‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Jul 6th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw Dirty Dango defeat Crazzy Steve. Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Eddie Edwards def. Frankie Kazarian
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
After being unable to coexist as a tag team, Eddie Edwards and Frankie Kazarian renew their rivalry! Eddie distracts the referee, allowing Alisha to deliver a tornado DDT to Kazarian on the outside. Moments later, Alisha clubs Kazarian in the back and the distraction gives Edwards an opportunity to strike. Kazarian bounces back with a slingshot DDT on the hardest part of the ring. Kazarian almost puts Eddie away with his signature springboard leg drop. Eddie goes for the Blue Thunder Bomb but Kazarian counters into a pinning predicament for two. Eddie connects with a Tiger Driver but it’s not enough to keep Kazarian down. Alisha provides yet another distraction and the referee goes down after incidental contact with the competitors. Kazarian is setting up for the Flux Capacitor when Alisha attacks him with a kendo stick. Eddie hits the Boston Knee Party to win.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Sami Callihan & Rich Swann def. Champagne Singh & Shera
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Sami Callihan and Rich Swann look to tune-up for their IMPACT World Tag Team Title opportunity at Slammiversary! Singh and Shera are in control early as they cut off the ring and wear Swann down. Singh hits him with a modified Facebuster but Swann uses his quickness to break free and make the tag to Callihan. The pace quickens as Callihan gets 2-for-1 on his opponents. Swann hits a handspring cutter on Shera before double superkicks to Singh. Swann connects with an assisted Cactus Driver on Singh to score the victory.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #3: Jonathan Gresham def. Angels
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
We get a preview of Slammiversary’s Ultimate X match as two of its combatants, Angels and Jonathan Gresham, go one-on-one! Gresham dropkicks him off the apron to gain the early advantage. Angels hits an arm drag to create some much-needed separation, then connects with a half & half suplex. Angels almost puts Gresham away with a Northern Lights suplex. Both men exchange a series of pin attempts before Gresham locks in the Octopus to win by submission.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: 2-on-1 Match – PCO def. The Good Hands (John Skyler & Jason Hotch)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
After picking a fight with Scott D’Amore, The Good Hands must now face the wrath of PCO! D’Amore joins Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt on commentary. PCO hits a double clothesline, then dives over the top rope to take out both of his opponents on the floor. PCO continues the assault with a De-Animator to Hotch. Back in the ring, PCO soars with the PCO-Sault on Skyler to win.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #5: Gisele Shaw def. Courtney Rush
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
After being unable to capture the Knockouts World Title on the Down Under Tour, Gisele Shaw looks to bounce back against Courtney Rush! A reverse DDT from Rush puts her in the driver’s seat. Vidal provides a distraction from ringside, allowing Shaw to capitalize and gain control. Shaw hits a running uppercut for two. Shaw grabs Rush by her throat, then delivers a German suplex. Rush counters the knee strike into a modified Samoan drop. It’s total chaos on the floor as Evans sends Jessicka crashing into the steel ring steps. Vidal gets up on the apron but Rush knocks him down. Shaw traps Rush in a pinning predicament with her feet on the ropes to win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #6: Nick Aldis & Lio Rush def. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The Motor City Machine Guns seek revenge on Nick Aldis and Lio Rush in tonight’s blockbuster main event! Shelley chases Rush on the outside but he walks right into a clothesline from Aldis. Back in the ring, Aldis and Rush are in total control as they wear Shelley down and prevent him from making the tag. Rush hits a snap suplex but Shelley counters the follow-up into a submission. Rush quickly backs Shelley into his corner before tagging Aldis into the match. Aldis knocks Sabin off the apron before he and Rush alternate strikes on Shelley. Shelley fights free and sends Rush face-first into the top turnbuckle. Shelley creates some much-needed separation, then makes the tag to Sabin. The pace quickens as Sabin goes on the attack. Sabin takes Rush off his feet with a missile dropkick. The Gun hit Rush with the Magic Killer for two. Rush flies over the top rope, colliding with the Guns on the floor. Rush connects with a modified driver on Sabin, followed by a top rope elbow drop from Aldis but it’s not enough to keep him down. The Guns rebound as they deliver double team offense to Rush but Aldis breaks up the pin attempt. Aldis looks to submit Shelley with the Kingsley Cloverleaf but Sabin breaks it up with a superkick. Rush delivers a low blow to Sabin while the referee’s back is turned. Rush hits Sabin with the Final Hour to win.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
This week’s Impact opened strong and closed even stronger but everything that came in between was underwhelming. We got not one but TWO squash matches. Seriously, why waste time on squash matches in such a short show? Especially at the expense of other matches! And the other two matches on the card were OK. Decent but just OK. I know Impact are building to Slammiversary but they need to do better than this if I’m honest. And what’s with all the cheating to win on this week’s show too?!
