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Welcome to the first episode of IMPACT Wrestling of 2021, ladies and gentlemen. December saw a partnership/invasion of sorts from AEW, as the AEW World Champion began appearing on IMPACT alongside Don Callis. Kenny Omega has since been a thorn in the side of Rich Swann and the Motor City Machine Guns.
Heading into Hard to Kill on January 16th, Omega will team up with his former Bullet Club brothers to take on the IMPACT Wrestling World Champion Rich Swann and the Guns. Another match we needed to build to was, of course, the IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Tag Title Finals. Tonight, Jordynne Grace and Jazz took on Jessika Havok and Nevaeh. Whoever won would advance to Hard to Kill, where they'd face Tasha Steelz and Kiera Hogan for the titles.
Our main event was a wild one tonight, as the longest-going rivalry in IMPACT came to a head. Eddie Edwards and Sami Callihan fought in what's to be their last match ever.
We kicked things off with a four-way Super X Cup match, a preview of things to come at IMPACT Wrestling Genesis this Saturday.
Ace Austin w/Madman Fulton vs. Blake Christian vs. KC Navaro vs. Crazzy Steve on IMPACT Wrestling
Ace Austin immediately moved to the floor, leaving the other three men to go at it as he talked over his plan with Madman Fulton. Austin then yanked out Crazzy Steve as Fulton kept the other competitors away from him. Blake Christian fought off a quick-paced offensive flurry but was hit with a low dropkick.
The former IMPACT Wrestling X-Division champion dragged Navaro to the floor before setting his sights on Christian. A series of kicks missed, but ahead scissors took Austin into the corner. Austin responded with a big roundhouse to the head and sent Christian into Crazzy Steve, who sent him overhead.
Steve locked Austin in the figure-4 neck lock in the ropes. Navaro rolled in, taking Steve to the floor with a tilt-a-whirl head-scissor. Setting Ace Austin up in the ropes, he hit a slingshot dropkick to the jaw. However, Blake Christian launched Navaro to the ground below, looking to steal a win. Austin popped up as Christian climbed to the top, but a returning Crazzy Steve blocked his superplex.
After fighting off IMPACT Wrestling's crazed clown, Austin went for an avalanche back suplex. Christian turned it around, escaping Austin and hitting Navaro on the floor with a big dive. He couldn't avoid Austin for long, as he rocked Christian with a running apron kick.
A Fosbury Flop took out both Christian and Navaro. Back in the ring, Steve lit up Austin with a punching combination. As he went in for his flying DDT, Steve caught him with a kick to the gut, lifting him and turning him inside out for a slam. Navaro rolled in next for a neck breaker on Austin. The IMPACT Wrestling X-Division star of the Year kicked out.
After sending Navaro back outside, Christian ran in and turned Austin inside out with a running Spanish fly. A springboard frog splash would've gotten the pin if Steve didn't break it up. Setting up Austin and Christian in the corner, Steve dropped KC Navaro with a Death Valley Driver, squashing all competitors. The flying DDT off Bret's Rope finished Navaro off, sending him to Genesis with a wave of momentum.
Results: Crazzy Steve defeated KC Navaro via pinfall on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: A
Former IMPACT Wrestling World Champion cut a promo on his longtime rival Eddie Edwards. They'll face off for one final time in tonight's main event. Callihan said that in real life, the bad guys always win.
He also gave him a bit of advice, letting him know to make sure Alisha Edwards wasn't anywhere near ringside.
AEW President Tony Khan and Tony Schiavone appeared on IMPACT Wrestling again via paid advertisement to, as Khan said, "help the less fortunate." They also built up Nights 1 and 2 of New Year's Smash. While Kenny Omega was at IMPACT Wrestling tonight, he'd also be defending his title against Fenix tomorrow on AEW Dynamite.
Tony Khan finally let his real feeling show, calling Don Callis a parasite in the wrestling world. Things are heating up between these two companies.
The IMPACT World Tag Champs and Don Callis touched Kenny Omega's AEW World Title, celebrating their success in both companies. Callis said they needed to talk business, as they had a huge six-man tag match on the 16th.
Omega said that there's no need to worry, as Omega and The Good Brothers have years of history and chemistry. Rich Swann and The Motor City Machine Guns? None whatsoever.
Cousin Jake and Rhino vs. Cody Deaner and Joe Doering w/Eric Young on IMPACT Wrestling
Cousin Jake and Rhino called out Eric Young and Joe Doering, hoping to win Cody Deaner back from the World Class Maniac. The trio came out, with Deaner sporting a new aggressive look.
Cody Deaner rushed his former tag partner Cousin Jake, sending him into the corner and mauling him. Jake was absolutely blindsided by Deaner and couldn't get in any offense. Joe Doering tagged in, cutting Jake in half with a running crossbody.
Doering and Deaner took turns demolishing and demeaning Cousin Jake. However, Jake managed to get to his corner, tagging in the former IMPACT World Champion, who turned Deaner inside out with a nasty clothesline.
In a pretty strange move, Rhino tagged Jake right back in. Doering yanked Rhino off the apron, and as the ref was distracted, Deaner hit Jake with a low blow. The Deaner DDT spiked him for the win.
Results: Cody Deaner defeated Cousin Jake via pinfall on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: C+
Young and his crew continued to attack Jake, but IMPACT Wrestling veteran Tommy Dreamer saved him and Rhino. The Hardcore Icon challenged the trio to an Old School Rules match at IMPACT Wrestling Hard to Kill.
Mean Gia Miller interviewed Cody Palmer, the man challenging Moose tonight. If Palmer survived the match for three minutes, he'd walk out with a win over Moose. Could he do it, or would the "TNA World Champion" cut him in half with the Lights Out?
Palmer said he didn't have much of a chance tonight, but he'd rather take a beatdown from Moose than run home with his tail between his legs.
Acey Romero ran into Johnny Swinger on IMPACT Wrestling. Romero said that his partner Larry D was set up, and it wasn't his fault that he shot John E. Bravo. Swinger, now holding the wad of cash that has been moving throughout the IMPACT Wrestling locker room, gave him a bit of advice, though it was hard to decipher. After all, it was Johnny Swinger.
Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo calls out Taya Valkyrie ahead of their match at IMPACT Wrestling Hard To Kill
Deonna Purrazzo has had one of the greatest first years in any company in IMPACT Wrestling. A two-time Knockouts Champion already, Purrazzo was awarded both IMPACT Wrestling Knockout of the Year and IMPACT Wrestling Wrestler of the Year in 2020.
After a bit of trash talk, Taya Valkyrie and Rosemary came to the ring. Purrazzo said that Valkyrie's husband is gone, her servant wants nothing to do with her, and soon her best friend will leave her.
Valkyrie let the comments roll off, claiming that she expected a more creative insult from "The Virtuosa." At Hard to Kill, she'll embarrass Purrazzo in front of the entire world.
Rohit Raju found Chris Bey backstage and said that he was here to forgive him for finessing himself into the X-Division Championship match at Hard to Kill. Bey didn't know why he wanted to forgive him because of what that was, according to Bey, was a receipt.
Raju talked Bey into trying to unmask Manik. They left, looking for the X-Division Champion, and ran into TJP. They challenged TJP to a tag team match, with Manik as his partner. TJ said that he and Manik don't work well together but would let him know if they ran into each other.
Tenille Dashwood and Kaleb with a K found the former IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts, Champion Rosemary. With Taya Valkyrie looking for the singles gold, Dashwood wanted to offer an olive branch, hoping to work with the Demon Assassin to capture the IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Tag Team Titles.
Jordynne Grace and Jazz vs. Havok and Nevaeh on IMPACT Wrestling
Jordynne Grace and Nevaeh locked up, with the former IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion getting her opponent's better. A shoulder tackle launched Nevaeh into her corner, and Grace demanded to face Havok.
The Kaiju Queen entered the ring and shook off a shoulder tackle, bouncing Grace around the ring. Jazz asked for the tag, needing to face off against a fellow powerhouse. Havok launched Jazz into the corner, hitting her with a big body splash.
The Monsters of Mayhem tagged in and out, crushing the multi-time women's champion. However, things turned around when she was left with Nevaeh, as Jazz was able to bring Thicc Mama Pump back in the ring.
Grace and Jazz went in and out, hitting a series of suplexes and slams on Nevaeh. Grace pinned Nevaeh down for a two-count, staring at Havok all the while. Jazz locked Nevaeh down with a chin lock, further wearing her down while Havok was forced to watch on from a distance.
As Grace re-entered the match, Nevaeh finally managed to get to Havok. The former IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion bashed Grace with a nasty running boot and planted her with a sit-out powerbomb. Jazz broke it up, saving themselves from elimination.
A boxing combination sent Havok spiraling to the mat, tripping up over grace, and nearly getting pinned. Havok kicked out, driving Grace into the mat with a chokeslam. Jazz looked for the X-Factor but couldn't finish off the giantess. Havok spiked her with a tombstone, ending Grace and Jazz's run.
Results: Havok and Nevaeh defeated Jazz and Jordynne Grace via pinfall on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: B+
Gia Miller was backstage with IMPACT Wrestling World Champion Rich Swann and former IMPACT Wrestling Tag Champs The Motor City Machine Guns. The trio is more than prepared for Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers.
Rich Swann runs IMPACT Wrestling, not the AEW World Champion, and they'll prove that at Hard to Kill. They decided to take the fight to their opponents tonight and went out to the parking lot.
Rich Swann and The Motor City Machine Guns looked to send a message on IMPACT Wrestling tonight. Unfortunately for them, The Good Brothers, Don Callis, and Kenny Omega saw it coming. As they moved to Omega's bus, they were blindsided. After leaving them lying, Omega said that they were actually "easy to kill."
Jordynne Grace stormed off after their loss, and Jazz chased her down. After they talked it out, Grace was happy to have had Jazz as a partner. So at Genesis, why don't they have a dream match? Jazz was ready for the opportunity. We'll get Jazz and Jordynne Grace, one-on-one, on IMPACT Plus this weekend.
Deonna Purrazzo and Kimber Lee met with James Mitchell backstage, as The Sinister Minister revealed, not Su Yung...and not Susie...No, this was Susan. Dressed in business wear with her hair in a bun, this new "Susan" sternly introduced herself before walking away.
Matthew Palmer vs. Moose on IMPACT Wrestling
Matthew Palmer lit up Moose with a series of punches but was bounced off the mat with two uranage slams. Moose took his time, kicking and hammering Palmer repeatedly. The time quickly ticked down, and at a minute left in this three-minute challenge, Moose was still talking trash.
A big boot nearly decapitated Palmer. Moose spiked him with a high-angle powerbomb, and at twenty seconds, he set up for the Lights Out Spear. A distraction from Willie Mack, though, allowed Palmer to get out just as the three minutes expired, and earning a huge upset on IMPACT Wrestling.
Results: Matthew Palmer defeated Moose on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: D
"All-Ego" Ethan Page was seen having a therapy session with The Karate Man, who claimed that Ethan Page was acting like a b****. Page, offended, stepped up to The Karate Man. At IMPACT Wrestling Hard to Kill, Page will face Karate Man, and we'll finally move past this once and for all.
Eddie Edwards vs. Sami Callihan on IMPACT Wrestling
Before the match even began, Eddie Edwards and Sami Callihan were going to war. The multi-time IMPACT Wrestling World Champ's music hit as Edwards took Callihan down the ramp. They both whiffed weapon shots early, but Callihan caught Edwards with a chair, finally getting some time to catch his breath.
Eddie Edwards had turned things around after the break, dropping Callihan on the apron with a back suplex. A chair cut The Callihan Death Machine Down, catching him right in the sternum. Callihan responded with a ring bell that caught Edwards in the eye.
Callihan bounced Edwards off the apron, but the camera managed to catch a gash appear on Callihan's face. The former IMPACT Wrestling World's Champion was cut open, but it only brought a smile to Callihan's face. A running knee crushed Edwards' head into the steel barricade.
Edwards slowly made it to his feet as Callihan set up a chair. The suplex was blocked, and Edwards dazed his long-time enemy with a series of headbutts. Going for a running boot, though, he was caught by Callihan, who sent him overhead with an exploder suplex. Edwards' knee and spine crashed onto the steel, and Edwards grasped at his knee in pain.
In the ring, the bell finally rang as the IMPACT Wrestling main event was, now, officially underway. Callihan allowed Edwards to stand, and they came to blows. Ewards put Callihan in the corner, and a Mafia Kick rocked him. A second one hit Callihan, but he responded by going after the eyes of Edwards.
The IMPACT Wrestling official, multiple times, tried to break things up. Both men shoved him away, leading to a double DQ.
Results: No Contest.
Grade: B-
They continued to fight, referee, or not. Edwards sent Callihan to the floor with a suicide dive. Edwards grabbed Callihan's bat, but before he could hit Callihan, The Draw pulled his phone out to reveal that Alisha Edwards was trapped in some cage in the building. After hitting Callihan with the bat, Edwards searched the building or his wife.
Edwards found Lish, but it was a trap for Ken Shamrock. The World's Most Dangerous Man and Sami Callihan tied him to the cage door with barbed wire, then hit him in the face with a bat. Shamrock blamed it all on Eddie, who was out cold. Alisha checked on her husband, but he wasn't responding. IMPACT Wrestling ended with Edwards unconscious and Alisha unable to help her husband.
