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IMPACT WRESTLING TV REPORT
APRIL 14, 2022 (RECORDED)
PHILADELPHIA, PA AT 2300 ARENA
AIRED ON AXS TV
REPORT BY DARRIN LILLY, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Impact Wrestling Announcers: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt
-Recap of the events from two weeks ago.
-W. Morrissey stood in the ring to start Impact. He said it was good to be back in this arena on his terms. He said that last time he was there (the 2300 Arena) he was at his lowest point and had to be carried out of the building. He had nowhere to go and no one to turn to. He said that he returned tonight clean and sober.
Fans chanted “Morrissey!” He had tears in his eyes. He said he was in the best shape of his life and for the first time he can admit that he is not alone. He said it was because of the fans. The fans clapped. He thanked the crowd for their support. Fans chanted “Morrissey!” again. Morrissey said he was given a second chance and he would take advantage of those opportunities.
Brian Myers’ music played and he walked to the stage. Myers said “Boo freaking hoo”. He asked if he should feel sorry for Morrissey. He said Morrissey was handed opportunities that the boys in the back could only dream of. Myers was booed heavily. Myers said Morrissey pissed it all away for a good time.
Myers said how Morrissey is trying to sabotage him. Myers got on the ring apron and said history was going to repeat itself because after Morrissey wrestled Myers, Morrissey was going to end up half dead on the floor again. Fans booed. Morrissey went after Myers. Myers tried to escape through the crowd but Morrissey caught him and punched him.
Morrissey slammed Myers on the ring apron. Morrissey set up a table. He went to powerbomb Myers, but Chelsea Green stopped him. Matt Cardona attacked Morrissey from behind with the Digital Media title. Chelsea slapped Morrissey, then Cardona and Myers powerbombed Morrissey through the table. Myers, Cardona, and Green gloated afterwards.
-Rehwoldt and Hannifan were shown at the ringside announce table. They plugged the matches for Rebellion and for tonight.
(1) DEONNA PURRAZZO (c) vs. WILLOW NIGHTINGALE – Ring of Honor Women’s Title Match
A clip was shown of Taya Valkyrie challenging Deonna from the Multiverse of Matches show. After Deonna walked to the ring, Willow Nightingale was introduced as the surprise opponent for the Champ Champ Challenge. Deonna got the early upper hand but Willow quickly turned the tide. Deonna got out of the ring to regroup. [c]
Deonna stomped Willow when the action resumed. Willow made a comeback but was quickly cut off. Willow gave Deonna a bulldog. Willow clotheslined Deonna and gave her the pounce, followed by a cannonball for a two count. Deonna booted Willow in the face, followed by a standing moonsault.
Willow came back with punches. Willow gave Deonna a Death Valley Driver for a two count. Deonna powerbombed Willow. Willow backdropped Deonna. Deonna escaped a clothesline and locked in the Venus De Milo for the submission.
WINNER: Deonna Purrazzo in 9:00.
(D.L.’s Take: An exciting match while it lasted. Willow was a good challenger and the Impact fans were enthusiastic for her. She has appeared on ROH, AEW, and Impact in the last two weeks, so she has a lot of momentum. The announcers noted that Deonna is 7-0 in the Champ Champ Challenge.)
-Clip from Multiverse of Matches of Nick Aldis & Mickie James beating Matt Cardona and Chelsea Green.
-Gia Miller interviewed Mickie James. Mickie said the feud between her and Chelsea was just starting and she was going to kick her ass. Mickie talked about Cardona and Myers helping Chelsea. Chelsea tapped Mickie on the shoulder. Chelsea said she didn’t need anyone’s help and they started brawling. Cardona showed up and held Mickie so that Chelsea could hit her. Myers looked an as well. Chelsea smiled over the fallen Mickie. [c]
-Gia Miller interviewed Tasha Steelz with Savannah Evans. Gia asked about Rosemary being the next challenger. Tasha said she wasn’t scared of the “The Realm”. She said her and Rosemary have a lot of history. Tasha said things have changed because she’s at the top now and she will be ready for Rosemary’s mind games. Decay popped up on the screen behind them and they laughed at Tasha.
(2) JONATHAN GRESHAM vs. ROCKY ROMERO
They shook hands at the start. After trading the advantage, Gresham floored Romero with a dropkick. [c]
Gresham had Rocky in an armlock. Eddie Edwards was shown looking at the match on a monitor. Gresham and Rocky exchanged chops. After an exchange of strikes, both wrestlers were on the mat. The action spilled to the floor and Rocky gave Gresham a rana. Rocky gave Gresham a sliced bread.
Gresham came back with a kick, a moonsault, and a stomp. Gresham gave Rocky a suicide dive to the outside. Gresham chain wrestled Rocky to the mat and got the pin. They shook hands after the match. Eddie was shown looking on again.
WINNER: Jonathan Gresham in 11:00.
(D.L.’s Take: A really good match. The finishing sequence was so fast paced.)
-Josh Alexander video package. Footage was shown of him winning the Impact title and Moose beating him for it. There were comments from Alexander. Clips were shown of the other Alexander/Moose angles as well. Alexander was shown training and with his family. Alexander said his family would witness him getting his revenge at Impact Rebellion. He said Moose would be in for the fight of his life. Good package. [c]
-Mike Bailey was hitting the heavy bag, when Ace Austin approached. Ace said that Josh Alexander broke Madman Fulton’s ankle. Ace said it was just him and Mike. Mike asked if he meant just him, Ace, and Trey. Mike said he knows exactly what he means and walked away.
(3) ALEX SHELLEY (w/Chris Sabin) vs. STEVE MACLIN
Shelley took Maclin to the mat with a headlock. Fans chanted for Shelley. They pushed each other and went nose to nose. Shelley kicked Maclin and put him in a front face lock. Shelley put Maclin in a headlock on the mat. Maclin took Shelley down with a back elbow. Shelley worked on Maclin’s arm.
Maclin came back with punches and a sleeper hold. Maclin dove on Shelley on the outside. Back in the ring, Maclin stomped Shelley. Maclin gave Shelley a backbreaker over his knee. Maclin speared Shelley in the corner and got a two count. Shelley dropped Maclin with a running forearm. Shelley kicked Maclin and gave him Sliced Bread for a two count.
Shelley kicked Maclin in the head and threw him face first into the turnbuckle. The action went to the floor, with Maclin getting the best of it. Shelley gave Maclin a Sliced Bread on the floor. Back in the ring, Maclin was distracted by Sabin on the outside. Shelley gave Maclin the Shell Shocked for the pin.
WINNER: Alex Shelley in 10:00.
(D.L.’s Take: These two worked well together. Shelley continues his momentum since his comeback.)
-Clips of the IInspiration/Influence/Kaleb angles.
-Madison Rayne confronted Gisele Shaw in a hallway. Shaw talked about Madison losing Kaleb. Madison said that her and Tenille fired Kaleb. Madison said they would be just fine without Kaleb. Shaw said “we’ll see about that”. [c]
-Another video package on the Moose/Josh Alexander feud. This one had clips of Moose talking and training. [c]
-Honor No More was in the ring. Eddie said he could feel the history in this building. He said this is where ECW was born. Fans chanted “ECW”. Eddie called the fans entitled and ungrateful. Mike Bennett took the mic and was booed. He said the building was the birthplace of ROH and ECW, but also of him, because he made his ROH debut in this building. He said the fans turned their back on ROH, ECW, and him.
Matt Taven talked and called the fans hypocrites and that they ran off from ROH when the scene was gentrified. He said his fans never left. Fans were cheering for him and they were shown in the crowd. He said that Honor No More is here to stay and succeed. He was interrupted by the Bullet Club.
Jay White talked. He asked if Honor No More thought they were the best. He said everyone knows that’s not true. He said Bullet Club is best. Doc Gallows said people should be sending them thank you messages, including Honor No More and the Kingdom. He said he put the Kingdom on the map by kicking their butts in 2015.
Karl Anderson said hi to Maria. He called Honor No More the old toys that no one wants to play with anymore. He said Bullet Club is the coolest toys in the toy box. The fans chanted along that they were too sweet. Maria said their too sweet could go on her ass. She said Honor No More is here to stay and they are “for life”.
Chris Bey said they were weak and challenged them to a fight. Bullet Club walked to the ring and started a fight with Honor No More. A brawl broke out. The action went to the floor. PCO did a big dive from the top to the pile. Everyone was laid out. Jonah walked to the ring. [c]
(4) JONAH vs. PCO
Jonah and PCO punched each other at the bell. PCO walked the ropes and hit Jonah. Jonah threw PCO over the top rope. They exchanged chops on the floor. PCO moved and Jonah ran into the turnbuckle. PCO gave Jonah a neckbreaker. PCO got some duct tape and taped his neck to make a neck brace. Jonah chopped PCO and gave him a shoulder block from the apron. [c]
The match returned to the ring and Jonah chopped PCO hard. Jonah ran PCO into the corner and splashed him. PCO elbowed Jonah, but Jonah knocked him to the mat. Jonah powerbombed PCO into the corner, but PCO came right back with a clothesline. They traded punches. Jonah gave PCO a tombstone piledriver. PCO kicked out at one.
PCO made a comeback with punches. PCO DDT’d Jonah. PCO gave Jonah a crossbody block from the top rope for a two count. PCO gave Jonah three headbutts. PCO missed a moonsault from the top rope. PCO missed a senton on the apron. Jonah dropped PCO into the rails then rolled him back in. Jonah splashed PCO from the top rope and got the pin.
PCO sat up and Jonah jumped on him and punched him. PCO sat up again and Jonah pounded him with a chair. Jonah put a chair on him and splashed him from the top rope. Jonah was pleased and left the ring.
WINNER: Jonah in 14:00.
(D.L.’s Take: A really hard hitting main event. Impact has done a good job of making the most out of both of these wrestlers.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: The in-ring action was really good and the video packages did a great job of hyping the Josh Alexander/Moose match at Rebellion. The Cardona/Myers/Chelsea faction has potential to be a major force. Good show.
NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S IMPACT TV REPORT: 4/7 IMPACT WRESTLING TV REPORT: Multiverse of Matches update, Sabin vs. White, Edwards vs. Ishii, more
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