‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Aug 11th 2022)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw Steve Maclin defeat Crazzy Steve. Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Karl Anderson def. Kenny King
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Just 24 hours before the high-stakes showdown between Honor No More and Bullet Club, Karl Anderson and Kenny King look to fire the first shot in singles competition! The members of both factions are banned from ringside for this match. King drapes the leg of Anderson across the rope to gain the early advantage. King targets the now-injured left leg as he begins to wear Anderson down. Anderson creates separation with a Dragon Screw leg whip, then fights back with a series of clotheslines. Anderson hits a single leg dropkick for two. Anderson counters the Royal Flush into the Gun Stun to win!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: KUSHIDA def. Deaner
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Before KUSHIDA and Chris Sabin unite to battle Violent By Design at Emergence, KUSHIDA goes one-on-one with Deaner here tonight! KUSHIDA quickens the pace in the early going as he hits a handspring kick, sending Deaner flying off the apron. Doering confronts KUSHIDA at ringside, allowing Deaner to gain the advantage off the distraction. KUSHDA turns the tide with a Pele kick, followed by a cartwheel dropkick for two. Deaner counters a handspring back elbow into a big clothesline. Doering tries to get involved again but Sabin pulls him off the apron. KUSHIDA hits a suplex and bridges into the cover for three!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: Killer Kelly def. Tiffany Nieves
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The stunning and lethal Killer Kelly makes her IMPACT in-ring debut tonight after attacking OVW’s Tiffany Nieves just two weeks ago! Kelly makes quick work of her opponent as she locks in the Killer Clutch to win by submission.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #4: Mia Yim def. Madison Rayne
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Mia Yim squares off with former multi-time Knockouts World Champion Madison Rayne ahead of her Knockouts World Title opportunity against Jordynne Grace at Emergence! Yim chases her around ringside where Rayne sends her crashing into the steel ring post. Yim fights out of the corner but Rayne avoids her dropkick and hits a Northern Lights suplex for two. Rayne drives her head-first into the canvas with a head scissors. Yim catches Rayne in mid-air, then connects with a sit-down powerbomb to regain her composure. Yim hits a cannonball in the corner but Rayne grabs the bottom rope to break the pin. Rayne comes back with a Crucifix Bomb for a close call of her own. Yim puts her away with Eat Defeat!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: X-Division Championship – Mike Bailey def. Rocky Romero
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The X-Division Title is up for grabs as Mike Bailey defends against NJPW veteran Rocky Romero. But there’s no rest for the weary as the winner must put the title on the line against Jack Evans tomorrow night at Emergence! It’s a stalemate in the opening moments of the match as Bailey and Romero match each other’s offense move for move. Romero ducks, causing Bailey to kick the steel ring post. Romero follows up with a Hurricanrana on the floor, then targets the left arm with double knees off the second rope. Bailey avoids the Forever Clotheslines, then connects with a running dropkick to create separation. Romero hits a springboard tornado DDT for two. Bailey delivers a flurry of kicks, Romero hits a clothesline and both men are down after Bailey connects with a superkick. Romero dives through the ropes, colliding with Bailey on the outside. Bailey is the next to fly as he hits a Moonsault to the outside. Romero almost puts him away with the running Shiranui. Bailey connects with Ultimo Weapon to retain the X-Division Title!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
A contract signing for the main event? What is this, the WWE? I jest of course but that “Main event” did feel like a letdown after such a great show. A show that, apart from the women’s squash match, felt like one of the strongest WRESTLING shows of the TV week. The min event we did get, before the contract signing promo, was a SUPERB example of Impact’s X-Division, with Mike Bailey and Rocky Romero feeling very much like perfect opponents for each other. I’ll be honest, Mike Bailey hasn’t, for me, lived up to the hype in Impact for most of the time – yes he’s shined at times but THIS match, THIS put him on the map for me! And great to see Madison Rayne put Mia Yim over as she departed for AEW (though it’s still weird seeing people appear on impact AFTER they’ve left the company thanks to the way Impact pre-tapes).
