IMPACT! WRESTLING - December 13, 2018

REVIEW: IMPACT! WRESTLING – December 13, 2018:  More HOMECOMING build, Taya and Tessa Face off, Fenix & Santana lock horns, and Dark Allie and Kiera Hogan know their paths will cross, Brian Cage and Moose square off...

We’re only a few weeks out from HOMECOMING on January 6^th, and things are beginning to heat up at IMPACT! Wrestling.  Taya Valkyrie and Tessa Blanchard have a face to face before their Knockouts Title Match, Kiera Hogan shares her thoughts on the betrayal of Dark Allie, two more qualifying matches for the Ultimate X Match, Fenix and Santana from LAX go toe to toe in a 1 on 1 match prior to their tag team championship match at the PPV as well…

Back again in Las Vegas, and we have Rich Swann facing off against Dave Crist in another Ultimate X qualifying match.  Crist, of course, escorted to the ring with the rest of oVe.  Crist gets the offense early, and sends Swann out of the ring, where Jake takes advantage of a distraction to slam Swann on the ring apron.  Swann answers back with a kick to Crist on the apron to send him off the ring.  Swann then lands a flip suicide dive onto oVe.  Swann gets on the offense.  Lands a springboard, but only gets a 2 count.  Goes for the Phoenix Splash, but Crist moves.  Just as Crist goes to get on the attack, Swann surprises him with a rollup and the pin.  Swann advances.  The Crists attack Swann, but Callahan breaks it up and scolds them.  Just then, Willie Mack comes down to the ring, and pounds on Willie Mack.  Swann pulls him away.  Swann holds Mack back as oVe hold Callahan back.  oVe bails the ring.

Backstage, Moose is interviewed by McKenzie.  He’s not worried about Eddie Edwards, but he’s got a match with Brian Cage.  Moose tells him that machines die, but legends live forever.

We see Swann and Mack arguing backstage, and Mack wants to know WHY Swann held him off, and Swann said that he’s been down the path with Sami Callahan, and he urges Moose to NOT go down that path with him.

Josh Matthews is in the ring, and he calls out Knockouts Championship challenger Taya Valkyrie.  Wera Loca chants eminate from the crowd.  Then, Matthews calls out Knockouts Champion Tessa Blanchard.  It’s time for their final face to face before they square off at HOMECOMING.  Taya talks about all the dirty actions Tessa pulled in order to hold onto her championship.  Taya says that Tessa has no respect for authority, and that’s not how a champion should act.  And she plans on beating Tessa’s ass at the PPV.  Tessa responds by asking Taya how does a champion act?  She wouldn’t know, she’s just riding her husband Johnny Impact’s coattails.  She calls Taya a loser, just like all the fans.  She says what she does, because she IS a champion.  Tessa says at HOMECOMING, Taya will have to TAKE the title from her.  Matthews tries to keep the peace.  Matthews says that because of how their matches have gone, he says that IMPACT management put forth a special stipulation…a special guest referee….it’s GAIL KIM!  Tessa is pissed.  Taya couldn’t be more pleased.

Tessa is backstage griping and complaining about the stipulation that Gail Kim is the guest referee.  She says she respects Gail Kim, but she says she won’t be afraid to run through Gail if she gets in her way.

Another Ultimate X qualifying match features Trevor Lee facing off against the Razcals’ Trey Miguel.  This is the final qualifying match for the Ultimate X match.  Match starts off with some pretty simplistic chain wrestling and counters.  Miguel lands a hurricanrada to flip Lee over, then manages to avoid any counters from Lee, as he goes out of the ring.  Miguel goes for a suicide dive, but pulls back at the last minute as Lee avoids it, but Miguel stopped on the ring apron, delivers another hurricanrada outside the ring.  Lee gets the offense back, and Lee goes to work on Miguel.  Trevor has Miguel in a backbreaker, but the hold is broken, and Lee screams at Miguel.  Miguel counters, gets a strike, then lands a kick and lands a neckbreaker, but Lee kicks out of the pin attempt.  Miguel gets Lee on the turnbuckle and delivers a 619 like kick, then lands another hurricanrada, and scores the pinfall.  Trey is heading to Ulitmate X where he’ll face Rich Swann, Jake Crist, and Ethan Page.

We get a promo from the Lucha Bros. about their upcoming match against LAX for the IMPACT Tag Titles on January 6^th, and Fenix then tells Santana he’s going down tonight.

Dark Allie and Su Yung are telling Kiera Hogan that her time has come, and that there is no turning back for Allie.  Su says Kiera’s time has come. 

LAX backstage with Konnan.  Konnan is upset with LAX, because he told them that their egos got the better of them, and now things have escalated.  Konnan says they’re going to have to face the Lucha Bros. on their own, he’s out.  They’re shocked, but Santana said they can do it on their own…and he says he can take care of Fenix on his own.

Santana of LAX and Fenix of the Lucha Bros. are ready to face off in a one on one match tonight.  We get some early lucha skills from both men, showing off what they can do.  A hurricanrada from Santana lands Fenix outside, he tries to get back in, but gets kicked in the face.  Santana goes out to grab him, and Fenix kicks him on the ring apron, lands a forearms to the face, and climbs back into the ring.  Santana outside, and Fenix lands a moonsault on the outside.  Fenix misses a swanton bomb, Santana nails him, but only gets a 2 count.  Fenix goes for a move that gets countered by Santana with a urinagi, but Santana only gets a 2 count.  Fenix on the outside, and Santana goes for him, but he stops short, Fenix kicks him.  They trade shots back and forth, then Santana nails a brutal reverse hurricanrada, but Fenix turns around and delivers one of his own.  Trading blows back and forth, both men deliver kicks to each other.  Santana goes to jump onto Fenix with the rope, but gets caught in the ropes, and Fenix walks across the rope Undertaker style and delivers a nasty kick.  Tries for the pin, but can’t get it.  Trading sitting powerbombs but no one can get the pin on the other.  A LOT of high spots in this match.  Fenix has Santana on the top rope, and goes for a back slam, but Santana counters into a pin attempt, but Fenix kicks out.  Santana is tossed into the corner, and Fenix delivers a back kick to Santana.  He then manages to roll up Santana for the pin and the win.  Both teams stand in the ring in a staredown as they know what’s coming up January 6^th.  Pretty decent match.  Too bad the crowd has been dead pretty much the whole night.  Vegas is NOT really a place for a wrestling show---they have no appreciation for it.

McKenzie is with Killer Kross, and asks him why he saved Taya Valkyrie last week.  Is he on Impact’s side?  Kross tells her to zip it, and says that everyone wants him to spell it out.  He says that he offered the champ a chance to have help his side, and toughen him up for the match ahead.  At this point, the champ comes out and gets in Kross’ face.  Tells him to stay away from him and Taya.  Kross goads Johnny, and Johnny pushes him into the backstage equipment, and warns him to back off.  Kross says that’s what Johnny needs to win at HOMECOMING.

Kiera Hogan talks about how she’d have Allie’s back during this whole Su Yung saga, but now that she’s turned to the dark side, the end has come, and Kiera is ready to face Dark Allie at HOMECOMING.

We head back to the Sanitarium, where we see Eddie Edwards and Raven talking.  Eli Drake shows up and has a sit down with the “head of the snake”.  Eli says that he’s the last of a dying breed, because of people like Raven who inspired the hardcore era.  He plans on wiping it out once he takes care of Abyss at the Monster’s Ball Match at HOMECOMING.  He gets worked up and threatens Raven more, and Raven calls for the orderlies to come and get Eli, which they do.

Katerina comes out with her new protégé’, Ruby Raze, to do battle with new Knockouts sensation Jordynne Grace.  This is strength vs. strength, and an all power match.  Grace and Raze trade blows early.  Jordynne shows off some agility, then lands a vicious elbow to the face of Ruby Raze.  Ruby comes back with a german suplex, and goes to work on Grace.  Katerina offers some outside interference as she chokes Grace on the ropes.  Raze with a suplex with Grace’s feet on the ropes.  Grace gets up, and gets in Raze’s face, asks her if that’s all she got.  Raze gets her in a choke hold, but Grace brakes it, and lands some blows to Raze.  Grace goes to lift her, but Raze blocks it.  Raze goes to the op but Grace lifts her up into a powerbomb.  Katerina goes to interfere, but Grace catches her, and delivers a muscle buster, and then Grace lands a Vader Bomb from the top rope to score the pin.  Katerina’s ringer fails.  Jordynne Grace continues to impress.  She is going to be a factor in the Knockouts title picture quicker than you think.

Gama Singh and the Desi Hit Squad are in a hotel hallway looking for Scarlett Bordeaux when she shows up, and they feel they’re next on the list to obtain Scarlett’s services.  She tells them to go out and try to impress her, and she walks off.

Main Event time as “The Machine” Brian Cage takes on Moose.  Both men are powerful, but Cage is very agile for a big man.  Both men trade blows, and Cage gets a quick hurricanrada that sends Moose out of the ring.  They both trade blows outside the ring.  Moose goes for a chop with Cage against the ringpost, and Cage moves, with Moose slamming his hand against the post.  He keeps trying to chop Cage with the injured hand.  But he still remains on the offense, sending Cage into the barrier, and delivering a big boot.  Moose goes for another kick, but Cage manages to lift up Moose, and slam him on the ring apron.  The action moves back into the ring, and Cage tries to mount some offense, but Moose keeps the edge on.  He knees Cage in the back of the head.  Moose is taking his time, delivering more chops with the injured and.  Moose drives Cage into the corner, and Cage hits harshly.  Moose has dominated this match thus far.  Moose again takes his time, goes to deliver a blow to Cage, but Cage lifts the knee to block it, and stuns Moose….Cage rolls out of the ring, and Moose rolls out after him and continues to work him over.  Moose starts jaw jacking with the crowd in the front row.  He throws Cage into the ring, and as he’s distracted with the crowd, Cage lands a flip dive on Moose on the outside.  He gets Moose back into the ring, and lands a powerslam, but can’t get a pin.  Back and forth the two men go.  Cage gets on top of the turnbuckle, but Moose nabs him and hits a sitting powerbomb.  Then he lands a senton off the ropes, but only gets a 2 count.  Moose goes to the outside, and Cage delivers a high kick.  He then manages to suplex the big man into the ring, but only gets a two count. Cage goes for another move, but Moose bites him to reverse it.  

Moose with more chops with the hurt hand, and they continue to trade blows.  Moose with a clothesline, but Cage counters with a discus clothesline, and Cage is clutching his wrist.  A couple of reversals, and delivers a powerbomb, but can’t get a pin.  Cage rolls out of the ring…he’s hurt.  Moose rolls out, and looks to powerbomb or piledrive Cage when all of the sudden, Eddie Edwards in a hospital gown appears and attacks Moose.  The match is over, and Cage Is DQ’ed.  Eddie Edwards continues the attack on Moose, landing a suicide dive on him.  Eddie slams Moose into the ringpost, and lands another suicide dive.  The crowds chant Eddie’s name.  He looks under the ring, and he grabs his kendo stick.  He attacks Moose with the kendo stick, and works him over.  Eddie goes to land a powerbomb on Moose, but Moose breaks it up, and runs up the ramp to escape.  The Show ends with Eddie doing snow angels in the ring.

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I guess, technically, you COULD call this a “go-home” show, since the next two weeks’ worth of IMPACT! Shows will be the “Best of 2018”.  It was an alright show…especially for a company that has had to pretty much rebuild from the ground up after all the financial and backstage politics it’s had to suffer through the last few years.  I will say this:  they’re making a genuine effort, and putting their best foot forward.  But the 10 pm start time is killing them, and it reflects in the ratings.  They have quality stars on the show, but very few standouts than can be the face of the company and run with it.  Plus, with the iffyness of their television contract with POP up in the air, the company is taking on water at an alarming rate, and I feel bad for the talent that is busting their ass to give the fans a good wrestling alternative to WWE. 

The storylines on the show are not bad….they’re consistent compared to the huge mess you see on Monday Night RAW every week, and often times on Smackdown Live!  But again, some people are just not connecting with them.  Now, I can be cynical about the product---I’ve been a wrestling fan for 40 years, and I’d like to think I know the difference between a good and bad wrestling show.  IMPACT isn’t bad…but it still has a bit of work to do in order to get on a level where it can compete with the likes of WWE…though not many can.  I think IMPACT! Wrestling has an advantage in that they have an open door policy with the likes of House of Glory, Ring of Honor, New Japan, and various other indies where talent can be pooled and shared.  I feel that’s an advantage for them, and it also lifts the entire industry as a whole.  They just need to better trust their talent, nurture them, and promote the living hell out of them.  If they can get BACK into a more favorable primetime slot, it WILL work to their advantage in the long run---as long as you can tell compelling stories, and deliver a more action packed product than what we’re getting with WWE.  The main problem is finding a home that will support them through good AND bad, and be willing to PROMOTE the program on their network. 

Either way, getting back to tonight’s show, the highlights (for ME, anyway), was the match between Santana and Fenix.  It was a game of one-upsmanship between the two, but proved that both men can go in the ring, and deliver a high quality match.  It’s also the one time the crowd in Vegas actually got into the show (I tell you, Vegas crowds SUCK for wrestling.  After what happened at the end of Smackdown Live!  Tuesday night…I thought we’d get more, but they just have NO appreciation for wrestling).  But the match was excellent, and BOTH these guys are quality stars.  This was just a taste of what we can expect once we see both teams in the ring January 6^th for HOMECOMING.  This just might be THE match on the entire card.  One question remains….what will Konnan do?  Will he show up at the PPV, or will he just bail on the boys completely, and let ‘em tear each other up?  Either way, I’m excited to see this match.

One of THE best storylines on the show is Tessa and Taya.  Taya is not the world’s best promo, but she gets the point across, and the fans like her.  Tessa is perfect as the snotty, self-entitled heel that she is.  She has taken SEVERAL pages out of dear old Dad’s playbook, and used them perfectly.  She has been terrific for this division, and the match between her and Taya should be pretty damn good.  Now add the stipulation of Gail Kim as the guest referee, and it’s going to make the outcome of this match very interesting.  Gail has been retired for months now…could this match—if Tessa decides to pull the dirty tricks out and be the chickenshit heel we know her to be, haul off and drop Gail…will that prompt a title change in the match, or will this have Gail come out of retirement to go toe to toe with Tessa?  Possibilities are there.

The Ultimate X match should be a fun one, with Rich Swann, Trey Miguel, Ethan Page, and Jake Crist.  Miguel impressed me with his solo effort tonight.  If they can lay off the dumb promos for the Razcals and let them do their business in the ring---they can be future tag champs.  But for now, I’d like to see how Trey will handle himself against more experienced guys in the ring.  Swann is going to be the heave favorite in this match, and it’s good to see him get a chance to hold some gold in this company.

Scarlett Bordeaux and the Desi Hit Squad?  Waste of 3 or so minutes of airtime.  When is her search going to end?  Kind of dragging on long enough.  Yeah, she’s great eye candy, but what the hell are they doing with her? 

Eddie Edwards’ attack on Moose was expected at some point, considering he broke out of the Sanitarium.  No Holds Barred had to be the only way to go to give these guys a blowoff match at the PPV.  A side note to tonight’s match:  Moose looked dominant over Cage…not exactly what you need for your IMPACT! Championship challenger going into the PPV.

We also knew that after last week’s attack on her, Kiera and Dark Allie were destined for a match at the PPV as well.  Question is:  will Rosemary return to help Kiera against Dark Allie and Su Yung?  Because for ME…this story has to have an ending at some point in 2019.  The payoff HAS to be a match between Dark Allie and Rosemary, and a Rosemary/Su Yung match where Rosemary gets her revenge.  Rosemary has tweeted about a “Dark War” coming, so hoping to see that happen in the coming year.

Eli Drake…the man is such an excellent promo, no matter where he’s at or what he’s doing.  I’ve been happier with him lately.  Now that I know what his direction is---to eliminate all the hardcore legends---makes more sense to me. 

“Thick Mama Pump” Jordynne Grace is the real freakin’ deal.  The woman has immense power and agility.  I feel that Katerina isn’t quite done with her yet, and I DO like that there’s more than one story going on with the Knockouts, plus, it lets them build up Jordynne as a threat to the division.  She WILL be in the title hunt sooner than anyone thinks.

Speaking of the Championship match---Killer Kross is going to play a HUGE factor in the outcome of that match.  Now, whether he causes one man to win or the other, or simply just destroys them both at the PPV remains to be seen.  But we DO know he’s not done being a thorn in Johnny’s side.  And Johnny doesn’t like it.    

In the end---this show was serviceable, moved various storylines along, and gave us a few more twists and turns for the PPV.   Probably in the next week or so, I will be giving my predictions on HOMECOMING, and sort out what will happen next.  The show was decent, didn’t have too many ridiculous promos and segments, and gave us a couple of good matches tonight.  But again, as I mentioned, there are still many things to grow upon for the company, and if they can just get their feet level under them, and find some security as far as a TV deal, and a better time slot, I feel they have a chance to improve.  But someone has GOT to have faith in them…and they have to have everyone involved to step up their game even more.  I know there’s talent there, but they have to crank it past 11 now.  Their future….IMPACT’S future….rides on it.

So...with the new additions to the PPV...the show is looking like this:

IMPACT! WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:  Brian Cage v. Johnny Impact (C)

IMPACT! TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP:  Lucha Bros. v. LAX (C)

KNOCKOUTS DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP:  Taya Valkyrie v. Tessa Blanchard (C) WITH *SPECIAL GUEST REFEREE:  Gail Kim

ULTIMATE X MATCH (X-DIVISION TITLE MATCH): Ethan Page v. Rich Swann v. Jake Crist v. Trey Miguel

MONSTER'S BALL MATCH:  Eli Drake v. Abyss

NO HOLDS BARRED MATCH:  Eddie Edwards v. Moose

Kiera Hogan v. Dark Allie (w/Su Yung)

I am not sure I’ll cover the year in review shows.  I may spend time making my predictions for the HOMECOMING card, and possibly giving my take on what IMPACT can do to improve in 2019.  Either way, keep checking back here, and I thank you guys for following me and this blog.  Please subscribe if you haven’t, and pass it along, I’d appreciate it.  Also, don’t be afraid to leave your comments, would love to read ‘em.  I’m curious as to what YOUR guys’ ideas would be for IMPACT for 2019.

If I don’t see you soon, I hope you guys have a tremendous holiday season.  Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all of that. 

Until next time!