Andrew’s Impact Wrestling Results & Match Ratings: 3.30.2021

Aside from getting some of the final build for Hardcore Justice, tonight’s IMPACT contains James Storm’s 1000th match! Will Violent By Design ruin the milestone?

We do have some other things simmering during this episode, but the big draw is the James Storm’s big milestone! Two TNA Originals square off for the 25th time!

Let’s just get to the show!

.@TheEricYoung and @JamesStormBrand have faced 1-on-1 24 times in IMPACT – Young won 14, Storm won 9, 1 no contest.

Young plans to teach Storm another lesson in our main event. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/xAJNy16Ls1

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021

Ratings:

• Fire n Flava vs Nevaeh & Havok: Tasha wins via Frog Splash – * ½
• Sami Callihan vs Larry D w/Acey Romero: Sami wins via Rope Hung Spike Piledriver – ** ¼
• Brian Myers vs Suicide: Myers wins via Roster Cut – *
• TJP & Josh Alexander vs Ace Austin & Madman Fulton: Ace wins via High Stack Cradle – ***
• Eric Young w/Rhino, Joe Doering & Deaner vs James Storm w/Chris Harris, Jake Something & Chris Sabin: Storm wins via Last Call Superkick – ***

Results:

Fire n Flava vs Nevaeh & Havok

Well…this happened I suppose. Havok did a good bit of the work, dominating Kiera early with the size and power advantage. It took a little bit of double team work to chop down Havok, but Nevaeh changed the pace when she got in and was trying to prove herself.

The match was a little clunky but had some alright moments. Generally forgettable until after the match when Havok ate the pin, and Nevaeh finally snaps. She takes out Havok, says she thought she was the weak link, but it turned out to be Havok all along.

The moment we've been waiting 15 years for – America's Most Wanted reunites! #IMPACTonAXSTV @JamesStormBrand @AMWwildcat @SuperChrisSabin @JakeSomething_ pic.twitter.com/e70B9UqVly

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021

It’s nice to see Chris Harris back. Given his whole exit from wrestling after the move to WWE and gaining a ton of weight and a fall from grace; it’s just nice for the America’s Most Wanted reunion.

Sami Callihan vs Larry D w/Acey Romero

Sami starts off hot, hits Larry with a Pump Kick and goes to the outside showing no fear of Acey. Larry does catch Sami a few times, especially during a rope run with a gorgeous Rolling Lariat. Sami was slowly eating a few attacks until he finally hits a Death Valley Driver to start swinging the momentum back. Sami took things to the apron, rocked Larry after a small back and forth, hung him in the ropes and pulls out a variation on the Piledriver.

Acey attacks Sami after the match, small beatdown, and no save is made. Sami takes the beating and just laughs, almost like he was testing Trey Miguel after he made the save for him last week.

.@TheSamiCallihan wants to be @TheTreyMiguel's mentor. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/6TKNgaqmjY

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021

Brian Myers vs Suicide

Oh, was this supposed to be a believable enhancement match? Myers tried to just shrug off the challenge, Suicide got in some early offense, but the match never really flowed. Myers didn’t want to be there, didn’t want to work with Suicide, so the story was fine enough…and then Myers murders Suicide with the Roster Cut.

Myers grabs a mic and declines Cardona’s challenge.

.@Phenom_Jazz is going to put her career on the line against @DeonnaPurrazzo at #HardcoreJustice with the Knockouts Title on the line. #IMPACTonAXSTV @THETOMMYDREAMER pic.twitter.com/vBaLeEad05

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021

Ahh Ultimate Jeopardy turns into a Title vs Career match. That definitely adds a level of interest to Hardcore Justice. Jazz has put in some solid work so far in Impact, and Deonna really is as fantastic as the claims her character makes. So this could steal the show.

TJP & Josh Alexander vs Ace Austin & Madman Fulton

We got to see the quintessential “frenemies that don’t get along” style of match. When they worked together, TJP and Josh had some great spots, mostly being chopping down Fulton and negating his size advantage.

However, after working together, there was a malfunction. Either they’d yell at each other, force a tag out, get in one another’s way, and generally speaking it’s really solid to possibly push a Triple Threat for the X Division championship at Rebellion.

Ace grabbed the win, after TJP blind tags himself in to hit Mamba Splash after Josh hit a Rolling Senton, but Josh didn’t realize TJP tagged in; so they spent a few seconds pushing each other off the cover and arguing. Good ole Cradle during an argument, it was well done.

It was CHAOS backstage as @GottaGetSwann and @KennyOmegamanX came to blows before backup arrived after @TheDonCallis continued to play mind games. #IMPACTonAXSTV @TheEddieEdwards @Willie_Mack @The_BigLG @MachineGunKA pic.twitter.com/uXdmFhz4J0

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021

Eric Young w/Rhino, Joe Doering & Deaner vs James Storm w/Chris Harris, Jake Something & Chris Sabin

We see a few nice elements to the early portion of this match. EY pulled off his old Flair bump homage, where he takes the bump over the corner to the rope, stops halfway, hits a Forearm Shiver and slingshots through the legs for a Sunset. This played into a few elements where we saw EY break out his Macho Man style Elbow Drop and James Storm even pulled out an old Eye of the Storm.

On top of a few throwback spots, there were plenty of nice staredowns and brawl moments between the two factions. Hell, Chris Harris ended up playing enough of a role in the match to help James Storm get the eventual feel good win. Feel good since it’s his 1000th match and he had a nice reasoning behind dedicating it to Bob Ryder.

For anyone curious, this makes James Storm’s win/loss record in Impact: 595 wins 385 losses 20 Draws

Overall Score: 6.25/10

There was a lot of good set up for Hardcore Justice in this episode, but the early matches were really the awkward spots that bring down most of the overall quality. Nevaeh’s heel turn is also interesting since I could play a part in the Hardcore Justice Women’s Weapon Scramble. Jazz went from retiring, to coming to Impact with a decent amount of success and now putting her career on the line. The Susan facade seems to be cracking a bit the last few weeks, so you have to wonder if Susan/Su might cost Deonna her title.

Sami Callihan is seemingly trying to mentor Trey genuinely, which the way he’s going about it is a good pivot to make him a babyface…sorta. TJP/Josh Alexander/Ace is a nice dynamic that can definitely get us through about a month with great matches since all three are pretty fantastic. And lastly, Team Impact vs Team Bullet Club is interesting, because honestly, I love Callis’ promos when he’s by himself. He really shows off how good he is at the old school heel aspect of making the babyface look great before screwing them or verbally running them down. Omega however, hinders things whenever he tries to talk. I guess it’s fair to assume that Team Impact will pin one of the Good Brothers to give Rich some momentum and to continue to widen the fissure between Omega and the brothers.

All in all, decent show with a slow start, but a strong finish.