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After their bumper Genesis show last week and the much-touted Barbed Wire Massacre III match the week before, this week was arguably more important for Impact than any other, because it was the first week under the new ownership and regime.
A new knockout, Kiera Hogan, was scheduled to debut against Laurel Van Ness, EC3 and Alberto El Patron teamed up against Moose and Johnny Impact, LAX address their Barbed Wire Massacre match and Chris Adonis hosts 'The Facts of Eli Drake's Life'.
Fallah Bah Vs. Matt Sydal
Before any sort of match gets started Impact Wrestling gives us a teaser of someone entering the arena. This won't be a surprise for those on social media a few weeks ago as Impact Wrestling themselves posted who it was, but for people without the internet, it's sure to be an exciting Impact.
We then get to see Matt Sydal defend his newly-won Grand Championship against Fallah Bahh in a normal wrestling match, confirming that the judges and score gimmick is gone. Also gone are the six-sided ring and lime green ring ropes. All good things.
It's a fairly quick match with Sydal using his speed to out-manoeuvre Bahh for a surprising amount of time. Bahh eventually got on the offensive with a Crossbody Block, but Sydal soon regained momentum by pushing Bahh off of the ropes.
Sydal tries a move off of the top rope but is caught by Bahh who Samoan Drops him to the floor. Fallah then gets caught by Sydal's speed again, leading to Sydal hitting his Moonsault for the win.
Matt Sydal (c) Def. Fallah Bahh - Grand Championship Match
Backstage segment with Caleb Konley and Trevor Lee that suggests the pair are becoming a tag-team.
KM Vs. Bobby Lashley
KM Vs. Bobby Lashley is up next and I think we all knew how this was going to go before the bell had even rung. To give KM his credit though he certainly knows how to draw heat from the Impact fans.
KM then hits a ridiculous dive over the ropes onto Lashley and throws him into the steel steps. However, he can't put Lashley away with the Pumphandle Slam, however, and gets Speared for the loss.
Bobby Lashley Def. KM
Joseph Park is on the phone backstage apologising to Grandma Jenny for what happened to Chandler. Jimmy Jacobs and Kongo Kong warn Joseph that next week they'll be getting 'The Monster' Abyss.
Bobby Lashley indicates he's going to focus on both wrestling and MMA
Kiera Hogan Vs. Laurel Van Ness
Kiera Hogan has been with Impact Wrestling for something like a year and is only just making her debut. Still, she looks like an incredible talent and got to wrestle the current Knockouts Champion Laurel Van Ness on her debut.
The match is a one-sided affair with LVN getting almost all of the offence in during the match. However, an interference from Allie allows Kiera Hogan to roll the champ up from behind, stealing the win.
Kiera Hogan Def. Laurel Van Ness - Non-Title Match
It's then announced that next week's Impact will feature a title match between Laurel Van Ness and Kiera Hogan as a result of Hogan's victory here. Looks like Kiera could be getting the almost-Paige treatment.
Backstage interview with Alberto El Patron and EC3 teasing dissension between the two heels. Obviously.
LAX segment
LAX discuss how they're always ready for a fight, which is good because oVe come right out and square up to them in the ring. Sami Callihan tells LAX that oVe hate them, but after what they went through together, they respect them. Callihan then adds that if things continue, someone will end up dead, so they're stepping aside for now, but will come for the Tag-Team Titles sometime in 2018.
Konnan follows oVe up the ramp, but The Cult of Lee (Trevor Lee and Caleb Konley) take advantage of the situation and attack LAX in the ring with weapons, and then steal their flags.
We get a backstage interview with Moose and Johnny Impact now, who seem to be much more friendly towards each other than their opponents.
There's also a vignette for Brian Cage, which is pretty cool, even if I do say so myself.
Alberto El Patron & EC3 Vs. Johnny Impact & Moose
EC3 gets absolutely mullered early on in the match after taking Moose Punches from both Moose, who you'd expect, and Johnny Impact, who you wouldn't. EC3 is dazed and confused in the ring.
The heels do eventually gain the advantage however and use heel tactics to maintain it. At one point EC3 distracts the referee allowing El Patron to toss Moose into the guardrail. After a while, Moose is able to get the hot tag to Impact, who cleans house. Impact then gets Starship Pain for a 2-count before EC3 pulls him out of the ring.
The finish comes when Johnny Impact is in a bad way with El Patron getting him in the Tree of Woe position for his Double Stomp. Patron connects with his finishing move but before he can capitalise he is hit by the Gamechanger from Moose who pins Patron to pick up the victory.
Johnny Impact & Moose Def. Alberto El Patron & EC3
'Facts of Eli Drake's Life' hosted by Chris Adonis with a special guest!
Chris Adonis hosts the 'Fact's of Eli Drake's Life' which essentially amounts to Adonis proving that Drake is the greatest champ, the greatest dressed and the greatest friend. Basically making him the greatest man who ever lived. Which is a poor choice of words as Austin Aries makes his Impact Wrestling return.
Aries disputes that Drake is the Greatest Man Who Ever Lived because Aries himself is that person. Aries challenges Drake to prove he is the greatest, but Drake declines the opportunity of a match. Adonis nails Aries with the title, and Drake has a sudden about turn about having the match.
Aries wastes no time in recovering from the title belt shot and basically squashes Drake to become the new Impact World Heavyweight Champion
Austin Aries Def. Eli Drake (c) - Impact World Heavyweight Championship Match
