‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Jul 27th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw Joe Hendry & Yuya Uemura defeat Kenny King & Sheldon Jean. Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Trinity & Dani Luna def. The Coven (Taylor Wilde & KiLynn King)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Dani Luna makes her IMPACT in-ring debut as she teams with Knockouts World Champion Trinity to battle The Coven who are desperate to make a statement tonight! Luna takes King off her feet with a diving back elbow. Luna catches Wilde in mid-air for a Fallaway Slam. King hangs up Luna on the ropes, allowing Wilde to gain control. The Coven cut off the ring and employ quick tags to begin the wear-down process on Luna. King continues the assault with a series of powerslams. Luna counters into a vertical suplex on King to create some much-needed separation. Luna makes the tag to Trinity, who soars with a top rope crossbody to Wilde. Trinity hits a modified Full Nelson Slam on Wilde to pick up the victory.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Loser Leaves IMPACT Match – Johnny Swinger def. Zicky Dice
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
After months of trying to rig the system, Johnny Swinger and Zicky Dice must now pay for their actions when they face off in a Loser Leaves IMPACT match! Swinger hits the Finger Poke of Doom but Dice tries to pull a fast one with a rollup. Swinger delivers a thumb to the eye but Dice comes back with a low blow. Swinger goads Dice into thinking he’s forfeiting the match. Swinger shows his true colors as he hits a clothesline on the floor. Swinger puts his feet on the ropes to score the pinfall, and Dice must leave IMPACT Wrestling. Meanwhile, Swinger has earned his long-awaited IMPACT World Title opportunity.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #3: Gisele Shaw def. Masha Slamovich
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Following a backstage altercation last week, Gisele Shaw battles one half of the new Knockouts World Tag Team Champions, Masha Slamovich! The early advantage goes to Slamovich following a series of headbutts. Shaw dumps her to the outside to gain control. Back in the ring, Shaw hits a diving uppercut for two. With a great sense of urgency, Shaw delivers a double foot stomp for another near fall. Slamovich connects with Shock & Awe but it’s still not enough to keep Slamovich down. Slamovich avoids the knee strike, then follows up with a spin kick. Killer Kelly neutralizes Jai Vidal at ringside but falls victim to the numbers game as she’s blindsided by Savannah Evans. Shaw capitalizes with the Denouement to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: The Time Splitters (Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA) def. Moose & Brian Myers
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
After Bully Ray, Moose and Brian Myers brutally assaulted IMPACT World Champion Alex Shelley, KUSHIDA and Josh Alexander last week, revenge is in the air! KUSHIDA knocks Moose off the apron with a handspring. Shelley chases Myers around the ringside area but he walks right into a clothesline from Moose. Back in the ring, Moose and Myers slow the pace as they attempt to wear Shelley down. Shelley counters into a pinning predicament on Myers to score the victory.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Zachary Wentz def. Mike Bailey
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Mike Bailey looks to teach the Rascalz a lesson in respect as he goes one-on-one with Zachary Wentz! Miguel tries to trip up Bailey from the outside, allowing Wentz to capitalize with a mini-Stunner on the ropes. Bailey bounces back with a series of kicks, followed by a standing Shooting Star for two. Bailey goes for the pin but Miguel puts the leg of Wentz on the bottom rope. Bailey hits a springboard Moonsault, taking out Wentz on the floor. Bailey goes face-to-face with Miguel but that provides Wentz with the opportunity to drive him into the hardest part of the ring. Bailey attempts the Tornado Kick but Miguel gets involved once again, this time pulling Wentz to safety. The referee ejects Miguel from ringside. Wentz blinds Bailey with spray paint while the referee’s back is turned, followed by the Headlock DDT to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #6: Eric Young def. Nick Aldis
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Eric Young competes on IMPACT! for the first time in 9 months as he battles a fellow former IMPACT World Champion and longtime rival, Nick Aldis! The early advantage goes to Young as Aldis retreats to the outside for a breather. Aldis then traps Young in the ring apron before sending him into the steel ring post. Back in the ring, Aldis begins to wear Young down with a headlock. Young show signs of life with a series of running clotheslines, followed by a belly-to-belly suplex. Young heads to the top rope but Aldis trips him up, then connects with a thudding Superplex. Aldis tries his hand at some high-risk offense but Young counters into an Atomic Drop. Aldis responds with a Michinoku Driver for two. Aldis locks in the Kingsley Cloverleaf but Young crawls to the bottom rope to break the hold. Young spikes him with the Piledriver to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
A solid episode for Impact this week, with only the Swinger/Dice match letting this card down (all I could think was WTF for the entirety of that one, to be honest). I enjoyed seeing Dani Luna in wrestling action at last and what’s not to like about seeing The Coven too?! The rest of the show delivered across the board, with a surprising win for Eric Young – well surprising in that I expect to see Nick Aldis win all his matches right now TBH. It was interesting to see Eric Young’s former teammates attack him after the match – looks like that storyline isn’t over! The other surprise was seeing Mike Bailey lose to Zachary Wentz too, even if it was down to some shenanigans… I’m guessing this is a new long-term feud that’s starting between Bailey and the Rascalz. Overall a decent, if not remarkable, week for Impact.
