‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Oct 27th 2022)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw Black Taurus def Laredo Kid in an X-Division Title Tournament 1st Round match. Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: X-Division Title Tournament 1st Round – Trey Miguel def. Alan Angels
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Tournament action to crown a new X-Division Champion continues as Alan Angels makes his return against Trey Miguel! Angels trips up Miguel on the top rope to gain the early advantage. Angels dropkicks him to the floor, then hits a Northern Lights suplex for two. Miguel turns the tide with a handspring boot. Miguel continues the assault with a double foot stomp, followed by running knees. Angels avoids the Meteora, then spikes him with a DDT. Miguel successfully hits the Meteora for yet another near fall. Moments later, Miguel puts Angels away with the Lightning Spiral to move on.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: Rachelle Scheel def. Tasha Steelz
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Former Knockouts World Champion Tasha Steelz steps into the ring with IMPACT newcomer, Rachelle Scheel! The bell rings and Steelz immediately drops her opponent with a running boot. Steelz has the match won but instead of going for the win, she gets on the mic and demands better competition. Steelz calls for Evans to attack Scheel, resulting in a disqualification. Evans continues the assault with a thunderous powerbomb in the middle of the ring.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #3: Chris Bey def. Tommy Dreamer
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Following their backstage altercation earlier tonight, Chris Bey and Tommy Dreamer face off for the first time ever! Dreamer catches Bey in mid-air and hits a Fallaway slam. Bey gains momentum with a standing Moonsault, followed by a series of running strikes in the corner. Dreamer charges into the corner but Bey sidesteps, sending him crashing into the steel ring post. Both men counter each other’s cutters but Bey spikes him with a DDT instead. Dreamer counters a superkick into a cutter for two. Bey cuts him off with a superkick and both men are down. Moose confronts Bully Ray at ringside after Bully suggested that he was the one who laid out Ace Austin last week. Moose trips up Bey but Bey thinks it was Bully who did it. Bey hits The Art of Finesse to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Matt Cardona def. Alex Shelley
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Matt Cardona goes one-on-one with Alex Shelley as both of their respective teams set their sights on the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles! Cardona jumps Shelley before the opening bell but Shelley tells the referee that he can go. The fight spills to the outside where Shelley sends Cardona into the apron. Myers takes Shelley of his feet, then drags him to the outside. Cardona capitalizes with a sliding dropkick to gain control. Cardona goes for the ReBoot but Shelley avoids it and sends him face-first into the corner turnbuckle. Shelley connects with a tornado DDT but Myers puts Cardona’s foot on the bottom rope to break the pin. Sabin joins Shelley in a double team assault on Myers. Cardona delivers a thumb to the eye, followed by Radio Silence but it’s not enough to keep Shelley down. Myers inadvertently slides the Digital Media Title to Shelley, allowing him to spike Cardona into the gold. Shelley goes for the pin but somehow, Cardona kicks out at two. Moments later, Myers cracks Shelley with the title while the referee is distracted and Cardona rolls him up for three.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #5: Joe Hendry def. Raj Singh
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Before the match begins, Joe Hendry tells the story of a bankrupt family whose problems are solved because they believe in him. Hendry looks to continue his momentum against IMPACT mainstay Raj Singh! Hendry catches him in mid-air and delivers the Trust Fall. Hendry hits a big clothesline, followed by the Standing Ovation to score the dominant victory.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #6: Jordynne Grace, Taylor Wilde & Mickie James def. VXT (Deonna Purrazzo & Chelsea Green) & Gisele Shaw
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Brace yourself for this star-studded six-Knockout tag team match! As always, if Mickie James loses, her career will be over. Wilde takes Purrazzo off her feet with a Hurricanrana. Wilde continues the attack on both members of VXT with unique combo offense. The match begins to break down as all six Knockouts get involved. Green sends Wilde into the corner as Purrazzo delivers a shot from the apron. Wilde hits Shaw with a jawbreaker to create separation and make the tag to James. Green hooks the leg of a fired-up James, allowing Shaw to take control with a superkick. After numerous near falls, James finally creates an opening by hitting Shaw with a neckbreaker. James makes the tag to Grace as Shaw does the same to Purrazzo. Grace hits a thunderous Spinebuster for two. Purrazzo counters the Grace Driver as Green comes in and plants the champ. James takes out Shaw with the Mick Kick, then hits the seated senton on Purrazzo for two. Grace makes a blind tag before hitting a top rope Blockbuster but Grace and Wilde break the pin. Shaw poses with the Knockouts World Title at ringside but Grace makes her pay for it. Back in the ring, Wilde spears Purrazzo while James DDTs Green for the win.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
What a weird episode of Impact. A whopping THREE 4-star matches on one show and two squash matches, one of which was – frankly – absolutely ridiculous and shouldn’t have even aired. In the midst of all that we got the whole “Bully Ray can’t be trusted” stuff in numerous promos… OK, so at least it’s a new storyline but its Bully ray at the centre of Impact. Again. Retreading old storylines yet again feels tired and stale. The only way this works, IMHO, is if Bully Ray turns babyface and CAN be trusted, and if that happens sooner rather than later, He’s already been the arsehole of TNA/Impact on multiples occassions and I don’t think we need to see it again. I’m much, MUCH, more interested to see if Alan Angels makes more appearances for the company if I’m honest, especially after that fantastic X-Division match to open this show!
