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This week's Impact on AXS TV opened with an in memoriam graphic for the late Don West. Don was, in a word, awesome - as a performer, as a person and as a human being. I am so deeply sorry for his passing and send my condolences to his wife, his family, his friends and everyone who ever met him, because if you met him even once, Don was your friend. Forget professional wrestling, the world itself is a poorer place without Don West in it. Rest in peace sir.
We see the highlights of the last few weeks.
Deonna Purrazzo came out to the ring to join Matt Rehwoldt and Tom Hanifan on commentary.
Taylor Wilde vs. Masha Slamovich
Masha was in control early, keeping Wilde off balance. Taylor came back and turned the momentum when she drilled Masha into the buckles. Wilde scored several near falls, including one after a Northern Lights suplex. Masha fired back and worked her over. They ended up on the floor, where Masha spit on Deonna. Wilde rolled up Masha and scored the pin, handing her only her second Impact loss.
Your winner, Taylor Wilde!
Masha was pissed and took it out on security.
Sami Callihan cut a promo and said he kept getting attacked by The Design so he was going to get an answer as to whether they want him to join tonight. The beatings didn't send that message?
Rich Swann challenged Steve Maclin to a Falls Count Anywhere match for Hard to Kill.
Anthony Greene vs. Black Taurus with Crazzy Steve.
This was Greene's debut for the company. Taurus was a beast here early on, taking him down and chopping the hell out of him. Greene fired back and walked the ropes, nailing a flying bodypress for a two count. Taurus came back with a Sling Blade and a Samoan Drop. Taurus hit Destination Hellhole and scored the pin. Finish looked evil.
After the match, Greene was attacked and laid out by Trey Miguel on the entrance stage and spraypainted his back, disrespecting him. Taurus was watched on from the ring.
They aired a vignette where Kenny King showed up at Speedball Mike Bailey's dojo, laying out several of his students. Bailey, at the Impact Zone, cut a promo demanding King fight him in his own Bloodsport Match, where only KO or submission can lead to the finish.
Jonathan Gresham vs. Ernest Anthony
Gresham was in control early on, keeping him tied up on the mat. He turned Anthony over and scored the pin.
Your winner, Jonathan Gresham!
Backstage, Tasha Steelz and Savannah Evans were backstage when Gisele Shaw showed up and wanted to align herself with them. Tasha wanted nothing to do with it but Evans was into the idea.
There aired a Design promo where they stated Sami Callihan would have to shave his head to prove he was one of them next week. If Sami is trying to trap them, they will make him pay.
They aired an awesome video piece on Josh Alexander breaking the record for all-time longest reigning Impact Champion.
Moose came out and cut a promo on Joe Hendry. He promised to take out Hendry and said that when Hendry faces him, he'll see true adversity and take him out, because Moose will do anything to return to the top in Impact. Moose said he's going to enjoy himself beating him and called out Hendry. Hendry said he wanted Moose to let himself loose and sang a song mocking Moose. Moose said he believed in Hendry..believed he was going to end him. Moose demanded his music play but instead they played the song Hendry wrote. That was funny.
They aired another great video package on the history of Mickie James, playing up her career's journey. She mentioned her husband Nick Aldis, so one has to wonder if that was a tease he's heading in. She wanted to close her career the right way. This was absolutely great.
They aired an amazing video feature on Don West. It was absolutely beautiful. Eddie Edwards, Moose, Chris Harris, ODB, Sami Callihan, Gail Kim, Kazarian and Josh Alexander commenting on his importance to the history and legacy of the company. The only person who could have made this even better was Mike Tenay, but this was absolutely awesome.
Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champion Chris Sabin vs. Matt Cardona.
Sabin controlled the match early in their first-ever bout. They ended up on the floor, where Sabin escaped a powerbomb attempt on the apron. They battled back to the ring, where Cardona gained control and used his knee to smother Sabin. Sabin began making a comeback but was cut off with a take to the eyes. Cardona went for the Reboot but Sabin moved. Sabin hit a series of dropkicks and stunned him with Cradle Shock for the pin.
Your winner, Chris Sabin!
This was damn good bell to bell action.
Bully Ray, who was "sent home" until the PPV invaded the building.
He called out Josh Alexander, who wasn't there because he was "sent home" as well. Scott D'Amore came out and said it's great he's calling Josh out when they were both sent home and Josh actually listened. Bully said he doesn't care, he doesn't have any respect for Scott. He said anything that happens, it's Scott's fault for bringing him back. Scott said he gave Bully the chance to return because Bully said he was a changed man when he called Scott and D'Amore wanted to give him another chance in the company. He said he was wrong and that was the same piece of sh** he's always been.
He wanted to give Bully a chance because 12 years ago, when he left the company, Scott took a hard look at himself and didn't like who he was and what he had done. When Impact gave him a chance to come back, he wanted the opportunity to re-write his own story. He wanted that for Bully Ray and gave him a chance to rewrite his own story. Instead, Bully had alienated every single person who ever had faith in him, remarking that D-Von won't even be in the same room as Bully unless he was getting paid a giant bag of money. Tommy Dreamer is in a hospital bed because of Bully.
He said after Hard to Kill, no matter what happens, Josh Alexander leaves the ring and walked back to a locker room and fans that respect him and gets to go home to a family that loves him, no matter what happens. Bully goes back to an empty hotel room, no matter what, as a sad, pathetic, lonely man with only his thoughts. That's his punishment and that is worse than anything Scott can do to him. Ray responded that he doesn't care, because it will mean he'll be a three-time Impact Champion. He said Scott's opinion and respect means nothing to him, yet after years of using Scott, Scott was still a sucker and got suckered by Bully. He said Scott is no different from anyone else and is more famous right now because he's in the ring with Bully.
They went nose to nose and Bully asked him if he wanted to take a shot at him. He slapped the mic out of Scott's hand, so Scott did the same to him. Bully shoved him and Scott stood up to him. Bully asked him if he wanted to take a shot. He said no one else is man enough to do it so he dared Scott to do it. Scott slapped the locker room back out of his hand. He said he spent the last five years building a locker room and trying to get them to do things right, but there's "No reason I need to" and punched Ray, who went down.
Ray was more stunned than anything else. Scott spit on him but Jason Hotch and John Skyler hit the ring and grabbed him arms. Bull kicked him low and nailed a piledriver, which the announcers sold like a heinous act. Bully called for a table. Some fans chanted for the table, which helped kill the idea that some heinous thing happening. Bully powerbombed Scott through the table. He asked Scott if he knew who he was. He's Bully Ray, the next Champion.
A great episode and a strong finish.
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