Andrew’s Impact Wrestling Results & Match Ratings: 2.2.2021

With No Surrender only 11 days away, we find ourselves fleshing out that card and getting bigger angles simmering. Rich making an executive decision to give Tommy Dreamer a title shot, since Moose wants to dictate when he’s ready, adds an interesting level of spite and jealousy to the main event scene.

How does everyone coexist in the main event? Will Private Party shock the Good Brothers? Will Tony Khan ever learn how to act?

Find out next time…erhm..tonight! On IMPACT!

.@MachineGunKA and @The_BigLG want to be 100% ready for tomorrow night's huge @AEW main event but @JamesStormBrand and @SuperChrisSabin aren't going anywhere. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/oVneSiiyyy

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) February 3, 2021

Ratings:

• Tasha Steelz w/Kiera Hogan vs Havok w/ Nevaeh:  Havok wins via Tombstone Piledriver – ** ½
• Madman Fulton w/Ace Austin vs Josh Alexander: Josh wins via Jay Driller – ***
• Crazzy Steve w/Rosemary vs Larry D w/Acey Romero: Larry wins via Best Hand in the House – ** ¼
• Susan w/Deonna & Kimber vs Jordynne Grace w/Jazz: Jordynne wins via Grace Driver – ** ½
• TJP vs Rohit Raju: Rohit wins via Tiger Knee – ***
• Moose & Chris Bey vs Rich Swann & Tommy Dreamer: Moose wins via Lights Out – *** 1/4

Results:

Tasha Steelz w/Kiera Hogan vs Havok w/ Nevaeh

Tasha comes out of the gates fast, attacking the legs of Havok and doing a damn good job. Nice Chop Blocks, kicks to the knee, attempted leg submissions and just really great aggression. Eventually, Tasha bites off more than she can chew and eats a Big Boot from Havok, as the match starts to fall away from the champions.

Havok does a great Spin Out Slam and Kiera sees the dire situation; so she picks the ankle of Havok from the outside. Havok grabs Kiera, Tasha tries to take advantage of the distraction, but Nevaeh returns the favor and trips up Tasha. So Havok grabs a dazed Tasha, Tombstone Piledriver and the match is over.

.@ShamrockKen has been SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY after last week's rampage! #IMPACTonAXSTV @ScottDAmore @TheSamiCallihan pic.twitter.com/ZGmCwu9pEK

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) February 3, 2021

Madman Fulton w/Ace Austin vs Josh Alexander

Fulton does a few interesting power spots early, including pulling up on Alexander’s arms from the turnbuckle positon; so he was choking Alexander with the metal turnbuckle joints. Alexander does make a nice comeback off a gorgeous Missile Dropkick, Right Cross, German Suplex and Fulton No Sells.

Alexander wrestles him down to roll into the Ankle Lock, but Fulton turns it around. Simple but great wrestling from Alexander, as he goes full Misawa and finds an opening to connect with a Rolling Elbow (or make a Chris Hero reference if you’d like) and then hooks for the Jay Driller/Tiger Driver ’98.

Josh gets what has to be considered an upset win, super clean, and super nice.

Brian Myers heads to the ring for a talking segment donning an eye patch. Paul Burchill confirmed? Oh no, Myers is talking about how Eddie Edwards is a backyard garbage wrestler…and says he would love to have a 1 on 1 at No Surrender. But it looks like he has a Doctor’s Note. Nice, so his Mom must’ve said that his wittle throat hurt so he has to miss some school.

Swerve comes in that Myers paid Hernandez to light up Edwards and fight him at No Surrender in his stead. Cardona makes the save for Eddie. Thus continues the Hawkins and Ryder build.

Could a @TheMattCardona and @TheEddieEdwards vs. @SuperMexCTM and @Myers_Wrestling match be coming our way? #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/G0T6Yz7u1W

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) February 3, 2021

Crazzy Steve w/Rosemary vs Larry D w/Acey Romero

Steve used his speed and athleticism for a quick advantage, but a small trip by Acey swung the whole match. This lead to a lot Larry leaning on Steve to suffocate him. He used his power and weight to keep Steve down, but Steve literally kept biting to try and get back into the fight.

Bite after bite, after…poorly thought Plancha to the outside when Acey just catches him and puts him down to convince the referee he had no malicious intent. As Steve goes to the ropes, Larry catches him with the Best Hand in the House, and knocks Steve out cold.

Larry wins, but Rosemary slides in to check on Steve and scares off Larry and Acey. Larry seems more confused but Acey is shaken to his core.

XXXL have an interview with Gia Miller and Tenille shows up basically to say she’ll hit a woman for them. So she can deal with the Rosemary issue. XXXL then says they’re going to talk to management about a mixed 6 man tag, XXXL and Tenille vs Steve, Rosemary…and I’m guessing we see the return of Abyss (unlikely I know since he just produced a match at Rumble). Should be interesting if it’s the obvious addition or maybe an AEW crossover like Darby Allin?

Susan w/Deonna & Kimber vs Jordynne Grace w/Jazz

Susan tries to buy time with giving her glasses to Deonna, then trying to buy time to take off her jacket, Naito style. But Grace doesn’t wait and starts throwing our favorite possessed Karen around the ring.

A lot going in this match, Kimber and Deonna interfere constantly, as Susan continues to be awkward in the ring but perfect for her gimmick. The match just gets crazy. Deonna and Kimber fighting Jazz on the outside, cuts back in to seeing Susan trying to take advantage but Jordynne just being too much.

Jordynne hits the Grace Driver, ruins Susan’s undefeated streak but the heels go full beatdown mode. So we get an ODB return (spoiled on her Chris Van Vilet interview), but it’s still cool to see. Jazz versus Deonna could be cool.

.@MATTHARDYBRAND and Private Party are looking to win both the @AEW and IMPACT World Tag Team Titles.

(and make a ton of money in the process) #IMPACTonAXSTV @IsiahKassidy @Marq_Quen pic.twitter.com/dUjMtVXE66

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) February 3, 2021

TJP vs Rohit Raju

It’s a quick paced match to kick things off. TJP does a weird little inverted Gedo Clutch, then he does the Spiderman in the ropes but Rohit just Dropkicks him into the commercial break.

We come back to Rohit working over the arms and upper body of TJP, not really allowing an opening. TJP is forced to create with a few clever kicks and Frankensteiner variations. TJP goes for the Mamba Splash early, but when Rohit moves, he turns it into more of a Swanton, to roll through. Rohit smothers him with Face Washes, quick strikes and a cannonball.

TJP counters the Dragon Stomp, and then Rohit counters the Detonation Kick, so TJP rolls out and goes under the ring. Rohit takes the referee to the other side, playing into the usual underneat the ring shenanigans, but then we see TJP come out, with Shera attached! Shera Chokeslams TJ onto the apron, throws him in, Rohit hits the Tiger Knee, and it seems like we’re getting a title match between the two!

Violent By Design have offered @JakeSomething_ a choice – join them or suffer. #IMPACTonAXSTV @TheEricYoung @CodyDeaner @bigjoedoering pic.twitter.com/s7izUohgLW

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) February 3, 2021

Moose & Chris Bey vs Rich Swann & Tommy Dreamer

There was fairly solid chemistry with Dreamer and Swann. Even though they started being a little contentious with Rich implying since Tommy is old her could do most of the heavy lifting. Bey and Swann had a fantastic exchange of counters, flippy cool spots, handstand back kicks and just a very fun athletic back and forth; where after Rich came out ahead he just stared down Moose a bit in the “Top That” kind of vibe.

We get a lot of nice back and forth, this was just a really solid tag team match. Dreamer hits a few moves we haven’t seen him do in a while, there’s a lot of stare downs and sizing up as people mimic moves to just show someone up. A blind tag from Moose, saves the team when Bey gets the Art of Finesse countered. Dreamer tags in Swann, Moose pushes Dreamer into the ropes than sets up the Lights Out. Moose aims for Dreamer, but he Ole’s the Spear, and Swann gets cut in half. Bey holds off Dreamer and Moose picks up the win for his team after the visible pin over the champion.

Moose then proceeds to kill Dreamer and he stands tall with both belts, while Bey does a great job at looking supportive since he doesn’t want to be on Moose’s bad side just yet.

Overall Score: 8/10

This was a great episode. We got a decent number of matches, that all played into stories very well. Even if the ring work wasn’t 15+ minute New Japan classics, the pro wrestling elements made everything matter, make sense, and end up being quite enjoyable.

Tasha and Kiera being underdog heels is perfect for them, Eddie and Cardona trying to make a tag match happen is nice, Tenille always inserting herself wherever it seems most beneficial is great to keep her character visible even outside of the title picture and Moose is money. Plus with the adjustment in Rohit’s persona since last we had a Desi Hit Squad, Shera returning adds balance to his weasely personality instead of being the only savior in a joke group.

Josh Alexander getting a clean win over a monster like Fulton is pretty cool too. He could be a big deal since many of the hardcore fans do appreciate a change of pace, good amateur wrestler toward the top. So with the AEW crossover having more of the hardcores pay attention, that could be a great boon for Impact.

Lastly, since I don’t watch much AEW, Big Money Matt is a fairly new gimmick to me, and he’s actually pretty great. It’s that right balance of satire and sleazeball that makes it fun. Also the constant use of the word bounty throwing up red flags does pop me a bit (here’s looking at you Saints). Anyway! Great show, fun all around, hopefully they continue the momentum when we get the Go Home for No Surrender next week!