Andrew’s IMPACT Results & Match Ratings: 3.10.2022

Sacrifice was a damn good card with a potential MOTY candidate in Jay White versus Alex Shelley. Josh Alexander also resurfaced with a title shot in hand for Rebellion. Those are definitely really easy hooks to bring people in for the following IMPACT.

As for the rest of tonight, I think there was an 8 woman tag with the new champions vs former champions. Chelsea Green was announced for the match, so I’m guessing her wrist isn’t broken, or at least not bad enough to be totally out of the action.

Aside from that, we can expect some Honor No More action and The Frontline. But who knows who or what. So let’s check it out!

.@DeonnaPurrazzo vs @GiseleShaw08 vs @RealLadyFrost next week on #IMPACTonAXSTV!#IMPACTWRESTLING pic.twitter.com/MvuT9Q2c6H

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 11, 2022

Ratings:

• Kenny King vs Willie Mack: Mack wins via 6 Star Frog Splash – ** ½
• X Division Triple Threat Qualifier: John Skyler vs Ace Austin w/Madman Fulton vs Crazzy Steve: Ace wins via Middle Rope Fold – ***
• The Influence w/Kaleb & Savannah Evans & Tasha Steelz vs Mickie James, Chelsea Green & The IInspiration: Mickie wins via Mick-DT – ** ¼
• Rich Swann vs Eddie Edwards: Eddie wins via Die Hard Driver – *** ¾

Results:

Josh opens the show with nothing groundbreaking but the fans are receptive and it’s nice to see the return of the Walking Weapon. Eventually Honor No More’s music hits and Eddie Edwards leads out the cronies. Just whining and bitching about people getting handed things and he’s acting like the spurned delusional lover. Taven takes the microphone and takes a jab about Eddie and Matt are former World Champions but their reigns never ended prematurely in front of their wives. Alexander chirps back in agreeance that they are different, because his title reign didn’t put the company out of business.

Things breakdown, they swarm Josh, Team IMPACT makes the save, D’Amore breaks up the brawl and calls a few impromptu matches, including Kenny King vs Willie Mack right now.

Kenny King vs Willie Mack

Kenny King does a great job at grounding and trying to slow down Willie Mack, which given the way they both look, you wouldn’t expect King to want the more deliberate speed. Mack manages to reverse the onslaught by raising his knee…in the correct spot at the right time. Yup that’s what I’m gonna call it.

After that we get a little more back and forth, King was trying to get the momentum back but Willie hit the Rolling Forearm, King bounces off the ropes, Mack follows, but King counters with a snapping Power Slam. King tries to finish things, but Mack puts the brakes on that, hits the Stunner and then a 6 Star Frog Splash for Mack’s victory. Kinda nice to see Willie get a decent win.

X Division Triple Threat Qualifier: John Skyler vs Ace Austin w/Madman Fulton vs Crazzy Steve

This was a solid match, but nothing surprising. Skyler held his own, Steve hit some of his unorthodox offense, even locked in an Upside Down for a few seconds, which we’ve all learned over the years that Ace likes to lie in wait. It took him a while to find his opening, Fulton didn’t really get involved, and instead we get a creative finish. Skyler blocks a Codebreaker from Steve, so Steve instead bites Skyler’s face. As he laughs over his insane offense, Ace launches off the middle Rope and hits Steve with the Fold as it also finishes the Codebreaker, so Skyler flies backwards and Ace gets the win.

Not a surprising victory but at least the finish was cool.

The Influence w/Kaleb & Savannah Evans & Tasha Steelz vs Mickie James, Chelsea Green & The IInspiration

So IMPACT is saying that Chelsea’s wrist is fractured, and she’s choosing rehab over surgery so she’s medically cleared with the cast on. Mickie makes sure that Chelsea doesn’t start the match even though she wants to, and the IInspiration start off, but Madison and Tenille are keeping Jessie and Cassie reeling.

Jessie hit the Jawbreaker to set up for IInspiring tandem attacks, so we see the babyfaces finally start getting some momentum – nope never mind, a leg pick from Savannah and the heels are in charge again. It takes a while, but Mickie gets the hot tag and takes it to Savannah, Tasha manages to get in and they really do a solid job at keeping Tasha looking competent. Chelsea never really gets in the match, she hits Tasha from the apron with the cast, and she takes out Kaleb when he tries to interfere, but Mickie manages to hit the Mick-DT to end the match and Chelsea didn’t have to do a ton.

"Little brother, You happen because of me!"@fakekinkade #IMPACTWRESTLING pic.twitter.com/VocSNCeyhn

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 11, 2022

Motor City Machine Guns are back for at least one night next week!

The Motor City Machine Guns are BACK! @fakekinkade @SuperChrisSabin #IMPACTWRESTLING pic.twitter.com/R9D9ItEPe4

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 11, 2022

Rich Swann vs Eddie Edwards

Swann flies at Eddie before his entrance is even done, and they trade a few blows on the outside. After the commercial, Eddie has the advantage and that is a big portion of this match. Rich is still fired up from earlier, so it’s safe to extrapolate the story was that Rich was a on too much of an emotional high and it burned him early.

Rich hits a desperation Head Scissors on the apron to send Eddie flying, but finally the fight starts feeling more even what feels like 7 minutes in. Rich starts landing really solid strikes and Eddie is on the backfoot. He tries a Blue Thunder Bomb but Rich stays resilient and turning a lot of offensive attempts into Crucifix Pins and Cradles. This looks more like the Rich we go used to during his title reign. It was only a year ago, but it feels like it’s taken him a while to gain his footing again.

As a way to punctuate his return he does the stalling Side Kick he was using a lot during his time at the top to set up the Phoenix Splash. He goes to the middle rope, but Eddie moves and Rich misses. Boston Knee Party connects for Eddie and its all – wait, he’s picking him up? Crossing the legs and uses the Die Hard Driver to get the pinfall. So a heel Eddie Edwards will be using the Die Hard Driver as the finish.

Overall Score: 7.25/10

Not a bad show, but boy did it start kind of slow. They’ve got a few weeks to ramp up for Rebellion, so I wasn’t expecting a ton…however the Motor City Machine Guns return is what we all wanted when we saw Shelley was on the Sacrifice card; and they gave it to us. This episode did do a good job at framing next week as an initial jumping off point for the stories.

Between the Triple Threat Champ/Champ challenge, MCMG vs Jay & Bey and I’m pretty sure Scott D’Amore gave Moose until next week to sign the contract or he’d be stripped. So a decent show with a really good main event that makes you want to watch next week. The show definitely did its job.