Andrew’s IMPACT Results & Match Ratings: 5.12.2022

Coming out of a really good Under Siege we need a challenger for the World Title, so how do we do it? IMPACT decides to hark back to the original way they crowned their first NWA/TNA Champion, Gauntlet for the Gold!

That’s a nice way to commemorate the 20 year history and I wouldn’t be shocked if we get more references, call backs, matches that have been seen often. Either way, I know we get a little fun tag action with the Under Siege main eventers facing ELP and Jay White and I think Alisha may have talked Gisele into former a tag team.

With a little time to get to Slammiversary, it should be interesting what these first stepping stones looks like.

Ratings:

• Ultimate X Qualifier: Kenny King vs Chris Bey: King wins via Royal Flush – ***
• Knockouts Tag Team Titles: Gisele Shaw & Alisha Edwards vs The Influence (Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood): Influence retains via The Collab – * 3/4
• The Bullet Club (ELP & Jay White) vs Josh Alexander & Tomohiro Ishii: Ishii wins via Vertical Drop Brainbuster – *** 1/4
• Gauntlet for the Gold: Eric Young wins via Piledriver – ***

Results:

Tom and Rehwoldt are in the ring to announce the Gauntlet as the main event, play the recap video about what that is…and they get cut off by Honor No More after the video package ends. Kenny King is challenging in a qualifier for the Ultimate X match.

Ultimate X Qualifier: Kenny King vs Chris Bey

Kenny and Chris start slow with some Hammerlock tie ups and Headlock Takeovers. Commentary decides to reinforce the fact that Kenny trained Chris Bey early on in his career, but Chris has most of the early advantage. Chris hits a nice Enzuigiri, tries to continue while perched, but Kenny sells and has the referee close, so he trips Chris and goes for the veteran savvy approach. Big John Woo kick into the corner, Chris tries to fight back but as he’s running the ropes, Kenny catches him with a Power Slam.

A few nice strikes in the corner as Chris floats through the ropes, kick to the back of the head, perpetual motion as Chris goes into a TKO for the near fall. As Chris tries to continue, Kenny hits a few quick spots, Chin Checker, Tiger Driver and a 2 count. Art of Finesse attempt but Kenny runs to the ropes with him and pushes the middle ropes so Chris falls. Quick cover with the arm on the ropes, but the referee sees the cheating. Inside Out Slingshot DDT from Chris Bey for 2. Art of Finesse attempt 2 from the corner, but he misses, back and forth, Sliced Bread and Chris looks for a big top rope move. Maria gets up from commentary and distracts Chris, Kenny takes advantage, big Gamengiri into a Superplex, Royal Flush and Kenny wins!

Knockouts Tag Team Titles: Gisele Shaw & Alisha Edwards vs The Influence (Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood)

Madison and Tenille start off a little cocky but working decently together until Alisha and Gisele have a little cohesion of their own and force the champs to powder for the commercial. Alisha comes in with an Axe Handle and then she gets worked over. Tenille and Madison take a few shortcuts but do the smart thing by picking on Alisha. Gisele proved at Under Siege she’s phenomenal, so might as well keep the quirky mouthy Boston girl in the ring.

A few quick knees and a short Rayne-Maker Lariat for 2. Madison mocks Gisele by having Alisha in a headlock and teasing the attempted tag plead. Face breaker and a Neckbreaker combo from Madison when Alisha tries to fire up. Alisha finally gets the tag, Forearms and Uppercuts rock Madison. Side Kick, into her Split Slide to avoid the offense, into the Capoeira Kick. Gisele hits the Green Killer, for 2. Gisele gets rocked and Alisha blind tags in, Alisha does her sliding Flatliner for a near fall but then the whole referee caring too much about the babyface other wrestler caused advantages.

Here comes The Quintessential Diva!@GiseleShaw08 #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/U8BO7YSDNd

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) May 13, 2022

Finish got a little messy, they rammed Alisha into Gisele, then hit The Collab to retain. Gisele looked fairly great except for weird interactions with Alisha, like the finish. Lish is a lovable personality, but as a wrestler she really ain’t it chief.

Gail Kim is in the ring to a decent crowd reaction. She’s making an announcement. The first ever Queen of the Mountain Match. Competitors are: Tasha Steelz, Chelsea Green, Deonna Purazzo, Jordynne Grace and Tasha interrupts before the fifth person is announced. Tasha cuts a cliche but decent enough arrogant promo before Gail announces Mia Yim as number 5. Tasha and Savannah decide it’s personal and look like they’re about to beat down Gail, so Mia’s music hits and she makes the save. Deonna jumps Mia from behind and the heels go after Mia. Taya and Jordynne make the save for Mia. So the face squad which I kinda want to call Thicc & Deadly, stand tall. 

The Bullet Club (ELP & Jay White) vs Josh Alexander & Tomohiro Ishii

Josh and Jay look like they’re going to start, but Jay does his usual mind game tag out powder. So Josh beats on ELP until Jay tags in and asks for Ishii. So Jay is avoiding Josh, which could be clever story telling depending on how much longer Jay will be in Impact.

Ishii and Josh have a little good teamwork and power to get the advantage over Jay and ELP. Ishii tries for an early Brainbuster, but Jay counters and floats into a DDT as ELP takes Josh off the apron and now classic Bullet Club shenanigans. Over dramatic Back Rake Spot from ELP and Jay. Ishii absorbs a lot of punishment, and Josh finally comes in off the hot tag.

Poor ELP is on the receiving end of quick strikes, shoulder tackles to get him off balance, 2 German Suplexes, ELP tries anything and then Josh rolls into the Ankle Lock. Switchblade makes the save looking for Blade Runner, but Josh actually hits the C4 Spike on Jay. ELP hits a few big moves including a Lionsault, tries CR2, but Josh powers out and brings in Ishii. Ishii hits a big German Suplex, looks for the Sliding Lariat, but Jay recovers and trips up Ishii. Josh returns the favor on ELP and then takes out Jay. Pinballing ELP, Josh hits a Torture Rack Bomb, Sliding Lariat, Vertical Drop Brainbuster, and Ishii wins!

The @IMPACTWRESTLING Tag Team Champions The Briscoes are ready for VBD next week on #IMPACTonAXSTV! @SussexCoChicken @jaybriscoe84 pic.twitter.com/V4RpjOJuHT

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) May 13, 2022

Gauntlet for the Gold

Chris Sabin draws number 1, which isn’t really a punishment for him. Alex Shelley is number 2! Motor City kicks off the gauntlet! Catch Wrestling start with Arm Wringers, into Wristlocks and counters before getting some space and tying back up again. Sabin with a lucha flourish on his Avalanche Arm Drag, but Shelley hits the Drop Toe Hold counter, gives Sabin the playful smack on the backside and then we go back to more well paced tying up. Third man is…Eddie Edwards! Guns decide to team up on Eddie but Eddie gets the advantage after an Eye Poke and Headbutt. Motor City with the Single Leg Dropkick to the head and DDT, before trying to stay on Eddie, but Eddie powers through another tandem attack. Number four is Vincent! So 2 from Honor No More and the Motor City Machine Guns!

Guns have the advantage until number 5. Steve Maclin hits the ring and goes after the Guns and starts working with Honor No More. Stacks up the Guns for Crosshairs, Redrum from Vincent and the Guns are falling apart. GIVE ME A SHELL YEAH! Shark Boy evens things up for his buddies the Guns. Shark Boy’s Chummer gives the Guns enough time to recover a bit. Classic High Speed Dirt from the Guns, Double Chummer from Shark Boy and we go to commercial.

Raj Singh hit the ring during the break and Bhupinder Gujjar is next up. Shark Boy was eliminated by Eddie during the break. Oh apparently Trey Miguel entered during the break as well. Raj Singh is eliminated by Gujjar. Shera hits the ring right after. Massive Cassidy is…number 11? I think. I lost count because of the commercial. Shera and Cass lock horns, Shera tries to go to the ropes for momentum but Cass takes him out instead. Also eliminated Vincent. So that’s 2 eliminations for the Massive one. Casey Jones! I mean Eric Young is next in! EY clocks Cassidy with the mask and then hits the Piledriver but looks for another target. After an effort to counter, EY eliminates Gujjar. Johnny Swinger is next and Zicky rolls him out on a little cart ala Andre, and Swinger is doing the Bushwacker gimmick arms. EY eliminates him immediately and he walks out Bushwacker Luke style.

Commercial, Rhino hits the ring Goring Eddie Edwards to save Heath. Sabin eliminated Eddie and it appears Black Taurus is in the match as well. But during the commercial Shelley and Miguel were eliminated. I’ve lost count on what number this is… but IT’S MOOSE! Moose meets Bull in the ring and chucks him while Taurus tries a Monkey Flip. Moose also eliminates Rhino cause I guess animal names are his thing only! HEATH tries to catch Moose off guard, but nope, Moose fights back and sends HEATH flying. Moose is on 3 eliminations at the moment. Rich Swann is up next! Rich goes after Moose, keeps some distance with kicks and stays on Moose. Lethal Injection punctuates the offense, but Moose powders to not fall victim to an elimination. Matt Cardona is…nope it’s Matthew Rehwoldt using the Cardona music as a distraction. He says the Drama King is back. So as much as I like him on commentary, I will admit that after seeing him live, he’s a much better wrestler than his gimmicks usually give him credit for.

PCO is not human, but he is next in the gauntlet! PCO decks everyone and then chucks Rehwoldt! Massive Cassidy has recovered and squares off with Perfect Creation One. The size difference is crazy, but Maclin gets the double elimination while both monster have the other in the goozle. Final 4 is Maclin, EY, Sabin and Moose. Lights go out…Sami! Just when Moose thought he had the advantage, Sami eliminates Moose even though he’s not in the match. EY and Maclin decide to focus on Sabin for now. After some jockeying, Sabin finally eliminates Maclin. Sabin vs EY first submission or pinfall!

EY lays out Sabin, hits the Savage Elbow for only 2. Cradle Shock counter, Pildriver counter, Double Leg Cradle kickout, Sabin looks for Dirt Bomb possibly but EY counters and finally hits the Piledriver on Sabin for the win! Eric Young will face Josh Alexander at Salmmiversary.

Overall: 7/10

This episode did a lot, it revealed 2 big matches for Slammiversary, brought back a TNA classic match for number one contender, moved stories along, had mostly solid wrestling (if you forget Alisha exists) and sets alliances up well for now. Thicc & Deadly looking like a hell of a force to be reckoned with; plus the funny thing is who is the thicc and who is the deadly? It applies to all three (Taya, Jordynne and Mia), so I think that name should stick. Someone call Scott D’Amore.

I also really love that Eric Young won the gauntlet. Since history has been so important this year (2oth anniversary and all), having a TNA Original fight for the current World Championship is a poetic past meets present type of gimmick. EY can still go as we know from his matches with Rich Swann, Eddie Edwards and his generally lauded run in NXT with SAnitY. Plus I’m really loving this pivot for Gisele Shaw. Her striking ability, body language and presence does more work than her speaking ability. Her very possibly getting to squash Alisha and maybe find a real partner to rematch at Slammiversary would be an angle I’d like to see.

But this episode was really great. Set pieces in motion, solid wrestling, fun spots in the “Rumble” style match and Sami’s little screw job on Moose is beautifully vindictive.