‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Aug 17th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw Johnny Swinger defeat Sheldon Jean. Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Deonna Purrazzo def. KiLynn King
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Deonna Purrazzo hopes that Knockouts World Champion Trinity is watching as she looks to make an example out of KiLynn King in this first-time-ever matchup! Purrazzo hits a baseball slide dropkick to the outside. King counters a head scissors attempt and plants her face-first into the mat. The fight spills to the floor where Purrazzo hits a side Russian leg-sweep into the hardest part of the ring. King avoids Queen’s Gambit, then hits a Gutbuster DDT combo for two. Purrazzo turns the tide with a Flatliner, then locks in the Koji Clutch. King almost puts her away with a Neutralizer. Purrazzo counters the Queen’s Curse into Venus de Milo, forcing King to submit.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Killer Kelly def. Jessicka & Savannah Evans
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Momentum is up for grabs ahead of the 4-way Knockouts World Tag Team Title showdown at Emergence! Jessicka and Evans square off with a series of strikes but Kelly takes them both down with a top rope crossbody. Evans hits Kelly with a Spinebuster, followed by a German suplex. Jessicka connects with a running splash on Evans but Kelly breaks the pin attempt. Jessicka fights off a Sleeper attempt from Kelly but Evans immediately spikes her with a DDT. Kelly hits a Death Valley Driver on Evans, which sends her crashing into Jessicka. Kelly pins Jessicka to score the victory.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Moose def. Kevin Knight
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Following their backstage confrontation earlier tonight, Kevin Knight steps up to Moose in singles action! Knight connects with a series of chops. Moose hits a thunderous Sky High out of the corner for an early near fall. Moose pummels Knight with strikes, then adds insult to injury by stepping on his neck. Knight hits a superkick but can’t get the big man off his feet. Moose plants him with a standing Uranage. Knight attempts to quicken the pace but Moose hurls him over the top rope to the floor. Moose catches him in mid-air but Knight counters into a head scissors on the exposed ramp. Knight is in total control as he soars with a dive to the outside. Back in the ring, Knight almost puts Moose away with the Code Red. Moose hangs him up on the top rope, then delivers a message to KUSHIDA and he spears Knight for the three count.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: Eric Young def. Kon (DQ)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Kon looks to destroy his former leader, Eric Young, as Deaner watches on from ringside! Deaner provides a distraction from the outside, allowing Kon to flatten Young. Kon distracts the referee, as Deaner delivers not one but two cheap shots to Young. Young begins to build momentum with a big back body drop out of the corner. Young drops him with a Death Valley Driver for two. Kon quickly shuts down his momentum with a Spinebuster. Young is going for a Piledriver when Deaner cracks him in the back with a steel chair.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #5: No Disqualifications Match – Bully Ray def. Black Taurus
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Bully Ray locks horns with Black Taurus in a No Disqualifications match but is PCO lurking in the shadows? Taurus charges the ring during his entrance and immediately takes Bully down. Taurus takes a bite out of Bully, then dumps him to the outside. Taurus hits a slingshot crossbody to the outside. Taurus is in complete control after driving him into the steel ring post. Back in the ring, Bully rakes the eyes of Taurus but gets whipped into the ladder face-first. Taurus flies with a top-rope twisting senton for two. Taurus goes for another one but Bully evades, causing Taurus to crash into the ladder. Bully scores the pinfall to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #6: Number 1 Contenders Tag Team Championship Tournament Final – Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) def. Rich Swann & Sami Callihan
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Who is headed to Emergence to challenge SUBCULTURE for the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles? We find out in our main event! Callihan drives Miguel into the hardest part of the ring with a Death Valley Driver. Swann soars over the top rope, colliding with the both of the Rascalz on the floor. The Rascalz deliver thumbs to the eyes of their opponents, then fly with in-sync Moonsaults to the outside. Wentz pulls Callihan off the apron, preventing Swann from making the tag. Miguel continues the assault until Swann creates separation with a rolling clothesline. Swann makes the tag to Callihan who quickens the pace with a Flatliner DDT combo to the Rascalz. Callihan spikes Wentz with the Cactus Driver 97 into the sternum of Miguel. Minutes later, Miguel launches Wentz as he dropkicks Swann in the corner. Wentz follows up with a double stomp for two. Everybody is down following a series of superkicks. Both teams exchange strikes in the middle of the ring. Swann hits an assisted cutter on Wentz but it’s not enough. Wentz takes out Swann with a huge dive to the floor. Miguel blinds Callihan with spray paint while the referee is tending to Swann. The Rascalz hit Hot Fire Flame on Callihan to win the match and the tournament.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
A bit of a rollercoaster week in wrestling for Impact, with two GREAT matches, some good ones and some OK ones. Hey, at least we got a great main event AND a great opener too – with a brilliant match between KiLynn King and Deonna Purazzo to start the show and an even better tag team match to close the show. Plus, this was all a great build to Emergence at the end of the month. Another wining week for Impact Wrestling.