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ALEX SHELLEY VS. STEVE MACLIN & MORE: IMPACT WRESTLING DOWN UNDER NIGHT ONE COVERAGE FROM AUSTRALIA

Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of Impact Wrestling Down Under Day One live from Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia on FITE.TV.   

Cheryl Penrith, a local official, welcomed everyone as they officially opened the show and acknowledged the history and original native citizens of the land.

Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt are our announcers.

Slex vs. Adam Brooks

These two have competed a lot against each other and went back and forth with some nice, solid action early.  Brooks went for a dive but was caught by Slex in mid-air, then elevated and suplexed onto the apron outside.  Slex scored several two counts.  He controlled until Brooks caught him with a knee to the mid-section and a big forearm for a two count.  Brooks suplexed Slex into the buckles for a two count.

Brooks went to the top but was caught by Slex.  Slex went for a superplex but was headbutt away, crashing down to the mat.  Slex recovered and grabbed him for a superplex, then pulled up and suplexed him again.  They crashed over the ropes to the floor, which looked insane.    They battled back into the ring.  Slex went for a move but was nailed.  Brooks went for a swanton but Slex pulled his knees up and nailed his finisher, the Slexecution for the pin.

Your winner, Slex!

Very damn good opener.  These talents had a lot of bad luck the last few years as their ROH opportunities disintegrated due to the COVID-19 pandemic so hopefully this strong match leads to more chances outside of Australia.

The announcers run down the lineup.

The Motor City Machine Guns cut a promo welcoming Australia to the MCMG experience.  Sabin said 20 years ago, he was here as X-Division Champion facing Frankie Kazarian and now they are here again.  Shelley said if Steve Maclin thinks he's taking the title, he's wrong.

Gisele Shaw vs. Erika Reid.

Reid is a Doomsday Witch.  So, she'll make a great prom date!

They locked up and went back and forth with some counters.  Shaw shoulderblocked Reid down and then did it a second time.  On the third attempt, it was Shaw getting knocked to the mat and caught with a series of armbars.  Reid nailed a series of back elbows and drilled her to the mat with a suplex, scoring a two count.  She cinched in a rear chinlock but was driven backwards into the corner.  Reid fought back but was snapped to the mat by her arm.  Reid went to the floor but was sent into the ring post shoulder first.

Shaw brought Reid back into the ring, attacking her arm and shoulder.  She scored a series of near falls.  Shaw used the rope to tie up her arm and continue the attacks.  Shaw slapped her across the face and went back to the armbar.  Shaw continued her attack but was caught with a rollup for a two count.  Reid caught Shaw with a DDT, giving her the hope of a comeback.  Reid tried to knock her shoulder back into place and fought back despite being beaten up.  She nailed a clothesline and a rana, spiking Shaw to the mat for a close two count.

Reid set up for a piledriver but Shaw escaped and kicked her, then locked on another armbar.  Trapped, Reid tapped.

Your winner, Gisele Shaw!

The story was that Shaw, who is facing Deonna Purrazzo tomorrow, used Purrazzo's own tactics by attacking the arm and had upped her game.  

The match was very good.

They aired a commercial for Slammiversary on 7/15.

Steve Maclin did a promo saying he's not afraid to admit when he was wrong.  He said Shelley was the better man the last time they wrestled because Maclin was looking ahead to Nick Aldis and had his eyes off Shelley.  Tonight, he's got his sights on Shelley and promised he would be the champion again.

All the crowd shots look like the fans are really happy to be there and enjoying themselves.

Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry vs. Eddie Edwards.

They noted this was a first-time ever bout.

Hendry came out and said he was in a good mood, because Impact was making its debut in Australia.    He said that everyone was excited and since they were on vacation, he wanted Eddie to be included and said he prepared a chant for Eddie tonight - Eddie Sucks.  That was pretty funny.

Hendry controlled Edwards' arm early on.  Edwards gained control with a side headlock and sent Hendry into the ropes, where he was shoulderblocked down.  Edwards went to the floor to regroup.  The "Eddie Sucks" chants began and Edwards played off of them.  He returned to the ring for a test of strength but Edwards backed off and then kicked the champ in the gut.  He attacked Hendry's neck.  Hendry absorbed some chops and ran through Edwards.  Edwards regained control but Hendry avoided a bodypress.

Hendry held him aloft for a delayed vertical suplex, scoring a two count.  Hendry nailed a series of chops in the corner before raining down with right hands.  Edwards dumped him to the floor and when Hendry returned, he was hit with a clothesline and an inverted atomic drop.  Edwards worked him over with chops in the corner.  Edwards locked on a side chinlock, controlling Hendry on the mat.  Hendry fought to his feet and nailed a series of uppercuts but was cut off again.  Good babyface vs. heel bout thus far.

Hendry came back with a Fallaway slam.  He followed up with a cutter for another two count.    Hendry catches him with a pop-up powerbomb but again, can't get the pinfall.  Edwards caught him with a Blue Thunder Bomb but the champ kicked up.  Edwards nailed a series of knees to the face and chest.  He went for a Tiger Driver but Hendry slipped up and elevated and slammed him.  They battled into the corner, where Edwards powerbombed him.  He went for the Boston Knee Party but Hendry caught him and nailed The Standing Ovation for the pin.

Your winner and still Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry!

Very good match that got the crowd really into what they were doing, to the point they played up the idea that the crowd chants were a factor in Edwards losing because he was distracted.

They had a video feature on Impact stars visiting the Wagga Wagga Zoo and interacting with a number of animals.  It was a nice piece.

Killer Kelly vs. Aysha.

Aysha is portraying a party girl, coming out with a bottle of champagne as the announcers noted she wanted to use wrestling to build her brand.  She seemed spooked early by Kelly.  Aysha was struck with a lot of knees and strikes early.  She charged and kicked her in the chest.  Kelly followed Aysha to the floor and nailed a Penalty Kick on the apron.   She brought Aysha back into the ring and nailed a big fisherman's suplex for a two count.

Aysha made a comeback but was caught with several headbutts and a butterfly suplex.  Kelly caught her with a dropkick in the corner.  Aysha went for a double arm DDT but was caugh in a DVDR.  Aysha went to the floor and grabbed her bottle of champagne, which the referee took away.  She used another hidden bottle to spray Kelly in the face and score a near fall.  Kelly finally locked in the Killer Klutch and forced a submission.

Your winner, Aysha!

Solid match.  The story was Aysha fought to try and survive but was finally taken out.  She gave a good accounting for herself.

For more on Impact Wrestling, visit www.ImpactWrestling.com.

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