‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Jan 19th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw The Design (Kon & Angels) defeat Yuya Uemura & Delirious. Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Mickie James, Jordynne Grace & Frankie Kazarian def. Tasha Steelz, Savannah Evans & Bully Ray
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Grace sets her sights on Bully but Evans attacks her from behind to gain control. Grace breaks free, then makes the tag to James. Evans hits a strong Irish whip into the corner, followed by a running clothesline. James comes back with the head scissors, then takes down Evans with a Thesz Press. James hits the ropes but Bully pulls her hair from the apron. Bully is tagged into the match as he delivers a powerslam to James. Steelz has her momentum momentarily broken by a Hurricanrana but quickly regains control with a pump kick. The pace quickens as Grace hits Steelz with her signature splash in the corner. Grace has Bully up on her shoulders but Bully counters with a chop. Kazarian takes out Bully, then sends Steelz and Evans colliding into one another. Bully retreats to the back as James hits the top rope Thesz Press on Steelz to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Deonna Purrazzo def. Ashley D’Amboise
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
IMPACT newcomer Ashley D’Amboise goes one-on-one with former multi-time Knockouts World Champion Deonna Purrazzo. D’Amboise finds an opening in the early going but Purrazzo shuts down her momentum with a knee strike. Purrazzo drives her boots into the lower back of her opponent, then hits a snap suplex for two. Purrazzo has the match won following a backbreaker but decides to add insult to injury. Purrazzo may regret that decision as D’Amboise bounces back with a rolling neckbreaker. Purrazzo hits a powerbomb, followed by Queen’s Gambit to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Killer Kelly def. Taylor Wilde
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Dark forces collide as Taylor Wilde and Killer Kelly jockey for position in the Knockouts division! Wilde hits a vertical suplex, then transitions into a Guillotine submission. Kelly drives her into the corner turnbuckles to break the hold. Kelly follows up with a pump kick for two. Wilde begins to build momentum with double knees, followed by a running dropkick. Wilde drives Kelly head-first into the hardest part of the ring. Kelly delivers a series of headbutts before hitting a hesitation dropkick. Wilde connects with the Wilde Ride but it’s not enough to keep Kelly down. Kelly locks in the Killer Clutch, forcing the tap-out to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Steve Maclin def. Dirty Dango
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Dirty Dango returns to the IMPACT Zone but standing in his way is a ticked-off Steve Maclin. Dango lays in a series of chops but Maclin shuts him down with a thudding clothesline. Maclin hits a thunderous backbreaker for two. Dango hits a back suplex to create some much-needed separation, then quickens the pace with a side Russian leg sweep. Dango hits the Dirtbag Shuffle, followed by the Falcon Arrow. Maclin retreats to the outside but Dango brings the fight to him on the ramp. Maclin counters a tornado DDT and has Dango Caught in the Crosshairs. Maclin follows up with the KIA to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Pit Fight – Mike Bailey def. Kenny King
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The heated rivalry between Mike Bailey and Kenny King will be settled in a Pit Fight. There are no pinfalls, no disqualifications and no ropes – the only way to win is by knockout or submission! King dumps Bailey to the outside and tosses him into the steel ring steps. King drops him face-first onto the ramp, then hits a pinpoint knee strike to the head. Bailey is busted open as King continues the assault. King remains in control with a vicious Dragon Screw leg whip. Bailey counters with a Sparta Kick as King tumbles to the floor. Bailey quickens the pace, laying in a flurry of kicks before locking in an armbar. King breaks the hold with a big powerbomb. King launches himself off the apron, connecting with a blockbuster on the floor. Bailey charges into the corner but King sidesteps, causing him to kick the steel post with full force. King secures the Figure Four Leg Lock but Bailey reverses the pressure as they roll to the outside. Bailey gets a running start from the top of the ramp for an explosive dropkick. Bailey climbs to the top of the ring post, then soars with a corkscrew to the floor. Bailey goes for Ultima Weapon but King cuts him off with a mid-air knee strike. King hits a spinebuster on the side of the ring, then locks in a submission. Bailey breaks it with a steel chair shot and hits double knees to the chest. Bailey places a steel chair over King’s head, then delivers one final superkick to win by knockout.
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
Well goddamn. What a great episode of Impact this week! If you watch Impact you know the company delivers a solid show most weeks but then they go and do something like this and pull a cracking card out of the bag which this week focused on the Impact Knockouts, with THREE women-led matches – including a fantastic appearance by Ashley D’Amboise, a woman who has been putting great work as enhancement talent in AEW but here completely shone against Deonna Purrazzo. And that’s the thing about Impact, you can come to this promotion and shine, make a name for yourself, etc. Christ, just look at Speedball Bailey. The man had something of a “mystique” on the indies, you heard rumours of a guy delivering banger after banger, then word spread. And eventually Mike Bailey appeared in Impact and I’m not going to lie, he looked totally out of place on his debut and for a while after I didn’t think he fit the roster but then… then… he was given the opportunity to show the world who, like me, may have HEARD of Speedball Bailey but never saw many of his matches, he was and really shine and what do we get? We get a 5-star match against Josh Alexander and this week he follows it up with a match almost, ALMOST, as good – a pit fight against Kenny King! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Impact delivers on their matches week in and week out – what they do need, IMHO, is better production, a better TV deal and bigger crowds to take them to the next level. Because what Scott D’Amore is doing in terms of wrestling and storytelling – and yes, I’ll concede that bringing Bully Ray in is NOT the mistake I originally thought it was going to be – is truly getting to be on a par with classic TNA of old…
