Impact Wrestling Review – March 16, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Impact with a recap of last week’s Impact.
The show then cut back to the Nevada desert. PCO had revived after getting run over by an SUV that picked up Eddie Edwards. PCO yelled EDDIE! to imply that he’s still looking to beat up Eddie Edwards.
Tag Team Match
Decay (Crazzy Steve & Black Taurus) vs. Mike Bailey & Jonathan Gresham
Crazzy Steve used the ropes to prevent Jonathan Gresham from tangling him up. Steve got the upper hand after biting the hand of Gresham. Decay traded tags to cut the ring in half on Gresham. Gresham fought out of the corner with right hands. Black Taurus accidentally hit Steve. Gresham hit Taurus with a dropkick and was able to tag in Mike Bailey.
Bailey hit Steve with an Axe Kick combo and standing shooting star press for a two count. Bailey took out Steve with rapid kicks. Taurus tags in and knocked Gresham off the apron. Taurus hit Bailey with a backbreaker and Samoan Drop. Gresham saves Bailey and hit Taurus with a Lionsault.
Bailey hits Steve with a moonsault from the apron. Bailey got a 1 count on Taurus. Steve shoves Gresham on Bailey to break up another pinfall. Gresham hit Taurus with a Cyclone Kick followed by an Ultima Weapon for the win.
Winners: Mike Bailey & Jonathan Gresham
After the match Bailey & Gresham shared a handshake.
Gia Miller interviewed Impact World Champion Josh Alexander,Rich Swann & Frankie Kazarian. She talked about how all 3 men are teaming up for the 1st time and facing Bullet Club on this week’s show before facing Time Machine at Sacrifice. Alexander talks about all 3 men having a lot of tag team experience, having a lot of Impact World Tag Team Title reigns between them with other partners. Alexander talked about all 3 men having Impact World Title & X Division Title reigns meaning they all were accomplished.
Kazarian said he has known Motor City Machine Guns for years. He said he was one of the 1st people to put a dagger in the Bullet Club. Steve Maclin walked up and called Alexander’s team a pity team because Alexander beat Kazarian & Swann recently in Impact World Title defenses. Maclin hyped facing Alexander at Rebellion and walks off.
Gia Miller interviewed Gisele Shaw who was flanked by Jai Vidal & Savannah Evans. Gia mentioned how Gisele was unsuccessful in beating Mickie James for the Knockouts Title. Shaw said she was close to winning the Knockouts Title and it was Deonna Purrazzo who cost her the Knockouts Title. Shaw said Purrazzo was jealous of her having a personal stylist and head of security. Gisele said she’s going to give Purrazzo a receipt at Sacrifice.
Johnny Swinger & Zicky Dice rolled up and were goofing around. Swinger challenges Vidal to a match thinking he’s a non wrestler. Dice & Swinger rolls away with Shaw confused that Swinger didn’t know that Vidal was a wrestler
Steve Maclin vs. Heath
Heath puts Steve Maclin in a headlock and took him down with running tackles. Heath hit Maclin with a corner forearm. Maclin came back with a shoulder tackle. Heath turns the tables and works on Maclin with chops. Maclin came back with a knee to the head and a lariat. Heath backdropped Maclin to ringside heading into break.
After the break Maclin dumps Heath to ringside with a knee to the back. Maclin beat up Heath at ringside while gloating that he’s the #1 Contender for the Impact World Title. Maclin dominated for a few minutes. Heath turned the tables by escaping an abdominal stretch with a snapmare. Heath gave Maclin hands and a leg lariat. Heath got a two count after a powerslam.
Heath got a 1 count after a spinebuster. Maclin put Heath in a tree of woe and hit Heath with a spear. Maclin hits Heath with KIA for the win.
Winner: Steve Maclin
Knockouts Tag Team Champions Death Dollz were hanging out backstage and excited for their next Knockouts Tag Team Title defense against The Coven. Rosemary was hyped to prevent The Coven from using magic. Jessicka was excited over the concept of magic. Taya Valkyrie said magic freaks her out. Jessicka said things like the tarot cards were very cool because of the spooky pictures.
Valkyrie told Jessicka to stay away from the magic and drink bottomless mimosas. Jessicka liked that idea and stormed off. Valkyrie told Rosemary she was keeping Jessicka away from magic because the magic might remind Jessicka that she’s actually Havok. Valkyrie said Havok would be mad that they were keeping that info away from her. Rosemary said that she didn’t want to hold the information and it was Valkyrie’s idea. Rosemary said she doesn’t mind if Havok comes back. Jessicka yells that it was time to assemble and get lit.
PCO was dragging a shovel and walking the streets of Las Vegas. He’s searching for Eddie Edwards.
Mike Bailey & Jonathan Gresham met up backstage and traded complements after a successful tag team match. Bailey said he doesn’t forget that Gresham beat him at No Surrender so he issues another challenge for Sacrifice Gresham accepts then both men shared a respectful handshake.
Jai Vidal vs. Johnny Swinger
Johnny Swinger wanted to start the match with a test of strength but Jai Vidal gave Swinger a dropkick. Vidal gave Swinger an elbow drop. Vidal teased a dropkick in the corner and gave Swinger a slap. Vidal slams Swinger’s head into the buckle a few times. The referee caught Zicky Dice trying to interfere and ejected him to the back.
Swinger drags Vidal’s head across the top rope after the distraction. Swinger put Vidal in a Camel Clutch. Savannah Evans pulled Vidal to ringside to help him escape. The referee ejected Evans for interfering. Deonna Purrazzo ran out to attack Gisele Shaw. Security drags Purrazzo away. Vidal caught Swinger with a Knee Plus for the win.
Winner: Jai Vidal
Deaner was backstage with Kon & Angels. Deaner cuts a promo about putting Sami Callihan through an initiation despite Callihan possibly trying to betray them. Callihan walked in and yells at Deaner from preventing him from doing step 6 of his 7 step initiation. Deaner said step 6 was not winning, but taking a punishment like a man. Deaner brought up Callihan accidentally costing Kon a match against Frankie Kazarian back at No Surrender. Callihan agrees to take his punishment and Deaner said that was the right choice.
PCO was still shambling around Las Vegas yelling for Eddie Edwards. He was standing in front of the Sam’s Town Casino.
Knockouts Champion Mickie James confronted Tommy Dreamer about him requesting a match alongside James against Bully Ray & Masha Slammovich. James asks Dreamer if this was the best solution because Dreamer is wrestling the Busted Open match the next day? Jordynne Grace walks up and said she was wondering if the match was a good idea because James will be facing Grace the next day. Grace brought up James barely escaping Masha at No Surrender and how James might tap out at Sacrifice to Grace due to being softened up. Grace walks off.
Eddie Edwards made his entrance for a promo. Edwards talks about how he’s had to re access his career after Honor No More broke up. He said he’s tried to leave his past in the past. He said he’s trying to focus on his future in Impact but the people won’t let him move on. Edwards said it’s hard to focus on his future when his past, PCO, keeps pursuing him. Edwards said it’s safe to say that his PCO problem is over. On the big screen, footage aired of PCO getting hit by a car last week.
Edwards said that video is a breath of fresh air because it’s the death of PCO and the rebirth of Eddie Edwards in Impact Wrestling. PCO making his entrance. Before PCO could get to the ramp, PCO was clubbed from behind with a shovel by Kenny King. Edwards & King beat up PCO. PCO no sold a double back suplex and had the upper hand over King & Edwards. PCO no sold a chair shot to the back from Edwards and punched it into Edwards.
Edwards & Kenny swarmed PCO with kicks to down him. King & Edwards beat up PCO after trapping him against the ring post with the steel steps. PCO escaped and fended off Edwards & PCO again. Edwards staggered PCO with Kenny the Kendo Stick. King follows up with a top rope blockbuster to get PCO to the mat. King held a chair to allow Edwards to hit PCO with a chair assisted Boston Knee Party. Edwards hits PCO with a Kendo stick. Edwards & King stood tall to end the segment.
An ad aired for Rebellion.
Santino Marella was backstage, super hyped to reunite with his former tag team partner Vladimir Kozlov. Both men shared a hug. After Kozlov left Dirty Dango walks off and wondered if that was Kozlov. Marella told Dango not to say his name, because unlike Santino, Vladimir Kozlov is still trademarked by WWE because Marella said say his name he appears I believe in Joe Hendry” clap clap.
Hendry said he wanted to personally invoke Brian Myers’s rematch at Sacrifice. Santino agreed and booked Hendry vs. Myers for the Digital Media Title at Sacrifice. Dango said he’s a huge fan of Hendry. Marella books Hendry & Dango in a match against Moose & Myers next week. Dango awkwardly asked Hendry if they want to hang out at the casino afterward
Knockouts Tag Team Titles Match
Death Dollz (Taya Valkyrie & Rosemary) (c) vs. The Coven (Taylor Wilde & Kilynn King)
Taya Valkyrie hits Kilynn King with a crossbody for a two count. Rosemary tags in and hits King with a t bone suplex. Taylor Wilde tags in after playing with her cards a bit. Rosemary bit Wilde in the face. Death Dollz dumps The Coven to ringside with lariats that sends us to a break.
After the break King was dominating the match back from the break over Rosemary. The Coven cut the ring in half on Rosemary. Rosemary turns the table after choking Wilde with the Tarantula. Valkyrie & King tags in with Valkyrie having momentum. Valkyrie hits King with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count.
Taya hit King with a hip attack and Meteora in the corner. King kicked out at two. Wilde caught Valkyrie with a knee in the corner. King hits Valkyrie with a German Suplex in the corner. Rosemary sent Wilde to ringside with a spear. Wilde drags Rosemary to ringside. King reversed a Road To Valhalla for a two count. King hit Valkyrie with a Kick follow by Kingdom Falls for the win.
Winners & New Knockouts Tag Team Champions: The Coven (NEW CHAMPIONS!!!!)
Tom Hannifan & Matthew Rehwoldt checked in from the commentary table. Hannifan hypes up Impact returning to Canada for the first time in years at Sacrifice. Hannifan & Rehwoldt ran through the advertised Sacrifice card.
6 Man Tag Team Match
Bullet Club (Impact World Tag Team Champions Ace Austin & Chris Bey & Kenta) vs. Impact World Champion Josh Alexander,Rich Swann & Frankie Kazarian
Chris Bey & Frankie Kazarian started the match with both men traded quick pin attempts then Bey put Kazarian in the corner with a hurricanrana. Ace Austin tags in. Kazarian dumps Bey to ringside and hit Austin with an armdrag. Rich Swann tags in. Kaz tossed Swann into Austin with a hip toss. Austin recovered and hits Swann with a slingshot dropkick.
Kenta & Josh Alexander tags in. Alexander ducks a punch from Kenta. Kenta & Alexander traded strikes in the center of the ring. Alexander got the upper hand with a rolling senton. Alexander,Swann & Kazarian dumps Bullet Club to ringside heading into commercial.
After the break Bullet Club cut the ring in half on Swann back from break with quick tags. Swann got a window of opportunity after hitting Kenta with a lariat. Kazarian took the hot tag and took down Bey with clotheslines. Kazarian hit Bey with a springboard leg drop after a body slam. Bey kicked out at two. Kazarian hits Bey & Austin with a double DDT. Bey came back with a Superman Forearm.
Alexander tags in and faked out Bey with a right hand. Alexander snatched Bey out of the ear and hit him with a deadlift Backbreaker Bomb. Swann hit Bey with a 450 Splash for a two count after Austin drags him to ringside. Alexander hits Austin in the back with a Suicide Crossbody. Swann took Austin off the apron with a kick and cannonball. Everyone traded kicks.
Bey executed a Plancha to the pile of wrestlers at ringside, but Kaz also assisted by hitting Bey with an RKO out of nowhere during the Plancha. Swann & Bey beat the 10 count. Swann hits Bey with a leg drop. Austin hits Swann with a Beautiful Disaster. Kazarian hits Austin with One Final Beat. Kenta hits Kazarian with a Busaiku Knee. Alexander took out Kenta with a right hand.
Alexander was about to hit Ace with a C4 Spike but he froze in place when he saw Steve Maclin on the stage. Kenta kicks Alexander in the head to dump him to ringside. Swann tried to fend off Austin & Kenta with strikes. Bey caught Swann with a springboard cutter. Austin hit Swann with The Fold for the win.
Winners: Bullet Club
Next Week’s Impact
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Savannah Evans
Tag Team Match
Busted Open Radio (Knockouts Champion Mickie James & Tommy Dreamer) vs. Masha Slamovich & Bully Ray
Tag Team Match
Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry & Dirty Dango vs. Brian Myers & Moose
6 Man Tag Team Match
The Design (Deaner,Angels & Big Kon) vs. Time Machine (Kushida,Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
Sacrifice Card (March 24th)
6 Man Tag Team Match
Impact World Champion Josh Alexander,Rich Swann & Frankie Kazarian vs. Time Machine (Kushida,Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
Knockouts Title Match
Mickie James (c) vs. Jordynne Grace
Busted Open Match
Tommy Dreamer vs. Bully Ray
X Division Title Match
Trey Miguel (c) vs. TBD
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Gisele Shaw
Impact World Tag Team Titles Match
Bullet Club (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) (c) vs. TMDK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito)
Jonathan Gresham vs. Mike Bailey
Digital Media Title Match
Joe Hendry (c) vs. Brian Myers
PCO vs. Kenny King
