‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Aug 3rd 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw Gisele Shaw defeat Heather Reckless. Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: The Coven (Taylor Wilde & KiLynn King) def. Trinity & Deonna Purrazzo
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Trinity takes King off her feet with a diving back elbow. King turns the tide by driving Trinity face-first into the corner turnbuckle. Trinity creates separation with a double dropkick to both members of The Coven, before pummeling Wilde with a series of fists in the corner. Purrazzo tags herself into the match but Wilde makes her pay. Purrazzo fights off an attack from King, allowing her to make the tag to Trinity. As Trinity heads to the top, Wilde rakes her eyes from the apron. The Coven cut off the ring and begin the wear-down process on Trinity. Trinity spikes Wilde into the mat, then tags in Purrazzo who locks in the Fujiwara Armbar on King. King escapes, then delivers a Gutbuster DDT combo for two. Wilde takes out Purrazzo with the double knees. Trinity hits the Rearview on Wilde but King counters into a German suplex on the second attempt. Purrazzo counters King’s Curse into the Fujiwara Armbar but this time it’s Wilde who breaks the hold. Trinity inadvertently kicks Purrazzo in the head. King capitalizes with the King’s Curse on Purrazzo to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Heath def. Alan Angels
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Alan Angels is out for revenge after receiving a Wake Up Call from Heath just two weeks ago! Heath gains the early advantage with a hip toss, sending Angels retreating to the outside. Angels drives the steel steps into the knees of Heath. Angels delivers a chop block on the floor to gain control. Angels plants him with a DDT for two. Heath avoids a top rope Moonsault, then catches Angels in mid-air with a big powerslam. Heath puts Angels away with the Wake Up Call for three.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Jake Something def. Davey Vega
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Something launches Vega halfway across the ring, then squashes him in the corner with a running splash. Vega attempts a Sunset Flip but Something shrugs it off and delivers a brutal forearm strike. Something sends Vega Into The Void for the dominant victory.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #4: Digital Media Championship – Kenny King def. Joe Hendry & Yuya Uemura
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
It’s every man for himself as Kenny King defends his Digital Media Title against two deserving challengers, Joe Hendry and Yuya Uemura! King immediately shoves Uemura into Hendry, creating separation between the two friends. King hits Hendry with a snap suplex out of the corner. Uemura lifts Hendry over the top rope to the floor, leaving him open for a running dropkick from King. Hendry blindsides King with a neckbreaker, which sees King simultaneously spike Uemura with a DDT. Uemura soars off the top, taking out both King and Hendry with a double crossbody. Uemura continues the attack with a bulldog to King, followed by a back suplex on Hendry. Hendry hits Uemura with a mid-air cutter but Sheldon Jean drags him to the outside. King tries to steal the win but Uemura kicks out at two. King sends Uemura crashing into Hendry, then puts Uemura away with the Royal Flush.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #5: Number 1 Contenders Tag Team Championship Tournament – Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) def. Mike Bailey & Jonathan Gresham
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The Number 1 Contenders Tag Team Championship Tournament kicks off to determine who will challenge SUBCULTURE for the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles at Emergence! Wentz kicks the middle rope to deliver an improvised low blow to Gresham. Miguel launches Wentz into a dropkick, which knocks Bailey off the apron. Miguel hits Bailey with a modified German suplex, followed by a double stomp from Wentz. Wentz goes for a handspring but Bailey catches him with a mid-air dropkick. Bailey makes the tag to Gresham who connects with an assisted rolling cutter to Miguel. Wentz soars with a top rope Swanton to break the pin. Wentz tosses Miguel a can of spray paint. Bailey takes out Wentz on the outside with a Moonsault off the top. Miguel blinds Gresham with the spray paint, then rolls him up with a hold of the tights to steal the victory.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
I might sound like a broken record but this was another solid week for Impact, with a combination of great matches, good storytelling and a push for the Impact 1000 show in September. It’s hard to criticise Impact because they’re doing everything right, it’s just the physical presentation is the “lesser” of the 3 main wrestling promotions and so the product isn’t viewed as highly as WWE/AEW. But the in-ring stuff is waaaaay up there. Hell, even the Jake Something squash match had an actual meaning and purpose, unlike some *other* such matches we’ve seen this past week!
