‘IMPACT WRESTLING: UNDER SIEGE 2023’ Recap + Review – Maclin vs. PCO No DQ, Trinity’s First Impact Plus Match, Grace/Purrazzo IV

DATE: May 26. 2023
VENUE: Western Fair District Agriplex (London, Ontario, Canada)
COMMENTATORS: Tom Hannifan & Matthew Rehwoldt
VIEWING METHOD: Impact Plus on Apple TV 4K (VOD)

Under Siege 2023 features a sure to be intense main event as Steve Maclin defends the World Championship against PCO in a No-DQ match. Also on the show Trinity makes her first Impact Plus appearance against Gisele Shaw, Chris Sabin tries to make it title reign number nine as he challenges Trey Miguel for the X-Division Championship, Sami Callihan gets some oVe backup for his six-man tag team match against The Design, and much more!

CHAMPIONS

• IMPACT WORLD CHAMPION: Steve Maclin
• IMPACT KNOCKOUTS WORLD CHAMPION: “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo
• IMPACT X-DIVISION CHAMPION: Trey Miguel
• IMPACT DIGITAL MEDIA CHAMPION: Joe Hendry
• IMPACT WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey)
• IMPACT KNOCKOUTS WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Coven (Taylor Wilde & KiLynn King)

LINEUP

• Nick Aldis vs. Kenny King (**3/4) [RECAP]
• Sami Callihan, Rich Swann, & ??? vs. The Design (**1/2) [RECAP]
• Trinity vs. Gisele Shaw (**3/4) [RECAP]
• ABC [c] vs. Subculture for the IMPACT WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (****) [RECAP]
• Trey Miguel [c] vs. Chris Sabin for the IMPACT X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2) [RECAP]
• #1 CONTENDER’S MATCH: Jonathan Gresham vs. Alex Shelley vs. Moose vs. Yuya Uemura vs. Eddie Edwards vs. Frankie Kazarian (***) [RECAP]
• Deonna Purrazzo [c] vs. Jordynne Grace for the IMPACT KNOCKOUTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/4) [RECAP]
• NO-DISQUALIFICATION MATCH: Steve Maclin [c] vs. PCO for the IMPACT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (****1/4) [RECAP]

SHOW RECAP

RESULTS & RATINGS

FINAL THOUGHTS

*****

“The National Treasure” Nick Aldis vs. Kenny King [w/ Sheldon Jean]

Aldis made his return to Impact the month prior at Rebellion, announcing his intentions to earn his way back to a World Title opportunity. King volunteered to get in his way to stop him before he can really get going, but Aldis has been more amused by King stepping up to him, congratulating King on “leveling up” to finally be worth facing. He’s the babyface though, don’t worry.

King backs Aldis in the corner and trash talks him while keeping him trapped in a corner mount. Aldis escapes a side headlock, King ducks a pair of clotheslines but Aldis catches him mid-crossbody and turns it into a vertical suplex. Jean rolls in to distract Aldis but it doesn’t work and he drops an elbow on King, who bails to the floor. This time Aldis follows him and King makes him pay, sending him into the steel steps with a drop toehold. King rolls Aldis in and immediately connects with a snap suplex, rolling into a full mount to lay in some rights before covering for a near-fall. King kicks Aldis flush in the ribs followed by a kick to the he-okay the shoulder for the 1…2…Aldis kicks out, King traps him in a seated abdominal stretch. King kicks Aldis to the floor and flattens him with a splash, happily willing to accept a countout victory but Aldis rolls in to keep the match going. King blows a kiss and misses a springboard legdrop, Aldis follows up with a pumphandle fallaway slam for the 1…2…King kicks out. Aldis climbs the buckles, King stuns him with an uppercut but Aldis blocks a superplex attempt and shoves him off; King lands on his feet and flies back with an enzuigiri, sending Aldis tumbling to the canvas. 

Aldis and King exchange rights and elbows, Aldis charges and King connects with a powerslam for the 1…2…Aldis kicks out. Aldis peels his way out of a full nelson but runs into a big boot, King charges and Aldis turns that into a Michinoku Driver. Aldis follows up with a flying elbowdrop but Jean distracts the ref to prevent the pin. Aldis drops Jean with a forearm, King rolls Aldis up for the 1…2…ref catches him with his feet on the ropes and stops the count! King plants Aldis with a spinebuster for the 1…2…Aldis kicks out again! Aldis surprises King with a powerbomb and locks in the King’s Lynn Cloverleaf forcing King to tap!

Nick Aldis defeated Kenny King via submission (8:56)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: Good opener, good win for Aldis as he works his way up to World Title contention in the company. Aldis is a perfectly capable wrestler and has the aura of a World Champion from the territory days, which served him well during his reign as NWA World Champion, and I’m guessing he’ll get the shot at Maclin for Slammiversary. (**3/4)

[BACK TO LINEUP]

–

–Killer Kelly and Masha Slamovich are shown brawling in the crowd, continuing their fight that started last night on Impact Wrestling. The fight makes its way to ringside, Kelly suplexing Slamovich on the floor, and then into the ring. Kelly wraps a goddamn chain around Slamovich’s mouth and neck and starts choking her out until a host of security and referee personnel finally run out to break it up. Kelly grabs her chain and swings it around, clearing the ring. Oh man their chain match is going to be vicious, can’t wait!

–Gia Miller introduces her guest at this time, Jordynne Grace. Miller asks for her final thoughts heading into the Knockouts World Title match tonight. Grace recaps her 2023: she started as champion, ready to carry the company on her back and retire Mickie James but couldn’t do either. Grace says if she loses tonight she is not the best and if she isn’t the best then who is she? Oh I got this one: you’re Jordynne Grace. Happy to help.

-VIDEO: Sami Callihan recaps his super secret plan to infiltrate and destroy The Design, the only people to see it coming being him and anyone who has been watching the show every week.

–Sami Callihan & Rich Swann reveal their mystery partner: the returning Jake Crist, former oVe member and longtime friend of Callihan. The reveal doesn’t land well due to production keeping the lights off the entire time.

–

Sami Callihan, Rich Swann, & Jake Crist vs. The Design (Deaner, Kon, & Angels)

Crist catches Angels with a series of rights followed by a spinning heel kick. Callihan tags in, double Alabama Slam followed by a double knee strike. Angels connects with a stiff forearm and tags in Kon but all six men quickly enter the ring and chaos ensues. Callihan rolls Angels in and thumbs the eyes, Angels escapes the Cactus Driver ‘97 and clears him from the ring with an enzuigiri followed by a tope through the middle and bottom ropes. Crist takes flight next but bounces right off Kon. Swann tries next and Kon brushes it off, Callihan stuns him with a kick, Crist finally takes Kon off his feet with a springboard moonsault. Angels dropkicks Callihan, Callihan turns him inside out with a clothesline and powerbombs him over the top rope and into the brawling bodies on the floor. Swann and Crist roll Kon into the ring, Crist gets the tag and Kon stares all three of them down. They connect with three knees, Kon STANDS UP and absorbs a triple superkick. Swann puts Kon in a backpack sleeper, Kon clotheslines Callihan & Crist and dumps Swann on his own partners. Kon a BIG BOY. 

Crist flies in, Kon greets him with a forearm and throws him flush into the corner. Deaner tags in and stomps a mudhole in Crist’s sternum, Angels getting shots in behind the ref’s back. Crowd is VERY pro-Deaner which I was not expecting. Angels connects with an elbowdrop but can’t get the pin. Crist stuns Angels with a jawbreaker, Deaner quickly tags in and clears the opposite corner to prevent a tag. Deaner & Angels connects with a rocking Cross Rhodes of sorts for the 1…2…Crist kicks out. Crist drops Deaner with a flying forearm, Callihan tags in and wrecks Angels’ day with forearms and a clothesline out to the floor. Kon charges in but sends himself to the floor, Callihan turns around to face Deaner. Callihan and Deaner tee off on each other, Crist and Angels get involved, Callihan and Crist connect with stereo Death Valley Drivers. Kon plants the oVe guys with a double chokeslam and sends Swann back to the floor with the stiffest of strikes. Angels drops Callihan and comes off the top with a frog splash for the 1…2…Callihan kicks out! Callihan dodges a corner splash from Kon, Swann tags in and lights up The Design with superkicks. Swann ducks a double clothesline and connects with a double back handspring cutter. Angels drops Swann with a lariat, Crist connects with a backfist and double underhook German suplex. Deaner ducks a spinning kick and hits an inverted DVD on Crist. Callihan plants Deaner with Cactus Driver ‘97, Angels hits Callihan with a running knee. Angels runs into a spinning kick, Angels catches a back handspring but Swann turns it into a roll-up for the 1…2…3!

Sami Callihan, Rich Swann, & Jake Crist defeated The Design via pinfall (10:11)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: Entertaining chaos. Kon getting some fun spots as the monster of the match was great, I always thought he didn’t get a fair shake in WWE so it’s cool to see him around in a nationally televised company in 2023. Angels…it feels weird to see him in a similar spot as he was with The Dark Order but I’ve already seen him wrestle more on Impact than I ever did on AEW and he’s pretty damn good. Crist being the third man on Callihan’s team made sense and was a nice callback to some Impact history, but it didn’t land with me really. It’s been YEARS and I have the memory of a…something that has a bad memory. Perfect description, no notes. (**1/2)

[BACK TO LINEUP]

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-EARLIER TONIGHT: Dirty Dango low-blows Joe Hendry to lose his Digital Media Title by DQ. Santino Marella then made his “triumphant” return to scare Dango off and stop the post-match attack. 

–Gia Miller welcomes back Director of Authority Santino Marella. Marella doesn’t need someone to come into his life and make his new role difficult, and calls Dirty Dango a piece of sh*t. In a funny Italian accent though, of course.

–

Trinity vs. Gisele Shaw [w/ Jai Vidal & Savannah Evans]

Trinity (fma Naomi) made her debut in Impact Wrestling a few weeks ago, her first stop after leaving WWE. She was victorious in her first match in over a year, beating KiLynn King, and put out an open contract for Under Siege. Gisele Shaw answered by way of her friend Jai Vidal who went out of his way to create drama between the two.

Trinity takes control early, getting a two-count off a legdrop and forcing her opponent to bail to the floor to regroup with Vidal and Evans. Shaw takes Trinity to the canvas with a waistlock and rubs her face into the canvas. Trinity dodges a European uppercut and connects with a corner splash and monkey flip. Trinity follows with a rana and once again Shaw finds herself on the floor for another breather. Trinity tries a baseball slide gut Evans pulls Shaw out of the way. Trinity leapfrogs over Evans and launches into Shaw with a Thesz Press. Vidal distracts the ref, Evans yanks Trinity off the apron, sending her crashing face-first on the floor. Trinity catches Shaw with a series of strikes, Shaw goozles her and slaps her in the face, turning it into a suplex and covering for the 1…2…Trinity kicks out. That rocked. Shaw with a corkscrew uppercut for the 1…2…Trinity kicks out once more and Shaw slows it down with a rear chinlock.

Trinity escapes with a jawbreaker, Shaw works her over with elbows in the corner followed by a stomp for the 1…2…Trinity kicks out, Shawn goes into the full mount and rains down forearms. Shaw mocks Trinity’s dance moves, Trinity catches a kick and snaps off a Rack Attack. Trinity lays into Shaw with rapid forearms followed by a dropkick. Trinity grabs the wrists and pulls Shaw into a series of knees followed by a headscissor driver for the 1…2…Shaw kicks out. Trinity with a split-legged moonsault for the 1…2…Shaw kicks out again! Ref tries to break them up in the corner, Shaw gets in a cheapshot and she connects with a spinning kick to the back of the head followed by a draping DDT for the 1…2…Trinity kicks out! Trinity dodges a knee strike Matrix-style and connects with an enzuigiri. Trinity knocks Evans off the apron with a kick, Shaw tries a roll up but Trinity kicks out. Trinity drives Shaw to the canvas with a sort of Code Red, then Trinity locks in Starstruck which forces Shaw to submit!

Trinity defeated Gisele Shaw via submission (10:27)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: Big win for Trinity in her first Impact Plus special appearance. Still strange to see her on Impact after so many years in WWE but the Knockouts division has a lot of depth and I think she’s going to have some good matches here. Purrazzo/Trinity is going to slap when that finally happens. Shaw had been gone for a few months but she appeared to not have a lot of ring rust and she held up her end of the bargain as well, making Trinity look good. Digging this show so far. (**3/4)

[BACK TO LINEUP]

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–Gia Miller is standing by with Subculture (Mark Andrews, Flash Morgan Webster, & Dani Luna). They have been traveling the world for seven years winning titles and making waves. Interview gets interrupted by Brian Myers & The Good Hands (Jason Hotch & John Skyler). They talk a little trash, Luna tells them when Subculture wins tonight they’ll give their first title defense to The Good Hands.

–

The ABC (“Inevitable” Ace Austin & “The Ultimate Finesser” Chris Bey) [c] vs. Subculture (Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster) [w/ Dani Luna] for the IMPACT WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

This is Subculture’s first time in Impact as a team, but Andrews previously spent some time with the company from 2014-2017, winning British Boot Camp Season 2. Andrews & Webster are also former NXT UK Tag Team Champions, so here’s your reminder that NXT UK did in fact exist and we all didn’t just make it up like 205 Live.

Austin and Andrews trade moves back and forth while Hannifan & Rehwoldt gush over many of Andrews’ accomplishments in and out of the ring. Apparently he hosts a BBC show about pro wrestling, I need to check that out. Austin trips Andrews and connects with a kick, Bey tags in and connects with Air Sabu off Austin with a European uppercut. Andrews blocks an Irish whip, Webster tags in and Subculture connect with a double hip toss followed by back to back moonsaults and an inverted splash by Webster for a two-count. Andrews tags in and connects with a dropkick, Bey rolls to the floor and Webster connects with a slingshot splash. Back in the ring Andrews suplexes Bey and bridges for the 1…2…kickout. Austin tags in, ABC connect with a legdrop/moonsault combo (Motor City Machine Guns-style) for a two-count. Austin suplexes Webster, Webster kicks out of a lateral press at 1 and Austin slows it down with an armbar. 

Crowd chants for ABC, leading Bey to strut around the apron, and Austin switches it up from a chinlock to a front chancery. Webster stuns Austin with a jawbreaker, Bey tags in and comes off Webster’s back to knock Andrews off the apron to prevent a tag. Bey knocks Webster out of the ring, TOPE CON HILO! Back in the ring Austin slams Webster’s face into the canvas for the 1…2…Webster kicks out. Webster escapes the ABC corner and makes the diving tag to Andrews, who connects with a double Pele kick after sliding under a double clothesline attempt. Andrews gets seated on the top buckle, Andrews comes off with a DOUBLE tornado DDT, grabbing Bey on his way down. Andrews flattens Bey with a moonsault on the floor and rolls Austin back in, connecting with a Code Red for the 1…2…Austin kicks out. Andrews flips out of a belly-to-back suplex, Webster tags in and Subculture hit an assisted Falcon Arrow for the 1…2…Austin kicks out. Andrews tags in, Austin kicks Webster to the floor and dodges Andrews in the corner, hitting a springboard dropkick halfway across the ring! Nice. 

Bey and Webster tag in, ABC hit a kick/inverted TKO combo for the 1…2…Andrews breaks it up. Andrews catches a kick, Bey sends him to the floor, Webster sends Austin and Bey to the floor and connects with a senton from the ringpost with CRAZY HEIGHT. Back in the ring Subculture hit BLITZKNEE BOP for the 1…2…Austin makes the save. Austin backdrops Webster to the floor, Webster pulls him off the apron, Bey rolls Andrews up for the 1…2…not yet. Andrews connects with a Stundog Millionaire, Webster tags in and connects with a top-rope senton to the back for the 1…2…BEY KICKS OUT. Austin saves Bey from a double suplex, Webster drops him with a headbutt, DOUBLE HEADBUTT to Bey, Webster accidentally knees Andrews, BEY CONNECTS WITH A DOUBLE POISON RANA! Austin tags in, launches Bey into the Art of Finesse and follows up with The Fold on Andrews for the 1…2…3!

The ABC [c] defeated Subculture via pinfall to retain the IMPACT WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (13:14)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: Ace Austin & Chris Bey are so damn good at singles wrestlers that I never thought for a second about how they’d be as a tag team. Turns out they’re f*cking amazing at that too, and this was just additional proof of this. A fire match from start to finish, Subculture really made a statement tonight even in defeat especially Andrews who is SO MUCH BETTER than I remember him being back in the Mandrew days. F*ck yeah. ABC deserve to be at the top of this Tag Team division, I don’t know how The Good Hands are but I hope they’re worthy of being the next challengers. (****)

[BACK TO LINEUP]

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Trey Miguel [c] vs. Chris Sabin for the IMPACT X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

Sabin is looking for his ninth X-Division Championship reign here, hoping to put an end to Miguel’s reign of terror which has included attempting to hijack the show, spray painting the belt with his logo, and ripping off the mask of Laredo Kid to get a tainted victory (probably some other stuff too). I got my parents to splurge on an NWA TNA weekly PPV back in 2003 and Sabin was challenging for the title all the way back then too, I appreciate that we both can’t seem to quit pro wrestling. 

Miguel immediately takes a powder and stalls for the first minute or so, forcing his opponent to wrestle on the champ’s time. Miguel brings Sabin to the canvas with a wristlock, Sabin rolls through and tries to escape with a monkey flip but Miguel hangs on. Sabin finally escapes and counters into an armdrag, Miguel once again bailing to the floor to get back in the zone. Miguel bails to the floor for a third time after a leapfrog, but this time Sabin catches him with a kick from the apron. Sabin puts Miguel in a tree of woe and connects with a hesitation dropkick but it only gets a one-count. Miguel trips Sabin up and connects with an enzuigiri on the apron, following up with a belly-to-back suplex onto, you guessed it, THE HARDEST PART OF THE RING. Back in the ring Miguel connects with a slingshot senton followed by a kneedrop and an arrogant cover for the 1…2…obviously not over yet.

Miguel goes to work on Sabin’s back with a series of forearms, Sabin fights back but Miguel ducks a clothesline and hits a backbreaker into an inside out suplex into a guillotine choke. Sabin forces a rope break, Miguel continues trying to wear his opponent down with a rear chinlock. Sabin surprises Miguel in the corner with a sunset flip for the 1…2…Miguel kicks out. Sabin dodges Miguel again and rushes in with a DDT but it stuns himself as much as his opponent and he can’t capitalize. Sabin comes off the top with a missile dropkick followed by a Yakuza Kick in the corner for the 1…2…Miguel kicks out. Miguel fights out of a Cradle Shock attempt, Sabin rocks him with a series of elbows, Sabin rolls through a sunset flip but Miguel catches the PK, Sabin traps the arms and connects with a straitjacket German suplex. Sabin tries Cradle Shock again, Miguel counters with a roll into a double stomp and both men are down and nearly out.

Miguel is first up, connecting with a series of kicks into a double stomp to the spine. Sabin follows Miguel into a corner with a clothesline, Miguel follows Sabin into the other corner with a dropkick followed by a BRAAAAAAINBUSTA for the 1…2…Sabin kicks out. Miguel comes off the top but rolls through when Sabin moves, Sabin dropkicks him in the knee to weaken his Meteora finisher. Sabin stomps Miguel’s knees into the canvas, Sabin kicks off a spinning toehold and rolls him up for the 1…2…Sabin kicks out. Sabin goes back to the knees and locks in the Sharpshooter, popping the Canadian crowd, but Miguel gets to the ropes instead of tapping out. Sabin attempts a superplex, Miguel stuns him with a bell clap, Sabin blocks a sunset bomb attempt, Miguel tucks Sabin’s head into the buckles and hits a Feint Kick then comes off the top with a Meteora for the 1…2…SABIN KICKS OUT!

Sabin rolls to the floor, Miguel slides into a tornado DDT, Miguel tosses Sabin back in the ring but misses the second Meteora! Fortunately for him Sabin is too out of it to make the immediate cover. Sabin tries a Dragon Screw, Miguel counters with an enzuigiri. Miguel and Sabin trade open-hand slaps to the chest, Sabin kicks the knee, Miguel matrixes back to his feet with a kick. Sabin escapes the Lightning Spiral and connects with a Canadian Destroyer! Sabin removes connects with the CLOTHESLINE FROM HELL (MICHIGAN) and goes for the Cradle Shock but Miguel blinds him with a deep eye rake. Miguel sends Sabin into the ref, Sabin hits Miguel with the Cradle Shock but the ref is out so the win is merely visual. Miguel sprays Sabin in the eyes and rolls him up for the 1…2…3!

Trey Miguel [c] defeated Chris Sabin via pinfall to retain the IMPACT X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (18:32)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: An excellent match right until the final couple minutes. Miguel is a heel so the finish made sense and all that but all the action leading up to it was so good that it was a bit of a bummer to end it like that. Again though probably the point. I’m still reeling from realizing my first Chris Sabin match happened when I was a sophomore in high school and here he is 20 years later having barely lost a step, if at all. A goddamn machine. (***1/2)

[BACK TO LINEUP]

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#1 CONTENDER’S MATCH
Jonathan Gresham vs. Alex Shelley vs. Moose vs. Eddie Edwards [w/ Alisha Edwards] vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Yuya Uemura

The winner of this match challenges the Impact World Champion on June 9th at Against All Odds in Columbus, Ohio. A lot of bodies for one match, wonder how this is going to go.

Edwards and Kazarian waste no time breaking out in a brawl as the bell rings, quickly spilling to the floor. Moose gets sent to the floor as well, Uemura tries a kick but gets swept so deeply that he lands on the top of his head on the apron. Shelley and Gresham remain in the ring to do a lil’ chain wrestling, Moose rolls in for a double chokeslam attempt but he gets wiped out. More technical wrasslin’ from Shelley and Gresham, Edwards and Uemura run in and get Dragon Screw Legwhips for their trouble. Kazarian stuns Shelley with a pair of rights, Shelley takes him to the canvas with a drop toehold and puts a two-for-one single crab on Kaz and Uemura. Edwards pulls Shelley off, Shelley connects with a shinbreaker but Edwards responds with an enzuigiri. Kazarian redirects a charging Edwards into Moose on the floor, Gresham sends Uemura into Kazarian. Gresham and Kazarian work together to clear Uemura out so they can battle one-on-one. Gresham shows off, Edwards stops his celebration with a kick to the face. Edwards clubs Gresham with a forearm and turns him inside out with a slam. Kazarian escapes a slam and puts Edwards down with a pair of clotheslines and a flying forearm. Moose tries to come in but gets legdropped in the back of the head courtesy of Kaz. Kazarian follows with a springboard legdrop on Edwards and goes for the Chicken Wing but Edwards escapes. Kazarian escapes a backpack stunner and hits an Unprettier for the 1…2…Shelley breaks it up.

Kazarian sits Shelley in the corner and connects with a lung blower, Uemura lays into Kazarian with chops and a THICC shoulderblock. Uemura sits Gresham on the top buckle, Shelley and Kazarian join them on top, Moose pump kicks Edwards and breaks up the almost tower of doom, crowd booing at being denied the spot. That was pretty great ha. Moose powerbombs Uemura, Moose escapes a backslide from Kazarian and drills him with another powerbomb. Gresham brings Moose to the canvas with a rana but Moose HANGS ONTO HIS LEGS and turns it into a powerbomb for the 1…2…NOPE. Uemura throws Edwards with a double underhook overhead belly-to-belly suplex followed by a Bulldog on Moose for the 1…2…Moose kicks out. Uemura climbs the buckles, Moose peels him off into a Sky High for the 1…2…Shelley breaks it up with a kick to the face. Shelley and Kazarian exchange forearms, Kazarian with an O’Connor for the 1…2…Edwards runs in and Kazarian connects with a Northern Lights, pinning both men for the 1…2…Edwards and Shelley both kick out. Gresham moonsaults onto Uemura and hits Kazarian with a tope suicida. Kazarian hits Gresham with a slingshot cutter, Kazarian traps Uemura in a Chicken Wing but it’s broken with a Boston Knee Party. Moose spears Edwards, Uemura drops Moose on his head with a German suplex, Shelley drops Uemura with Shell Shock for the 1…2…3!

Alex Shelley defeated Yuya Uemura, Moose, Jonathan Gresham, Frankie Kazarian, & Eddie Edwards via pinfall to become the #1 contender to the Impact World Championship (11:47)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: Well you can’t say there was a dumb moment at least. Constant action from start to finish helped make the match feel breezy, and I liked some of the spots (Kazarian with the double pin, Moose stopping the tower of doom just to be a dick). Edwards and Kazarian appear to be having their own thing right now so I’m not surprised either won. I like that Shelley got the win but I can’t imagine they’re going to de-belt Maclin (look I’m assuming Maclin retains tonight) so quick and on an Impact Plus special so I’m bummed they’re going with this story again when it’s going to happen against someone who can’t lose the belt. I’d love to be wrong though, Alex Shelley would make an excellent World Champion. (***)

[BACK TO LINEUP]

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–Trey Miguel is stopped in the hall by Gia Miller, who congratulates him on retaining the X-Division Title. Chris Sabin quickly interrupts, held back by security, Miguel laughing at him and saying all he ever does is lose. 

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“The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo [c] vs. “Juggernaut” Jordynne Grace for the IMPACT KNOCKOUTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Grace started 2023 as Knockouts World Champion but dropped the title at Hard to Kill to Mickie James. When James had to relinquish the Knockouts World Title due to injury a new champion was crowned at Rebellion with Grace once again coming up short, this time to Purrazzo who had previously defeated her years ago for her FIRST Knockouts World Championship. Now it’s do or die for Grace: if she loses again tonight she can no longer challenge for the title while Purrazzo is champion and given the track record of The Virtuosa that could mean a VERY long time.

Grace grabs a waistlock, Purrazzo counters into a waistlock, Grace trips her up and rains down forearms. Purrazzo catches Grace with an elbow but gets sent to the apron; Purrazzo dodges Grace and connects with a kick and a neckbreaker over the middle rope. Purrazzo follows up with a PK and a senton off the apron. Back in the ring Grace blocks a tilt-a-whirl headscissors and drops Purrazzo across the top rope Stun Gun-style for the 1…2…Purrazzo kicks out. Grace sends Purrazzo stumbling into the corner with a forearm and follows up with clotheslines. Both ladies float over one another, Grace connects with a German suplex, bridging for the 1…2…Purrazzo kicks out. Purrazzo fights out of  Muscle Buster attempt, Grace clotheslines the both of them out to the floor. 

Purrazzo chops Grace, Grace responds with a series of forearms, Purrazzo hits a knee strike but Grace blocks the Russian legsweep. Grace whips Purrazzo into the ropes, Purrazzo this time connects with the Side Russian legsweep into the Fujiwara Armbar but Grace escapes and Purrazzo hits a slam for the 1…2…Grace kicks out. Purrazzo “trips” on the middle buckle, Grace peels her off into a spinning powerbomb for the 1…2…Purrazzo kicks out! Purrazzo elbows out of the Grace Driver, Grace goes for a Tombstone but Purrazzo reverses and hits a package Tombstone of her own for the 1…2…Grace kicks out! Grace backdrops Purrazzo and connects with a backfist followed by a powerbomb into a Juggernaut Jackhammer for the 1…2…PURRAZZO KICKS OUT!

Grace picks Purrazzo up on her shoulders and tries to climb the buckles, Purrazzo slips out and tries a powerbomb but Grace blocks it so she traps the head in between the buckles and connects with a kick. Purrazzo follows with a powerbomb and QUEEN’S GAMBIT for the 1…2…GRACE KICKS OUT AND PURRAZZO CAN’T BELIEVE IT. Neither can Rehwoldt, who is still pro-Purrazzo all these years later. I respect the dedication. Purrazzo with a Fujiwara Armbar, Grace reverses into a pin attempt but Purrazzo quickly kicks out, Grace with a backdrop piledriver for the 1…2…PURRAZZO KICKS OUT. Grace and Purrazzo knock one another down with a stiff slap, crowd split on who they want to see win. Grace and Purrazzo trade shots as they get to their feet, Grace slams Purrazzo but she gets back up with forearms. Grace with a kick, Purrazzo attempts a superplex but Grace blocks and tries a Grace Driver but Purrazzo slips out. Purrazzo clubs Grace more and hits a SUPER QUEEN’S GAMBIT from the middle buckle for the 1…2…3!

Deonna Purrazzo [c] defeated Jordynne Grace via pinfall to retain the IMPACT KNOCKOUTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (13:21)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: With this win Purrazzo is now 4-0 against Grace, and Grace can no longer challenge for the Knockouts Title while Purrazzo is champion. Hard-fought match, Grace with a couple of do or die moves that I really liked but Purrazzo has had her number before and had it once again. However you can tell it’s getting more and more difficult for The Virtuosa to beat her longtime rival; Grace ALMOST has it together but couldn’t get it done this time. Good match! Impact is lucky to have Purrazzo. (***1/4)

An upset Grace rolls out of the ring instead of shaking Purrazzo’s hand. Like she said earlier: if she’s not at the top then who is she? Rehwoldt mentions on commentary that she’s going to take some time and they wish her the best. Is Grace gone from the company?

[BACK TO LINEUP]

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NO-DISQUALIFICATION MATCH
Steve Maclin [c] vs. “The French-Canadian Frankenstein” PCO for the IMPACT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Maclin became Impact World Champion the previous month at Rebellion, beating Kushida to win the vacant championship. After the match he forced Scott D’Amore to hand him the belt; D’Amore did so angrily so Maclin attacked him from behind. D’Amore decided to get revenge by making Maclin’s first title defense against the monster PCO. Maclin prepared by beating Rhino so badly he needed medical attention, D’Amore deciding to make their World Title match a No-DQ match. Maclin tells D’Amore that when he retains his title he will strap it around his waist. 

Bell rings and within seconds PCO sends himself and Maclin out to the floor with a clothesline. PCO quickly follows up with a senton THROUGH the ropes, damn near landing on his own head. Can’t believe this is the same motherf*cker that was in The Quebecers THIRTY YEARS AGO. Maclin shoves PCO into the guardrail and suplexes PCO ONTO THE STAIRS. THE POINTY BITS, ALL UP IN THE SPINAL COLUMN. Maclin goes hunting for plunder, producing a cookie sheet and a trash can, the latter he immediately dents on PCO’s skull. Back in the ring Maclin hits PCO with a cookie sheet, PCO goozles him but Maclin escapes and hits him multiple times with the same cookie sheet before throwing him out to the floor, his body bouncing off the thin protective mats. PCO catches Maclin mid-tope suicida with a cookie sheet to the skull and pulls out a series of chairs from under the ring. Maclin is BUSTED THE F*CK OPEN to the point the blood is pouring from his head. Jesus. PCO makes it worse with trash can shots and fists to the open wound. PCO pulls out a staple gun, Maclin stops him with a low-blow and a chair to the spine. OH MY GOD YOU CAN SEE THE OPEN WOUND ON MACLIN’S SKULL, WAS THAT HARDWAY? Either way goddamn, man. Goddamn.

Maclin wedges a trash can in the buckles and puts PCO in the tree of woe, but the force of PCO knocks the trash can away so nevermind now we’re hitting people with chairs. Maclin off the buckles with the chair for the 1…2…PCO kicks out. Another trash can and PCO is back in the tree of woe, Maclin charges in and catches PCO in the crosshairs for the 1…2…PCO kicks out again. Maclin grabs the staple gun and STAPLES PCO’S MOUTH AND CHEST WHAT THE F*CK. PCO stumbles around, his mouth stapled shut, dodging a charging Maclin. He grabs a pair of pliers and RIPS THE STAPLES OUT OF HIS FACE ARE YOU KIDDING ME WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. 

Maclin levels PCO with a sledgehammer to the skull and brings in TWO SLABS OF CONCRETE. Maclin places the two slabs of concrete on PCO’s back and BREAKS THEM WITH THE SLEDGEHAMMER, covering for the 1…2…PCO KICKS OUT AND SITS RIGHT UP! PCO connects with a DDT and a lung blower. PCO comes off the middle buckle with a legdrop to the back of the head for the 1…2…Maclin kicks out! PCO lays Maclin over the apron and connects with the De-Animator! PCO climbs the buckles, Maclin stuns him with a chair to the head then throws him onto the apron, PCO bouncing to the floor. Maclin produces FIVE cinder blocks from under the ring, PCO connects with a reverse DDT and stacks the cinder blocks in the corner. Aw it’s like a little bed. PCO is not satisfied and adds three more cinder blocks to make the platform bigger, laying Maclin on top. PCO heads to the top, Maclin THROWS HIM ON THE CINDER BLOCKS THEN HITS THE KIA ON SAID BLOCKS FOR THE 1…2…3.

Steve Maclin [c] defeated PCO via pinfall to retain the IMPACT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (15:34)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: Maclin vs. PCO on paper sounded like a dull first World Title defense for the new champion. Yeah sure I was expecting some crazy PCO bumps maybe and goofy Frankenstein stuff but overall my expectations were real low. Let me be the first to say that I am a total f*cking idiot because this was NUTS. Pure INSANITY. Just psycho spot after psycho spot, PCO pulling out staples with pliers, Maclin bleeding enough for an entire 80’s Jim Crockett show by himself, the ending with the cinder blocks. That was f*cking brutal in the best way. I’m going to need a minute after that one. (****1/4)

Maclin, somehow still conscious despite losing ALL OF THE BLOOD, calls out Impact President Scott D’Amore to put the World Title around his waist like he promised. D’Amore makes his way out, throwing his various valuables to someone nearby expecting to get into a fight. Maclin turns around, D’Amore surprisingly puts the title around his waist as promised then offers a handshake. 

Maclin walks away instead, telling D’Amore HE’S his boss and distracting him for Bully Ray to attack D’Amore from behind. Ray chokes D’Amore out and tells Maclin to “GET THE TABLES”. Maclin and Ray set the table up, Ray pulls out lighter fluid from his bag prompting Matthew Rehwoldt to leave the commentary table and confront them. Ray sprays Rehwoldt with lighter fluid and knocks him over, PCO wakes back up and drops Ray with a right. Maclin attacks PCO from behind and uses another cinder block. Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin try to save D’Amore but get cleared out of the ring by Maclin & Ray. Ray SETS THE TABLE ON FIRE AND POWERBOMBS D’AMORE THROUGH IT. Ray tells an unconscious D’Amore he’s never getting rid of him and he’s going to take this whole FRIGGIN’ company down. Ray grabs Maclin’s wrist, Maclin tells him to do it, and Ray raises his arm in victory to close the show.

• JON’S THOUGHTS: Do I want Bully Ray back? Do I want D’Amore to continue being part of storylines? Absolutely not. But isolated this was a cool moment, always fun to see a flaming table in a pro wrestling ring. Thought it ruled as a teenager, still rules now. An emphatic way to end the show, setting a new status quo for Impact Wrestling with Maclin and Ray about to run roughshod over the company (alongside Shera and Singh too, probably). I’ll give it a shot, I guess.

*****

RESULTS & RATINGS

• Nick Aldis defeated Kenny King via submission (8:56) (**3/4)
• Sami Callihan, Rich Swann, & Jake Crist defeated The Design via pinfall (10:11) (**1/2)
• Trinity defeated Gisele Shaw via submission (10:27) (**3/4)
• The ABC [c] defeated Subculture via pinfall to retain the IMPACT WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (13:14) (****)
• Trey Miguel [c] defeated Chris Sabin via pinfall to retain the IMPACT X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (18:32) (***1/2)
• #1 CONTENDER’S MATCH: Alex Shelley defeated Yuya Uemura, Moose, Jonathan Gresham, Frankie Kazarian, & Eddie Edwards via pinfall to become the #1 contender to the Impact World Championship (11:47) (***)
• Deonna Purrazzo [c] defeated Jordynne Grace via pinfall to retain the IMPACT KNOCKOUTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (13:21) (***1/4)
• NO-DISQUALIFICATION MATCH: Steve Maclin [c] defeated PCO via pinfall to retain the IMPACT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (15:34) (****1/4)

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FINAL THOUGHTS

The first three matches of Under Siege 2023 weren’t much to write home about but starting from the Tag Team Championship match this became one hell of a show. All the championship matches delivered, Alex Shelley getting some shine rocked, and holy SH*T that main event. Absolutely brutal. Mileage will vary on the post-match stuff, taken on its own it was a cool segment that ended with an awesome visual of D’Amore getting put through a flaming table. But man I just got a bad feeling the actual promos and storyline stuff are going to be…less interesting than that. Willing to give it a chance though because hey why not. Overall a good show that will probably get lost in the shuffle of a very busy weekend for the bigger wrestling companies.

• FAVORITE MATCH: Maclin vs. PCO
• FAVORITE MOMENT: Moose prevents the tower of doom, he’s also sick of it

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