‘Impact Wrestling: Final Resolution 2023’ PPV Review
Welcome to this review of Impact Wrestling’s Final Resolution 2023 pay-per-view, which opened with the usual free-to-view pre-show Countdown to… Let’s get straight into the review!
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL RESOLUTION
Match #1: PCO def. Jessie V
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
PCO jumpstarts the match as he dives through the ropes and takes out Jessie on the floor. PCO hits a leg drop, then collides with him on the hardest part of the ring. Jessie finds an opening, soaring with a Frog Splash from the top. PCO shuts down his momentum, then hits the PCO-sault to win.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #2: Jack Price def. Aiden Prince
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Price hits a Flatliner out of the corner. Aiden hits the ropes but Price slows the pace with a dropkick. Price drops him face-first into the top turnbuckle, followed by a German suplex for two. Price hits a modified Rough Rider but it’s still not enough to keep Aiden down. Aiden bounces back with a Flatliner of his own. Aiden is about to fly but Price retreats to the other side of the ring. Price delivers a thumb to the eye, then hits the Pressure Check Gutbuster to win.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Frankie Kazarian def. Sheldon Jean
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Jean targets the nose of Kazarian in the early going. Kazarian goes for a springboard leg drop but Jean cuts him off and sends him toppling to the floor. Jean drives Kazarian shoulder-first into the steel ring post. Back in the ring, Jean remains in control as he chokes Kazarian on the ropes. Kazarian counters a back suplex attempt, then begins to build momentum. Kazarian successfully hits the springboard leg drop for two. Kazarian avoids a leg lariat, then locks in the Chicken Wing to win by submission.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
FINAL RESOLUTION
Match #1: IMPACT World Tag Team Championship – ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) def. Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Ace and Bey gain the early advantage off a double dropkick to Myers. Bey launches himself off the back of Austin, delivering a back elbow to Edwards. Moments later, the tide is turned as Edwards and Myers cut off the ring and wear Bey down. Myers distracts the referee as Alisha Edwards attacks Bey from the outside. After several minutes, Bey fights free and makes the ag to Austin. The pace quickens as Austin brings the fight to both of his opponents. Austin takes Edwards down with a springboard kick for two. Edwards comes back with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall of his own. Myers spears Bey on the apron. Edwards hits a Backpack Stunner on Austin, followed by a top rope elbow drop from Myers. Ace and Bey hit 1, 2 Sweet on Myers to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Jody Threat def. Alisha Edwards
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Threat takes Alisha down and pummels her with strikes. Threat hits a suplex out of the corner for two. The referee catches Eddie trying to push Threat off the top rope, prompting the referee to eject him and Myers from ringside. Threat soars with a top rope crossbody to Eddie and Myers on the floor. Alisha capitalizes off the distraction to gain control. Alisha hits her signature running crossbody for two. Alisha locks in a Boston Crab. Threat fights free and spikes her with a Driver to turn the tide. Alisha counters Pop Shove-It into a Flatliner for another near fall. Threat catches Alisha in mid-air and hits Pop Shove-It to win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Digital Media Championship – Tommy Dreamer def. Deaner
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Deaner retreats to the outside in the early going but Tommy makes him pay with a poke to the eyes. Deaner knocks him off the apron, then whips Tommy’s hand into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Deaner continues to target the left arm of Tommy. Deaner mocks his opponent with a series of jabs. Tommy stops the Bionic Elbow but Deaner continues the beatdown. Deaner leaps off the top but Tommy gets his boot up. Tommy delivers a Bionic Elbow, followed by his signature cutter for a near fall. Deaner grabs the Digital Media Title but the referee stops him from using it. Deaner wraps the Digital Media Title over the top turnbuckle pad but it comes back to bite him. Tommy catapults him into the gold, then hits the DDT to win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Mike Bailey & Trent Seven def. The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Trent Seven makes his shocking IMPACT debut in this impromptu tag team contest. Bailey and Seven deliver in-sync strikes to their opponents as the Rascalz retreat to the outside to regain their composure. Wentz pulls Seven’s hair as Miguel jabs him in the throat. Miguel hits Seven with a double foot stomp off the top rope. Miguel begins to wear Seven down with a Figure Four headlock. The Rascalz deliver an incredible sequence of offense including double knees, a neckbreaker, and a Shooting Star. Seven spikes Miguel with a DDT to create some much-needed separation, allowing him to make the tag to Bailey. The pace quickens as Bailey brings the fight to the Rascalz. Bailey counters a handspring from Wentz into a mid-air superkick. Seven back body-drops Miguel over the top rope to the floor. Bailey superkicks Wentz into a German suplex from Seven but Miguel breaks the pin. Wentz hits a double stomp on Seven but it’s not enough. ABC make their way to ringside and the Rascalz are distracted. Seven hits Wentz with a Burning Hammer, followed by Ultima Weapon from Bailey to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Jake Something def. Jason Hotch
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Hotch immediately targets the previously-injured lower back of Something. Hotch is relentless on his attack but Something will not stay down. Something fights back with a series of thudding clotheslines as he turns his opponent inside out. Hotch hits a shoulder tackle in the corner but his back gives out when going for the follow-up powerbomb. Something fights through the pain to successfully hit the powerbomb. Something sends Hotch Into the Void to win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #6: Rhino def. Moose (DQ)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Rhino repeatedly drives Moose face-first into the apron. Moose hits a low blow in front of the referee, causing the disqualification.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #7: Street Fight – Moose def. Rhino
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Rhino hits a vertical suplex on the steel ramp. Rhino retrieves a ladder from underneath the ring and drives it into the solar-plexus of Moose. Rhino is trapped in the corner as Rhino smashes his arm with a steel chair. Minutes later, Rhino powerbombs Moose through a table for two. Rhino goes for the Gore but Moose cuts whips a steel chair at his head. Moose charges but this time it’s Rhino who counters as he sends him crashing into a ladder. Rhino inadvertently Irish whips Moose into the referee. Rhino hits the Gore but the delay in getting a new referee allows Moose to kick out. Moments later, Rhino accidentally Gores the new referee through a table. Moose spears Rhino to win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #8: Trinity & Jordynne Grace def. Deonna Purrazzo & Gisele Shaw
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Trinity attempts Star Struck in the early going but Purrazzo quickly counters. Grace hits Shaw with a stalling front suplex, followed by a powerslam. Grace dives through the ropes, taking out both of her opponents on the floor. Shaw counters the Juggernaut Driver, then knocks Trinity off the apron. Purrazzo and Shaw cut off the ring as they begin to wear Purrazzo down. Grace uses her quickness to escape out of the corner, allowing her to make the tag to Trinity. The pace quickens as Trinity hits the running splits on Shaw. Trinity connects with a bulldog but Purrazzo breaks the pin attempt. Trinity plants Shaw into the mat with an assist from Grace. The fight spills to the outside where Purrazzo drives Grace back-first into the side of the ring. Trinity hits Purrazzo with a pinpoint Enzuigiri, then makes the tag to Grace. Purrazzo traps her in the Fujiwara Armbar but Grace breaks free. Trinity neutralizes Shaw on the floor. Grace powerbombs Purrazzo, followed by a Full Nelson Bomb from Trinity. Grace pins Purrazzo to win.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #9: Josh Alexander & Zack Sabre Jr def. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Zack Sabre makes his IMPACT debut in the final special event match of the IMPACT Wrestling era. Alexander hits Sabin with a Flapjack, then attempts an Ankle Lock but Sabin fight sit off. Sabre twists and bends the arm of Shelley. Alexander and Sabre employ quick tags as they pick apart Shelley’s arms and legs. Sabin finally tags himself into the match and the Guns turn things around. Shelley traps Sabre in a straight jacket maneuver. The pace quickens as Alexander goes on the attack. Alexander delivers a series of German suplexes to Shelley. Moments later, Shelley sends Alexander face-first into the middle turnbuckle. Shelley locks in the Motor City Stretch but Alexander transitions into a pin attempt for two. Sabin locks in an STF on Sabre, then spikes him with a tornado DDT. Sabin takes down both of his opponents with a crossbody off the top. Sabin hits another tornado DDT, this time on Alexander. Sabin missile dropkicks Alexander into a Flatliner from Shelley for another near fall. The Guns lock in simultaneous Figure Four Leg Locks on Sabre and Alexander. Sabre counters the Cradle Shock into an armbar. Shelley fights off an Ankle Lock by sending him crashing into Sabre. The action is back and forth until Alexander spikes Sabin with the C4 Spike to win.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
Not on a par with some of the more recent Impact special events/PPVs, this year’s Final Resolution felt like a send-off for the company – getting as many of its mainstays onto the card as possible whilst trying to deliver an effective show at the same time. But the show still made good on its promise of some great matches, culminating in a women’s tag match with four of the companies best female talent (though Purrazzo is now a free agent) and a main event that – even with the addition of “outsider” Zack Sabre Jr, felt like a brilliant last “hurrah” for Impact, with IMPACT mainstay Josh Alexander getting the final pin on TNA mainstays the Motor City Machine Guns… It’s almost like that match, and that pin, delivered a final message on both the past AND future of the company. I for one am looking forward to watching TNA in 2024!
