‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Sept 27th 2018)
Welcome to this wek’s Impact Wrestling review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have… well, wrestling.
Match #1: Knockouts Champion Tessa Blanchard vs. AAA Reina de Reinas Champion Faby Apache – Champion vs. Champion Non-Title Match
The following is courtesy of Impact Wrestling:
Faby uses her experience edge to her advantage in the early going. Tessa takes down Faby with a series of clotheslines, followed by a side suplex. Faby locks in a reverse Figure Four leg lock but Tessa gets to the ropes to break it up. Faby plants Tessa face first into the mat for a near fall! Tessa hits a top rope Magnum Codebreaker but Faby kicks out! Tessa connects with the Buzzsaw DDT to score the victory.
My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – This was a good match that felt like it should have been higher in the card and given a lot more time. Tessa is an easy person to have as a champion, because she acts like a great champion. Faby got some much-needed global exposure here by wrestling one of the most interesting fighters around and made the most of her chance to, at least, show potential promoters what she can do. I enjoyed this, but I would have loved to see this match get some real build, rather than just being thrown on as the opener, without warning.
Match #2: X-Division Champion Brian Cage vs. Jake Crist w/ Sami Callihan & Dave Crist
The following is courtesy of Impact Wrestling:
Dave gets up on the apron but Cage knocks him down to the floor. Jake goes for a Hurricanrana but Cage counters into a one-arm deadlift slam. Cage hits a 619, followed by a top rope elbow drop for a very close near fall! Jake connects with a cutter from the second rope but Cage kicks out at one! Cage hits the Drill Claw to pick up the win.
My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – This was like the first match, which was good but muddled by a lack of time to do all that was necessary to make it reach its potential. There is a lot of good wrestling in here, but I never felt like the outcome was in question because Jake has never been presented as a credible name in singles wrestling… at least not in Impact. Cage did look as dominant as ever, but it feels like it’s losing a bit of steam, mostly because there are no challenges to his reign as a one-man wrecking crew. Overall, this was fun, but it needed more suspense to have been established before-hand to make this match any-thing more than an exhibition of what one man can do.
Match #3: Tag Team Champions LAX (Santana & Ortiz) w/ Konnan vs. Desi Hit Squad (Rohit Raju & Gursinder Singh) w/ Gama Singh – Non-Title Match
The following is courtesy of Impact Wrestling:
Gursinder trips up Ortiz from the outside. Santana tries to get involved but it backfires as Gursinder continues the attack off the distraction. Desi Hit Squad connects with double running kicks on Ortiz in the corner. Ortiz goes for the tag but Rohit pulls Santana off the apron! Ortiz eventually gets the tag to Santana who goes on the attack and hits Rohit with a suicide dive. Santana hits Gursinder with a standing Moonsault but Rohit breaks up the pin attempt. Ortiz hits Rohit with the Death Valley Driver into Gursinder in the corner! Santana follows up with a huge flying cannonball! LAX hits the Street Sweeper to pick up the victory.
My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – This was another match that felt like it didn’t get enough time, despite having lots to offer. I heard that they’re trying to sign LAX to new contracts and all I can say in that regard is that they should be paid well for doing so. These teams had some chemistry here and I hope this is a test for if they would like to give these guys a full set matches to have for the titles. Here’s hoping this is the first of many bouts between these two teams.
Match #4: Kiera Hogan & Allie vs. Su Yung & Undead Maid of Honor
The following is courtesy of Impact Wrestling:
The Maid of Honor hits a springboard crossbody. Kiera hits the Maid of Honor with a running dropkick in the corner. Su takes out Allie from the apron with a big kick. Kiera inadvertently distracts the referee, allowing Su and the Maid of Honour to double team Allie. Allie is about to tag in Kiera when the Maid of Honour pulls her off the apron! Allie gets the hot tag to the girl on fire! Kiera takes it to the former Knockouts champ, Su Yung! Su goes for the Mandible Claw with the bloody glove but Allie cuts her off! Kiera connects with a swinging neckbreaker on Su to win!
My Take: This match is like all of the others. See the above criticisms for more information.
Match #5: Main Event – Johnny Impact & Eddie Edwards vs. Moose & Killer Kross w/ World Champion Austin Aries
The following is courtesy of Impact Wrestling:
Both teams go back and forth in the early going, making it an extremely even contest. Impact superkicks Moose off the apron, followed by a running kick to Kross for a near fall. Kross avoids Countdown to Impact and takes out Impact with a clothesline. Edwards connects with a top rope Hurricanrana on Moose but Kross breaks up the pin attempt! Impact jumps into the crowd and launches himself off the bleachers! Impact hits a swinging neckbreaker on Kross onto the floor! Impact hits the Impact Kick on Moose, followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb from Edwards for a near fall! Aries is about to hit Impact with the World Championship but the referee stops him! Impact pries it out of Aries’ hands and hits the champ over the head! Kross takes out Impact with a Doomsday Saito Slam. Edwards hits Kross with his kendo stick behind the ref’s back but gets caught with a Spear from Moose! Moose pins Edwards to score the victory!
My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – I’m saying the same thing, over and over again.
News Of The Night:
- Taya Valkyrie challenged Tessa Blanchard for the Knockout’s Title at Bound For Glory, which was confirmed.
- Joe Hendry will fight The Murder Clown, next week.
- Scarlett Bordeaux announced a global talent search to gain the best clients for her services, which is 24/7.
- The OGz lit Konnan’s old mask on fire.
- Rich Swann challenged Matt Sydal to a fight, next week.
Final Verdict: 2.5 out of 5 – There was good action but no ambition here.
