I’m expecting this to be a bit more special than the usual PPV. They are actively celebrating so I’m expecting some old fashioned fun, references for shits and giggles and a lot of TNA goodies. I’ll do something different and just list out my picks and we’ll get into the review.

• X Division: Speedball – because he’s a fresh face and his matches are always great.
• Monster’s Ball – Sami – why would you have him return to lose?
• Knockouts Tag – Ragnarok – because who cares?
• 10 Man – TNA OGs – for some feel good fun.
• Queen of the Mountain – Chelsea Green – I just feel like it’s her time.
• Tag Team – The Briscoes – I just feel like The Good Brothers are on their way out of Impact.
• Heavyweight – Josh Alexander – EY is a nice veteran to bring the show thread full circle but I don’t see him having a real shot.

Anyway, let’s get to the show and see what they have in store for us!

Tonight, a very special evening, it’s an evening that revolves around history and history on so many fronts.

We celebrate everything that brought us to this point and spotlight everybody that will take us into the future. THIS is #Slammiversary! pic.twitter.com/2MOlODRVVT

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) June 20, 2022

Ratings:

• X Division Championship Ultimate X Match: Kenny King vs Andrew Everett vs Trey Miguel vs Speedball Mike Bailey vs Alex Zayne vs Ace Austin (c): Speedball Mike Bailey wins – *** ½ – TITLE CHANGE!!
• Knockouts Tag Team: Ragnarok (Taya Valkyrie & Rosemary) vs The Influence (Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood) (c): Rosemary wins via As Above Is Below – ** ½ – TITLE CHANGE!!!
• Monster’s Ball: Moose vs Sami Callihan: Sami wins via Cactus Driver – ****
• IMPACT Tag Team Champions: The Briscoes (c) vs The Good Brothers: Good Brothers win via Magic Killer – *** ¾ – TITLE CHANGE!!
• 10 Man Tag: Honor No More (Eddie Edwards, Matt Taven, Mike Bennet, Vincent & PCO) vs Frontline (Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Frankie Kazarian, Nick Aldis & ???): TNA wins!! – *****
• Queen of the Mountain Knockouts Championship: Deonna Purrazzo vs Tasha Steelz (c) vs Mia Yim vs Jordynne Grace vs Chelsea Green: Jordynne Grace wins – *** – TITLE CHANGE!!
• World Championship: Eric Young w/VBD vs Josh Alexander (c): Josh retains via C4 Spike – **** ½

Results:

As cruel as this may sound, but I’m not gonna shed a tear over Jack Evans not being able to make it. Do stupid things, pay stupid prices. Jack is an awful wrestler, does garbage just to do it, and got dinged up at GCW doing some 630 unnecessary moron stuff. Andrew Everett is a huge upgrade.

X Division Championship Ultimate X Match: Kenny King vs Andrew Everett vs Trey Miguel vs Speedball Mike Bailey vs Alex Zayne vs Ace Austin (c)

Ace starts off with attacking people with his Gambit stick, then we see some pair offs and general action, simple dives to the outside and then Kenny King and Trey stop Bailey and Zayne from even trying to scale the X. Kenny catches Trey thinking they’d stay amicable a little longer, a few big spots, but Trey gets an advantage with the dive. Ace tries to sneak up, but Trey stops it, Everett gets pinballed a little and Ace hits a big Fosbury Flop to take an early overall advantage.

Everett gets a cool spot where he looks to Escalera, Trey ducks, but Everett turns it into a Slingshot to the Apron and then a Snap German Suplex. Everett takes a look at the X while he’s a lone, sees the pile of opponents and just shrugs and goes for the dive. I hate that “just for the hell of it” spot, but Everett at least solid it in an entertaining way. Speedball gets his huge highlight reel spot when 3 men are fighting under the X, he decides to make his way to the belt, stops and hits a variation of Ultima Weapon onto 3 people. Tower of Doom Flippy Style spot, but Trey holds on and then kills Zayne with an Avalanche Destroyer.

Quad Danglers, Ace, Trey, Kenny and Speedball meet in the middle like an American Gladiators exhibition. Speedball uses his quick kicks and Ace kicks Trey in the nuts. Everett inches across and tries to grab the belt from the top, but Speedball grabs a Headscissors and takes Everett down from on top of the X. Zayne was a big enough distraction for Ace to allow Speedball to kick Ace off the ropes, lift himself up and Mike Bailey is the NEW X Division Champion!

Match was a little too fast, but it was entertaining. Mostly just a few big spots and some fun moments. Speedball looked like a million bucks.

Oh CHRIST its Scott Hudson! He’s doing the backstage interview with the OGs.

He’s right you know…it is lame. 

Knockouts Tag Team: Ragnarok (Taya Valkyrie & Rosemary) vs The Influence (Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood) (c)

Honestly some of my silence on this match is just the fact it was very paint by numbers. It wasn’t until Tenille cuts off Rosemary’s Spear attempt with a Spotlight Kick from off camera that the match got interesting. They trade Tandem spots of double spears from Ragnarok and general team moves from The Influence. The Collab gets hit on Rosemary, but Taya wipes out Tenille, Madison tries to take Taya out, but when she turns to Rosemary, Rosemary does the Zombie Rise from the Dead. Madison is freaked out, Pop-Up Knee from Taya, As Above Is Below from Rosemary, and we have more new champions!

Monster’s Ball: Moose vs Sami Callihan

When Sami gets let out of the room, he makes a quick joke and then mugs Moose during his entrance. Moose gets rocked, Sami finds some cookie trays and windmills them over Moose’s head. It’s not until Sami decides to mock Moose that a trash can lid gives Moose a small reprieve. Moose then grabs the hot dog and water bottle from a “fan”. Goes full Mark Sanchez and decides to eat some hot dog and have some water before going back to beating down Sami. That’s actually clever since the premise for Monster’s Ball is they’re supposed to be kept in a room without food or water for 24 hours.

The trash can busted Sami open, Uranage on the apron, then an Uranage through the table and Moose is in control while Sami is bleeding something fierce. Moose aims for the ankle, Sami moves, Sabu’s Moose with a chair, then Moose returns the Sabu-ing. Moose goes for Lights Out, but Sami grabs a trash can and Moose goes right into the can. Sami stands up the can so Moose is helpless like garbage, then goes out to get a Barbed Wire Door. Moose barely gets out of the can, while Sami is setting up the Door spot.

Moose puts the brakes on, tries to run up the ropes, but slips as he’s still selling disoriented and Sami is right there to try and take advantage. Moose fights back, tries again to go to the ropes and Sami pushes Moose off and through a table. What kind of Monster’s Ball would it be without thumb tacks? The Asylum comes alive and Sami looks for the Tornado DDT into the tacks, but Moose pulls out GO TO HELL into the tacks! Sami kicks at two and Moose is trying to get out of the tacks and then literally grabs Sami’s ankles and drags him around through the tacks. Moose looks Lights Out, Sami catches him and Death Valley Driver through the door for 2!

Sami grabs two lids and tosses one to Moose. Garbage Can Strong Style! After a few traded shots, they both land the overhand lid at the same time and it’s a double knockdown! They both fire, Moose with the Pump Kick, then Sami lays him out into the tacks, Cactus Driver, but Moose kicks out! Sami goes for another one but panders with the “Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down” first, and Moose uppercuts into the No-No Square. Moose sets up the vertical trash can, goes for an avalanche move, Sami counters, hits his version of Cheeky Nandos, Avalanche Powerbomb on the stood up can, Cactus Driver, Moose kicks out at 1. Barbed Wire bat gets introduced, Sami wraps it around Moose’s head a few times and another Cactus Driver finally puts away Moose.

IMPACT Tag Team Champions: The Briscoes (c) vs The Good Brothers

Well this will do a lot to explain where the Good Brothers stand. If they win they might be sticking around in some capacity, if the Briscoes win, like I expect; then Good Brothers won’t be doing much else in Impact.

Early on explosions from The Brisoces that spills out quickly. Big LG handles Mark a little while Jay takes it to Karl. Jay cracks a chair off Gallows’ head and then they play a little oki-doke with the ref, tosses it to Mark, Mark claps with the chair and then uses it to elevate over the ropes for a Senton Dive. Karl neutralizes Mark a little, sets up the chair in the corner since the ref is always distracted in this match, Mark with the Shotgun Kick on Karl, tags in Jay, but the referee loves to be distracted and Jay gets driven into the chair. Quick tag to LG, then back out to Karl, but Jay finally fights back with the slow crank Rude Awakening. LG tries to tag in and stop the storm, but Jay rocks LG and tags in Mark for the hot chicken tag!

Mark’s hands are rated E for everyone, slaps around Karl, hits the Avalanche Karate Chop to drop LG, Iconoclasm after the call of the Sussex County Chicken, but only 2. Mark goes to the top for something, and Karl cuts him off. Mark fights back with the headbutt, a little ducking and dodging into an Anderson Spinebuster! LG tags in and Tandem Assisted Neckbreaker, speed up for the Magic Killer, but Jay spears Karl to stop it and a Small Package gets 2. Karl and Mark trade a lot, not a ton to exactly discuss, until Jay comes back to life and cuts Karl in half! Flying Neckbreaker combo, wiping out LG and only 2. Mark tags in Jay, and we’re looking Doomsday! Karl gets out with a thumb to the eye, Gallows shoves Mark into the waiting Gun Stun of Karl. Two on One against Jay, Jay Driller attempt but LG hits the Superkick. MAGIC KILLER! The Good Brothers win and…well I guess they’re stick around a bit longer. Hot damn.

America’s Most Wanted comes down, and we have a feel good moment when everyone shares a drink and celebrates the 20 years of the company that no one expected to last more than a year.

10 Man Tag: Honor No More (Eddie Edwards, Matt Taven, Mike Bennet, Vincent & PCO) vs Frontline (Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Frankie Kazarian, Nick Aldis & ???)

Scott D’Amore comes out with the old Team Canada coach gimmick to guest at commentary. Dixie Carter showed up to introduce the 5^th man… DAVEY FUCKING RICHARDS!

As for the match, it was pure TNA, non-stop action, great moments, references, throwback moves like when Kaz hit the Flux Capacitor on PCO. Traci Brooks came out of the crowd to knock down Maria, Earl Hebner came out of the crowd to count the pinfall. It was just ridiculous, and amazing. Watch the god damned match.

Queen of the Mountain Knockouts Championship: Deonna Purrazzo vs Tasha Steelz (c) vs Mia Yim vs Jordynne Grace vs Chelsea Green

Tasha bails out early utilizing the fact its No DQ and Savannah came down with her. So they take time setting up tables and picking spots. Chelsea and Deonna work together taking out Mia and Jordynne, Tasha tries to take out a few people with a dive, Chelsea jumps from the top rope into the pile and Deonna also hits the Senton from the top rope to the outside. But as Deonna hypes up the crowd, Chelsea throws in Tasha for a pinfall and gets the first pinfall over Tasha. So Tasha must have the 2 minute penalty and Chelsea is the only one eligible to win right now.

A bit of offense all over, no one gets a pinfall, Tasha comes out and takes it to everyone. Tasha hits the Stratusfaction, Savannah tries to get involved but Mickie stops it and kicks Savannah out of ringside. A little craziness then Mia hits the Half Nelson Suplex Hold for 3 against Chelsea. So Chelsea is in the penalty box for 2 minutes and only Mia is now eligible and active. Chelsea crashes Mickie into the cage door and seethes during her penalty. Ladder spots, Deonna slows down Mia, Tasha comes off the corner and tries for the Cutter and hits it but it’s sloppy and looks like it might’ve done real damage to Mia.

Deonna tries to save some of the spots, breaks things up while Mia is trying to collect herself, Fujiwaras for everyone and then Deonna gets Tasha to tap but doesn’t let go immediately. So Tasha is getting handled and back into the penalty box. Deonna and Chelsea gang up on Jordynne, Mia starts to stir and tries to hit Mia with the ladder, Chelsea moves, and Chelsea starts rocking Mia. So at least it’s good to see that the botched Cutter looked worse than it actually was.

Drop Toehold into the ladder for Tasha, Missile Dropkick from Mia to Chelsea into the ladder and Mia runs up the ladder and hits the Senton to the outside on Jordynne and Deonna. Mia pins Jordynne on the outside to put her in the box for 2 minutes.

Reminder – Mia – Chelsea – Deonna are eligible to win at the moment

Tasha slows down the attempted win from Mia, Chelsea then grabs the title and Mickie James attacks Chelsea and slides it to Mia Yim. Deonna stops Mia’s ascent and then just Powerbombs the HBIC onto a downed ladder. Tasha tries to take advantage of the carnage but Chelsea grabs her in a Package Flatliner and connects into the downed ladder. Chelsea and Deonna climb together, are they going to break up their team, no…Mia just pushes the ladder sending Chelsea and Deonna from the top of the ladder through the table that Savannah and Tasha set up earlier.

Jordynne hits a German Suplex Hold and Tasha climbs ontop for a double pinfall and the referee claims they’re both now eligible. So Mia is in the penalty box, Tasha knocks down Jordynne, tries to go up, Jorydnne hits the Muscle Buster on Tasha, pins her to send her to the penalty box. Jordynne climbs up and puts the title on the hanger! Jordynne is the new Knockouts Champ.

This match definitely had a lot of weird moments that were rough to put it nicely, but the spectacle overcame as only King/Queen of the Mountain can. After the match we see Goldilocks return to interview Gail Kim who was voted the most influential Knockout in TNA/Impact history.

Check out what @AJStylesOrg had to say about being voted the most IMPACTful X Division wrestler of the past 20 years!#Slammiversary #IMPACT20 pic.twitter.com/8uIK0Dhhty

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) June 20, 2022

World Championship: Eric Young w/VBD vs Josh Alexander (c)

Kicks off with three attempts at a collar and elbow tie up but quickly get dropped. EY is frantic, so it’s hard to tell if he’s got a level of nerves or if it’s just part of his unstable gimmick. A few quick slaps to annoy each other, some hip tosses and actual wrestling moves leave us with Josh kicking EY off and them coming to a standstill again. So many moments where one misses and the other tries to take advantage but the other misses.

A few haymakers until Josh ducks and goes into rapid fire Suzuki style paintbrushes. Alexander hits the Shinjiro Otani Facewash before he goes for something else and EY counters with a Spicolli Driver.  Deaner sets up a table while EY keeps trying to work over Josh but Josh fires back a little. EY does the Flair flop over the corner, tries to walk the apron, Josh catches him right in front of the table…but EY fights off the first table tease. EY makes it to the top rope, Josh tries to intercept, but EY fights back and hits the Macho Man Elbow for a 2. EY heads to the outside and starts trying to expose the ring.

An Overhead Belly to Belly puts Josh back in the match before EY tries to slow things down with a boot, but then EY gets thrown, Powerbombed and then lifted into the float over Boston Crab. Takes out Deaner and Doering, Crossbody from the top rope gets a near fall but Josh is comfortably in control right now. C4 Spike, but no…EY counters with a STROKE! Jeff Jarrett call back! EY goes to grab him, Josh tries to counter, EY counters that, Ankle Lock attempt but no. A little running back and forth, and EY catches Josh with a Blackhole Slam!

EY tries to keep Josh in the corner, shoots him across, tries to follow and we see the STO out of the corner followed by the BME! A straight right from Josh counters a Rolling Elbow, powers EY over and into a Styles Clash before transitioning into an Ankle Lock! EY is about to tap and Deaner hits him with POCKET SAND! So EY taps but the ref is out so Josh takes out Deaner, clips Doering, low Crossbody for EY and then an Olympic Slam from inside the ring out, through the table on Doering! Deaner has the VBD flag, Josh grabs the Team Canada flag from under the ring and takes out Deaner, turns around into a Guitar Shot! Double J all over this match!

Now the ring is back to getting peeled back to expose the ring so EY is looking to end this with violence.  Piledriver on the exposed wood! Josh kicks out at 2! EY tries an Avalanche Piledriver, Josh drops down to counter it and hooks the Ankle Lock. Young gets out, charges, Uranage by Josh, straps go down, C4 Spike on the exposed ring and Josh wins!

Overall Score: 8.75/10

Most of the points off are sadly, for the Knockouts matches. The tag match was generic and Queen of the Mountain was kinda bad for the work inside, just the general spectacle kept it entertaining. Everything else was quality entertainment. The 10 man was particularly fantastic because it fused some great wrestling, with throwback spots, references, old faces and just generally a fun atmosphere that TNA lived off of.

Moose and Sami was great, the Tag Match could’ve been better but wasn’t bad and I was surprised with the finish. The Main Event was great though, EY has put on some great matches since coming back and Josh is just a machine who makes everyone look like a million bucks.

There we have it, great show, great moments, awesome nostalgia…nearly everything you can ask for.