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Last week, Ace Austin defeated Wentz to be crowned the new No.1 contender to Tessa Blanchard and the IMPACT Wrestling World Championship. However, with the Undeniable One still stuck in Mexico, the subject of the belt was up in the air.
Scott D'Amore planned to make a huge announcement regarding the title, leaving several of IMPACT Wrestling's top stars anxiously waiting to hear if Blanchard would be stripped of the belt.
The show kicked off with a star-studded Triple Threat match, including the self-proclaimed No.1 contender to the IMPACT World Title, Michael Elgin. Big Mike's opponents? The two men he injured over the past month, Ken Shamrock and Sami Callihan.
IMPACT Wrestling Triple Threat: Michael Elgin vs Ken Shamrock vs Sami Callihan
Before Shamrock's music hit, he rushed the ring to attack Elgin. As they brawled in the corner, the lights went out, coming back up to reveal Callihan. Elgin sent Shamrock to the floor and turned into a Yakuza Kick from the former IMPACT Wrestling World Champion.
Elgin and Callihan brawled on the floor where they were taken out by a dive from the UFC Hall of Famer. Shamrock brought Elgin inside, where he was met with a dropkick from the Unbreakable One.
Sami Callihan entered again, helping put Elgin down. However, a small war of words between Callihan and Shamrock allowed Elgin to take control once again. After launching Shamrock through the ring post, he slammed Callihan with a Falcon Arrow for two.
Elgin and Callihan traded elbows and kicks, and Shamrock rolled in for some tandem offense. Elgin was spiked with a belly-to-belly suplex by Shamrock, giving us a brawl between Callihan and Shamrock that we haven't seen since Rebellion.
It was short-lived, though. The human tank that is Michael Elgin broke them up. A German suplex took out Callihan leading to another one-on-one situation with Elgin and Shamrock. Shamrock stood up after two DDTs and countered a leaping enziguri with the Ankle Lock.
Elgin made it to the corner but was yanked away turnbuckle in hand. Callihan was the next target, but he rolled Shamrock into the exposed turnbuckle.
Shamrock stopped himself, but Callihan was sent into him by Elgin. The self-proclaimed IMPACT Wrestling #1 contender dumped Callihan to the floor before planting Shamrock with a huge Elgin Bomb for the win.
Results: Michael Elgin defeated Ken Shamrock via pinfall on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: A
After the match, Shamrock again offered his hand to Callihan. Callihan flipped him off before disappearing into the dark.
Jordynne Grace was interviewed backstage on IMPACT Wrestling about her main event match tonight.
The IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion has missed the ring and looked forward to driving Taya Valkyrie through the ring.
Backstage, Wentz and Dez were talking about their upcoming title match when Trey entered the frame. Trey demanded to know who jumped him on IMPACT Wrestling last week, leading to Wentz giving a lot of answers that were immediately shot down.
The North appeared and stated that they would be stomping The Rascalz into the mat next week. Ethan Page decided to stir the pot a bit, bringing up Wentz as a possible suspect.
Tasha Steelz w/Kiera Hogan vs Susie on IMPACT Wrestling
Susie sent Tasha Steelz to the floor, but the basement dropkick was countered with a right hand. Steelz stomped out Susie before rocking her with a series of forearms in the corner. A neckbreaker earned her a two-count.
Though Susie caught Steelz with a roll-up, Steelz kicked out and immediately bulldozed her opponent with a deadly clothesline. Susie responded with the Thesz Press and countered a missile dropkick with an upward palm thrust.
Steelz, though, was able to ultimately knock off Susie with the Okurrr Cutter.
Results: Tasha Steelz defeated Susie via pinfall on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: C-
Backstage, Ace Austin made his guess on what the big announcement was tonight. According to him, he won the No.1 contenders tournament, so he should be awarded the IMPACT World Championship.
Moose appeared and attempted to give Austin the chance to face him for the TNA World Championship at IMPACT Wrestling Slammiversary. Austin didn't make a decision, simply walking away saying "It's a nice belt."
Hernandez came in next and challenged Moose to a match next week.
Backstage, Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz were bragging about their "dominant" run in IMPACT Wrestling so far when they ran into uh...well...the living embodiment of death.
Havok and Nevaeh challenged them to a match, but they claimed they were busy and backed out. That would be my excuse too.
Rohit Raju confronted Rhino backstage, claiming that he should apologize and, maybe, be his tag team partner. Rhino said he already has one, and He Has Kids. Raju attacked the former NWA World Champion, and it looks like we could be getting a good rivalry out of these two in the coming weeks.
The Finesse & Bench Press Express (Johnny Swinger & Chris Bey) vs Cousin Jake & Willie Mack on IMPACT Wrestling
Chris Bey demanded Willie Mack start the match with him, then immediately tagged out to Johnny Swinger. Mack dropped Swinger with a reverse atomic drop before tagging in Cousin Jake. The country fed powerhouse tossed the veteran around the ring before bringing him back to the X-Division Champion.
Swinger managed to take out Mack thanks to a dirty knee from Bey, who finally came into the match. Bey and Swinger tagged in and out, tearing down the big man. A massive kick to Swinger's face allowed Mack to tag in Big Nasty.
Cousin Jake bowled through both of his opponents, and slammed Bey on top of Swinger, ,setting up for a big shoulder tackle in the corner. Swinger yanked Bey out of the way, though, giving Bey some time to breathe.
Bey and Swinger, again, took over here, taking it to Cousin Jake. Back from the break, and Bey rocked Jake with a leaping enziguri that knocked the big man off his feet. Swinger tagged in, distracting the ref as Bey choked out Jake.
Mack eventually made the tag, taking out the Express wit a double standing monsault. Bey broke up the pin on Swinger and was immediately sent to the floor with a clothesline from Jake.
A stunner put Swinger away, giving Mack and Jake the win.
Results: Willie Mack defeated Cousin Jake via pinfall on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: B-
After the match, Jake and Mack were blindsided by Bey and Swinger. They were saved, however, by the returning Cody Deaner, who spiked Bey with the Deaner DDT.
Rosemary was putting her moves on John E. Bravo at the bar, when they were interrupted by Taya Valkyrie. She tore down Bravo for not rolling out the red carpet for her, but Rosemary stood up for him, happy that he was able to keep her company all this time.
Rosemary, though, was also happy to reveal that she'd be at ringside with Bravo for Valkyrie's match against Jordynne Grace tonight. Valkyrie was ecstatic, and ran off to grab matching outfits for them.
Scott D'Amore was in the ring, apologizing for not delivering on the IMPACT Wreslting World Championship match at Rebellion. They even saw Ace Austin win the No.1 contender's tournament, but Tessa Blanchard still was unable to make it to the building tonight.
Ace Austin entered the ring, believing he was set to be crowned the next IMPACT Wrestling World Champion. Of course, Michael Elgin had a problem with that. Elgin claimed that, since he was the one to show up at Rebellion, he's the rightful champion. As far as Austin was concerned, he could either leave the ring or get dropped by Big Mike.
Speaking of those who weren't at Rebellion, Eddie Edwards made his return tonight. Edwards said that in IMPACT, you don't get handed a championship. You have to earn it.
And earn they will. At Slammiversary, it'll be Tessa Blanchard defending her title against Ace Austin, Michael Elgin, Eddie Edwards, and another competitor. That mystery man? Trey Miguel of The Rascalz!
Trey leaped in, nailing Austin with a springboard missile dropkick
IMPACT Wrestling's Gia Miller was hunting for Deonna Purrazzo backstage, who was reportedly backstage.
Cancel Culture came to the ring, fully formed! Rob Van Dam and Katie Forbes are back, and they joined Joseph P. Ryan in welcoming Jacob Crist to the fold.
Crist would face off against Cra...er...Mentally Unwell Steve, as Ryan chose to call him, and said that if you choose to use words that hurt, you will get hurt.
Jacob Crist w/Cancel Culture vs Crazzy Steve on IMPACT Wrestling
Jacob Crist's run with Cancel Culture started off a little rough. Crazzy Steve hit a basement dropkick to the knees, followed by a running senton to a kneeling Crist. Steve cranked the neck of the former IMPACT Wrestling Tag Team Champion and placed him in a modified Figure-4 headlock in the ropes.
Crist was able to get away from Steve after using the ropes for an arm breaker. He continued to focus on the right arm, taking Steve over with a hip toss and attempting to lock in an armbar.
Steve began picking up momentum with some short-arm clotheslines, but a distraction from Joseph Ryan allowed Crist to take him out with his kicking combination.
Results: Jacob Crist defeated Crazzy Steve via pinfall.
Grade: C-
IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Championship: Taya Valkyrie w/Rosemary & John E. Bravo vs Jordynne Grace (c)
Taya Valkyrie backed out of the ring, only to get taken out with her entourage by a flying Jordynne Grace. Back inside the ring, the IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion went after the ribs, hitting some shoulder tackles in the corner.
Grace and Valkyrie traded chops and strikes, with Grace overpowering the former Knockouts Champion. Wera Loca moved to the floor, and a distraction from Bravo and IMPACT Wreslting's resident Demon Assassin allowed her to catch Grace with a sly knee to the jaw.
As Valkyrie climbed to the top, Grace met her with an elbow and launched her to the floor where Rosemary and Bravo failed to catch her.
Valkyrie sent Grace into the steel steps, though, and began taking it to the IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion inside the ring. Boots, kicks, and the running hip attack left Grace dazed in the corner. The running double knee seemingly knocked her unconscious.
Grace was able to take Valkyrie off the turnbuckle once again, driving her to the mat with a powerbomb. The rivals traded body slams and elbow strikes, leading to Grace launching Valkyrie shoulder first into the ring post.
Running knees and a running uppercut set Valkyrie up for the Vader Bomb, giving her the near fall. Valkyrie fought out of the Grace Driver and hit a spear for the two-count.
A pop-up knee nearly led to the Road to Valhalla. Grace blocked it, lighting up the contender with elbows and a clothesline to the back of the neck. The sleeper hold was locked in next.
Valkyrie reached for the ropes, hoping that Rosemary and Bravo would be there for her. However, they were off whispering sweet nothings into each other's ears. Thanks to that, Valkyrie was forced to submit.
Results: Jordynne Grace defeated Taya Valkyrie via submission to retain the IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Championship.
Grade: A-
After the match, Deonna Purrazzo made her entrance on IMPACT Wrestling. The Virtuosa wasn't too impressed with the Knockouts Champion, and quickly took her down with an armbar.
Grace screamed in agony as Purrazzo sent a message to her and the IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts locker room.
