‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Aug 11th 2020)

Welcome to this week’s Impact Wrestling review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have more from Eddie Edwards and his open challenge for the Impact World Title. There’s more with all of the current story-lines and even a talking dog. Do you wanna buy some hash? …Too bad! Let’s go phuckin craaaaaaaazaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!

Match #1: Eric Young def. Willie Mack

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

IMPACT! opens with a wild brawl between Willie Mack and Eric Young in the backstage area. These two are scheduled for a singles match tonight but Willie doesn’t want to wait. After all, EY delivered a brutal attack on Rich Swann during his retirement last week. Security tries to break it up but to no avail. They brawl to the ringside area and the match is on! Willie hits a slingshot crossbody over the top rope to the floor. Both men are perched on the top when EY bites the head of Mack, sending him crashing to the mat. EY follows up with a big elbow drop. Willie slams EY, then follows up with the standing Moonsault for two. EY rakes the eyes of Willie but gets caught with a Stunner out of nowhere. Willie grabs a steel chair to exact his revenge but that gives EY time to recover. EY connects with the Piledriver to win.

My Opinion: 3.5 out of 5 – This was a mean brawl that kinda knocked the spit out of me. Mack tore Young apart for a good while, like Marlon Brando did with the world’s smallest man. Young winning isn’t right, because he’s not a big star like Mack, but what does Japan know? Young isn’t so terrible a person to lose to, but Mack is ready for a major World Title bout by now, so why waste him in a feud with Young, when they could have done this with a bigger prospect like Ace Austin or Sami Callihan? Young needs to be rehabbed with a nice feud against a man like Rob Van Dam, who can afford to lose to Young, whereas Mack should in the title picture. Well, at least the match had enough action to be worth the booking in the first place. All in all, this was a heavy-hitting slug-fest that helped sell a solid feud.

Match #2: Jordynne Grace def. Kimber Lee

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

Last week, Kimber Lee struck a deal with Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace. If she takes out Jordynne in this match, she will be next in line for a title shot. But if she doesn’t, Jordynne gets her rematch against Deonna next week at Emergence Night One. Jordynne hits a strong Irish whip into the corner. Jordynne charges into the turnbuckle but Lee uses the referee as a shield. Jordynne hits a Spinebuster for two. Lee connects with a step-up Enzuigiri, followed by a German suplex for a near fall of her own. Lee attempts a top rope Swanton but Jordynne gets her knees up and locks in a choke to win.

My Opinion: 3.5 out of 5 – This was slow but smart, with the right moves always happening at the right time. Grace and Lee had a rough sort of rhythm to what they were doing, which made this feel more like a fight. Lee is starting to feel more like herself again, getting cockier and more aggressive on her offense, but never too obnoxious to handle. Grace is just too damn good at this point. I’d really like to have more from this pairing, because it was something with a mean streak and the women’s matches are always in need of more of that trait (No cat fights damn it!). That makes two fine matches on the same card.

Match #3: Kiera Hogan & Tasha Steelz def. Havok & Nevaeh – No Disqualification Match

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

Instead of making their way to the ring, Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz hide on the other side of the stage. As Havok and Nevaeh are making their entrance, they get jumped by Kiera and Tasha on the ramp! Havok is about to hit Tasha with a running boot in the corner when Kiera stops her from the floor. Tasha hits Havok in the back with a steel chair but it has no effect on the Kaiju Queen. Kiera sidesteps Havok, sending her into the steel ringsteps. Nevaeh connects with a strong clothesline on Tasha. As she looks to follow up, she gets hit with a lead pipe from Kiera. Tasha connects with a neckbreaker on Nevaeh for two. Havok kicks Kiera into a release German suplex from Nevaeh. All four women exchange strikes in the middle of the ring. Kiera and Tasha superkick Havok through a table on the floor. In the ring, Kiera hits Nevaeh with the swinging neckbreaker to win.

My Opinion: 3.3 out of 5 – This was a standard sort of brawl with plunder and punches and anything else like that. Nobody had their eye popped out, so Rey Mysterio feels bad about being the only one with his eye gone! Hogan and Steelz, who sound like an ‘80s cartoon for latchkey kids, were a surprise winner to me, simply because this didn’t feel like a blow-off match. I think this still continues, because that’s just the way bookers work these days. Well, at least Havok looked like a monster here. For a good time call these four women…to kick your ass.

Match #4: Suicide vs Dez w/ Wentz (No Contest)

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

In the opening minutes, The Good Brothers make their way to the ring and attack both Dez and Suicide, bringing the match to a halt.

My Opinion: 1.3 out of 5 – This was about a minute with a wonky finish. Is Vince booking this now?

Match #5: (Main Event) Eddie Edwards def. Brian Myers – IMPACT World Championship Match

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

Eddie Edwards is in the ring and immediately calls out Eric Young for his heinous attacks on Rich Swann. Eddie says that if EY wanted his attention, he’s got it. Eddie challenges EY to answer his Open Challenge for the World Title but instead, Brian Myers makes his debut! Myers says that he’s the most professional wrestler and he’s accepting Eddie’s open challenge right now! Eddie takes control in the early going with a clothesline over the top rope. Myers sends Eddie face first into the steel ring post. Eddie fights back with a big dive to the floor but ends up hurting himself when he overshoots the protective mats, causing his knee to collide with the concrete. Eddie counters a vertical suplex into one of his own, sending Myers into the turnbuckles. Myers connects with a big DDT for two. Eddie hits a superkick, followed by the Tiger Driver for a near fall. Myers ducks a Boston Knee Party but gets caught on the second attempt. Eddie scores the pin to retain the World Title.

My Opinion: 3.5 out of 5 – This turned out well enough, with both guys going full gut-check from bell to bell. Brian did well here, not quite looking like a star, but not looking like a jobber either. Eddie was more focused here than in recent weeks, with shades of Eddie’s full skill-set on display. This felt more competitive than in recent weeks, with a greater sense of urgency than you might expect. Brian and Eddie matched-up well here and have some chemistry, so perhaps there’s enough meat left on the bone for another helping? Overall, this was a sound, strong main event that may not draw any money any time soon, but won’t makes the asses in the seats get-up out of them either.

News Of The Night:

1. Eric Young is still hunting for Eddie Edwards’s World Title.
2. Wrestle House had more crap matches and an angle where Rosemary hypnotized Larry D, along with Kylie Rae being booked to fight Taya Valkyrie, next week.
3. Rob Van Dam and Katie Forbes took over Locker Room Talk and beat the snoogies out of Sami Callihan…because he’s a phuckin witch!
4. The Good Brothers attacked Suicide and Dez to call out Ace Austin and Madman Fulton.
5. Reno Scum took back Hernandez’s money from Rhino, who had won it fair and square.
6. Here are the matches for Emergence, nights one and two:
   Night One:
   Moose vs. Trey Miguel (disguised as Suicide) – TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match
   Chris Bey vs. TJP vs. Rohit Raju – Triple Threat Match For The X-Division Championship
   The Good Brothers vs. Ace Austin & Madman Fulton
   Motor City Machine Guns vs. The North – Impact World Tag Team Championship Match
   Eddie Edwards vs. ??? – Impact World Championship Match
   Night Two:
   Deonna Purrazzo vs. Jordynne Grace – 30-Minute Ironman Match For The Knockouts Championship

Final Verdict: 3.4/5

This show felt a bit flat, but the wrestling part worked well.