‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (April 14th 2022)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw Madison Rayne defeat Jessie McKay AND Kaleb with a K leave Impact Wrestling! With that out of the way let’s get right into the main show…
Match #1: Champ Champ Challenge for the ROH Women’s World Championship – Deonna Purrazzo def. Willow Nightingale
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
As a familiar face to Ring of Honor fans, it’s no surprise that when Willow Nightingale answers the Champ Champ Challenge, she chooses to challenge for the ROH Women’s World Title. Nightingale hits a superkick for an early two count. Purrazzo counters a Death Valley Driver on the apron and drives Nightingale into the steel ring post to gain control. Nightingale hits a powerful bulldog to create separation and regain her composure. Nightingale levels Purrazzo with a Pounce, followed by a running cannonball in the corner. Purrazzo counters a running clothesline into Venus de Milo to win by submission!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: Jonathan Gresham def. Rocky Romero
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Two weeks ago, Rocky Romero came to the aid of Jonathan Gresham during a two-on-one assault from Honor No More but tonight, they compete against each other in singles action! Honor No More’s leader, Eddie Edwards, is seen watching on from the back as he prepares to battle Gresham at Rebellion. Both men exchange a series of chops and running strikes with Romero gaining the upper-hand following an explosive clothesline. Romero kicks him to the outside, then connects with a Hurricanrana off the steps. The action is fast and furious as Gresham comes back with a suicide dive to the floor. Gresham traps Romero in a pinning predicament to score the three count!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: Alex Shelley def. Steve Maclin
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Steve Maclin has Chris Sabin and Jay White in his sights at Rebellion but before that, he must go one-on-one with Sabin’s tag team partner, Alex Shelley! Shelley hits a slingshot stomp to the hand of Maclin. Shelley attempts a baseball slide dropkick but Maclin avoids it and flies with the Scud Missile. Maclin remains in control with an Olympic Slam. Shelley is caught in the crosshairs as Maclin hits a running shoulder tackle in the corner. Shelley quickens the pace and takes Maclin off his feet with a clothesline. Shelley hits Sliced Bread for a very close near fall. Sabin checks on his partner at ringside following a vicious suplex on the apron. Shelley capitalizes off a confrontation between Sabin and Maclin, launching himself off a pole to hit another Sliced Bread. Back in the ring, Maclin attempts a pin with his feet on the ropes but Sabin stops him. Shelley puts Maclin away with Shell Shock!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #4: JONAH def. PCO
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
JONAH crashes and burns as he collides with the steel post, followed by a neck breaker on the floor from PCO. Moments later, JONAH launches himself off the apron to gain control. JONAH hits a massive Buckle Bomb but PCO explodes out of the corner with a clothesline. JONAH hits the Tombstone Piledriver but PCO kicks out at one. JONAH avoids the PCO-Sault and the De-Animator, causing PCO’s neck to collide with the hardest part of the ring. JONAH hits a thunderous Tsunami splash to win! JONAH is shocked when PCO sits up after the match. JONAH attacks him with a steel chair, then hits another devastating Tsunami splash! JONAH exits the arena as PCO is laid out in the middle of the ring.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
After last week’s disappointing re-cap of Multiverse of Madness in place of a standard Impact episode, the show HAD to come back strong, even more so given that we’re only weeks away from their next pay per view. And that’s what they did. With fewer matches but STRONGER matches, and storytelling that worked from top to bottom. The show opened with a fantastic Women’s match with Willow – seemingly the hardest working woman in wrestling – appearing to challenge Deonna Purrazzo for the ROH title in a match that was the closest call yet. I’m a WIllow fan and given the fact she’s made appearances on Supercard of Honour, AEW and now Impact, I’m sure we’ll be seeing a LOT more of her on TV in future! But that match was only the start of a wave of excellent matches, not one disappointing in the slightest! Gresham and Romero was a banger, a hard-hitting match that had a pace that really revved up the excitement. We know Alex Shelley can put on a great match, but Steve Maclin has flourished in Impact and is surely set for a title run of some kind by the end of this year – he has consistently delivered and he’s got a feel for his “character” in and out of the ring. One of the unsung stars of Impact IMHO. As for the main event… two monsters of the ring going at it. What’s not to love? JONAH once again proving that WWE had absolutely no idea what to do with a man of his size and skill. And he had a worthy opponent in PCO, a man who seemingly really is an indestructible monster as his “Frankenstein monster” character portrays!
An unmissable episode of Impact Wrestling, more shows consistently like this and the “big two” promotions should start to worry!
