‘Impact Wrestling’ Review (Sep 22nd 2022)
Welcome to this week’s review of Impact Wrestling, which this week opens with a Before the Impact match that saw Gisele Shaw defeat Hyan! Let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Ladder Match for the Digital Media Championship – Brian Myers def. Bhupinder Gujjar
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The Digital Media Title is suspended high above the ring, the first person to climb a ladder and retrieve it will be the Digital Media Champion! Gujjar gains the early advantage with a Samoan Drop. Gujjar attempts the Gargoyle Spear but Myers cuts him off in mid-air with a knee strike. Myers delivers a back suplex on the apron. Myers climbs the ladder but Gujjar pulls him off and drops him with a cutter. Gujjar successfully hits the Gargoyle Spear, sending Myers crashing into the ladder. Now Gujjar is climbing the ladder when Myers tips it over. Myers hits an Irish whip into the ladder, followed by the Roster Cut Clothesline moments later. There are now two open ladders in the middle of the ring as both men race to the top. Gujjar gains the upper-hand, sending Myers crashing to the floor below. Myers regains his composure and hits a back suplex off the ladder. The fight spills to the outside where Myers powerbombs Gujjar into a ladder that’s propped on the steel steps. Myers hits a low blow, then tapes Gujjar to the ladder. Myers climbs up and retrieves the Digital Media Title to win!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: Jordynne Grace def. Zicky Dice
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Jordynne Grace looks to make an example out of Zicky Dice as she prepares to face Masha Slamovich’s handpicked opponent tomorrow night at Victory Road, Max the Impaler! Grace immediately takes control from the opening bell and hits the Grace Driver to score the dominant victory.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #3: Black Taurus def. Mia Yim, Trey Miguel, Alex Zayne & Laredo Kid
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Before the returning Triple Threat Revolver determines who will challenge for the X-Division Title at Bound For Glory, five of its competitors collide in this free-for-all! Yim hits Zayne and Miguel with a double dropkick off the second rope. Taurus confronts Yim in the middle of the ring. Yim doesn’t back down but Taurus makes her pay with a vicious headbutt. Kid soars off the top rope and hits Taurus with a Hurricanrana on the floor. Yim is the next to fly as she takes out everyone with a top rope Swanton Bomb to the outside. Zayne uses Taurus as a launchpad to pick Kid and Miguel off the top with a double Hurricanrana. Zayne hits Baja Blast on Taurus for two. Yim powerbombs Zayne, then spikes him with a Package Piledriver for a very close near fall. Kid crashes and burns on a top rope corkscrew attempt. Taurus spears Kid, then connects with Destination Hellhole on Zayne to win!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: Street Fight – Heath def. PCO
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Heath his a slingshot crossbody to jumpstart the match. Vincent blindsides Heath, allowing PCO to gain control with a running clothesline. PCO hits a neckbreaker on the steel ramp, followed by a leg drop. The fight spills into the crowd as Heath hurls a chair at PCO’s head. Heath baits PCO into a DDT on the stage. Heath then throws PCO off the stage into a pile of steel chairs. Honor No More returns to ringside but as they surround Heath, IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander and Rich Swann make the save. Alexander locks in the Ankle Lock on his Bound For Glory challenger, Eddie Edwards. Vincent blindsides Heath with a steel chair shot but Heath turns the tide with the Wake Up Call. PCO emerges and fills the ring with more chairs. PCO hits a chokeslam, then locks in the Mandible Claw. Heath avoids the follow-up PCO Sault, sending PCO crashing into the bed of chairs. Heath hits the Wake Up Call into the chairs to win!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #5: Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) def. Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Two of the greatest tag teams in professional wrestling collide with the winners earning a coveted IMPACT World Tag Team Title shot against Matt Taven and Mike Bennett at Bound For Glory! The Guns deliver a double superkick to Fletcher, then take out both members of Aussie Open with high-flying offense from the apron to the floor. Davis avoids a top rope foot stomp from Shelley, allowing Aussie Open to gain the advantage by driving the Guns back-first into one another. Fletcher and Davis hand off Shelley from one vertical suplex position to another before Fletcher drives him down to the mat. After several minutes of domination from Aussie Open, Shelley avoids an incoming senton from Davis, allowing him to tag in Sabin. The pace quicken as Sabin goes on the attack, taking out Davis with a slingshot crossbody on the floor. Sabin continues the assault with a top rope crossbody to Fletcher in the ring. Sabin dropkicks Fletcher into a Flatliner from Shelley for a very close near fall. Fletcher hits a Michinoku Driver out of nowhere, followed by an assisted cutter to Sabin but Shelley breaks the pin. Sabin fights out of the Coriolis, allowing the Guns to hit Skull and Bones on Davis to win!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
You know what? This episode of Impact felt like a chore. A retread of the Brian Myers Digital Champion stuff, a squash match and a street fight that felt like car-crash TV did not make for an exciting show. Neither did all the promos and the overly-long contract signing which closed the show. The only saviours for this week’s episode of Impact were the tag-team main event (which was awesome but to be expected given the competitors involved) and the tremendous X-Division five-way/intergender match – which actually felt like anyone could’ve picked up the win, that’s how well it was booked! I quibble but these promo-heavy shows seem to be de rigour for Impact heading into premium events/pay-per-views; I just wish we got more action instead.
