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Tonight's episode of Impact Wrestling began with Bobby Lashley & American Top Team (ATT) entering the Impact Zone, as members of ATT started harassing the employees backstage. Before cutting to ringside, there was a video package promoting the main event between Johnny Impact and Low-ki to determine the #1 Contender for Eli Drake's GFW Global Championship.
#1 Braxton Sutter (w/ Allie) vs Garza Jr.
The first match of the show featured Braxton Sutter taking on former AAA Superstar Garza Jr in Singles competition. The first few minutes of the match consisted of both Sutter and Garza Jr. performing fast-paced moves, with the action slowing down after a Springboard Neckbreaker by Sutter on Garza Jr. for a two-count.
Garza Jr. got back to his feet and walloped Sutter with a clothesline before blowing a flying kiss to Allie who was at ring side. The next few minutes of the match saw Garza Jr. take control of Sutter. In what seemed like a complete heel move, Sutter, on the outside, used Allie as a human shield to protect himself from Garza Jr.'s dive. Sutter immediately took the opportunity to nail Garza Jr. with a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall.
Garza Jr. made his comeback by super kicking Sutter before pinning him via the Lionsault.
Result: Garza Jr. def. Braxton Sutter
Post-match, Garza Jr. helped Allie into the ring to check on Sutter who lost his temper before walking away from her. Sutter came back and tried dragging her to the back, but Allie didn't budge. So, he ordered her to move, which she did reluctantly.
#2 EC3 (c) vs El Hijo Del Fantasma for the Grand Championship
The second match of the show featured Ethan Carter III defending his Grand Championship against AAA's El Hijo Del Fantasma.
The first round started with Fantasma taking down EC3 with arm-drags and hip-tosses before EC3 got out of the hold and assaulted him with a couple of elbow drops for a two-count. Ethan threw Fantasma onto the outside by hitting him with the TK3 from over the top rope. On the outside, Ethan kept smashing Fantasma's face on the floor until the round was over. EC3 won the first round via unanimous decision.
Round two started with an attempt from Fantasma to swiftly take down EC3, but Ethan stayed sharp and stalled Fantasma's attempt by pinning him to the mat. EC3 locked Fantasma in a three-quarter nelson, but Fantasma broke out of it and snapped EC3 with a flying head scissors takedown and top-rope neckbreaker before jumping on him via the Superfly Splash for a two-count. Fantasma locked EC3 in a Mexican surfboard stretch, but couldn't make him tap out as the second round ended. The judges awarded Fantasma the second round via unanimous decision.
In the third and final round, the participants went back-and-forth at each other with several power moves and near falls. In the end, with only 30 seconds left on the clock, EC3 knocked out Fantasma with the Running Knee before nailing him with the 1%, but couldn't make the cover on time as he tweaked his knee.
Once the bell rang, the referee went to the judges, who called split decision, with the final vote resting on AAA's Hector Guerrero. After much consideration, Guerrero awarded his vote to EC3.
Result: EC3 def. El Hijo Del Fantasma via unanimous decision to retain the Grand Championship
Post-match, Fantasma argued with Hector Guerrero for not awarding him with the winning vote. In much rage, Fantasma grabbed Guerrero by his jacket's collar, but Guerrero shoved him back. A frustrated Fantasma went back into the ring and distracted EC3 to allow a debuting Pagano to wallop Carter from behind. Newly-crowned GHC Champion Eddie Edwards ran in to save EC3, but Ethan didn't seem to want his help and walked out on him.
During the previous week's episode of GFW Impact, LAX's Konnan awarded oVe with a title match for the GFW Tag Championships at CRASH in Tijuana, Mexico. On this week's episode, we saw Konnan inform his compatriots that he'd paid off the referee for their title match.
Later, oVe arrived at the CRASH arena and found out that they'd have to face two other teams along with LAX. oVe almost won that match, but Homicide interfered and helped LAX retain the titles. Post-match, oVe met with LAX only to be surrounded by two dozen Mexicans. Konnan threatened oVe to disappear. The brothers got away from them and decided to cause havoc at LAX's clubhouse.
#3 Grado vs William Weeks
On previous week's episode of GFW Impact, Grado found out that Laurel Van Ness wasn't American and was, in fact, a Canadian, which led to him not marrying her and his visa expiring. So, apparently, this was Grado's last match in the States. Grado quickly squashed Weeks and pinned him after hitting him with the big boot.
Result: Grado def. William Weeks
Post-match, Grado informed the audience in the Impact Zone that he was going back to the UK and that he was thankful to all of them for supporting him. Attorney Joseph Park came out and announced that his law firm Park, Park & Park had opened a new Sports Entertainment Division and that Grado was going to be their first signee. He informed Grado that as he was going to work for him and that his visa would be sponsored by Park's law firm.
Grado was overjoyed and hurriedly signed all the paperwork that Park presented in front of him. Park told Grado that they were going to make a ton of money together by doing photo shoots, podcasts, and appearances. Grado, still overjoyed, hugged the fans at ringside.
Backstage, Trevor Lee was getting a pep-talk from his new ally, Caleb Konley, for his match against Sonjay Dutt for the X-Division Championship. Similarly, Dutt was prepping up on the other side of the arena.
McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Johnny Impact, who said that his upcoming encounter with Low-ki was his last dream match.
Bobby Lashley along with American Top Team barged into Jim Cornette's office and demanded his release so that he could do MMA full-time. Cornette tried to get Lashley to change his mind by telling him that he was going to earn more money wrestling in Impact than in MMA. Finally, Cornette gave in to Lashley's demands and promised to give him his release after he faced Moose later in the night.
#4 Sonjay Dutt (c) vs Trevor Lee for the X-Division Championship in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
Before the match started, Lee sent Caleb Konley to the back and then immediately assaulted Dutt for a two-count. Lee choked Dutt with his shirt, rammed him into the ring post and then pinned him for a two-count. Dutt retaliated by positioning Lee on a chair and then covering him with the crossbody for a two-count.
The action went back inside the ring, with both Dutt and Lee going back-and-forth on each other with several high-spots. Several near falls later, and with the action now on the outside, Caleb Konley came out to help Lee, but Dutt prohibited him from doing so by hitting Konley with a trash can. Dutt prepped to nail Lee with the tornado DDT off the wall, but Lee subdued Dutt by tossing him crotch-first onto a barricade. In the end, Konley nailed Dutt with the Spinning Backfist, allowing Lee to roll him up for the pin.
Result: Trevor Lee def. Sonjay Dutt to become the new X-Division Champion
Backstage, American Top Team ran into Richard Justice, who claimed that he was one of their biggest fans and wanted to join their team. ATT proceeded to beat him to a pulp.
A video package of Scott D'Amore's wrestling students cutting promos to win their place in GFW then aired.
#5 Taya Valkyrie vs. Amber Nova
Valkyrie squashed Nova with a Double-arm Facebuster for the win.
Result: Taya Valkyrie def. Amber Nova
Backstage, GFW Global Champion Eli Drake claimed to Chris Adonis that he was on another level than everyone else. Drake said that Cornette didn't like him holding the GFW Championship, which was why the NWA Hall of Famer was throwing so many obstacles in his way.
#6 Johnny Impact vs. Low-Ki in a #1 Contender's Match for the GFW Global Championship
The bout started with both the participants feeling each other out. Low-ki then started working over Impact until the show cut to commercial. Post-commercial, Johnny Impact started making his comeback with several kicks and a modified German suplex. Low-ki avoided Johnny's Starship Pain attack and then immediately caught him in the Dragon Clutch hold. Johnny blocked Low-ki's Ki-Krusher move but was knocked immediately down with the Tidal Krush for a two-count.
In the end, Low-ki hung Impact from the top-rope for a Double Stomp, but Johnny somehow moved away and got Low-ki trapped from the top-rope. Johnny finished off Low-Ki with the Starship Pain for the three-count.
Result: Johnny Impact def. Low-ki to become the #1 Contender for the GFW Global Championship
Post-match, GFW Global Champion Eli Drake came down to ringside and distracted Johnny to let Chris Adonis assault him from behind. Drake then entered the ring and slammed Johnny with the Gravy Train.
Backstage in Cornette's office, Cornette kept trying desperately to keep Lashley in Impact, but Lashley showed no signs of backing out from his decision. Lashley said that he was just there to say his goodbyes and then return to his team mates who appreciated him more than Cornette ever did.
Taya Valkyrie met with Karen Jarrett and held her by the collar asking her whether she saw what she did to Amber Nova. Valkyrie then told Karen to remember her.
Back in the Impact Zone, Lashley announced that it was his last night at Impact and that he was going back to MMA full-time. He ordered Moose to come out to the ring. Moose entered the ring and clobbered Lashley with a stiff shot. Lashley fired back, and both superstars ended up taking the fight through the Impact Zone before ATT came to Lashley's aid and took down Moose. The Impact security team got involved but were taken down by Lashley and ATT. The show ended with Lashley and ATT standing tall over Moose.
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