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Welcome to PWInsider.com's Impact Wrestling on AXS TV report!
This week, it's Part One of the Best of 2023!
Your hosts are Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt, who were tremendous as announcers all year.
HARD TO KILL 2022: Impact Wrestling Champion Josh Alexander vs. Bully Ray- Full Metal Mayhem.
Ray made his entrance and then disappeared. He hid out somewhere and attacked Alexander with a steel chain from behind on the ramp. He grabbed the Impact title belt and smashed Alexander with it. He was busted open and beaten. Ray set up a table and powerbombed him through it for a two count right after the bell. Ray used a cheese grater. Alexander fired back and then drilled him with the grater. The crowd chanted for Alexander. Ray was now busted open.
Ray mauled Ray with the grater, busting him open even more. The crowd chanted, "You sick f***." Which? Alexander went under the ring for a bag of tacks. They battled up the aisle, where Alexander choked him with a chair and pulled a ladder over. Alexander climbed the ladder to perform a move but Ray recovered a tipped the ladder backwards towards the ring, with Alexander taking a big bump into the ring onto the tacks. Ouch!
Ray went for the Bully Bomb but Alexander blocked it. He nailed a German suplex into the tacks and even took his straps down. Alexander hit a rolling senton and grabbed the steel chain. He wrapped it around his knee and drilled Ray with a knee strike off the ropes. He locked in an anklelock with Ray on the tacks. He wrapped the chair around Ray's neck but John Skyler and Jason Hotch hit the ring and attacked him. They assisted Bully, helping him hit a 3D on the tacks but Josh kicked up. They ziptied Josh to the ropes but Tommy Dreamer came out and laid out Hotch and Skyler. He faced off with Ray, who wielded a trash can. Dreamer teased that he was aligning with Ray but instead smashed him with the trash can. Ray speared Dreamer through a table in the corner.
Alexander tried to bite his way though the ties but Ray told him to just give up. Alexander said he never would. Ray smashed him across the top of the head with the trash can. Alexander pulled himself up but Ray smashed him over the head again with the trash can. Bully was distracted by something. It was Alexander's wife, who hit the ring and told him to stop. Ray teased smashing her with the can but she dropped to her knees. He told her to beg him and that he wanted to see tears. He told her to hand over her wedding ring. She refused, so he was going to smash her, allowing himself to be nailed in the groin with a low blow. She nailed an Acid Drop on Ray.
Josh's wife cut him free from the zipties. She tossed a chair at Ray, who caught it and Josh smashed him with another one. Josh placed Ray atop a table and climbed to the top of a ladder. He nailed a MASSIVE frog splash through a table but Ray kicked out. Josh locked an anklelock and Ray held on but finally tapped.
Your winner and still Impact Wrestling Josh Alexander!
A damn violent match with lots of twists and turns. It was a fitting blowoff to the storyline and felt very "ECW" in its structure, not just for the violence but for the emotional rollercoaster it put Alexander through.
HARD TO KILL: Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace vs. Mickie James - If James does not win, she must retire.
James family, including her parents, are in the front row. They had Native American dancers for James' ring entrance. They made it a big deal. Lisa Marie Varon was crying in the front row as they started the bout.
They had some nice back and forth wrestling early. It started to get heated for Mickie slapped Grace several times. Grace finally fired back with a thick one that sent Mickie to the mat. It began to tell the story of Mickie's finesse and experience vs. Grace's sheer power and might. James nailed the Thesz Press for a two count. Grace took control and began beating down James' back. James was sent to the top. Grace met her and they battled with James nailing a bulldog off the top into the ring. Mickie was too shot to capitalize and they were almost counted out on the mat.
Mickie and Grace got to their feet. James used a series of kicks to take her down. She went to the top. James grabbed her arm and did the Old School walk (I guess she was watching Mike Jackson!) and dove off, driving Grace off the apron to the entrance ramp. They battled back to the ring, where Grace held James up for a delayed vertical superplex and held on to nail the Jackhammer for a near fall.
Grace went for the Grace Driver but James countered. She was sent into the buckles but fought back and nailed a Flapjack. They battled back and forth until Grace slammed her with authority with a big spinebuster for a close two count. Grace went for a tombstone but James reversed it. Mickie went for the Mick Kick but was caught and driven into the buckles. James escaped a Muscle Buster and used a backslide. They went into a series of reversals and pinfall attempts. Mickie went for the DDT but was naied with a backfist. James turned a Grace Driver attempt into a small package for a two count. James hit the DDT but Grace kicked up at the very last second.
They battled back and forth but Grace snatched her into a rear naked choke out of a pinfall attempt. James rolled over and turned it into a pinfall attempt for a two count. Grace locked on another rear naked choke. James fought for the ropes but was pulled back to the center of the ring. James was fading but surged with energy after her arm dropped twice. Grace drove her into the buckles several times. James shoved her into the ring post shoulder-first and nailed a tornado DDT for the pin.
Your winner and new Knockouts Champion, Mickie James!
Great main event as the crowd bought into the near falls and the story that this was Mickie's last stand. Very well done. Grace was an excellent monster champion here and James played the veteran babyface perfectly.
Tara entered the ring and hugged James. James's son Donovan entered the ring and celebrated with her, along with her parents and other family members.
MK Ultra were announced as the Knockouts Tag Team of the Year for 2023.
IMPACT 1000: Knockouts Champion Trinity & Awesome Kong & Gail Kim & Mickie James & Jordynne Grace vs. Angelina Love & Tasha Steelz & Savannah Evans & Gisele Shaw & Deonna Purrazzo
Lots of big pops for the entrances. Naomi and Angelina started out. Love backed her into the corner. Love knocked her to the mat with a shoulderblock but was caught and slammed. Trinity nailed her split legdrop. Love nailed a jawbreaker. Love was worked over but escaped. Deonna and Grace tagged in. Shaw offered in and Deonna let her. Grace nailed her with some kicks and slammed her. Grace nailed a jackhammer but Savannah broke up the pinfall. Shaw accidentally knocked Evans out of the ring. James tagged in and nailed a Lou Thesz Press off the top on Gisele.
Tasha tagged in and went nose to nose with Mickie. They battled. James caught Tasha with a boot to the face. Deonna tagged in but James nailed a series of kicks. Mickie went to the top but Team Beautiful People knocked her off. Evans tagged in and rained down with right hands. Deonna tagged in but James tagged Gail, who came in with a ton of clotheslines and big moves. Gisele got involved but Kim went to the top and hit a combination lucha armdrag and head scissors.
Kim was knocked to the floor, where she was worked over by Tasha. The crowd chanted for Kim. She was tossed in the ring and nailed with a big sideslam by Love. The crowd chanted for Kong. Kim came back to lock in an Octopus on Gisele. She was rammed backwards into the buckles. The crowd again chanted for Kong. Shaw drilled Gail with an evil looking backbreaker. Kim was trapped in enemy territory as they all kept stomping on her.
Kim finally fought her way out and tagged out to Kong. HUUUGE POP. Kong cleaned house on everyone and faced off with Evans. Evans fought out of a chokeslam and went for one of her own but was hit with a backfist. Kong grabbed her but everyone attacked Kong. James and Trinity hit the ring and nailed stereo Thesz Presses. Trinity hit a dive. They went into a big dive sequence. Evans cut off James but was drilled by Grace, who used Kim as a weapon. Kim hit a big bodypress to the floor on everyone.
Kong was left with Gisele who she destroyed with a backfist and a chokeslam. Kong nailed the Impact Buster and scored the pin.
Your winners, Knockouts Champion Trinity & Awesome Kong & Gail Kim & Mickie James & Jordynne Grace!
Absolutely great match.
REBELLION 2023: Ultimate X - Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champions Ace Austin & Chris Bey vs. The Motor City Machine Guns
They began brawling at the bell with The Guns having the early advantage. Austin and Bey worked over Shelley but didn't realize Sabin was trying to climb up to grab the belts. He was stopped. The Champs hit double stereo dives to the floor. The Guns worked over Bey's knees and then caught Austin in the corner. He fought off Shelley and tried to make his way across the wires, only to be pulled down to the ring.
Everyone battled, Austin and Sabin scaled one of the metal structures towards the wires but took each other out. Shelley took out Bey's leg with a Dragon Screw Legwhip then cinched in a figure four. Shelley and Austin battled in a corner as Bey recovered. Bullet Club nailed a double clothesline in Sabin but Shelley nailed them with one of his own. The Guns set up the Champions for a double Shelley submission, allowing Sabin to try and make it to the titles. Austin escaped and pulled him down.
Sabin exploded with offensive maneuevers. Bey's knee seemed to slip while being whipped but he recovered and nailed a leaping DDT on Shelley so it may have been a fake out. Bey dove and wiped out Sabin with a great moonsault to the floor. Bey went to the top but Shelley nailed a jawbreaker off the ropes and hit a missile dropkick. He sent Austin to the floor but he recovered and nailed a big Fosberry Flop to the outside on The Guns. Really spectacular looking sequence.
Everyone battled. The Guns drilled Bey with a double kick. Austin climbed across the ropes but the Guns beat him until he fell. They nailed a dropkick to his face.
It led to all four making their way across the cables and battling near the center, where the belts were hanging. They all crashed down. Bey nailed the Art of Finesse on Shelley, followed by Austin hitting the Fold. Bey was lifted up to the cables. Sabin battled over but Bey retrieved both belts before he could be stopped.
Your winners and still Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champions, Bullet Club!
ABC were named the Male Tag Team of the Year for 2023.
They announced The Rascalz have signed with the company.
REBELLION 2023: KUSHIDA vs. Steve Maclin to crown a new Impact Wrestling Champion.
They had a feeling out process early on. KUSHIDA grabbed a side headlock and worked over Maclin on the mat. Maclin gained control and nailed a backbreaker for a two count. Maclin yanked him to the ring post and used it to wear away at his back. They battled back and forth on the floor. Maclin nailed an elbow drop off the apron to the floor. He tossed KUSHIDA back into the ring for a two count. He nailed a back suplex for another two count.
Maclin kept beating on his back and cinched in a rear chinlock. KUSHIDA fought back and nailed a springboard elbow and a great dropkick to the face. KUSHIDA locked on a hammerlock and went for pinfall but Maclin kicked out. He nailed driver for another two count. He went to the top but was drilled and tied to the tree of woe. KUSHIDA nailed him and dropkicked him through the ropes.
He nailed a leaping kick to Maclin's face, then charged and nailed a running kick to his underarm. He then attacked Maclin's arm and went for the Hoverboard lock and tossed him. KUSHIDA scored a two count but was kicked away during a charge. He nailed a Bucklebomb and a sit-out powerbomb for a close two count. They battled into the corner and to the top, where KUSHIDA tossed him off and locked him into the Hoverlock, but Maclin made it to the ropes.
Maclin pulled him out towards the floor and began beating him. They battled to the floor where Maclin was slapped into the announcer's tables. Back in the ring, Maclin nailed KUSHIDA with the crosshairs and then the KIA, but KUSHIDA kicked up, the first man in Impact Wrestling to do so. Maclin went to the top for a move but was caught in the Hoverboard Lock in the center. Maclin fired away with crossarms to the face, smashing his way free.
Maclin elevated him but KUSHIDA grabbed the Hoverboard Lock again and rolled through. He cinched it in even tighter but Maclin powered up and drilled him into the buckles. He went for KIA but KUSHIDA grabbed the Hoverboard Lock again. Maclin turned it into KIA and scored the pin.
Your winner and new Impact Wrestling Champion, Steve Maclin!
REBELLION 2023: Jordynne Grace vs. Deonna Purrazzo to determine the new Knockouts Champion.
The right match to close the show in my opinion.
They worked a feeling out process early with Purrazzo using her finesse to control Grace's arm. The story was Grace's power vs. Purrazzo's technical prowess. Grace held her aloft for a delayed vertical suplex before dropping Purrazzo after a 20 count. They fired back and forth with forearms and knee strikes. Purrazzo used a Side Russian Legsweep. She nailed a pump kick that sent Grace through the ropes to the entrance ramp. Purrazzo went for the Queen's Gambit but Grace went to backdrop her. Purrazzo used the ropes to block it. They battled on the ramp. Grace was shoved off to the floor. Purrazzo nailed a moonsault off the ramp to the floor.
TRINITY'S DEBUT ON IMPACT ON AXS
Trinity came out. They gave her a big entrance with lots of fans carrying glow sticks. She said she felt good to be in the ring and in a place she can glow. She has officially arrived in Impact Wrestling. She said the company has the most storied women's division in wrestling and began naming members of the Knockouts division, including Deonna Purrazzo, Mickie James and Jordynne Grace. She said fans have seen her win titles but she's here to win more. She told the locker room to get ready, because she's the brightest star and she's here to win. The crowd chanted for her.
Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo came out and said since Trinity invoked her name and her title, Deonna wanted to come out and be the first to welcome her to Impact. She said Trinity has done her homework and knows this is the place to be but that means she knows she's walked into the New Age of the Virtuosa. She said she knows what it's like to walk into a new place and she hopes that Trinity gets a title shot, but if she steps into the ring with her, that's not something she can just "walk out on."
Trinity said when they get in the ring, Deonna will wish she had just been fired, referencing her NXT release.
Jordynne Grace came out before it got more heated between the two. Grace said everyone probably wants to see them wrestle but she doesn't need to remind Deonna they already have a rematch at Under Siege. She doesn't plan to lose to Deonna again. If Trinity wants to fight her, go ahead but if she wanted a title shot, find Jordynne because as of the PPV, the title is hers.
Grace and Deonna got into each other's faces. Trinity said they have business to handle at the PPV and Trinity will be waiting for the person who walks out as champion.
Trinity danced up to the entrance stage.
Back in the ring, Grace backdropped her way out of the Queen's Gambit. They went back and forth until Grace was trapped in a Koji Clutch. Grace turned it into a pinfall combination but Purrazzo kicked up. They battled into the corner, where Grace nailed a vertebreaker for a two count. Grace remained in control and went for the Grace Driver but Purrazzo escaped. Grace missed a charge into the corner and was taken down. Purrazzo went for a leg submission but Grace kept trying to kick her off. Grace pulled her into a rear naked choke.
They battled back and forth and cracked heads. They fought to their feet and battered each other with forearms and strikes. Grace nailed an open palm strike but was caught with a pump kick. Grace was caught in a Fujiwara armbar. Grace fought her way out but was caught again. Deonna cinched on the Venus Di Milo. Grace battled to the ropes and draped her foot across it. They fought to their feet, where Grace slammed Deonna with a spinebuster for another two count.
Grace followed up with a Grace Driver for a close two count but Purrazzo kicked out at the last second. There were back and forth chants for the competitors. Grace went for a superplex but Deonna battled back. Deonna came back to nail the Queen's Gambit for the pin.
Your winner and new Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo!
So, the husband and wife duo make history by both winning World titles the same night.
Grace and Purrazzo shook hands and embraced after the match, which was great.
They announced Trinity as Knockout of the Year. Trinity thanked everyone for the award, saying it was true and dear to her heart. She came to Impact trying to find herself and starting over. She became the star she saw herself as and the one the fans wanted her to be. She's overjoyed and can't think of a better way to end the year.
SLAMMIVERSARY 2023: Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo vs. Trinity.
The crowd is clearly pro-Trinity.
Mercedes Mone is there, but not on camera.
They had a nice feeling out sequence early before facing off. Purrazzo went for the Fujiwara armbar but Trinity made it to the ropes to break the hold. Purrazzo went to the floor to avoid the Rear View. Trinity nailed a flying bodypress but bounced off and Purrazzo drilled her. She began focusing on Trinity's arm, working it over and scoring several near falls. Purrazzo used an arm wringer to continue breaking down the extremity.
The champ scored another two count after a suplex. Trinity kept trying to fight back but Purrazzo kept maintaining control. Purrazzo tried to lock her in a submission but the crowd chanted for the challenger as escaped. Trinity finally mounted a comeback with a kick from the ropes and nailing a series of clotheslines and kicks. Trinity nailed a Samoan Drop and a kick to the face but Deonna kicked out.
Trinity cinched her in Starstruck but they went into a series of counters. Trinity went for a headscissors but was trapped and nailed with a piledriver for a close two count. Purrazzo went for The Queens' Gambit but Trinity fought her way out. Deonna used a Side Russian Legsweep and cinched in a Fujiwara armbar. Trinity fought and made it to the ropes. Deonna refused to release until the referee got to five. Trinity came back to hit a split-legged moonsault off the corner for a two count.
They battled to the outside, where Deonna nailed Queen's Gambit on the apron outside but Trinity kicked out at the last second, which they played up like a big moment. Trinity made a comeback and cinched in Starstruck. She locked up Deonna's legs and Purrazzo had no choice but to submit. Great ending.
Your winner and new Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion Trinity!
This was a very solid match with Deonna shining as the heel champ and Trinity looking like a fiery babyface with the big offensive maneuvers. Deonna submitting really makes Trinity look strong as Purrazzo has never tapped since coming to Impacht.
This was an excellent episode to jump on an catch up on a really strong year for the company.
Next week, more of the Best of 2023!
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