‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Feb 21st 2019)

Welcome to this week’s Impact Wrestling review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have the return of AJ Styles/no, we don’t. So, let’s just sit back and enjoy the return of AJ Styles/he’s not here.

Match #1: Moose vs. Killer Kross – No. 1 Contender’s Match for Johnny Impact’s World Championship Ends in a No Contest

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

Johnny Impact joins Josh Mathews and Don Callis on commentary to scout his competition. Kross charges at Moose but he uses the referee as a shield! Moose hits a low blow off the distraction but Kross kicks out at two. Moose threatens the referee and this time it’s Kross who hits Moose with the low blow for a near fall! They brawl around the ringside area before Kross gets in Impact’s face at the commentary table. Impact doesn’t back down so Kross pours hot coffee on him! Moose and Kross exchange shots in the middle of the ring when Impact attacks them both, causing the disqualification!

My Take: 3 out of 5 – This was a good fight that was like watching two boulders crash into each over and over until they crumbled into millions of little pieces. I don’t think I have to tell you that this was not one of the great technical wrestling matches, but it worked as an attempt at amateur lumber-jacking. Do people say lumber-jacking? It sounds like a euphemism for masturbation. Maybe they don’t say it. Moose has come a long way as a wrestler, even though he is still not someone I would think could lead a match on his own. Kross is great at moving around the ring, but he always feels more like A-1 rather than Claudio Castagnoli (not that A-1 was a bad wrestler). There is some-thing to the two of these guys fighting each other that makes them a good pairing despite my criticisms and I hope that these guys are given the chance to wrestle each other again before the year ends.

Match #2: The Rascalz (Trey & Dez) def. Desi Hit Squad (Rohit Raju & Raj Singh) w/ Gama Singh

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

Raj rolls up Dez at the opening bell for a close near fall out of the gate! Raj and Rohit wear down Dez on their side of the ring, preventing him from getting the tag to Trey. Trey gets involved in the match and goes on the attack! Trey hits a modified springboard cutter on Rohit but Raj breaks up the pin attempt. The Hit Squad hit Trey with a double-team wheel barrel DDT. Trey hits Rohit with big double knees off the top rope to score the victory!

My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – This was too brief to be a great one, but it was fun and exciting for the little bit we got. The matches that these two teams get involved in are always being screwed out of the amount of time that so many other matches normally get. Who did the Rascalz piss off? Either way, these guys did well here and they could have done more if they were given more time.

Match #3: Eddie Edwards def. Eli Drake

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

Eddie clotheslines Drake over the top rope to the floor. Eddie begs the referee to let him use the kendo stick, allowing Drake to gain control with a shot from behind. Drake hits a big DDT but Eddie avoids the follow-up elbow drop! Drake attempts a springboard Moonsault but Eddie moves out of the way. Eddie hits the backpack stunner for a near fall. Eddie connects with the Blue Thunder Bomb but Drake kicks out at two! Drake goes for the Gravy Train but Eddie counters into a rollup for another near fall! Drake attempts to use Eddie’s kendo stick but Eddie gets him in a pin to win!

My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – Micro-managed booking interrupted a fine match and made into a gimmick, rather than a strong wrestling bout. The idea was that Drake was trying to plead with Eddie to become a technical wrestler again, but the idea kept slowing the momentum of the actual wrestling itself. Subtlety is not always a virtue in wrestling and if you watch this match you’ll see what I mean. Eddie just re-signed with Impact, so they better get on the ball and treat him like a big deal before he asks to be released so he can go to All Elite Wrestling. That’s becoming my favorite bad joke, by the way. Maybe all of those people Donald Trump keeps firing from his presidential cabinet will be going to AEW too. Anyway, this was a good few minutes that could have been great, if these guys had been let of the leash.

Match #4: Alisha vs. Delilah Doom Ends in a No Contest

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

Delilah hits a 619 in the early going. Alisha hits a crossbody but Delilah reverses into a pin attempt. During the match, Tessa Blanchard comes out and attacks Alisha!

My Take: 2 out of 5 – This was a dull match that had the potential to be a good one, but it was just a ruse to get Tessa out there as a spoiler who ruins matches.

Match #5: (Main Event) Tag Team Champions Lucha Bros! (Pentagon Jr & Fenix) def. LAX (Santana & Ortiz) w/ Konnan – Tag Team Championship Match

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

LAX charges up the ramp and attacks Lucha Bros during their entrance to jumpstart the match! Ortiz rolls through the ropes, taking out Pentagon on the outside. Fenix walks across the top rope and kicks Santana in the chin! Pentagon and Santana exchange strikes in the middle of the ring but Ortiz joins the fray to give LAX the advantage! Pentagon hits Santana with the Pentagon Driver but Ortiz breaks up the pin attempt. Santana connects with the rolling cutter on Pentagon, followed by a Codebreaker off the second rope. Lucha Bros hit the foot stomp into Fear Factor Piledriver on Ortiz to win!

My Take: 3 out of 5 – This felt like a match that missed the point of why these two teams are such a good pairing. Turning this into a spirited brawl goes against what has made these matches between the two teams so good, that being the lucha-tinged sprints to the finish line that their matches are. That’s not to say that the wrestling was not good, but it felt a bit out of place amongst the other matches LAX and the Lucha Bros. have worked together. Overall, I’d say that you can expect this to be a decent end to the show, but it could have been more than just good.

News Of The Night:

1. Disco Inferno was hired by Don Callis, presumably as an agent.
2. Johnny Impact offered Brian Cage an Impact World Title shot if he helped him wrestle Killer Kross and Moose out of their business.
3. Reno Scum returns to IMPACT Wrestling, next week!
4. Eli Drake cut a strong promo about Eddie Edwards wasting his time with hardcore wrestling.
5. Rich Swann is being positioned as some-one that may still join oVe.
6. A Gail Kim/Tessa Blanchard feud is being teased.
7. Tessa Blanchard attacked Alisha Edwards and Delilah Doom during their match.
8. Delilah Doom challenged Tessa Blanchard to a match.
9. Ace Austin is on his way to Impact.
10. Rosemary will assemble a team to fight James Mitchell’s team to battle for Allie’s soul in a Dark War Match, with Rosemary belonging to Mitchell if her team loses.
11. Lucha Bros. and LAX are booked in a double heel feud that saw the Lucha Bros. taunt their opponents after the match and LAX rip the masks off of the champions.

Final Verdict: 3/5

This was a good show that needed more wrestling on it, but what was there was pretty good.