6/21 Impact Wrestling TV Report: Rich Swann vs. Johnny Impact vs. Michael Elgin, Tessa Blanchard vs. Jake Christ, Su Yung vs. Valkyrie, Dreamer vs. Moose, Ace Austin vs. TJP

IMPACT WRESTLING TV REPORT
JUNE 21, 2019
TAPED IN NEW YORK, NY.
AIRED ON PURSUIT & TWITCH TV
REPORT BY JACK IRENE, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Announcers: Josh Mathews, Don Callis

Impact continues on the road to Slammiversary with a triple threat main event between Rich Swann, Johnny Impact, and Michael Elgin.

– Recap of last week’s show which featured Michael Elgin ending his alliance with Johnny IMPACT.

(1) TESSA BLANCHARD vs. JAKE CRIST

A hot start to this intergender clash, with Tessa scoring a cutter and three suicide dives. She met him back inside, eating a superkick after flying off the top. Jake began roughing her up as the crowd begged him to go back to Ohio. They went back and forth leading to a crafty submission from Jake. Tessa broke free and tried to fight back but was neutralized by a suplex. They traded shots in the middle of the Melrose Ballroom, before Tessa showed off a beautiful tilt-a-whirl DDT for a near fall. Jake dug his fingers into the eyes and mouth of Tessa prior to nailing a Death Valley Driver for a near fall of his own. The crowd began chanting for Tessa, leading to Magnum for the win. Callihan and the gang came out after, and Tessa wisely exited.

WINNER: TESSA BLANCHARD (**1/2)

(J.I.’s Thoughts: This was a solid intergender match with a hot crowd. Jake worked some aggressive, despicable heel work on Tessa who responded with a lot of fire. This made me really look forward to her inevitable clash with Sami Callihan.)

(2) EDDIE EDWARDS vs. MADMAN FULTON

Eddie came out quickly with a shot of caffeine, as Pope used to call his suicide dive. They brawled on the outside for a bit before the bell rang. Fulton delivered a chokeslam on the hardest part of the ring, with the bell ringing shortly after. Fulton continued to manhandle Eddie, with Callihan helping out when the ref was occupied. Eddie came back with a big rana, snap German, and Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Eddie went after Callihan on the outside before pulling out Kenny 2.0. Just as he did this, Killer Kross appeared on the screen, waterboarding The Sandman. Fulton came up from behind an angry Eddie Edwards, with the Better Than Baron for the victory. (c)

WINNER: MADMAN FULTON (**)

(J.I.’s Thoughts: This was okay, serving as more of a story element than anything else.)

– Slammiversary video package.

– Alisha Edwards warned her husband Eddie backstage that Kross was trapping him. Eddie ignored her, continuing his search.

(3) MOOSE vs. TOMMY DREAMER

Moose introduced a new dramatic entrance which I heavily enjoyed. His robe and gear were gorgeous as well. They brawled on the outside almost immediately, with Dreamer hitting his Diet Coke Mist spot. He went on to expose the concrete on the floor, but took a back suplex onto the apron. Moose received a ton of heat as he worked on Dreamer back in the ring. Moose started throwing combos but Dreamer countered. He connected with a DDT for a near fall followed by a superplex. Moose’s spear was countered by a spear from Dreamer which Moose made look like a million bucks. Dreamer went under the ring for a steel chair, before heading back in. Moose hid behind Kid Ref, who was terrified. He tossed the ref away before bicycle kicking the chair into Dreamer’s face and spearing him for a 1-2-3. After the match, Moose was about to attempt Coast To Coast on Dreamer, but RVD came for the save.

WINNER: MOOSE (**1/4)

(J.I.’s Thoughts: This match was solid but dragged a bit in the middle. Moose sold incredibly well for a man his size and I look forward to what he can do with RVD.)

– Taya and John E. Bravo were looking for Rosemary. Taya promised her a title shot, if she assisted her in taking out Havok and Su Yung. (c)

– Melissa Santos interviewed Johnny IMPACT who went on to warn Big Mike.

(4) SU YUNG vs. TAYA VALKYRIE

They got into a strike exchange to start the bout. Taya soon delivered a German Suplex into the corner for a two count. La Wera Loca sent her knees into a sitting Su Yung in the corner. Su got revenge, dropkicking Taya into the corner and sending her back into it with a headscissors. Su continued her onslaught with some joint manipulation on the fingers of the champion. Su slapped Taya with the blood stained glove and proceeded by applying it. Taya caught her with a surf stomp for a near fall. Taya began taunting from the second rope, but Havok knocked Taya down, allowing the champ to retain due to disqualification. Havok and Su now cornered her, but Rosemary’s music hit and out came The Demon Assassin to the rescue. James Mitchell grabbed the mic, inviting all four women to a Monster’s Ball at Slammiversary. (c)

WINNER: TAYA VALKYRIE (**1/4)

(J.I.’s Thoughts: This was an okay match in a storyline that I do not care for too much.)

(5) ACE AUSTIN vs. TJP

Ace Austin grabbed the mic plugging his T-shirt on ShopIMPACT.com and bragged about being undefeated. He went on to say dub himself the future of the X-Division, and dared anyone to challenge him. A returning TJP answered to some interesting music. The crowd welcomed him back to IMPACT as Josh Mathews acknowledged his prior run as Manik. They were off to a hot start as TJP sent him to the outside. Ace Austin gained control, brawling at ringside. TJP caught Ace Austin off the top with a huge powerbomb followed by a crossbody and Detonation Kick for his first loss.

WINNER: TJP (N/A)

(J.I.’s Thoughts: This was extremely short but fine for what it was. The return of TJP was neat and he caught the cocky Ace Austin off guard, telling a simple yet effective story.)

– Eddie Edwards was found looking for Killer Kross and the abducted Sandman backstage. ©

– The Rascalz were in The Treehouse, disgruntled about getting assaulted by LAX last week. Konnan soon joined the circle, warning The Rascalz to have more respect for The Clubhouse and LAX.

– Josh went through IMPACT’s schedule.

– IMPACT Plus Flashback Moment of The Week was the classic Pentagon Jr. vs. Sami Callihan from last year’s Slammiversary. There was a graphic on the screen with text displaying “Cage vs. Sydal”.

– We caught up with Eddie Edwards who was now in a brawl with Killer Kross backstage. The shrieks of Alisha Edwards stopped him, but Killer Kross begged for more, causing Eddie to bite him. Eddie rose up with blood dripping off of his face and stomped him. Eddie Edwards ate Killer Kross. ©

– Sami Callihan sent in a challenge to Tessa Blanchard for Slammiversary. He stated that he would treat her equally, beating her to a bloody pulp.

– Next week, LAX teams up with Laredo Kid to against the Rascalz as a trio, as well as a medical update on Brian Cage.

(6) JOHNNY IMPACT vs. MICHAEL ELGIN vs. RICH SWANN

The bell sounded and the bad guys doubled up on Swann. Elgin didn’t hold this alliance, grounding Swann and Johnny. Swann came back with a crossbody on both men. Swann and Johnny showed off some nice chemistry followed by dives from both men on Big Mike. They continue to attempt to one-up each other, but Elgin interrupted with a double German Suplex. Swann now went off taking out both men with some flashy kicks. Johnny got on a roll, flipping off the hard camera and trash talking. Elgin made him pay for it, with some huge moves, but Swann came in with kicks and a double cutter. Elgin hoisted Swann up for a Doomsday Device/ Chuck Kic combo which was countered with a reverse rana by Swann. Johnny connected with a Spanish Fly to Elgin but Swann caught him on the way down with a 450 splash for the win. Elgin snatched the title, but Swann took him and Johnny out. John E. Bravo attacked Swann with the red X, but Brian Cage came out of nowhere. Cage laid Elgin out with a huge powerbomb.

WINNER: RICH SWANN (***1/2)

(J.I.’s Thoughts: This was a super fun sprint with Swann getting a big win. Cage’s return was unexpected and great, with Elgin on the receiving end for the first time in this feud.)

FINAL THOUGHTS: 7.0 (out of 10). This was yet another good show on the road to Slammiversary. The return of the champion was nicely done, and surrounded by plenty of good angles and matches to advance the build to the pay-per-view.

RECOMMENDED: 6/14 Impact Wrestling Report: Michael Elgin vs. Willie Mack, Sabu & Rob Van Dam vs. The North, Jordynne Grace vs. Madison Rayne, Havoc vs. Masha Slamovich, Sandman vs. Kross