‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Aug 19th 2021)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have Christian Cage returning to Impact and as it’s champion no less. I’m thrilled he’s back. He left because Vince offered him the farm to come back to WWE, but Christian is back and that’s what matters. I’m excited. Let’s rock!
Match #1: Sami Callihan & Chris Sabin def Moose & Ace Austin w/ Madman Fulton
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
These four combatants will compete in a four-way #1 Contenders match this Friday at Emergence on IMPACT Plus! Sabin pummels Ace with repeated strikes in the corner. Sabin attacks Moose on the apron, but the distraction allows Ace to regain control with a dropkick. Fulton delivers a big boot to Sabin while the referee’s back is turned. Callihan quickens the pace, turning Ace inside out with a clothesline. Sabin spikes Moose with a tornado DDT! Sabin hits a pop-up sit-down powerbomb on Ace. Sabin tags himself into the match, then hits Ace with the Cradle Shock to win!
The Verdict: 6 out of 10
Match #2: Matt Cardona w/ Chelsea Green def Shera w/ Rohit Raju
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Before Matt Cardona seeks revenge on Rohit Raju for costing him his match against IMPACT newcomer John Skyler last week, Cardona goes one-on-one with Shera right here, right now! Shera puts his power on display in the early going, sending Cardona crashing to the mat with a pair of shoulder tackles. Cardona turns the tide with a dive over the top rope to the floor. Rohit distracts Cardona, allowing Shera to deliver a big boot. Cardona creates separation with a missile dropkick, followed by a series of clotheslines. Rohit tries to get involved again but this time, Chelsea pulls him off the apron! In the ring, Cardona connects with Radio Silence to win!
The Verdict: 3 out of 10
Match #3: Melina def Brandi Lauren
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Melina makes her highly-anticipated IMPACT Wrestling in-ring debut as she prepares to challenge Deonna Purrazzo for the Knockouts Title at NWA EmPowerrr! Brandi hits a neckbreaker out of the gates but Melina blocks the follow-up catapult attempt. Melina hits a crossbody off the second rope, then plants her face-first into the mat! Melina locks in the California Dream to score the quick victory via submission!
The Verdict: 4 out of 10
Match #4: Jake Something def Kaleb With a K – No DQ Match
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
After several months of wearing a neck brace, Kaleb With a K is cleared to compete but his first match back is against the powerful Jake Something who has a point to prove! Jake charges into the corner but Kaleb sidesteps, causing Jake to collide with the turnbuckle. Jake launches him across the ring, followed by a thunderous sit-out powerbomb. Jake drives Kaleb through a table to score the dominant win!
The Verdict: 5 out of 10
Match #5: (Main Event) Joe Doering w/ Violent By Design (Eric Young, Rhino & Deaner) def Doc Gallows w/ Karl Anderson
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Before the three-way match for the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles this Friday at Emergence, Doc Gallows collides with Joe Doering to determine the best big man in the business! The fight spills to the outside in the early going as Gallows drives him into the steel ring steps. Doering catches Gallows and tosses him across the ring with a German suplex! Doering hits a delayed vertical suplex. Both men collide head-first in the middle of the ring and the sheer force sends them toppling to the outside! At the top of the ramp, Gallows hits a Sky High sit-out powerbomb through the stage! Dr. Ross attends to both men but neither are willing to quit! They crawl back to the ring where Doering connects with a mid-air clothesline to win!
The Verdict: 7 out of 10
Final Verdict: 5/10
This was really a show that leaned on Christian Cage’s return and the main event. Christian retired the TNA World Title, so that way the Impact World Title can represent the company at large. Most of the matches on this show are either squashes or terrible, with only the opener and the closer as worth seeing. That being said, Melina looked good in her performance. Juice Robinson was attacked by somebody. John Skyler wants to prove he’s not a fluke winner. The big angle for the show was not Brian Myers confronting Christian Cage nor Deonna Purrazzo and Melina being at odds, but Doc Gallows and Joe Doering doing the “stage break” angle very well. The match they were having before the big angle was a real slobber-knocker. I can’t tell you it was a wrestling match, but it was a fight and that does offer something worth seeing. Once we got to the big angle, the match slowed down and they sold it like it was death. After they both crawled back to the ring, they finished it rather quickly and we had a deserved winner. I wish this show was more invested in having a great card, but at least we had some exciting action in the main event. Christian as champion already felt like a huge level above Kenny Omega’s Toecutter routine. I had a good time considering that this was not at the level of quality I’d hoped for. I’ll see you next time.
