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This week's Impact Wrestling opened with highlights from the 2021 Bound for Glory PPV.
Impact Wrestling Champion Moose came to the ring but before he could speak, Eddie Edwards hit the ring and tried to attack him. Moose overpowered him and tossed Eddie out of the ring. He went to the floor to follow but was attacked with the Singapore Cane. Moose and Eddie brawled on the floor. Moose drilled him with a boot to the face on the entrance ramp. He nailed a pump kick on the stage but Edwards did a double leg takedown and rained down with punches. Security pulled Edwards away and asked Moose to calm down as they brought him back to the ring.
Moose took the mic and said he knows he's done a lot of bad things to get to where he is today. He tried to break the neck of someone he once called his best friend. At Bound for Glory, he probably did the worst thing yet. He took everything Josh Alexander worked his ass off for away, right out of his hands, right in front of his wife and child. Moose told Alexander that if he was watching, he has no sympathy for him. Now, Moose has the Championship, which makes him the greatest champion in all of professional wrestling. It doesn't matter how "Elite" you are. It doesn't matter what "Tribe you are Chief" too, The Man, The Boss, The King, The Boss, The Queen, it doesn't matter what day you hold the title - you could add a "New Day" to the week, he's still the greatest champion in all of professional wrestling. If you think what he's done is evil and vile and despicable to get to the title, just imagine what he's capable of doing to keep it.
Moose said he had a message for the locker room but before he could deliver it, Josh Alexander attacked him and chased Moose from the ring and into the crowd. Moose stared at Alexander from the ring when Minoru Suzuki's music played and out came the New Japan Pro Wrestling star. With Moose watching from the crowd, they went face to face. Alexander turned to address Moose, disrespecting Suzuki who attacked him. They battled in the ring and then tried to get the other into submission holds. Security burst into the ring, holding the apart.
Man, great opening!
Matt Striker and D'Lo Brown reacted to what they just saw and ran down the lineup for tonight.
They aired a video pushing The IInspiration's debut.
Impact Champion Moose was interviewed by Gia Miller. He knows he's pissed off a lot of people and done a lot of bad things, but if there's one person who can handle it, it's him. Matt Cardona told him he was THISCLOSE to beating him at Bound for Glory, so he wondered what was going to happen the next time they were in the ring and that's on the line. Moose told him THISCLOSE doesn't matter and tried to walk away. Cardona grabbed him and they brawled, as security tried to intervene.
X-Division Champion Trey Miguel vs. Rocky Romero.
They locked up with Romero working over his arm. Trey wrestled his way out. Lots of nice back and forth action. They ended up with Romero outside on the apron, where Trey drilled him with a back elbow and drove him down to the apron before locking on a submission, trying to wear Romero down.
Back in the ring, Trey controlled his arm and went for a springboard move but was yanked and crashed and burned on the ropes and then to the floor. Romero went for a sliding kick but Trey avoided it and hit a kick through the ropes, then a moonsault off the top to the floor.
After a commercial, Romero was stomping away on Trey. Trey avoided several clotheslines before being cut off and drive to the mat. Romero worked him over for some time but was unable to score the pinfall. Trey fired back with shots to the back but Romero ducked a kick and nailed a rana, transitioning into a armbar. Trey powered him up and dropped Romero powerbomb style. They recovered and began battling each other back and forth. Trey came back back with a Meteora but Romero rolled through and turned it into a one-legged Boston Crab. Miguel rolled through but it was turned back around. They went into a pinfall roll through but got tied up in the ropes.
Miguel nailed a leaping forearm smash in the corner but Romero fired back with one of his own. Trey nailed a suplex and went for the Meteora again off the top, nailing it and scoring the pin.
Your winner and still X-Division Champion, Trey Miguel!
An excellent, well fought match.
Maclin attacked Trey and laid him out immediately after the match.
Backstage, Gia Miller was interviewing new Digital Media Champion Jordynne Grace and Rachael Ellering when Tasha Steelz and Savannah Evans confronted them. Steelz mockingly congratulated Grace. Ellering told them trying to get between them isn't going to work. She said they have a match, so let's go do it.
Backstage, Maclin said that no one has beaten him and he wants the X-Division title. Scott D'Amore said that no one owes anything in the business, but he can earn his right to a title shot next week. Matt Cardona showed up and told Scott he wanted Moose. Eddie Edwards said he wanted the first shot at Moose. Scott said they are justified but so is Josh Alexander, so he made a six man tag with the three of them against Moose and partners of his choice.
D'Amore saw something and ran off, seeing Josh Alexander grabbing a referee and choking him. Scott stopped him. Josh told him that his family was in the ring and the referee allowed that. Scott told him this wasn't the way to make this right and said he proved he was the guy in this company. He told Josh he can't run on emotion and stay focused, taking care of his family and this company. Josh was left frustrated.
Tasha Steelz with Savannah Evans vs. Rachael Ellering with Jordynne Grace
Ellering speared Steelz into the buckles and immediately went to work with chops and a splash in the corner. She followed up with a pump kick and a back senton splash. Steelz went for a Codebreaker but was caught and slammed down. Steelz went to the outside and snapped her arm over the top rope. Steelz returned to the ring and stalked her opponent before drilling her with shots to the back and mid-section. Steelz stomped away at Ellering in the corner. Ellering was sent hard into the buckles and nailed with a forearm smash for a two count. The crowd tried to rally Ellering.
It is ridiculous how much louder the crowd seems here vs. the Bound for Glory PPV, by the way.
Steelz locked on a side chinlock but Ellering fought her way out with elbows. Steelz snatched her hair to snap Ellering backwards to the mat. Ellering was stomped but fired back with right hands and clotheslines. Ellering nailed a nice fisherman's buster type suplex for a two count. They battled and forth until Ellering scored the pin with a backslide.
Your winner, Rachael Ellering!
A nice back and forth bout from two very well versed talents. I sincerely look forward to the day Steelz carries the Impact Knockouts title because she's going to have a hell of a fun reign.
Backstage, W. Morrisey said he wasn't here to make friends but he did make an alliance with Moose. Moose decided to end that at Bound for Glory, but that works out perfectly because he's the champion and that's the title Morrisey wants. Moose said he played by the rules and kept his word. He told Morrisey that he told him if he had a chance to turn on him, he would, but he did it before Morrisey could do it to him. Moose reminded him he's a man of his word and if he helps Moose take out Edwards, Cardona and Alexander, he'll get the first title shot. Morrisey said, "You've got it champ" and walked off.
Gia Miller interviewed Knockouts Tag Team Champions The IInspiration in their locker room. She welecomed them to the company. They promised to take the Tag Team division to a whole new level and dismissed Gia and the camera man.
Joe Doering with Violent by Design vs. Rhino with Heath Miller
Heath used his speed to try and avoid Doering's strength. They locked up and Heath was shoved into the corner but he fired back with a kick and several punches but Doering hit a high cross bodypress for a two count. Doering used a boot to smother Heath in the corner. Heath tried to fire back but was nailed with a big shoulderblock that drilled Heath down.
Doering picked up Heath and slammed him for a two count. He continued to maul Heath until missing a charge in the corner. Heath nailed a series of strikes and hit a leaping knee strike that knocked Doering to the mat. Heath went to rebound off the ropes but Deaner tripped him. Rhino attacked Deaner on the floor and sent him into the barricade. They battled into the ring as Doering and Heath battled. The referee couldn't gain control and declared it a no contest.
Eric Young entered the ring. Rhino saw him coming in but Young tried to get into his head. Rhino paused but saw Deaner coming to attack him. This allowed Young to attack Rhino and begin stomping away at him, revealing Young was 100% and back as a competitor. He slammed Rhino and went to the top, hitting a big flying elbow. Young nailed a piledriver.
More of a backdrop for the angle of Young's return, which is a huge positive for the company. Young has been nothing but EXCELLENT as a personality and performer since returning to Impact last year, so getting him back off the injured list is a big feather in the cap of the company in my opinion.
Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers bragged about retaining their gold at Bound for Glory. They said it was their idea to face Finjuice or Bullet Club and they beat them both. FinJuice said they hit the moves that defeated Chris Bey and they stole the win. The champs said it's about winning. Finjuice said they beat them before and they can beat them again. The Champs told them they can go earn it if they want a title shot.
They aired a video feature on Hard to Kill coming this January.
Gia Miller interviewed the (we can't call him Kiss) Demon, asking him why he had come to Impact. Johnny Swinger showed up and complained Scott D'Amore forced him to shut down Swinger's Palace and made him come to Vegas, where he has to see everyone but him has a casino around here. He wanted to turn things around in the Gauntlet for the Gold and even tried to get a Gene Simmons autograph but The Demon ruined it. Swinger said Demons aren't welcome here. Black Taurus and Crazzy Steve showed up and Swinger was scared off. The Demon said he's back here because Demons are welcome here.
New Knockouts Champion Mickie James came to the ring and took the mic. She said she is still on Cloud Nine after Bound for Glory. She celebrated her title win. When she came back, she didn't have the title on her mind, but when the opportunity for glory presented itself....The crowd cut her off chanting "You deserve it"...and she said Hardcore Country wouldn't turn that down. James thanked the fans and said hats off to Deonna Purrazzo. She gave James perhaps the greatest match of her life. She knows Deonna has a rematch but no one has seen or heard from her since the PPV. James said that's OK. She had a beautiful front row seat at Knockouts Knockdown and she knows there's a long list of talented ladies who want to face her. James said she welcomes the opportunity and is excited about the future.
Out came Madison Rayne and Kaleb with a K. Rayne said that Mickie wanted to come back and waltzed in and became champion again. She said it makes sense, because when everyone talk about the cornerstone of the division, they throw out names like James, Gail Kim and Awesome Kong. Rayne complained she never gets the credit she deserves for what she's done for Impact Wrestling and the Knockouts division. While James goes and play in every playground that will open the doors for her, Rayne has stayed here the entire time curating this division. James said that was with the exception of the three times she left only to return. Rayne said that James can have that zinger but that she shouldn't get used to having the title around her waist. Rayne challenged James to face her next week. James agreed and told her to bring Kaleb with her so he can get a good, clean photo of James standing over her as the Knockouts Champion.
Kaleb told James that she thinks she's funny, but she's really stupid. He said he should knock the smile off her face. James slapped him across the face. She and Rayne backed up as James showcased her title to the fans.
Gia Miller tried to find out who Moose and Morrisey's partner will be. Moose said they are working on something. They approached Minoru Suzuki. Moose said he knows Suzuki is a violent man and they need him to help them. Suzuki stood up to face them. Moose said, "Josh Alexander." Suzuki smiled and was in.
They announced John Skyler vs. Chelsea Green for this Tuesday to determine the top contender to the Digital Media Championship.
Chris Sabin vs. Ace Austin with Madman Fulton
As you might expect, lots of really good back and forth wrestling. Sabin went for a La Magistral pinfall but Austin kicked up and backed up. They locked up again. Austin missed a clothesline but caught Sabin. He sent him into the corner but Sabin came off and nailed a sunset flip for a two count. Sabin nailed a Dragon Screw Legwhip and caught Austin going for a head scissors, smashing him down on the mat. Sabin locked in a surfboard and cinched in an Iron Maiden but was too close to the ropes.
Austin avoided a charge in the corner but showed signs of issues with his knees. He nailed a Hot Shot (which D'Lo Brown called correctly, which I loved) but was hurting and couldn't immediately capitalize on the dazed Sabin. Austin finally choked him against the ropes. Austin nailed a suplex for a two count. Austin began working over Sabin's armbar while sitting on the shoulder, using a playing card to slice between his fingers. Austin nailed a gutwrench suplex and continued to maul Sabin. He nailed a nice looking leaping legdrop for a two count as they went to commercial.
When Impact returned, Austin was still in control of the match. Sabin mounted a comeback, nailing a series of rights. He nailed a flying forearm and ducked a clothesline, backdropping Austin. Sabin nailed a GREAT running boot into the corner. He nailed a fisherman's buster for a two count. Austin surprised Sabin with a rolling drop toehold and kicked him in the back. Austin nailed a back suplex but Sabin rolled through and charged as they laid each other out with clotheslines. They were both down being counted out by the referee. The crowd chanted, "This is Impact."
Austin drilled Sabin with a leaping kick off the ropes. He went for the Fold but Sabin caught him and went for Cradleshock. Sabin lost the move but rebounded with a jumping DDT off the ropes for a close two count.
They battled in the ropes with Sabin knocking Austin into the ring, where he distracted the referee. Fulton tried to interfere but was kicked by Sabin. Sabin sent Austin flying over the top, where he landed on Fulton. Sabin nailed a big kick but was drilled by Fulton while Austin distracted him. Austin nailed the Fold and scored the pin.
Your winner, Ace Austin!
Another really damn good back and forth match.
Very good show to kick off the post-BFG stories.
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