‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (July 21st 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 Johnny Swinger (yes, that’s two weeks in a row for Swinger getting his arse kicked on BTI). Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: VXT (Deonna Purrazzo & Chelsea Green) def. Jordynne Grace & Mia Yim
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Before Mia Yim challenges Jordynne Grace for the Knockouts World Title at Emergence, they join forces to battle Deonna Purrazzo and Chelsea Green, now known as VXT! Yim hits Green with a running boot in the corner. Grace continues the assault with a powerslam to Green. Grace tags Yim back into the match but the referee is distracted by Purrazzo. Moments later, Purrazzo pulls Grace off the apron and throws her into the ring. Green capitalizes with a dropkick to gain control. Grace outpowers VXT as she hits an impressive double suplex. Grace hits a German Suplex on Green, allowing her to make the tag to Yim. The pace quickens as Yim goes on the attack. Grace and Yim connect with in-sync dives, taking out both members of VXT on the outside. Purrazzo dumps Grace to the floor. VXT turns Yim inside out with unique double team offense to score the victory.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: X-Division Championship Match – Mike Bailey def. Deaner
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Mike Bailey continues to be a fighting champion as he puts his X-Division Title on the line against Deaner, who attacked “Speedball” after his last defense over Alan Angels! The bell rings and the fight is on as Bailey charges him in the corner. Deaner rakes the eyes to quickly turn the tide. Deaner avoids Ultima Weapon but Bailey takes him off his feet with a flurry of fast-paced offense. Deaner traps Bailey in the ring apron, allowing Doering to attack him behind the referee’s back. Bailey Back in the ring, Bailey delivers a barrage of kicks, followed by a running Shooting Star. Deaner pulls him into a mid-air powerbomb for two. Bailey crashes and burns on Ultima Weapon as his knees are driven into the hardest part of the ring. Deaner connects with a twisting neckbreaker but Bailey comes right back with a springboard Moonsault to the floor. Bailey successfully hits Ultima Weapon to retain the X-Division Title!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: Masha Slamovich def. Madison Rayne
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
After destroying Tenille Dashwood last week, Masha Slamovich has made Madison Rayne her next victim! Slamovich tears off the protective face guard that Rayne was wearing, then slams her to the mat. Slamovich connects with the Snow Plow to score another dominant victory, bringing her win streak to 12-0!
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #4: Bullet Club (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) def. Honor No More (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The war between Honor No More and Bullet Club rages on as Matt Taven and Mike Bennett square off against the young guns of Bullet Club, Ace Austin and Chris Bey! The early advantage goes to Bullet Club when Bey hits a springboard Hurricanrana to Bennett. Honor No More turns the tide as Taven makes a blind tag and takes Bey off his feet with a missile dropkick. Austin hits Taven with a springboard kick, then takes Bennett off the apron to the floor. The referee is tending to Taven in the ring, allowing Bennett to illegally attack Austin on the outside. After a two-on-one assault from Honor No More, Austin uses his quickness to create separation and make the tag to Bey. “The Ultimate Finesser” takes both Taven and Bennett out with a Flatliner DDT combo. Bennett spikes Bey with a Brainbuster but Taven misses the follow-up Aurora Borealis. Kanellis provides a distraction, allowing Taven to deliver a low blow to Bey. Out of nowhere, Heath blindsides Taven with the Wake Up Call. Austin hits The Fold on Bennett to win!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Alex Shelley def. Chris Sabin – Winner Challenges Josh Alexander for the IMPACT World Title at Emergence
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The Motor City Machine Guns collide with a coveted IMPACT World Title opportunity up for grabs! Speaking of the champ, Josh Alexander is seen watching the match backstage. Shelley targets the left knee of Sabin in the early going. After several minutes, Sabin creates separation with a DDT. Sabin hits his signature running kick on the apron, then soars with a top rope crossbody. Sabin connects with a running boot in the corner, followed by a top rope tornado DDT. Shelley drops him head-first with a back suplex. Shelley locks in a Crossface but Sabin gets to the ropes in order to break the hold. Both men are down after another running kick from Sabin. Shelley goes for Sliced Bread but Sabin counters into the Clothesline From Hell, Michigan. Moments later, Shelley successfully hits Sliced Bread for two. Shelley follows up with the Shell Shock for another near fall. Shelley transitions into the Border City Stretch to win by submission!
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
News of the Night:
- Killer Kelly will debut on Impact next week
- Kushida made his Impact debut with a run-in post-main event, saving MCMG from an attack by VBD
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
Now this was a great episode of Impact! This week’s show opened strong with two great back-to-back matches and then slowed down a little with the Masha squash match which, whilst being a squash match, IS forgivable given what they’re building her into (Masha is like Impact’s Jade Cargill – an unstoppable force). Things picked up at the end of the show with the main event. But to be fiar we ALL knew it was going to be great… When have MCMG ever let wrestling fans down? And to top it off, Kushida turned up! The same Kushida who tag-teamed with Alex Shelly as the Time Splitters in New Japan. Oh, the possibilities!!
