‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Jun 8th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that the match between Seleziya Sparx and Tara Rising Ends in a No Contest thanks to interference from Masha Slamovich. Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Chris Bey def. Jason Hotch
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Before The Good Hands challenge ABC for the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles tomorrow night at Against All Odds, momentum is up for grabs! Bey goes for a springboard but Hotch cuts him off and sends him toppling to the floor. Bey avoids some aerial offense, then builds momentum with a Flatliner for two. Bey attempts the Art of Finesse but Hotch counters into a Blue Thunder Bomb. Both men exchange pin attempts with Bey gaining the upper-hand to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Heath def. Champagne Singh
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Heath is out for revenge just one night before competing in the 8-4-1 match at Against All Odds! Shera immediately gets involved while the referee’s back is turned, allowing Singh to gain the early advantage. Moments later, Heath knocks Shera off the apron, then turns the tide with a powerslam to Singh. Heath hits the Wake Up Call to score the quick victory.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Joe Hendry def. Sheldon Jean
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Joe Hendry takes on the man who broke his nose recently, Sheldon Jean! Hendry hits a swinging powerslam. King trips up Hendry from the outside, allowing Jean to gain control. Jean hits a back suplex neckbreaker for two. Hendry counters a headlock into a vertical suplex. Hendry hits a running cutter off the ropes, followed by a Fallaway Slam. King provides another distraction on the apron but it’s not enough. Hendry hits Jean with the Standing Ovation to win.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #4: Knockouts World Tag Team Championship – The Coven (Taylor Wilde & KiLynn King) def. Death Dollz (Jessicka & Courtney Rush)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The Death Dollz have earned this opportunity to become Knockouts World Tag Team Champions! Rush goes for an early Sharpshooter but King escapes to the ropes. King distracts the referee, allowing Wilde to illegally attack Rush from the apron. King remains in control with a twisting vertical suplex. Rush makes the tag to Jessicka, who puts her power on display. King trips up Jessicka as The Coven hit a flurry of strikes in the corner. Jessicka counters Witch’s Wrath from Wilde and makes the tag to Rush. Rush hits King with a head scissors, followed by a running bulldog for two. Rush locks in the Sharpshooter. Wilde is tapping out but the referee’s attention is on King and Jessicka brawling on the outside. The Coven take out Rush with their signature double team running boot for three.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Trey Miguel def. Bhupinder Gujjar
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Trey Miguel battles Bhupinder Gujjar for the first time ever as Miguel prepares to defend his title against Chris Sabin tomorrow night at Against All Odds! Gujjar hits an Enzuigiri, sending Miguel retreating to the outside. Gujjar goes for a dive but Miguel cuts him off and sends Gujjar throat-first into the middle rope. Miguel is trying to win by count-out as he dropkicks Gujjar to prevent him from making it back into the ring. Gujjar breaks the count, then hits a flapjack to build momentum. Gujjar crashes and burns on a top rope splash. Miguel looks for the Meteora but this time it’s Gujjar who avoids the incoming assault. Miguel connects with Lightning Spiral to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #6: Moose & Rich Swann def. Jonathan Gresham & Nick Aldis
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
We get a preview of things to come in the first-ever 8-4-1 match tomorrow night at Against All Odds in our main event! Longtime rivals Moose and Rich Swann must work together, much like what we’ll see in Columbus. Moose is barking orders but Swann remains focused as he hits Gresham with a splash. Moose whips Gresham into the corner turnbuckles with brute force. Moose wants Swann to take a cheap shot but he refuses. Gresham fights free with a victory roll, allowing him to make the tag to Aldis. The pace quickens as Aldis takes out Moose with an explosive clothesline. Aldis hits a Michinoku Driver, followed by a top rope elbow drop to Moose. Both men are down following in-sync clotheslines. Swann almost puts Gresham away with the Handspring Cutter. Moose makes the blind tag, then powerbombs Gresham to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
This week’s Impact was pretty good, none of the matches blew me away but overall this was a great go-home show for this weekend’s Against All Odds pay-per-view. A couple of the matches teased bigger matches we’re going to see this weekend and they did get me excited to see those – which means this week’s episode did its job and did it well. The only downer this week was the Joe Hendry match, which was a squash that was really used to sell Hendry’s feud with the returning Dirty Dango but as I’m intrigued by how that feud will play out I can let one squash match on a six-match show slide.
