‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Feb 18th 2020)
Welcome to this week’s Impact Wrestling review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and I look like Jordynne Grace, but with marshmallows in my mouth. We’ve got the final build for Sacrifice, so don’t go anywhere…except the bathroom…and to work…and to your kid’s little league game. Yeah, go to those things, but stay here after those are done for Impact Wrestling.
Match #1: TJP w/ Fallah Bahh def. Josh Alexander w/ Ethan Page
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
TJP builds momentum with a quick dropkick. TJP charges into the corner but Alexander counters with a big boot. Alexander connects with a backbreaker for a two count. Alexander is perched on the top with TJP on his shoulders but TJP counters into a Cross Armbreaker. TJP flies over the top with a Corkscrew Plancha. Alexander is enraged as he spins TJP over his shoulders, sending him crashing to the mat. TJP fights out of a Super Fallaway Slam attempt into a Superplex of his own. TJP rolls up Alexander to score the impressive victory.
My Opinion: 3.7 out of 5 – Holy “The Pagemaster”! This was a sweet match. I could kick Dee Wallace’s ass. This was some damn good wrestling from two fantastic athletes. This was not the most dynamic match, but it was competed as tightly and intensely as it could be in…hey, this got time too. I’mma so freakin’ happy! TJP has been on a roll lately, hasn’t he? It took him awhile, but he seems to have found his sweet spot in professional wrestling, that of the perfect athlete with relentless resolve. Win, lose or draw, TJP is now the kind of competitor that wins through perseverance, rather than a big move. TJP, journeyman…that’s not bad at all. Now, Josh kicks ass too. I keep thinking of Rick Steiner and Perry Saturn when I see Josh wrestle, which is a damn good combination of people to be. I don’t think you’ll have a bad time watching this bad boy.
Match #2: Willie Mack def. Johnny Swinger
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Swinger hangs up Willie on the top rope, then delivers a low blow with his head. Willie hits a series of clotheslines, followed by a swinging Powerslam. Willie connects with the standing Moonsault but instead of going for the cover, he charges into the corner. Swinger sidesteps him but gets caught with a Stunner. Willie hits the Six Star Frog Splash to win.
My Opinion: 2 out of 5 – This was s—, but Mack won. I will admit that this made Mack look important beating Swinger, but I’d also argue that winning the X-Division Title would have done the same thing.
Match #3: Madison Rayne def. Mazzerati – Madison Rayne’s Golden Opportunity Open Challenge
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Mazzerati almost catches Madison off guard in the opening seconds with a quick rollup. Madison hits the Ripcord Cutter for a near fall. Madison puts Mazzerati away with the Cross Rayne.
My Opinion: 1.3 out of 5 – This sucked. Do you like scary movies? Do you know where I am? What, you can see my feet?! Oh, f—. Any-way, this was short and terrible.
Match #4: Eddie Edwards def. Michael Elgin – Best of 5 Series Match 3 (Elgin 2, Eddie 1)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Eddie is on fire in the early going as he’s in a must-win situation. If Elgin wins, he will score the clean sweep in the Best of 5 Series. Elgin turns the tide with a Death Valley Driver on the apron. Eddie dives through the ropes but Elgin cuts him off with a forearm shot in mid-air. Elgin sets up for a Powerbomb on the ramp. Eddie reverses into a Hurricanrana, followed by a Boston Knee Party. Back in the ring, Eddie connects with another Boston Knee Party but can’t capitalize with the follow-up pin. Elgin counters a Top Rope Hurricanrana into a Super Sitdown Powerbomb. Eddie rolls up Elgin out of nowhere to score the pin, keeping himself alive in the Best of 5 Series.
My Opinion: 3.7 out of 5 – This was another excellent match between these two that really delivered more reasons to continue this feud. Every-thing was big, loud and wild, which is new for Eddie Edwards (even though he’s been doing it for the past few years). It’s strange to see these guys do some-thing other than technical or strong-style, but this American-style melee becomes them and quite convincingly so. This’ll knock the piss out of you just from lookin’ at it.
Match #5: Rhino def. Dave Crist w/ Jake Crist
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Rhino hits a clothesline and a belly-to-belly suplex. Rhino sets up for the Gore but Jake hooks his leg from ringside. Dave capitalizes off the distraction. Rhino knocks Jake off the apron, then delivers a Gore to Dave for the win.
My Opinion: 2.4 out of 5 – There wasn’t much to this, but the bigger star won and that still means something.
Match #6: (Main Event) Ace Austin & Reno Scum def. Trey, Tessa Blanchard & Tommy Dreamer – Six-Person Tag Team Match
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Tessa, Trey and Tommy connect with in-sync triple elbows in the opening minutes. Ace and Reno Scum wear down Tommy on their side of the ring, preventing him from making the tag. Dreamer finally breaks free and tags in Trey who goes on the attack. Trey takes out Ace with double knees off the top. Tessa counters double team offense from Reno Scum into a tornado DDT on Luster. Tessa hits Ace with her signature Cutter. Trey soars over the top, crashing into everyone on the floor with a corkscrew. Back in the ring, Ace catches Trey with The Fold to win.
My Opinion: 3.1 out of 5 – This was just a heaping helping of meat and potatoes with a bit of pepper, not that there’s any-thing wrong with that. I feel like Seinfeld around gay people. George, Kramer kissed Yul Brenner…not that there’s any-thing wrong with that. Wait, do you think it was Michael Ansara? Would that make any difference of it was Michael Ansara? George, help me figure out if it’s gayer to kiss Yul Brenner or Michael Ansara! As for this match, I’ll tell you that having a dcent match for the main event is fine, but why not book something more remarkable. We’ve got Tessa fighting Ace at Sacrifice in a non-title match. I say this should have been the champion vs. champion bout and an actual World Title Match should happened at Sacrifice. Instead, we got a nice little match that will fade from memory pretty quickly. That all being said, Trey was the star here and was like a house of fire near the end. Over-all, this was good, but not great.
News Of The Night:
- Chris Bey is coming soon to IMPACT Wrestling.
- There’s another mysterious technical glitch as the ICU continues to infiltrate IMPACT Wrestling broadcasts.
- Su Yung is coming to kick Havoc’s ass.
- Daga fights Rob Van Dam, next week.
- Taya Valkyrie has abandoned John E. Bravo.
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
There were a couple of fantastic matches and the show itself moved along at a brisk pace.