‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Dec 22nd 2022)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw Taylor Wilde defeat KiLynn King (Boooo!! I love KiLynn King’s work). Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Knockouts World Tag Team Championship – Death Dollz (Jessicka & Rosemary) def. Deonna Purrazzo & Gisele Shaw
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The Freebird Rule is in effect as Jessicka and Rosemary represent the Death Dollz in their Knockouts World Tag Team Title defense against Deonna Purrazzo and Gisele Shaw! Rosemary bites Shaw in the corner, then locks in Upside Down. Purrazzo attacks Rosemary on the apron, then takes control with a strong clothesline. Rosemary creates separation with a Fisherman’s suplex to Purrazzo, allowing her to make the tag to Jessicka. Shaw gets crushed with a running crossbody from Jessicka as the match begins to break down. The Death Dollz send Purrazzo and Shaw crashing into one another. Rosemary then spears Shaw as Jessicka pins her to retain.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Mike Bailey def. Yuya Uemura
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Just two weeks removed from his near 60-minute classic with Josh Alexander, Mike Bailey returns to in-ring competition against New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Yuya Uemura! The early advantage goes to Bailey with a running kick in the corner. Uemura begins to fight back with a clothesline, followed by a running bulldog. Uemura hits a dropkick and back suplex before sending Bailey over the top rope to the floor. Bailey hits a series of pinpoint kicks, followed by a corkscrew. Bailey soars with a springboard Moonsault to the outside. Bailey drives his knees into the ribs of Uemura for two. Uemura hits a double underhook suplex as both men exchange strikes in the middle of the ring. Uemura almost puts Bailey away with a big running clothesline. Bailey evades to the outside but Uemura nails him with a crossbody. Bailey catches him with a mid-air Codebreaker, followed by Ultima Weapon to win.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #3: John Skyler & Jason Hotch vs. Johnny Swinger & Zicky Dice
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The match never gets underway as Bully Ray charges towards the ring and takes out both John Skyler and Jason Hotch. Bully zip-ties Hotch to the ropes when IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander makes the save. But then, disaster strikes as Hotch and Skyler attack Alexander, revealing their allegiance to Bully. Alexander is now zip-tied to the ropes when Tommy Dreamer attempts to even the odds. Dreamer gets swarmed and Bully spikes him with a Piledriver. Dreamer is trapped beneath a ladder as Bully assaults him with a steel chair. Skyler and Hotch force Alexander to watch on.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #4: Steve Maclin vs. Rich Swann (Double Count Out)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Steve Maclin looks to make an example out of Rich Swann as he continues to demand an IMPACT World Title opportunity! Swann quickens the pace with a head scissors, followed by two dropkicks. Maclin shuts down his momentum with a strong Irish whip into the corner. Maclin hits a Uranage but decides to continue punishing Swann instead of going for the win. Swann is nearly Caught in the Crosshairs but counters into a barrage of kicks. Swann launches himself off the apron with a cannonball, colliding with Maclin on the floor. Swann attempts another cannonball but Maclin avoids it this time. The brawl continues on the outside where both men are counted out. After the match, Maclin puts his hands on the referee and assaults members of the security team. Swann regains his composure and the fight is on. Swann launches himself off the apron into both Maclin and a sea of security guards.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Jordynne Grace & Mickie James def. Tasha Steelz & Savannah Evans
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace and Mickie James unite ahead of their high-stakes Title vs Career match at Hard To Kill! James is in control following a flapjack to Steelz but Evans pushes her off the top rope. Steelz follows up with a pump-kick for two. Evans users her power to wear James down, cutting off the ring and preventing her from making the tag. Evans distracts the referee, allowing Steelz to illegally choke James from the apron. James begins to fight back with a Hurricanrana to Steelz, followed by a neckbreaker. James hesitates to tag in Grace and Evans to knock her off the apron. Evans is driven shoulder-first into the steel ring post. James soars with a top rope Thesz Press but Steelz breaks the pin. Evans almost ends the career of Mickie James following a belly-to-back suplex but this time it’s Grace who breaks it up. Grace plants Steelz with the Muscle Buster for three. After the bell, Grace and James exchange words in the middle of the ring. Tensions escalate, leading to a Mick Kick from James. James exits the ring as Grace stares her down. IMPACT! goes off the air.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
Another week and another great set of matches and another star turn from Mike “Speedball” Bailey – can we have 4-star matches from him every week please?! The only thing that let this episode of Imapct down was the Bully Ray interference in the mid-show match (I’m still not sold on Bully Ray back in Impact) and the dusty finish to what was a great match between Steve Maclin and Rich Swann. I get that they’re making Maclin even MORE unhinged (something I didn’t think possible) but it was a crappy end to a great match! Another all-round great week for Impact Wrestling.
