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We're closing in on IMPACT Wrestling: Sacrifice, taking place on March 13th. Tonight, several more matches were added to the PPV event, all based around the gold in IMPACT Wrestling.
James Storm battled Rohit Raju on BTI on Twitch. Chris Sabin backed Storm up in his corner while Shera joined the former IMPACT Wrestling X-Division Champion. Though Shera did his best to interfere, The Cowboy would ultimately drop the Mocha Skin Manimal with the Last Call.
After the bout, Raju and Shera attacked the Motor City Beer Guns (working title). The feud isn't over yet, not by a long shot.
We kicked IMPACT Wrestling off with the long-awaited X-Division No. 1 Contender's Triple Threat Match. Okay, it's been a week, but it's been a long week waiting for what was sure to be one of the best matches of the week.
#1 Contenders Match for the X-Division Championship: Black Taurus w/Decay vs. Ace Austin w/Madman Fulton vs. Chris Bey on IMPACT Wrestling
Chris Bey and Ace Austin took turns wearing down Decay's newest demon. If they could take out the powerhouse, it would drastically improve their chances of winning. Though both Bey and Austin are former IMPACT Wrestling X-Division Champions, the wild card and beast Black Taurus was the most dangerous man in this match.
Taurus recovered, slamming Bey into Austin before turning Bey inside out with a discus clothesline. However, the smaller competitors were able to take Taurus to the floor with a pair of dropkicks, followed by suicide dives in stereo. After that, Bey and Austin wrapped up in the ring.
It was a dead-even contest, with both Ace and Bey having supremely athletic styles. Austin was set up for a big move by Bey, but as the Ultimate Finesser of IMPACT Wrestling set up for a springboard, he was yanked out of mid-air by Taurus. Austin tried to take out Taurus again but was caught mid-dive for a big slam onto Bey.
An impressive striking combination lit up Austin, who was then left on one leg following a knee breaker and thrust kick to the knee. Luckily for Austin, he was sent to the floor as Bey capitalized on a distracted Taurus. A slingshot DDT spiked the big man, but it wasn't enough.
A roundhouse rocked him, but Taurus found time while Austin and Bey fought at the top. Taurus caught a diving Bey, picking him up for a stalling suplex. Austin took advantage, hitting a pinpoint springboard missile dropkick and knocking down both competitors.
Taurus pounced Austin out of The Fold and nearly drove Bey through the ring with a pop-up Samoan Drop. Austin and Bey sent Taurus to the floor again, leading to Bey rocking Austin with a nasty wheel kick. However, as he went for the Art of Finesse, Madman Fulton yanked his legs out from under him, allowing Austin to catch him with The Fold.
Results: Ace Austin defeated Chris Bey via pinfall on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: A+
This was everything a fan of IMPACT Wrestling would want from a top-tier X-Division match. There was no such thing as the "wrong winner" here.
The IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Tag Team Champions interrupted Jordynne Grace and Jazz, who were being interviewed about their shot at the titles.
On IMPACT Wrestling, Matt Cardona would be the special guest referee in the match between Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards. Bad Mood Brian had been disrespecting everyone on IMPACT Wrestling, including his best friend Cardona, since joining the company. Tonight, though, he tried to butter up to Cardona ahead of the match-up. It didn't work, as Cardona vowed to call the match down the middle.
Tenille Dashwood w/Kaleb with a K vs. Havok on IMPACT Wrestling
Havok cornered Tenille Dashwood in the corner. The multi-time IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion felt a series of elbows to the back of the head but blocked a side Russian leg sweep. Dashwood escaped a big powerslam thanks to Kaleb, and she caught Havok in the ropes with a kick/neckbreaker combination.
Dashwood kept the upper hand throughout the break as we returned to see Havok battered and bruised on the mat. All it took was one big boot, though, to turn things around for the Kaiju Queen of IMPACT Wrestling. A big knee set up for the backbreaker/clothesline combo, nearly breaking Dashwood in two.
Kaleb distracted Havok long enough to give Dashwood the time to avoid a leg drop. The Spotlight Kick connected, knocking Havok out cold.
Results: Tenille Dashwood defeated Havok via pinfall on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: B+
After the match, Nevaeh rushed the ring and attacked Kaleb with a K and Tenille Dashwood. Tenille escaped, but Kaleb was spiked with a twisting DDT.
Former IMPACT Wrestling Heavyweight Champion Sami Callihan sent in footage of himself at the Skull and Bones Academy, Trey Miguel's wrestling school. He found some awards, posters, and more in Miguel's office, including a drawing of The Rascalz. Callihan said that The Rascalz "ditched Trey Miguel" because he was a loser.
Conrad Kennedy, CKIII, was training the students when they were interrupted by Callihan. The Callihan Death Machine laid them all out, sending a message to the "Passionless" Trey. However, Callihan brought one of Trey's students with him, whom Callihan didn't want to attack. Did he find a new disciple, and a possible Judas, for Trey?
Backstage at IMPACT Wrestling, TJP and Alisha Edwards were in Swinger's Palace. The IMPACT Wrestling X-Division Champion apparently had some bets placed already, making some quick cash on what he knew what Austin would say. Bey came in, furious that he got finessed, something TJP was happy to point out.
Johnny Swinger demanded John E. Bravo go to IMPACT Wrestling Management to make the match official. TJP, of course, knew he would do that and got some extra dough.
Eric Young was dressing down Deaner for failing to put his former tag team partner down for good. Deaner vowed to face the consequences should he be unsuccessful. Young promised to hold him to that and didn't want "the disease" to return.
"I know that you know that this has to happen." Young handed off Deaner to Joe Doering, who placed a hand on Deaner's shoulder before violently assaulting him. Deaner was pulled to his feet by Young, who said he only did this because he cared.
We saw another AEW paid advertisement, plugging the go-home show for AEW Revolution along with the PPV itself.
The Good Brothers and FinJuice vs. XXXL and Reno Scum on IMPACT Wrestling
The Good Brothers dropped Larry D early on before jaw jacking with FinJuice. The IMPACT Wrestling Tag Team Champions opted to not go for a cover, instead checking to see what the young boys could do. FinJuice hit a nasty running dropkick/side Russian leg sweep but ignored the pin as well.
Acey Romero tagged in only to be bowled over by Karl Anderson and Gallows. When David Finlay tagged in, he got distracted by his own team, allowing Acey Romero to catch him with a big elbow. Finlay was caught in the wrong corner, with XXXL and Reno Scum demolishing him.
Gallows got back in, knocking out all of his opponents before tagging in his partner. The Magic Killer planted Reno Scum for a quick victory.
Results: The Good Brothers defeated Reno Scum via pinfall on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: C+
The IMPACT Wrestling Tag Team Champions were arguing with Juice Robinson and David Finlay after their match. FinJuice laid it all out on the line, challenging for the gold. The Good Brothers obliged, setting up a match at Sacrifice.
Brian Myers vs. Eddie Edwards with Special Guest Referee Matt Cardona on IMPACT Wrestling
Eddie Edwards dropped Brian Myers with the overhead belly-to-belly after an inverted atomic drop. Myers rolled to the floor, where he was hit with a big dive from the former IMPACT Wrestling World Champion.
Back from the break, Myers caught Edwards with the sliding leg trip, sending Edwards into the corner. Edwards managed to catch Myers with an outstanding bridging Northern Lights Suplex, getting a close call.
Setting up for the Tiger Bomb, he couldn't lock it in but caught Myers bouncing off the ropes with a Blue Thunder Bomb. The Most Professional Wrestler in IMPACT Wrestling kicked out and ducked the Boston Knee Party and planted Edwards with an elevated flatliner.
Edwards kicked out and responded with the backpack stunner, but Myers managed to get his foot on the ropes. Myers loaded his elbow pad before dropping Edwards with the Roster Cut. Cardona obviously saw it, leading to the DQ.
Results: Eddie Edwards defeated Brian Myers via DQ on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: B-
The IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion admitted to attacking ODB last week. Tonight, Deonna Purrazzo vowed to put Jordynne Grace and Kiera Hogan through the same pain ODB felt. Kimber Lee was confident in the Virtuosa.
Susan? Oh, who knows what she was thinking.
Deonna Purrazzo w/Kimber Lee and Susan vs. Kiera Hogan w/Tasha Steelz vs. Jordynne Grace w/Jazz on IMPACT Wrestling
IMPACT Wrestling's Thick Mama Pump had to fight off a two-on-one assault and did so with ease. Jordynne Grace dumped Deonna Purrazzo to the floor before hammering Kiera Hogan with a series of short-arm clotheslines.
Purrazzo tripped up Grace to break up her momentum and locked Hogan in the Fujiwara Armbar, only for the former IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion to break up the hold. Grace was caught soon after but was able to drag herself to the ropes. Hogan caught Purrazzo with a diving crossbody and planted Grace with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors facebuster.
Hogan couldn't secure the pin on either opponent. A Chaos Theory German from Grace dumped Hogan on her head, leaving Purrazzo with another opportunity at the Fujiwara Armbar. Grace escaped only to be hit with Hogan's superkick. The IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champ rocked Hogan with a pump kick but felt Jordynne's wrath with a spinebuster.
Purrazzo planted Hogan with a flatliner and nearly got the win. Grace broke up the pin and looked for a Grace Driver. Hogan blocked, but Grace took both women down with a double clothesline. Susan, Kimber Lee, Jazz, and Tasha Steelz brawled on the floor, with Purrazzo and Hogan soon joining in. Grace hit a big dive, bowling through them all.
Grace brought Hogan back in, looking to plant the IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Tag Champ with the Grace Driver. Hogan fought to the corner, but a running double knee/sliding elbow connected. Steelz saved her partner from the splash, allowing Purrazzo to pick up the pieces with a roll-up.
Results: Deonna Purrazzo defeated Jordynne Grace via pinfall on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: A
ODB rolled in, dropping Purrazzo with the TKO. The TNA legend held the IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Championship over her head. Will ODB be the one to dethrone Deonna Purrazzo at Sacrifice?
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