Andrew’s IMPACT Results & Match Ratings: 11.18.2021

Turning Point is this Saturday! Minoru Suzuki vs Josh Alexander is tonight! Could be something special. Check it out!

The only real selling point to tonight is a possible brutal wrestling classic between Minoru Suzuki and Josh Alexander. I expect anyone that watches tonight will be mostly watching for the main event, and that’s perfectly acceptable.

Here’s to hoping the rest of the show is at least tolerable!

.@DeonnaPurrazzo spoke to @MeanGiaMiller for the first time since losing the Knockouts World Championship at #BoundForGlory in a tense interview. #IMPACTonAXSTV @DramaKingMatt pic.twitter.com/kcW2dTI2tK

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) November 19, 2021

Ratings:

• Steve Maclin vs Laredo Kid: Maclin wins via Mayhem for All – ** ½
• The IInspiration vs The Undead Bridesmaids: IInspiration wins via Powerbomb/Neckbreaker Combo – N/A
• Hikuleo w/Chris Bey & ELP vs Doc Gallows w/Karl Anerson: Gallows wins via Double ChokeBomb – ***
• Johnny Swinger, Hernandez & Fallah Bahh vs The Kiss Demon, Black Taurus & Crazzy Steve: Demon wins via Submission – It Was Fun
• Minoru Suzuki vs Josh Alexander: Alexander wins via C4 Spike – *** ½

Results:

Steve Maclin vs Laredo Kid

Maclin starts with the heavy handed strikes and a few precision dives that look more impactful than the average Cruiserweight. Laredo tries to stay quick, but Maclin catches him. It’s not until Maclin misfires on his Crosshairs corner Spear that Laredo finally starts putting things together. Laredo strings a few moves together until he misses a Moonsault and Maclin connects with a Karl Anderson-esque Shogun Kick.

They start going for some rope run spots and Laredo gets some momentum but a Handspring Cartwheel DDT doesn’t really transition well, and Maclin responds with a big Lariat to lay both out for a second. Poison Rana by Laredo for a near fall. Laredo goes to the Top Turnbuckle, Maclin cuts him off, holds onto the Psycho Driver set up and Mayhem for All gives Maclin the win and the entrance into the X Division championship match at Turning Point.

.@SuperChrisSabin demanded an answer from @The_Ace_Austin about his #TurningPoint challenge. #IMPACTonAXSTV @FultonWorld pic.twitter.com/eTryfSpy5U

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) November 19, 2021

The IInspiration vs The Undead Bridesmaids

Oh was there a match we were supposed to discuss? The Undead ones scared the IInspiration a little, there were a few comedy spots, but the Bridesmaids are jobbers…we all know this. It was slightly entertaining but I also zoned out for some of it.

Decay comes down to the ring after, surround The IInspiration and the Aussie duo are in the middle of the ring cowering. No strikes are thrown, but IInspiration shows really good fear and gets the Decay presence over really well. It works for what they were going for.

ImpactPlus Flashback Moment Victory Road 2020, Reno Scum vs Heath & Rhino

Chelsea gets a recap of becoming Number 1 contender for the Digital Media Championship and Matt Cardona is there basically saying he’s got next, but Massive Cassidy seems to not like that. So we might be seeing Cardona vs Cassidy at Turning Point.

.@TheMooseNation narrowly avoids DISASTER from the top of a ladder at the hands of @TheEddieEdwards! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/kG8IDu0yoa

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) November 19, 2021

After the brawl, Scott finds Moose in the back, says you want to never leave well enough alone, the championship will be Full Metal Mayhem at Turning Point.

Hikuleo w/Chris Bey & ELP vs Doc Gallows w/Karl Anerson

We see Gallows start quick and power trades aplenty. Quick dueling lariats, and right when Hikuleo starts getting the worse of the exchange ELP and Bey hop up on the ring and Hikuleo hits a Low Blow. It’s only good for a near fall, but then he starts toying with Gallows and Gallows fires up a little.

Hikuleo gets the best of Gallows in the corner, Chris Bey gets in a cheap shot and Bullet Club seems to be in pretty solid control right now. Also it’s weird to see Gallows playing the underneath babyface role. Two Big Boots from Gallows rock Leo, then a Pump Kick followed by a Superkick leads Gallows to finally having the advantage in the match. A few near falls and some flashy offense make Gallows look pretty in control.

Hikuleo blocks the Double ChokeBomb, Gallows hits the ropes, Power Slam from Leo for a near fall. Gallows rakes Leo’s eyes, hits the Double ChokeBomb, and gets the win. Decent big man match.

Johnny Swinger, Hernandez & Fallah Bahh vs The Kiss Demon, Black Taurus & Crazzy Steve

Swinger and Taurus start off, and Swinger gets a red bandana from Hernandez, so we get a little Toreador action before Taurus stops messing around. Taurus and Steve use some tandem offense before Hernandez can get in. Hernandez manhandles Steve, Bahh comes in and messes around before Swinger gets back in and Steve mounts a comeback.

Steve tags in The Demon, so now we get Demon versus Swinger. Demon submits Swinger with some half-assed looking Sleeper or something. It works for Swinger being a goof, but it was a bad spot. If the entire match wasn’t just gimmicky comedy, that would’ve been extremely bad.

Minoru Suzuki vs Josh Alexander

We see a few quick transitions from both men. Suzuki takes Josh down, goes for a Rear Naked Choke, but Josh gets out of it, grabs the Ankle, but Suzuki rolls out. Suzuki does stumble a little on his way up giving a small nod to the effectiveness of the Ankle Lock.

Josh has the momentum early and Suzuki is on the back foot. Alexander hits his Diving Low Crossbody through the ropes and Suzuki turns to the Suzuki-Gun style. He uses the guardrail, a chair, beats up a stage hand and now he’s working Alexander over on the ramp. Suzuki charges and hits a Yakuza Kick that sends Josh flying down the ramp.

Suzuki bounces Josh’s head off the apron, then takes him back into the ring. Suzuki goes for a few corner attacks, but Josh manages to catch Suzuki a few times until Suzuki adjusts his attack and gets the best of things. After a PK, Suzuki goads Josh, fires him up and we get the trading chops spot that is famous in Puroresu. They move to forearm exchanges and Josh keeps getting the worst of it.

Josh tries to fire out of things, Suzuki runs the ropes with him, takes the back and locks in the Sleeper Hold. Josh tries to fight it but Suzuki has most of it, until he transitions to the Gotch Style Piledriver, but Josh fights through that. Josh gets a couple moments of offense, only a near fall, Ankle Lock attempt but Suzuki gets out of it and they go for more mat wrestling where Suzuki tries for the Rear Naked but Josh counters again.

Both roll through countering C4 Spikes and Sleepers, finally Josh counters, hits a stiff Forearm, and then the C4 Spike puts away Suzuki.

Wrestle House 2 – NEXT WEEK! #IMPACTonAXSTV @WeAreRosemary @JohnEBravo1st @MadisonRayne @swinger_johnny @kalebKonley @SuperMexCTM @steveofcrazzy @FearHavok pic.twitter.com/2zZnvK6h8S

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) November 19, 2021

Overall Score: 5.75/10

Not gonna lie, a rather pedestrian episode for a Go Home to Turning Point. I gave the show an extra quarter of a point purely for the return of Wrestle House. I know some people thought it was dumb, but it was just the right amount of campy cornball carny dumb crap that I can get behind.

As for the rest of the show, matches just felt really short and kinda boring. I realize that Maclin vs Laredo needed to leave meat on the bone for Turning Point, but that moved through the spots so quickly and ended just as abruptly that calling it average was generous. Hell, even the main event was underwhelming. Yes I’m more accustomed to the amazing matches Suzuki has had, so the fact this was…alright, just struck me as a little lackluster. Plus having a squash and comedy match on the same show card is a little too redundant in the category of  Stuff that doesn’t really matter – so maybe spread out the worthless stuff a little more than the final show before a bigger event.

Still it wasn’t terrible, the storyline movement was fun at times and The IInspiration may not inspire anyone with their wrestling, but their acting and comedy is good stuff.