Andrew’s IMPACT Results & Match Ratings: 12.2.2021

Turkey hangovers and Wrestle House 2 is over! It’s a legit episode of IMPACT tonight!

So I’m glad last week was a goofy Wrestle House 2 holiday episode since the turkey coma made covering the show impossible.

Since this is legitimately the first episode after Turning Point we should get some heat on who Moose is supposed face at Hard to Kill and Mickie James vs Deonna Purrazzo. Aside from that I guess the X Division story with Trey and Steve Maclin should go somewhere…maybe.

Let’s find out!

Ratings:

• Matthew Rehwoldt vs Chris Sabin: Sabin wins via Cradle Shock – ** ¾
• Jonah vs Jai Vidal: Jonah wins via Splash – N/A
• Savannah Evans w/Tasha Steelz vs Rachael Ellering w/Jordynne Grace: Ellering wins via Death Valley Driver – * ¾
• Doering & Deaner w/Eric Young vs Willie Mack & Rich Swann: Swann wins via Phoenix Splash – ** ¼
• Massive Cassidy & Moose vs Eddie Edwards & Matt Cardona: Cardona wins via Cradle – *** ¼

Results:

Matt Cardona kicks off the show with a little bit of a Turning Point rant. Discussing that he would’ve had the title shot if Moose didn’t show up and help out W. Morrissey. Moose comes out, they have a verbal spar, Moose says if they have a match it will last as long as his Intercontinental Championship run. Cardona attacks, Morrissey comes out, they beat down Cardona until Eddie Edwards makes the babyface save.

"You're nothing but a mid-carder!"

IMPACT World Champion @TheMooseNation sounds off on @TheMattCardona, leading to a wild brawl to kick off #IMPACTonAXSTV!@TheCaZXL @TheEddieEdwards pic.twitter.com/Po1KHoCbrX

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 3, 2021

Matthew Rehwoldt vs Chris Sabin

Steady simple wrestling early on. Arm Drags from Sabin give him the advantage in keeping Rehwoldt off balance, but there’s never a significant blow until Rehwoldt lands a quick shot knocking Sabin off the apron. Rehwoldt is in control after the commercial. The lack of impactful moves continues where it’s quick strikes, a spinning elbow, and a Sleeper Hold.

Penalty Kick, Yakuza Kick, Cradle Shock attempt gets halted, a few rolling Cradle attempts from Sabin before a double collision gives us a rest moment. Both men trade uppercuts, Sole Buts and then Deonna gets up on Apron before Sabin can take advantage of things. Rehwoldt hits a Shotgun Kick, a Fireman’s Carry Slam, for a near fall and Mickie James comes out to even the odds. Sabin hits a Running Enzuigiri, Cradle Shock and Sabin wins!

Jonah vs Jai Vidal

Well this is a squash match for Jonah, and even though I don’t care about fka Bronson Reed, his theme song is pretty legit. A few high impact moves, Jai tries to get cute at some point but he just get bulldozed.

After the match, Jonah makes his target known, calling for Josh Alexander.

Savannah Evans w/Tasha Steelz vs Rachael Ellering w/Jordynne Grace

Savannah controlled most of the pace, Ellering fought from underneath most of the time. A few interesting exchanges but eventually this goes the way we expected. The seconds try to get involved/neutralize each other, slow and plodding at times but Ellering gets the win back.

I didn’t expect much and got less somehow.

Doering & Deaner w/Eric Young vs Willie Mack & Rich Swann

We get a fairly quick commercial but during most of the televised action, VBD is in control. Doering is just tossing Willie Mack around. Sidewalk Slam into a Headbutt from Deaner, Doering’s Scoop Slam into reverse slingshot elbow is just doing wonders.

When Doering tags out to Deaner, Mack manages to pop him up and catch him with a Forearm shiver. Deaner is rocked, doesn’t tag out and Swann comes in turning Deaner inside out. Swann clips Doering and then knocks him off the apron trying to beat everyone by himself. Doering gets back up, tries to stop Rich, posts himself, EY tries to get involved, only a momentary distraction. Deaner misses with the flag, Mack drops Deaner, Rich hits the Phoenix Splash and VBD loses.

VBD beats on Mack and Swann after, Rhino and Heath storm the ring and get a measure of revenge.

Larry D apparently came back during Wrestle House 2 and will be in action next week against Rohit. I do enjoy the Ring Rust cologne gimmick though.

Massive Cassidy & Moose vs Eddie Edwards & Matt Cardona

Cassidy and Cardona start off, Cardona and Eddie get cooking early. They try a tandem move on Cassidy, Cassidy breaks through and before he can Double Clothesline, they dip out of the ring, bait the big man to the outside and then they play a little bit of the okey doke. After the commercial we see that Cassidy caught Cardona with a Sidewalk Slam and now the towering heels are in firm control.

Moose gets in a few pot shots, Cassidy comes back in and Cardona rotates through the Powerbomb attempt, dives passed Cassidy and tags in Eddie. Eddie takes the hot tag, starts rocking everyone until he goes for a top rope move, Moose tries to knock him off, but Eddie fights back, though Cassidy catches him with the uppercut and sends Eddie crashing to the outside.

Eddie is basically a dead body, both big men just fling Eddie chest first into the turnbuckles and he looks dead. You have to expect a comeback soon, but Eddie is getting destroyed at the moment. Moose hits the Irish Whip, Eddie holds the ropes, Moose charges and gets dropped outside. Cassidy stops Eddie from making the tag, Eddie gets away and Moose picks Cardona off the apron just before Eddie can make the tag.

Isolation is killing Eddie, but he’s still fighting back. A desperation kick and chin breaker give Eddie some space to finally tag in Cardona. A bit of a signature spam, car crash cool spots and then we come down to Cardona and Moose. Cardona misses the Radio Silence, Moose goes for Lights Out, but Cardona cradle counters for two. Moose tries to the Uranage, and Cardona cradle counters again, this time for 3! Cardona has pinned the champ.

As Moose and Cassidy let the loss sink in, Cassidy turns and levels Moose with a big boot. The Alliance…is pretty much over I would say.

BREAKING: After #IMPACTonAXSTV went off the air, @ScottDAmore announced that @TheMooseNation will defend his IMPACT World Title against @TheMattCardona & @TheCaZXL at #HardToKill LIVE January 8th on pay-per-view! pic.twitter.com/3XkwaQRyKu

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 3, 2021

Overall Score: 6.25/10

Now the better portion of the show felt like a dragged a bit. The beginning and end made sense, some of the vignettes made it fun (like Australian Connection and Lawrence D) but it felt a little mediocre. So the bookends were solid, let’s just say it’s the meat between the bread that ended up being kinda bad. Like the discount store brand cold cuts because you didn’t want to spring for the Boar’s Head.

Either way, the main event scene looks great. Cardona has done a great job making his name relevant, IMPACT capitalizing a bit on it, Moose is a great champion and Massive Cassidy is finally looking like the main event big man Vince McMahon wanted years ago.

This could just be the setup, so next week will be the real way to dictate the direction of if I care.