‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Oct 20th 2022)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw the Dirty Dango defeat Johnny Swinger Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Bully Ray & Tommy Dreamer def. Bullet Club (Chris Bey & Juice Robinson)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Juice Robinson replaces Ace Austin in this scheduled tag team bout against Bully Ray and Tommy Dreamer. Robinson delivers an aggressive series of kicks to Bully. Moments later, Bully turns the tide and unloads on Robinson in the corner. Bey dropkicks Dreamer, followed by a slam on the apron from Robinson. Dreamer counters a springboard cutter from Bey into a cutter of his own. Bully hits a sidewalk slam on Robinson but Bey breaks the count. Bully lays out Robinson with the Bully Bomb to win!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Taylor Wilde def. Mia Yim
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Taylor Wilde returns to singles competition for the first time over a year against Mia Yim. It’s a stalemate in the early going as both Knockouts match each other’s offense move for move. Yim gains the first true advantage with a dropkick off the second rope. Yim hits a delayed vertical suplex, followed by a running clothesline moments later. Yim locks in a Bow & Arrow submission but Wilde begins to fight back with a series of fists. The pace quickens as Wilde counters Eat Defat into a roll up for two. Yim almost puts Wilde away with her signature running cannonball. Wilde connects with the Wilde Ride to score the victory!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Joe Hendry def. Jason Hotch
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Say his name and he appears – Joe Hendry vows to teach Jason Hotch a lesson in singles action. Hendry motivates the crowd to start singing his theme song as he takes control with a delayed vertical suplex. Hendry puts his power on display, lifting Hotch above his shoulders and slamming him down to the mat. Hotch lets his guard down, allowing Hendry to capitalize with a modified flapjack to win!
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #4: Rich Swann def. Eric Young
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Bitter rivals Eric Young and Rich Swann renew hostilities as they go one-on-one. Young gains the early advantage with a wheel barrel neckbreaker. Swann fights out of a headlock, then hits a pinpoint head kick. Young delivers a thumb to eye but Swann comes right back with a handspring cutter. Swann is headed to the top when Deaner provides a distraction on the apron. Swann isn’t fazed and quickly rolls up Young for three!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #5: IMPACT World Tag Team Championship – Heath & Rhino def. The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Heath and Rhino look to capture the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles and exact their revenge on Honor No More in tonight’s high-stakes main event. The fight spills to the outside in the early going as both teams brawl up the ramp and around the ringside area. Taven targets the surgically-repaired left knee of Rhino to turn the tide in The Kingdom’s favor. Bennett distracts the referee, allowing Kanellis to continue the assault from the floor. Rhino tries to fight his way out of the corner but the pain is too much to overcome. Taven hits a running elbow to the back of Rhino’s neck. Rhino avoids a springboard Moonsault from Taven, allowing him to create separation and make the tag to Heath. The pace quickens as Heath goes on the attack. Heath hits a powerslam on Bennett for two. Heath gets caught with a springboard kick from Taven but it’s not enough. Heath and Bennett take each other out with double clotheslines and everyone is down. Kenny King, PCO and Vincent make their way to ringside. Kanellis attempts to blind Rhino with white powder but inadvertently throws it in Bennett’s face. Heath connects with the Wake Up Call on Bennett. Rhino goes for the Gore but Taven redirects him into Kanellis. Heath hits another Wake Up Call, this time on Taven, to score the victory!
My Score: 3 out of 5
News of the Night:
- Frankie Kazarian relinquished the X-Division Title and exercised Option C to face Josh Alexander for the Impact World Title.
- Honor No More disbanded (well, can’t really continue give The Kingdom have already debuted on AEW).
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
Well this was a shock. This week’s show was actually SAVED by all the promos, when normally I’d say the opposite and that there were too many promos! The wrestling this week felt a bit lacklustre, and almost a bit forced IMHO. No idea why Bully Ray and Tommy Dreamer are back but on the other hand it’s great to see Taylor Wilde back in singles action – so swings and roundabouts! Unfortunately for Impact, the main event was totally spoilt by this show being a pre-tape and The Kingdom already debuting on AEW television; and on top of that I’m not sure about another Heath and Rhino run at this point. For me, the tag team division, at the moment, is almost on its knees – it doesn’t feel like there’s any decent competition. In fact, that could apply to the whole show – it REALLY needs an injection of fresh talent in the women’s AND tag divisions so that we don’t get the same people wrestling week in and week out. Having lost talent recently, Impact needs more variety on their roster. They really do.
