‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Aug 31st 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw KUSHIDA defeat IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Drilla Moloney. Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Knockouts #1 Contender Battle Royal – Alisha Edwards def. Killer Kelly, Masha Slamovich, KiLynn King, Gisele Shaw, Savannah Evans, Jody Threat, Jessicka, Courtney Rush & Vanna Black
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Trinity’s challenger for the Knockouts World Title at Victory Road will be determined in this over-the-top-rope Battle Royal! The Death Dollz bring the fight to Alisha and Black, who form a momentary alliance. The first elimination comes when MK Ultra toss Black to the outside. Evans eliminates Kelly but Jai Vidal prevents Shaw from being thrown over the top. Shaw capitalizes off of his involvement and eliminates the other half of the Knockouts World Tag Team Champions, Slamovich. Rush clotheslines Shaw for the elimination but also takes herself out in the process. King eliminates Jessicka, then delivers a jumping knee strike to Evans. Threat follows up with a running dropkick to eliminate Evans. King and Threat square off as King gains the upper-hand with a Neutralizer. Threat comes back with a German suplex but just when it appears that she’s going to win, Alisha Edwards appears out of nowhere and tosses them both over the top rope.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Mike Bailey def. Crazzy Steve (DQ)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Following his revealing sit-down interview with Tom Hannifan, Crazzy Steve has come unglued as he battles Mike Bailey here tonight! Bailey goes for the Tornado Kick but Steve counters. Steve pushes his fingers into Bailey’s eyes and doesn’t break the hold by the referee’s 5 count, causing the disqualification. Steve is about to use a fork on the eyes of Bailey when Black Taurus confronts him in the ring. Steve attacks his longtime ally in Decay, and targets his eyes as well. Security rushes to the ring but Steve begins to pick them off one by one.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #3: Eric Young def. Kon
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
After taking out Deaner in a No Disqualification match at Emergence, Eric Young looks to finish off The Design as he collides with Kon! The early advantage goes to Kon as he hits a thunderous Spinebuster for two. Kon tosses Young over the top rope, sending him crashing to the floor. Kon charges into the corner but Young avoids him. Young has Kon staggered as he spikes him with a Death Valley Driver for two. Young bites the head of Kon, then soars with a top rope elbow drop for another near fall. Young clotheslines him over the top rope, then dives to the outside. Young hits a vicious Piledriver on the floor but somehow, Kon makes it back into the ring before the referee’s 10 count. Young hits a second Piledriver to score the pinfall victory.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Chris Sabin def. Zachary Wentz
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Chris Sabin looks to shut up Zachary Wentz in this impromptu match made earlier tonight! Wentz sends Sabin to the outside, then takes him out with a dive over the top rope. Miguel is about to get involved at ringside but Shelley warns him not to. Back in the ring, Sabin spikes him with a tornado DDT out of the corner. Wentz hits a superkick, followed by a modified Half Nelson Slam for two. Wentz connects with a handspring knee but Sabin fires back with a dropkick and both men are down. Sabin locks in the STF but Miguel distracts the referee. Shelley pulls Miguel off the apron, then positions him for a running knee from Sabin. Sabin continues the assault with an assisted dive through the ropes, colliding with both of the Rascalz on the steel guardrail. Sabin puts Wentz away with the Cradle Shock to win.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #5: SANADA, Jake Something & Frankie Kazarian def. Moose, Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
It’s a star-studded six-man tag team match in tonight’s main event! Something launches himself over the top rope as he takes out Moose, Myers and Edwards on the outside. Dirty Dango and Alpha Bravo are seen watching the match on a monitor backstage. SANADA hits the ropes but Moose hits him with a knee back from the apron. Myers capitalizes with a back suplex and gains control. Moments later, SANADA ties up Edwards, then drive Myers face-first into Edwards’ backside. Edwards draws the attention of the referee, allowing Moose to attack SANADA from the apron. Edwards hits SANADA with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. SANADA counters a powerbomb attempt from Moose into a Hurricanrana. SANADA tags in Kazarian, who immediately goes after Edwards. Kazarian hits Edwards with a powerslam, followed by a pair of springboard leg drops for Edwards and Myers. Kazarian almost puts Edwards away with the Unprettier. Both men are down following in-sync crossbodies in the middle of the ring. Kazarian tags in Something, who puts his strength on display with a Pop-Up Powerbomb to Moose. Moose comes back with a powerbomb of his own to Something. SANADA hits Moose with a Shining Wizard. Myers takes SANADA out with the Roster Cut. Kazarian spikes Myers with a slingshot DDT. Kazarian and Edwards topple over the top rope to the floor. Something puts Myers away with Into the Void for three.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
This episode of Impact felt like a bit of a quiet “pause” for the company following Emergence – setting up some new storylines and new future matches; whilst continuing the new-school / old-school feud between The Razcalz and the Motor City Machine Guns, a feud that I hope continues to build and build to a huge PPV blow-off that determines who is the best Impact tag team of all-time.
