‘Impact Wrestling: Sacrifice 2022’ PPV Review
Welcome to this review of Impact Wrestling’s Sacrifice pay per view, which took place at Old Forester’s Paristown Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. We’ve got Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt on commentary and – with the pre-show – a whopping ELEVEN matches to get to!
COUNTDOWN TO SACRIFICE
Match #1: Lady Frost def. Gisele Shaw
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Lady Frost looks to even the score with “The Quintessential Diva” Gisele Shaw in the opening contest. Shaw whips her towards the steel steps but Frost counters and hits a Hurricanrana on the outside. Shaw delivers a kick to the midsection to gain control. Shaw connects with a twisting Vader Bomb for two. Frost comes back with the Snowball Fight cannonball in the corner. Shaw spikes Frost with a hanging DDT off the second rope but it’s not enough to keep her down. Frost soars through the air, hitting Frostbite to win the match and hand Shaw her first loss since coming to IMPACT Wrestling!
My Thoughts: What’s not to love about any match featuring Lady Frost. She’s made a hell of an impact (pun intended) since her debut and she outclassed Gisele Shaw here 100%. Frost needs better competition than she’s had so far IMHO. OK, I get she’s new to the roster and she needs to work her way “up” the women’s roster but hell, she looks more impressive than most!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Rich Swann & Willie Mack def. Honor No More (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Maria Kanellis joins Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt on commentary as the war between Honor No More and IMPACT Wrestling continues. Taven takes Swann off his feet with a drop kick from the second rope. Mack quickens the pace as a Hurricanrana on Taven. Bennett turns the tide when he slams Mack back-first into the hardest part of the ring. Swann flies, taking out everyone with a corkscrew from the top rope to the floor. Mack is next to fly as he connects with a flipping senton to the outside. Bennett hooks the leg of Mack from the outside, allowing Taven to capitalize with a DDT for two. Swann launches himself off of Taven’s back and hits a cutter on Bennett. Taven almost puts Swann away following Just the Tip. Swann rolls up Bennett to score the victory!
My Thoughts: Rich Swann & Willie Mack are THE perfect tag team IMHO, which means seeing them in action is always a pleasure, even more so when they get to pick up the win. Matt Taven and Mike Bennett were decent opponents here but were out-wrestled by Swann and Mack. Now let’s get the duo in the title picture.
My Score: 3 out of 5
SACRIFICE PPV
Match #1: X Division Championship – Trey Miguel def. Jake Something
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The X-Division Title is on the line as Trey Miguel defends against Jake Something! Jake puts his power on display in the early going as he hits a huge clothesline. Jake connects with a thunderous powerbomb for a very close near fall. Jake is in total control after spearing Trey in the corner. Trey uses innovate offense to create some much-needed separation. Trey hits a series of pinpoint kicks for two. Jake regains his edge following a vicious backbreaker for another near fall. Trey slides under the bottom rope and spikes Jake into the ramp with a Destroyer. Trey counters a powerbomb attempt into a Meteora but Jake kicks out. Trey hits another Meteora, this time off the top rope, to win the match and retain the X-Division Championship!
My Thoughts: What a match to go out on for Jake Something. This is a guy that put in the work as part of a tag team, transitioned into a singles wrestler and now finishes up his Impact contract, reportedly, in an X Division championship match. And in said match he showed he’s more than worthy of the opportunity. Despite losing, Jake Something went out on a high.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: Eddie Edwards def. Rhino
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Rhino seeks revenge on the leader of Honor No More, Eddie Edwards, after he betrayed IMPACT Wrestling at No Surrender! Rhino charges at Edwards to jumpstart the match. Maria tries to hand Edwards his signature kendo stick but the referee catches her in the act and ejects her from ringside. Edwards distracts the referee, allowing Taven to trip up Rhino from the outside. Edwards rakes the eyes of Rhino, then begins to wear him down with a headlock. Rhino builds momentum with a mini spear in the corner. All hell breaks loose as Honor No More and Team IMPACT start brawling at ringside. Swann and Mack soar through the air, taking out everyone on the outside. Maclin runs down to the ring and in a shocking turn of events, nails Rhino with a kendo stick. Edwards capitalizes with the Boston Knee Party to win!
My Thoughts: This one broke down into chaos, but in the chaos we had Rich Swann and Willie Mack, again, kicking arse and high-flying; and we had that swerve from Steve Maclin… Well, less of a swerve and more an F-you to the Impact roster after they accused him of betraying them. I’m digging what Impact are doing with Maclin, it’s very similar to the lone wolf storylines of Sting and Stone Cold back in the day. It will be interesting to see what happens with Eddie Edwards too – how can the guy that WAS Impact Wrestling now not be? I’m hoping this doesn’t peter out to a “double-cross” storyline.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Knockouts World Tag Team Championship Match – The Influence (Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood) def. The IInspiration (Cassie Lee & Jessie McKay)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The long-awaited Knockouts World Tag Team Title clash between The IInspiration and The Influence finally takes place tonight at Sacrifice! Lee and Rayne exchange pin attempts in the opening moments of the match. The Influence mock The IInspiration as they perform their signature pose in the middle of the ring. Dashwood drops Lee face-first into the apron as Rayne sends McKay into the steel ring post. The Influence begin to wear down McKay as they cut off the ring and employ double team offense. McKay creates separation with a clothesline, then tags in Lee who goes on the attack. Lee hits a Fisherman’s Suplex on Dashwood for two. Dashwood counters the Idolizer but is driven into McKay’s knee instead. Dashwood hits the Spotlight Kick on Lee for a near fall. Kaleb With a K makes his way to ringside and throws one of the titles into the ring. Dashwood grabs it and hits Lee over the head to score the pinfall. The Influence are the new Knockouts World Tag Team Champions!
My Thoughts: This actually turned out a lot better than I expected it to. There’s been a lot of build to this match and whilst it wasn’t mind-blowing, this match did everything it needed to for this feud.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: JONAH def. PCO
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Brace yourself for this colossal clash of giants! PCO sends JONAH to the outside with a running dropkick to the back of the head. The brawl spills to the floor where PCO drives him face-first into the steel ring post. JONAH fights back as he hits a side Russian leg sweep on the exposed ramp. JONAH delivers a series of chops as his monstrous opponent begs for more. PCO launches himself through the ropes, flattening JONAH outside the ring. PCO hits the De-Animator off the top. The ring rattles and shakes following a thunderous Superplex from JONAH. Both men jockey for position, exchanging German suplexes in the process. PCO picks him off the top rope with a Hurricanrana, followed by the PCO-sault for two. JONAH spikes PCO into the steel steps with a Piledriver. Moments later, JONAH powerbombs him off the steps to the floor. JONAH hits the Tsunami splash to win!
My Thoughts: JONAH finally gets an opponent to match his size and strength. Well almost. JONAH took things to the next level at the end of this match with PCO taking some brutal moves from JONAH – a tombstone on the steps, a powerbomb from the steps to the floor… This guy is 54 and taking bumps like that. Jesus!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #5: Jay White def. Alex Shelley
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Alex Shelley makes his return to IMPACT Wrestling as he takes on Jay White in a highly-anticipated teacher vs student battle! Shelley stomps him in the back of the head to take control. Shelley attempts a slingshot crossbody but White gets his knees up to counter. White continues to build momentum by driving him back-first into the frame of the ring. Shelley drops White with a running clothesline, giving him an opportunity to regain his composure. White spikes him with a DDT to quickly turn things around. White delivers a thumb to the eye before hitting numerous chops to the chest. White connects with the Uranagi but Shelley gets his foot on the bottom rope to break the count. Shelley comes back with Sliced Bread for a very close near fall. Shelley counters the Blade Runner into the Motor City Stretch submission. White catches him in mid-air and hits the Blade Runner into the apron. This time it’s Shelley who hits White with his very own Blade Runner for two. White hits one final Blade Runner to score the victory!
My Thoughts: This was what you would call the proverbial “wrestling clinic” – Alex Shelley showed why he, at least in the US, is one of the best, most underrated performers and Jay White showed why he’s considered one of the best too. When your commentary team stands up and gives a standing ovation to the wrestlers in the ring you know you’ve seen something special.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #6: Champ Champ Challenge for the ROH Women’s World Championship – Deonna Purrazzo def. Chelsea Green
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Former Knockouts World Champion Chelsea Green answers the Champ Champ Challenge and chooses to challenge Deonna Purrazzo for the ROH Women’s World Title! Green dives to the outside with a shot of adrenaline, taking her out on the ramp. Purrazzo quickly turns the tide following a pinpoint running knee. Purrazzo attempts to lock in the Fujiwara Armbar but Green wisely rolls away. Green counters another Fujiwara Armbar attempt into a rollup for two. Green drives Purrazzo face-first into the bottom turnbuckle but Purrazzo grabs the rope to break the pin. Green locks in a Fujiwara Armbar of her own it’s not enough to keep Purrazzo down. Purrazzo targets the previously-injured wrist of Green, locking in the Fujiwara Armbar once again to win by submission!
My Thoughts: This was a great championship match until that finish. Apparently, Chelsea Green’s wrist was injured for real, which is a shame, which meant that the finish felt like a damp squib Yet that didn’t take away too much from what had come before. I’m intrigued to see how the Ring Of Honor Women’s Championship is handled now Tony Khan has purchased ROH.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #7: Knockouts World Championship Match – Tasha Steelz def. Mickie James
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Tasha attacks Mickie before the opening bell to gain the early advantage. Meanwhile, Savannah Evans attacks an already-injured Chelsea Green at ringside. James comes to her defense but Tasha capitalizes off the distraction with a dive to the floor. Tasha remains in control by sending her crashing into the steel steps. Tasha chokes Mickie with her boot, then hits a running uppercut in the corner. Tasha locks in the Camel Clutch while raking at Mickie’s eyes to add insult to injury. Moments later, Mickie hits the backpack stunner to create some breathing room. Both Knockouts tumble to the floor after exchanging shots on the top rope. Mickie mounts her with a Thesz Press as the pace quickens. Mickie hits the Mick-DT but Evans gets into the ring to provide a distraction. Mickie takes her out, then connects with a flapjack on Tasha. Tasha distracts the referee, allowing Evans to get involved once again. Tasha catches Mickie with a mid-air cutter to win the match and become the new Knockouts World Champion!
My Thoughts: This is probably, for me, Tasha Steelz best match since she became a singles wrestler; and is mainly down to Mickie James pulling Steelz’s best work out of her. There still feels like something is missing from Steelz presentation but maybe that can be solved bny having her as Impact Women’s Champion. Time will tell.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #8: Impact World Tag Team Championship Match – Violent By Design (Eric Young & Joe Doering) def. The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The Good Brothers put the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles on the line against their former allies, Violent By Design! Doering squares off with Gallows, pummeling him in all four corners of the ring. Gallows fights back, taking the big man off his feet with a pump kick. Anderson hits Young with a leaping senton, followed by a Fisherman’s Buster to the back of the neck for two. Doering makes a blind tag, catching Anderson off guard as he squashes him in the corner. Young hits a top rope elbow drop on Anderson for a near fall. Anderson makes the tag to Gallows, who clears house with a flurry of offense. The Good Brothers hit a double team neckbreaker to Young. The Good Brothers attempt the Magic Killer but Young counters. Doering clothesline Anderson as Young follows up with a driver for a very close near fall. Doering takes out everyone with a thunderous Tower of Doom out of the corner. Young delivers a low blow to Gallows, then takes him out with a piledriver on the stage. Violent By Design hits a powerbomb neckbreaker on Anderson to become the new IMPACT World Tag Team Champions!
My Thoughts: Surprise, surprise. the Good Brothers pull another good match out of their back pocket. Good on Impact for putting the belts on VBD who, to me, feel more like “Impact” guys than the Good Brothers, G.O.D. or any of the other former New Japan teams that currently appear in the promotion. Plus VBD will probably be able to defend the titles a lot more often than the Good Brothers ever did.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #9: IMPACT World Championship Match Moose def. Heath
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Heath challenges Moose for the IMPACT World Title in tonight’s Sacrifice main event! Anthony Carelli joins Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt on commentary. Moose drives Heath into the corner turnbuckle before repeatedly burying his shoulder into Heath’s midsection. Moose launches him across the ring with ease. Heath fires himself up but Moose quickly shuts down his momentum with a big boot on the floor. Moose is in total control as he Irish whips him shoulder-first into the steel ring steps. Moose continues to pick Heath apart with a brutal beating, including two vicious Uranagi’s on the apron. Heath finally gains some momentum, taking Moose off his feet with a springboard crossbody to the outside. Heath hits the Wake Up Call but Moose barely gets his shoulder up at two. Moose connects with another Uranagi, followed by the No Jackhammer Needed spear to retain the IMPACT World Title!
My Thoughts: I thought we were going to get a Heath win here and have Heath FINALLY have some sort of championship, even if it was for a short spell. But no, Heath took a beating and then Josh Alexander re-inserted himself into the title picture, where he always belonged, with a swerve contract re-signing (how many people said he was headed to AEW to reunite with Ethan Page?) AND a title shot at the Rebellion pay per view. Cracking way to end the show.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
I’m going to sound like a broken record but, once again, Impact put on a fantastic pay per view. There were a surprising amount of titles changes this ime round too, which adds to the excitement of the show. It’s always interesting seeing what happens post-ppv and with all the changes it makes for an interesting future of Impact. What’s interesting about this years Sacrifice that there was NOT ONE BAD MATCH. Not one. Which you can’t say about other wrestling promotions pay per views!
