IMPACT! WRESTLING - March 29, 2019

IMPACT! WRESTLING – March 29, 2019:  This week is being labeled “Against All Odds”, as we FINALLY see the ring debut of The Smokeshow herself, Scarlett Bordeaux, as she takes on Disco Inferno himself, Glenn Gilbertti.  Rosemary must enter the Undead Realm once more to try and rescue the soul of Allie, Killer Kross will look to finish off Brian Cage, Gail Kim’s future is in the hands of Tessa Blanchard, and Taya Valkyrie defends her Knockouts Championship against Jordynne Grace.

Back once again in Sin City for tonight’s installment of IMPACT Wrestling, with a full card dubbed “Against All Odds”.  We kick things off in HUGE fashion with The Lucha Brothers put up their Tag Team Titles against LAX in a street fight.  Konnan gets on the mic and isn’t mincing words before calling out Pentagon and Fenix.  They come out, and the brawl is on.  Officials send out security to break it up for some reason (WHY?!!  It’s a STREET FIGHT!).  Things look like they get under control, but the Luchas get sneaky and grab a bunch of chairs while LAX start tossing the security around.  The Luchas take LAX out with the chairs, and then bring out the tables.  The Luchas set up two tables on different turnbuckles, but it backfires as LAX crashes the Luchas through them.  LAX hold up the titles as they celebrate winning the fight, though the match didn’t officially start.

Mr. Disco Inferno himself, Glenn Gilbertti comes out to face off against The Smoke Show, Scarlett Bordeaux.  Disco takes it to Scarlett early, mocking her and tossing her around.  She gets some offense in, but he counters to drop the Village Elbow on her.  He only gets a two count on her.  She gets sent into the corner, and Disco goes to drill some fists into her head, but she nails him between the legs, and lands a powerbomb and a cover for the pin and the win.  Gilbertti runs off in embarrassment, while The Smoke Show is emotional in the win.

Backstage, Melissa interviews Taya Valkyrie and her husband Johnny Impact.  Melissa asks Taya about her Title Match tonight with Jordynne Grace, and she says Grace has little chance of becoming champion tonight.  Meanwhile, Johnny says he’s getting popcorn to watch Killer Kross destroy Brian Cage.  He hopes Cage suffers another concussion---so that it would spell the end of his career.

We see Gilbertti walking by Kiera Hogan and another knockout, and they’re laughing at him, calling him a loser…he yells out “show some respect!” as the laugh even more.

We return to see a promo for a new addition to the company named Josh Alexander.

We get a rehash of Gail Kim and Tessa Blanchard’s sordid story, as Gail has to come out tonight and apologize to Tessa Blanchard.  Backstage, Melissa catches up with Tessa, and tells her that Gail said she will do what she has to do.  Tessa spins her yarn about how she has Gail by the balls because her lawyers have set everything up.  She says Gail comes off like a legend, but she says legends come and go, but Diamonds are forever.  She then comes back and says, if Gail’s in the building, she’s heading to the ring to get her apology right now.

We get a full promo of the return of Madison Rayne.  The Queen Bee has made it known she isn’t done yet.  She makes her return next week.  We then cut to another promo where the Lucha Brothers are visibly upset, and Pentagon says if LAX wants the rematch after what happened tonight, they will get it.

Tessa Blanchard hits the ring, and says today is a great day, because today, she gets her justice from Gail Kim.  She calls Gail out to the ring, and Gail arrives.  Tessa mocks Gail, and Gail stands there and says nothing as Tessa expects her apology. Gail apologizes, and it’s not enough for Tessa.  Gail gives her full apology.  Now Tessa expects a bigger apology, which Gail does.  Tessa then expects Gail to resign, which Gail said earlier in the day, she did.  Tessa then mocks Gail’s career, and says that she’ll be happy that she’s NEVER going to have to see Gail again, and tells Gail to leave.  Gail goes to leave, but stops, turns around, and says that while she did retire, she did under ONE stipulation---she’s coming OUT of retirement, and kicking Tessa’s ass.  Gail then attacks Tessa, and mauls her on the inside of the ring and outside.  She tosses Tessa back into the ring, and goes after her, but Tessa rolls out of the ring in shock, but unhappy as the crowd cheers as Gail stands tall.

Back from the break, Josh and Don announce that the match between Gail Kim & Tessa Blanchard is official for REBELLION.  We then go to a promo package about the feud between Sami Callahan and Rich Swann.

We cut to the OVE introducing their new member, Mad Man Fulton. 

It’s time for the Knockouts Championship.  The match begins with a quick tie up, then both women trade some moves, as Jordynne gets the best of her with a tiny offensive flurry.  However, Taya gains the upper hand as Jordynne misses her in the corner.  Taya continues to put on the offense, as she plays to the crowd.  Taya tries to be a bit cavalier with Jordynne, but Grace reverses the maneuver, and hits a German Suplex.  Taya rolls out of the ring, Jordynne gives chase, but Taya catches her, and gives her a few chops on her back.  She rolls Jordynne back into the ring, and continues to beat her down.  Taya then drives a running knee maneuver into the corner, but only scores the two count.  Taya has dominated this match, and then proceeds to mock the crowd yet again.  Taya goes for another running movie into the corner, but Jordynne lifts up and rolls out of the way, tries to come off the ropes with a shoulder block, but is met with a spear by Taya as we head to break.

Back from the break, and Taya has still maintained control over Jordynne Grace, but as she takes her time on Jordynne, Jordynne lands a snap suplex.  Kicks Taya, and sends her to the opposite corner and lands a huge kick to the face.  Jordynne goes for another kick, but Taya avoids by rolling out of the way, but Grace lands a splash, but only gets a two count.  She tries for a musclebuster, but Taya fights her off.  Taya goes for a moonsault, but misses.  Grace goes for her finisher, but Taya fights out of it.  Taya stays on the outside of the ring, faking a rib injury as Johnny comes out to help her.  Taya has had enough as the ref counts Taya out.  Jordynne wins by DQ.  She’s not happy.  Just as the power couple heads up the ramp, Brian Cage comes out to the ring, startling them.  However, Killer Kross comes out and shoves Cage into the ring post.

We come back from break, and it's Main Event time already in progress, as Kross is laying the punishment down on Cage, taking advantage of the brutal attack at the end of the Grace/Valkyrie match.  Sending Cage into the turnbuckle, pounding on him, and then getting him down on the mat and working him over.  Kross is dominating this match.  Cage starts mounting a comeback.  As he’s ready to hit the F5, Taya and Johnny come out to interfere.  While Cage is distracted, Taya lowblows Cage again.  Johnny then tries to use a chair Taya threw in to destroy his arm, but Cage fights him off.  Then, Johnny gives him a knee.  Johnny then sets up Cage’s arm again in the chair, then nails him with another chair.  Johnny and Taya laugh in the ring as Cage is injured. The Power Couple asserts their control. 

Finally, it’s time for Rosemary to enter the Undead Realm to reclaim Allie’s soul.  Rosemary has a cleaver and Dark Allie chained up. Dark Allie and Rosemary enter the Undead Realm.  Unknown to the both of them, Kiera Hogan has followed them.  We see James Mitchell addressing the denizens of the Undead Realm.  They get into each others’ faces, and Rosemary brandishes her cleaver as she has to face these denizens of the Undead Realm.  As soon as the first one is down, she goes after the rest with the pipe wrench.  She gets knocked down, but grabs her cleaver, as the next poor soul comes at her with a katana blade.  She slices him, and then Su Yung and her bridesmaids appear.  Just then, Kiera tosses her the katana blade, and she goes and slices them up Kill Bill style.  The bridesmaids are done, and Su comes back into the ring, looking at Allie.  Su and Allie attack, and Allie tries to stab Rosemary, which Rosemary begs her, but can’t.  She pushes Allie off, and goes for Su Yung, only to have James tell her to stop, as James has Kiera hostage.  Just then, Kevin Sullivan arrives and tells her to that all she is a serpent, and that she knows how this will end.   Just as Su Yung goes after Rosemary with a clawed hand, Allie throws herself into the path and is impaled in the throat.  Allie’s soul is back, but Allie is gone.  Kiera and Rosemary watch Allie disappear for good.  The show ends.  Goodbye Allie.

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This was a pretty decent show with some decent matches on it, but more stories being told tonight.

What a way to kick it off, though, with an all-out brawl and street fight from the Luchas and LAX.  The family is falling apart as these brothers are now allowing ego and pride get the best of them.  The rivalry has now reached a boiling point, and I see the Heavy Metal Match they have planned for REBELLION to be epic.  These two teams bring out the best in each other.

Johnny’s upping the ante on wiping out Brian Cage.  Is it out of fear?  It seems that the faction of Johnny, Taya, and Kross are out to destroy him once and for all.  Cage was dominated most of the match by Kross after being attacked from behind by Kross.  I think it’s safe to say, Johnny is terrified a little of facing Cage, and wants to gain every advantage he has before REBELLION.  Also, the Power Couple also used a fake out, as Taya feigned a rib injury in her match against Jordynne Grace, as Grace was about to mount a comeback.  Taya and Jordynne are FAAAR from done.  My question is this:  where does Moose fit into all of this?  He seems like the odd man out right now.  How long before Kross and Johnny stab HIM in the back and leave him for dead? 

Gail Kim did what I KNEW she would do---come out of retirement and square off against Tessa Blanchard at REBELLION.  I didn’t expect her to apologize or resign…but hey---if she’s coming out for this match against one of the best wrestlers in the industry right now, sign my ass up!  This match is going to be gooooood!

Don’t know who Josh Alexander is, but he looks like a tough customer, and we’ll see what he does when he debuts.

OVE finally introduces us to their newest member, Mad Man Fulton.  Dude is a BEAST.  Will be interesting to see how Willie Mack and Rich Swann fare against this guy, now that he is the pure muscle of the team. 

Tonight, though…it was ALL about the women, and they did a DAMN FINE JOB!  Taya and Jordynne put on a great match…one that I know we’ll get MORE of as their feud heats up as Grace chases the Knockouts Championship.  Gail and Tessa…as I mentioned….I saw that match coming, and we’re gonna get it.  And yes, we finally got our dose of The Smoke Show…and it was worth the wait!  She held her own against Disco, and delivered a great powerbomb and cover to win her first IMPACT match!  She’s going to make the Knockouts Division THAT much better with the talent they have now.  And we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about the return of the Queen Bee herself – Madison Rayne.  Coming back home to take her place upon the Knockouts throne once again.  But she still has some scores to settle…and I believe Su Yung is top of the list. 

Finally…the Undead Saga has ended…at least for Allie.  The Bunny has departed the IMPACT plane, and is now gone for greener pastures.  The Demon Bunny will be missed on IMPACT, but we know that with the Multiverse…NOTHING is forever.  Now, will this mean that Kiera is now under the protective eye of The Shadow?  Will Rosemary seek revenge against James Mitchell, Su Yung, and….surprise!  KEVIN SULLIVAN?!  That was a nice face to pull out of the darkness---and NO ONE has dabbled in it more than him.  So, this makes this story a tad more interesting, should it continue.  But Allie’s journey has ended on IMPACT, and we wish the Bunny well…in whatever life she’s living in AEW.

That’s all for now, kids!  Please leave a comment, subscribe, and pass the good word along, willya?

Until next week…