IMPACT WRESTLING TV RESULTS (11/9): Lilly’s report on Shelley vs. Gresham, Purrazzo vs. Steelz, Dreamer vs. Steve

IMPACT WRESTLING TV REPORT
NOVEMBER 9, 2023
CHICAGO, IL AT CICERO STADIUM
AIRED ON AXS TV
REPORT BY DARRIN LILLY, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

-Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

-Recap of Turning Point.

(1) TASHA STEELZ vs. DEONNA PURRAZZO

Before the match, they showed a clip from Bound for Glory of Tasha accidentally kicking Deonna, leading to MK Ultra winning the match. They shook hands at the start. They battled on the mat. Fan support was split. Tasha worked on Deonna’s leg. They traded pin attempts. A “TNA” chant broke out. Tasha took Deonna to the mat with a rana, then did a celebration dance. Deonna tied Tasha in a knot and dropkicked her. Deonna imitated Tasha’s dance and the fans chanted “one more time!” and she did it again.

They got back to business and countered each other’s moves. They traded pin attempts, then knocked each other to the mat. Fans chanted “Knockouts wrestling”. They traded punches on the mat. Deonna got the armbar on Tasha, but she escaped. Tasha took Deonna to the mat and put on the Venus De Milo. Deonna escaped and put on an armbar. Tasha scratched Deonna’s eyes to get out. They argued and pushed each other. Tasha slapped Deonna and threw her into the turnbuckle, followed by a cutter. Tasha followed with another cutter and got the pin. Hannifan speculated about if they could continue being friends after this.

WINNER: Tasha Steelz in 10:00.

(D.L.’s Take: It seemed like both wrestlers were having fun during the match. The match told a story of them being evenly matched. The fans were into this throughout. I hope they continued to be paired together because this could go in a lot of directions.)

-Alex Shelley backstage promo. He talked about Jonathan Gresham and how he whines about rule breaking. He said may the best man win. [c]

-Clip of ABC beating the Rascalz for the tag team belts at Bound For Glory.

-ABC talked in the locker room. Ace Austin said he talked with DDP and Chris Bey said he talked with Ric Flair. They said they would be the tag team champions of the new generation of TNA. Santino Marella walked in, quickly followed by Kenny King and Sheldon Jean. King asked where was his rematch for the Digital Title. He talked about the old days of going to the club. King and Jean argued with ABC. Santino said he would make a title match between the teams for next week. Santino left and the teams continued to argue.

(2) TOMMY DREAMER (c) vs. CRAZZY STEVE — Impact Wrestling Digital Media Title match

They locked up and rolled out of the ring to start. Dreamer threw Steve back in the ring. Steve raked Dreamer’s back and punched him. Steve bit Dreamer in the thigh. Steve sang out “The angel of death came to Tommy’s room and said it’s time to go.” Steve continued to attack Dreamer. Dreamer superplexed Steve. They traded punches. Dreamer gave Steve a reverse DDT and got a two count. Steve raked Dreamer’s eyes. Steve gave Dreamer a cannonball. He said it wasn’t enough to beat Dreamer; he had to end him. Steve put the briefcase on the apron and brought out a fork. Dreamer stopped Steve from stabbing him with the fork. Dreamer bit Steve’s arm. Dreamer got the fork and stabbed Steve in the head with it. The referee called for the bell. Dreamer continued to stab him after the bell. Steve bled from the head, then laughed up the ramp. [c]

WINNER: Crazzy Steve by DQ in 7:00.

(D.L.’s Take: Not much to the match, but it was as good as it was gonna be. Looks like this feud will continue. The fans were into it.)

-Gia Miller interviewed Jonathan Gresham. He vowed to win the match tonight and bring honor to the title by any means necessary.

(3) BRIAN MYERS vs. JOE HENDRY

Hannifan noted that Myers has the most eliminations in a Call Your Shot Gauntlet match. A clip was shown of Hendry beating Frankie Kazarian to win the Glasgow Cup. Hendry took the mic and talked about the rebrand. Fans chanted “TNA.” He said the rebrand would start tonight; Myers would no longer be known as “Edge’s bitch” — he will now be known as “Adam’s bitch”. Fans chanted “Adam’s bitch”. Hendy did his “we believe” bit. The bell rang and Myers attacked Hendry. Fans continued to chant “Adam’s bitch”. Hendry made a comeback and threw Myers out of the ring. Hendry fought Myers down the ramp and threw him back in the ring. Hendry got a two count. [c]

They battled on the floor and Myers kicked Hendry while he was getting back in the ring. Myers threw Hendry into the post. Myers gloated. Myers stomped Hendry when he got back in the ring. Myers put Hendry in a chinlock. Hendry suplexed Myers. Hendry gave Myers three fallaway slams and got a two count. Myers kicked Hendry and gave him a DDT for a two count. Hendry gave Myers a pop-up powerbomb for a two count. Myers poked Hendry in the eyes (the referee didn’t see it) and hit the Roster Cut for the pin.

WINNER: Brian Myers in 11:00.

(D.L’s Take: This built to a good match. I was surprised that Myers got the win. This seems to be building to a program.)

-Eddie Edwards and Alisha were shown walking up the steps. [c]

-Video package on Will Ospreay and Josh Alexander, promoting their upcoming match next week.

-Gia Miller interviewed Will Ospreay. He talked about the IWGP UK title and taking it all over. He said he hadn’t heard of Josh Alexander, but everyone said he’s good. He said no one is better than him. He said we’ll see if Alexander has what it takes to go against the best.

(4) ERIC YOUNG vs. EDDIE EDWARDS (w/Alisha Edwards)

A clip was shown of Eric eliminating Eddie in the Bound for Glory Call Your Shot Gauntlet match. Fans chanted “TNA” at the start. Hannifan said the company was revitalized at the news of the rebranding. Rehwoldt said they were redeveloping TNA for a new generation.  They traded punches. Alisha grabbed Eric’s leg to turn the tide. Eddie suplexed Eric. Eddie choked Eric. Alisha choked Eric while the referee was distracted. Eddie put Eric in a chinlock. Eric tried to make a comeback, but Eddie cut him off with a back elbow. Eddie went for a moonsault from the top rope, but Eric moved. Eric slammed Eddie. Eric went to the top rope, but Alisha distracted him. Eric knocked Eddie off the top rope and connected with the elbow drop and got a two count. Alisha got on the apron and distracted Eric. Eddie gave Eric a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. Alisha slid a chair in the ring. As the referee got rid of it, Alisha accidentally hit Eddie with a kendo stick. Eric gave Eddie a piledriver for the pin.

WINNER: Eric Young in 7:00.

(D.L.’s Take: Decent match. Tons of interference from Alisha. Perhaps this is leading to something.)

-Moose congratulated Brian Myers on his win tonight. Myers questioned where was Moose. Myers asked if Moose would leave him high and dry. Heath confronted Myers. Moose got in Heath’s face and they challenged each other to a fight. Heath left. Moose turned to Myers and said “How’s that for loyalty?”

-Alex Shelley was shown warming up. [c]

-Gia Miller interviewed Sonny Kiss. Sonny said she was disappointed in not winning the Call Your Shot Gauntlet match and being able to challenge Trinity for the title. Trinity walked in and hugged Sonny. She said she would see what she could do about getting Sonny the title shot next week.

(5) DIRTY DANGO & OLEG PRUDIUS (w/Alpha Bravo) vs. NICK DIAMOND & STORM GRAYSON

Dango said he hated professional wrestling before the match. Oleg attacked Diamond at the start. Dango joined the commentary team. Oleg destroyed Grayson. Oleg tossed Diamond to the mat. Dango finally tagged in. He took Diamond to the mat and got the pin.

WINNERS: Dirty Dango & Oleg Prudius in 2:00.

-Jordynne Grace backstage promo. She held up the Call Your Shot Gauntlet trophy. She said she would make history at Hard To Kill. Bully Ray walked in and offered a handshake. KiLynn King interrupted. She said Grace was lucky and King should have won. She said if anyone should go against Bully, it should be one of his own trainees. Bully told her to back off. Maclin walked in and called Bully soft. Bully talked about knocking Maclin off the top rope during the Monster’s Ball match. Maclin said he was still there calling him soft. Bully said that’s because he let him. Maclin walked off. King asked Bully what is going on with him. [c]

-Rascalz backstage promo. They were frustrated about losing the tag team titles. Trey Miguel talked about all the versions of the Rascalz. He introduced “Hot Fire” Myron Reed and said he would be teaming with them. Reed said “Smoke ’em if you got ’em.”

-Hannifan and Rehwoldt ran down the matches for next week:

*ABC vs. Kenny King & Sheldon Jean

*The Rascalz vs. Laredo Kid & Black Taurus & Juventud Guerrera

*Moose vs. Heath

*Trinity vs. Sonny Kiss

*Bully Ray & Jordynne Grace vs.  Steve Maclin & KiLynn King

*Will Ospreay vs. Josh Alexander

(6) ALEX SHELLEY (c) vs. JONATHAN GRESHAM — Impact Wrestling World Title match

Dave Penzer did the in-ring introductions. Gresham extended his hand and Shelley slapped it. [c]

They exchanged chops. Gresham hit Shelley with a low tap, then choked Shelley with his wrist tape. Fans chanted for Gresham. Gresham dropkicked Shelley’s left knee, then put him in a figure four leglock. Fan support was split. Shelley reached the ropes to break the hold. Gresham said he was stuck when he was asked to break the hold. Gresham choked Shelley on the middle rope. Shelley made a comeback, but Gresham cut him off and went back to working on Shelley’s knee. [c]

Gresham continued his attack. Shelley made a comeback. Shelley went after Gresham’s arm and dove on him on the outside. Fans chanted “This is awesome!” Shelley chopped Gresham. Gresham accidentally went into the post shoulder-first. Shelley gave Gresham a DDT on the floor. Gresham dropkicked Shelley in the knee back in the ring. Gresham got a two count. Shelley sent Gresham face-first into the turnbuckle. Shelley gave Gresham a tornado DDT and got a two count. Shelley put the Border City Stretch on Gresham. Gresham grabbed the referee to reach the ropes.

Gresham chopped Shelley in the knee. Shelley fought back. Gresham countered a submission and got a two count. Gresham rolled up Shelley for another two count. Fans clapped. Gresham was frustrated. They traded strikes. Fans chanted “Both these guys.” Gresham hit a moonsault and dove on Shelley on the outside. They traded pin attempts back in the ring. They traded more pin attempts. Gresham put Shelley in a figure four leglock. Shelley reached the ropes. Gresham chopped Shelley. Shelley superkicked Gresham, then hit Shell Shocked for the pin.

WINNER: Alex Shelley in 26:00 to retain the Impact World Title.

(D.L.’s Take: Really good main event. The last few minutes was excellent. I enjoyed Gresham’s innovative ways of breaking the rules. Gresham’s unique blend of rule-breaking and technical wrestling could breathe new life into his character. )

FINAL THOUGHTS: A well-r0unded show and an entertaining watch. A top-notch main event to cap off the show. Impact is kind of in a holding pattern until the TNA rebranding, but there was enough going on to make this interesting. A nice return to normalcy after last week’s “house show” episode. Next week is shaping up to be a good one.)

Darrin Lilly is a Pro Wrestling Torch contributor who writes the weekly Impact Wrestling TV results and co-hosts the Impact Wrestling podcast for the site with John Laslo. You can find him on Instagram and Threads at dklstl or on You Tube at Darrin’s Wrestling World, including a video recapping his attendance at a recent WWE Smackdown taping.