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JAMES STORM VS. ROHIT RAJU & MORE: BTI - BEFORE THE IMPACT REPORT

Before the Impact opened with highlights of the last week in Impact Wrestling.

Our hosts welcomed us and reviewed what went down with Moose and Rich Swann last week, including footage of what took place after Impact on AXS went off the air last Tuesday as they continued to brawl in and outside the ring as officials held them apart.  They pushed their match for 3/13 at the Sacrifice PPV on Impact+.

They previewed tonight's Impact lineup.

They went to a backstage promo with Decay promising that Black Taurus would be victorious tonight.  They used some cool lighting effects to make this eerie.

Our hosts discussed the recent issues with Neveah and Havok.

Backstage, Rohit Raju said that he watched James Storm win titles when Rohit was a champion growing up.  Storm deserves the title of legend but a legend means you are done, past tense.  He's still doing things.  Storm was a sucker punch artist for hitting him upside the head with a battle.  Sabin will be with Storm but Shera will be in his corner.  He promised to out-wrestle Storm on the mat and that he will get his hand raised this week.  He said it's about what you do and he's about to get a win.

James Storm said that Rohit spilled beer on Storm and then looked at him like he was going to fight Storm, of all people, in a bar.  All he had to do was say he was sorry.  Instead, he looked to Shera like Shera was going to do something.  So, now he's sorry about Raju's bad luck.

Reno Scum and XXXL did a promo backstage saying that a win tonight changes things for them since teams like FinJuice and The Good Brothers are always stealing the spotlight from teams like them.

The hosts looked at the Brian Myers vs. Eddie Edwards match and how Matt Cardona will figure into the situation.

They went to Josh Mathews interviewing Eddie Edwards from earlier this week.  He said that he felt Matt Cardona would call the match down the middle and he was looking forward to getting his hands on Myers.  He was asked about all the new talents coming in from the perspective of the longest tenured talent.  He said it speaks for Impact being a destination for the business.  He said that right now, Impact is moving forward together and everyone is on the same path - the office, Anthem, production - and it feels good to have that full support where in the past that wasn't always the case.  On Myers calling him a garbage wrestler, Edwards said that because he has different gear and a beard, that doesn't mean he's just a brawler.  He's a hybrid and he can do everything but keeps things in his back pocket.  Myers is planting his flag on the wrong hill if he thinks Eddie is only a brawler.

They went to the social media countdown.  The best insult was Deonna Purrazzo knocking ODB.

Backstage, Kaleb was talking up Tenille, telling her she would take out Havok tonight.  Dashwood wasn't happy she wasn't featured in the social media countdown as she's obsessed with social media as an "Influencer."

They went to the George the Iceman insider segment.  He said Sami Callihan hasn't been seen in Nashville tonight but predicted he would still confront Trey Miguel tonight.

D'Lo Brown and Matt Striker talked about the Storm vs. Raju match.

Rohit Raju with Mahabali Shera vs. James Storm with Chris Sabin

Storm caught him with a big right hand at the bell and Raju was almost counted out but pulled himself up.  Raju regained his composure and challenged Storm to fight him.  James ended up rocking him again with another right, sending him to the floor, where Shera checked on him.  Storm went to the floor and argued with Shera, allowing Raju to nail a sliding kick through the ropes.  Raju hiptossed him on the rampway to the ring.

Back in the ring, Storm cut off Raju but Raju was able to nail a back elbow during a criss-cross in the ring.  Raju began stomping and working over.  Raju nailed a big running elbow for a two count.  Storm tried to fight him off but Raju grabbed his hair to snap him down to the mat.  Raju nailed a big boot for a close two count.  Storm made a comeback but was cut off.  Shera held Storm in the corner for Raju to hit charging moves on but Sabin stopped it.  Storm nailed the LungBlower for a close two count.  Storm lifted him for the WhirlyBird but Raju slipped out and nailed a Flatliner for a two count.  Storm finally caught him with the Last Call superkick and scored the pin.

Your winner, James Storm!

Shera attacked Storm and hit a sit-out powerbomb on him, leaving him laying.  This obviously isn't done.  My guess is we get a tag match at Sacrifice.

The match was really solid.  Raju is perhaps the most underrated talent in Impact in terms of his timing, aggression and intensity.  Storm is always good and this was a nice mix.

Our hosts ran down the Impact lineup.

 

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