IMPACT! WRESTLING - March 22, 2019

IMPACT! WRESTLING – March 22, 2019:  We get the fallout from the Johnny Impact heel turn on Brian Cage, Family collides as Sami Callahan faces off with Rich Swann for the X-Division title, Ace Austin looks to go 2-0, and Eli Drake & Eddie Edwards look to solidify the most unusual tag team pairing against KM & Fallah Bahh.  Plus, Ethan Page takes on Willie Mack, and Trey Miguel looks to try and tame Moose.

Tonight’s show opens up with Moose taking on Trey Miguel of the Rascalz, since they mocked Moose last week.  Trey exhibits his agility early by being able to counter and avoid the big paws of Moose.  He manages to get a hurricanrana to Moose to get him out of the ring, he then tries to go for a dive on Moose, but Moose nails him.  Moose then mocks Trey’s Rascalz signature, but gets hit out of the ring by Trey.  Trey tries to land another rana, but Moose slams him onto the ring apron, and it’s brutal.  Moose rolls back into the ring, and lets the ref get most of the 10 count but, Moose rolls out, to grab him.  He gets Trey back into the ring and tries some offense, but as he goes for yet another hurricanrada, Moose catches him again and slams him into the ring steps.  Trey is stunned, and Moose tosses him back into the ring, works Trey over with some right hands, and stands on him for a two count.  Trey is in the corner to get yet another hurricanrana, but yet again, Moose catches him, and tries for a powerbomb, but Trey rolls off his back and gets a sunset flip but Moose kicks out.  Moose drills him with a nasty clothesline, but only gets a two count.  He kicks Moose in the corner, and tries for his finishing move, but Moose prevents it.  Trey continues the offense, and he then lands a frog splash, but can only manage a one count.  Moose lands a powerbomb, but can’t get the victory.  Both men trade big move counters, and Trey lands a back kick, but only gets a two count yet again.  Eventually, Moose prevents a codebreaker by Trey, and nails him with a spear for the win.  Great effort by Trey…getting better each week.

Sami Callahan and OVE are cutting their promo on Rich Swann, saying he’s going to take the X-Division Title from him.   OVE says they’re taking over everything.

Melissa Santos is with Tessa Blanchard, asking her that since Gail was suspended, does she feel vindicated.  Tessa says no, she doesn’t.  She says she’s taking legal action, and blames IMPACT Wrestling for Gail’s actions.  She wants Gail to publicly apologize to her, then she wants Gail fired.

KM & Fallah Bahh head to the ring as they’re going to battle Eddie Edwards & Eli Drake.  Drake and Bahh square up and Bahh gets the early offense, as him and KM tag out.  Eli then nails KM, and tags out to Eddie.   They work some quick tags before KM and Bahh regain the offense.  KM lands a splash, but only gets a two count.  Offense getting traded equally in this match.  Eli gets knocked off the apron, but Eddie faces off against KM, but Eli comes in and lands a neckbreaker.  Eddie and Eli again get on the offense.  Bahh comes back and lands a flying crossbodyblock on Eddie, but can’t get the pin.  Eli is down on the outside, but Eddie gets Bahh down, and heads out to get Kenny.  The ref stops him, and while KM is hanging on the bottom rope, he tosses Kenny out to Eli, who smashes KM with it, Eddie then lands the Boston Knee Party, and they score the victory.  This team is working well…even if they have to break the rules to do it. 

We see Rolando Melendez catch up to Johnny and Taya as they arrive at the arena, asking why they did what they did to Brian Cage, and they said he can wait to find out like everyone else.

Rolando Melendez once again tries to get to Johnny and Taya, and gets tossed by Taya for his troubles.

Ace Austin is up next against Damian Hyde.  Ace is putting on quite a highlight reel, as his aerial moves have stunned Hyde in this match early on.  He stays on the attack, by landing a reverse senton, a series of powerful kicks, and then hits his move called “Aces Up” as he dominates in a squash match, giving him a little more exposure to the audience.

We cut to a black and white musical promo that shows a woman gearing up for a run. We can't see her face, but there's a card that says "2 weeks".  Is it the return of The Queen Bee, Madison Rayne?  We then see video package promoting tonight’s X-Division Title Match between Sami and Swann. 

Josh Matthews is in the ring to interview the Impact World Champion and his wife, the Knockouts Champion.  Josh asks him why did he do what he did to Brian Cage.  He says Josh and the fans are smart marks.  He said he was going to be a fighting champion.  He says that the fans don’t care about him, that the fans come to see him like they watch NASCAR---only there for the wrecks.  They only came to see him break his body.  He says Brian is dumb, and that nobody cares about him or Brian.  Josh then asks about Taya’s title match against Jordynne Grace, and she puts her down.  She plays on Johnny’s remarks about calling the fans smarks, and says that THEY dictate the rules now.  Josh asks Johnny if he’s going to give Brian his title shot at REBELLION.  Johnny says that he’ll beat Brian, and says that he hopes Brian can stay healthy.  He ends the interview with saying there’s only two things that matter most to him…Taya and the title.  Typical heel promo, nothing special.

James Mitchell is looking in the mirror when Rosemary shows up, wondering why she didn’t get Allie’s soul.  Mitchell said he gave Rosemary what she wanted, and she doesn’t agree, and she says she’ll do what she has to in order to restore the Bunny.  Mitchell says that as HIS right hand man, he can’t let Rosemary back into the Undead Realm.  She says she doesn’t care, and that if she has to go into the Undead Realm to reclaim the Bunny’s soul, that’s what she will do.  Then she disappears.

Ethan Page is in the ring ready to face off against Willie Mack.  Ethan and Willie get a little back and forth to start out.  Willie gets the edge and lands a standing moonsault, but only gets a one count.  Ethan gets tossed from the ring and Mack goes outside and both trade blows until Page sends Mack into the ringpost, that Mack blocks, but turns around and gets squared up with a kick to the face.  Page gets Mack in the ring and works him over.  Willie gets back on the offense, lands a couple of big knees to Page in the corner, then an atomic knee drop, a reverse atomic knee drop, then sends him into the corner.  Willie lands his signature body roll into the corner.  He then goes for the cover, only gets a two count.  He goes up top, but Page catches him with a kick.  Page gives him an armdrag off the top rope, then lands an elbow on him, but can’t get the pin.  Willie once again regains the offense, and nails the stunner on Page for the pin and the win.

We see the Champion Couple backstage as they approach Killer Kross.  Kross leans down to Johnny’s ear and says “bravo”, giving him props for the interview.  He then moves to Johnny’s opposite ear, and can’t hear what is said, but Johnny laughs, puts on his shades, smiles, and comments that his day is getting better and better, and walks off with Taya, who gives Kross a dirty look.  Kross does NOT look pleased.

Rolando Melendez returns to interview Disco Gilbertti, who’s at a bar doing shots, and he says that women’s wrestling is nonsensical, and that when he meets her in the ring, it will be a one star match…six for him, negative five for her.  He’s going to prove that women don’t belong in the ring.  He then tips the bartender next to nothing and leaves.

Melissa is outside IMPACT Management offices, discussing Gail Kim’s situation, and Gail comes out, says that her hands are tied, since Tessa’s got her lawyers involved.  Gail says that she will do what she has to do.  Just as Melissa is about to answer another question, Gail moves them out of the way as a locker room door busts open, and we see LAX and Luchas in a knockdown, drag out brawl that goes on in the hallway for a couple minutes before officials break them up.  Was hoping to hear what Gail will decide to do, but the LAX/Luchas War has just gone DefCon 1.

Willie Mack heads backstage and into a locker room when the Crist Brothers follow behind and sneak attack him with the door closed.  We see Willie open the door and walk about with a chair, as he turns and locks the door. 

Main Event time, as Sami Callahan is ready to do battle for the X-Division Champion Rich Swann, with the title on the line.  Rich comes down the ring, and before we know it, the fight’s on.  They trade blows, and Sami rolls out of the ring.  Swann lands a suicide dive outside the ring.  Rich gives chase, but Sami gets the offense on him.  He pulls the ring steps aside, and tries to toss Rich on the ring steps, but Swann blocks it.  He then rakes Swann’s eyes and goes for a piledriver, but Swann blocks it.  Sami pushes Swann off the steps, but Swann flips and runs up to nail Sami with a kick to the face.  Rich then runs and lands a splash on Sami.  Sami then nails Swann again, and hits an exploder suplex on Swann on the ramp before we head to break.

Back from the break, we see Sami slow the pace on Swann with a headlock.  Sami takes a couple of blows from Swann, but Sami fights back, and pulls out of the ring, tells Swann to quit, but Rich won’t.  He drags Swann’s face into the bottom rope.  Sami continues to punish Swann.  Swann tries fighting back against Sami.  Swann manages to get a flurry of offense in, including a hurricanrana, then a superkick.  Sami nails him, only to go up top and get caught with a kick to the face, and then an Frankensteiner off the top rope.  Swann can’t get the three count.  He goes for another move, but Sami strikes back with a brutal clothesline, a huge knee to the face, then hits the Get Outta Here, but only gets a two count.  Sami takes off the wrist tape.  He goes for the piledriver, but Swann lands a kick to the face, heads to the rope, and Sami drills him with a knee.  Rich counters with a kick, then lands a 450 splash, but can’t get the three count.  Rich goes for another Frankensteiner, but Sami catches him and lands a vicious powerbomb.  Again, Sami cannot get the three, and Rich kicks out, only for Sami to get him into a crossface submission.  He then breaks it, only to put it on the other side.  Rich rolls to the rops and breaks it.  Sami then spits in Rich’s face, and Rich goes off on him.  Rich hits a kick to the face, flips to the ropes, flips back to land a cutter.  Two count.  Then Rich gets Sami into a cradle to score the win and retain the title.  Sami then attacks Swann after the match and goes for a chair, but Rich sees it coming and kicks him.  As Rich goes for the chair, a masked man heads to the ring and nails Swann with a powerslam.  It’s a guy named Mad Man Fulton, and he picks Sami up, puts him on the top rope, and shows his loyalty to OVE.  He’s the new member.  Mack comes to the ring to take down the 7 foot behemoth, but gets laid out for his troubles.  Sami then grabs a bat, and Fulton holds Swann as Sami drills him.  Sami and Fulton stand tall as Swann and Mack are laid out in the middle of the ring as the show goes off the air.

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This was not a bad episode of the show.  Once again, two hours fly by pretty fast. 

We got the answer from Johnny and Taya for the heel turn, and…well, it was what I expected.  The signs were there pretty much from BOUND FOR GLORY when Austin Aries no sold the finisher, and I think that left a sour taste in the fan’s mouths, not only from the perspective that Aries was a jerk, but for the fact it made Johnny look like a weak champion.  And despite his putting the belt on the line several times, they made him look weak in most every match.  This was the path that they had laid down for his heel turn just recently.  That, and Cage calling in Option C to give up the X-Division Title for a World Title shot.  Johnny couldn’t remain a babyface forever, so, while it served the purpose to have him crap on the fans, and the “smarks” (nice of them keeping up to date and using current trending terms for fans now), it still is a typical way of getting a babyface to turn heel.  Plus, Cage is the more over babyface, so it made sense to turn Johnny heel.  Honestly, I didn’t quite see him getting over much as a babyface, anyway.  So, they made the right choice here.  Naturally, Taya would follow suit, and her victory over Tessa to win the title was somewhat tainted, though through no real fault of Gail Kim, but we’ll get to that.  But having her heel sets it up nicely for her to face off with the likes of Jordynne Grace, Kiera Hogan, and…should they decide to revisit it…Rosemary once again.  There are nice options for a few feuds you can have for Taya…she’s got a few challengers.  Same for Johnny…though, right now, he’s set for a showdown with Cage at REBELLION.  And what’s his deal with Killer Kross?  Where is THAT story going?

Eli Drake and Eddie Edwards, as unconventional as they are, make a pretty damn good tag team.  Once again, Kenny plays a big part in their victories, but it’s getting in the job done.  And, they could be moving up the tag team ranks.

Trey Miguel continues to impress me with his in-ring work.  Moose was a big challenge, but he performed well even in a loss.  I still see him slotted into getting and X-Division title shot somewhere down the road.

Disco Inferno once again showing that he’s nothing more than a comedy act.  But he plays it well.  Look forward to his match with The Smokeshow very soon.

The OVE/Rich Swann feud just got A LOT bigger now with this Madman Fulton guy with OVE.  Not sure how Rich and Willie Mack will be able to survive the feud with this guy.  He looks unbeatable. 

Everyone pretty much on board with the fact that Gail Kim is coming OUT of retirement to wrestle Tessa Blanchard to blow off this little feud?  Everyone expecting it to happen at REBELLION?  I do.  Don’t you?  I don’t see Gail apologizing for crap.  If the Queen of the Knockouts is going down…it’s SURE as hell NOT without a fight.  I wanna see that match.

Rosemary is not happy that she didn’t get The Bunny back.  James Mitchell does his best to manipulate the Demon Assassin, but this is a woman with no fear, was IN the Undead Realm, and will do so again to get Allie’s soul back.  They need to wrap this up quickly.  As everyone knows by now, Allie’s contract was NOT renewed by IMPACT, and she has just signed with AEW.  So, Allie’s going away once this story is finished.  It’s sad to know that this story COULD have had a bit more legs on it, but with Allie leaving, it’s best to tie up the loose end, and give everyone a finish that will make sense, and not drop it totally.  Allie’s farewell is coming.  It’s a shame, really….she’s been one of the backbones of the Knockouts Division for the last few years, and I think it’s a mistake for IMPACT to let her go.  But now she’ll get a chance to shine on a bigger stage, with a company that’s going to have a solid TV contract, and more eyes on HER.  That’s only a feather in HER cap.  But she’ll be VERY missed on the Knockouts roster.

One last thing before we wrap up for this week---the Lucha Bros and LAX in a backstage brawl.  Well, I think it’s safe to say that the bad blood brewing for the last month plus has now spilled over.  So much for Konnan wanting things to stay “competitive, but civil” when it comes to family fighting family.  Once again, he has seen family ripped apart for the sake of competition, to prove who’s the best.  If we’re getting at least one more match out of these two teams…it’s time to up the stakes.  A ladder match, steel cage, falls count anywhere, something.  We’ve seen what they both can do in a typical tag match, but with the bad blood overflowing, this needs to have a special stipulation involved.  And it needs to be the blowoff to this feud, so that some of the other tag teams in the division can have a chance at the straps. 

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Until next week…