By Jon
COMMENTATORS: Josh Matthews & Madison Rayne
The final Impact Wrestling before Bound For Glory features a whole lot of previews, interviews, and a match where Father James Mitchell’s attendance for a wedding is the big prize. I haven’t been huffing glue, stop looking at me like that and also can I borrow some glue?
CHAMPIONS
- IMPACT WORLD CHAMPION: Eric Young
- IMPACT KNOCKOUTS CHAMPION: “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo
- IMPACT X-DIVISION CHAMPION: Rohit Raju
- IMPACT WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
LINEUP
- Heath vs. Alisha Edwards vs. Cousin Jake vs. Rhino vs. Hernandez (*1/2)
- Rosemary vs. Havok (*3/4)
- Eddie Edwards vs. Sami Callihan (**1/2)
- Willie Mack, Trey Miguel, & TJP vs. Rohit Raju, Chris Bey, & Jordynne Grace (*3/4)
- The Good Brothers vs. The North (*1/2)
*****
-PREVIOUSLY ON IMPACT: Rich Swann is cleared for Bound For Glory, saves Scott D’Amore from the wrath of Eric Young. EC3 meets Moose at a mystery bridge, Moose beats the sh*t out of EC3 and gets his TNA World Title back. EC3 watches him leave, bloodied and laughing.
Heath vs. Alisha Edwards vs. Cousin Jake vs. Rhino vs. Hernandez
These five teamed together last win and won a ten-person tag team match, and this week they wrestle each other to see who will enter the Call Your Shot gauntlet at #20. Additional wrinkle added during entrances: whoever gets pin or submits in this match will have to enter at #1.
Alisha backs down from no one, shoving everybody and talking a big game. Hernandez picks her up and sits her on the top buckle, and a brawl breaks out among the rest in and outside of the ring. Alisha jumps on Heath’s back with a sleeperhold, Cousin Jake pushes him into the corner, squashing her in the process. Rhino and Hernandez brawl back into the ring. Alisha tries to sneak a pin on Hernandez but gets thrown off, then hits a splash from the top on Heath, Rhino, and Cousin Jake on the floor, Hernandez watching in amusement. Cousin Jake trips Alisha and pulls her out to the floor, somewhat regretfully, then joins Hernandez in attacking Rhino. Alisha gets involved once more, Hernandez goes for a Border Toss but Cousin Jake saves her, Heath pulls Jake out of the ring. Rhino charges and gores Alisha, Hernandez rolls him up for the 1…2…3.
Hernandez defeated Heath, Alisha Edwards, Cousin Jake, & Rhino (4:44)
- Entertaining for what it was, this is probably the most I’ve liked Alisha so far. Everyone being too afraid to hit her in the same company where they had a female World Champion like ten months ago was a little lame, but old dogs and whatnot. Rhino taking the pinfall puts him at a disadvantage going into Bound For Glory, not only having to enter #1 but having to either win or help Heath win to keep his job in Impact Wrestling and get Heath a job with the company. The Call Your Shot has a storyline this year and I appreciate that. (*1/2)
-Matthews and Rayne run down various Bound For Glory matches as well as the matches scheduled tonight, which all but correspond to said PPV. Impact Wrestling knows how to do a go-home show.
-FEUD RECAP = EC3 vs. Moose
–Moose sits down with Jimmy Jacobs in the weirdly lit interview sauna. Jacobs says Moose must be happy to have his TNA World Title back, Moose says “it’s fine”. Jacobs asks if Moose is okay, Moose FLIPS OUT and says EC3 won’t be happy after Bound For Glory. He leaves in a huff, then a group of goons in EC3 hoodies put a hood over Jacobs’ face and throw him in a Jeep outside.
–John E. Bravo is backstage, LIVID at his wedding party (Johnny Swinger, Cody Deaner, Fallah Bahh, & Crazzy Steve) for not having the venue for the rehearsal. Deaner says he wants to kill him, Swinger responds with “like his father Dino, right?” which I laughed at in a “what the f*ck is wrong with you?” way. Bahh continues to keep his wad of cash a secret, clutching it under his shirt, but given that Hernandez apparently DOES NOT CARE it was stolen and hasn’t told anyone about it maybe he shouldn’t be so paranoid. Kaleb with a K is apparently the photographer for the wedding, Tenille Dashwood there too because she’s getting paid. Taya Valkyrie shows up to say words, Bravo leaves in a huff, and that’s that.
- The Bravo/Rosemary wedding happens next week and then we can move on from all this hopefully.
-VIDEO: “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo talks about how important the Knockouts Title is in women’s wrestling. Purrazzo mentions the pressure of the legacy but rising to the occasion is what she does best. Her opponent, Kylie Rae, however is all smiles and emotion instead of planning, which causes her to make mistakes. She says Rae has become unhinged since Purrazzo broke Susie’s arm at Victory Road and will take delight in beating her on Saturday. She knows Kylie Rae can’t win.
- I think Kylie Rae might win.
Rosemary vs. Havok
If Rosemary wins, Havok will help bring Father James Mitchell out of the undead realm for her wedding; if Havok wins then Rosemary has to leave her alone. Cool cool cool cool.
Rosemary offers a handshake, Havok crushes her hand and bodies her when she tries a shoulderblock. Rosemary dodges a legdrop and tries to get a quick cover but Havok kicks out and goes back on the attack, hitting a backbreaker into a clubbing clothesline for a two-count. Rosemary dodges a corner splash and hits a top rope crossbody for a two-count. Havok connects with a whole lot of forearms, Rosemary catches her with a spear then follows up with another for the 1…2…3.
Rosemary defeated Havok via pinfall (3:27)
- Match was okay, a means to an end. This undead realm stuff is hokey as f*ck but I loves me some Father James Mitchell so I’ll sit through whatever goofy sh*t this turns into for him. (*3/4)
-VIDEO: Highlights of the big 4-way Tag Team feud between the Motor City Machine Guns, The Good Brothers, The North, and Ace Austin/Madman Fulton that comes to a head at Bound For Glory.
-SNEAK PEEK: Talk’n Shop: Full Keg, airing after tonight’s show on AXS TV. It looks like the kind of thing the Good Brothers do, so if you dig it then check it out. I skipped it.
-Jacobs is led into a mysterious room where EC3 emerges heading into the commercial. After the break EC3, who’s eye is bruised from last week’s attack, asks for a question. Jacobs asks where they are (a reasonable question given his whole being kidnapped thing), EC3 says they are in his narrative (an unreasonable answer from a crazy person). EC3 says the narrative has changed as he finally saw the Moose he wanted to see last week. Moose calls himself a wrestling god but he’s a FALSE IDOL, yet he has potential. EC3 says they will fight within his narrative on Saturday (apparently that’s the “undisclosed location”), where he will return what Moose gave him last many times over,. EC3 aims to destroy the past and burn the TNA World Title to ashes but any victory has to be earned the right way. Only way to beat Moose is within the narrative. EC3 says Moose is becoming who he is supposed to be but he has been been warned.
- Their fight is going to be cinematic AF, huh? EC3’s “narrative” talk is lame on paper but his delivery has been good enough to overcome it. I want to see where it goes. Also I hope Jimmy Jacobs gets home okay, didn’t seem like the goons were gonna give him a ride back.
Eddie Edwards vs. Sami Callihan
The longstanding rivalry between the two continue here as Callihan aims to weaken Edwards heading into the latter’s match with Ken Shamrock at Bound For Glory. Action begins right at the bell, Edwards hits a tope suicida on the floor but gets suplexed onto the stage and Callihan takes control. Edwards mounts a comeback, hitting a top rope hurricanrana followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two-count. Callihan goes after Edwards’ eyes repeatedly, they exchange strikes and headbutts, Edwards hits the Tiger Driver for the 1…2…Callihan kicks out. Edwards sets up for the Boston Knee Party, Callihan uses his phone to “glitch” the arena. Ken Shamrock shows up on the apron when the lights go back on, distracting Edwards so Callihan can roll him up for the 1…2…3.
Sami Callihan defeated Eddie Edwards via pinfall (8:35)
- A heated match which I assume had some callbacks to their feud from awhile back. I should go back and watch those matches sometime, if only Impact had a subscription service. (**1/2)
Edwards immediately attacks Callihan, Shamrock hits him with a belly-to-belly suplex and traps him in the Ankle Lock while Callihan cackles and stares him down. Did Callihan implant a chip in Shamrock’s head or something, how does he have so much control over him?
-VIDEO: Highlights of Rohit Raju and the X-Division, leading to the announcement of a Six-Way Scramble for Bound For Glory.
Willie Mack, Trey Miguel, & TJP vs. Rohit Raju, Chris Bey, & Jordynne Grace
The six folks scrambling for the X-Division Title come Saturday. Raju riles up the other team with his trash talk, TJP tags and goes after him but Raju smartly makes the tag to Bey to avoid repercussions. TJP connects with a rana, Mack tags in and connects with a slam into a legdrop for a nearfall. TJP tries a float-over headscissors on Bey but Raju holds his wrists so Bey can counter. WHAT A GIVING GUY. Grace tags in, clubbing forearms to TJP and tags Bey in to continue attack. Raju wants in and eventually his teammates relent, which is a mistake as TJP fights all three off and gets the tag to Miguel. Bey and Grace breaks up a pinfall attempt, everybody fights and gets a chance to spotlight a big move. Raju hits Miguel with a high knee, Bey tags himself in and covers for the 1…2…kickout. Bey hits Miguel with a cutter, Raju tags himself in and covers for the 1…2…Bey pulls his own partner off. Raju decks Bey, Bey hits him with a cutter, Miguel kicks Bey and covers Raju for the 1…2…3.
Willie Mack, Trey Miguel, & TJP defeated Rohit Raju, Chris Bey, & Jordynne Grace via pinfall (5:24)
- A preview for the X-Division match, which will undoubtedly be a fun time come Saturday. Raju has really come into his own as an arrogant champion insincerely providing “opportunities” to those beneath him. I’m hoping Miguel or Grace get the win though. (*3/4)
-VIDEO: Eric Young’s reign of terror since returning to Impact.
–Gia Miller is standing by with Eric Young for a sitdown in the interview sauna. Young says he gave Rich Swann & Scott D’Amore the easy way out but they didn’t take it; he has boundaries and if people cross them they have to suffer the consequences and bodies will continue to pile up. Young now has a purpose and a target and knows what needs to be done on Saturday. Rich Swann runs in and they brawl to the outside, Young getting shoved into the camera which cuts the feed/hits the invisible “go to commercial” button.
- Eric Young, like EC3, is doing the whole “now I’m FREE” gimmick post-WWE but he’s got his own spin on it and it’s pretty damn good. Feels like Young is releasing all his pent-up energy from being shunted to the side for so many years. His feud with Swann is an interesting one and they’ve built to Bound For Glory well, though I gotta admit it feels like the Tag Team Title feud is the true main event of the PPV going by build alone.
The Good Brothers (“Machine Gun” Karl Anderson & “The Big LG” Doc Gallows) vs. The North (“All Ego” Ethan Page & “The Walking Weapon” Josh Alexander)
Good Brothers in control heading into the final commercial break and for a few minutes after until Page hits Anderson with an elbow from the apron to give The North offensive control. North goad Gallows in the ring so they can double-team Anderson behind the ref’s back. Anderson escapes a half-nelson, Page tags in and connects with a backbreaker, stopping to stare at Gallows before hitting the move, for a two-count. Page slaps on a chinlock, taking a second to goofy smile at the camera. Anderson fights back and connects with a spinebuster, Gallows gets the hot tag and it’s uppercuts and boots for everybody. Alexander breaks up a Magic Killer attempt, all four start brawling and the ref gives up doing his job and calls for the bell.
The Good Brothers and The North fought to a no-contest (7:45 shown)
- Perfectly fine with a weak finish. As with most of the other matches it was here more as a preview than a full-on STARS match and it did its job. (*1/2)
Brawl continues, with The Motor City Machine Guns and Ace Austin/Madman Fulton joining in. Good Brothers and MCMG clear the ring, Karl Anderson asks for a handshake from Alex Shelley. Shelley stupidly accepts and eats a cutter then Good Brothers hit Chris Sabin with a Magic Killer to stand tall, The North and Austin/Fulton watching from the floor/stage.
*****
FINAL THOUGHTS: As far as go home shows this was a great episode of Impact Wrestling. The matches mostly served a purpose in building to Saturday’s event, with Rosemary/Havok building to next week’s show instead and that big wedding angle, and I loved all the videos/interviews that caught me up on a lot of the storylines. It did its job getting me excited for the PPV, and I can’t ask for much more.
- MATCH OF THE NIGHT: Eddie Edwards vs. Sami Callihan
- MOMENT OF THE NIGHT: Ethan Page gives the camera a cheeseball smile as he wrenches in a chinlock. Only a Body Guy could get away with that.
