Andrew’s Impact Wrestling Ratings & Analysis: 12/10/2019

We crown a number one contender for the tag titles tonight on IMPACT! Let’s see what else goes down!

Aside from the tag team match, we saw last week that Tessa and Sami have both handpicked someone for the other to face.

Sami picked Fulton, because well…wouldn’t you? He’s a 6’8″ psychopath. Most people don’t stand a chance against him.

Tessa picked Ken Shamrock. World’s Most Dangerous Man, even though he’s 55, is still shredded and looks like a beast.

Now let’s get ready for the show by listening to what Sami has to say:

"I'm either going to knock Ken out or I'm going to break his ankle because that's I do. I hurt people." @TheSamiCallihan is prepared for @ShamrockKen tonight. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/wEDtCGjcsE

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 11, 2019

Ratings:

• Old School Rules: RVD vs Rhino w/Special Referee Tommy Dreamer: RVD wins via 5 Star Frog Splash – ** 3/4
• Moose vs Acey Romero: Moose wins via Spear – ***
• Raj Singh w/Rohit Raju & Gama Singh vs Fallah Bahh: Fallah wins via BAHHnzai Drop – * 1/2
• Tag Team Open: Dave & Jake Crist vs Reno Scum vs Dez & Wentz vs Willie Mack & Rich Swann: Swann via Victory Roll – *** 1/4
• Tessa Blanchard vs Madman Fulton: Tessa wins via DQ – N/A
• Sami Callihan vs Ken Shamrock: Calliahn wins via Ankle Lock – **

Analysis:

Old School Rules: RVD vs Rhino w/Special Referee Tommy Dreamer – Old school rules is just another way to harken back to ECW, and this…paled in comparison to a lot of ECW throwback matches. They played a few of the hits with Katie Forbes acting as curby eye candy and even a distraction for Tommy Dreamer towards the end of the match. The Gores looked a little weak and the steps were slow. It was okay, but cements the concept of they need to stop doing these.

Moose vs Acey Romero – This was a hell of a heavyweight slugfest. Acey held his own very well, and it wasn’t until Moose drove him into the post on the outside, that Moose took some momentum away. Big Go to Hell off the top rope gave Moose a nearfall, but Acey responded with a Pounce that sent Moose flying. Moose got busted open, and Acey was about to squash him in the corner, Moose moves and hits the Spear for a pinfall. Very close match, and being Acey’s first singles match on IMPACT! he looked like a force to be reckoned with.

Is there only so long Father James Mitchell can keep @realsuyung away from her past…and @WeAreRosemary? #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/n2Vz7EqTcr

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 11, 2019

Raj Singh w/Rohit Raju & Gama Singh vs Fallah Bahh –  Raj and Rohit keep trying to prove themselves to Gama, and after picking on Fallah, they look to make an example of him. Sufficed to say, Raj isn’t a real challenge for Fallah. Raj does show some decent power Suplexing Fallah, but no one had faith in him winning. The finish did show the return of TJP, so there’s a good angle for him to come back. Match was nothing special, but Fallah is a lovable babyface, so it’s always nice when he gets a little bit of momentum.

Right before the commercial we get Joey Ryan being summoned to Wrestler’s Court

Dee Lorian "D'Lo" Brown has been called to testify. #IMPACTonAXSTV @dlobrown75 pic.twitter.com/mngKye3kVN

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 11, 2019

"They say I couldn't hack it back in their day. I go back and watch those old tapes and all I see are guys in bad gear, taking themselves way too seriously and throwing really, really goofy looking punches." @JoeyRyanOnline mounted a stirring defense in Wrestler's Court. pic.twitter.com/c2CcEc9Yax

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 11, 2019

Tag Team Open: Dave & Jake Crist vs Reno Scum vs Dez & Wentz vs Willie Mack & Rich Swann – All eight competitors are legal at all times, so Tornado rules allow for some crazy happenings. After a few quick dives to the outside, Mack and Swann start to get a little bit of an advantage, but after a Corkscrew Plancha, Willie’s knee gives out and he needs to be taken to the back. Most of the doctor forcing Willie to the back was during the commercial break, so by the time we return, we return to action. Each team had great moments and showed why they are competent tag teams. Luster Crucifix Bombed Rich into Dave Crist while he was hanging in a Tree of Woe, The Rascalz hit Hot Fire Flame, but Jake Crist broke up the pin. It looked like the Crists were going for All Seeing Eye, but Rich rolled Dave into a Victory Roll while Jake missed off the top rope, and picked up the pinfall. So now we wait and see if Willie will be healthy enough to go, or if there will be drama.

Taya interview in the back, discussing her now Triple Threat at Hard to Kill.

ImpactPlus Flashback Moment: ODB vs Brooke Tessmacher vs Gail Kim, Knockouts Championship. Bound for Glory, October 20,2013

Brian Cage interview that looks to be setting up for a possible RVD and Cage feud:

We all had that one roommate.#IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/cxJvcBUJJI

— AXS TV Wrestling (@AXSTVWrestling) December 11, 2019

Tessa Blanchard vs Madman Fulton – This is one of those matches that give fuel to the people who think this storyline is ridiculous. But much like how you’d book a small man against a monster, this gave Tessa a few hope spots using Fulton’s momentum and height against him…but the Crists come out for the DQ. So it was hard to believe Tessa could win straight up, but thankfully, oVe are heels that swarm for the fun of it. Ken Shamrock comes out to make the save, and sets up for the main event.

Sami Callihan vs Ken Shamrock – Early on Shamrock was showing his legitimate side when he shrugged off everything Sami tried. But in true Callihan form, he spat on Shamrock and kept antagonizing him, even though he wasn’t really accomplishing anything. Callihan did pull off a Death Valley Driver, but Shamrock kicked out and if it weren’t for Sami pulling the referee into the corner when Shamrock came in for the splash, Sami was outclassed. Madman Fulton came in while the ref was down, hit his End of Days, and Sami slapped on an Ankle Lock, so when the referee came back to consciousness, he saw Shamrock was out and in the Ankle Lock.

Afterwards Fulton continues to beat on Shamrock and tosses him from the ring to the outside. Sami has to beg Fulton to stop and push him backwards. Is Sami losing control of the monster? 

Overall Score: 5.5/10

I think I accept a little more sports entertainment in my wrestling than many other people, but this episode felt like it overdid it a bit. Wrestler’s Court was funny, from inside jokes, winks to former Impact characters and just a good mix of meta humour and easy to follow jokes. RVD just unabashedly being a prick is a nice way to keep him fresh and definitely a good way to make people boo a rather beloved wrestler.

Aside from those though, the rest of the show felt like it was still in first gear. Acey had a good IMPACT! debut, the tag match was entertaining and sets up for possible drama with Mack and Swann, but the payoff is still down the line. And the final two matches ending with shenanigans, just leaves a weird taste in the mouth, and it’s hard to really see past a middling last half hour.

Not a bad show, but very average. Since Impact has been on such an upswing this year, whenever even an average show happens, it tends to feel a little worse since expectations are set fairly high. They can’t all be winners, but at least this wasn’t an unmitigated disaster.