‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Mar 2nd 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw Heath & Rhino defeat Decay (Crazzy Steve & Black Taurus). Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Mike Bailey def. Shane Haste
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Rising stars from IMPACT Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling collide! Bailey delivers a flurry of kicks, sending him to the outside. Bailey dives through the ropes but Haste cuts him off in mid-air and drops Bailey back-first on the apron. Haste remains in control with a Saito Suplex for two. Moments later, Haste hits a Falcon Arrow for another near fall. Bailey soars with a missile dropkick, followed by a running corkscrew. Both men exchange shots in the middle of the ring with Bailey gaining the upper-hand. Haste regains control with a modified back suplex cutter. Bailey hits a springboard Moonsault to the outside. Haste hits a running dropkick, followed by the Dynamic Bomb but it’s still not enough. Bailey spikes him with the Poison Rana, then hits Ultima Weapon to win.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: Kenny King def. Kevin Knight
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Kenny King looks to turn his luck around against one of New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s most promising young talents, Kevin Knight! It doesn’t take long for Knight to take flight, diving over the top rope and crashing into King on the outside. Moments later, King trips him up on the top rope, then gains control with a vicious clothesline. King catches Knight in mid-air, then hits a twisting backbreaker for two. Knight uses his quickness to his advantage, hitting a springboard crossbody for a near fall of his own. King shuts down his momentum with a Spinebuster. King hits the Royal Flush to win.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: PCO def. Trey Miguel (DQ)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
After running his mouth at No Surrender, X-Division Champion Trey Miguel must face the wrath of PCO! The early advantage goes to PCO as he hits a backbreaker on the outside. PCO crashes and burns, diving through the ropes but only hitting the exposed ramp. Back in the ring, PCO sits up and hits a pop-up powerbomb, followed by double knees in the corner. PCO soars with a leg drop off the second rope. Eddie Edwards attacks PCO with the shovel he used to bury him, causing the disqualfication.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: IMPACT World Tag Team Championship – Bullet Club (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) def. Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Following their victory at No Surrender, Bullet Club challenge the Motor City Machine Guns for the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles! Ace uses his playing card to slice Shelley’s hand while the referee’s view is obstructed. Shelley knocks Ace off the apron, then joins Sabin for a double team attack on Bey. Shelley hits a sliding dropkick, sending Bey into the steel guardrail. Shelley locks in the Motor City Stretch but Bey makes it to the bottom rope. The fight spills to the outside where Bey causes both of the Guns to inadvertently chop the steel ring post. Shelley creates separation with a kick to Bey’s head, allowing him to make the tag to Sabin. The match begins to break down as everyone gets involved. Bey launches himself over the top rope, colliding with Sabin on the outside. Sabin hits double crossbody on both of his opponents, followed by a tornado DDT to Ace. Bey counters the Cradle Shock from Sabin into a pair of cutters. The Guns hits the Doomsday Device on Bey, but Shelley can’t put him away with the follow-up Shell Shock. The action is fast and furious, leading to The Art of Finesse on Shelley, followed by The Fold for a Bullet Club victory.
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
News of the Night:
- Shane Haste made his Impact debut against Mike Bailey
Final Verdict: 4/5
A damn fine week of wrestling from Impact. Though, and I’ve rated this show on the wrestling NOT the overall show, there were far too many promos and backstage segments for my liking this week. So much so that we only got FOUR(!) matches… Hey, I can complain about that but not the in-ring action, which was across the board great (well apart from the dusty finish to the PCO/Trey Miguel match). Shane Haste had a great debut, the main event was another superb tag team match and Kenny King delivered once again. The WRESTLING on this show put other promotions to shame this week that’s for sure!
