IMPACT WRESTLING EMERGENCE RESULTS (8/27): Lilly’s report on Trinity vs. Purrazzo, Sanada vs. Something

IMPACT WRESTLING EMERGENCE RESULTS
AUGUST 27, 2023
TORONTO, ON AT REBEL ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON IMPACT PLUS
REPORT BY DARRIN LILLY, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

-Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

-An “In Memory of Windham Rotunda and Terry Funk” graphic appeared onscreen. Hannifan and Rehwoldt were shown at the ringside table and Hannifan said that Impact Wrestling would like to pay honor to Rotunda and Funk. A ten bell salute followed.

-Intro video featuring the stars of Impact Wrestling.

(1) ERIC YOUNG vs. DEANER (w/KON) — No DQ match

They had a staredown to start. Deaner threw down a Violent By Design towel and said that he is the Design and he is in control. Eric flew out of the ring and took out Kon. Back in the ring, Eric suplexed Deaner. Eric pulled out a ladder from under the ring and hit Kon with it. Eric brought the ladder in the ring and they took turns running each other into it. Kon pulled Eric and the ladder to the floor. Deaner choked Eric with a chain. Deaner taunted Eric as he hit him with metal baking sheets. Deaner licked a staple gun. They fought over it, but Deaner stapled between Eric’s fingers and armpit. Deaner put a metal trash can on Eric’s head and hit the chair with a chair. Eric gave Deaner a Death Valley Driver on the trash can. Kon broke up the pin attempt and attacked Eric. Eric handcuffed Kon to the ringpost. Eric hit Deaner with a trash can lid. Eric used the staple gun between Deaner’s fingers and armpit. Eric came off the ladder with an elbow drop for a two count. Kon broke out of the handcuffs. Deaner gave Eric a low blow. Kon chokeslammed Eric through two chairs. Deaner got a two count. Deaner pulled out a barbed wire board. Eric stacked up Deaner and Kon and gave them a Death Valley Driver on the board. Eric gave Deaner a piledriver on the board and got the pin.

WINNER: Eric Young in 14:00.

(D.L.’s Take: A good weapons-style match, which included a bit of innovation. All three wrestlers worked hard and the fans were into it. This looks like the conclusion of this feud and this battle was a good end to the feud.)

-Hannifan and Rehwoldt ran down the rest of the matches for the show.

-Clip from the countdown show of Joe Hendry and Yuya Uemura beating The Good Hands.

-Gia Miller interviewed Hendry and Yuya. Hendry talked about the long road of him and Yuya teaming. Hendry wanted to ask Gia a question but Yuya took the mic and had Gia say something in Japanese.

-Footage from the countdown show of Santino Marella telling Jody Threat to team with KiLynn King to replace the injured Taylor Wilde.

(2) MK ULTRA (Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly)(c) vs. GISELE SHAW & SAVANNAH EVANS vs. THE DEATH DOLLZ (Courtney Rush & Jessicka) vs. KILYNN KING & JODY THREAT — Impact Wrestling Knockouts Tag Team Title match

Hannifan explained that it was already determined that Masha and Shaw would start the match. Masha brawled with King. MK Ultra double teamed King. King kicked and suplexed Kelly. Jessicka made a blind tag to King. Jessicka slammed Kelly. Jessicka splashed Kelly, but Evans had made the tag in. Shaw and Evans tagged in and out to work on Kelly. Jody tagged in and got in offense on Kelly. Fans were enthusiastic about Jody, who is from Toronto. Jody talked to Rush by accident, because she is accustomed to being their partner. The Dollz worked on Kelly. Kelly gave the Dollz a double DDT. Masha made the hot tag and ran wild. Rush rolled up Masha for a two count and followed with a spear. Everyone took turns hitting big moves. MK Ultra double teamed Rush and they both pinned Rush for the win.

WINNERS: MK Ultra in 10:00.

(D.L.’s Take: They packed a lot into ten minutes. It was action packed but nothing really had a chance to breathe. No one emerged as a dominant contender.)

-Video package on Johnny Swinger.

-Gia Miller interviewed Johnny Swinger. She asked if he could win another title 20 years after his last one. Swinger said he would show everyone what would happen when you aren’t held back by Junior, Lanza, and others. He took off his glasses and got more serious. He talked about his uncle Tony Parisi, who wrestled and gave everything for this sport. He said he would win the title the right way.

(3) KENNY KING (c)(w/Sheldon Jean) vs. JOHNNY SWINGER — Impact Wrestling Digital Media Title match

Swinger crotched King on the ropes and gave him a headbutt low. Swinger dropped an elbow on King and stomped him. King gave Swinger a powerslam. King choked Swinger over the rope. Jean choked Swinger while King distracted the referee. Swinger made a comeback. Swinger used the ropes to give King a legdrop. Swinger was going to do a dive, but Jean got King out of the way. Swinger slid into King. Jean argued with the referee on the apron. Jean shook the ropes to cause Swinger to fall off the top rope. The referee made Jean leave. Heath gave King the Wake Up Call while the referee was distracted. Swinger got a two count on King. King took Swinger off the top rope and gave him the Royal Flush for the pin. King and Jean stomped Swinger after the match. Security came out to help Swinger, including Tommy Dreamer. King attacked Dreamer.

WINNER: Kenny King in 7:00.

(D.L.’s Take: I didn’t have high expectations for this, but it turned out better than I thought. I was intrigued to see what Swinger might do as Digital Media Champion, but King is on a roll, so I’m glad he kept the title.)

-Backstage promo from Josh Alexander, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, and Kushida. They told their opponents tonight there is no where to run, hide, or escape.

-Video on the Rascalz winning the number one contenders tournament.

(4) SUBCULTURE (Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews w/Dani Luna)(c) vs. THE RASCALZ (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) — Impact Wrestling Tag Team Title match

Andrews and Trey started the match. Subculture had the early upper hand, but the Rascalz turned the tide and got the heat on Webster. Andrews finally made the hot tag and ran wild. Subculture did a double dive on the Rascalz on the floor. Trey suplexed Andrews. Wentz kicked and stomped Andrews. Both teams traded punches, followed by an exchange of kicks that left everyone down. Subculture blocked Hot Fire Flame and Andrews did a destroyer on Trey. Webster dove on Andrews by accident. The Rascalz did a Hot Fire Flame from the ramp. Trey did a neckbreaker on Andrews for a two count. Trey spray painted Andrews in the eyes, but ABC were arguing with the referee. The Good Hands showed up and fought with ABC. Dani Luna dove from the top rope on ABC and the Good Hands. Back in the ring, Andrews gave Trey a stunner and Webster did a senton for a two count. The Rascalz double teamed Andrews and Wentz pinned him for the win.

WINNERS: The Rascalz in 18:00 to become the Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champions.

(D.L.’s Take: Started slow, but really picked up towards the end. The Rascalz winning was a logical choice considering their run in the tournament.)

-Backstage promo with Lio Rush, Brian Myers, Moose, and Bully Ray. Bully said that Lio was officially in their group text. Moose said they were the greatest assembly of scumbags.

-Deonna Purrazzo was shown taping up backstage and Trinity was shown getting ready.

(5) FRANKIE KAZARIAN vs. EDDIE EDWARDS — Back to School match

This was a cinematic match that took place at Killer Kowalski’s School of Wrestling. There was no commentary, but there was music. There were scenes from around Boston, then Kaz was shown driving to the school and looking at the pictures. Eddie showed up next. Clips of Kowalski were shown. Eddie looked at the pictures too. Eddie walked into the gym and Kaz said “It hasn’t changed much.” Kaz tried to apologize again for hitting Alisha, but Eddie cut him off. Eddie touched a chair and Kaz told him not to touch it. Eddie asked how many hours did Kowlaski sit in that chair and teach them. Eddie asked if it bothered Kaz about the titles he had won. Eddie went to sit in the chair and Kaz punched him. Kaz got in the ring. A referee got in next, followed by Eddie. The bell rang and they brawled. It quickly went to ringside and they continued to fight. Back in the ring, Eddie stomped Kaz. Kaz made a comeback and punched Eddie on the outside. Eddie sent Kaz into the chair. Kaz gave Eddie a rana and hip tossed him on the floor. Back in the ring, Kaz legdropped Eddie for a two count. Eddie gave Kaz a backpack stunner for a two count. Kaz gave Eddie a backstabber. Alisha showed up and yelled at Kaz. Eddie attacked Kaz from behind and got the pin.

WINNER: Eddie Edwards in 4:00.

Eddie yelled “We are done!” Eddie touched the chair again. He and Alisha kissed and left. Somber music played as Kaz sat in the ring, then looked at the picture of Kowalski. Alisha hit Kaz with the stick. Eddie yelled that Kaz was a disappointment to Kowalski. Eddie hit Kaz with the picture of Kowalski and glass shattered. The closing shot was Kaz in laying on the ground with the broken photo around him.

(D.L.’s Take: This was very well-produced. The pre-match stuff was longer than the actual match. They kept it short since there was no crowd noise and it may have been difficult to keep the viewer’s attention. The feud continues though.)

(6) SANADA vs. JAKE SOMETHING

Fans chanted “New Japan.” Hannifan noted that Sanada is the IWGP champion but Evil had stolen Sanada’s title belt. Sanada tied Jake’s legs in the ropes. Sanada dropkicked Jake. They fought on the outside. Sanada got a two count on Jake. Jake gave Sanada a bodyblock. Jake clotheslined Sanada and got a two count. They traded strikes and Jake got another two count. Sanada gave Jake a back suplex. Sanada dropkicked Jake to the floor and followed with a dive. Fans chanted for Sanada. Jake caught Sanada with a shoulder to the midsection and got a two count. Sanada gave Jake the Magic Whip. Sanada got a two count after a TKO. Sanada did a moonsault off the top rope for a two count. Jake caught Sanada coming off the ropes and turned it into a driver for a two count. Sanada came back with strikes and a dropkick. Jake powerbombed Sanada for a two count. Sanada kicked Jake in the head and followed with the Shining Wizard. Jake slammed Sanada to the mat and punched him. Sanada escaped Into the Void and hit Deadfall and got the pin. Sanada and Jake shook hands after the match.

WINNER: Sanada in 14:00.

(D.L.’s Take: This got good at the end. Mostly a showcase for Sanada, but Jake was able to shine as well.)

-Video package about the wrestlers in the 8-man tag match.

(7) ALEX SHELLEY & CHRIS SABIN & KUSHIDA & JOSH ALEXANDER vs. MOOSE & BRIAN MYERS & LIO RUSH & BULLY RAY

Rush attacked Sabin from behind. Rush and Sabin had a brief exchange. Shelley and Kushida double teamed Myers. Moose got in and called out Alexander. Moose chopped Alexander. Alexander fought back with chops of his own. Alexander trapped Moose upside down in the corner and stood on him. Bully shook the top rope to knock Sabin down. Bully suplexed Sabin. Moose, Myers, Rush, and Bully got the heat on Sabin. Alexander made the hot tag and ran wild. The match broke down and the wrestlers exchanged moves. Sabin accidentally kicked Shelley at one point. Alexander put Moose in an ankle lock and turned it into a sharpshooter. Myers took out the referee. Myers gave Alexander the roster cut. Time Machine took out Myers. Moose slammed Sabin through a table. Rush gave Kushida a Final Hour splash through a table at ringside. Bully fought Shelley on the ramp. Bully was going to powerbomb Shelley but the lights went out. When they returned, PCO showed up and fought Bully. Myers gave PCO a low blow. With Moose and Myers help, Bully put PCO through a table. PCO popped right back up. PCO took out Moose and Myers and chased Bully. Steve Maclin appeared out of nowhere and attacked PCO. Alexander and Maclin brawled on the ramp. Maclin went after Alexander’s arm. Security tried to break them up. Back in the ring, Moose slammed Alexander. Alexander escaped a spear. Shelley and Alexander argued after miscommunication. Moose speared Alexander and got the pin.

WINNERS: Moose & Brian Myers & Lio Rush & Bully Ray in 23:00.

(D.L.’s Take: Lots of action. This sets up multiple feuds.)

-Clip of Jordynne Grace training, followed by a Victory Road graphic.

-Video package on the Trinity/Deonna Purrazzo feud.

(8) TRINITY (c) vs. DEONNA PURRAZZO — Impact Wrestling Knockouts Title match

Jade Chung was the guest ring announcer and introduced Gail Kim, who joined the commentary team. Allison Leigh was introduced as the referee. Deonna took Trinity to the mat early, but Trinity escaped and shook her butt. Trinity gave Deonna an ax kick. Trinity kicked Deonna in the face. Deonna gave Trinity a tombstone piledriver on the floor. Back in the ring, Deonna clotheslined Trinity. Deonna continued to work on Trinity on the mat. They clotheslined each other. Trinity gave Deonna a series of kicks and a Samoan Drop. Trinity sent Deonna into the corner and followed with a crossbody block for a two count. Deonna gave Trinity a pump kick. Deonna worked on Trinity’s arm and put on an armbar. Trinity made a comeback, including a split-legged moonsault for a two count. Deonna gave Trinity a superplex. They traded punches. Trinity drove Deonna to the mat and got a two count. Fans chanted for Trinity. Trinity locked in Starstruck, but Deonna was able to escape. Trinity escaped the Queen’s Gambit. Trinity got a close two count after a full nelson bomb. Trinity hit a Code Red into Starstruck. Deonna tapped. They shook hands and hugged after the match.

WINNER: Trinity in 16:00.

(D.L.’s Take: Really good match and I was surprised at the tapout win at the end. It was a nice touch to have women as ring announcer, commentator, and referee for the women’s main event.)

-They billed that Will Ospreay will return to Impact for Bound For Glory.