SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
IMPACT WRESTLING TV REPORT
JULY 27, 2023
WINDSOR, ONT AT ST. CLAIR COLLEGE SPORTSPLEX
AIRED LIVE AXS TV (RECORDED)
REPORT BY DARRIN LILLY, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
-Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt
-Video package focusing on Eric Young, Nick Aldis, and the events of last week.
-“We own the night” open.
(1) TRINITY & DANI LUNA vs. THE COVEN (KiLynn King & Taylor Wilde)
Trinity and King started the match. Trinity and Dani had the upper hand early. King turned the tide of the match by snapping Dani’s neck on the top rope. The Coven dominated Dani until she made the hot tag to Trinity. Trinity got the pin on Wilde.
WINNERS: Trinity & Dani Luna in 10:00.
After the match, Deonna Purrazzo walked to the ring and told Trinity she wanted her rematch at Emergence.
-Video covering last week’s show closing angle.
-Brian Myers and Moose approached Lio Rush. Myers said to never leave them hanging. Lio questioned why they would trust Bully Ray. Bully entered. He said that he, Myers, and Moose could trust each other. Lio said he isn’t there to be friends with anyone. Moose said they don’t need to be friends but they all have a common goal. Moose said they might have to make a decision for him. Bully told Lio he is either with them or against them. Moose, Myers, and Bully walked off as Myers said “See ya, kid.”
-Zicky Dice and Johnny Swinger were shown on the way to the ring. [c]
-Footage from last week of Jon E. Bravo helping Dirty Dango beat Santino Marella.
-Dirty Dango/Bravo promo. Dango talked about dating Santino’s daughter and taking her to dinner. They said they couldn’t take Santino’s skills seriously. They also insulted Scott D’Amore. Dango talked about Bravo training in wrestling and being in Vietnam. He said Bravo was his new security and called him “Alpha Bravo”.
(2) JOHNNY SWINGER vs. ZICKY DICE
Zicky rolled Swinger to the ring in the entrance cart, then walked back up the ramp and did his own entrance. This was a loser leaves town match. If Swinger wins, he can get a title shot. Swinger did the “Finger Poke of Doom”, then went for the pin, but Dice rolled up him for a two count. Swinger said that wasn’t the plan and Dice went after him. They raked each other’s eyes and pulled each other’s hair. Dice dropped Swinger and said “I love you” and scored a two count. Swinger rolled out of the ring and said he was done. Dice told him to go back in the ring and finish it. Swinger told Dice it was his time. Swinger told Dice to get in the entrance cart. Swinger clotheslined Dice off the cart and threw him back in the ring. Swinger put his feet on the ropes and pinned Dice.
WINNER: Johnny Swinger in 3:00.
(D.L.’s Take: Fun match. I enjoyed Dice’s appearances in Impact, hopefully he goes on to better things, if he is actually leaving.)
-Clip from BTI of Joe Hendry helping Yuya Uemura beat Kenny King (non-title match).
-Santino talked to Hendry and Yuya in a hallway. Santino said Yuya would be a champion. Hendry said they needed to work on him getting the belt first, then they could talk about other challengers. Santino offered a title opportunity and Hendry said it could be a three-way. Hendry seemed reluctant and signaled the start of a heel turn. [c]
-Nick Aldis promo. He talked about facing Eric Young. He said he would serve Eric some humble pie.
(3) MASHA SLAMOVICH (w/Killer Kelly) vs. GISELE SHAW (w/Jai Vidal & Savannah Evans)
Masha took Shaw to the mat early. Masha tripped Shaw into the ropes and kicked her. Masha put Shaw in an armlock. Masha caught Shaw with a flurry of punches and kicks. Shaw threw Masha out of the ring. [c]
Shaw had the advantage after the break. Masha made a comeback. The Amazing Race Canada host (Jon Montgomery) was shown in the audience. Shaw and Masha traded the advantage. As the seconds fought on the outside, Shaw caught Masha with a running knee and got the pin.
WINNER: Gisele Shaw in 11:00.
(D.L.’s Take: Fine match and this was a good way to progress this feud.)
-Recap of Jake Something beating Kevin Knight from last week. Video package on Jake with him taking about growing up rough as in-ring highlights played. [c]
-Hannifan plugged upcoming dates, including the UK Invasion Tour in October.
-Frankie Kazarian and Traci Brooks were in the dressing room. Traci called Alisha Edwards a “dumb bitch” and said she was going to ask to fight her. Frankie told her she was better than that and they left.
(4) TIME SPLITTERS (Alex Shelley & Kushida) vs. MOOSE & BRIAN MYERS
Hannifan noted that this was the first time Shelley and Kushida had teamed in Impact. Moose drove Kushida into the corner and knocked Shelley off the apron. Kushida caught Moose with a back elbow, but Moose kicked him down. Kushida kicked Moose and brought him down with a kneebar. Shelley kicked Moose. Kushida put the Hoverboard Lock on Moose, but Moose powered out. The Splitters double teamed Myers. Kushida knocked Moose off the apron. Fans chanted for Shelley and Kushida. The Splitters double teamed Myers, who rolled to the outside. Moose clotheslined Shelley on the outside. [c]
Shelley rolled up Myers and got the pin. Moose and Myers stomped the Splitters and were joined by Moose. Josh Alexander ran in and helped the Splitters. Lio Rush ran in and attacked Shelley. Chris Sabin ran in for the save. The faces surrounded Rush. Sabin clotheslined Rush and superkicked him. Sabin threw Rush over the top rope.
WINNERS: The Time Splitters in 10:00.
(D.L.’s Take: Good follow-up to last week’s angle. This sets the stage for multiple feuds.)
-Impact Plus Flashback Moment of the Week was an Eric Young vs. Nick Aldis match from Impact TV in 2014. Eric beat Aldis for the World Title.
-Clip from BTI of Alan Angels winning a match, then being attacked from behind by Heath.
-Alan Angels promo. He called Heath a wannabe rock star. He called himself a real life rock star. He said Heath is jealous because he is going up and Heath is on the way down. He challenged Heath to a match next week. [c]
-Footage from “last week” of the Rascalz leaving the building and littering. They talked about facing ABC and Subculture. They ran into Mike Bailey and threw popcorn at him. Bailey said they might be better off if they weren’t such idiots. They made fun of his martial arts. Bailey walked off.
(5) “SPEEDBALL” MIKE BAILEY vs. ZACHARY WENTZ (w/Trey Miguel)
Wentz kicked Bailey, but Bailey battled back. Bailey dropped Wentz with a kick. Bailey took Wentz to the mat with a headlock. Bailey was distracted by Trey, which Wentz used to get the upper hand. Bailey dropkicked Wentz and followed with kicks. Bailey landed a standing shooting star press for a two count. Bailey missed two kicks but nailed a third. Bailey went for a pin, but Trey put Wentz’s foot on the ropes. Bailey kicked Wentz off the apron and followed with a moonsault from the top rope to the floor. Bailey and Trey faced off. Wentz slammed Bailey on the apron. They traded the advantage. Trey pulled Wentz out of the way of the Tornado Kick. The referee made Trey leave ringside. Wentz sprayed painted Bailey in the face while the referee wasn’t looking and got the pin.
WINNER: Zachary Wentz in 6:00.
(D.L.’s Take: Short, but this was all action. The heel turn of the Rascalz continues.)
-Hannifan and Rehwoldt plugged matches for Emergence and Multiverse United 2. For next week, they announced that Kenny King will face Joe Hendry and Yuya Uemura in a Digital Media Title match. [c]
(6) ERIC YOUNG vs. NICK ALDIS
Eric has a new entrance video and mask that he wears to the ring. Aldis threw Eric over the top rope, but Eric “skinned the cat” to get back in. Aldis regrouped on the outside. [c]
They battled in the ring. Aldis trapped Eric in the ring apron and punched him. Aldis drove Eric into the ringpost. Back in the ring, Aldis got a two count on Eric. Aldis dropped Eric with a clothesline. Aldis suplexed Eric. Aldis got a two count after another suplex. Aldis put Eric in a chinlock. Eric made a comeback. Fans were solidly behind Eric. Eric gave Aldis a belly to belly suplex for a two count. Aldis gave Eric a superplex. Aldis got another two count after a Michinoku Driver. Aldis put Eric in the cloverleaf. Eric reached the ropes to break the hold. Aldis went for the figure four leglock, but got rolled up for a two count. Eric gave Aldis a piledriver and got the pin.
WINNER: Eric Young in 14:00.
Deaner and Kon attacked Eric after the match. Kon chokeslammed Eric twice. They teased leaving, but Kon chokeslammed him another time. Deaner took off his jacket and gave Eric the Antidote. Deaner sat on Eric’s chest and smiled.
(D.L.’s Take: This was a good match, that established Eric Young as a top level babyface in his return. It’s a shame that Nick Aldis’s run in Impact was so short, but he made the most of it. The next chapter for Eric has started.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: The slow build to Impact’s next event, Emergence, has begun and matches are starting to take shape. This show seemed to be more about angles as opposed to in-ring action, which is fine. Characters such as Eric Young, the Rascalz and Lio Rush continue to be established, while wrestlers like Nick Aldis and Zicky Dice are apparently being phased out. Good show.
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