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Welcome to the Impact Wrestling on AXS report, featuring the Best of 2021 Part 2: Electric Boogalou!
Once again, our hosts are Josh Mathews and Scott D'Amore!
They talked about Moose taking the Impact title from Josh Alexander at Bound for Glory, which led them into the first selection this week for the Best matches of 2021, Turning Point's Impact Champion Moose vs. Eddie Edwards - Full Metal Mayhem
They brawled and exchanged blows. Edwards backdropped Moose over the top through a table to the floor. Edwards nailed him with a trash can to the lower back on the floor. Moose came back to powerbomb him on the entrance ramp. They battled to the apron chopping each other. Moose gets slammed on the corner of the apron. Lots of plunder. Moose powerbombed Edwards on the apron. They are just killing each other here. Lots of plunder. A ladder is brought into the ring. Moose bridges another one between it and the buckles. He places Eddie on it and goes to nail him with a chair but Eddie escaped and nailed Moose. He placed Moose on the ladder bridge. Eddie climbed to the top but Moose met him and they fought on the top. They teased suplexing Eddie down onto the bridged ladder but he fought his way out of it. They instead had Edwards hit a sunset flip powerbomb onto the bridged ladder. Edwards' leg got caught in the ladder and he was checking his knee after the spot. Edwards wrapped a steel chair around his knee for the Boston Knee Party. Moose caught him with a big uranage. They battled with Singapore Canes and wiped each other out. W. Morrisey hit the ring and held Edwards for Moose, who speared him. Matt Cardona hit the ring and pulled the referee out. He gave Moose the finger and brawled with Morrisey on the floor and up the aisle. Edwards caned Moose and nailed the double underhook DDT for a two count. Edwards went under the ring and grabbed scissors. He began cutting up the canvas. He exposed the canvas in the corner and tried for the Tiger Driver. Moose escaped and went for another urange. Edwards escaped and was nailed with a big boot. Moose executed the uranage on the exposed ring. Moose speared him and scored the pin.
Your winner and still champion, Moose!
Backstage, The Influence was doing a photos shoot with Kaleb. The IInspiration showed up and said they were supposed to be doing a photo shoot, not them. They had their own photographer J with an I. Kaleb wanted to fight them. The Influence walked off and said they got the photos they needed. The IInspiration said they would see them next week and to tune into their talk show.
The next selection for the Best of 2021 was Bound for Glory's Impact Wrestling Knockouts Tag Team Champions Decay vs. The IInspiration, making their Impact debut.
The IInspiration were sung to the ring by the singer of their theme song, Harley Cameron. They looked BEYOND happy walking down to the ring, literally like someone who had escaped Alcatraz Island happy. It was a big time entrance. They did mic work saying they were here to inspire you. I always loved their WWE act and this was just a few small tweaks on it and it worked.
Decay had new outfits and makeup style for the PPV. Cassie and Rosemary went back and forth. Jessie tagged in but was overwhelmed by Havok. Decay nailed a series of charges in the corner on McKay. Rosemary then bit her. The IInspiration were able to cut off Rosemary and doubleteamed her, tagging ina dn out. Jessie and Rosemary went for a double hair mare and tossed each other.
Havok and Cassie tagged in and well, it didn't go well for Cassie at first. The IInspiration were tossed into the corner and Havok nailed a hip attack and Facewash on them at the same time. Havok covered Cassie, but got her shoulder up at the last second. Havok was knocked out. Rosemary drilled Cassie but Jessie tagged in. She controlled Rosemary and knocked Havok back off the apron again. They worked over Rosemary, who kept kicking out.
Havok returned and they worked over Cassie. Cassie clotheslined Rosemary over the top to the floor. They tried to double-team Havok to no effect, but then they avoided a charge and she hit the ring post. That seemed to be a turning point. Rosemary returned and rolled up McKay but Cassie made the blind tag. She wiped out Rosemary with a leaping knee. They nailed a combination powerbomb/neckbreaker on Rosemary and scored the pin.
Your winners and new Impact Knockouts Tag Team Champions, The IInspiration!
The 2021 Knockouts Tag Team of the Year was awarded to Jordynne Grace and Rachael Ellering. They showed messages from each thanking the fans.
They aired a promo from Rhino, Eddie Edwards, Willie Mack, Rich Swann and Heath about the Hardcore War at Hard to Kill 2022 in Dallas. They are all hard to kill and they know how to get extreme. It's going to get violent by design.
The next selection for the Best of 2021 was Slammiversary's Impact Wrestling Champion Kenny Omega with Don Callis vs. Sami Callihan - NO DQ.
Callis gave Omega a long, long ring introduction. Callihan attacked him as soon as he was finished and nailed Omega with a piledriver for a two count. It was all Sami early on. He tried to use a fork but Omega stopped him and nailed a series of right hands. Omega went for a sunset flip but Callihan pulled out a pizza cutter and used it on Omega's forehead. He placed Omega against the ropes and ripped at his forehead. Omega was busted open.
Omega cut off Sami but was sent to the floor. Callihan went for a dive but Omega nailed him with a trash can to the face as he hit the ropes. Omega beat him with weapons, including a trash can. He went after Callihan's ankle. He went for the One-Winged Angel but Callihan slipped behind him and rolled up Omega. Omega kicked out, sending Callihan crashing into a chair wedged between the buckles at ringside.
Callihan was busted open by this. Omega worked him over and grabbed the fork, digging it into Callihan's forehead. Omega fishhooked his mouth with it. Callihan went back to the floor, where Omega sent him into the guard rails. Callihan fired back with chops. He missed one and hit the ring post. Omega placed a table over Callihan and double stomped it off the apron. He placed another table on the floor and teased a German supex off the apron. Callihan bit his hand to break it.
Omega brought him over and attempted a piledriver but Callihan grabbed him low and reversed it, hitting a piledriver through a table on Omega. The crowd chanted, "Holy sh**." Callihan brought several more weapons into the ring. He tossed a trash can from the outside into the ring, nailing Omega. Callihan was sent into the trash can, but blocked another shot. Callihan slammed him across the can, then powerbombed him through a table leaning in the corner for another two count.
A barbed wire chair was brought into the equation but Omega drilled Sami into it with a leaping legdrop, then a piledriver onto it. He nailed a V-Trigger but Callihan made it to the ropes. Omega placed Callihan on the top and drilled away at Callihan. He superplexed Callihan into a pile of weapons placed atop a trash can but Callihan kicked out at the last second.
Omega nailed the V-Trigger but Callihan sliped out of the One-Winged Angel. Callihan placed him on the ropes and went for a tombstome on the barbed wire chair and nailed it, but Omega kicked up at the last second. Omega tossed salt in Callihan's face, leading to Callihan grabbing the referee and blindly piledriving him. Omega nailed Callihan with the Impact title and piledrove him, but there was no referee. A second referee hit the ring but Sami kicked out. Omega punched the new referee out.
The Good Brothers came out byt Eddie Edwards and Chris Sabin intercepted them. Callihan nailed a stuff piledriver but only scored a two count. Callihan pulled out a bag of tacks from under the ring. Callihan teased a piledriver on them but Don Callis got on the apron to distract him. Omega tossed tack in the challenger's face. Omega put his knee into the tacks with the idea that he loaded the V-Trigger and nailed Callihan with the knee but Callihan kicked out. Omega began putting tacks in Callihan's mouth and nailed another V-Trigger.
Omega nailed the One-Winged Angel into the tacks and scored the pin.
Your winner and still Impact Wrestling Champion, Kenny Omega!
They showed Jonah's debut and attack on Josh Alexander.
The next selection for the Best of 2021 was Slammiversary's Ultimate X - Impact Wrestling X-Division Champion Josh Alexander vs. Ace Austin with Madman Fulton vs. Rohit Raju with Mahabali Shera vs. Petey Williams vs. Trey Miguel vs. Chris Bey.
They stated on commentary that Madman Fulton and Shera were banned from ringside.
Bey tried to climb the ropes early but found everyone else ready to attack him. Everyone battled. Alexander wiped out Austin with a huge German release suplex. Rohit went to the top but found himself unable to get to the ropes, wary about it. He leaped for the ropes and missed, finding himself kicked by Alexander. Bey nailed a big flip dive to the outside on Alexander. Williams jumped to the outside with a rana. This led to a series of dives until Miguel hit a tornado DDT to the outside.
Everyone was out, leading to Rohit trying to toss a a rope around the cables to scale upwards like a mountain climber. This was pretty funny. He gets up there but Williams pulled him down. Williams nailed him with a kick. Bey scaled the cable and made his way across. Miguel followed him. Miguel went for a rana on Rohit off the top but Rohit held on, then speared Bey off the ropes. Everyone battled in the corner, setting up a potential Tower of Doom. Rohit tried to use a long stick to pull the X-Division title down but was unsuccessful. With everyone down, Rohit stood on a chair to try and reach the chair but Miguel used a missile dropkick to wipe him out.
Alexander went to scale the ropes but Williams scissored him to force him to drop down. Williams locked on a Sharpshooter on Miguel. Rohit joined in with a crossface. Bey joined in. Alexander scaled the ropes and ended up hanging upside down, locking an anklelock in on Bey. Everyone was in one connected submission until they all crashed and burned. The crowd chanted, "This is Impact."
Austin went to cross the ropes but Bey nailed him across the back. Austin was hit with a cutter as he was hanging off the ropes with each crashing to the mat below. Williams nailed a Destroyer on Rohit. He nailed one on Miguel and began crossing the wires. Bey was pulled onto Alexander's shoulders. Williams nailed a Destroyer from the ropes onto Bey, which was insane.
Alexander and Williams battled back and forth. Alexander cinched in the anklelock. Williams faied with a Destroyer and was nailed with a C4. Trey and Josh battled back and forth with blows. Rohit was able to drill each of them with kicks to the face. Raju climbed the ropes and made his way across the cables but was pulled down by Miguel. Miguel nailed a Scorpion Kick and a neckbreaker. Alexander nailed a suplex off the top.
Bey and Alexander fought to the cables and battled over the belt. Austin tried to dive at them but failed. Bey was knocked to the mat. Alexander retrieved the belt and retained.
Your winner and still X-Division Champion, Josh Alexander!
They aired a video piece on W. Morrisey.
The Impact Wrestling Men's Wrestler of the Year was Josh Alexander. He said that it was humbling to be in the history books as one of the best wrestlers of the last 20 years in the company.
The next selection for the Best of 2021 was Sacrifice's Unification Match – IMPACT World Champion Rich Swann versus TNA World Champion Moose – Winner Challenges Kenny Omega for AEW World Championship at Rebellion
Note: Match Recap by Adam Cardoza!
Swann isn’t dancing to the ring tonight, he has a HUGE test ahead of him. Swann gets right into Moose’s face and he’s definitely outsized here. Speed vs Power all the way here. Swann gets some kicks in and avoids Moose constantly trying to his a powerslam. To the outside, Swann dodges and Moose’s posts himself. Swamm goes in for the kill and Moose with the popup drape choke on the top rope. Moose throwing Swann corner to corner by the back of his head. Swann blasted with a 450 backdrop. Moose ripping at Swann’s dreads and demeaning him with slaps. Swann is firing up and hitting his own strikes, reversal into a roll up up for two but Moose with a huge uranage for two. Moose grabs a chair but the ref ain’t having it. Moose sends Swann to the outside and blasts him into the guardrails. Moose starts pulls Swann’s hair through the guardrails. Swann showing fight but Moose....well....I mean, look at him. Moose with a side stretch and grinding his elbow and fist into the ribs. Swann bites his way out and stuns the big man with running forearms. Swann caught running with a huge gut buster. Moose wants a slam from the top but Swann ranas him down. Swann landing shot after shot in the pocket. Springboard into a kick to the spine. Moose trying a quick shot off the top but eats a cutter OUTTA NOWHERE....but kicks out at two. Swann to the top, 450 splash down for two. Swann back to the top, Moose intercepts but Swann BITES HIS HEAD and sends him down. Swann takes WAY TOO LONG and Moose pops up to his a flipping world strongest slam from the top for two. Moose wants a spear.....but eats the buckle. Again? Eats buckles!! Again? Oh wait, there’s a chair in the corner and Moose eats that. Moose ain’t dead and tries a FOURTH spear. Swann catches a crucifix roll up for the pin!
Winner: Rich Swann.
Backstage, Mercedes Martinez said she heard Deonna Purrazzo knock her while talking about Mickie James. Deonna had better put respect on her name. If she thinks Mercedes is easy to beat, let's face off next week.
The Men's Match of the Year was voted to be the 60 Minute Iron Match between Josh Alexander and TJP. Josh said that the match put him on the map more than anything else. He and TJP put their heart and soul into the match. He thanked TJP for being one of his best opponents ever. If you've never seen the match, here it is:
X-Division Champion Josh Alexander with Petey Williams vs. TJP with Fallah Bahh - 60 Minute Iron Man Match
Lots of matwork and back and forth counter wrestling in the early moments. TJP worked over the leg while Alexander focued on the arm. Very smooth wrestling early on.
Alexander drilled TJP with knees to the arm. TJP wrestled defensively, trying to find a way out and finally leapt up with a rana that sent Alexander to the floor. TJP went for a rebound dive off the buckles but Alexander moved. Alexander became preoccupied with Bahh, allowing TJP to nail a dropkick to the outside. He brought Alexander in for a two count with a slingshot splash. Alexander tried to kick him away when TJP advanced in the corner but failed.
TJP nailed a series of suplex variations, scoring several two counts. Alexander tried to fight back with forearms but was stomped away. Alexander's leg was worked over with a step over toe hold. Josh maneuvered him into a head scissors. TJP tried to escape but was driven back down and beaten with shots across the back. TJP fought back went for a Muta Lock but couldn't grasp it. Alexander bridged up but was unable to nail a Jay Driller. Alexander was caught in a cross armbreaker but Alexander grabbed an anklelock. Alexander snatched him with a series of German suplexes when TJP went for the ropes.
When they returned, TJP was beating down Alexander in the corner. He set up for the Facewash but when he rebounded off the ropes, Alexander fired back and used a Backlund Bridge for the pin.
Alexander 1, TJP - 0
They had a 30 second rest period. There are about 39 minutes left.
They battle spilled to the floor after a commercial break. Alexander drove TJP into the ring apron several times, then carried him into the ring. TJP was tossed into the ring but landed on his feet and snatched Alexander in an Octopus hold inside the ropes. Alexander's head gear ended up ripped off but he rebounded and after escaping, using a surfboard in the ropes for extra leverage. He replaced the head gear on as TJP recovered in the ring.
Alexander stomped away at him. He remained in control as they went again to commercial. As they returned, Alexander remained in control with less than 30 minutes left. TJP gained control and kept trying to force the champ's shoulders to the mat but was unable to score a pinfall. TJP whipped out an Indian Death Lock submission, trying to wear down the knee. Alexander kept trying to fight his way out while also keeping his shoulders off the mat. They slapped the living hell out of each other. Alexander went for the anklelock but TJP made it to the ropes.
Alexander went for a delayed vertical suplex and held TJP aloft for a long, long time. He finally dropped TJP down and covered him, scoring a two count. Alexander went for a Gori Guerrero Especial, trying to force TJP to tap. He brought him down into a backslide pinfall for a two count. They went into a great series of back and forth near falls.
TJP slipped Alexander upside down into a Sharpshooter and then locked him in a Muta Lock, trying to force a submission. Alexander fought to shift his body to the ropes and finally made it. They battled to their feet and went to war with stiff chops and forearms. TJP cornered him and went for a monkey flip but was trapped and snapped down into the buckles for a snake eyes.
When they returned from commercial, they battled with Alexander sent back to the floor. TJP nailed a pescado to the outside. He went for a tornado DDT on the floor but Alexander blocked it and suplexed him into the ring. TJP crashed to the floor.
Alexander worked him over on the floor and kept breaking the countout, then returned to the ring. It appeared he was going to leave TJP prone on the floor but Alexander said he's ending this and went for a piledriver on the floor. Petey Williams tried to talk some sense into him but that allowed TJP to drill him. Alexander gained control and was upset with Williams. He pulled TJP to the entrance stage and teased it again but Chris Sabin and Trey Miguel emerged and tried to talk sense into the champion. Alexander complained to the referee but that allowed TJP to snatch and slam Alexander on the stage instead.
TJP returned to the ring as members of the roster came out to watch. Alexander was being counted out while out on the stage but at 7, he began rolling down the ramp and made it at the last second. TJP was not happy and nailed a running knee strike. He ascended to the top for the Mamba Splash but missed. Alexander, now bleeding, went to the top for a moonsault but TJP dropkicked his legs out from under him. Alexander was trapped in the tree of woe. He slapped at TJP while hanging underneath. TJP fired back with some hard shots. He ripped the head gear off again and grabbed his arms, curbstomping the face.
TJP came off the ropes with a springboard elbow for a two count. They competitors nail clotheslines on each other at the same time. TJP nailed a sit-down Michinoku Driver for another two count. Lots of near falls. TJP cornered the champion and nailed a facewash. He nailed a running boot to the face in the corner but was snatched into an ankelock. TJP went for the Detonation Kick and scored it, but Alexander kicked out at two.
TJP nailed the Mamba Splash for a two count. He went for another but Alexander grabbed him in an anklelock. TJP tried to maneuver out but Alexander grabbed him for a near fall, only to see TJP lock on a grapevine submission. With two minutes left, Alexander tried to fight his way to the ropes but realized he couldn't make it. He somehow maneuvered TJP into another anklelock. TJP went for an enziguiri but Alexander ducked and cinched it in tighter. TJP kept trying to fight for the ropes but Alexander trapped his arm as well.
With a minute left, TJP was trapped in the center of the ring in the submission. With four seconds left, TJP was able to maneuever Alexander into a pinfall and scored the pin.
The time limit expired with the competitors tied 1-1.
They are going into sudden death overtime.
After recovering, they met in the center of the ring, firing back and forth with each other. Alexander got the better of the exchange, working him over in the corner. TJP missed several kick but went for a standing twisting splash only to miss. Alexander nailed a standing moonsault from the top and scored a two count. Alexander nailed a Project Ciampa for another two count. Alexander nailed the Jay-Driller and scored the pin.
Your winner and still X-Division Champion Josh Alexander!
Josh and Scott signed off.
There was a stinger scene after the official ending og the episode with Kimber Lee and Brandi Lauren worried they haven't heard from Su Yung. They haven't provided her with the souls so now she will take what she needs. Yung showed up and told them their time has come. Electricity flowed from her hands like the Emperor in Star Wars as attacked them and apparently, I guess, BURNED THEM TO A CRISP? and she then commented, "Your time is near" before revealing she was pregnant!
Well, that was pretty damn unique for a pro wrestling cliffhanger!
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