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Tonight was an incredibly emotional night for Impact Wrestling. While we saw the ongoing stories for Eddie Edwards, Ace Austin, Tenille Dashwood, and Moose, we saw the foundation of Impact Wrestling changed permanently.
LAX looked for a final shot at redemption in a title match against The North. However, after some heated trash talk recently, Ortiz & Santana ended up putting their careers with the company on the line. They would either leave Mexico as 5-time Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champions, or leave without a job.
Brian Cage also had a tough night ahead of him as well. The Impact World Champion has only defended his title one time since winning it at Rebellion in April, successfully beating Michael Elgin at Slammiversary. Considering the 30-day clause that most champions are forced to follow, including Taya Valkyrie, who has made it her goal to defend the title as little as possible, many feel that Cage's reign should be cut short to give others a chance at the belt.
One of those who feel this way is the #1 contender Sami Callihan, who expected to see Cage stripped of the belt by the night's end. That being said, he wasn't opposed to taking on Cage for the belt. Tonight, he would find out what was next and if he'd ever get that title shot. The Machine's announcement would certainly be a tearjerker, as he wound up walking out with Melissa Santos by his side later on in the night.
We kicked off the show with a battle between two of Impact's most dangerous monsters, Havok and Su Yung. The two have been at each other's throats for months now, and tonight they finally got a chance to put the other away and move on, likely towards the coveted Knockouts Championship.
Havok vs Su Yung
Yung ducks a running clothesline and lights up Havok with a handful of right hands. Havok catches her, dropping her with a backbreaker and running over her with a big boot. Yung received more punishment in the corner, taking a pair of running boots to the jaw.
Yung seemed out on her feet here, with Havok completely dominating the former champion. Havok tossed her into the middle of the ring and battered her with heavy punches. However, Yung escaped a leg drop attempt and levelled Havok with a running knee, using Havok's own knee as a springboard. The Mandible Claw was blocked, though, and Havok locked her in a Boston Crab.
Havok looked as if she was going to break Yung in half, but the Undead Bride managed to make it to the ropes before that could happen. Before she could deliver a big body splash in the corner, Yung caught her with a palm strike. An old school into the hurricanrana set up for the Mandible Claw, with Havok backing herself into the corner to break the hold. Havok then stormed Yung, trying to run over her once again. Yung dropped the ropes, sending her outside.
Yung went to the apron and bowled over Havok with a rolling senton. However, a second attack off the apron was blocked, and Havok dropped her face-first on the apron via an electric chair facebuster. Another electric chair on the outside was stopped when Kid Ref admonished her for taking things too far. Yung crawled away as the two argued. As Havok turned the corner, she was met by the red mist of Yung.
Results: No Contest
The brawling continued after the bell rang, with Yung ducking a clothesline, bouncing Havok's arm off the ring post. Yung backed up the ramp, seemingly winning a battle, but not the war.
The North cut a promo on their Impact Tag Team Title match tonight. Ethan Page said that, though LAX is putting their spots in Impact on the line, the North put their lives on the line every night.
After tonight, Impact and the fans will forget Santana and Ortiz ever existed. While they like to brag about "losing the titles four times," the North will only have one reign, because they'll be the champions forever.
Sami Callihan and the rest of oVe were backstage, with the Draw being in a great...and kind of creepy mood. He told the Crists to give him a kiss, with both brothers taking a cheek. Tonight would be a good night for the group.
Brian Cage's Championship announcement would be made tonight, as we'd see if he would have to relinquish the title due to injury or not. Madman Fulton would also look to eliminate the Whole F'N Show, Rob Van Dam, later tonight.
Moose vs Fallah Bahh
Bahh battered Moose out the gate, running through the former NFL star and launching him across the ring with a belly-to-belly suplex. Following that, a pair of chops and a backdrop, sending the big man sky high. However, as Moose was picked up again, a thumb to the eye put him back in the match. He recovered his breath as Bahh sat in the corner trying to get his eyesight back.
Moose took out Bahh with a crossbody from the top, but Bahh immediately stood back up and turned him inside out with a clothesline. A massive running cross body gave him a near fall. Bahh dragged Moose to the corner, looking for the Banzai Drop. Though he connected, Moose kicked out again.
Bahh couldn't believe what just happened, as nobody's ever been able to kick out following the Banzai. He ran in for a body splash in the corner, but Moose escaped, leveling him with the spear for the win.
Results: Moose defeated Fallah Bahh via pinfall.
Following the match, Moose locked in an ankle lock on his longtime rival, sending a message to Ken Shamrock.
Tessa Blanchard nearly busted down the locker room door to talk to Tommy Dreamer about her issues with Sami Callihan. Dreamer tried to talk her out of continuing her war with oVe, but folded.
Eddie Edwards was seen working things out with Alisha outside the building. However, a woman came up to him "thanking him" for the night before and showing him how "big" Kenny is. Before Edwards could deny it, Alisha slapped him and ran off. Ace Austin came up to check on her, but she stormed past him. Austin finished by calling Edwards a "real piece of S**t."
Last week, Golden Magic and TJP took part in a Fatal-4-Way match in which Magic was able to win. TJP felt that he deserved the victory, leading to a grudge match between the two tonight. Magic came down to the ring with his AAA trios title around his waist.
TJP vs Golden Magic
TJP took Magic to the ground with a pair of headscissors. Magic responded with a similar maneuver, but TJP was able to escape with ease. Back to their feet, TJP held onto Magic with a hammerlock. Magic countered with a snapmare and chopped TJP's chest, going up top for a springboard twisting arm drag.
TJP tried to send him over the apron, but he landed on his feet, sending TJP outside with an arm drag and tilt-a-whirl headscissors. An Asai Moonsault took TJP out as we went to commercial.
Back from the break, TJP had set Magic up in a tree of woe. The rounding basement dropkick connected to the AAA star's sternum. A tope atomico set up for a pinfall where Magic kicked out at two. Magic kicked out of two more pinfalls and rolled TJP up. TJP and was met by a springboard kick across the face.
TjP ended Magic's momentum with a dropkick to the ribs, focusing again on the body. Following that was the suplex-back suplex combination. Going to the top rope, he attempted a senton bomb, but Magic rolled away. A springboard cutter sent TJP outside where he was hit with a twisting corkscrew splash. However Magic seemingly caught the worst of it, grazing TJP but landing directly on the floor below.
Magic managed to get back to his feet and followed TJP inside the ring. Another roll-up saw TJP break out at two. Another corkscrew splash set TJP up for his double underhook corkscrew neckbreaker.
TJP broke out and delivered a sick brainbuster to Magic. As he went to the second rope, Magic caught him with an enziguri. TJP tried to shove him off, but Magic recovered, sending the former X-Division Champion crashing to the mat with a springboard super hurricanrana. Up top, Magic attempted the 450 Splash. TJP rolled away in the nick of time, and though Magic landed on his feet he seemingly jammed his knee. TJP followed up with a dropkick to the knee.
Magic followed TJP to the top rope again countered whatever TJP had in mind, bringing him down with a moonsault power slam. TJP rolled away from the 450 again and connected with the Detonation Kick. THe TJP Clutch forced the submission.
Results: TJP defeated Golden Magic via submission.
Ace Austin was seen thanking the mystery woman for helping him break up Eddie and Alisha. Alish walked up to see them conversing, but Austin covered, claiming that she was trying to get in bed with him. However, unlike Eddie Edwards, he's a one woman man.
Taya Valkyrie was seen backstage complaining about the appearance of Tenille Dashwood, who looks to be the next challenger for the Knockouts Title. She shoved John E. Bravo aside, looking to find somebody else to talk to about the situation.
We saw a vignette of Johnny Swinger, a man seemingly caught in the eighties. Swinger is set to debut very soon on Impact.
Backstage, Tenille Dashwood was interviewed by Jimmy Jacobs. Before they could get far, Kiera Hogan and Madison Rayne tried to force her to the back of the line. Dashwood said that she's ready to take on anyone in that line, including the two of them, leading to a match between herself and Hogan next week.
Madman Fulton w/Dave Crist vs Rob Van Dam
Fulton forced Rob Van Dam into the corner, trying to brutalize the living legend early on. Van Dam escaped and went after the legs of the big man. Fulton managed to trap him in the corner and delivered a series of back elbows to the jaw. Van Dam responded with a kick to the arm and tried to bring Fulton down with a side headlock. Fulton simply picked him up and drove him into the turnbuckle again, driving his shoulders into RVD's ribs.
Van Dam avoided a clothesline and drop kicked Fulton's knees, connecting with a kick to the jaw and a rolling wheel kick. The top rope side kick sent Fulton outside, where he was bowled over by a rolling senton from the apron.
Fulton did manage to catch Van Dam back on the apron, battering him with sledgehammer like strikes to the gut and a slingshot style neckbreaker using the ropes.
Back inside, the deadlift chokeslam connected. Fulton stalked the former World Champion and nearly decapitated him with a lariat. He picked up Van Dam for the finish, but Van Dam countered with a crucifix pin. Fulton broke out.
Van Dam connected with a series of kicks, including another spinning wheel kick. Another back kick from the second rope sent Fulton to thecorner. Following a boot to the jaw, the Rolling Thunder set up for the Five Star Frog Splash. Dave Crist went up to the apron at this point and shoved him off the top, forcing a disqualification.
Results: Rob Van Dam defeated Madman Fulton via DQ.
Van Dam escaped the post-match beatdown after ducking a boot from Fulton, which inadvertently knocked out Dave Crist. A kick to Fulton sent him outside allowing RVD to hit the Five Star Frog Splash on Crist instead.
Dez and Wentz were seen back in their "treehouse" waiting for Trey, who apparently had "the stuff." Trey said he wasn't able to, no matter how many people he asked on the street. Wentz and Dez took turns choking Trey as Rich Swann & Willie Mack entered the room. Luckily, they had "the stuff" and the five...uh...relaxed.
They talked about the upcoming tag title match, as one of these two teams were more than likely in line for a shot at the gold next. They were last seen partying before we moved onto another segment from the Deaner Compound.
The Desi Hit Squad are still working as ranch hands for Cody and Jake. The Deaners said that they appreciated the trio for all of their hard work, and took them to the "Deaner Swimming Pool," a lake near the farm. However, the trio didn't exactly enjoy it as much as Cody and Jake, and Rohit Raju fell into the water as they were baiting hooks for fishing.
Jordynne Grace descended into the bottom of the building, hoping to find Rosemary. Thick Mama Pump said that just like when Rosemary told her to stay out of her business months ago, she doesn't need the Demon Assassin's help now. Rosemary said that she doesn't take orders from anyone except for...well... the Shadow. And if the Shadow says to protect Jordynne Grace, then that's what Rosemary will do.
Backstage, Konnan was seen hyping up LAX. Tonight, they would become 5-time champions. There was no other option for them. With the Latino Nation on their backs, Santana & Ortiz would leave tonight with the titles.
Impact Tag Team Title Match: LAX w/Konnan vs The North (c)
Santana started the main event with Josh Alexander. The Walking Weapon forced the former champion into the corner, but Santana was able to escape and take down Alexander with a snapmare, catching him with a dropkick to the back of the head. Ortiz tagged in, leading to a senton-body splash combination. Alexander kicked out as we headed to commercial.
Back from the break, Ortiz was seen working over Alexander in the corner. Santana tagged in, and as Ortiz went off the ropes, he was pulled out by Ethan Page. Alexander overpowered Santana after he was left hanging on the ropes following a missed boot to Page, bringing him down to the mat and tearing away at the left knee.
Page came in and continued the assault on Santana's injured leg, tying his knee up in the ropes and kicking it repeatedly. Santana tried to fight back with a few chops, but was taken down with a gutwrench overhead suplex. Alexander hit Santana with a boot, but the ref didn't see, which led to Ortiz trying to get in to save his partner. WIth the ref's back turned, the North continued their two-on-one assault.
Alexander tagged in but couldn't prevent Santana from breaking away and tagging in Ortiz. Ortiz sent Alexander over with a hip toss and sent Page into the corner, crashing into Alexander. Page was tossed to the outside and a powerbomb from Ortiz, followed by a kick to the jaw, nearly put Alexander down for the three count.
With an assist from Page, Alexander dropped Ortiz with a lifting double arm DDT. Following the Monster Mash, Ortiz somehow managed to kick out. Page demanded that the champs go for the Street Sweeper, but Santana put a stop to it. A cutter dropped Alexander while a superkick/rope draped stunner sent Page outside. Alexander kicked out following a rolling senton into the corner.
Santana knocked Page off the apron and LAX looked for the Street Sweeper. Page got back up and held Santana, allowing Alexander to drop Ortiz on his knee. The champions finished Santana with the Lochness Lowdown.
Results: The North defeated LAX via pinfall.
With that, LAX must leave Impact Wrestling. The North celebrated at the top of the ramp as Konnan and Ortiz checked on Santana. The crowd chanted for the former champions one final time. Ortiz and Santana shed some tears as Konnan embraced them.
Brian Cage finally came down to the ring to address his health. Along with Melissa Santos, he revealed that he has six weeks until he's cleared, just in time for Bound For Glory. He never imagined that he would be carrying his first World Title like this, injured and barely defending his title. After Bound For Glory, he'll get back on track.
Following that, Cage decided to make another huge announcement, asking Melissa Santos to marry him. Santos said yes, and the two left the arena, with Santos and the belt in the arms of the Machine.
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