‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (July 7th 2022)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw Gisele Shaw defeat Alisha. And we’ve got a the fallout from Impact’s Against All Odds pay-per-view. Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: X-Division Championship Match – “Speedball” Mike Bailey def. Alan Angels
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Alan Angels challenges for the X-Division Championship in his IMPACT Wrestling debut! Bailey fires off with a series of kicks, followed by a Moonsault to the outside. Angels drops him on the apron, then connects with a frog splash to the floor. Angels soars off the top but Bailey cuts him off with a mid-air kick. Bailey hits an Enzuigiri, followed by a running Spanish Fly in the middle of the ring. Angels almost puts him away with the Halo Breaker for two. Angels counters the Flamingo Driver into the Wing Snapper for another near fall. Angels crashes and burns on another frog splash attempt. Bailey capitalizes with Ultimo Weapon to win!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: Trey Miguel def. Laredo Kid
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
X-Division action continues as Laredo Kid and Trey Miguel look to move up the ladder! Kid hits a head scissors face plant in the middle of the ring. Miguel fights through the pain from his recent X-Division Title match with Mike Bailey to deliver a springboard Moonsault to the floor. Miguel continues the aerial assault with a top rope dropkick. Miguel kips up and hits a one-legged stomp for two. Miguel turns Kid inside out for another near fall. Kid hits the Michinoku Driver for a near fall of his own. Miguel comes back with a modified swinging neckbreaker to score the victory!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #3: PCO def. Black Taurus
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
It’s a battle of the beasts as PCO collides with Black Taurus! PCO sends him toppling over the top rope to the floor with a running clothesline. PCO soars off the top with the Deanimator on the hardest part of the ring. Taurus begins to turn the tide with a pair of Slingblades, followed by a top rope elbow drop but PCO kicks out at two. Taurus crashes and burns on the top rope, allowing PCO to capitalize with a reverse DDT. PCO delivers the final blow as he hits the PCOsault to win!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Rich Swann def. Shera
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
After being targeted by Raj Singh and Shera at Against All Odds, Rich Swann goes one-on-one with “The Indian Lion” tonight! Shera puts his strength on display in the early going as he catches Swann in mid-air and dumps him on the mat. Shera tosses him around the ring but Swann uses his speed to avoid an incoming assault. Swann hits a 619, then takes out Singh at ringside. Swann connects with a series of kicks, followed by the 450 Splash to win!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Knockouts World Title #1 Contenders Match – Mia Yim def. Deonna Purrazzo
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The winner of this match will challenge Jordynne Grace for the Knockouts World Title at Emergence, streaming LIVE August 12th on IMPACT Plus and YouTube for IMPACT Ultimate Insiders! Yim gains the early advantage with a dive to the outside, sending Purrazzo back-first into the steel barricade. Yim sends her into the corner with a Hurricanrana. Moments later, Purrazzo turns things around as she begins to target the arm of Yim. The pace quickens when Yim hits a running cannonball in the corner. Yim connects with Eat Defeat but the impact sends Purrazzo rolling to the apron. Purrazzo counters the Package Piledriver into a big boot for two. Purrazzo charges into the corner but Yim sidesteps, causing her to collide with the steel ring post. Yim capitalizes with Code Blue for a very close near fall. Purrazzo hits Queen’s Gambit but somehow, someway, it’s not enough to keep Yim down. Yim comes back with the Package Piledriver but this time it’s Purrazzo who kicks out just in time. Yim spikes her with another Package Piledriver, followed by Eat Defeat to win!
My Score: 4 out of 5
News of the Night:
- Alan Angels made his Impact Wrestling debut
- A vignette aired for Killer Kelly joining Impact
Final Verdict: 4/5
Wow. I’ve felt Impact have started floundering when it comes to the weekly shows but then along comes this episode and that’s blown out of the water! Alan Angels debuted with a TREMENDOUS match against Speedball, proving that yes – like many said – he was under-utilised and under-rated in AEW. And it’s not like the show ended things there, we got a fantastic second match between Try Miguel and Laredo Kid – two guys who’d also be great facing Angels and/or Speedball on a regular basis. A couple of average mid-show matches followed, as if to give fans a chance to rest, and then came another banger! The main event between Mia Yim and Deonna Purrazzo was another tremendous match, a match I would say raises the bar for the rest of the women’s division – even for the current champ Jordynn Grace. Dare I say the women’s division, and its reputation as the best women’s division, is back on track for Impact?
