IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: October 6, 2020
Location: Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Madison Rayne, Josh Matthews

The march to Bound For Glory continues and that means we have some stuff to set up. It also means more of Eric Young as World Champion and that isn’t exactly the most inspiring material in the world. Last week’s focus was on the tag division, though I’m not sure if that’s going to carry over here. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap, including clips from Victory Road.

Opening sequence.

Tommy Dreamer vs. Brian Myers

They trade shots to the face to start with Dreamer taking it outside in a hurry. Myers is sent into the steps and they brawl around a bit, as you probably expected. Dreamer’s chop hits post and a suplex onto the ramp bangs him up even more. Back in and a belly to back suplex sets up the chinlock on Dreamer, who has already lost his bandanna. The armbar goes on for a bit before Myers has to elbow him down again. Some elbow drops set up the trash talk and it’s back to the chinlock.

Dreamer fights up and catches him with a powerslam out of the corner. The cutter gives Dreamer two but Myers is back with the Michinoku Driver for the same. Myers misses a top rope elbow and gets DDTed for two. Dreamer misses a middle rope elbow (or close to it) and gets implant DDTed for two (what great symmetry) and Myers’ frustration is setting in. Myers grabs a kendo stick but Dreamer takes it away. That means Myers begs off…but then takes it away and canes Dreamer for the DQ at 9:22.

Rating: D. And that’s a Tommy Dreamer match, consisting of brawling, Dreamer laying around a lot and then the wacky ending, all while Dreamer isn’t as important as various companies think he is. Myers beating Dreamer up for eight minutes and then going into that lame of a finish doesn’t help anyone, but odds are we get a rematch at Bound For Glory because…well it’s Dreamer and we owe him something I guess.

Post match the beating continues until Scott D’Amore comes out for the save.

Commentary talks about Bound For Glory’s bigger matches.

Moose looks for the TNA World Title in various random places.

John E. Bravo is spending a fortune on the wedding and asks the wedding party to help pay for it. That isn’t happening, but Fallah Bahh says he’ll find the money. The argument is on and a tag match seems teased.

Here’s Rohit Raju with another opportunity. He has given more chances than people have had excuses for why their lives are terrible. Everyone wants this title so let’s see who is answering the Defeat Rohit challenge. Cue Willie Mack, but Raju says he had his chance at Victory Road. We need a fresh challenger.

Rohit Raju vs. Jordynne Grace

Raju stalls in the corner, because we do things on his time. After a minute of stalling, Mack grabs the title from the floor, allowing Grace to roll him up for the pin at 1:14.

And no Grace isn’t champion because it was non-title. Raju praises her for the win but makes it VERY clear that he is still champion. We follow Raju to the back, where Scott D’Amore makes a six way title match with Raju defending against Grace, Mack, TJP, Chris bey and Trey Miguel. D’Amore being all fired up and excited for Raju is funny.

Fallah Bahh challenges Hernandez to another arm wrestling match but bumps into him to spill a drink, sending Hernandez off a huff.

Rascalz vs. XXXL

Dez and Wentz for the Rascalz here with Wentz being shoved off the top during the entrances. That leaves Dez to be pulled apart and dropped down and we take a break. Back with Acey knocking Dez into the corner and throwing him down with a suplex. Larry comes in for a chinlock, followed by a splash for two.

Dez’s attempts at fighting up actually staggers Larry enough for the tag off to Wentz. House is cleaned and a standing shooting star gets two on Larry. The Rascalz strike Larry down and Acey clotheslines him by mistake. Acey is superkicked to the floor, leaving Larry to get caught with the shove moonsault for the pin at 9:56.

Rating: C-. Not much to see here and that’s hardly surprising. The Rascalz might get back into the Tag Team Title picture after Bound For Glory and now that the North aren’t the champions, they might actually have a shot. XXXL is hardly the most thrilling team but at least they serve a purpose well enough.

Fallah Bahh steals Hernandez’s money while Hernandez is in the shower. Is anyone ever going to SPEND that money? Or maybe put it somewhere else?

We go to Rich Swann’s medical clinic to see how his physical therapy is going. The doctor says he’s doing fine but Eric Young, disguised as a medic, jumps him and destroys the leg again.

The Motor City Machine Guns are ready for Ace Austin and Madman Fulton when the Good Brothers come in. Threats are made and the Brothers say they’ll be watching the main event so nothing goes badly before Bound For Glory.

Rosemary/Taya Valkyrie vs. Tasha Steelz/Kiera Hogan

They shout at each other to start until Taya knocks Kiera down and hammers away. There’s the running hip attack in the corner and the running knees in the corner make it even worse for Hogan. Rosemary comes in for an exploder suplex, which accidentally sends Hogan into the corner for the tag. Steelz walks into a suplex as well and the Upside Down goes on.

Hogan makes a save and it’s Rosemary getting stomped in the corner. Steelz loads up a baseball slide but Rosemary just growls at her to cut things off. A suplex puts Steelz down and the hot tag brings in Taya to clean house. Everything breaks down and it’s a parade of superkicks into a German suplex to drop Hogan on her head. A double underhook drop (Angel Garza’s Wing Clipper) finishes Steelz at 9:15.

Rating: C-. Total formula tag match here and it worked out well enough. I’m not wild on some of the women’s tag teams but Rosemary and Taya are entertaining enough. Granted more of that is in their backstage antics and you only get so much of that live. Hogan is the better of the villains here and Steelz is dragging her down, but not all that much.

Deaners vs. Johnny Swinger/Crazzy Steve

Jake throws Steve a beer to start and Steve’s monkey gets a sip as well. Swinger doesn’t approve and comes in, only to get caught in an atomic drop. The comeback doesn’t take long as Swinger gets Cody into the corner, where Steve offers a fork and a spoon. Swinger: “NOT YET!” The chinlock goes on for a bit before Swinger goes to grab Steve’s monkey. That doesn’t work so well as Cody grabs the Deaner DDT for the pin at 2:59.

We look back at Victory Road, where Deonna Purrazzo broke Susie’s arm.

Kylie Rae gets rather emotional about Susie’s injury when Kimber Lee comes in to laugh at her. Rae snaps and knocks her out before panicking over what she just did.

Scott D’Amore finally agrees to sign Heath because he recognizes Heath’s determination. They both have a proposal, with D’Amore rolling up his sleeves. Heath can’t be serious about this because it’s not like he won an Olympic gold medal. Maybe Heath should sign and work towards this instead. Heath isn’t sure but D’Amore gets up and storms off with no contract.

Post break Rhino asks Heath how it went, with Heath yelling at him for saying how much greener the grass was here. Drew McIntyre is mentioned as Heath leaves, with Rhino looking stunned.

EC3 drops the TNA World Title off of a bridge.

Sami Callihan loses his mind over the video of Ken Shamrock beating down Eddie Edwards receiving “45 million likes”. It means the old Shamrock is back and he needs to beat someone else up. Like the production guy who walks past them.

Here’s what’s coming up next week.

Motor City Machine Guns vs. Ace Austin/Madman Fulton

Non-title. Sabin and Austin trade some quickly broken wristlocks to start with Austin not being able to nip out of one. A dropkick into an armbar keeps Sabin in control and it’s off to Shelley for a running kick to the chest. The Guns stay on the arm with Shelley cranking away, only to get caught in a sleeper. That’s broken up but Austin brings in Fulton to start cleaning house.

Shelley gets sent face first into the buckle a few times and it’s a side slam/springboard legdrop combination for two. Austin busts out the playing card to cut Shelley’s fingers before handing it back to Fulton for the choking. Sabin’s save attempt just gets himself choked as well but Shelley grabs Fulton low. That’s enough to make Austin hit Fulton by mistake and it’s Sabin coming in off the hot tag to clean house.

A missile dropkick to the back of the head staggers Austin but he kicks Sabin in the head. Everything breaks down and Fulton is low bridged to the floor. Fulton is back up to shoves Sabin off the top but the Guns are fine enough to strike away and put Fulton down. The Dream Sequence hits Austin but Fulton suplexes both Guns. Cue the North to get on the apron but the Good Brothers get rid of them. Skull and Bones finishes Fulton at 12:57.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have the champs lose here so that’s certainly a plus, though I’m not wild on the monster taking a fall to anyone. You were waiting for the interference too, but they got me into the match enough that it wasn’t the worst feeling. Pretty good match, though the four way is going to need to be nuts.

The Guns and the Brothers yell at each other to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. This show is at the weird lull before Bound For Glory as the show is set up but now we need to pause for a bit until we get to the pay per view. That makes for some weaker shows, including stuff like this with Dreamer getting ten minutes, the Deaners and XXX both getting matches and the stuff with Hernandez continuing. It wasn’t a terrible show, but just get to Bound For Glory already.

Results

Tommy Dreamer b. Brian Myers via DQ when Myers used a kendo stick

Jordynne Grace b. Rohit Raju – O’Connor roll

Rascalz b. XXXL – Shove moonsault to Larry D.

Deaners b. Johnny Swinger/Crazzy Steve – Deaner DDT to Swinger

Motor City Machine Guns b. Ace Austin/Madman Fulton – Skull and Bones to Fulton

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: September 29, 2020
Location: Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Madison Rayne

We’re on the way to Bound For Glory and that means we are starting to see the card coming together. This time around we are building towards the Tag Team Title match, as the Good Brothers and the Rascalz, who are likely heading towards a multi team title match, have their own match going on tonight. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Taya Valkyrie/Rosemary vs. Havok/Nevaeh

Rosemary and Havok have to be held back to start so it’s Nevaeh running Taya over with a shoulder to start. The other two come in with Rosemary taking Havok down and hammering away to quite a bit of avail. Taya comes in but can’t whip Havok in, instead being clotheslined down.

Nevaeh grabs a front facelock and then hits a basement dropkick for two. Havok comes in and gets two off Nevaeh’s clothesline. A quick crawl between Havok’s legs allows the hot tag to Rosemary and it’s time to clean house. The Upside Down has Havok in trouble and a high crossbody puts her down again. Nevaeh comes back in for a German suplex to Rosemary but can’t hit one on Taya. The Road To Valhalla finishes Nevaeh at 6:53.

Rating: C-. That’s a pretty by the book tag match but it’s nice to see Rosemary getting to do something in the ring. She’s very talented and finally seems to be getting closer to her pre-knee injury status. The wacky best friends combination with Taya works out rather well and I could go for more of them for a good while.

Post match Tasha Steelz and Kiera Hogan run in for the beatdown until Havok and Nevaeh make the save.

The Good Brothers are telling a story about being in a Japanese karaoke bar when the Motor City Machine Guns come in to ask if they do anything but tell stories all day. Alex Shelley talks about being near the top of the dojo while Karl Anderson was still making Riki Choshu’s meals. The Good Brothers aren’t impressed and can’t wait to kick out of the Guns’ finisher (as Scott Hall said to the Dudleys when the NWO came back to the WWF).

Deonna Purrazzo doesn’t think much of Kylie Rae, because the smiles won’t help her at Bound For Glory. Purrazzo doesn’t think much of having to defend the Knockouts Title at Victory Road this Saturday.

Here’s what’s coming tonight.

Tenille Dashwood vs. Jordynne Grace

Rematch from last week and Kaleb With A K handles Dashwood’s entrance. Dashwood tries a kick to the ribs but gets driven into the corner in a hurry. A slam sets up a running backsplash for two and there are the shoulders to Dashwood’s ribs in the corner. Dashwood gets in a knee though and a neckbreaker over the middle rope sends us to a break.

Back with Grace’s neck being wrapped around the rope and having her throat pulled into a different rope. Grace sends her into the corner though and some running knees to the back into a running hip attack crush Dashwood. The Vader Bomb gets two and a hard clothesline gives Grace the same. Dashwood manages to tie her in the Tree of Woe for the Taste of Tenille but the Spotlight Kick is blocked. Kaleb’s distraction doesn’t work and Grace grabs the rear naked choke for the tap at 11:52.

Rating: C. The more I see of Grace the more I like her and this worked out rather well for both of them. Grace could very well be back in the title picture one day and you know Impact wants Dashwood there as well. The Knockouts division has gotten a lot better in a hurry, and a non-title feud like this is a good hope for its future.

Moose still can’t find EC3 but does attack an employee, earning a threat of an HR intervention. EC3 pops up to say the title’s funeral is next week. You have been warned.

Video on Rich Swann training to get back into the ring for Bound For Glory.

Flashback Moment of the Week: Gail Kim b. Madison Rayne to retain the Knockouts Title.

Rhino comes outside to see Heath, who might have some interest from Impact management. Heath paid for the infomercial with his credit cards so he still has the cash. Cue Hernandez and Reno Scum to jump them and take it back.

Post break, Rhino yells at Scott D’Amore for what just happened. D’Amore doesn’t like it but it’s Heath/Rhino vs. Reno Scum at Victory Road.

Rascalz vs. Good Brothers

It’s Wentz and Dez for the team here and Dez starts with Anderson. Dez is sent into the corner for an elbow to the head but he comes out kicking. Wentz comes in and gets taken into the corner so the beating can be on. That doesn’t last long though as it’s quickly back to Dez for the double kicks to Anderson. Gallows doesn’t seem to mind and runs over Dez with a clothesline.

That means it’s Dez getting beaten down in the corner and the chinlock is on in a hurry. Gallows drives some elbows into the face and chest before grabbing his own chinlock. Dez fights up with a Rey Mysterio sitout bulldog and the hot tag brings in Wentz. The Rascalz pick up the pace with the backbreaker/top rope Meteora combination. The shove moonsault is broken up and it’s the spinebuster to Wentz into the Magic Killer for the pin at 7:09.

Rating: C. I know it’s not the point of the team but the Good Brothers only do so much for me in the ring. They aren’t the worst by any means and are perfectly serviceable, but they aren’t a team I look forward to seeing. That being said, that is completely not the point of the team and it’s not like being masters in the ring is what makes you a star. This was fine enough, and I think you know what is coming at Bound For Glory.

Post match Anderson says they’re here for the money and the titles.

Brian Myers and Tommy Dreamer have an old west staredown in the back and a challenge is made for Victory Road.

Kaleb and the banged up Tenille Dashwood are leaving when they run into Jordynne Grace. A third match is made for Victory Road, though Dashwood isn’t thrilled.

Johnny Swinger vs. Fallah Bahh

Some of the Wrestle House cast is around ringside and the winner gets to be John E. Bravo’s best man. Swinger jumps him to start with little success. Bahh sends him flying and isn’t about to be slammed. A rake to the eyes slows Bahh down a bit and Swinger stomps on Cousin Jake’s fingers. The distraction lets Swinger use Crazzy Steve’s monkey to knock Bahh silly for the pin at 1:44.

Post match Bravo says not so fast and wants the match restarted. Bahh runs him over and hits the Banzai Drop for the pin at 2:35 total.

Rohit Raju says everything should revolve around him, including Victory Road. That’s why he is debuting the Defeat Rohit Challenge. Cue TJP, but Raju says it can’t be him, Chris Bey or Trey challenging. TJP is off to get some Ben And Jerry’s.

Bravo is annoyed at the bad refereeing and doesn’t care if Bahh or TJP is the best man.

Here’s Eddie Edwards for a chat. He knows Eric Young attacked him last week so get out here right now. Cue Sami Callihan on the stage instead so Eddie is glad to beat him up again. Sami says he didn’t do it but Eddie wants to beat him up anyway. Hold on though, as Sami is willing to show Eddie who did attack him. The lights go out again and here’s Ken Shamrock to kick Eddie in the head. Shamrock shouts that Eddie needs to get out of his way and the ankle lock goes on.

In the back, Eric Young finds this hilarious and promises to destroy Young at Victory Road. As for Bound For Glory, whatever he does to Rich Swann is no longer his responsibility.

Kylie Rae comes up to see Susie in the back. Susie is worried at Kylie getting upset if she wins the title from Purrazzo. Of course Kylie isn’t because she would love to face Susie at Bound For Glory. She even got Susie some kickpads! Kylie says Susie’s time has come and leaves, with Susie looking into the mirror and Su Yung being teased again.

Victory Road rundown. Doesn’t look half bad actually.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

The North vs. Madman Fulton/Ace Austin

Fulton scares Ethan Page against the ropes to start but a quick shot to the back of the head staggers the big man. That earns Page a Snake Eyes so Josh Alexander hits Fulton in the back from the apron. Fulton pulls him outside and no sells a big boot from Page. Some double teaming has Fulton in trouble but he’s right back with a tilt-a-whirl slam to Alexander.

Now Austin is willing to come in with a slingshot legdrop for the first two. Fulton sends Alexander into the corner and the referee even has to check on things. Austin comes in and misses a charge though, allowing Page to get the tag to assist Alexander on a Blue Thunder Bomb. It’s Austin in trouble now with Page kneeing him in the face and grabbing a chinlock. Austin fights up with a dropkick and brings in Fulton, who no sells a discus forearm from Alexander.

Page and Austin come back in for a slugout until Austin hits a spinning top rope Fameasser. Everything breaks down and Austin climbs onto Fulton’s shoulders for a splash onto Alexander. Page is back up with a running big boot to Austin, who is tossed into Fulton. After a double clothesline puts Austin on the floor, Fulton is back up, only to be sent outside as well. The spinebuster finishes Austin at 10:15.

Rating: C+. It’s good to see the North getting back to winning as the team was so dominant for so long that you can’t just cut them out after they lose the titles. Another win over them still means something so keeping them in the title picture makes sense. Throw in keeping Fulton looking like a monster and this was a rather easily done match which worked out well.

Post match here are the Good Brothers to yell at the North but Fulton and Austin jump the Good Brothers from behind. The fight is on until the Motor City Machine Guns run out for the save to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. They did a lot of things right here and built up Victory Road very well, while also looking forward to Bound For Glory. Impact Wrestling continues to be at its best when they don’t try to get too fancy and that is what they did here. It’s an easy show to watch and we got the Wrestle House theme again, which pretty much seals this as a good week.

Results

Rosemary/Taya Valkyrie b. Havok/Nevaeh – Road To Valhalla to Nevaeh

Jordynne Grace b. Tenille Dashwood – Rear naked choke

Good Brothers b. Rascalz – Magic Killer to Wentz

Fallah Bahh b. Johnny Swinger – Banzai Drop

The North b. Ace Austin/Madman Fulton – Spinebuster to Austin

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: September 8, 2020
Location: Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Madison Rayne, Josh Matthews

We’re in a new world around here as Eric Young is the World Champion again. That would seem to set up a big showdown against Rich Swann at Bound For Glory, which hopefully means this doesn’t last too long. Other than that, we have the Motor City Machine Guns defending the Tag Team Titles against the Rascalz and the continuing mind games between EC3 and Moose. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Here’s Eric Young for his first interview as champion. Young talks about how world class he is with everything and then he rolled over everyone to become World Champion. Cue Alisha Edwards to call Young a coward for injuring people. Eddie Edwards is going to come back and take Young out because he’ll fight anyone. She isn’t afraid of Young and it’s because of Young that Eddie can’t hold their child. Young: “I don’t care.”

Alisha slaps him so Young loads up a piledriver but Tommy Dreamer (oh no) comes in for the save. Dreamer talks about how the Edwards and Rich Swann are family and he isn’t letting this happen. If Young wants to be some monster, come end his career tonight. We’ll make it Extreme Rules, Old School Rules, Hardcore or whatever. Young says he’ll see Dreamer tonight. Can I see something in a mallet to the head?

The announcers run down the card.

Moose gets on a plane (where you can be followed by a camera crew) to go get his TNA World Title back.

Rosemary, John E. Bravo and Taya Valkyrie are wedding planning, with Rosemary saying she doesn’t know many people who can officiate a demon wedding. Taya says she has this so Rosemary teleports away, leaving Taya to make some rather big plans (a twenty layer cake is mentioned).

TJP vs. Chris Bey

They starts fast with TJP slugging away and hitting a big backdrop. Bey slips out of an armbar attempt and here’s Rohit Raju to watch from ringside. A headscissors out of the corner sends Bey to the floor for the Wrecking Ball dropkick and it’s time to work on Bey’s arm. The good arm hits TJP with a clothesline though and we take a break. Back with Bey in control but having to glare at a cheering Raju. The Gory Stretch is countered into a rollup though and TJP slaps on a quickly broken Muta Lock.

Bey kicks him in the back of the head and puts on an abdominal stretch. That’s broken up with a belly to back suplex and some rolling single underhook suplexes keep Bey down. Bey’s springboard kick to the face is countered into a rollup for two as Madison leaves to do Locker Room Talk. Bey tries a rollup but TJP reverses into a sunset flip for the quick pin at 10:37.

Rating: B-. They kept things moving at a very fast pace here and that’s what they needed to do. I’m not sure where they’re going with the Bound For Glory title match here but you can almost guarantee that there will be a lot of people involved. That isn’t a bad thing in this case, but I could go for a match like this on the big stage instead of some big mess.

It’s time for Locker Room Talk and Johnny Swinger has a new jacket. He insists that Wrestle House wants him back, which Rayne says makes it sound like jail. The guests this week are Kylie Rae and Susie, with Madison accusing Rae of trying to hide from Deonna Purrazzo. Madison tries to bring up Susie being Su Yung but here are Purrazzo and Kimber Lee, with Purrazzo complaining about the interruption last week. Tag match next week.

John E. Bravo is trying to find an elephant but Tasha Steelz and Kiera Hogan come in to ask about their invitations. They want him to be a man and stand up to Taya but Taya wouldn’t like that. The two of them are going to be his groomspeople and teach him how to be a man.

Here’s Brian Myers to talk about getting off on the wrong foot with Willie Mack. He has been around the world and wrestled in all fifty states. There is nothing to be ashamed about to lose to him but Mack wouldn’t go with the time honored tradition of shaking his hand. Mack needs to come out here and do it now, so here’s Mack to say he isn’t here to shake hands. He would rather put his hands around Myers’ throat and shake that. They’re having a rematch right now, but Myers isn’t ready. Mack: “Didn’t they tell you to always bring your gear if you’re a professional?”

Willie Mack vs. Brian Myers

Mack elbows him to the floor to start and follows with a dive. Myers sends him face first into the apron a few times though and takes it back inside to yell and stomp. A suplex gives Myers two and we hit the chinlock. Mack fights up with the swinging slam into a legdrop for two of his own. The standing moonsault gets the same but the Stunner is broken up with a rake to the face. Mack hits a standing Sky High but Myers gets in a low blow, setting up an implant DDT for the pin at 5:26.

Rating: C-. I still don’t quite see the star power in Myers but he used to be in WWE and has a podcast so I guess he’s worth pushing. Mack continues to look and feel like a star and I could go for more of him, but hopefully he winds up getting some kind of a win here. The handshake deal is fine, though back to back losses aren’t the most encouraging.

Jordynne Grace doesn’t get why Tenille Dashwood just showed up and thinks she gets a title shot. Grace goes to find her but gets Dashwood’s personal photographer (Caleb Konley), who says she is too busy.

Taya yells at Tasha and Kiera for getting in someone else’s business. They yell back and both sides are called Boo Boo, making me lose any and all interest in the whole thing.

Tag Team Titles: Rascalz vs. Motor City Machine Guns

The Rascalz are challenging and dropkick the Guns off the apron to start fast. That means stereo dives to take them down again and it’s time to take it back inside for some running charges to Sabin in the corner. The rapid fire kicks get two and a running kick to the chest gives Wentz two. Shelley comes in to take over on Wentz’s leg though and he can’t even be whipped across the ring. The Guns take turns kicking at the knee in the corner and Sabin drives the knee into the mat. Sabin cuts off the comeback in the corner and Shelley knees the knee again.

We go old school with a spinning toehold from Shelley as Sabin grabs an Octopus Hold on Dez. Shelley tries a Figure Four instead as Dez escapes and makes the save. An enziguri allows the hot tag to Dez, who kicks Sabin in the back of the head to take over. More kicks in the corner get two as everything breaks down. Wentz’ middle rope Meteora onto Dez’s knees gets two and it’s a jumping knee to Sabin’s face. The Guns are back in with the Dream Sequence to Dez and the ASCS Rush to Wentz. The double Death Valley Driver retains the titles at 8:38.

Rating: B. Yeah this worked and that is hardly a surprise. They actually did something else before getting to the fast paced and high intensity offense, which is works the best for all of these guys. I’m not sure why we can’t get that more often in a match like this and it worked well here. Good stuff and I could go for another.

Post match the North runs in and beat down both teams. Ace Austin and Madman Fulton run in for the staredown but the Good Brothers come in for the real save. The Rascalz dive onto the villains and it’s a three way staredown.

Rob Van Dam and Katie Forbes are rather happy because next week, it’s the Whole F’N Talk Show. Just what we need.

Sami Callihan says this is 2020 for him: he won the match and then got beaten up again last week. Katie Forbes messed things up for him so maybe she is just too much for him. Next week there is a new talk show though and Sami promises to hack it. Well at least he’s an honest hacker.

Tasha Steelz vs. Taya Valkyrie

Kiera Hogan and John E. Bravo are here. The yelling turns into the slugout to start and Taya hits a running basement dropkick for two. Kiera gets a trip from the floor so Tasha can take over as Bravo is wedding planning on his phone. Taya hits a sitout powerbomb and a knee to the chest gets two. A spear into the Road to Valhalla finishes Tasha at 3:39.

Rating: C-. They kept things fast here and that was a good thing given how Steelz isn’t the best in the ring most of the time. The Bravo distraction is going to be interesting and I’m curious to see where they go when they finally have him stand up to Taya, assuming he actually does.

Post match Kiera jumps Taya, which is enough to get Bravo off the phone for the late save.

Moose winds up at I believe his high school football coach’s office and asks if has seen EC3. That’s a no, but the coach tells him to control his narrative. Some guys in EC3 gear appear and Moose runs.

Flashback Moment of the Week: EC3/Eddie Edwards b. Mike Bennett/Moose on August 11, 2016.

Heath and Rhino meet up in the parking lot but Heath is in trouble with management. The ads are going to continue but they are expensive. Rhino knows where he can get money though.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Eric Young vs. Tommy Dreamer

Non-title and anything goes. Dreamer slams him down to start but misses the kendo stick shot. They head outside with Dreamer being sent into the steps, followed by a chain over his eyes. That earns Dreamer a posting and it’s time to peel back the ring mats. Dreamer comes back with some weapons shots and they head back inside. Young bites his way out of a superplex attempt and the catapult sends Dreamer throat first into the bottom rope. A middle rope elbow with a chair is blocked with a raised boot and Dreamer grabs the cutter.

They slug it out from their knees but Young goes after the leg to take him down again. Young gets sent into the trashcan in the corner and Dreamer’s DDT gets two. It’s table time but Young gets in a low blow. Dreamer crotches him on top, only to have Young hit him in the head with the hockey mask. The piledriver finishes Dreamer at 10:08.

Rating: D+. So that’s how Young’s first match as the World Champion goes: fighting Tommy Dreamer for ten minutes and needing to survive because Dreamer needed to hang in there for that long against the World Champion. I’m not sure who thought this was a good idea but I’m sure Dreamer cried about it a bit. Not a good match of course, but how often can Dreamer do anything above this level anyway?

Post match Young wraps a chair around the leg and beats on it with the kendo stick. Rich Swann limps out with the crutch to make the save. Young yells at Swann to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This was up and down all show with some good stuff being dragged down by a lot of negatives. In other words, Eric Young vs. Tommy Dreamer is not a main event I need to see. It was far from a bad show and it seems that we are going to be seeing Swann getting the World Title shot at Bound For Glory. That works well enough, assuming I can take that much of hearing about Young’s greatness.

Results

TJP b. Chris Bey – Sunset flip

Brian Myers b. Willie Mack – Implant DDT

Motor City Machine Guns b. Rascalz – Double Death Valley Driver to Wentz

Taya Valkyrie b. Tasha Steelz – Road to Valhalla

Eric Young b. Tommy Dreamer – Piledriver

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: September 1, 2020
Location: Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Madison Rayne, Josh Matthews

It’s a big show this week after the two weeks of big shows as the World Title is on the line again. This time it’s Eric Young challenging Eddie Edwards because this company sees something in Young as a major star. I’m not sure what that something is but I’ve yet to actually see it. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Sami Callihan vs. Rob Van Dam

Katie Forbes is here with Van Dam but her gyrating distracts Rob, allowing Sami to knock him off the apron. Rob gets sent into the barricade as Josh asks if Father Time has finally caught up with Van Dam. Josh can be a little slow on the uptake at times. They get back in and Katie’s need for attention lets Sami kick him in the face again. Katie finally does something right by grabbing Sami’s foot but the slingshot legdrop only hits apron. Another trip puts Sami down as Madison thinks Katie might cause Van Dam a lot of trouble.

Now the spinning kick to the back over the barricade connects and it’s a faceplant back inside. Rolling Thunder hits knees though and a low cutter drops Van Dam again. Katie gets on the apron AGAIN but this time it actually works as Rob hits a running kick to the back of the head. The split legged moonsault connects but the Five Star takes way too long. A hanging cutter out of the corner plants Van Dam for two so Katie just comes in this time. Even commentary is begging for the referee to eject her as Rob gets a rollup, which Sami reverses for the pin at 7:22.

Rating: C-. Katie got annoying here and that’s what they were going for. I could see them doing something where Katie is the reason Van Dam is losing and he refuses to admit that he’s gotten old. It could go a few ways and if it means Katie is off TV for a little bit, I guess I can just suffer through the horrible, tragic loss.

Post match Katie yells at Sami so Rob jumps him from behind. Katie adds a running hip attack in the corner and holds the chair over the face for a running dropkick from Rob.

The announcers preview the show.

Hernandez beats Fallah Bahh at arm wrestling and gets paid. Reno Scum comes in and wants the money for looking for Heath. There’s no sign of him but Hernandez says no pay until they beat Rhino.

Rosemary, Taya Valkyrie and John E. Bravo rant about everything going on with the three of them as of late.

And now, Wrestle House.

Everyone is trying to get Johnny Swinger out of a room because Crazzy Steve got to dress him (thanks to winning last week). Susie promises not to make fun of him so he finally comes out, dressed like a clown. Swinger: “Matt Borne is laughing at me.” Tommy Dreamer comes in and makes Bravo the referee between Rosemary and Taya.

Reno Scum vs. Rhino

The brawl starts in the aisle with Rhino fighting away but getting caught in the corner. Some right hands to the face have Rhino in trouble as we take a break. Back with Rhino being sent into the corner so Luster can punch him down. A falling headbutt gets two and we hit the chinlock. Thornstowe’s cheap shot from the floor cuts off the comeback so Rhino goes outside and Gores Thornstowe down. The referee gets distracted….and the cameraman (ahuh) comes in with the Wake Up Call to Luster, giving Rhino the pin at 7:14.

Rating: D+. It’s not like there is anything else of note for Heath to do so letting him team with Rhino again is fine enough. Rhino has been doing nothing but playing the hits for years around here so it’s not like it’s taking apart some other big story. That and the Heath4Impact stuff is a lot better than VINCE DIDN’T USE ME RIGHT.

Post match Scott D’Amore sends security out to get rid of Heath.

An EC3 promo interrupts Moose. EC3 says Moose can come find him, or the TNA World Title will be sent back to him piece by piece. Moose freaks out and tells a production worker to call the cops. After Moose leaves, the guy reveals a Control The Narrative shirt so that isn’t likely working.

Karl Anderson tells some guys a story about Doc Gallows falling asleep in a bar when the Rascalz are told to come over. They can’t because they have Ace Austin and Madman Fulton tonight. The Good Brothers don’t seem to mind and plug their future beer.

Back at Wrestle House, Swinger tries to tell Bravo that if he plays his cards right, he could get Taya and Rosemary. Bravo doesn’t listen to Swinger, who leaves.

The Deaners and XXXL get in a fight over the beer and we go cinematic as they fight around the house. Dreamer gets in a plug for Impact and a ping pong match breaks out breaks out between Cody and Acey. Larry punches the wall by mistake, followed by the ping pong ball going into Cody’s mouth. Cody is thrown into a trashcan but comes back to slug away at Acey…who is knocked into an elevator. Cody takes the stairs and then steals a bicycle, allowing him to miss a clothesline on Acey.

Back upstairs, Cody gets a long running start (as in long enough for Acey to get back upstairs and talk to Larry) but the charge misses, allowing Acey to pull Larry out of the way. Cody is back and they fight into XXXl’s room, where they find the beer bottles. A DDT plants Larry, which turns him into Lawrence. Jake knocks him out but Susie pops in. The violence brings out a flash of Su Yung, allowing Susie to walk out…with very bloody hands. Dreamer names her the winner and runs off. This stuff is such goofy fun.

Rascalz vs. Madman Fulton/Ace Austin

Dez and Wentz for the Rascalz. Dez rolls away from Fulton to start and gets on the monster’s nerves with a slap to the face. More escapism allows the tag off to Wentz for some double team striking to put Fulton down for two. Fulton finally gets back up and stomps away at Wentz’ back, allowing Austin to slingshot in with a legdrop.

The playing card cuts the finger and it’s back to Fulton for some corner choking. The referee yells at him, allowing the tag to Dez who gets to kick away at everyone. That ticks Fulton off and he misses a charge out to the floor. Wentz hits a dive over the top onto Fulton and Dez hits the Final Flash to finish Austin at 4:51.

Rating: C+. This didn’t have much time, which is a shame as I like everyone involved in the match. It’s nice to see the Rascalz get a pin, though it is kind of amazing to see how far down Ace has fallen since Slammiversary. They didn’t have a lot of time here but we got some good stuff out of what they had.

Post match the Motor City Machine Guns come out and praise the Rascalz for a bit. This turns into a challenge for a title match to next week but Ace and Fulton jump the Rascalz from behind. The Guns make the save.

Deonna Purrazzo is annoyed at how under dressed people are for her black tie celebration. No Willie Mack, shoelaces do not count. Purrazzo is annoyed but asks Kimber Lee to be her security for the match.

Rohit Raju is admiring the X-Division Title. TJP comes up to ask about a title shot but Raju says he has to beat Chris Bey. That sets off some rhyming and TJP leaves.

Rosemary vs. Taya Valkyrie

John E. Bravo is referee. Taya starts the trash talk by calling Rosemary an emo kid who shops at Hot Topic. Rosemary comes back by mocking Slam Town and the slapping begins. Bravo breaks up the brawl so Taya kicks her in the chest to set up the running hip attack. More yelling at Bravo lets Rosemary drive her into the corner and then hit a spear. A lot of yelling ensues but a double kick to the head sets up a double knockdown. Both of them miss charges into the corner but Taya grabs the Road To Valhalla for the pin at 3:35.

Rating: C-. It was weird to see a Wrestle House match go this long but it helps that you had two of the better options in the ring. This worked out well enough, though I’m surprised that it actually had a clean finish. They needed to have something definitive like this so this was not only surprising, but kind of necessary.

Post match Bravo tries to check on Rosemary but she shoves him away. Bravo whips out a ring and says he can manage Taya and marry Rosemary too. Everyone is stunned and Taya gives her blessing. Rosemary: “You do know we’re a demon right?” Rosemary accepts. Kylie Rae says that’s sweet but can we get back to the Impact Zone now? Taya says sure and they get in the ring.

The Deaners are very banged up and want beer, but they realize there was only one bottle under Larry’s bed. We cut to Crazzy Steve who admits he took the beer because he couldn’t read the labels. Back in the ring, Taya is congratulated for finding an activity they all liked. They all touch hands and warp away. I guess they ran out of taping.

The ring is surrounded and Kimber Lee introduces Deonna Purrazzo for her celebration. We start with a toast and Purrazzo talks about how she has painted a masterpiece since she debuted. No one is ruining her night but here is Jordynne Grace to congratulate her on her wins. Enjoy the title reign, because it isn’t going to last. Cue Tenille Dashwood, who says it’s great that everyone is here for her return. Tenille is coming for the title but Grace goes to get in her face. The Wrestle House Crew appears in the ring and Susie and Kylie Rae clear the ring with ease. Rae winds up with the Knockouts Title.

Brian Myers is ready to offer Willie Mack a handshake next week. Moose comes in to ask if Myers has seen EC3 so Myers sends him down the hall.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Impact Wrestling World Title: Eddie Edwards vs. Eric Young

Eric is challenging and wears a mask to the ring because…well it isn’t like anything else makes him stand out. Eddie isn’t waiting but charges into an elbow to start. He’s fine enough to snap off an overhead belly to belly for two and there’s a chop in the corner. Eddie snaps the throat across the top to send Young outside and we take a break. Back in and Eddie punches him to the apron and they both go outside.

That goes fine for Eddie as they go back up to the apron, where Young snaps off a neckbreaker to take over. Back in again and another neckbreaker gives Young two and it’s time to stomp away. Another neckbreaker gets another two and we hit the neck crank. A heck of a forearm rocks Eddie but he snaps off the Blue Thunder Bomb to put both guys down. Eddie strikes him into the corner but Young gets up and chokes him from the middle rope. The Backpack Stunner gets Eddie out of trouble and an enziguri in the corner rocks Eric again.

Young knocks him off the top though and the top rope elbow gets two. They strike it out and Eddie kicks him off the apron to the floor. Eddie dives onto hit but hurts his knee on the landing. Back in and Eddie gets two off the tiger driver with a grab of the knee messing up the cover. Eric rolls to the floor from the threat of the Boston Knee Party so Eddie hits a dive, messing up the knee even more. Back in and Young grabs the title, which is quickly taken away. That lets Young hit Eddie with the hockey mask, setting up the piledriver for the pin and the title at 15:41.

Rating: C. I think my thoughts on Eric Young are well known enough at this point so allow me to say GAH! Of all the people they have available on this roster, they pick ERIC YOUNG to win the World Title? Are people really that fascinated by his big bugged out eyes and calling himself a maniac that he should be the top man in the promotion? This is rather frustrating as Eddie hadn’t even been champion long, but I guess Young is more interesting because….I really have no idea actually. Uh, Canada? I guess? Maybe?

Post match Young stays on Eddie by cranking on the knee until security breaks it up.

Post copyright notice, Moose finds a stalker style collection of photos of himself, including some from yesterday and at his hotel. A bunch of threads come together over a map, where Moose says he needs to go. He pulls down the board and finds a message behind it saying YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a weird show overall as they were jumping all over the place. I kind of liked that though, as you had a nice mixture of stuff as they seem to be on a fresh taping cycle. The show was rather energetic and I liked some of it, aside from the result of the main event. That being said, more Kylie, Rosemary, Rascalz and Dashwood are certainly good things so hopefully they keep this up next time.

Results

Sami Callihan b. Rob Van Dam – Rollup

Rhino b. Reno Scum – Wake Up Call to Luster the Legend

Rascalz b. Madman Fulton/Ace Austin – Final Flash to Austin

Taya Valkyrie b. Rosemary – Road To Valhalla

Eric Young b. Eddie Edwards – Piledriver

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Slammiversary XVIII
Date: July 18, 2020
Location: Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Don Callis

It’s a big night for Impact and we’re on Saturday for a change. I’m not sure if that’s an improvement or not but in this case the card is looking pretty good. The big question this time around is who comes in from WWE/elsewhere, including who takes the vacant spot in the World Title match. Let’s get to it.

The opening video is all about who will show up from the released wrestlers. The World Title does get a mention, but the mystery wrestlers are the big focus.

Rascalz vs. ???

This is an open challenge and it’s…..the Motor City Machine Guns rather than the Good Brothers, who have been confirmed as signing with the company. Shelley and Wentz fight over a wristlock to start and then go to the mat for a standoff. Even Josh talks about how people were expecting the Good Brothers here, so well done on a bit of a head fake. Dez comes in and flips out of Sabin’s wristlock before hitting a hurricanrana, with Sabin landing on Dez’s back.

It’s back to Shelley, who gets caught in the corner for some quick dropkicks. Sabin gets kicked down over and over, including a dropkick to give Wentz two. Back to back slingshot hilos keep Sabin down but the Guns fight back up and knock Wentz and Dez outside without much effort. Shelley lays on the top and it’s a slugout with Wentz as Shelley gets the better of things.

Stereo enziguris get two on Wentz and Sabin cranks on both arms at once. The rapid fire double teaming keeps Wentz down and Sabin’s kick to the back gets two. Sabin cranks on the fingers, followed by a double forearm to drop Wentz again. Wentz is right back up with a handspring knee to the face, which is enough for the hot tag to Dez to clean house. Shelley gets driven into the corner and Sabin has to make a diving save.

Wentz Codebreakers Sabin but the Swanton hits Shelley’s raised knees. Sabin’s release German suplex drops Dez on his face and the back to back strikes keep him in trouble. The Dominator/sliding cutter combination gets two with Wentz driving Shelley into the cover for the save. Wentz gets caught in the Dream Sequence and it’s the ASCS Rush into the Dirt Bomb to finish Dez at 14:43.

Rating: B-. I’m not the biggest Guns fan (yeah I know) but this was a very good surprise and the team still looked good. What mattered here was keeping the team looking sharp, though seeing the Rascalz lose again makes my soul hurt. They need to win something at some point because this is becoming way too strong of a trend. Anyway, good start here and a solid match for everyone.

The announcers preview the rest of the show.

After a bit of a delay (seemed to be a missed cue), Taya Valkyrie yells at John E. Bravo that winning is all that matter tonight. Bravo doesn’t seem convinced and after Taya leaves, here’s Rosemary to say she needs to win.

We recap Moose vs. Tommy Dreamer for the TNA World Title. Moose claimed the non-existent title and beat up Crazzy Steve. Dreamer didn’t like it and called Moose stupid, along with accusing him of not wrestling for the right reasons. Now it’s time to give Moose a beating and if Dreamer wins the title, so be it.

TNA World Title: Moose vs. Tommy Dreamer

Dreamer, in a Moose Sucks Eggs shirt, is challenging and it’s Old School rules. Moose wastes no time in elbowing him down and out to the floor, meaning it’s time to bring in the weapons. Some trashcan lid shots and choking with a baseball jersey have Moose in trouble but he drops Dreamer hard onto the ramp. Back in and Dreamer gets in a few more shots, only to get dropkicked off the middle rope in a crazy display of athleticism.

They head outside to keep up the weapons with Moose getting the better of things this time around. With Dreamer mostly done inside, Moose throws in a bunch of chairs and plants Dreamer onto them. A standing moonsault onto Dreamer onto the chairs gets two but the middle rope version only hits chairs.

The Dreamer DDT onto the chairs gets two and here is the bag of thumbtacks. Moose low blows his way out of a piledriver and tries to put Dreamer face first into the tacks. A shout of I NEVER WATCHED ECW brings Dreamer back to life so Moose rakes the eyes and sends him into the tacks anyway. No Jackhammer Needed finishes Dreamer at 11:16.

Rating: D+. Yeah can we move on now? Moose destroyed Dreamer as he should have, Dreamer got in his weapons stuff, and ECW still died over twenty years ago while Dreamer continues to be the self appointed defender of legendary wrestlers. I’m not sure why we needed to see this, but apparently Dreamer was the only wrestler in the world available for a pay per view spot.

A Jaguar arrives but it’s Johnny Swinger. He heard the car was for Anderson but Ole wasn’t around so he took it instead. Gia Miller gets to park it, but no dings in the doors.

Knockouts Gauntlet Match

There are eleven women announced so far and the winner gets the next title shot. It’s Royal Rumble rules until the final two have a regular singles match. Tasha Steelz is in at #1 and Kylie Rae is in at #2 with an exchange of armdrags to start. Rae flips out of a springboard hurricanrana attempt but neither can get rid of the other. John E. Bravo, seemingly dressed as Taya Valkyrie, is in at #3 and is out almost immediately in a smart move.

It’s Kimber Lee in at #4 and she kicks Rae in the face. The slow stomping ensues until Kiera Hogan is in at #5 to start a quick alliance with Steelz. Lee tries to dance with them and is knocked down in a hurry. Steelz goes up top but Rae superkicks her out. Katie Forbes is in at #6 and dances quite a bit, with Hogan seeming to approve. Madison Rayne is in at #7 and gets knocked down as well as the intervals are getting very fast here.

Havok is in at #8 and gets to be a monster, including a Boston crab to Rae. Now it’s the real Taya is in at #9 with everyone starting to pair off. Since no one is really close to an elimination, it’s Alisha Edwards in at #10 as Don tells us that Katie was eliminated somewhere in there. Rae tries to gorilla press Edwards but Havok does it for her and throws Edwards onto Kylie.

Nevaeh is in at #11 as the ring is getting WAY too full in a hurry. Rosemary is in at #12 and Susie is out. Rosemary’s music plays again though….and it’s Bravo dressed as Rosemary at #13 as commentary cracks up. Bravo tells Taya and Rosemary to stop fighting over them so Taya decks Rosemary. Havok yells at both of them so Bravo dumps her, followed by Rae getting rid of Bravo. Rae apologizes so Madison beats her up, only to get knocked out. Rae: “I’M SORRY!”

We’re down to Taya, Alisha, Rae, Lee, Nevaeh, Hogan and Rosemary. Nevaeh and Edwards are sent to the apron and get rammed into each other for a double elimination. Rosemary gets rid of Hogan and we’re down to four. Rae clotheslines Lee out and the double teaming is on in a hurry. For some reason Rosemary loads up the Upside Down and is eliminated by Taya because it’s stupid to do anything involving going over the top in a battle royal. That leaves Rae vs. Taya in a singles match for the title shot and it’s a Canadian Destroyer to plant Taya. A superkick gives Rae the pin and the title shot at 19:45.

Rating: C-. This was an entertaining enough match but they had too many people in the ring the entire time. I can go with Rae surviving throughout the whole thing because it’s not like she was running through all kinds of monsters. If nothing else, it was nice to see someone other than Taya getting the shot, which is all you needed here. Good enough match here, with one of the best options winning.

Commentary talks about Rae’s chances at winning the title but Heath (Slater that is) jumps the barricade to say he’ll take the World Title shot tonight, or face the Rascalz. Cue Rohit Raju to jump the barricade, saying Slater is late for the show and missed the Rascalz’s open challenge. Raju is going to take the World Title match anyway because he’s been here for a long time and never gotten a title shot. The fight is on with Heath cleaning house in a hurry.

We recap Chris Bey vs. Willie Mack for the X-Division Title. Bey has won a string of matches and earned a title shot, albeit with a lot of help from Johnny Swinger. Then Bey was overheard talking about how stupid Swinger is, so he’s on his own tonight.

X-Division Title: Willie Mack vs. Chris Bey

Bey is defending and starts fast with a springboard armdrag but Mack sends him outside. The big dive doesn’t get a chance to launch and Bey takes the legs out to put Mack down. Mack catches the slingshot dropkick through the ropes and it’s a neckbreaker onto the apron for a SCARY crash landing. Thankfully Bey can get back up and go inside where Mack hits a standing moonsault for two.

Bey kicks him off the top but Mack kicks him as well, only to have his superplex attempt blocked. A slingshot Sling Blade gives Bey two and it’s a Swinger Neckbreaker for two as Bey tries to make up with Swinger. Bey goes up but dives into a sitout spinebuster for the double knockdown. Mack kicks him in the head to stay on the banged up neck and there’s the reverse Cannonball in the corner.

An exploder suplex sends Bey into the other corner for two and Bey is favoring his neck. Said neck is fine enough to avoid a charge in the corner and hit a running Canadian Destroyer for two. Mack is right back with the Stunner but misses the Six Star. The referee nearly gets bumped so Bey rakes the eyes, setting up the Art of Finesse (springboard cutter) to give Bey the pin and the title at 10:04.

Rating: B-. I like both guys quite a bit so there wasn’t a bad choice for the ending. I’m glad they had Bey win on his own without Swinger as they have a good chemistry but Bey is someone who could be a big deal without the help. Let Swinger come back now that Bey has the gold and go from there, but for now this is a good choice. I’m not sure what Mack does next, but hopefully it’s something other than waiting on Rich Swann to be healthy again.

Heath runs into Rhino in the back and after a brief reunion, it’s Scott D’Amore coming in to join them. D’Amore talks about opportunities and points out that Heath doesn’t work here. It’s a closed set and we can’t have guests so Heath needs to leave. Heath: “At least he was polite about it.” Rhino tells Heath to be at the show on Tuesday and say hi to the kids.

We recap the North vs. Sami Callihan/Ken Shamrock. The North have been Tag Team Champions for over a year and since there are no major opponents left to challenge them, it’s time for the wacky partners who may still hate each other to get the show.

Tag Team Titles: The North vs. Sami Callihan/Ken Shamrock

The North is defending. Shamrock and Alexander go to the mat to start with Shamrock going for various holds. The ankle lock sends Alexander over to the rope while Sami shouts about dangerous men. Callihan comes in and punches Alexander in the face so it’s off to Page for the first time. Page is driven into the corner in a hurry and Shamrock tags himself in this time. That means more punishment of Page and the challengers start tagging regularly to put him in trouble again.

Alexander low bridges Callihan to the floor and the champs finally get to take over. That lasts all of about four seconds as Shamrock sends them together and brings Sami back in for some kicks to the ribs. A brainbuster gets two on Page but another Alexander distraction lets Page hit a dropkick. There’s a running shoulder, allowing Page to pose at Shamrock and talk even more trash.

We hit the chinlock for a bit until Sami jawbreaks his way to freedom. The double tag brings in Shamrock to powerslam Page for two but Callihan gets caught with a double flip slam off the top. Sami sends them into each other again and Shamrock suplexes Alexander to the floor. Shamrock grabs the ankle lock on Page and Alexander does the same to Page, leaving Sami and Page to slap each other while in the holds. That’s broken up and Sami cutters Page so Shamrock locks Alexander’s ankle.

Page shoves Sami into Shamrock for the break and Shamrock doesn’t like Sami hitting him, even by accident. They’re fine enough for Shamrock to kick Alexander into the piledriver for two with Page making another save. Shamrock kicks Sami off the apron by mistake but is fine enough to belly to belly superplex Alexander from the top. A missed dive sends Shamrock crashing onto the floor and it’s the double Neutralizer planting him to retain the titles at 15:58, with Sami not being able to make the save in time.

Rating: C. There were some sloppy points in here but I’m rather relieved that they didn’t go with a pretty questionable title change here. If the Good Brothers and the Guns are around full time, there is little reason to go with something like this when you can have someone else pick up a huge win by ending their reign. It was a fine enough match, but they went with a pretty simple formula with a hottish finish.

Post match the North brags about being the greatest team in Impact history, which brings out the Motor City Machine Guns to interrupt. Shelley talks about how great the North is, but they’re not the best team ever. The Guns are getting their shot on Tuesday.

Gia Miller lets herself into the Good Brothers’ locker room but Rich Swann is inside. He was here to support Willie Mack and see the World Title match. As soon as he’s cleared, he’s coming for whoever wins.

We recap Deonna Purrazzo vs. Jordynne Grace. Purrazzo showed up and has been treated as a major star. She even hurt Grace with the Fujiwara armbar more than once, setting up the title match here.

Knockouts Title: Jordynne Grace vs. Deonna Purrazzo

Purrazzo is challenging and bails to the floor in a hurry. Back in and Grace powers her around without much effort so we need another breather. Purrazzo heads inside again and gets suplexed to the floor, setting up a dive from Grace. Back in again and Grace drops an elbow on the back for two but Purrazzo kicks her into the corner. The arm work begins, with Grace getting a foot on the rope to break the first armbar.

Grace rolls out of a Fujiwara armbar attempt but can’t hit the Grace Driver. Instead Purrazzo tries a cross armbreaker, earning herself a kick to the face. The arm is cranked a little more but Grace escapes, only to get the arm slammed down onto the mat. Grace fights up again though and hits a running backsplash to the back. The rear naked choke with a bodyscissors allows the referee to loudly whisper to them.

They fight up again with Grace sending her into the corner for a bow and arrow around the post. Back in and Grace hits a Michinoku Driver for two, only to get pulled into a triangle choke. Grace breaks out of that with a powerbomb and they’re both down again. They forearm it out with Grace getting the better of things, followed by an exchange of release German suplexes.

Purrazzo hits the Pendulum for two but charges into a boot in the corner. Grace’s running knees to the back set up a Vader Bomb for two more. The Grace Driver is blocked so Grace elbows her in the back of the head over and over. Purrazzo grabs the arm though and a double armbar makes Grace give up at 15:20.

Rating: C+. They kind of had to do the title change here as they set this up for the last few weeks. There wasn’t much else they could do here after Purrazzo had been built up so strong for such a long time. Grace had held the title for a sneaky five months, and now there are several people who could challenge Purrazzo in short order. I like Grace, but this makes sense.

Bound For Glory is October 24.

We recap the World Title match. Tessa Blanchard was released and stripped of the title, followed by Michael Elgin being released over SpeakOut. Therefore, it’s a four way for the vacant title with a mystery opponent.

Impact Wrestling World Title: Eddie Edwards vs. Ace Austin vs. Trey vs. ???

The title is vacant coming in, there are elimination rules, Madman Fulton is here with Ace and the mystery challenger is…..Rich Swann. That’s quite the surprise. Hold on though as we have another person here as a fifth entrant.

Impact Wrestling World Title: Eddie Edwards vs. Ace Austin vs. Trey vs. Rich Swann vs. Eric Young

Young says he won the World Title at Slammiversary (no he didn’t) so he’s going to do it again here. It’s a brawl to start with Swann flipping over Young and hitting a dropkick. Young is knocked outside so Swann and Trey trade flips, leaving Eddie to take them both down. Fulton chokeslams Eddie onto the apron to put him down….and that’s an ejection. Fulton won’t leave so it’s a threat of Ace being eliminated, which is enough to make him go.

Trey spears Ace down and hammers away before sending Ace inside for a super hurricanrana from Swann. Eddie chops at Young and Swann in the corner but Ace slips out of a backpack Stunner out of the corner. Ace kicks people in the head but gets knocked down. It’s Eddie with a Blue Thunder Bomb to Swann, followed by Young knocking Eddie down as well. Trey kicks Young (now bleeding) down and calls out Austin.

The fight is on with Trey slugging away and kicking Young down as well. Swann is sent outside, leaving Eddie to chop Trey, whose dive at Swann is countered with a planting on the floor. Back in and Austin gutwrench suplexes Young but loses a slugout to Eddie. There’s a tiger driver to Austin but Trey comes off the top with a Meteora to Edwards because only Trey gets to eliminate Austin. Young is back up with a quick piledriver to get rid of Trey at 9:36 but can’t pin anyone else.

A lot of shouting makes me remember why Young gets on my nerves in a hurry and his wheelbarrow neckb….well more like a belly to back suplex gets two on Swann. Young takes Swann up but Swann reverses into a super bulldog to put them both down, with Swann breathing very, very loudly. Everyone winds up on the corner and it’s Eddie and Austin falling off the top and through the timekeeper’s table in a huge crash. That leaves Young to call Swann the letdown of the two surprises, allowing Swann to get a rollup to eliminate Young at 15:36, thank goodness.

Young isn’t done and goes after Swann’s bad knee with a chop block and several Pillmanizing stomps, plus a bunch of chair shots. Swann continues and rolls Austin up a few times before slugging away on one leg. Austin kicks the leg out though and hits the Fold to get rid of Swann at 18:55.

So we’re down to Austin vs. Edwards with Eddie pulling himself back in for a slugout. Eddie gets the better of things and even counters the Fold attempt with an overhead belly to belly. Ace misses a kick in the corner and the Boston Knee Party gives Eddie two. Austin hits the Fold for the same but Eddie hits another Boston Knee Party. The Diehard Flosion (Eddie’s old move) gives Edwards the pin and the title at 24:16.

Rating: C+. It was a good, long match (as it should have been), though seeing Young back is hardly the most thrilling thing. Eddie winning the title feels like a safe pick and there’s nothing wrong with that after everything that has been going on around here as of late. Swann was a nice surprise and Austin came close, but it was probably the right call to end with the most established name who was on the roster coming into the match. Good enough, but nothing great, mainly due to so many people being involved.

Post match Fulton is back to jump Edwards but the Good Brothers come out and, after teasing an alliance with the villains, lay them out with a Gun Stun and the Magic Killer. Eddie and the Good Brothers pose to….not end the show because we get an EC3 vignette to really end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. I’m going to have to think about this one for a bit as while it was far from terrible, it was a good bit underwhelming. There was so much focus on bringing in/back all of the wrestlers (eight in total) that it kind of overwhelmed the show. I’m hoping that it doesn’t turn into the nonsense of nearly begging the former WWE stars to save them from their drek.

Bringing in new/established stars is fine, but Impact has been doing rather well without them lately and they don’t need to act like it’s instantly better because the names are well known. What we had here was good enough, but they need to pick the right path forward, and they have a lot of options available.

Results

Motor City Machine Guns b. Rascalz – Dirt Bomb to Dez

Moose b. Tommy Dreamer – No Jackhammer Needed

Kylie Rae won a gauntlet match last eliminating Taya Valkyrie

Chris Bey b. Willie Mack – Art of Finesse

The North b. Sami Callihan/Ken Shamrock – Double Neutralizer to Shamrock

Deonna Purrazzo b. Jordynne Grace – Double armbar

Eddie Edwards b. Eric Young, Rich Swann, Ace Austin and Trey – Diehard Flosion to Austin

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: June 16, 2020
Location: Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Madison Rayne

They have a main event to build towards now with the five way elimination World Title match set for Slammiversary. That is of course assuming Tessa Blanchard can make the show, which is no guarantee. It’s also assuming they don’t add the mystery former World Champion to make the match a bit bigger. There is other stuff to do first though so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

The Rascalz have a quick meeting in the back and everything seems ok after the possibility of Wentz jumping Trey.

Tag Team Titles: Rascalz vs. The North

The North is defending. Wentz dropkicks Page off the apron to start but Alexander catches his charge. It’s off to Dez to take Alexander into the corner but Alexander is in back in for the fast save. Wentz chops Alexander in the corner, only to get pulled into the champs’ corner so Page can take over. Alexander drops a knee as commentary tries to figure out who attacked Trey before the tournament final.

The tag brings Dez back in for the running dropkick but Alexander drives him down without much trouble. Page shoulders Dez down and elbows him in the head a few times, setting up the delayed suplex with the hand off. It’s right back to Page for a backbreaker and a DDT gets two as we take a break. Back with Wentz getting the hot tag and coming in to clean house.

Everything breaks down and Wentz’s standing moonsault gets two on Page. A top rope Meteora into a backbreaker from Dez gets two more and it’s a double tag to bring in Wentz and Alexander. Wentz hits a Canadian Destroyer but Page makes a quick save. Page takes him to the floor to send Dez over the barricade but Wentz hits a dive to take him down. Back in and Wentz gets crotched, setting up the Northern Assault to retain the titles at 17:19.

Rating: B-. Add it to the list of good matches between these teams but at some point the drama goes away because the Rascalz just aren’t going to win. The North has turned into a heck of a team though and it’s going to take something special to beat them. That’s a great job of building them up and hopefully they can make some stars with whoever wins the titles.

Post match the North celebrates in the back….which is empty, save for one production guy.

Trey has been taken out again.

Ace Austin denies having anything to do with it and Eddie Edwards wants to fight him tonight.

Kimber Lee vs. Nevaeh

Havok is here with Nevaeh. They slug it out to start with Nevaeh getting the better of things and hitting a basement dropkick. Cue Tasha Steelz and Kiera Hogan with popcorn to watch from the seats. Lee comes back and kicks Nevaeh in the head, setting up some choking against the ropes. A suplex gives Lee two but Nevaeh is right back up with a German suplex. Lee kicks her down again but walks into a wind up DDT to give Nevaeh the pin at 4:36.

Rating: C-. This is how a women’s division can look as they are having some people actually doing a few things. It offers something a little different and that’s a good thing. You need something outside of the title picture and that’s what they’re offering here. Now your take on the quality may be hit or miss, but at least they’re having an option, which isn’t something you don’t get very often.

Some guys are watching a Ken Shamrock video from Impact Plus when the North comes in. They aren’t happy that they aren’t watching North highlights and break the iPad.

Cancel Culture doesn’t like Crazzy Steve.

Crazzy Steve doesn’t like being put into a little box so next week he’ll make a macabre masterpiece. Sounds like mystery partners.

Rohit Raju vs. Rhino

Raju jumps him from behind during the entrances and stomps him down after the bell. Rhino gets sent outside and beaten up even more, including a posting for two. Back in and we hit the chinlock, allowing commentary to plug Slammiversary. Rhino fights up with a suplex and clotheslines, only to get sent into the corner for a Cannonball. Not that it matters as the Gore finishes Raju at 4:08.

Rating: D+. Raju is so much more interesting now that he has something beyond “I’m from India and I’m a heel.” That kind of gimmick almost never works for anyone and it didn’t work for Raju in the first place. He isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire now, but he also isn’t the least interesting or one of the most annoying people in all of wrestling.

Flashback Moment of the Week: EC3 wins the World Title.

Michael Elgin says he doesn’t have to jump Trey from behind so he isn’t a suspect.

Susie talks to Kylie Rae about how she should just be bad because everyone walks all over her when she’s good. Kylie says no but here’s Taya Valkyrie to say that’s how losers talk. Susie: “Taya, that’s how you were talking last week.” Taya thinks they need makeovers and violence is teased but Kylie calms things down.

TNA World Title: Hernandez vs. Moose

Moose is defending and, after his insisted on Big Match Intros (with his own “YOU DESERVE IT” chants), gets clotheslined to the floor. After we look at three replays, they slug it out on the floor with Moose getting posted. Back in and Hernandez is sent into the middle buckle and a hard whip into the corner makes it worse.

The dropkick knocks Hernandez off the top and out to the floor and we shift into the slow beatdown mode. A kick to the head lets Moose talk trash before ripping at Hernandez’s face. That causes Hernandez to come back with a quick chokeslam and an over the shoulder kneeling backbreaker for two. Hernandez gets a running start so Moose tossed him over but raises his boot for a low blow. No Jackhammer Needed finishes Hernandez at 6:08.

Rating: D+. Not much to see here as Hernandez is little more than nostalgia at this point. Moose mowing through a bunch of TNA legends is interesting though and it should make for a good payoff when someone big can be brought back at Slammiversary. The matches might not be great but the story is entertaining enough and I’ll take that every day.

After the pin, EC3’s music plays and freaks Moose out.

The Rascalz accuse Reno Scum about being Ace Austin’s cronies but they have nothing to do with him. They accuse TJP and Fallah Bahh.

The Deaners are happy to be back together and a rather confused Willie Mack is with them. They’ll have a six man tag with Johnny Swinger, Chris Bey and someone else. Various Swinger jokes (He was Ricky Morton’s favorite wrestler growing up) ensue and Mack does a Steve Austin impression.

Reno Scum vs. XXXL

Acey and Thornstowe start things off and everything breaks down in less than ten seconds. A knee to Larry’s head takes him down and he gets pulled into the Scum corner. Larry gets kicked down and sent face first into the buckle as Josh and Madison continue to bicker, this time about Micro Brawlers (a toy line). The double teaming doesn’t last as Larry fights up and gets over for the tag to start cleaning house. Luster stops a backbreaker/something combination and it’s a top rope knee to finish Larry at 4:25.

Rating: D. This is the lower end of the tag division and there wasn’t much to see. Neither of these teams are all that interesting in the first place and it was pretty clear to see here. Scum is a team I’ve never gotten and XXXL is one of the gimmickiest teams around. They aren’t terrible or anything really close to it, but I could go without either of them without watching them in the ring.

Johnny Swinger has an idea for a partner and uses one of those cellular phones that Chris Bey has. Actually never mind as that guy is under a ninety day no compete clause, so we’ll need an outlaw friend of his.

Video on Deonna Purrazzo, who worked here at a One Night Only show in her eighth career match. Then she toured the world and is back to show that she is the best women’s technical wrestler in the world. Jordynne Grace is big and strong but her arm can be broken like anyone else.

Grace is ready for Purrazzo and doesn’t get why Purrazzo jumped her from behind. As expected, Purrazzo jumps her from behind and puts on the Fujiwara armbar.

Here’s what coming next week. Some of that might not be happening after recent developments.

Eddie Edwards vs. Ace Austin

Street fight. Eddie jumps Ace from behind, which might be a little more impactful if Raju hadn’t done it in a nothing match earlier. Eddie sends him into the apron and goes to the back to find a trashcan full of weapons. A shot to the back knocks the chair out of Ace’s hands but Ace hits him in the face with a kendo stick.

Back from a break with Ace hitting him with various things and tossing Eddie with a suplex onto a street sign. More metal shots knock Eddie to the floor and Ace starts hitting him in the eye. A barricade is leaned against the apron but Ace gets suplexed onto it for the double knockdown. Back in and Eddie gets two off the Blue Thunder Bomb but Ace hits a springboard spinning kick to knock a chair into Eddie’s face.

It’s table time so Ace goes up top but has to use the card to cut Eddie’s eye to escape a belly to back superplex attempt. A high crossbody gives Ace two and Eddie’s tiger driver gets the same. Ace drop toeholds him eye first into an open chair but he’s right back up to turn the table over. A neckbreaker over the raised leg of the table drops Ace (EGADS) and the Boston Knee Party is loaded up. Cue Madman Fulton to chokeslam Eddie though, setting up the Fold to give Ace the pin at 19:23.

Rating: B. Good stuff here with the solid angle at the end as Fulton likely being the monster who took out Trey. With OVE being taken apart, this is as good of a use for him as anything else and I could go for Austin and Fulton as a Shawn/Diesel pairing. The brawl itself was good too, as Eddie can work well with anyone on the roster. Ace continues to rise though and that could be interesting going forward.

Overall Rating: C. The two good, long matches bookending the show help this one a lot but there isn’t much else involved. I’m curious to see where things go at Slammiversary, where they all but have to take the title off of Tessa. She has barely been seen in months and there is little way to know if she is going to be back full time. Things have moved on from her and that was very clear here, as she was barely mentioned coming up on a big pay per view title defense. Overall not a great show, but two matches keep it afloat.

Results

The North b. Rascalz – Northern Assault to Wentz

Nevaeh b. Kimber Lee – Wind up DDT

Moose b. Hernandez – No Jackhammer Needed

Reno Scum b. XXXL – Top rope knee to Larry D.

Ace Austin b. Eddie Edwards – Fold

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: June 2, 2020
Location: Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Madison Rayne, Josh Matthews

It’s time for the tournament final as we need a new #1 contender to the World Title. Granted we also need the World Champion back, but I’m not sure when that is going to be the case. This show has been pretty watchable as of late though and hopefully they can keep that up this week. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Kylie Rae/Susie vs. Kiera Hogan/Tasha Steelz

This is fallout from Kiera and Tasha stealing Kylie’s bow. Kylie and Tasha lock up to start with Kylie not being able to spin out of a wristlock. Susie comes in and is quickly distracted, earning Tasha a slap to the face. It’s off to Kiera, who is taken down with a double bulldog in a hurry. That’s enough for the tag back to Tasha for a lot of trash talk as Susie is taken into the corner.

A double whip sends Susie hard into the buckle as Madison wants to know if Kylie knows about Su Yung. Tasha’s neckbreaker gives Kiera two but Susie comes back with a running faceplant. Su steals the bow back and hands it off to Kylie while tagging at the same time. House is cleaned in a hurry and the Kylie Special gets two on Kiera. Tasha hits a Codebreaker on Yung as everything breaks down. We get an exchange of strikes to the head until Steelz hurricanranas Susie into a fisherman’s neckbreaker for the pin at 7:18.

Rating: C-. This was short and to the point, though the fact that the point is a bow isn’t the most thrilling thing in the world. The division continues to look good with the new talent included and it’s nice to see multiple stories going on at once. It’s also nice to see all of these different styles coming together and it shows how things can go when it’s not just WWE style over and over again.

Here’s what’s coming on the show.

Ace Austin says people are too worried about the past around here. He’s going to the stars but here’s Moose to say his World Title is very prestigious. The Impact World Title is second rate so come after the real title.

Joseph P. Ryan vs. Crazzy Steve

Ryan has the Crists with him. As you might expect, Steve counters with a monkey. Steve says Ryan is the d*** guy and gets punched in the face. That earns Ryan some rapid fire shots but he comes back with a quick dropkick. There’s a knee drop for two on Steve and Ryan asks if anyone wants to see the greatest suplex on earth. Said suplex is broken up so they strike it out until Steve bites the hand. A rollup sends Ryan into the corner but Jake Crist offers a distraction, allowing Ryan to hit a superkick for the pin at 3:27.

Rating: D+. I’m still trying to find a reason to care about Ryan but I’ll certainly take this over his usual stuff. That being said, are they really putting the Crists with him? They’re a bit more talented than that and I’m not sure if I can go with the idea of them being underneath Ryan. The match wasn’t any good, but what are you expecting from this situation?

Post match Ryan says this is the culture and asks if Jake is ready to join. Ryan needs a sign, so Jake kicks Dave in the face.

Rohit Raju vs. Chase Stevens

Raju wins a slugout to start and kicks the knee out for two. Stevens’ short arm clothesline gets two and a snap suplex is good for the same. That earns him a Russian legsweep to cut things off again and Raju drops an elbow to add another two. The choking on the rope ensues and Raju says it’s his time. That takes a bit too long (of course) and Chase suplexes him into an ax kick for two more. The middle rope moonsault hits knees though and Raju hits a jumping knee to the face. A top rope double stomp to the back finishes Stevens at 5:45.

Rating: C-. Raju is already better on his own, though it’s not like he had anywhere to go but up. Sometimes you just need to get away from things and show off your talents, which might be what he needed. Stevens is someone you might remember if you think rather hard so having him as a jobber is fine enough.

Post match, Rhino of all people comes out to Gore Raju.

Nevaeh says she and Havok have been friends for years and she’s here to keep an eye on her after everything that went on with James Mitchell.

It’s time for Locker Room Talk with special guest Chris Bey. Johnny Swinger is WAY too excited about this and Madison Rayne has to calm him down a bit. Swinger won’t even let him respond as he praises Bey, thereby ignoring Madison Square Garden Rayne (ok good line). They’re the Finesse and Bench Press Express and next week they’re challenging Willie Mack for a tag match. Bey: “Uh, sure.” Then Swinger can help Bey win the X-Division Title. Madison is sick of Swinger saying Brother over and over and ends the show in a hurry.

Flashback Moment of the Week: Bobby Lashley b. Drew Galloway to win the World Title at Slammiversary 2016. Just a random choice of course.

Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace is back and is happy seeing all the new talent. Taya Valkyrie returns as well and doesn’t think much of Grace taking time off. Grace likes that idea and offers Taya a title match tonight. We’ll make that next week instead. Taya: “BRAVO!”

Rascalz vs. TJP/Fallah Bahh

#1 contenders match. Hold on though as we need to shake….er, touch elbows before we can get going. TJP wants to start but Bahh picks him up and moves him to the corner, saying he’s got this. TJP tries to do to the same to Bahh, with expected results. Dez can’t lift Bahh either and they trade rolling escapes to wristlocks. Dez: “That was impressive.” A rollup doesn’t work for Dez either and Bahh is waiting on his charge into the corner.

TJP comes in to face Wentz, meaning some of the laughing and trash talk might go away. Wentz takes him down so TJP snaps off the headscissors. They hit the mat until TJP hits the basement dropkick. Dez comes back in for his own headscissors, followed by the Bronco Buster from Wentz. Bahh isn’t having this and helps TJP with a quick Poetry In Motion but the Rascalz kicks TJP down in a hurry for two.

Wentz’s slingshot hilo gets two more but TJP is fine enough to hit a tornado DDT to take Wentz down. The hot tag brings in Bahh to clean house, including a Samoan drop on Dez. A double splash gets two on Dez and TJP takes him down with a dragon screw legwhip. Dez is fine enough to get over to Wentz for the hot tag as the pace picks way up.

Wentz hits a standing moonsault for two on TJP and it’s a superkick into a middle rope double stomp for two more. Bahh comes in without a tag to plant both guys and an exchange of small packages give TJP and Dez two each with the partners making stereo saves. Wentz and Bahh fight to the floor, leaving TJP to kneebar Dez. That’s broken up as well though and Dez leans back into a rollup to pin TJP at 12:36.

Rating: B. This was the fast paced and entertaining match you would expect from the three of them, plus Bahh in there for a bonus. I could go for more of the Rascalz and seeing them against the North could be rather entertaining. TJP and Bahh continue to be a very good team, but the Rascalz needed some success so hopefully this is just the first step.

Respect is shown post match.

Video on Deonna Purrazzo.

Rosemary and John E. Bravo had fun on their date and Bravo is rather happy with being away from Taya. Rosemary has an offer to him and gives him a chance to bite her apple (which seems to have some consequences) but Taya calls and needs Bravo to do something. He had fun with Rosemary but runs off to do whatever she needs, even if it’s across the country. Rosemary bites the apple and says this is going to be harder than she thought.

Michael Elgin demands that his music be played and storms to the ring to rant about Sami Callihan. The lights go out but Elgin isn’t scared of Sami. He wants to be #1 contender or the World Champion but here’s Ken Shamrock instead. The fight is on and Elgin bails from the threat of the ankle lock. On Elgin’s time you see.

#1 Contenders Tournament Finals; Trey vs. Ace Austin

Hold on though as there is no Trey, who is found unconscious in the back. Austin says that’s a shame but he wins by forfeit. Wentz comes out and blames Austin but referees hold him out. Boss Scott D’Amore comes out and we’ve got a replacement.

#1 Contenders Tournament Finals; Wentz vs. Ace Austin

Wentz dropkicks him into the corner to start and shouts a lot before hammering down right hands. A kick to the face and more right hands rock Austin as we take a break. Back with Ace’s apron superkick being blocked to put them both down on the floor. Ace chokes away with Wentz’s shirt and then backdrops him on the ramp, meaning the count is on as Ace gets a breather.

Wentz beats the count but Ace takes him outside again for a whip into the barricade. Ace stomps on the hand as Wentz climbs the steps and it’s another ram into the barricade to stay on the back. A missed charge sends Ace into the barricade for a change though and Wentz stomps away again. Wentz’ running dive off the steps is kicked out of the air though and we take a second break.

Back again with Ace getting two as Madison accuses Wentz of being an opportunist here. Ace catapults him throat first into the bottom rope for two but Wentz gets in a quick suplex for a breather. A jawbreaker cuts Wentz off again and we hit the armbar, allowing Ace to cut the fingers with the playing card. That’s too far for Wentz, who pounds him down with forearms to the back.

The Fold is loaded up in a hurry but Wentz knees him in the face. An enziguri drops Ace again and the penalty kick into the standing moonsault gives Wentz two. Wentz’s swinging half nelson slam gets two more and he adds a superkick. The Swanton hits knees though and the Fold gives Ace the pin and the title shot at 24:13.

Rating: B. I was getting into this one by the end, though it helps that I like both guys. Austin as #1 contender makes a lot of sense as he has a history with Tessa (assuming they ever get her back for a title match) and had a rather nice run as X-Division Champion. This is the next step up for him, though they might have something interesting with finding out who attacked Trey.

Hold on though as the show wraps up, but we get a video of someone in a hoodie watching a report on the WWE releases. We see clips of a bunch of released WWE stars who used to work here (the Kanellises, the Good Brothers, EC3, Eric Young and more)….and it’s a Slammiversary ad. That’s rather interesting.

Overall Rating: B-. There wasn’t much at the beginning of this show but the last two matches more than bailed it out. I can always go for more of the Rascalz and Ace so I had a very good time with this one. The company has done a great job of making things feel fresh as they are pushing a lot of newer names. That’s what they have needed to do for years now and it has given them some of their best results in years. Keep that up and Impact is one of the most entertaining promotions going today.

Results

Kiera Hogan/Tasha Steelz b. Kylie Rae/Susie – Fisherman’s neckbreaker to Susie

Joseph P. Ryan b. Crazzy Steve – Superkick

Rohit Raju b. Chase Stevens – Top rope double stomp to the back

Rascalz b. TJP/Fallah Bahh – Rollup to TJP

Ace Austin b. Wentz – The Fold

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: April 14, 2020
Location: Coca Cola Roxy, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Madison Rayne, Josh Matthews

It’s the (original) go home show for Rebellion, which has been rescheduled but at least is still airing in some form. I’m not sure what the card is going to consist of but some pay per view material is better than none. Hopefully they don’t set up a bunch of stuff they can’t deliver (not their fault if they can’t) but the show has been pretty good lately so maybe it can continue here. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Johnny Swinger vs. Mike Jackson

Yeah this was the obvious payoff to the Young Buck M. Jackson reference from last week. Jackson is 70 and hasn’t wrestled on national television since 1991. Before the match, Jackson says he likes this place, but not what Swinger does to the young guys. He’s an old buck and it’s time to give Swinger a beating. An early Swinger Neckbreaker attempt is blocked and Jackson gets two off a rollup. A headscissors puts Swinger on the floor and there’s a suicide dive because of course Jackson can do that.

Back in and Jackson works on the arm, setting up Old School, with Jackson walking all the way around all four ropes. Commentary has finally caught up and announces Rebellion as a two night event over the next two weeks so at least things should be better in that regard. Swinger elbows him down for two but Jackson gets in a neckbreaker. The straps come down and Jackson hammers away in the corner, only to get rolled up with feet on the ropes for the pin at 5:20.

Rating: C+. Normally I would make fun of something like this with Jackson showing up the people on the roster, but there are a few differences here. First of all, it’s Johnny Swinger, who is a comedy guy in his forties. Second, a 70 year old man just did a suicide dive and walked around the top ropes for Old School. I don’t think I’m allowed to complain about this.

Ace Austin doesn’t like Willie Mack’s odds in their X-Division Title match. He doesn’t like being called a scumbag either because Mack isn’t worried about his best friend, but Mack isn’t a scumbag? Cue Trey to say Austin is indeed a scumbag. Ace: “How’s your mom?” The brawl is on in a hurry.

Post break, Jackson got a bunch of praise from the locker room. Fair enough.

Ken Shamrock is told to not get physical during the contract signing.

We run down the rest of the card.

TJP/Fallah Bahh vs. Rascalz vs. XXXL vs. Reno Scum

One fall to a finish. Acey clotheslines Thornstowe down to start and brings in Larry for a running knee in the corner. It’s off to Wentz, who gets thrown into the Scum corner and suplexed to send us to a break. Back with Wentz kicking Legend in the head but getting cut off by Thornstowe. The Pit Stop has Wentz in more trouble and a knee to the face gets two.

Wentz dives over for the hot tag to Dez though and the pace picks up, including a catapult to send Thornstowe into a superkick. Wentz comes back in with a springboard cutter to Thornstowe as everything breaks down. XXXL crushes Legend before hitting stereo suicide dives for the big crashes. Back in and a Samoan drop into a Swanton gives TJP the pin on Thornstowe at 11:14.

Rating: C. You can only get so much out of these things and they did as well as they could have. It wasn’t anything that hasn’t been done better before but at least they had a surprise winner and should set up another Tag Team Title match with the North. TJP and Bahh work well as an oddball team and that’s all they need to do.

Flashback Moment of the Week: Tessa Blanchard beats Gail Kim at Rebellion 2019.

Rohit Raju begs Gama Singh to let him out of a match and gets slapped in the face for his efforts.

Video on Cody Deaner beating Joey Ryan last week.

Ryan doesn’t like that video airing. He demands the production team to play the tape he aired.

The video shows Rob Van Dam and Katie Forbes in a hot tub. They’re sorry about not being there but Katie doesn’t want to be around the Deaners or the fans. You can imagine what comes next.

Rohit Raju vs. Hernandez

Rayne gets annoyed at Josh and leaves commentary as Hernandez pulls Raju out of the air. The Pounce into the Boarder Toss is good for the pin on Raju at 1:20. Note that commentary made it clear that Raju has a big match coming up at Rebellion, right before he got squashed.

Madison Rayne and Johnny Swinger are in the back for Locker Room Talk. Their guest this week is Kylie Rae, who is still happy to be here. Swinger shows off his biceps to hit on her but Kylie is too excited to be ready to face Kiera Hogan at Rebellion. Madison tries to get Rae to be mean about Hogan but it’s not coming. Kiera comes in and says she’s going to humiliate Kylie at Rebellion. Kylie doesn’t want to be pushed this far, but Kiera isn’t that nice!

We get clips of Eddie Edwards vs. Michael Elgin in a match in Qatar. Brian Cage interfered to cost Eddie the match and the title.

Ace Austin vs. Trey

Non-title. They take turns missing flips and dives to start until Trey hits a running basement dropkick to put Ace on the floor. Trey hits a dive to take Austin down again but Ace drops him face first onto the apron. Back in and Ace forearms away as Josh and Madison continue their married bickering on commentary (and actually making it somewhat adorable).

A seated abdominal stretch keeps Trey in trouble but he fights up with a 619 out of the corner. The missile dropkick puts Ace down again but he’s right back up with a springboard kick to the face. Trey is back up, only to miss something off the top and get rolled up with tights to give Ace the pin at 6:18.

Rating: C+. They packed a lot into this one and that’s one of the best things that you can have in a match like this. They didn’t have time to do much here but they have a lot of chemistry, even if Trey never actually beats him. I could go for Ace being champion for a good while to come as he’s held the title for a long time already, even though it doesn’t feel like it. That’s a good sign, as Austin could have a heck of a future at this rate. Side note: Trey makes the second person in the four way at Rebellion to lose in back to back matches. At least try to make it seem important.

Willie Mack is to do some magic of his own and make the title disappear from Austin’s shoulder.

Taya vs. Tenille Dashwood

John E. Bravo is here with Taya. Tenille wastes no time to start with a quick Russian legsweep sending Taya outside. A Bravo distraction lets Taya hammer away and get two off a superplex. We take a break and come back with Taya choking away using various objects. Taya’s running hip attack in the corner, plus some double knees, get two and we hit the half crab.

That doesn’t last long so Taya knees her in the chest and poses on the ropes while choking away. Taya charges into an elbow in the corner though and a running knee to the face sends Taya into another corner. The Taste of Tenille gets two but Taya spears her down for the same. Back from another break with the Road to Valhalla getting two as Tenille grabs the rope. Taya is stunned so she grabs a chair, allowing Tenille to sunset flip her for the pin at 16:18.

Rating: C+. Dashwood is an interesting case as she seems like she should be a huge star but it never comes together. It’s not like this is some huge upset, but it does feel a little strange that Taya would lose. She is coming up on a title match at Rebellion and loses here? I guess it fits in with the theme of the night.

Post match Taya destroys her with a trashcan and a pile of chairs, with even Madison saying this is too much to watch. Jordynne Grace runs in for the save but Tenille is banged up pretty badly.

Tommy Dreamer and Rhino are ready to beat up OVE with the help of their mystery partner.

Rebellion rundown.

Video on Sami Callihan being revealed as the ICU hacker and attacking Ken Shamrock with a fireball.

It’s time for the contract signing between Sami Callihan and Ken Shamrock. Sami tells Josh Matthews to get out and throws his feet on the table. He laughs at the idea of Shamrock not being able to do anything at the moment because he knows how much Shamrock wants to jump the table right now. Sami knows what this match is going to mean for Shamrock, who angrily signs the contract. That doesn’t please Sami, who talks about how smashing Eddie Edwards with the baseball bat was the best thing that ever happened to Sami.

Now it’s time to get serious as brings up Shamrock’s family. That’s too far so Shamrock goes for him, only to have Sami press a button to escape. A bunch of people with ICU masks appear but leave, with Shamrock giving chase. He goes to the parking lot and gets in a car, which is being driven by an ICU guy. Chaos ensues as there are even more of them around the car to end the show. I actually want to see the match so they’re doing something right.

Overall Rating: B-. This place is on a roll as they head into the pay per view but I’m a little bit scared at what is going to happen when they shift more towards a big wrestling focused show. Usually that is where they shine, but lately their television has been better so there is no guarantee that they can pull off both. Either way, I liked this show well enough, even if everything is about to change in a big way. Good show to go out of the norm on at least.

Results

Johnny Swinger b. Mike Jackson – Rollup with feet on the ropes

TJP/Fallah Bahh b. Reno Scum, the Rascalz and XXXL – Swanton Bomb to Thornstowe

Hernandez b. Rohit Raju – Boarder Toss

Ace Austin b. Trey – Rollup with a handful of trunks

Tenille Dashwood b. Taya – Sunset flip

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Sacrifice
Date: February 22, 2020
Location: Davis Arena, Louisville, Kentucky
Commentators: Josh Matthews, D’Lo Brown

It’s a special event as we are in one of the most famous arenas in all of wrestling. This is the home of Ohio Valley Wrestling and this time around we are going to be seeing a co-promoted show between OVW and Impact Wrestling. The main event is X-Division Champion Ace Austin vs. World Champion Tessa Blanchard in a non-title match, which is kind of a weird way to go. Let’s get to it.

Pre-Show: AJ Daniels vs. D’Mone Solavino

Solavino has big black wings and AJ, who has no music, is from the Outer Space District. Some shoulders put Daniels down to start but he’s back up with leapfrogs and a dropkick. Solavino’s suplex is countered into a small package for two but he’s back with a backbreaker. A belly to back suplex gets two but Daniels kicks him in the face and hits a slingshot corkscrew splash for two. An Angle Slam gets two on Daniels but he knocks Solavino off the top, setting up a 450 for the pin at 5:23.

Rating: C-. This was a good example of two young guys getting to go out there and fly around the ring for a little bit. It wasn’t exactly high quality but the 450 looked good and it’s nice to see two younger guys getting a chance like this. They were probably both on the biggest show of their career to this point so it was completely acceptable for what it was.

Pre-Show: Max The Impaler vs. Cali Young

Cali is a rather ditsy blonde who is running for President (along with her campaign manager DL3) and LOVES AMERICA. On the other hand, Max seems inspired by her Mad namesake. Cali ducks some clotheslines to start and then bounces off of Max. A running shoulder in the corner crushes Cali again, meaning it’s time for a DL3 distraction.

This goes as badly as you would expect as Cali’s jumping choke is flipped over without much effort. Another distraction lets Cali get in a chop block but the good leg kicks her away. DL3 chokes from the floor but Max easily suplexes Cali down. Max beats up DL3 again and hits a spear for the pin at 4:14.

Rating: D+. Just a squash here as Cali didn’t get to go into her full shtick with the patriotism. She got to do it last night though and that got her some extra attention as well. Max felt your local monster, which is fine enough but it’s not something that is exactly breaking the mold.

The opening video is a pretty standard series of shots of people involved.

Rohit Raju vs. Corey Storm

Storm is an OVW regular. Raju takes him into the corner to start but runs into an atomic drop. There’s a dropkick to put Raju in the corner and a springboard kick to the face gets two. Back up and Raju slugs away, setting up a quick fisherman’s buster for two of his own. We hit the chinlock but Storm jawbreaks his way to freedom and kicks him down for two. Something like a springboard Codebreaker, followed by a basement superkick. Raju knees him in the face though and nails a Cannonball in the corner. A top rope double stomp to the back finishes Storm at 6:29.

Rating: C. Completely competent match here and a fine enough way to set things up for the rest of the night. Storm is someone with some potential and while I’m not big on Raju in the slightest, he is a lot better when he’s not doing the Desi Hit Squad stuff. Just have him out there as a wrestler in trunks and let him do his thing. It works a lot better that way, as it did here.

Impact Tag Team Titles: Rascalz vs. The North

The Rascalz (Trey and Wentz) are challenging here. Alexander sends Trey into the corner to start so it’s off to Wentz, who takes Alexander down. That doesn’t go anywhere for him as Alexander hits a quick toss as the Rascalz can’t get anything going. Some chops in the corner work a bit better for Wentz and a running dropkick gets two. Page gets in a cheap shot from the apron though and it’s Wentz in trouble again.

A rather delayed suplex gives Alexander two more but Wentz rolls underneath a double clothesline and brings in Trey…who gets blasted by a big boot to give Page two. The chinlock goes on and back to back backbreakers keep Trey in trouble. Trey comes back with some rapid fire chops to Alexander, earning himself a suplex right back into the champs’ corner. A Regal Roll out of the corner gives Alexander two and we get the handoff delayed suplex, minus the actual suplex as Trey escapes.

Trey grabs a neckbreaker and the hot tag brings in Wentz to clean house. Wentz’s slingshot Codebreaker gets two on Page as everything breaks down. Alexander throws Trey into Wentz for two and Page is stunned by the kickout. Wentz fights back but gets caught in a tilt-a-whirl faceplant. He’s back up with a Canadian Destroyer for two on Alexander.

The champs are sent into each other and it’s back to Trey, who gets caught with a double crucifix bomb for two. A Backstabber into a Swanton hits Page but Alexander is up to cut Wentz off. The referee is bumped and it’s a 619 in the corner to Alexander. Cue Rohit Raju to shove Trey off the top though, setting up the Northern Assault for the pin to retain at 20:20.

Rating: B. This took some time to get going but they were rolling by the end. The teams have some great chemistry together but the Rascalz have lost to the champs so many times now that it’s becoming hard to believe that they are a real threat. It might be time for them to move on, but at least the matches are still good.

Ace Austin has an interview in the back where he interviews the Steiner Math promo. Well at least in theory he does, as the audio keeps cutting in and out.

Rae Lyn vs. Kiera Hogan

Hogan takes her into the corner to start but Lyn switches places and slaps Hogan on the chest. They fight over wrist control until an exchange of shoulders has no effect. Dropkicks have the same result and it’s time for a pose/dance off. Lyn armdrags her down a few times so Hogan hits an elbow to the face. Choking in the ropes ensues and we hit the chinlock to slow things down again.

Back up and they trade kicks to the head for a double knockdown. Lyn’s legsweep gets two and a missile dropkick is good for the same. A spinning kick to the face gets two more, followed by the fisherman’s suplex for the fourth two in a row. They slug it out until Hogan kicks her in the face and finishes with a fisherman’s neckbreaker at 11:05.

Rating: C-. Just a match here and there is nothing wrong with an Impact wrestler defeating someone who hasn’t been around OVW very long. It wasn’t anything great and they went with a little too much silliness, but at least they had a passable match with both women getting in some time. Lyn has potential but needs some more ring time and something to get people to pay attention.

Johnny Swinger still tries to get Willie Mack on his side and is shut down again. Swinger can’t even give him a VHS.

Jay Bradley vs. Willie Mack

Bradley jumps him before the bell but Mack is up and slugging away. That earns him a beatdown into the corner but a Vader Bomb elbow misses. A dropkick puts Bradley on the floor and that means a big dive to take him down again. Back in and Bradley hits a running boot in the corner for two while shouting about this being his house. Forearms to the chest put Mack down again and we hit the chinlock. Mack fights up again and strikes away, setting up the standing moonsault for two. Back to back Stunners set up the Six Star for the pin at 6:33.

Rating: C. Totally acceptable wrestling here with Mack getting to survive a monster like Bradley and come out with a win. Mack is someone they’re ready to push to the moon as soon as they get a chance. On the other hand you have Bradley, who was in Impact for a little while and then wound up back here. I can understand that as while he is good, he’s not exactly doing anything that hasn’t been done better before.

OVE is ready to destroy Acey Romeo and Larry D.

OVE vs. Larry D./Acey Romero

It’s Mad Man Fulton/Dave Crist with Jake Crist in their corner here. Hold on though as Dave gets caught with some brass knuckles so we need a delay before we get started. Fulton headlocks Larry to start and gets clotheslined to the floor in a hurry. Dave comes in and gets headbutted into the corner, setting up a big running dropkick to make it worse. It’s off to Acey to sit on Dave’s chest but Fulton sweeps the leg to take over.

A hard clothesline drops Acey again and the stomping begins. Dave adds a running shot to the knee in the corner to put Acey in even more trouble. Acey tries to fight out of the corner and gets forearmed down in a hurry. An exchange of clotheslines doesn’t get Acey or Fulton very far until Acey hits him in the back of the head and dives over for the tag to Larry. Everything breaks down as Larry beats up Dave, including a sitout powerbomb for two.

Fulton gets crushed in the middle and a Rock Bottom puts him down as well. Acey’s big elbow gets two more and Fulton is knocked to the floor. That means the huge dive from Acey, who then goes up for a moonsault. Thankfully Dave breaks that up so Fulton tries a Samoan drop, which is broken up by Larry. The big right hand from Larry sets up the Pounce from Acey to finish Dave at 13:45.

Rating: D+. I get the idea of Acey and Larry but they’re not exactly thrilling so far. It’s one of those things where they lose a lot of steam after you watch it once, meaning there isn’t much else to see. OVE losing again isn’t going to make that much of a difference for them, but if Acey and Larry are going to mean anything they have to win something like this every now and then.

Post match OVE jumps the two of them but Daga runs in for the save. As luck would have it, this is next.

Daga vs. Jake Crist

They strike it out in a hurry until Jake is sent into the corner. A crossbody puts Jake on the floor and Daga drops him with a suicide dive for a bonus. The cannonball off the apron takes Jake down again but he superkicks Daga out of the air for two. What looked like a keylock has Daga in trouble and Jake bends the arm around the shoulder for a bonus.

A chop puts Daga down but he nips up and kicks Jake in the face. That just earns Daga another armbar, followed by a flipped over hammerlock (I can always appreciate mixing up the holds). Jake rakes the eyes and bends the arm around the rope before taking it outside. Daga grabs a DDT on the floor and it’s a high crossbody for two back inside. A gutwrench powerbomb gives Daga two more but Jake is right back with a super sunset bomb for the same.

They slug it out from their knees until Daga grabs a German suplex for two more. A belly to belly suplex sends Daga into the corner, followed by an exchange of kicks to the head, headbutts and clotheslines to knock them both down. Daga is up first and heads to the top, only to dive into a cutter for two. Crist is frustrated and pie faces him, earning himself a hurricanrana into the Tiger Driver 98 for the pin at 16:42.

Rating: B. This was a battle of two guys trading moves for sixteen moves and that was an entertaining use of time. It was a fun match and exactly what it should have been as both guys got to show off. The Crists continue to be one of the most talented teams in the company and Daga can have a good match against anyone. Good showcase for both guys here, as it should have been.

Moose is ready to destroy Rhino.

Johnny Swinger vs. Joey Ryan

Hold on though as we need to do the lollipop and oil deals before we’re ready to go. Swinger grabs the mic and says they’ve done this before and he’s not facing the love child of Freddie Mercury and Animal Steele. He has that videotape from earlier and is willing to give it to Ryan (including the match against Ray Stevens with a 23 minute and 17 second airplane spin) if Joey will lay down. Joey puts the tape in his trunks and lays down, allowing the bell to ring so he can small package Swinger for two.

The staredown is on and they shake hands, with Joey trying to make him touch it. That doesn’t work so Swinger tries an atomic drop, giving him the required knee pain. Ryan’s atomic drop works just fine and it’s Swinger getting caught in the ropes for some right hands. A cheap shot lets Swinger hit a middle rope ax handle for two and we hit a headscissor choke (Swinger: “YEAH DADDY!”).

Swinger grabs the sleeper for two arm drops but Ryan fights up for a collision. With Ryan down, Swinger falls head first onto it, allowing Ryan to hit a spinebuster for two. Ryan pulls out the lollipop but it goes into the referee’s mouth. That lets Swinger hit him with the tape for two but the Swinger Neckbreaker is countered, allowing Ryan to make him touch It. Sweet Tooth Music finishes Swinger at 7:29.

Rating: D+. This could have been worse as Swinger has gone from someone who made my eyes roll to one of the more entertaining people around here. Above all else, they’ve kept him firmly at the comedy level and that makes him a lot more tolerable. Not a good match or anything, but it served its purpose.

We look at Jordynne Grace winning the Knockouts Title.

Knockouts Title: Havok vs. Jordynne Grace

Grace is defending and gets driven straight into the corner to start. Some corner splashes make it worse and Havok screams a lot. Grace fights back with a quickly broken sleeper but she fights out of a suplex out of the corner. A Vader Bomb gives Grace two and there’s a hanging DDT to plant Havok again. The champ is back with another sleeper, which has about as much success as the first. A chokeslam gives Havok two but she has to break a third sleeper by falling back. Graces grabs it again and wraps the legs, which is enough to knock Havok out to retain at 5:37.

Rating: C. It was short but I liked the story here as it wasn’t something you would expect from a powerhouse like Grace. They had a little something with Grace going after the sleeper over and over and FINALLY winning with it, which isn’t what you usually see. Not a great match or anything but good storytelling.

Tessa Blanchard says she’ll win tonight and then she’s taking the X-Division Title.

Chris Harris is here.

Moose vs. Rhino

They slug it out to start until Rhino plants him down with a spinebuster. Moose bails to the floor and is ready to walk out but Rhino drags him back through the entrance. Back in and Moose hits him low for the DQ at 2:33. I’m thinking we’re not done here.

Indeed Rhino wants it to be No DQ.

Moose vs. Rhino

No DQ and Moose slowly stomps him down before grabbing the chair. That winds up bouncing off of the top rope and onto Moose’s head so they go outside. Moose yells at Chris Harris but goes for a lap around the ring, earning himself a trashcan lid to the head. Back in and Moose hits another low blow so it’s staple gun time. That earns him a staple to the crotch but Moose is fine enough to hit a running dropkick in the corner.

With the staple not working, it’s time for a hammer, but Rhino spinebusters him to avoid a bad case of death. A hammer shot to the foot puts Rhino down again so Moose throws in a bunch of chairs to unload. He takes too long going up though and gets superplexed down onto the chairs. The fans request and receive their table but a discus lariat blocks the Gore attempt. Moose charges into a chair in the corner but it’s No Jackhammer Needed through the table to finish Rhino at 11:48.

Rating: D. I’m so tired of seeing this same match over and over again. How many times can you see the same hardcore brawl? The hammer to the foot was the only fresh spot in there and it’s not like it was some game changer. Just something they’ve done far too many times lately (or not lately for that matter) and I don’t need to see it ever again.

ICU graphic.

Ace Austin vs. Tessa Blanchard

Non-title. Ace stalls a bit by adjusting his gear for a good bit both before and after the bell. They stare each other down for over a minute to start until Austin dances a bit. That earns him a heck of a slap to the face but Tessa charges into a hiptoss into the corner. A dragon sleeper slows Tessa down and Ace puts a knee on the back of her neck for a bonus. Some stomps to the back set up a half crab but the rope is reached.

Tessa gets in a running knee but a kick to the head puts her outside in a hurry. Ace follows her outside and shrugs off the forearms to the head so he can kick Tessa in the face. The dive off the apron is blocked but so is Tessa’s suicide dive as she just can’t get anything going so far. A hanging swinging neckbreaker gives Ace two and we hit a seated armbar. That lets Ace slice the fingers with the playing card for two which is quite the painful way to go.

Ace goes up but gets pulled down with Magnum from the middle rope so Tessa can snap off a hurricanrana with a bunch of screaming included. A cutter sends Ace outside and the triple suicide dives connect. Back in and the Buzzsaw DDT is countered into a northern lights suplex. Tessa snaps off a standing Sliced Bread #2 but still can’t hit the DDT. Instead she goes up, only to dive into a spinning kick to the face for two.

A springboard spinning Fameasser gets two more, meaning Tessa can scream again. Tessa snaps off a tornado DDT and a Code Red for her own two but Magnum is blocked. Ace can’t superplex her but Tessa can’t super DDT him. Instead she hits the Buzzsaw onto the turnbuckle (El Generico would be proud) for the pin at 18:31.

Rating: B. They built this up as a big match and it felt like one, so they hit the important idea. Tessa’s screams were a bit much but it was a nice story with Tessa never giving up and trying to hit one of her big moves to get the win. Ace isn’t going to be hurt by losing to the World Champion and Tessa gets an important win. Good stuff here, and it felt like an important main event.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a back and forth show with the good matches being very good but the bad matches bringing them back down. What brings the show up though is how much longer the good stuff was than the bad, and that made this a solid show. For an online special, it was an awesome night and worth checking out, though you might want to fast forward a few things.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: March 24, 2020
Location: Sam’s Town Live, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Don Callis, Josh Matthews

It’s the final night in Las Vegas before we head over towards Atlanta for what is now the last set of TV tapings available. We’re on the way towards Rebellion and that likely means a lot more “show is canceled” graphics. It’s not like they have much of a better choice so it’s as good as they can do here. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening recap looks at Sami Callihan being revealed as the Realityislost hacker and attacking Ken Shamrock, who had just been announced as the newest Hall of Fame inductee.

Opening sequence.

Willie Mack vs. Chris Bey vs. Acey Romero vs. Daga vs. Rohit Raju vs. Jake Crist vs. Cousin Jake vs. Trey

One fall to a finish and the winner is the #1 contender to the X-Division Title. It’s a brawl to start (of course) and soon it’s Romero running over Bey and Crist on his own. A backsplash crushes Bey but a double missile dropkick puts Romero on the floor. That leaves Trey and Bey to trade missed dropkicks and it’s a quick standoff. Bey knocks Trey to the floor but gets crushed by Raju’s running splash in the corner.

Jake takes Bey’s place and hits a running shoulder to Raju in the corner as the one on one sequence continues. Mack slams Crist and the standing moonsault connects. Mack’s running flip dive takes out Jake and Crist, meaning it’s Daga and Trey going back inside. Bey joins them and gets powerbombed by Daga with Raju making the save. Daga and Raju miss each other a lot so Romero replaces Raju. That means Daga tries to slam him for some reason of general stupidity, leaving Romero to go up top.

The Tower of Doom sends Romero crashing down and Daga’s top rope splash gets two. We go into the parade of strikes to the face until Trey ties up Crist’s legs and suplexes Bey at the same time. Raju makes the save but can’t tornado DDT Jake. Mack’s fireman’s carry spinebuster plants Jake instead but Daga grabs Mack in a northern lights suplex. The dives are on in a hurry but Crist breaks up Romero’s attempt. That just earns him a Pounce, setting up Romero’s big dive to take out everyone else. Back in and Jake spinebusters Crist, only to have Mack hit the Six Star Frog Splash for the pin at 10:44.

Rating: C+. There isn’t much else you can do in this kind of a match as it’s a bunch of insanity until one person finally gets the win. Mack going after Ace Austin could be interesting and it wasn’t like there was another realistic option, save for perhaps Daga. It was as good as it could have been and a nice way to start the show.

Dave Crist tries to fire up Mad Man Fulton. Jake runs in to say it’s time to get back on a winning streak. Sami Callihan is testing them you see, but Dave says no one has spoken to them in months. They won’t do the thumbs up, thumbs down because they’re waiting for Sami.

Announcers preview the show.

Moose vs. Chase Stevens

Fallout from last week’s backstage fight. Moose jumps him before the bell but No Jackhammer Needed hits the buckle. An ax kick gives Chase two and a powerslam is good for the same. Back up and No Jackhammer Needed finishes Stevens at 1:15.

Post match Moose beats him up a bit more, including some chair shots to the ribs. Moose loads up a Pillmanization of the face but Scott D’Amore comes in to say if Moose wants TNA he can turn around. Cue Suicide to take Moose out as I STILL can’t believe they want to relive the TNA days.

Rosemary is still at the bar and rants about spending two years extracting revenge from the dark side. Someone off camera says “Two years? That’s it?” and it’s….Raven. He doesn’t think much of two years of hatred. Take him for example: it’s been twenty years and sometimes he isn’t sure if he hates Tommy Dreamer or loves him. Raven describes it as “orgasmic” because it goes on forever. He can’t wait to be in the same nursing home as Dreamer so he can cut the bag on Dreamer’s IV.

Ace Austin and Reno Scum come up to Willie Mack in the back. Willie isn’t buying into the mind games because he’s taking the title. Johnny Swinger comes in to say that’s it for the Mack and Pack Connection, but the miz-arks really want to see the two of them fight for the X-Division Title. That’ll get him some rats.

Reno Scum vs. Rascalz

Dez and Wentz of course. A quick spinebuster plants Dez and it’s a catapult into a Death Valley Driver for a very early two. Dez gets sent into the corner before he can even take his hoodie off and there’s the Pit Stop to make it worse. A kick to the face allows the double tag to Wentz and Luster as the pace picks up. Everything breaks down and it’s Wentz being sent outside, leaving Dez to take a top rope Curb Stomp for the pin at 4:36.

Rating: D+. Just a nothing match here with Reno Scum continuing to offer almost nothing whatsoever, likely aside from working cheap. There have been very few moments where I’ve seen anything int hem and this was no exception. That being said, what the heck happened to the Rascalz? They were awesome when they came in and now they can barely ever win a match, even a clean loss like this to Reno Scum.

Another Tenille Dashwood video. Is there a point to these or are we just at the start of their version of Emmalina?

Flashback Moment of the Week: LAX beats Team 3D to win the vacant Tag Team Titles at Sacrifice 2008.

Joey Ryan gives something close to a PSA about keeping Katie Forbes safe from the Deaners.

The Deaners aren’t sure what it means to be canceled, or what toxic masculinity means.

Sami Callihan is in a small room and asks why he did what he did. Impact has made him wrestle Shamrock one on one on pay per view and that’s not cool. Shamrock was the World’s Most Dangerous Man but now that’s him, because he sees everything.

Dave Crist/Mad Man Fulton vs. Sabu/Rhino

Old School Rules and Super Genie is here with Sabu and Rhino. Dave and Sabu start things off with a clothesline sending Dave to the corner. It’s off to Fulton vs. Rhino as I try to figure out why we are having tags in a match under ECW rules. Everything breaks down in a hurry and they all wind up on the floor, with the fight heading to the ramp. A chair is dropped though and Fulton sends Rhino into the corner back inside.

Rhino fights back on Dave without too much trouble and hands it back to Sabu. That means a slam from Fulton and Crist yells at the referee over a near fall. Sabu is back up with a cutter and the hot tag brings in Rhino to clean house. Genie throws in a chair so Sabu can hit Fulton, setting up a dive to the floor. Dave hits Rhino low and grabs the chair, but stops to swing at the referee. That means a Gore from Rhino to pin Dave at 8:14.

Rating: D-. So they barely used the weapons, the match was sloppy, they stopped in the middle of the brawling segment, and then Rhino pinned Crist. I know Callis wants to keep his old buddies around and give them a payday but could they get something close to decent in the ring? Or beat up less important opponents?

Su Yung uses the coffin to go to the Undead Realm to face Havok. She finds some people tied up, James Mitchell, and Havok herself. Mitchell says Yung has to go so Havok grabs a crowbar. Yung has a sword and the fight is on with Yung choking with the noose. One of the chained up men breaks free and hits Yung with a pipe and various other things to keep her down….until she cuts his throat with the sword.

Havok saves Mitchell from the save fate but gets caught with the Mandible Claw. Mitchell stops them and says Yung has proven that she should have been with him the whole time. The minions come in to grab them both though and Mitchell sends them to the Wastelands, which look like a desert.

Tessa Blanchard/Eddie Edwards vs. Michael Elgin/Taya Valkyrie

John E. Bravo is here with Elgin and Valkyrie. Eddie and Elgin start but Tessa wants to come in instead. That means it’s off to Tessa instead, with a quick leg trip taking Taya down. A spear drops Tessa as well, but she’s right back up to face Elgin. Some shots to Elgin’s knee slow him down and it’s off to Eddie, who has to slip out of a suplex attempt.

A Bravo distraction lets Taya pull Tessa off the apron and Elgin’s pop up powerslam gets two on Eddie. Back from a break with Eddie still in trouble but turning it into a slugout with Elgin. The Blue Thunder Bomb gets Eddie a breather and the hot tag brings in Tessa to clean house. Both men save their partners from getting slammed down but Tessa hurricanranas her way out of a superbomb. Eddie comes back in for the rapid fire chops to Elgin, followed by the overhead belly to belly to put him on the floor.

Bravo gets knocked off the apron and there are the double dives to take out the villains. A Codebreaker out of the corner into a tiger driver gets two on Elgin with Taya making the save. Eddie kicks Taya to the floor but Magnum is countered into a powerbomb onto Eddie’s back. Tessa is back up with a reverse hurricanrana and tornado DDT to Elgin but Elgin blasts Tessa down. The Elgin Bomb doesn’t work on Eddie, who strikes Elgin down instead. Taya’s distraction sets up the buckle bomb into the Elgin Bomb for the pin at Taya cuts Tessa off at 18:04.

Rating: B. Good, hard hitting match here as Impact has figured out how to do man vs. woman without it being hard to accept (granted having Tessa and Taya can make that a lot easier). This sets Elgin up as a monster going after the title at Rebellion and I’m not sure how that whole thing would have wound up. Odds are we’ll see the match at some point and I’m curious to see how it goes, so well done on that front.

We go back to the Wastelands….and Rosemary just happens to be there. She doesn’t care what Mitchell did to them and the alliance is formed. They wind up back in Mitchell’s lair, with Rosemary putting on sunglasses and going off on her own. Mitchell tells Havok and Yung that it was just a test and they can be a unit. Mitchell stabs him in the stomach with a dagger and Mitchell dies, only to wake up in Heaven with….a cat and Abyss? Mitchell: “Who booked this s***?”

Overall Rating: C+. This show worked out rather well with most of the show working out well. They did some good stuff to get rid of Mitchell (you knew that was going to be something zany) and it was an entertaining enough show. I’m not sure what they’re going to do in four weeks when we get done with what should have been the go home show for Rebellion. This was good though, and that’s what matters most at the moment.

Results

Willie Mack b. Cousin Jake, Trey, Daga, Acey Romero, Chris Bey, Rohit Raju and Jake Crist – Six Star Frog Splash to Jake

Moose b. Chase Stevens – No Jackhammer Needed

Reno Scum b. Rascalz – Top rope curb stomp to Trey

Rhino/Sabu b. Dave Crist/Mad Man Fulton – Gore to Crist

Michael Elgin/Taya Valkyrie b. Tessa Blanchard/Eddie Edwards – Elgin Bomb to Edwards

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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