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Over the past 365 days, IMPACT Wrestling has strived to make history and break the mold. We've seen the rise of the "XXX-Division Champion" Ace Austin, the crowning and dominant reign of The North (Ethan Page & Josh Alexander), and the strange yet captivating story of Rosemary, Su Yung, and Havoc.
However, two wrestlers that have stepped up more than any other in IMPACT are the World Champion Tessa Blanchard and the former, and longest, Knockouts Champion in the company's history, Taya Valkyrie. The Undeniable One and Wera Loca have a long and storied rivalry in IMPACT, and Valkyrie was actually the one to end Blanchard's last run as Knockouts Champion.
Tonight, these two enemies will go to war for the IMPACT World Championship.
The North vs TJP & Fallah Bahh
Bahh was taken to the North's corner but fought out easily thanks to his brute strength. With Alexander sent to the floor, Page was easy pickings for Bahh and TJP, who ran him down with a jawbreaker/running crossbody combination.
Alexander would manage to tag Page but was immediately dropped with a body slam. Bahh picked up TJP for a super heavy body splash, earning them a two-count. However, as TJP bounced off the ropes, he was held in place by Page, allowing Alexander to get the upperhand.
The North's Murder-Go-Round nearly drove TJP through the middle of the ring. The IMPACT Tag Team Champions continued to dominate the former X-Division Champion with tremendous feats of strength. A stalling suplex, where Page handed TJP off to Alexander, gave the champs a near fall.
TJP eventually managed to get to Bahh following a beautiful tornado DDT. Alexander tagged in as well but was quickly crushed by Bahh. A running hip attack in the corner followed by a Samoan Drop left the Walking Weapon in a heap of trouble.
Luckily for Alexander, Page caught him coming off the ropes, saving him from certain doom. Alexander struck Bahh repeatedly, but it only served to pump up the big guy. A pop-up sit-out powerbomb would've won the match, but Page broke it up.
Page managed to break up Poetry in Motion, and a stiff right hand nearly knocked TJP out cold. A double spinebuster almost spelt the end for TJP, but he was able to just barely kick out. Bahh rushed in and was caught by a cutter before getting hammered with superkicks and elbows.
As The North set up for the Monster Mash, TJP leapt in for a roll-up on Alexander, securing the victory.
Results: TJP & Fallah Bahh defeated the North via pinfall.
Tessa Blanchard was interviewed backstage about her upcoming title defense against Taya Valkyrie. However, she was interrupted by Eddie Edwards, the holder of the Call Your Shot Trophy. Edwards stated that once he defeats Michael Elgin and ends their best-of-five series, he'd be taking the title from Blanchard, no disrespect of course.
Blanchard, as always, was up for the challenge.
Moose vs Petey Williams
Moose missed a running shoulder thrust in the corner, setting up for an early Canadian Destroyer. It was countered, allowing Moose to crush the Captain of Team Canada with boots and chops.
As Moose set up for the Go To Hell, Petey countered with a hurricanrana. He failed to follow up, as a big boot nearly took his head off before we cut to commercial.
Back to the action, Williams caught Moose with a Codebreaker but was hung up afterwards with a Stun Gun that bounced him to the floor below. Luckily for the former X-Division Champion, he was able to get back inside the ring before the end of the ten-count. Moose quickly jumped on him, driving him chest first into the turnbuckle.
Moose countered a hurricanrana with a powerbomb attempt but was caught in a DDT instead. A tilt-a-whirl Russiah leg sweep and flatliner set up for the Canadian Destroyer. Moose countered again, tossing Williams into the corner with Snake Eyes.
Williams avoided the spear with a roll-up. Moose kicked out and spiked the veteran with a spin-out choke slam. No Jackhammer Needed connected, putting Williams away.
Results: Moose defeated Petey Williams via pinfall.
Backstage, Madison Rayne is training women to be new members of the Knockouts Division and join the "Madison Rayne Golden Opportunity Boot Camp." Kiera Hogan came in to see what was going on, leading to a falling out between the two frenemies. One of Rayne's trainees stepped up to defend her, earning the respect of the Queen Bee.
Joey Ryan vs Acey Romero
Ryan almost moved right to the "touch it" spot, but thought better against it. Romero leveled Ryan with ease and powered out of another "touch it" spot, leading to a shoulder tackle.
A dropkick from Romero took Ryan to the mat. As Ryan made it back to the feet, he and Romero butted heads. Ryan fell back and Romero fell on...it...dazing him. The King of Sleaze followed up with a series of right hands. Romero's atomic drop ended up damaging his own knee. However, a series of clotheslines and a running crossbody flattened Ryan.
A Ho Train in the corner connected. Ryan placed the sucker in Romero's mouth but Sweet Tooth Music was countered. Romero was caught in "The Flip" but Ryan thought against it, which ultimately cost him the match. Romero took the confusing moment and laid out Ryan with another splash in the corner and a running elbow drop.
Results: Acey Romero defeated Joey Ryan via pinfall.
Backstage, Johnny Swinger and Glenn Gilberti attempted to indimidate Willie Mack, who wasn't having any of it. Mack called the new team the "Swinging Disco Balls" before stating he could take them on two-on-one.
Joey Ryan is seen talking to Katie Forbes backstage about what went down. Rob Van Dam comes up, and Forbes claims that Ryan gets what they're doing. Ryan leaves, but not before stating he's happy that he and Katie "have each other."
No DQ Match: Havok vs Su Yung
As Su Yung rushed in guns blazing, Havok sent her into the corner for a running splash. Yung escaped, rocking her with a series of running uppercuts. She grabbed a noose and attempted to place it around Havok's neck, but the powerhouse was able to escape.
As Havok moved to the floor, she was met with a suicide dive. A rolling senton off the apron drove Havok into the floor. Still, she was able to recover and managed to drive Su Yung spine first into the ramp with a Samoan drop. At this point, Havok filled the ring with steel chairs, kendo sticks, and a trash can.
Yung avoided a canonball in the steps only to be tossed face first on them with an electric chair drop. Back inside the ring, Havok armed herself with a steel chair. Yung escaped, leading to a battle of the chairs. Havok booted Yung's chair into her opponent's face, but as she fell back landed on one of the chairs in the ring.
The two monsters slowly made it to their feet, leading to a trade of vicious strikes. Yung's open palm strikes dazed Havok, and a running knee nearly put her down for the pin. Havok set up for a Tombstone Piledriver from the top rope only to have her eyes raked by Yung. The trash can was blocked by Yung and placed on Havok, setting up for a leaping dropkick for a two-count.
With a noose around her neck, Havok fought off the fate that she'd placed Rosemary in all those months ago. A backbreaker/lariat combo nearly decapitated Yung. Havok tied Yung up in the ropes and looked to take her out with the kendo stick. That's when Yung spat out the red mist, blinding Havok.
The Red Gloved Mandible Claw wasn't enough to put away Havok. Rosemary pelted her with the stick before trapping her in a choke with the noose. Adding in another Mandible Claw was too much for Havok, who passed out in the middle of the ring.
Results: Su Yung defeated Havok via submission.
Sadly for Havok,, the night wasn't done yet. Yung's bridesmaids brought a casket to the ramp, and Yung placed her in the casket. Luckily for her, she managed to fight Yung and the bridesmaids off, escaping her fate yet again.
Backstage, Rosemary was interviewed by Jimmy Jacobs. The Queen of the Hive stated that, though her plan worked, and she was able to pit Yung and Havok against one another, she wasn't able to bring the Bunny back.
Rosemary said it was time to retrace her steps. She was hoping she'd be happier, but now seems more lost than ever.
Johnny Swinger & Glenn Gilberti vs The Deaners
Cousin Jake dropped Gilberti with a powerslam and tagged in Cody Deaner. Gilberti quickly moved to his corner to bring in Johnny Swinger.
Deaner countered a wristlock, taking Swinger to his knees. As Jake tagged in, he and Deaner dropped Swinger with an atomic drop/backbreaker combination. Swinger and Gilberti took over, though, as they took turns distracting the ref and spiking Deaner in the throat with a roll of quarters.
Gilberti's running elbow drop missed, allowing Cousin Jake to tag in and pounce all over the "Swinging Disco Balls" with leaping clotheslines and cross bodies. Deaner tagged back in and avoided another quarter shot, with Gilberti accidentally catching Swinger on his head.
Deaner capitalized with the Deaner DDT, picking up the win for him and his cousin.
Results: The Deaners defeated Johnny Swinger & Glenn Gilberti
The Deaners weren't able to celebrate afterwards due to "ICU" taking over the broadcast. THe lights flickered, with some black and white footage playing on the screen. Still, it's not been revealed who's responsible or what the point is.
We got a continuation of this year's Gut Check challenge. Tony Gunn has angered the crew, trainers, and all of his opponents after spitting on one of the other competitors and the ring. John E. Bravo brought all of the trainees in the ring to go over the incident.
Bravo drilled into Gunn for spitting in the ring. Scott D'Amore ended the segment by claiming "Screw em and Gut Check, we're not gonna sign any of them."
IMPACT World Championship Match: Taya Valkyrie vs Tessa Blanchard (c)
The IMPACT World Champion attempted to out maneuver her challenger, but Taya Valkyrie's power advantage was enough to get her ahead in the early stages of the match. Stiff boots and right arms hammered Tessa Blanchard. However, she was able to set up Valkyrie in the ropes for a dropkick and a running kick before getting distracted by John E. Bravo. Valkyrie sent her to the floor as we headed into the final commercial break.
As we came back, Valkyrie drove her knees into Blanchard's face in the corner. Blanchard attempted to dropkick Valkyrie into the steel steps, but the challenger avoided, sending her into them instead. Back inside, she trapped Blanchard in the surfboard stretch. before spiking her with a curb stomp.
Blanchad managed to kick out and catch Valkyrie with a cutter, but wasn't able to capitalize as she seemingly landed awkwardly on her back. She used the ropes to make it to her feet before laying into Valkyrie with strong rights and elbows. A Samoan drop connected, and the champ followed that with a hurricanrana.
A corner trapped backstabber gave Blanchard a two-count. As Blanchard bounced off the ropes, Valkyrie caught her in a spear that nearly ended her short reign. Blanchard's tornado DDT was countered by a northern lights from Valkyrie. A double stomp gave Wera Loca a two-count.
The Road to Valhalla was blocked, and Blanchard responded with a neckbreaker. Magnum was avoided, but as she went to follow up, Blanchard was distracted by Bravo.
Valkyrie inadvertently knocked Bravo off the apron and was driven into the turnbuckle for her troubles. The Buzzsaw DDT ended Valkyrie's title dreams.
Results: Tessa Blanchard defeated Taya Valkyrie via pinfall.
