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Welcome to PWInsider.com's ongoing coverage of Impact Wrestling's debut episode on AXS TV!
We open with a video package on the history of the promotion. They promised a look at the company's history and Bound for Glory.
Josh Mathews and Scott D'Amore are the hosts. They are pushing that next week is the official premiere. Tonight, they will introduce everyone to the stars of Impact.
They go to Melissa Santos as LA Live. Later tonight, she'll be talking to Taya Valkyrie.
They discussed the crowning of Ace Austin as the new X-Division Champion at Bound for Glory. They noted this led to a feature film for Austin. Don Callis was somewhere on the set but said they haven't found Austin yet but will later tonight.
They began running down the talent roster.
They aired a video feature on Michael Elgin. Scott D'Amore says it is inevitable that Elgin will be Impact Champion.
Madison Rayne (with Kiera Hogan) vs. Shotzi Blackheart
Hogan joined Josh Mathews and Don Callis on commentary. This was taped this past Sunday prior to Bound for Glory.
They locked up but Rayne tried to stall. Rayne told Blackheart to lay down and let herself get pinned. Rayne tried to kick her but was caught and tossed off Blackheart nailed several dropkicks. Rayne ran to the floor and sat on Hogan's lap trying to stall. Blackheart followed her to the floor, but Rayne nailed her with a forearm and brought her back to the ring for a two count. They went to commercial.
A commercial for next week stated it was the culmination of Impact's "redemption story."
When they returned from commercial, Rayne nailed a nice Northern Light suplex for a two count. Rayne nailed a low clothesline for another near fall. Rayne locked on a cravate. Rayne nailed several knee strikes to take Blackheart back down to the mat. Rayne scored another two count. Shotzi avoided a charge in the corner and unloaded with several knee strikes and a kick to the head for a near fall. Rayne was slammed facefirst into the buckles and hit with a 619.
Shotzi went to the top but Rayne rolled out of the way. Rayne went for a waistlock but was sent into the buckles. They battled in the corner with Rayne using the ropes as a weapon with a slingshot. Rayne nailed a rolling neckbreaker and scored the pin.
Your winner, Madison Rayne!
The match itself was fine but the announcing, which was Don Callis mocking Josh Mathews to Kiera Hogan was a tad distracting.
They discussed the Knockouts division and pushed that they allowed the athletes to do what they could do unlike another company Josh worked at where they battled over "a 60 year old man."
They showed highlights of the Monster's Ball Knockouts match from Slammiversary over the summer.
They go to Ace Austin, who is getting makeup put on his face. Don Callis comes up to interview him He said that he has everything going on Now that he's won the X-Division title, his phone is ringing 24/7 with offers and it's going to be an interesting few months. A beautiful woman showed up and told Austin that she was nervous working with him. Callis said the Rock didn't get this at 22 and asked if he was nervous He scoffed at the idea he'd be nervous. Austin was asked if he could balance everything but was pulled away to be on set.
They talked about the tag team scene in Impact Wrestling. Scott D'Amore said the Desi Hit Squad are the sleeper team to watch.
They showed highlights of The North defeating LAX to win the Impact Tag Team titles.
The North were interviewed from Toronto at Anthem HQ. They were in front of a brick building with a bunch of broken bricks and garbage behind them. That was unintentionally hilarious.
They said Impact's debut will be a historic night when Impact debuts next week and issued an open challenge to anyone wanting to face them.
They showed clips of Rob Van Dam turning on Rhino at Bound for Glory. Van Dam will speak out next week.
They showed highlights of Moose vs. Ken Shamrock.
Backstage after the match, Ken Shamrock said he didn't know what was next and tonight was a disappointment for him. He said he would go back and evaluate and tomorrow is a new day, but it's not a good feeling.
They announced Shamrock would be on next week to address his future.
They went to Moose via Skype. He was celebrating in a small room somewhere. He said he has no sympathy for Shamrock and told him to go back to his retirement home and do whatever retired people do. They asked what was next for Moose. He said that he beat the best MMA star of all time and retired the best crossover star in pro wrestling history. Next week, he'll show the world why he's the legend known as Moose.
Melissa Santos interviewed Knockouts Champion Taya Valkyrie, who put herself over as being great. They showed a clip of her bout against Tenille Dashwood at Bound for Glory. Valkyrie said she feels amazing over winning and will go down as the greatest Knockout of all time. Her first match in pro wrestling was against Dashwood. Tenille fought on the biggest stage over the world and she still wasn't good enough for Taya. Taya said next week they are going to Windsor next week and that's OK because she has made their lives all better.
They went to a comedy bit where John E. Bravo was interviewing Windsor natives about Taya. It was pretty funny, especially when he was getting blown off by people.
Taya was apalled Bravo "screwed that up" and stormed off.
They announced Josh Alexander vs. Naomichi Marufuji for next week's Impact Wrestling.
They aired Sami Callihan's pre-main event promo from last Sunday's Bound for Glory PPV.
In the studio, Impact Champion Brian Cage joined Scott D'Amore and Josh Mathews. He said he feels good and he's excited to have retained the belt. D'Amore said he's proven himself to be a worthy champion. Cage said he appreciates that and he's excited about how things can go. Things didn't go as he hoped earlier on but he's excited about the future.
They went to highlights of Cage vs. Callihan from Bound for Glory.
Cage said he was happy to celebrate with his wife and is happy for the future. Sami Callihan stormed in and demanded a rematch next week on Impact Wrestling. Cage said that he's not going to do it. Callihan said that he's here in NYC and Melissa's in LA. So, his baby girl is all alone. Cage got mad they threatened his daughter and grabbed Callihan by the throat. Callihan showed him streaming footage of OVE in front of Cage's house waiting for the call. Callihan dared Cage to kill him, because if he did, there would be no one to call off OVE from kicking in the door and visiting the baby and Melissa's mother. Cage let his grasp go from his neck. He said he'll get the match next week but he's going to tear him limb from limb.
Well, that was a BIT dark.
After a commercial, they announced Impact Champion Brian Cage vs. Sami Callihan inside a steel cage for next week.
They announced Brian Cage and Melissa Santos had gone home make sure their family was OK.
D'Lo Brown joined Scott and Josh to discuss the Cage vs. Callihan situation. Brown said that if Cage keeps his mind distracted by what Callihan threatened, Callihan was going to win the title and "that's a disgusting thought." D'Amore said Sami is a chess master and a disgusting human being. Scott said he needs to go home, make sure their family is OK and then lock all the emotion away and put that laser focus on maintaining his status as the Impact Champion. Scott asked Brown how you put everything aside and focus. Brown said as a professional, you have to focus on one thing and for Cage, it has to be maintaining his composure and retaining the belt.
They mioved on to a video package on Tessa Blanchard. They noted how OVE got in her way at Bound for Glory.
The Impact+ moment of the week was Sami Callihan vs. Tessa Blanchard from Slammiversary over the summer.
We go back to the movie set where Ace Austin is told the scene is he is coming to his neighbor's house to borrow a lawnmower only to discover his neighbor's beautiful wife. OKaaaaaay. What the hell are they filming?
They aired a video feature on Eddie Edwards.
They discuss Edwards' performance in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet at Bound for Glory. They talked about what title he might pick to challenge for.
They announced X-Division Champion Ace Austin vs. Eddie Edwards for next week.
They discussed the history of the X-Division and showed highlights of the Ultimate X match from the January 2019 Homecoming PPV.
We go back to the set of the movie, which according to the director's clapper board is titled "MeanB**ches.com" Ah, a franchise as storied as Star Wars and Back to the Future combined. We are in a bedroom. Of course, we are. Austin comes into the room and the woman attacks him...and they fade to black. What was so mean about this anyway?
Jimmy Jacobs interviewed Johnny Swinger. Swinger was awesome doing all the 1990s pro wrestling cliches. He's going to take a young lad and show them all the lessons he learned from "Bundy, The Anvil, Honky" and more. He didn't know what social media was and gave out a PO Box number for a Fan Club. He called himself Johnny Impact. Jacovs said they already had a Johnny Impact here. Swinger said he sounded like a "real job guy." That was pretty damn entertaining.
The Rascalz vs. Dr. Wagner Jr. & Aerostar & Taurus
Everyone brawled in the center of the ring. Team AAA worked over Dez. Wagner was wearing a mask for some reason. They all worked over Trey. He was locked in a bow and arrow and while trapped in it, Taurus grabbed him in a Dragon Sleeper and Aerostar nailed a stomp off the top. Ouch! They went to commercial. When they returned, they went into a great dive sequence that the crowd - which was super hyped to see the luchadors - loved. Everyone battled. Trey kicked Aerostar off the top and nailed a double knee strike. The Rascalz piled on and scored the pin.
Your winners, The Rascalz!
If you wanted all out fast action, this was for you.
They closed out thanking everyone for watching and pushing next Tuesday's episode.
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