Andrew’s IMPACT Results & Match Ratings: 5.26.2022

OLD TNA, a sprinkle of ROH and the current IMPACT roster makes for an interesting night! The Battle of Futures Past has to have most TNA fans happy, with a little Frankie Kazarian versus some Hail Sabin. VBD taking on all the gold holders will make for something interesting. You have to assume the heels go over here to stoke the fires for Slammiversary main event, right?

Aside from that we definitely have a small Queen of the Mountain preview with Jordynne and Chelsea. Plus another Ultimate X Qualifier with “The worst wannabe Spiderman outside of Time Square” Trey Miguel facing Alex Shelley. I feel like I can already read the tea leaves here, but I’ll save that for drunk thoughts before the match starts.

Let’s get the show started!

Since we got some old vibes, IMPACT gave us the old Fox Sports Net intro, with the modern twist!

This is Wrestling Reinvented.

Check out the 2004 throwback intro to tonight's #IMPACTonAXSTV! #IMPACT20 pic.twitter.com/dfo1hfeYni

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) May 27, 2022

Ratings:

• Ultimate X Qualifier: Alex Shelley vs Trey Miguel: Trey wins via Crucifix Counter Cradle – ** 3/4
• Masha Slamovich vs Havok: Masha wins via Russian Death Device – SQUASH
• Chelsea Green vs Jordynne Grace: Jordynne wins via Grace Driver – ***
• Battle of Futures Past: Chris Sabin vs Frankie Kazarian: NO CONTEST – ***
• Shera & Raj Singh vs Bhupinder Gujjar & Massive Cassidy: Gujjar wins via Gargoyle Spear – ** 1/2
• Violent By Design (Eric Young, Deaner & Joe Doering) vs Josh Alexander & The Briscoes: EY wins via Piledriver – *** 1/4

Results:

Ultimate X Qualifier: Alex Shelley vs Trey Miguel

So Shelley has been on a tour of putting over the newer X Division stars. As much as I hate Trey, I expect Shelley to lose this but put up a damn good fight. 

They set the stage that during the small stint where The Rascalz left IMPACT, which ended up with Wentz & Dez heading to NXT with Trey coming back a little later; apparently Shelley trained Trey. Sadly for Shelley, it hasn’t done anything. Sure Trey has learned a few more moves, but he can’t put a match together to save his life, can’t cut a promo and doesn’t evoke sympathy or anger, he’s just a waste of space.

We get a little back and forth early, Trey thinks he’s got a bit of an advantage when he turns around the offense on the outside so he taunts a bit with Push Ups in the center of the ring. Trey turns things around shortly after the taunt, as the crowd goes mild. Trey slides in Shelley, attempts a Senton but Shelley avoids and aims for the Basement Dropkick sending Trey Ass over Tits. A little corner work as Shelley props Trey in the ropes and wrenches with a Dragon Screw. Shelley is playing the arrogant role again, and much like again Mike Bailey, I don’t foresee this ending well.

Some solid strikes from Shelley, PK to the shoulder blades, rolling into the Border City Stretch but Trey gets a foot on the ropes. Trey starts trying to fight back the close chops, Shelley goes to run the ropes, and we see a clunky but somewhat effective Sliding Dropkick/Jump Over Double Stomp spot. After some recovery time, Trey is posted in the corner, Front Flips over Shelley, doesn’t sell the dinged up knee, really weak strike combination into a Stomp to the back and it all just looks terribly choreographed including the bad miss from Shelley into the Death Drop float over to Dragon Sleeper Stretch.

Trey’s offense is just one bad move after another, he is truly everything bad about early years Ospreay. Moves with no purpose aside from the move looks cool. Shelley tries to sell and slow things down from time to time, but Trey’s lack of understanding how to wrestle makes this match hard to watch. Trey doesn’t even sell convincingly…ugh this is sad. Shelley must understand the match is lacking because he tries to turn up his cruelty, and that helps but seems hard to buy since everyone loves Shelley.

One thing I do love is Shelley pulls out Marufuji’s Pole Shift Flowsion for a close 2, Automatic Midnight (Air Raid Crash) is a near fall but Shelley immediately goes into the Border City Stretch. We get a few cradle counters from both until Trey apparently gets the best of the counter roll garbage. The crowd reaction was Kyle Petty sour.

Trey is trash, stop pushing him until he learns how to wrestle. 

Masha Slamovich vs Havok

Masha’s first somewhat real test, so lets see if Havok’s gatekeeper status continues.

Masha and Havok go for tough strikes, Masha hits the Headbutt and Havok tosses her showcasing the power. Masha eats a corner splash, then comes out of the corner, Spinning Heel Kick, lights up Havok and Russian Death Device.

I expected Gatekeeper status, but Masha put this match away so fast all of Decay comes out and are completely confused. Either Havok is on her way out, or they might go for some super natural power up storyline.

Chelsea Green vs Jordynne Grace

Chelsea tries to powder early to mess with Jordynne, but Jordynne chases her down and pounces. Chelsea is just eating offense for a while, until she manages a Middle Rope Rewind Kick and then starts handling Jordynne on the outside. We go to commercial, come back and Chelsea has Jodrynne in the corner landing that Double Wrist Capture Curb Stomp into the turnbuckle.

As Chelsea keeps up some offense, Jordynne seems to be getting more and more pissed off. Chelsea hits the ropes for a Big Boot or something and eats a Spinebuster for her trouble. Strike/Scoop Slam exchange but Chelsea actually got the best of things until we get an awkward spot in the corner that Chelsea looks like she had to stick around too long to tell Jordynne to grab her in the Sleeper.

Big Power moves after make you forget about the bad spot for a while. Spinning Torture Rack Bomb gives Jordynne the 2, and Chelsea barely kicks out a few times. Jordynne tries to pull out the Muscle Buster as shades of her past and TNA past. Lifted Flatliner gives Chelsea a near fall. Grace Driver attempt but Chelsea fights back before Jordynne lays in some Vader Hammers. UnPretty-Her attempt number two, and countered yet again.

After a One Winged Angel or Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex potential fake out, Chelsea slips out of the Electric Chair and then gets captured in the Grace Driver for the pinfall.

.@DeonnaPurrazzo and @RealTSteelz may be opponents at #Slammiversary but they have a mutual enemy in @MiaYim. #IMPACTonAXSTV @SavannahEvansNV pic.twitter.com/cfBz4Hn72R

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) May 27, 2022

Battle of Futures Past: Chris Sabin vs Frankie Kazarian

Quick attempts at offense before Kaz hits the Shoulder Tackle right into the Ground Headlock. Kaz is doing a good job trying to wear down Sabin and keep him off his feet. Holy crap Ole Dinosaur Bone referenced Serotonin as part of Kaz’s past factions. Big props to Tom for that pull.

A small series of roll ups keep the even footing moving, while if you were scoring things Kaz might be a little ahead since he was using a lot of the Headlock control, before Sabin just dumps Kaz out and over the top rope off the apron. From this point, Sabin drives Kaz into the post, hits an Apron Soccer Ball Kick and generally keeps control.

Kaz tries to pop back into the fight when they’re back in the ring, but Sabin stifles all of that with a damn good Lariat. Then a Foot Choke in the corner (Sabin didn’t team with Nash, what the hell man). Rocks Kaz, puts him in the Cross Arm Bow and Arrow before Kaz tries to rise out of it. Sabin sees the situation changing and German Suplex, drives him into the corner, stomps, tries to pull him out but Kaz lands on his feet and we get some classic Kaz offense! Up and Over, Alley Oop into the Springboard Guillotine Leg Drop. Back and forth, transition through the ropes, Sabin tries to follow but the old Leg Cutter with the middle rope stuns Sabin. Outside In Slingshot DDT, for 2.

Cradle Shock, slip out, Enzuigiri, Yakuza Kick and Sabin is rolling a few things together all of a sudden. Tornado DDT and it’s only 2. Kaz counters the corner attack with the back elbow, tries to jump to the top rope, Sabin follows for the Avalanche German, and near fall again! Both men try for some move to give them momentum, counters all over, both run the ropes, Double Crossbody spot.

As they sell, Honor No More hits the ring and ruins a really damn good match.

Honor No More are furious with what they call "20 years of lies and disrespect." #IMPACTonAXSTV @TheEddieEdwards @KennyKingPb2 @PCOisNotHuman @TheHorrorKingVM @RealMikeBennett @MattTaven pic.twitter.com/QnuLl7C9z9

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) May 27, 2022

Taven with a fantastic line after Heath says they sound stupid and he just chirps “With that accent”. Why is IMPACT Taven 10000% better than everything he did in ROH? Dammit why. 

Shera & Raj Singh vs Bhupinder Gujjar & Massive Cassidy

Cass gets the best reaction of this crowd all night. It even seems to hype up Gujjar a little.

Raj and Gujjar start, which makes sense given the story they were working with of Raj trying to manage Gujjar and attach his name to the successful newcomer. Gujjar hits a Slingblade into Fame Asser before tagging in Cass. Cass Scoop Slams Gujjar into Raj, counts 2 big elbow drops while pointing at Gujjar so he can tag him in, Slingshot Elbow for the babyface team. It takes until Shera distracts Gujjar and the mob mentality backfires for the faces since Cass is mad and keeping the referees attention.

Shera and Raj double team and beat on Gujjar until the Power Slam on Raj gives the opening. The Massive One runs with the hot tag and eats all of their lunches. Shera postures up to Cass, Cass hits the Big Boot and Lariats him out, Gujjar gets the Crossbody on the outside. Cass Chokeslams Raj, motions to Gujjar and asks the crowd “him” which gets a decent reaction. Gargoyle Spear looks a little less ridiculous in tag team action.

"@TheSamiCallihan is the biggest fraud in professional wrestling." @TheMooseNation had some strong words for the Death Machine. #IMPACTonAXSTV @SteveMaclin pic.twitter.com/QaNDVGRNo0

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) May 27, 2022

Violent By Design (Eric Young, Deaner & Joe Doering) vs Josh Alexander & The Briscoes

Josh leads off against…Deaner. Well nice to know the faces will get the early momentum. Josh works a Wristlock, keeping Deaner grounded of flipped but always controlled. Sussex County Chicken next in and lets Deaner slap and just sparks up the Red Neck Kung Fu. But Deaner gets the best of the situation and brings in EY. EY was caught a little unawares by Mark’s…well Mark offense, and Jay gets tagged in. Let’s also remember that Jay is a two time ROH Heavyweight Champion. So he starts to take it to EY and that shouldn’t be seen as a surprise.

Dogpile moment with Jay hitting the Tope con Hilo and Mark with the Corkscrew Splash into all three VBD members. Commercial break comes back with EY taking control back from Jay but there’s a bit of a back and forth. Jay tags in Josh, and EY doesn’t run for the tag. He wants to lead by example. Josh rocks him in the corner, 10 count punches, throws EY into the other corner for the Flair Up and Over, but EY ducks down getting Josh caught in the ropes, Deaner side swipes Josh as Joe distracts the referee.

EY tags in Deaner, Deaner hits some frantic offense, EY comes back in for a few near falls and a corner Neck Jammer using the quick tag with Deaner to keep thing fluid. Great tug of war momentum spots where Josh tries to fight back, but VBD pulls him back, and Josh has to fend off the entire faction before finally tagging in Mark for the Chicken Flavored Hot Tag. Jay blind tags to hit the Neckbreaker, Froggy Boy combo, but VBD breaks up the pin.

Big Joe hasn’t been the legal member yet, but he keeps making his presence felt. Jay has to fight back, EY tries something off the ropes, Jay hits the Frankensteiner. Assisted Powerbomb for 2, Doomsday call, but a distracted ref allows for a flag hit on Mark. Deaner DDT, but Josh breaks it up. Josh tries to finish Deaner, but EY dumps him out and Joe comes from off screen with the Flying Crossbody to squash Josh. Casey Jones mask usage, EY with the Piledriver, and VBD pick up an interesting win.

Overall Score: 7/10

Well the main event not utilizing Doering in the match and just having him run…legal interference is an interesting strategy that ultimately worked. So you know, you can’t argue with results. Getting some Dusty BS finish on the Battle of Futures Past makes me hope it’s leading to OGK + Eddie vs MCMG + Kaz. Yes that’s the Mark in me just loving Motor City and all things old school TNA. Havok being completely destroyed corroborates what I said after she lost to Tasha where she’s useless now. Granted yes Decay has all the spooky stuff, so maybe they can give her a magic potion, James Mitchell comes back, sacrifice Sunny’s sex tape or something, bring back some of the old Disciples of the New Church, like Vampiro could be cool. OR – she’s on her way out of the company. Either way, I like it when the card logically shakes out how the visual presents things.

I think my last real talking points are: 1. What move was Jordynne going for from the Electric Chair? 2. Ain’t it nice to see Cass help Gujjar get over a little? – Never really expected Cass to be back in a position to help anyone else like this, but it’s nice to see. So all in all, solid show with decent implications leading to Slammiversary.