‘Impact Wrestling: No Surrender 2023’ PPV Review
Welcome to this review of Impact Wrestling’s No Surrender 2023 – which has a STACKED card featuring not one but TWO Countdown to… matches, the first of which saw Gisele Shaw surprisingly defeat Deonna Purrazzo; and then we had Jonathan Gresham defeat Mike Bailey (the wrong result IMHO). As I’ve said previously Impact know how to put a pay-per-view together, hopefully this show continues that trend.
Match #1: Frankie Kazarian def. Kon
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Santino Marella joins Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt on commentary. Kazarian clotheslines Kon over the top rope. Kon bounces off the ropes, then takes out Kazarian with a clothesline of his own on the outside. Back in the ring, Kon hits a Spinebuster for two. Kon launches him over the top rope with a vicious Irish whip. Kazarian creates an opening, then turns the tide with a reverse DDT. Kon counters the Flux Capacitor, then crashes and burns on a diving headbutt attempt. Angels distracts the referee but Kazarian makes him pay. Callihan inadvertently nails Kon with a steel chair, allowing Kazarian to capitalize with the cutter for three.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Knockouts World Tag Team Championship – Death Dollz (Jessicka & Taya Valkyrie) def. Hex (Allysin Kay & Marti Belle)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Kay whips Belle into the corner where she collides with Jessicka. Kay taunts Valkyrie, allowing Belle to illegally attack Jessicka while the referee is distracted. Hex cut off the ring and employ quicks tags as they begin to wear Jessicka down. Jessicka finally creates some separation, allowing her to make the tag to a fired up Valkyrie. The pace quickens as Valkyrie hits Kay with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Valkyrie stomps Kay’s face into the mat but Belle breaks the pin. The Death Dollz counter Hex Marks the Spot, leading to the Sick Driver from Jessicka to score the pin on Belle.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Dot Combat Match for the Digital Media Championship – Joe Hendry def. Moose
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Moose jumps him before the opening bell to gain the early advantage. Hendry smashes a keyboard over the back of Moose. Hendry attempts the Trust Fall but Moose rakes his eyes to avoid it. Hendry tosses Moose over the top rope instead, then whips him into the steel ring posts. Moose puts him through a table on the outside. Hendry nails him in the head with a Sega Dreamcast, then uses a remote control car to add insult to injury. Hendry successfully hits the Trust Fall but it’s not enough to keep Moose down. Moose goes Sky High with a thunderous powerbomb for two. Moose empties a bag of key caps on the mat but Hendry makes him pay for it with a Superplex. Hendry hurls a gaming chair at Moose, followed by a pop-up powerbomb into the key caps for another near fall. Hendry places a VR headset on Moose’s head and torments him with the Dancing Moose music video. Moose rolls him up with a hold of the tights. Turnabout is fair play as Hendry does the same to score the pinfall.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Four-Way #1 Contenders Match – Steve Maclin def Brian Myers, Heath & PCO
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Everyone swarms PCO at the opening bell. PCO quickly fights back, colliding with Maclin and sending him over the top rope. Heath launches himself off the apron with a senton, taking out Maclin and Myers. Maclin unleashes the SCUD Missile. PCO is next to fly as he soars with the PCO Sault to the outside. Myers hits PCO with a back body drop off the stairs, his back thudding on the floor. Maclin and Myers hit PCO with a double suplex on the ramp. Myers almost puts Heath away with a spear. PCO hits the PCO Sault on Myers but Eddie Edwards blindsides him with a shovel to the back. The action continues as Heath gives Myers the Wake Up Call. Maclin hits the KIA on Heath to win the match and become #1 Contender for the IMPACT World Title.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Bullet Club (KENTA, Ace Austin & Chris Bey) def. Time Machine (Motor City Machine Guns & KUSHIDA)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
It’s a stalemate in the early going as KENTA and KUSHIDA jockey for position. The Guns gain the first advantage of the match with their signature brand of high-octane offense on Ace. Sabin knocks Bey and KENTA off the apron, allowing for an assisted triple team dropkick from Time Machine. The assault continues as KUSHIDA and Shelly hold KENTA down for a dropkick from Sabin. Ace soars with the Fosbury Flop, as Bey follows up with an aerial attack of his own to take out Time Machine. KUSHIDA hits a rolling forearm on KENTA, followed by a Pele Kick to create some much-needed separation. Sabin and Shelley inadvertently collide with one another. Moments later, Sabin accidentally kicks his other partner, KUSHIDA. KENTA hits Sabin with a top rope double foot stomp for two. Sabin counters the Go2Sleep into a Brainbuster on KENTA. Sabin counters The Art of Finesse into a German Suplex, then spikes Ace with a tornado DDT. KUSHIDA hits a handspring back elbow on Ace but Bey prevents the follow-up Hoverboard Lock. The action is fast and furious as Ace traps Sabin in a backslide to win.
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #6: Knockouts World Championship – Mickie James def. Masha Slamovich
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
James targets the arm of Slamovich in the opening moments of the match. James hits a superkick for an early two count. Slamovich counters the Mick-DT, dropping her throat first on the top rope. James gives new meaning to “Hardcore Country” as she bites the tongue of Slamovich. Moments later, Slamovich locks in a Kimura to do some serious damage. James hits a Hurricanrana out of the corner but Slamovich shuts her momentum down with a dropkick. Slamovich dives through the ropes, colliding with her on the outside. Back in the ring, James hits a neckbreaker, giving her a window of opportunity. James almost puts Slamovich away with her signature seated senton. Slamovich counters another Mick-DT attempt but James nails her with the Mick Kick for yet another near fall. Slamovich puts in a rear-naked choke but the ropes force her to break the hold. James pins Slamovich out of the corner to escape with her Knockouts World Title intact.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #7: IMPACT World Championship – Josh Alexander def. Rich Swann
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Swann has Alexander’s number as he’s a split second away from landing a pinpoint superkick. Swann attempts to wear him down but Alexander counters with a suplex. Alexander hits a German suplex, then transitions into a bridge for two. The fight spills to the outside where Alexander remains in control. Back in the ring, Alexander connects with a vicious back elbow. Swann begins to build momentum with an explosive rolling clothesline. Swann sends Alexander and himself toppling over the top rope to the floor. Swann hits a step-up corkscrew, colliding with Alexander near the bottom of the ramp. Swann hits the rolling splash but Alexander gets a shoulder up in time. Swann spikes him with a Poison Rana but it’s still not enough to put Alexander away. Swann goes for the handspring cutter but Alexander cuts him off with a running crossbody. Alexander locks in the Ankle Lock but Swann rolls through and sends him into the turnbuckles. Alexander hits the C4 Spike but Swann rolls away, preventing him from making the cover. Alexander drops Swann on the hardest part of the ring. Swann shows signs of life, connecting with the Phoenix Splash for a very close near fall. Alexander avoids the next Phoenix Splash attempt, then locks in the Ankle Lock. Swann knocks the headgear clean off Alexander’s head to break the hold. Both men exchange strikes in the middle of the ring. Swann hits the handspring cutter but Alexander kicks out at two. Alexander counters another handspring cutter into a Piledriver. Alexander connects with the C4 Spike to retain the IMPACT World Title.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
No Surrender 2023 started out pretty average but managed to successfully build and build until hitting the ridiculous high spot of the Bullet Club versus Time Machine, which is one of the best trios matches we’ve had in ANY wrestling company this year – really showing people how trios matches can be outside of the spot-fests of AEW’s The Elite. Unfortunately both the women’s and men’s title matches had to follow that match, which was an uphill battle but both matches managed to deliver. In fact I had doubts about the men’s match but Alexander and Swann really gave us a MAIN EVENT. The pair have worked together in Impact for years and it showed in this match. Another great pay-per-view/Impact Plus show!
