Best and worst of Impact Wrestling- Unexpected face turn, Return after 6 years

It's a shame to see only around 6,500 people tune in every week to watch Impact Wrestling on Twitch. And this is because the quality of wrestling that the promotion puts on is better than almost any other company in the world.

The storylines are intriguing, the matches are great, and more often than not, everything has a purpose. The only brand, in my opinion, that delivers shows with the consistency of Impact Wrestling is NXT.

In any case, I thought this week's episode of Impact Wrestling was pretty cool and it is indeed commendable how the Impact think tank is putting on incredible shows without a world champion. Here's wishing Brian Cage a speedy recovery because I know he's hating the fact that he has to sit on the sidelines while his co-workers make merry.

Please share your thoughts, comments and opinions in the section below, dear Sportskeeda reader.

---

#1 Best: 2 incredible promos

Tommy Dreamer cut such a great promo on this week's show that he teared up while cutting it. If you missed it, it was a promo to build the 8-man main event match that would take place between oVe and Rich Swann, Fallah Bahh, Willie Mack, and of course, Tommy Dreamer himself.

Dreamer spoke about the level of diversity in his team and how they were all united over just one thing, a love for professional wrestling. It was clear as day that everyone in the room was moved by his words and his passion and a nothing match suddenly seemed like quite a big deal.

I also loved Killer Kross' promo challenging Eddie Edwards to a big match. This is a match over a kendo stick, mind you!

This feud could potentially be gold, if it's given the time to breathe.

#1 Worst: Kiera Hogan's cheesy promo

Kiera Hogan is absolutely fabulous in the ring, but she still has a long way to go on the microphone right now. In a show where the likes of Tommy Dreamer and Killer Kross cut absolutely incredible promos, and Rosemary was in her element, Hogan's delivery just felt flat.

It actually slipped into Mean Girls/Pitch Perfect territory with her screaming to Jordynne Grace and Melissa Santos that she didn't need either of them as her friends. Impact relies highly on storytelling so every promo is extremely important, in my opinion.

I also thought that the Johnny Impact and Michael Elgin face-off wasn't as strong as the others, but it did its job. But hey I'm down for an Elgin vs. Impact match as well as a Hogan vs. Grace match anytime.

Maybe Tommy Dreamer can pass on a few tips of his own to the younger talent.

#2 Best: Return after 6 years

Don Callis, who was a part of ECW with Rob Van Dam commented on his return to an Impact Wrestling weekly television ring after 6 whole years (he did wrestle on United We Stand, a special WrestleMania weekend special before this match). Callis remarked about how, 21 years after he first called an RVD match, he was still so very fluid.

I thought that RVD was just a tad slower in the ring than I'm used to seeing him but he still wrestles at a very high level for a man who is 48 years old. The only legend in the same league as him at a similar age group to him is probably Chris Jericho, who just grows better with age.

Ethan Page pulled his weight and so did Josh Alexander, who was ringside intering in the match one too many times. A really good showing!

#2 Worst: Matches without stakes

While the show was top heavy and also bottom heavy, I thought that the middle was filled with far too much filler. There was a nothing four-way match between The Desi Hit Squad, The Rascalz, The Deaners, and of course, Aiden Prince and Brent Banks.

The Desi Hit Squad picked up a big win, and I really hope this means a push for the unit because if not, this was just a throwaway match with no stakes or consequences. At the same time, I wonder if they are a serious enough tag team to compete with the likes of a team like LAX.

Moreover, Jordynne Grace, who almost became the Knockouts Champion at Rebellion is working back up the ranks again feuding with enhancement talent. Alexia Nicole did not stand a chance as Jordynne Grace plowed through her and left her in a heap during the show.

#3 Best: Taya Valkyrie vs. Madison Rayne

I've interviewed Taya Valkyrie multiple times in the past, and she's one of the nicest people in the wrestling business. So, when she went heel, I asked her about the change and this is what she had to say about her change in character:

Well, the Taya that you're seeing right now is the Taya that was alive and well in AAA as well as Lucha Underground. 95% of my career I've been a heel.

And she is right about how naturally it comes to her. I'm a little amazed that she did so well as a babyface as well considering that she just seems like she's in her element playing a bad guy.

She took on Madison Rayne this week and the two women put on a pretty good match. But Taya Valkyrie was the clear star of the match, despite the fact that Rayne picked up the win, mocking Josh Mathews for his wife getting hurt.

#3 Worst: Tessa Blanchard as a babyface

There is just a certain set of individuals who should never be babyfaces in my opinion because it doesn't suit them. I really think that Tessa Blanchard is one such character who is a natural heel, who really excels at the role.

Blanchard had a curtain call moment with Gail Kim at Rebellion and she has seemingly turned over a new leaf since that day. But somehow, much like Kevin Owens on SmackDown Live, I just feel like the whole babyface thing just does not suit their character at all.

Yes, I'm sure she'll have a great series of matches against Taya Valkyrie for the Knockouts Championship as it's clear that we're headed in that direction for now. But I somehow think that being a babyface is not something that fans will buy into and that could potentially hurt her in the long run.

#4 Best/worst: The main event

Somehow, the main event did not seem like a big deal to me. Also, the fact that Rich Swann isn't defending his X Division Championship against the likes of The Rascalz does not really sit well with me, quite honestly. I would have personally preferred to see him tear it up for the title.

But the fact of the matter is that all 8 men involved in the main event match made it feel quite special this week. Everyone did a high spot including Fallah Bahh and Tommy Dreamer. Rich Swann and Madman Fulton were involved in a spot on the ladder that you must go back and watch.

Impact Wrestling is a weekly television show that does not really feel like work to me at all. I really enjoy watching the show and I have to admit that their weekly product is a treat for every professional wrestling fan.

The only show better is the Smoke Show.