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IMPACT WRESTLING TV REPORT
APRIL 28, 2022 (RECORDED)
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY AT MJN CONVENTION CENTER
AIRED ON AXS TV
REPORT BY DARRIN LILLY, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Announcers: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt
-Video package of highlights from Rebellion.
-Show intro video.
-Violent By Design was introduced and walked to the ring. Eric Young spoke. He talked about wanting power and control. The fans booed. He talked about running through teams at the Rebellion gauntlet match. He said they would be champions forever. He told the fans there was nothing they could do about it. He said the world doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to us.
Rhino and Heath entered the ring. Rhino said that he and Heath didn’t get the retribution they deserve and they had unfinished business with VBD. Fans cheered. Rhino said they wanted retribution and the titles. The Briscoes music played. Hannifan yelled “OH HELL YES!” Fans cheered as they walked to the ring. Jay said “Dem Boys are in the house!”
Fans chanted “Dem Boys”. He referenced what happened at Multiverse of Matches and talked about winning the belts in Impact. Heath talked and welcomed them to Impact. He said the Briscoes were great, but he and Rhino were in the front of the line for a title shot and the Briscoes were in the back. Jay said they didn’t get in the back for anybody.
Young said they should figure it out themselves and they would see the winners later. VBD left the ring. Rhino challenged the Briscoes to a match right now. The Briscoes agreed and took off their jackets. Referee Brian Hebner ran to the ring and the match was official.
(1) MARK & JAY BRISCOE vs. HEATH & RHINO
Mark and Heath started the match and traded punches. All four wrestlers fought. Jay did a big dive out of the ring onto Heath and Rhino. Mark followed with a dive from the top rope to the floor on Heath and Rhino. All four wrestlers brawled on the floor. The match returned to the ring and the Briscoes double teamed Heath.
Mark suplexed Heath and got a two count. Rhino tripped Jay to turn the tide. Rhino kicked Jay on the floor. [c]
Heath stomped Jay. Rhino worked on Jay’s shoulder. Fans chanted “Dem Boys”. Heath and Jay fought on the floor, then got back in the ring. Mark tagged in and fought Heath and Rhino by himself. The Briscoes knocked Rhino to the mat, then all four wrestlers fought. Rhino clotheslined Mark. The Briscoes double teamed Rhino. Mark gave the elbow drop from the top rope and pinned Rhino.
WINNERS: The Briscoes in 11:00 to become the number one contenders to the Impact Tag Team Titles.
(D.L.’s Take: The Briscoes add energy to the tag team division. Fans are still really into Heath & Rhino and they were enthusiastic for the Briscoes as well. Decent match that the fans were into).
-Hannifan and Rehwoldt were shown at ringside, plugged Under Siege, and ran down the matches for tonight.
-Moose entered Scott D’Amore’s office. Moose complained about getting the rematch on only five day’s notice after giving the company one of the best matches of the year. Scott said Moose calls himself a wrestling god, so this is a chance to get his title back. He said the winner will be in the spotlight at Under Siege against a handpicked opponent. Moose told Scott to be concerned about consoling Josh Alexander’s pitiful family after what he does to Alexander. [c]
-A retro Coming Soon vignette aired. There were clips of wrestlers on the Impact roster and x-rays.
(2) BHUPINDER GUJJAR vs. VSK
VSK threw his jacket at Gujjar and got the early advantage. Gujjar came back with an elbow strike and a dropkick. VSK regrouped outside of the ring. Gujjar did a dive over the top rope onto VSK on the floor. In the ring, VSK snapped Gujjar’s neck over the top rope and gave him a DDT. Gujjar gave VSK a kneedrop and drove him to the mat.
VSK gave Gujjar an uppercut to the back and a suplex. VSK gave Gujjar a series of punches then put him in a chinlock. Gujjar clotheslined VSK and gave him a sling blade, followed by a Samoan Drop and a kip-up. VSK rolled up Gujjar for a two count. Gujjar caught VSK and slammed him. Gujjar speared VSK from the second rope and got the pin.
WINNER: Bhupinder Gujjar in 5:00.
Shera and Raj Singh walked to the ring. Shera and Gujjar went toe to toe. Shera slammed VSK to the mat and told Gujjar to watch. Singh separated Shera and Gujjar.
(D.L.’s Take: Short match, but Gujjar showed off his agility and moveset. VSK continues to impress).
-Gia Miller interviewed Ace Austin. She congratulated him on winning the X Division Title. Ace bragged about winning the title all on his own. He said he was Trey Miguel’s greatest weakness. He said he will continue to make history. Rocky Romero walked in and said he could put in a good word for Ace in the NJPW Super Juniors tournament.
Ace said he might take Rocky up on that, but ordered Rocky off the set. Rocky challenged Ace to a title match next week. Ace told him to get in line. Rocky said he would go talk to Scott D’Amore. Ace went to leave and ran right into Mike Bailey. Bailey congratulated Ace and offered his hand. Ace walked off. Bailey said “I thought we were friends”. [c]
-Steve Maclin promo. Sinister music played underneath. He talked about Scott D’Amore handpicking a contender at Under Siege. He talked about stacking bodies in Impact since he’s been there. He asked what happens when a Walking Weapon or a Wrestling God meets Mayhem.
(3) MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) & SPEEDBALL MIKE BAILEY vs. EDDIE EDWARDS & MATT TAVEN & MIKE BENNETT (w/Kenny King & Maria Kanellis)
Bailey and Taven started the match. All six wrestlers got in the ring and brawled. The action spilled to ringside. Taven dropkicked Shelley. Honor No More triple teamed Shelley. Bailey fought Honor No More by himself. Bailey went after Kenny King. Bailey and Bennet fought. Eddie did a dive on the pile at ringside. [c]
Honor No More had the advantage after the break. Bailey made a comeback on Eddie. Sabin made the hot tag and went after Honor No More. Taven kicked Sabin. The Guns double teamed Bennett. The Guns squared off with Taven and Eddie. Bailey and Bennett traded chops. Bailey gave Bennett a series of kicks and a shooting star press.
The Guns and Bailey hit moves on Honor No More, then did dives over the top rope. Fans chanted “Speedball”. Sabin and Bailey did kicks on Bennett. King and Maria got involved. Bennett speared Shelley. Eddie gave Bailey the Die Hard Driver as Bennett and Taven kicked Bailey. Bennett pinned Bailey.
WINNERS: Eddie Edwards & Matt Taven & Mike Bennett in 12:00.
(D.L.’s Take: A super fast-paced match. A much needed win to give Honor No More some credibility. The fans are really into Bailey. The announcers played up animosity between the Guns and Bailey after the match).
Bullet Club’s music played and they walked to the stage. Bullet Club brawled with Honor No More. Jay White choked Mike Bennett. The Good Brothers gave Kenny King the Magic Killer.
-Gia Miller interviewed Josh Alexander. He talked about his road to the title and his roller coaster of emotions. He said it was time to shut up Moose for good. Gia talked about Scott D’Amore having a handpicked opponent for Under Siege. Alexander said no matter who it is, he will be ready for him.
-An enthusiastic Taya Valkyrie walked to the ring with the AAA Reina de Reinas title. She thanked the fans and received a lot of cheers. She talked about having self-reflection over the last year. She said her passion and creativity was held captive. She said she now knows who the hell she is. Fans chanted “Wera Loca”.
Taya said she knows her worth. She said that sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to get back on top and that’s what she did by regaining the AAA title for the fourth time. Deonna Purrazzo ran out and attacked Taya from behind. Deonna took her to the mat and put her in an armbar. Decay’s music played. Deonna broke the hold.
Rosemary and Havok walked to the ring. Deonna got out of the ring. Taya and Rosemary (former partners) looked at each other. Tasha Steelz and Savannah Evans walked to the ring. [c]
(4) ROSEMARY & HAVOK vs. TASHA STEELZ & SAVANNAH EVANS
All four wrestlers brawled in the ring and at ringside. Rosemary paired off with Evans and Havok paired off with Tasha. The bell finally rang. Havok choked Tasha and threw her around. Rosemary suplexed Tasha and got a two count. Fans chanted for Decay. Rosemary and Havok brawled. Rosemary and Evans fought in the ropes.
Evans slammed Rosemary to the mat and got a two count. Tasha stomped Rosemary. Tasha gave Rosemary a running kick and got a two count. Evans punched and kicked Rosemary. Rosemary bit Evans and made the tag to Havok. Havok took on Evans and Tasha by herself. Havok gave Evans a Death Valley Driver for a two count.
Rosemary pulled Tasha off the apron. Havok gave Evans a backbreaker. Rosemary speared Evans and got the pin.
WINNERS: Rosemary & Havok in 5:00.
(D.L.’s Take: I like that they played up the history between Rosemary and Havok leading to the match. The match itself was short and fun. It was nice to give Rosemary a win after her good showing at Rebellion).
-All About Me Segment. Tenille and Madison said everything was perfect since they got rid of Kaleb and the IInspiration. The lights went off. When they came back on, Gisele Shaw was in the spotlight. She said she smelled cheap perfume and insecurity, so she knew she was in the right place. Shaw challenged Tenille to a match next week and walked off. Tenille said they would have better security next week. [c]
-Vincent said that Jonah was a monster, but he was human. He said that PCO isn’t human anymore. He talked about Jonah facing PCO next week. The camera pulled back to reveal PCO next to Vincent. PCO yelled “JONAH!”
-Hannifan and Rehwoldt were shown at ringside and announced matches for next week’s show:
- Monster’s Ball Match: Jonah vs. PCO
- Impact X Division Title Match: Ace Austin vs. Rocky Romero
- Tables Match: Brian Myers vs. W. Morrissey
They also announced matches for Under Siege on May 7th:
- Impact Tag Team Title Match: Violent By Design vs. The Briscoes
- AAA Reina de Reinas Title Match: Taya Valkyrie vs. Deonna Purrazzo
- Bullet Club vs. Honor No More
- Impact Wrestling Knockouts Title Match: Tasha Steelz vs. Havok
Moose did his ring entrance. [c]
(5) JOSH ALEXANDER (c) vs. MOOSE – Impact Wrestling World Title match
Dave Penzer did the in-ring introductions. Fans chanted for both wrestlers. Moose attacked Alexander right at the bell and had the early advantage. Alexander came back with chops. Moose got the upper hand again, but Alexander fought back with chops and kicks. Alexander rolled up Moose for a two count. Alexander went for an ankle lock, but Moose kicked him off. Moose sent Alexander out of the ring. [c]
Moose had control of the match after the break. Moose threw Alexander into the ring apron. Alexander chopped Moose. Moose gave Alexander a pump kick. Moose powerbombed Moose on the ring apron. Back in the ring, Moose stomped Alexander and gave him a headbutt. Moose chopped Alexander and choked him. They traded punches.
Moose put Alexander in a chinlock. Moose booted Alexander. Moose slapped Alexander. Alexander fired back with slaps and kicks. Alexander gave Moose a series of German suplexes. Alexander went for the C-4 Spike, but Moose got out. Alexander put Moose in the sharpshooter. Moose reached the ropes to break the hold. They traded chops and punches.
Moose gave Alexander a headbutt. Alexander rolled up Moose and put him in an ankle lock. Moose sent Alexander into the turnbuckle, then followed with a uranage. Moose gave Alexander a buckle bomb. Alexander crumpled to the mat. Alexander made a comeback and powerbombed Moose, followed by the C-4 Spike and the pin.
WINNER: Josh Alexander in 18:00.
Tomohiro Ishii’s music played and he walked to the ring. Ishii was revealed as Scott D’Amore’s handpicked challenger for Under Siege. Alexander and Ishii went face to face.
(D.L.’s Take: A good match– not the level of Saturday’s title change, but that’s a lofty standard. Still a really good match and these two work so well together. Alexander vs. Ishii at Under Siege should be great and draw a lot of interest).
FINAL THOUGHTS: A fine follow-up to Rebellion. Alexander had another definitive victory over Moose and is set up for a new challenger. The matches were short for the most part and made the winners look strong. The Briscoes bring some freshness to the tag team scene. With the Under Siege show coming up on May 7th, they will probably pack a lot of angles into next week’s show. Not the most newsworthy show, but still solid and entertaining.
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