Andrew’s IMPACT Sacrifice Results & Match Ratings: 3.5.2022

Short turn around time, but we’ve got some fun matches with weight! Eddie Edwards and Rhino continues the IMPACT/Honor No More heat from No Surrender. Tasha Steelz and Mickie has been progressively more personal, so it’s gonna be hard to take Steelz seriously if she loses again; so what they do here should be interesting.

Jonah versus PCO will be a fun slugfest with probably a number of car crash moments, in a stupendously entertaining way. Tag match should go VBD’s way, for two reasons. Reason 1 being the G.o.D. is in Japan and 2 – I mean Jay White is the only untouchable one, everyone else will eat the Bullet Club falls for a while.

Given that, I fully expect the awesome special match of Jay White vs Alex Shelley to steal the show, but if Jay loses I will shit kittens.

So lets find out if I need to buy a litter box!

Ratings:

• X Division Championship: Jake Something vs Trey Miguel (c): Miguel wins via Meteora Drop – ***
• Eddie Edwards w/Honor No More vs Rhino w/Team Impact: Eddie wins via Boston Knee Party – ** ¼
• Knockouts Tag Team Championships: The IInspiration (c) vs The Influence: The Influence wins after Belt Shot – ** ½ – TITLE CHANGE!!
• Jonah vs PCO: Jonah wins via Tsunami – *** ¾
• Alex Shelley vs Jay White: Jay wins via Blade Runner – **** ¾
• Champ/Champ Challenge: Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs Chelsea Green: Deonna wins via Referee Stoppage – *** ¼
• Knockouts World Championship: Mickie James (c) vs Tasha Steelz: Steelz wins via Okurrr – ** ¾ – TITLE CHANGE!!!
• IMPACT Tag Team Championships: The Good Brothers (c) w/ Chris Bey vs Violent By Design (Eric Young & Joe Doering w/Deaner): VBD wins via Tandem Powerbomb/Neckbreaker – *** – TITLE CHANGE!!
• IMPACT World Championship: Moose (c) vs Heath: Moose wins via Lights Out – *** ¼

Results:

X Division Championship: Jake Something vs Trey Miguel (c)

Early on Trey tries a lot of useless acrobatic offense that thankfully Something just Lariats him into next week to star this offense. Trey retreats into ropes and starts doing more knock-off Ricochet kind of offense, but Jake catches him for a big Liger Bomb for a near fall.

The concept for the match stayed the same, but the match was pretty damn pedestrian. Even though he’s the champion, and disrespected Jake a bit the last few weeks, he still tried to be the “underdog” in the match. Jake hit a ton of power moves to put the brakes on Trey’s attempted quick attacks, but really it was not a compelling match. Usually Impact likes to start with X Division to kick things off with high energy…but I’m just happy this is out of the way.

Trey of course retained, because they feel like pushing a vanilla flippy guy with no personality.

Eddie Edwards w/Honor No More vs Rhino w/Team Impact

Eddie charges early and Rhino gets the best of the hot headed situation early. Eddie gets dropped out at the Team Impact side, and they don’t hit him they just throw him back in. Maria tries to hand Eddie the kendo stick, but the referee catches her and kicks her out. The rest of Honor No More basically play innocent and ONLY Maria gets kicked away from ring side, as she’s serenaded with the “Nah Nah Nah Nahs”.

At this point is when we start seeing Honor No More pick their battles better with trips and cheap shots, so Rhino is on the receiving end for a hot minute. We then get the crazy brawl between all the factions and after a lot of crazy spots, Maclin hits the ring. Blocks the Kendo Stick, Double Arm DDTs Eddie and starts hyping up Rhino for a Gore. As Rhino turns to head to a corner, Maclin cracks him with the stick and walks out screaming at Team Impact that they didn’t trust him and blamed him for all the events when it was Eddie all along. So it was just a big “Eff You” to both factions.

Eddie wins with the Boston Knee Party, but a pissed off Mercenary does definitely add a wrinkle to future angles.

The IInspiration has arrived at Sacrifice!@CassieLee @JessicaMcKay #IMPACTWRESTLING pic.twitter.com/ZTYi1u3YQA

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 6, 2022

Knockouts Tag Team Championships: The IInspiration (c) vs The Influence

The IInspiration come out looking like Britney Spears from her MTV performance with the snake. We all know what I’m talking about. Either way, this actually ends up being a solid match all things considered.

The Influence manage to wipe out The IInspiration on the outside and then isolate Billie-erhm- Jessie McKay. Solid tag team spots from the heels, Jessie manages to get some space when Cassie finally gets back into their corner and this looks like the beginning of the end. Cassie takes the hot tag, rocks Tenille, Spin Kick, and Tenille gets the brunt of it all. The IInspiration look for their finish, but Madison breaks it up, Tenille hits a Spotlight Kick, but Cassie kicks out.

Kaleb finally comes to the ring after being told not to, in the mayhem he grabs a belt, slides it in, Tenille grabs it, clocks Cassie and The Influence win! Kaleb looks surprised, so it’s evident he didn’t mean for Tenille to get it, but it kinda works at the moment. It’s also a solid way for the IInspiration to lose in a story driven way and not a match to make them look bad.

Backstage segment with Heath and Rhino turns into a cameo from Santino Marella trying to help instill confidence in the man with kids.

Jonah vs PCO

We got a monster battle that we were all expecting. Jonah tried his usual offense, but PCO refused to stay down and he fired back with big Rolling Forearms, Spinning Backfists and of course using his body as a weapon.

Great near falls, great car crash moments, we got the French Canadian Frankenstein rising from the dead a few times, an Avalanche French Canadian Frankensteiner, and even a PCO Sault. Jonah barely got out of all that offense, rolled outside, and Tombstone Piledrivers PCO on the steps, a Powerbomb from the steps to the floor and then a Tsunami on a prone PCO, gives Jonah the win. Damn great slobber knocker.

Alex Shelley vs Jay White

Student versus teacher, and I do love that ole Dinosaur Bone mentioned Search and Destroy, back during one of the last years I was actively invested in ROH. Shelley definitely applies the older brother messing around mentality early, even going as far to kiss him on the forehead after he floats through a submission.

Quick and explosive moments from both men. Great quick strikes, Blade Buster, kicks, Uppercuts, just you totally see their similarities and the differences in their personalities beautifully. Shelley stomps on Jay’s hand, Jay gauges the eyes. It’s the same concept just two totally different approaches which work for both men.

Chop exchange, Shelley goes for a Misawa-esque Rolling Elbow, Jay catches it into the Uranage and Shelley gets his foot on the rope for the break. Half Nelson Suplex attempt, but Shelley counters it into a Standing Sliced Bread for 2. Superkick rocks Jay, Shelley thinks about it and goes for a Blade Runner.Jay reverses, Crucifix Pin attempt from Shelley, Jay fights, Border City Stretch attempt but Jay fights. Jay manages to get Shelley into a Blade Runner position, but Shelley rolls through and locks in the Border City Stretch.

Jay gets to the ropes, manages to get out of the ring; Shelley goes flying, Jay catches him, Blade Runner into the apron and now Jay is in control. Jay breaks the count, throws Shelley in to beat him in the ring, Blade Run-NO! Shelley counters with his own Blade Runner for 2, and then transitions into the Border City Stretch again. Jay is almost at the ropes so Shelley tries to keep Jay away, but Jay hits the last ditch Blade Runner for the win!

WOW! A damn great match.

Champ/Champ Challenge: Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs Chelsea Green

Chelsea picks the ROH Women’s championship, so let’s see where this goes. We get a well wrestled match, where Deonna doesn’t dominate. Chelsea comes at the match in an intelligent way, manages to land some solid kicks and offense to keep Deonna at bay.

Deonna tries to work over the arm as usual, and goes a damn good job dissecting Chelsea, but Chelsea keeps pushing through. Interesting wrinkle, they trade cradles, Chelsea attempts the Fujiwara for rub ins, but Deonna manages a kick to Chelsea’s wrist and Chelsea immediately crumples. Deonna even goes to check on her since Deonna and Chelsea are legit friend, but Chelsea shoves her off, so Deonna takes that personally and looks to break Chelsea’s wrist. Referee calls for the bell, and Deonna doesn’t stop.

Mickie James runs out to protect her friend, Deonna smirks and Tasha Steelz’s music hits. So a very upset and distracted Mickie now immediately has to get involved in her title match.

Knockouts World Championship: Mickie James (c) vs Tasha Steelz

Tasha attacks before the bell, Mickie keeps looking to Chelsea and seems visibly upset. Mickie turns the initial onslaught around, so as soon as Chelsea starts getting escorted out, Savannah Evans attacks the trainers and Chelsea to create another distraction. Mickie attacks Savannah, and Tasha manages to hit a Dive and start taking some of the momentum back.

So if we assess how this has gone, Tasha has attacked Mickie verbally by talking about her family, Savannah has imposed her physical prowess, now Chelsea makes Mickie emotionally compromised while dealing against a numbers game and a challenger who had a few new moves established during the angle.

Every time Mickie tried to finish things, Savannah got involved, distracted Mickie, took bumps, was just a general nuisance. Mickie goes up for the Thesz Press, Savannah gets involved again, by the time Mickie pulls off the move she gets caught with the Okurrrr. Pinfall…and victory for Steelz!

I’m a little surprised she went over, but if they gave her all of these advantages and she still lost, she was dead in the division. So it makes sense and protects Mickie.

IMPACT Tag Team Championships: The Good Brothers (c) w/ Chris Bey vs Violent By Design (Eric Young & Joe Doering w/Deaner)

We had the classic pairings early on. EY and Karl are the team workhorses, while Joe and LG did the big man power struggle. When one would get knocked down, the other kicked out at 1 or barely stayed down. Given the similarities in the teams, we all have a solid idea of how this was going to go. The first team to find the opening and hit a tandem finish was probably winning this match.

As we get to the end, Doering and Karl are in the ring, Karl hits the Anderson Spinebuster, but Joe pops up and hits the Western Lariat turning Karl inside out. On the ramp we see LG about to take out EY, but EY splits the uprights, then hits the Spike Piledriver on LG. The Good Brothers big man is down, Karl is lifted up in the Powerbomb position, EY hits the Tandem Neckbreaker and VBD are tag champs again!

Given the fact that Tama and Loa are in the New Japan Cup, this is definitely a solid enough angle to bridge the gap in availability.

IMPACT World Championship: Moose (c) vs Heath

I do appreciate the fact that Heath himself was even questioning his chances earlier this show, so this was a big underdog match where even the underdog didn’t buy into his chances. Get those major Little Giants vibes from this storytelling.

Moose being well…Moose, likes to talk shit as he beats the shit out of people. So the way this was compelling where even though Moose literally threw him around the ring and the outside area, something always fired up Heath to make a convincing Ricky Morton style rally. Heath would get smacked across the face, and then fire. Moose would say he doesn’t give a shit about his kids, and then we cue the rally.

After blocking it a few times, Moose misses the Lights Out and Heath hits the Wake Up Call, but Moose does manage to kick out at 2! Heath tries to pick him up but Moose counters it into a violent Uranage, then Lights Out and Moose retains.

After the match, we get someone slide in the ring. It’s JOSH ALEXANDER! He’s back, new multi-year contract in hand and a title match at Rebellion. As he of course explained after dropping Moose with the C4 Spike.

Overall Score: 7.5/10

Now this was a solid show from top to bottom, and bottom to top. Sure I hate Trey Miguel, but for people with a slightly more neutral opinion, his match was still fine and Jake Something is definitely a huge talent. IInspiration may have lost, but that story should be funny and entertaining moving forward. Like I said in the review, if Tasha lost with literally every possible advantage, she was dead in the water. So I don’t foresee a long reign for her, but there wasn’t really another way out there.

Steve Maclin basically telling everyone to get bent and going rogue is very on brand. I can really respect the gimmick there. Heath bringing a decent challenge to just set up for Josh’s return was a nice way to tide things over. Is Moose probably losing to Josh? Yes. But it’s also the story coming full circle since Moose literally stole it from Josh with the timing on the cash in. Plus April would be exactly 6 months, so that’s a solid enough first reign and time to let the vendetta steep.

Let’s not overlook the fact that Jay and Alex Shelley did really steal the show, but it’s not like the rest of the show was bad. Nothing was even in the same stratosphere as Jay and Shelley, but it was a great show. From a fan reaction perspective, this event would probably have ranked higher to everyone if PCO beat Jonah. PCO had a lot of support, and the live crowd seemed a little deflated when Jonah won, but the match was still really good.

All in all, really great show from IMPACT.