IMPACT! WRESTLING - HOMECOMING PREDICTIONS

IMPACT! WRESTLING - HOMECOMING PREDICTIONS



IMPACT! Wrestling kicks off their 2019 in grand fashion as they head home to The Asylum in Nashville, Tennessee where it all got started for their first huge PPV show of the new year.  The show will take place tomorrow, January 6th, and I'm going to give my predictions on this show. So, let's get to it!

SAMI CALLIHAN v. WILLIE MACK - Sami Callihan has been one angry human being as of late, and him and the OVE have been trying to establish themselves as THE faction in IMPACT!  Callihan was responsible for costing Willie Mack a chance at the Ultimate X match, when he interfered in Mack's qualifying match against OVE member, Jake Crist.  Mack wanted revenge earlier, but his buddy Rich Swann warned Mack that getting into a feud with Callihan was a bad idea.  Mack came in to save the day for Rich Swann last week, but Swann tried to hold him back.  This week, Mack wasn't going to be held back, and he and Callihan mixed it up a little, and Callihan got the best of him.  Mack won't allow that to happen again, as this match was set up in the final show before the PPV.  Callihan will have the OVE members at ringside, make no mistake.  I can see Rich Swann playing a bit of a role in this match before too long to even the odds.  I look for Mack to take his pound of flesh back against the unhinged Callihan.  WINNER:  Willie Mack

ALLIE & SU YUNG v. KIERA HOGAN & JORDYNNE GRACE - Su Yung has been an extremely dark cloud enveloping the Knockouts Division, and she claimed the soul of the once bubbly Bunny, Allie.  Allie's journey into the Undead Realm helped save her former friend Kiera Hogan, but came at a price:  herself.  She is now the desciple of the Undead Bride, and she has shown her dark side by turning on her former friend and ally, Kiera Hogan.  The evil combo looks to end the Girl On Fire, and continue their dark journey back to the top of the Division.  Hogan tried to save her friend, but failed.  Now, she must defeat her lost friend, and end Su's destructive path.  A vicious attack by the dark duo after Allie's win over her former friend this week brought out none other than Thick Momma Pump herself---Jordynne Grace.  Grace had apparently seen enough of Su & Allie's antics to insert herself into this feud.  I'd be watching for Su's Undead Bridesmaids in this match to provide interference, but I feel that Kiera & Jordynne will prove to be too much for the Deadly Two, and will score the victory.  The feud will be FAR from over, because I STILL feel that, at some point in this match, we WILL see the return of The Demon Assassin - Rosemary.  They've been gone for some time, but look for the Demon to return, and begin the "Dark War" that they've been talking about for weeks.  WINNER:  Kiera Hogan & Jordynne Grace

EDDIE EDWARDS v. MOOSE (Falls Count Anywhere) - This blood feud has reached its zenith, as these two former friends are now the bitterest of enemies.  Moose turned his back on Eddie months ago to hook up with Killer Kross & Austin Aries.  Eddie has vowed revenge, but lost the last time he and Moose locked horns.  Eddie's spent time in a mental institution, where he got advice from the former ECW icon, Raven.  Eddie escaped and has been dogging Moose relentlessly, and exacted just a SMIDGEN of retribution this past week.  Now, these two have the chains off, and it's a Falls Count Anywhere match.  So, expect this match to go all over the arena, both men using anything and everything in sight.  Not sure if Eddie's wife, Alisha will try to stop Eddie from killing Moose--or HIMSELF--- for that matter, but do believe these two men will beat the living hell out of each other.  This is the match that HAS to have a payoff to end the feud.  I expect that Eddie will get his due, and Moose will get his comeuppance, but BOTH men will be damaged coming out of this.  Eddie's crazed unpredictability and willingness to risk life and limb will prove to be too much for Moose.  WINNER:  Eddie Edwards

ELI DRAKE v. ABYSS (Monster's Ball Match) - Eli Drake has been a vocal opponent of the old ECW style of wrestling...the hardcore style.  For the last few months, he has taunted the legend Abyss, Tommy Dreamer, and even Raven.  He believes he's a part of a dying breed of wrestler, and wants to bring what HE believes is "real wrestling" back.  He feels the hardcore style and hardcore type matches are destroying wrestling, and even went so far as to try and sue IMPACT! Wrestling for what HE called an "unsafe work environment".  Now he has to face the monster Abyss in what is called a "Monster's Ball Match".  If I'm correct, this is a hardcore style, no-holds barred match.  Not only has Abyss been looking forward to shutting Drake up, Drake will now have to contend with Tommy Dreamer AND Raven chilling out in the crowd, as they look forward to watching Eli's destruction.  Make no mistake, Drake CAN and WILL sink to every low level he can to win this match, but I don't see him getting past Abyss on this one---and don't be surprised if you see BOTH Dreamer and Raven getting in some serious shots to shut the former IMPACT! Champion up.  WINNER:  Abyss

ULTIMATE X MATCH (For the X Division Title) - This is a fatal 4-way to determine just who will be the next X-Division Champion in the wake of Brian Cage enacting "Option C" a couple of months ago to challenge Johnny Impact for the World Title, thus vacating the X-Division Championship.  4 men qualified for this match:  Jake Crist, Ethan Page, Rich Swann, and Trey Miguel.  All 4 of these men are very capable of becoming the champion, and will have to battle each other with the strap hanging high above the ring, with cross-ropes going in an "X" style above to make the belt a bit more challenging to obtain.  Page will try to tap into his "3rd eye" to gain the gold, Swann is the high flyer, Trey is young and talented, also a high flyer and risk taker, and Crist is the power and rage.  I can see this match getting messy...especially if the other members of OVE insert their noses into the match to help Crist win, and we certainly can't forget Willie Mack possibly helping out Swann, Matt Sydal is Page's mentor, and the other members of Trey's team, the Rascalz.  I'm hoping this match will be spared the potential interference from all other parties, and we can see these 4 men put on a quality match.  In the end, though, I feel it's Rich Swann's time to shine, as he's shown improvement since joining the IMPACT! roster.  He's a capable man to hold the gold, and 1 on 1 with these other men would provide him with contenders to come for awhile.  He is, by far, THE most talented wrestler of the bunch, so I feel his experience and ability to take huge risks will net him the belt at the end of the night.  This match HAS the potential to steal the show, as long as the interference is either VERY limited, or preferably not at all.  WINNER & NEW X-DIVISION CHAMPION:  Rich Swann

THE LUCHA BROS. v. LAX (IMPACT! Tag Team Championship) - It's a "family" affair, as the two top teams in the IMPACT! Tag Team Division lock it up for what I feel will be THE match of the night.  These two teams are both at the top of their games, and will have the chance to steal the entire night from EVERYONE.  LAX and the Lucha Bros are both on equal footing, and a match made by LAX for what they felt was respect for their "brothers".  However, Konnan--who's been guiding LAX to the top---was NOT pleased that they threw the challenge to Fenix and Pentagon.  Fearing that it would tear the "family" apart, he went on to list the past wrestlers he trained who ended up destroying each other, and breaking the "family" apart.  LAX refused to listen, and Konnan looks to have washed his hands of the affair, so it looks like LAX is now on their own.  This "family" has gotten chippy lately, and it has resulted in Pentagon feeling that he was disrespected.  Now, the battle lines are drawn, and it's time to get it on.  Expect A LOT of lucha action in this match.  Lots of high spots, suicide dives, and both teams pulling out everything in the pockets to find out who's the champion at the end of the night.  Not sure if Konnan will come out to either interfere, or try and stop the match before both teams destroy each other.  However---I see Pentagon and Fenix bringing it enough to finally ascend to the throne.  They're getting a hard push, so I feel they're going to walk out the new champs.  But....I know that this will NOT be the end of this rivalry.  They WILL have a rematch.  But for this show...the Lucha Bros, pull off the upset and walk out with the gold.  WINNER (And new Tag Team Champions):  The Lucha Bros.

TAYA VALKYRIE v. TESSA BLANCHARD (w/Special Guest Referee Gail Kim), (Knockouts Division Championship) - This heated rivalry goes back to Bound For Glory, when Taya had squared off with Knockouts Champ Tessa Blanchard for the Championship, and Tessa used a referee distraction AND the ring apron to score a win over Wera Loca.  Taya then called the Champ out, saying she couldn't beat her again, and that she has to cheat to win.  Tessa fell for the bait, and they had a rematch a couple of months later.  Tessa, fearing she would lose to Taya, slugged the referee to get herself disqualified.  The next couple of weeks, we see Tessa harrassing the officials, and after a tag match in which she tapped out to Taya, she not only tried to injure Wera Loca, she also strangled one of the officials again, and that was enough for former Knockouts Champ and icon, Gail Kim.  Tessa was not pleased by Gail's insertion into her business.  A 3rd match had been booked for this PPV, and THIS time, Gail Kim is the Special Guest Referee, to ensure that Tessa doesn't try to attack the officials just to escape with the title.  I expect this match to be intense, with Taya trying to get Tessa into her new submission finisher, which she had her tap in a few weeks ago.  Not sure if Gail will have to insert herself into the match at some point to ensure that Tessa stays on the level, but I know BOTH these women will put on a show.  Taya has power and her submission finisher, and Tessa has a serious of moves that can change the direction of ANY match in a hurry.  I look for some ref distraction, that will also incapacitate Gail Kim just enough to ensure Tessa Blanchard escapes with the Championship yet again.  Tessa has been a great talent for the Knockouts Division, and to take the title off her NOW, I feel would be a mistake.  I'd like to see her run just a little longer with the belt, generate some more heat, and THEN have a match where she will finally lose the title.  But for now, Tessa's ring savvy will allow her to remain champion in this match.  WINNER (And still Knockouts Champion):  Tessa Blanchard

JOHNNY IMPACT v. BRIAN CAGE (IMPACT! World Heavyweight Championship) - The Survivor with many names puts his prestigious World Title on the line against this friend and former X-Division Champion, Brian Cage.  Cage exercised "Option C' and gave up his X-Division Title for a crack at Impact's World Title.  These two have mutual respect, but after a miscommunication in a tag match this last week, where Cage unintentionally superkicked the Champion, a war of words started, then a donnybrook broke out.  Not even the locker room could separate these two, so the emotions will run high this match.  Johnny will bring his aerial assault and speed to the ring, and Cage will bring his power, speed, and intensity to the mat.  It's a contrast in styles that should be able to provide a good match.  If the brawl at the end of the go-home show was any indication, it will be a pretty good Main event.  But lurking in the shadows is Killer Kross...who tried to get Johnny to enlist his services, because he's been trying to feed to the Champion that Cage is unpredictable, and he should watch himself.  I have a feeling that Kross WILL interfere, and ONE of two things are going to happen:  Cage will turn heel and align himself with Kross, or 2.  Kross will interfere, but it will be all for naught.  At the end of the night, you just put the belt ON Johnny, and as good as Cage is...I just can't see him being "The Guy" for the IMPACT brand.  It will be a tough test, but I feel Johnny retains at the end of the night.  But Kross WILL make his presence known.  His feud with Johnny is just starting to heat up---and that's where I see them going with this.  Cage might factor into it as well.  But in the end...Mr. Impact WILL be the lone Survivor.  WINNER (and still World Champion):  Johnny Impact



Okay gang..that's MY predictions on HOMECOMING...so let's see what happens tomorrow in Nashville.  IMPACT! needs a good show to start off the year right...as well as when their programming starts on their new network--The Pursuit Channel--on January 11th.  I feel this is a make-or-break year for the promotion.  It NEEDS solid ground, it NEEDS to have higher ratings, and make sure they're telling quality stories, and providing solid wrestling action.  Their time slot...10pm Eastern Time on Friday night is not ideal, and may not get what they need ratings wise.  But I am wishing the best for all involved for IMPACT to have a good show.  

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