‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Jul 13th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw Dirty Dango defeat Heath – giving Dango a two-week, two-match winning streak on BTI! Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Zachary Wentz def. Chris Bey
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Zachary Wentz makes his IMPACT in-ring return against Chris Bey as he looks to prove that the Rascalz deserve a shot at the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles! Bey is in control as Wentz retreats to the outside. Austin and Miguel almost come to blows as Wentz knocks Bey off his feet. Wentz distracts the referee, allowing Miguel to choke Bey on the ropes. Bey turns things around with a top rope clothesline for two. Bey hits Code Red but it’s still not enough to keep Wentz down. Miguel gets up on the apron but Austin has had enough as he pulls him down to the floor. Miguel gives him a thumb to the eye, followed by a superkick. Wentz uses a foreign object on Bey, then connects with a headlock DDT to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Mike Bailey def. Kevin Knight
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Who will gain momentum heading into Slammiversary’s high-stakes Ultimate X match? Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey fight it out! Knight hits a springboard crossbody. Bailey fires back with a springboard Moonsault to the outside. Bailey drives his knees into the lower back of his opponent. Knight avoids the running corkscrew, then creates separation with a big dropkick. Knight picks Bailey off the top with another dropkick, sending him crashing to the floor. Knight soars with a crossbody to the outside. Bailey regains control as he continues to target the spine of Knight. Bailey catches him in mid-air with a superkick. The action is fast and furious as Knight leaps to the top rope and hits a massive Superplex. Bailey successfully hits the Whirlwind Kick, followed by Ultima Weapon for three.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: Joe Hendry & Yuya Uemura def. Kenny King & Sheldon Jean
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Before Joe Hendry defends the Digital Media Title against Kenny King on Countdown to Slammiversary, it’s tag team action tonight! Jean goads Hendry into entering the ring, drawing the referee’s attention and allowing King to illegally attack Uemura from the apron. King pummels Uemura with a series of strikes but Uemura uses his quickness to evade the follow-up attack. Uemura tags in Hendry as the champ goes on the assault. Hendry hits a Fallaway Slam on King before things start to break down. King plants Uemura with a Tiger Driver. Hendry rips off King’s hoodie and the crowd begins to chant “Stripper Kenny”. An embarrassed King retreats to the back as Hendry puts Jean away with the Standing Ovation.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Moose & Brian Myers def. Rich Swann & Sami Callihan
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Top contenders for the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles collide ahead of this Saturday’s 4-way clash at Slammiversary! The early advantage goes to Myers and Moose as Myers rakes the eyes of Callihan. Moose charges towards Callihan but the “Death Machine” pulls the top rope down, sending him toppling to the outside. Swann superkicks Moose as Callihan tosses Myers to the floor as well. Callihan launches his own partner into Moose and Myers as Swann connects with a somersault off the apron. Myers attacks Swann on the outside to give his team the advantage. Moose and Myers cut off the ring and begin to wear Swann down. Swann creates some much-needed separation as he counters a powerbomb into an Enzuigiri kick. Swann tags in Callihan and the pace quickens as he gets two for one with a DDT Flatliner combo on both of his opponents. Moose avoids the Cactus Driver 97 and both men are down following in-sync clotheslines. Myers inadvertently superkicks Moose. Swann has Myers beat following the Handspring Cutter but Moose pushes Callihan into the pile to break up the pin. Moose and Myers have another miscue, leading to the Death Valley Driver from Callihan and 450 Splash from Swann. Somehow, Moose is able to kick out at two. Myers has the referee distracted as Moose delivers a low blow to Callihan. Moose spears Callihan to score the victory.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Knockouts World Championship – Deonna Purrazzo def. Jody Threat
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The undefeated Jody Threat answers the open challenge! Threat bounces off the ropes and hits double knees to the face of Purrazzo. Threat charges into the corner but Purrazzo avoids the incoming attack. Purrazzo begins to target the left arm of Threat as she snaps it back on the mat. Purrazzo locks in the Fujiwara Armbar but Threat makes it to the bottom rope to break the hold. Threat hits a suplex out of the corner to create separation. Threat successfully hits the running double knees, followed by a German suplex for two. Threat counters Queen’s Gambit, then soars with a top rope cannonball. Threat hits a running clothesline for another two count. Purrazzo locks in another Fujiwara Armbar but this time, Threat rolls through and escapes. Threat attempts the F-Bomb but Purrazzo counters into Venus de Milo to win by submission.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
News of the Night:
- Director of Authority Santino Marella denied the Rascalz an IMPACT World Tag Team Title opportunity after Zachary Wentz cheated to defeat Chris Bey.
- Alex Shelley defends the IMPACT World Title against Nick Aldis this Saturday at Slammiversary.
- Masha Slamovich and Killer Kelly challenge The Coven for the Knockouts World Tag Team Titles at Slammiversary.
- In a brief vignette, Scott D’Amore teased the reformation of Team Canada as Impact went off the air.
Final Verdict: 4/5
I’ll be honest, despite having only 5 matches on the card, this was a great episode of Impact. Look, I get it, a match or two was sacrificed so that they could air promos and vignettes to sell this weekend’s Slammiversary PPV and that is EXACTLY what they did. This was a fantastic “go home” show for the pay-per-view, teasing matches, teasing angles, and really making Impact fans salivate for what’s to come on Saturday – especially with the bigger titles on the line at the show! The big news for this show was the returning Zachary Wentz in his first singles match back. A match that showed he was wasted elsewhere and, given a chance to shine – as Impact does for a LOT of wrestlers – he shows why he’s a great [re]addition to Impact. Can’t wait for the Rascalz to tear up the tag division once more!
