‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Aug 10th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw Kevin Knight defeat Champagne Singh. Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Number 1 Contenders Tag Team Championship Tournament – Rich Swann & Sami Callihan def. ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The Number 1 Contenders Tag Team Tournament continues as ABC battles Rich Swann and Sami Callihan in opening round action! Callihan launches Swann into a crossbody on Austin. Moments later, Austin creates separation with a kick to Callihan’s head. Swann gets involved from the outside, allowing Callihan to deliver a Cactus Driver to Austin on the hardest part of the ring. Bey soars with a springboard Moonsault to take out both Swann and Callihan on the outside. Swann ducks a clothesline, causing Bey’s right arm to collide with the steel ring post. Swann makes the tag to Callihan and the pace quickens. Callihan hits a modified Death Valley Driver on Bey. Austin kicks Swann into a neckbreaker from Austin but it’s not enough. Austin inadvertently kicks Bey in the head. Callihan counters the Art of Finesse into a submission hold. ABC bounce back with 1, 2 Sweet on Callihan but Swann breaks the pin attempt. Out of nowhere, Jason Hotch pulls the referee out of the ring while Austin is attempting to put Callihan away. Meanwhile, John Skyler takes out Austin with the Stroke. Unbeknownst to Callihan, he capitalizes off The Good Hands’ involvement and spikes Austin with the Cactus Driver to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Dirty Dango def. Bhupinder Gujjar
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Bhupinder Gujjar vows to make Dirty Dango respect him in this heated bout! Gujjar gains the early advantage with a flurry of offense, capping it off with a big dropkick for two. Dango rakes the eyes, then drops Gujjar with a running clothesline. Gujjar drives him face-first into the mat, then follows up with a knee strike. Gujjar connects with a Spinebuster but it’s not enough to keep Dango down. Alpha Bravo blinds Gujjar with a flashlight, allowing Dango to capitalize with the reverse DDT for three.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Jody Threat def. Alisha Edwards
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Jody Threat stands up to locker room bully Alisha Edwards in this Knockouts showdown! Threat goes for a springboard but Alisha cuts her off on the ropes. Alisha drives her down to the mat, head-first. Threat finds an opening as she quickens the pace with a flurry of clotheslines. Threat hits the double knees, followed by a German suplex. Alisha distracts the referee as Eddie trips Threat with his kendo stick. Frankie Kazarian evens the odds and attacks Eddie at ringside. Threat connects with the Pop Shove It to win.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: KUSHIDA def. Mike Bailey
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Top X-Division competitors face off as Mike Bailey goes one-on-one with KUSHIDA! The early advantage goes to KUSHIDA as he launches himself over the top rope to take out Bailey on the outside. Back in the ring, KUSHIDA begins the wear-down process as he stretches out the arms and back of Bailey. Moments later, Bailey creates separation with a running dropkick, followed by a running Shooting Star. KUSHIDA hits a handspring kick to send Bailey to the outside. KUSHIDA then drives the left shoulder of Bailey into the steel ring post. KUSHDA continues to soften up Bailey’s arm before turns his attention towards his legs. Bailey catches him with a springboard Moonsault. KUSHIDA locks in the Hoverboard Lock but Bailey counters into an armbar. Bailey hits a pinpoint knee to the head but KUSHIDA kicks out at two. KUSHIDA avoids Ultima Weapon, then attempts to lock in the Hoverboard Lock from the top rope. Bailey fights it off but KUSHIDA hits a Small Package Driver to win.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #5: Bully Ray, Moose & Brian Myers def. Laredo Kid & Black Taurus
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The bell rings and this has now turned into a 3-on-2 match. Kid uses his quickness to hit Moose with a Hurricanrana, sending the big man outside the ring to regain his composure. Taurus squares off with Bully as they exchange stiff strikes. Taurus drops Bully with a series of running shoulder tackles. IMPACT World Champion Alex Shelley, Josh Alexander, Chris Sabin and KUSHIDA are seen watching on from the backstage area as they prepare for their huge 8-man tag team war at Emergence. Myers pulls Bully to safety, causing Taurus’ exposed knee to collide with the steel ring post. Bully, Moose and Myers cut off the ring and employ quick tags to continue the assault on Taurus. Moments later, Taurus creates some much needed separation off a double clothesline that takes out both competitors. Taurus makes the tag to Kid and he spikes Moose with a tornado DDT. Bully inadvertently Irish whips Kid into the referee. Bully is trying to rip Kid’s mask off when the lights go out. PCO makes his shocking return after being lit on fire by Bully Ray and Steve Maclin. PCO clears the ring of Moose and Myers, then chases Bully to the back. Kid hits a top rope splash on Myers but the referee is slow to make the count, allowing Myers to kick out at two. Moose pulls Taurus off the apron as Myers connects with the Roster Cut on Kid to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
This week’s Impact was one packed with some great matches – just look at KUSHIDA/Bailey’s match, one of the best matches of the wrestling week IMHO – but some less than stellar storytelling. Well, I say that but it’s basically some choices I wouldn’t have gone with, like the whole Lio Rush beating down Samurai Del Sol BEFORE their match; PCO being the focus of the show post-main event; and what is the thinking behind the Crazzy Steve interview segment? Not sure I can get behind this “softer” side of Steve IMHO. One plot point I can get behind however is the teaming of Joe Hendry and Yuya Uemura tagging together! Overall this week’s show survived on the in-ring action rather than anything else…
