.
– Kota Ibushi, Juice Robinson and Hirooki Goto defeated Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and BUSHI
Robinson pinned BUSHI with the pulp friction.
– Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Yuji Nagata defeated Manabu Nakanishi, Ryuske Taguchi, Colt Cabana and Shota Umino
Makabe defeated Nakanishi with the king kong knee drop.
New Japan Cup matches:
Lance Archer defeated Henare
A good little match. Henare did a great job playing the underdog babyface and Archer was great as the dangerous, dominant heel. Perfect dynamic to have for this kind of match and both men played their roles well.
Henare got some offense early by powerbombing Archer as he was posing on the top rope. Archer quickly swung momentum back in his favor by taking Henare and flinging him into the barricade.
After a rope walk by Archer, Henare blasts him with a clothesline. He follows up with a big vertical suplex. Archer comes back with a chokeslam and goes for a blackout, but Henare escapes. Archer hits a clothesline, takes him to the top rope and hits blackout for the win.
Mikey Nicholls defeated Hikuleo
This wasn’t good. Hikuleo was green and you could really see that whenever he was on offense or had to sell. Not the best showcase for Nicholls, who looked okay here but there was just no life for this. Crowd was completely dead save for the last couple of minutes.
Hikuleo sent Nicholls out to the floor early which allowed Jado, who seconded Hikuleo, to attack with the kendo stick. Hikuleo hits a sidewalk slam but Nicholls dodges a charge, hits a clothesline and takes out Jado. After another clothesline, he lands a brainbuster.
Nicholls goes for a moonsault but Hikuleo rolls out of the way, boots him in the stomach and hits a legdrop. Jado strikes Nicholls with a kendo stick shot as Hikuleo goes for his tree slam finish, but Nicholls escapes, somehow (the camera completely missed it).
Nicholls hits a death valley driver and a seated clothesline, then finishes with the Mikey bomb (blue thunder bomb).
Will Ospreay defeated Bad Luck Fale
This was alright. Ospreay looked great, Fale was…there. I think this was similar to the Archer/Henare match, but with a better small guy and a not as good big guy. Crowd was into it, though.
Ospreay went on the attack immediately, but much like the last match Jado got involved early and attacked Ospreay with the kendo stick. Back in the ring, Fale works on his back and keeps grinding on him until Ospreay hits back with the springboard enziguri.
Ospreay continues to build, hitting a running corner dropkick. Fale tried for the grenade, but Ospreay hit another enziguri. Ospreay hits the ropes but eats a big shoulder block and splashes in the corner and ground from Fale. He went for the grenade again, but Ospreay escapes and goes for the oscutter but Fale drags in the referee, causing a ref bump.
That allows Jado to get involved as he strikes Jado with a kendo stick shot. He enters the ring to do another kendo stick shot, but Ospreay takes it and whips both Jado and Fale with it. He follows that with the Robison Special, but Fale blocks hit, shoves Ospreay into the ropes and hits the spear.
Fale hits the grenade, but Ospreay kicks out in a great near fall. He then tries for the Bad Luck Fall, but Ospreay counters with a hurricanrana and tries to hook Fale’s leg, but he can’t. The ref counts three anyway as that’s the finish.
Kazuchika Okada defeated Michael Elgin
This was an excellent match, one of the better bouts New Japan has put on post-WrestleKingdom. The crowd was hot throughout, and had the kind of epic match feel that New Japan is known for.
The theme of the night seems to be getting the heat on the outside, as Elgin got that early after a russian leg sweep into the side of the ring after a chop exchange. Okada gains control for a bit, but Elgin counters back with a powerslam.
Okada walks right into a belly to belly overhead suplex and a northern lights bridge as Elgin starts to build momentum. Okada knocks him down with an elbow, then goes to the top and hits another, but Elgin floats over and locks in a crossface.
Okada escapes as he tries to withstands brutal strikes from Elgin, his chest becoming purple with welts. Okada starts to build momentum, hitting the elbow and going for the rainmaker but Elgin strikes with elbows. Elgin hits two German suplexes then a dragon suplex. Elgin follows that with a tiger bomb, but Okada kicks out.
The two continue with their back and forth, but Elgin strikes down Okada with a superkick. Elgin takes him to the top rope and goes for a superplex, but Okada counters with a sunset flip bomb…only for Okada to escape and attack, laying him out with a buckle bomb and the Elgin bomb. Okada goes for the rainmaker, but Elgin blasts him with a rainmaker instead.
Elgin goes for the burning hammer but Okada escapes and eventually manages a dropkick. He goes for the rainmaker, but Elgin escapes and takes him down for the crossface. Okada struggles, but manages to get his foot on the bottom rope. Elgin wasn’t happy about that. He hits the buckle bomb, but the two wind up exchanging and countering holds until Elgin hits a backfist. Elgin goes for a forearm smash but Okada counters with a tombstone, then the rainmaker, and that’s it.
That makes the second round matches Kazuchika Okada vs. Mikey Nicholls and Will Ospreay vs. Lance Archer.
Yuji Nagata will be replacing Michael Elgin in the Gauntlet pre-show match prior to Wrestle Kingdom 13.
New Japan announced this evening that Elgin is out of action with a left knee injury and will undergo surgery shortly. Yuji Nagata, who wasn’t on the show before, will now team with Jeff Cobb and David Finlay.
It isn’t currently known how serious the injury is or how long Elgin will be out for.
The pre-show match, which replaces the New Japan Rumble, will be a gauntlet match to determine the number one contendership for the NEVER six man tag team titles, which are currently held by Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa and Taiji Ishimori.
The other participants in the match include Ryusuke Taguchi, Toru Yano and Togi Makabe, the CHAOS team of Best Friends & Hirooki Goto, the Suzuki-gun team of Killer Elite Squad & Minoru Suzuki, and the Elite team of Marty Scurll, Yujiro Takahashi and Hangman Page.
