‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Feb 3rd 2022)
Welcome to this weeks review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact that saw Black Taurus defeat Raj Singh. With that out of the way let’s get right into the main show and this review!
Match #1: Digital Media Championship Match – Matt Cardona def. Jordynn Grace
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Jordynne Grace defends her Digital Media Title against the original champion of the world wide web, Matt Cardona! Both competitors shake hands to begin the match. Grace can’t take Cardona off his feet with a shoulder tackle so she changes her game plan and trips him up instead. Grace counters a neckbreaker but Cardona avoids the follow-up Vader Bomb out of the corner. Cardona takes control with a vertical suplex as Grace crashes into the turnbuckles. Cardona shows a lack of composure in his first intergender match but quickly refocuses. Grace sidesteps a missile dropkick, then creates separation with a spinebuster. Grace successfully hits the Vader Bomb for two. Cardona reluctantly hits the Re-Boot for a near fall. In a shocking turn of events, Cardona uses the Digital Media Title as a distraction for the referee, then hits Grace in the head with a steel chair!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: JONAH def. Crazzy Steve w/Decay (Rosemary & Black Taurus)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
After Decay came to the aid of Johnny Swinger last week, JONAH looks to take out his frustrations on Crazzy Steve! The bell rings and Steve uses his quickness to gain the early advantage. Steve bites the forehead of JONAH but is quickly swatted out of mid-air moments later. JONAH remains in control with a running senton. JONAH hits the top rope Tsunami to win!
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #3: Jonathan Gresham def. Steve Maclin (DQ)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Ring of Honor commentator Ian Riccaboni joins Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt for this non-title rematch that will be contested under traditional rules! Unlike a Pure Rules match, there is no Code of Honor to begin the contest, allowing Maclin to charge at Gresham from the opening bell. Gresham takes Maclin off his feet and begins to wear him down with a series of headlocks. Maclin drives him throat-first into the ropes to regain control. Maclin hits a strong back elbow for two. Both men exchange strikes in the middle of the ring. Maclin catches him with a mid-air powerslam for another near fall. Gresham is on the ropes but Maclin unloads on him anyway, causing the disqualification.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Josh Alexander def. Vincent
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Before they collide in a high-stakes showdown at No Surrender, Team IMPACT’s Josh Alexander battles Honor No More’s Vincent to build momentum! Alexander hits a running crossbody to the back of Vincent, sending him crashing to the floor. Maria distracts the referee, allowing Bennett to hook Alexander’s leg. Vincent capitalizes with a dive to the outside. The former owner of ROH, Cary Silkin, is seen watching the match from ringside. Alexander counters a submission into a vertical suplex to create separation. Alexander rolls through and connects with a German suplex for two. Vincent uses the referee as a shield, then hits a side Russian leg sweep on Alexander. Vincent hits Red Rum off the top but Alexander kicks out at two. Alexander locks in the Ankle Lock as the members of Honor No More get up on the apron. Alexander fights them off but almost gets pinned by Vincent as a result. Team IMPACT’s Rich Swann, Chris Sabin and Rhino even the odds as they fight off Honor No More at ringside. Alexander successfully locks in the Ankle Lock to win by submission!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Bhupinder Gujjar def. John Skyler
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Gujjar takes control in the early going with a leg drop to the back of the neck. Skyler hangs up Gujjar on the ropes, then hits a side Russian leg sweep to turn the tide. Gujjar hits a springboard elbow for two. Gujjar hits a spear off the second rope to pick up the big victory!
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #6: Masha Slamovich def. Kaci Lennox
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Slamovich hits a roundhouse kick, followed by a running boot in the corner. Slamovich hits the Russian Death Device to pick up the quick win and remain undefeated!
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #7: Bullet Club (Jay White, Chris Bey, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) def. Mike Bailey, Jake Something, Ace Austin & Madman Fulton
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Mike Bailey and Jake Something look to coexist with Ace Austin and Madman Fulton as they face the Bullet Club who beat them down last week on IMPACT. White hits Bailey with a series of vertical suplexes as Bey and G.O.D. springboard on top of him to inflict more damage. The match begins to break down as Fulton catches Bey in mid-air and drives him into the apron. Fulton takes Bey off his feet with a crossbody off the second rope. Bey avoids a springboard kick from Austin, then hits a flying forearm shot to create separation. Bailey hits a running corkscrew splash for two. White comes back with a thunderous Uranagi for another near fall. Bailey heads to his corner as Austin tags himself in. G.O.D. take out Fulton with the signature move of The Good Brothers, the Magic Killer. Austin gets his knees up on a frog splash attempt from Bey. Austin chooses not to tag in Something but Something chops him in the chest to force the tag. Something is on fire but quickly falls victim to the Bullet Club’s numbers game. White hits Something with the half nelson suplex, followed by the Art of Finesse from Bey to win!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
News of the Night:
- Kenny King debuted as the newest member of Honor No More.
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
This episode of Impact opened on a high. with a well put together match that sold the intergender aspect brilliantly. Jordynne Grace looked like a badass, power-bombing the larger Cardona at one point, really showing how she’s a force to be reckoned with. Commentary selling Cardon’s trepidation in fighting a woman was a great lead into the massive heel turn from Cardona, who went from being “concerned” about hitting a woman to smacking Grace with a steel chair! Having Cardona carry the Digital Media belt makes a LOT of sense. Hopefully, Grace can now get back into the women’s Impact title race. The Gresham/Maclin match was a superb rematch, until the finish. Having this one end on a DQ was weak sauce. Hopefully this isn’t the end of this feud, though I don’t know how Gresham’s run can keep being protected, especially when Maclin needs a strong, decisive win to break that “first-ever pins” storyline Impact is selling. Perhaps he needs to take out the rest of the ROH wrestlers in Impact one-by-one, then get back to Gresham?
Once again Josh Alexander delivered a fantastic match, though I could have done without all the Honor No More interference… I think Alexander may be primed to defend Impact from Honor No More – imagine ONE GUY taking out the entire faction? There’s no denying Alexander is the face of Impact but to have him do that would cement that. THEN put the title belt on him! I get putting Masha Slamovich in such a powerful position but that match was a waste. I have a feeling Slamovich is being put into the same role as Lance Archer in Impact, so eventually she’ll get to the bigger names on the women’s roster but we’re probably in for a wait. As for the main event. Well, that was your usual multi-man mess but what it sets up for Impact going forward is pretty huge so I can forgive it.
