‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (May 26th 2022)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw Laredo Kid defeat Black Taurus. With that out of the way let’s get right into the main show…
Match #1: Ultimate X Qualifying Match – Trey Miguel def. Alex Shelley
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Who is headed to Slammiversary to challenge for the X-Division Championship in the return of Ultimate X? Miguel pays homage to his mentor, Alex Shelley, by wearing his signature colors of black and white. Miguel takes control in the early going with a top rope Moonsault to the outside. Shelley quickly turns things around with a sliding dropkick, taking out the left knee of Miguel. Shelley locks in the Motor City Stretch but Miguel gets his foot on the bottom rope to break the submission. Miguel comes back with a double foot stomp to the back, then locks in a Dragon Sleeper. Shelley fights free but Miguel catches him with another foot stomp for two. Both men exchange strikes in the middle of the ring with Shelley gaining the upper-hand. Shelley hits a modified driver but Miguel kicks out. Miguel traps Shelley in a pinning predicament to score the three count!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Masha Slamovich def. Havok
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Masha Slamovich faces her toughest test to date as she squares off with the terrifying powerhouse from Decay, Havok! Slamovich slaps her in the face and the fight is on. Havok crashes and burns on a running boot attempt in the corner. Slamovich hits an axe kick to the back of the head, followed by the Snow Plow to win, bringing her win streak to 10-0!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Jordynne Grace def. Chelsea Green
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Two competitors in the first-ever Queen of the Mountain match for the Knockouts World Title at Slammiversary are set to collide in singles action! Green gains the early advantage by baiting Grace to chase her around the ring. Grace brings her momentum to a halt when she hits a draping neckbreaker out of the corner. Green rakes the eyes, then launches herself off the apron with a rolling senton. Green plants her face-first into the corner turnbuckles for two. Grace begins to turn the tide following a thunderous Spinebuster. Green counters the Muscle Buster into a modified Flatliner for another near fall. Grace connects with the Grace Driver to score the victory!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: 20th Anniversary Match – Chris Sabin vs. Frankie Kazarian (No Contest)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Frankie Kazarian returns to IMPACT Wrestling to battle longtime rival Chris Sabin as we celebrate 20 incredible years! Sabin hits a back suplex that sends Kazarian toppling over the top rope to the floor. Sabin remains in control with a top rope crossbody for two. Kazarian begins to build momentum with a springboard leg drop, followed by a slingshot DDT. Moments later, Sabin comes back with a tornado DDT of his own. Sabin sends Kazarian soaring across the ring as he hits a German Superplex. Out of nowhere, Honor No More hits the ring and attacks both competitors, bringing the match to an end.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #5: Bhupinder Gujjar & W. Morrissey def. Raj Singh & Shera
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Bhupinder Gujjar joins forces with W. Morrissey to settle the score with Raj Singh and Shera once and for all! Morrissey uses his own partner as a weapon as he powerslams Gujjar on top of Singh. Shera attacks Gujjar from the apron, allowing Singh to hit a flapjack on the ropes to gain control. Singh hits Gujjar with a double team Flatliner for two. Moments later, Gujjar connects with a powerslam to create separation and make the tag to Morrissey. The pace quickens as Morrissey goes on the attack, hitting a big sidewalk slam on Singh. Gujjar takes Shera off his feet with slingshot crossbody to the outside. Morrissey spells the beginning of the end for Singh with a chokeslam, followed by Gujjar’s corner spear for three!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #6: Violent By Design (Eric Young, Joe Doering & Deaner) def. Josh Alexander & The Briscoes
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Before their IMPACT World Title showdown at Slammiversary, Josh Alexander and Eric Young square off in a colossal six-man tag team main event! Alexander hits a running crossbody to the back of Doering. Jay takes everyone out with a huge dive over the top rope to the floor. Mark continues the aerial assault with a top rope corkscrew to the outside. Violent By Design cut off the ring and begin to wear Alexander down. Alexander fights out of the corner and delivers a knee to the back of the neck of Deaner. Alexander makes the tag to Mark who goes on the attack. Mark hits Young with a top rope elbow drop for two. The Briscoes almost put Deaner away with a double team powerbomb neckbreaker. Doering distracts the referee, allowing Young to clobber Mark with the VBD flagpole. Deaner elevates Alexander to the outside where he gets erased by Doering. In the ring, Deaner hits Mark with the hockey mask. Young spikes him with a Piledriver to win!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
Broken record time. Again. Another strong, solid episode of Impact this week. This company delivers week after week after week. Yes, we get an occasional blip but the consistency is extremely high, especially compared to other wrestling promotions we cover. For me, the only thing that could put Impact over the top is better production values. I know the live audience isn’t strong for the company (apparently they struggle to sell tickets post-PPVs, if what you read online is to be believed) but I can’t see – beyond the ill-will from previous years – why Impact isn’t up there with AEW and WWE. They have the storylines, they have the talent. They just need that little bit extra, what some would call the “it factor,” to really push them to the moon. And I think upping the production budget would do it. When you’ve got matches like the Trey Miguel and Alex Shelley one opening the show in such great style you KNOW you got something. Even Masha Slamovich’s match worked this week – and I’ve been complaining that she’s had one too many squash matches recently!
