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IMPACT WRESTLING ON AXS TV REPORT

This week's Impact Wrestling on AXS TV is the last stop on the road to this Saturday's Genesis 2021 PPV on Impact+ and opens with a recap of the last several weeks of Impact TV.

Ace Austin (with Madman Fulton) vs. Blake Christian vs. Crazzy Steve vs. KC Navarro

This is Christian's official Impact Wrestling TV debut.  He's been tearing it up for GCW over the last year and is a hell of a flyer who's only going to get even greater in the years to come with experience.

This is meant to be a preview of Saturday's Super X-Cup Tournament at Genesis.

Everyone faced off.  Austin pulled Steve out of the ring.  Navarro and Christian faced off but Austin pulled Navarro out of the ring and stomped him.  He and Christian faced off.  Christian nailed a nice head scissors takedown but Austin avoided a charge in the corner and kicked away at him.

Steve sent Christian over the top to the floor.  He and Austin battled back and forth.  Navarro returned with a shoulderblock into Austin and nailed a tilt-o-whirl headscissors on Steve.  Navarro went to the top but Christian shoved him off the top to the floor.  Austin cut off Christian on the top.  Steve got involved but was swatted away by Austin.  Austin attempted a superplex on Christian but Christian slipped out and sent Austin to the floor.  Christian nailed a nice flip dive to the floor on Navarro but Austin took him out with a kick.  Austin's athleticism and unique creativity was very much on display here.  He hit a big dive to the floor.

Back in the ring, Steve had control until being kicked as he came off the ropes and being nailed with a double underhook DDT.  Navarro nailed a neckbreaker on Austin for a two count.  Navarro and Christian battled on the apron.  Christian nailed a standing Spanish Fly and a frog splash off the top on Austin but Steve broke up the pinfall attempt.

Steve stacked up Christian and Austin in the corner.  Navarro and Steve battled.  Steve nailed a DVDR into the corner on Navarro, taking out the others in the process.  Steve nailed a leaping DDT and scored the pin on Navarro.

Your winner, Crazzy Steve!

A good, frenzied opening match that adequately spotlighted everyone working in the tournament this weekend.

Josh Mathews and Madison Rayne previewed tonight's card and talked up the Hard to Kill PPV main event.

They went to a Sami Callihan promo.  He believes chaos begets chaos.  We don't live in a fairy tale and bad guys win in the end.  Tonight, he will face Eddie Edwards one more time.  He advised Edwards to make sure his wife isn't around ringside, because anything is possible.

We went to another paid advertisement from AEW President Tony Khan and Tony Schiavone.  They are here to help the less fortunate, Impact, via this paid ad.  They ran down the lineup for New Year's Smash.  It ended with a fired up Khan cutting a promo on Don Callis claiming he helped create AEW.

AEW Champion Kenny Omega, The Good Brothers and Don Callis were on Omega's bus, admiring their respective title belts.  Callis said they have to get down to business, the Hard to Kill six man main event.  He said this was the six man to end all six mans.  Omega said the world is talking about the match, but the finish is a foregone conclusion.  They've run all over the world as the Bullet Club.  There's no chemistry for the other team.  There is no history.  There is nothing special.  They are fueled by hate and passion because Omega and The Good Brothers are family, are champions and are Bullet Club for life.

Rhino & Cousin Jake vs. Cody Deaner & Joe Doering.

Jake cut a promo saying that betrayal cut deep but they are the Deaners.  Cody needs to come out and they can fix this.    Cody came out with a new shaved head look, very intense.  Young said that Cody only answers to him now.  He's opened Cody's eyes to the truth.  The truth is the world belongs to them.  They've done a really great job building Young's crew as the modern day answer to Kevin Sullivan and his minions in Florida.

Jake tried to reason with Cody, who stared at him and attacked Jake, swarming all over him and stomping him.

Cody ran Jake into the buckles and choked him against the ropes.  Doering tagged in and drilled Jake with a high cross bodyblock as they went to commercial...

When Impact returned, Cody was back in the ring working over his Cousin and nailed a running lariat in the corner.  He stomped Jake over and over as Something tried to reach for his cousin, only to be punched down again.  Cody choked away at his cousin.  Cody went for a back suplex but Jake landed on his feet and tagged Rhino.

Rhino cleaned house and nailed a big belly to belly suplex on Cody.  He told Jake to finish it and tagged him back in.  Doering attacked Rhino on the floor as Jake pleaded with his cousin.  EY distracted Jake, allowing Cody to attack Jake from behind and DDT'd him for the pin.

Your winners, Cody Deaner and Joe Doering!

Jake and Rhino were beaten down after the match until Tommy Dreamer hit the ring with a Singapore Cane to run them off.  Dreamer took the mic and said they were the ones who betrayed him.  He said the odds are even and challenged them to a six man tag team bout at Hard To Kill.  He said they go Old School Rules, Falls Count Anywhere.  The match is official for 1/16.

Gia Miller interviewed Matthew Palmer and welcomed him to Impact.  She asked why he accepted Moose's challenge.  He said he drove ten hours to get his foot in the door with Impact Wrestling, not be a security guard.  He didn't mean to rip Moose's shirt but he'd rather step in the ring with pride then go home a coward.  If he lasts three minutes tonight, the whole world will know who Matthew Palmer is.

Acey Romero found Johnny Swinger in a room he claimed it was his office.  Swinger said that he was found not guilty.  Swinger said Romero should be talking to some of the so-called Knockouts and told him to go check their locker room.

Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo and Kimber Lee came to the ring for a promo.   Taya will get her chance at Hard to Kill, but the question is what happens when she beats Taya.  She will prove once again that she is the best wrestler in the world.  She said the question is whether Taya will accept reality of continue her downward spiral of denial.

Taya and Rosemary made their way to the ring.  Taya told Deonna that she was delusional but she's going to make this really easy for her.  Taya is the longest reigning Knockouts Champion in history, but she's never faced Taya.  She might think Taya was distracted but she never lost sight of everything she wants - the Knockouts title.  Deonna said that Taya lost the belt to Jordynne Grace and Deonna soundly beat her.  She said Taya's husband is gone, her manager wants nothing to do with her and it's only a matter of time before Rosemary turns on her.

Deonna said that the last thing she has to cling to is that she was the longest reigning champion of all time but once Deonna breaks her arm, that accolade won't matter any more.  Taya got in her face.  Kimber Lee stood in her way, so Taya shoved her down.

Taya said she expected something more creative than the husband jab.  She knows Deonna is afraid of her and at Hard to Kill, she's going to end the age of the Virtuosa.  Purrazzo and Lee backed out of the ring.

Very good mic work from both Taya and Purrazzo.

Backstage, Rohit Raju found Chris Bey backstage.  He said his new year's resolution is forgiveness, so he forgives Bey for finding a way into his X-Division title match.  He said they are even now.  Bey said they won't be even until he's the champion again.  Raju said they have a common enemy, Manik.  They need to reveal he is TJ Perkins and then it will be down to the two of them, the top competitors, for the X-Division title.  Bey liked that idea and said they should go find him.  They found TJP sitting somewhere reading a magazine.  They asked him where Manik is.  He said he hasn't seen him.  Bey suggested Manik and TJP team against Bey and Raju.  TJP said he and Manik don't get along, but if he happens to see him, he'll let him know.

Tenille Dashwood and Kaleb with a K came across Rosemary.  Dashwood said she's seen what Taya is doing and asked where that leaves Rosemary.  She said their alliance is as strong as ever.  Dashwood said she understands what it's like to have a split with a partner and suggested they forge an alliance.  Rosemary blew them off.

Impact Wrestling Knockouts Tag Team Championship Tournament Semi-Final: Jordynne Grace & Jazz vs. Havok & Neveah

Neveah and Grace went back and forth with some nice exchanges.   Neveah was knocked into her corner.  Havok tagged in and used her strength to shoulder block Grace down.

Jazz tagged in and faced off with Havok, nose to nose.  Jazz slapped her across the face.  They battled back and forth with forearms and kicks.  Jazz had control but was cut off and double-teamed by Neveah and Havok.  Neveah scored a two count but Grace interfered.  Jazz raked Neveah's face and drilled her with an elbow across the back of the neck.  Grace and Jazz whipped Neveah into the ropes and nailed a double back elbow.  Grace continued working Neveah over in the corner as she and Jazz continued to tag in and out.

They nailed a double suplex on Neveah, allowing Grace to score several near falls.  Neveah fought to try and tag out but Grace pulled her back towards Grace's corner.  The beatings continued for Neveah.  Neveah tried to fire up with a series of forearms and finally caught Jazz with a neckbreaker.  Havok and Grace each tagged in with Havok cleaning house with a series of big boots.  Grace was powerbombed with authority but Jazz broke up the pinfall at the two count.

Everyone battled in the ring.  Jazz clotheslined Neveah and nailed a big right on Havok.  Grace rolled her up for a two count.  Havok chokeslammed Grace.  Jazz interceded but was nailed with a tombstone and pinned.

Your winners, Havok and Neveah!

It's Havok & Neveah vs. Tasha Steelz & Kiera Hogan at Hard to Kill to crown the Knockouts Tag Team Championship.

Gia Miller interviewed Impact Wrestling Champion Rich Swann and The Motor City Machine Guns.  Chris Sabin said the company was built on their backs and they aren't going to let them just walk in and run the place.  Swann said he's running with one of the greatest tag teams in professional wrestling history.  He said his title doesn't say AEW.  It says Impact World Champion.  He's not going to let someone from another company come in here and think they can run this place after everything he's been through to get where he's gotten.  He said he's going to show them they are going to bring the heat.  Alex Shelley said they should go to the bus and kick their asses right now and they all stormed out.

After a commercial, they stormed out of the building and knocks on the bus, trying to get in.  Omega and The Guns were waiting for them and jumped them from behind, beating them down in the parking lot.  Omega shoved the AEW title in Swann's face and told him he was the real World Champion.  Kenny said it seems like these babyfaces are easy to kill.  Omega teased leaving, then returned, stomping the hell out of them saying he was having too much fun.  He finally entered the bus and closed the door.

Backstage, Jordynne Grace apologized to Jazz for walking out after the match.  She said that she really wanted the titles and knew she spent such a long time looking for the right partner.  Grace apologized for asking her to put her retirement on hold.  Jazz said it was an honor.  Grace said it was an honor to tag with her but it would be an honor to step across the ring from her and challenged her to a match at Genesis.  Jazz accepted and they showed respect to each other.

Backstage, Deonna Purrazzo and Kimber Lee were waiting outside a room.  Jim Mitchell emerged and they asked if it was done.  Mitchell said it's complicated but she's not Su anymore.  They asked if she was now Susie and he said, not quite.  Su Yung emerged wearing a jacket and glasses and introduced herself as SUSAN.

They showed Eddie Edwards preparing for Sami Callihan backstage.

TNA Champion Moose vs. Matthew Palmer

Palmer went right after Moose, who manhandled him.  Palmer kept trying to fight back but was beaten and kicked down.  Moose kept stomping away at Palmer and ripped at his face.  Moose powerbombed him with 25 seconds left.  Moose prepared for a spear but Willie Mack distracted him, allowing the time to elapse.

Your winner, Matthew Palmer!

Ethan Page was on a therapist's chair wondering what he was doing with his life.  The therapist was obviously his alter ego, the Karate Man.  Karate Man called him a b**ch.  Page challenged him and said he was sick of taking advice from him.  Karate Man told him he did not wish to fight him.  Page said he'll face the Karate Man at Hard to Kill.  Yeah, that's an interesting way to be written out of the company.

Josh and Madison ran down the lineup for Genesis.

Sami Callihan vs. Eddie Edwards

Edwards and Callihan brawled out to the ring with the idea they had started fighting backstage.  Eddie tried to nail Sami with the baseball bat.  Sami missed with a chair.  Eddie nailed a series of headbutts but went to chop Callihan, nailing the ring post with his hand.  Callihan nailed him with a chair and stomped on his, well, nether-regions.

They continued brawling around ringside.  Edwards nailed Sami with a steel chair to the mid-section.  The timekeeper was tossed aside.  Callihan nailed Eddie with the ring bell and then nailed him with another chair.  Callihan tried to drive a wrench into Edwards' face but he was fought off.

Eddie chopped away at Sami and smashed him into the ring apron.  They battled back and forth.  Edwards smashed Callihan on the apron.  Callihan was bleeding from near the eye.  They continued brawling back and forth with stiff shots.  Callihan flung a chair at Edwards' head.  Edwards fell to the floor.  Callihan trash-talked him, saying Eddie should have stayed home with his family.  Callihan stomped and used his boot to smother Edwards.

Callihan ran a running knee strike into Edwards, who was placed against the ringside barricade.  Callihan went for a suplex onto an open chair but Edwards fought him off.  Callihan was sat down in the chair.  Edwards charged for a move but was caught with an exploder into the chair.

Callihan brought Edwards back into the ring and they officially rang the bell.  

NOW?

They began brawling.  Edwards had the Sami in the corner but the referee tried to intercede.  Eddie tossed him away.  Callihan gained control and the same thing happened with Sami shoving the referee away.

They charged at each other and were ripping at each others' eyes.  The referee tried to stop them and they shoved him down.

Brandon Tolle DQ'd them both and walked out.  He said he was done.  They said good and kept fighting.

Callihan was sent to the floor and Edwards nailed a dive to the floor.  

Edwards grabbed Callihan's baseball bat and stalked him with the bat.  Callihan backed off and then grabbed his phone and pressed a button.  Video of Alisha Edwards trapped somewhere in the bowels of the building was seen on the screen.  Edwards raced off to find her and when he did, she yelled it was a trap.  Ken Shamrock attacked him from behind.  Sami joined in and they beat him down and wrapped his face in barbed wire.  Edwards told Sami he was going to kill him.  Callihan drilled him with the bat in the face.  Shamrock told Eddie that this was his fault.  Callihan walked off with Shamrock, looking at the blood on his hands.

Alisha tried to ask the unconscious Eddie if he was OK as they went off the air...

That was a hell of a fun brawl.

A good episode to kick off the year.

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