Andrew’s IMPACT Wrestling Results & Match Ratings: 10.6.2022

Well we’ve got the GO HOME for Bound For Glory! It is definitely a little odd for the biggest PPV in the company to be two weeks after Victory Road; but hey the matches look pretty damn good.

Kaz gets a tune up match before his title shot, but you have to think if Kenny King can get a win; he’d make the title match a Triple Threat. As well as a Maclin vs Moose showdown with Sami Callihan as referee.

So we get to see how they hype the PPV and how the rest of the PPV shakes out!

.@Kelly_WP was calling her shot until @SavannahEvansNV and @RealTSteelz SHUT IT DOWN! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/sMRIm7MZXe

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) October 7, 2022

Ratings:

• Kenny King vs Frankie Kazarian: Kaz wins via Chicken Wing – ***
• Gisele Shaw vs Mia Yim: Yim wins via Eat Defeat – ** 1/2
• Special Referee: Sami Callihan: Moose vs Steve Maclin: Maclin wins via Callihan’s Revenge – ***
• Swingerellas w/Zicky Dice & Johnny Swinger vs Taya & JesSICKa w/Rosemary: JesSICKa wins via SICK-ishi Driver – N/A
• Matt Taven w/Mike & Maria vs Alex Shelley w/Chris Sabin: Shelley wins via Shellshock – *** 1/4

Results:

Kenny King vs Frankie Kazarian

Collar and Elbow/Headlock tie ups start the match before the Rope Run Shoulder tackle spots. A lot of World of Sport style counter wrestling, different take overs, cradles and eventually Kaz takes advantage of an opening with a big Lariat combo.

Kenny baits Kaz into trying his Guillotine Leg Drop on the apron, but pulls his head back in and then Planchas on his head. Leg Lariats, Leg Drops, Rising Knee Strikes, all great offense from King before Kaz tries a few reversals to catch a breath. King charges and Kaz does an Overhead Belly to Belly toss into the corner.

Scoop Slam into the Springboard Guillotine from Kaz for 2. Kaz tries for the Chicken Wing, but rams Kaz face first into the turnbuckle. T-Bone Suplex Hold from King for 2. Royal Flush attempt from Kenny, Eddy Gordo kick into Tiger Driver…only 2! Royal Flush again, but Kaz grabs the ropes and falls back into a Chicken Wing. The Heavy Metal Rebel gets the submission win!

Gisele Shaw vs Mia Yim

Mickie James comes out on commentary to scout Yim a little going into their Bound For Glory match.

Gisele and Mia start off in mostly a stalemate, but Gisele still jaws over at Mickie. After a little counter play, Mia hooks in a Front Neck Choke, but Gisele powers up and slams Mia into the corner. Mia tries an Outside-In Enzuigiri, Gisele blocks it, Stun Guns and then wipes out Mia with a Tornillo.

Commercial break comes back with Gisele leaving her feet when throwing Mia into the corner and then mocking Mickie James. Mia tries to fight back, Final Cut from Gisele for 2. Gisele goes for a stomp, misses, Buzzsaw Kick, misses, and Mia lights her up with Knife Edge Chops. Spinning Rope Assisted Enzuigiri into a Green Killer puts an end to Mia’s offense. Rope run strikes leads to Gisele hitting a great Step Over Dragon Kick but Mia responds with a Headbutt as they’re both down for a second. John Woo Dropkick from Mia, Senton in the corner for 2, Mia tries to set up and Eat Defeat, but Gisele throws her into the ropes. Backbreaker/Flatliner combo gives Gisele a 2, Mia retreats to the corner a little, Gisele chases and then gets caught with an Eat Defeat.

Impact Flashback Moment: TNA PPV #28: 1.22.2003 Raven attacking Jeff Jarrett

.@Myers_Wrestling has all kinds of people to look out for TOMORROW NIGHT on the #CountdownToBoundForGlory when he puts his Digital Media Championship on the line in an OPEN CHALLENGE!

Get @IMPACTPlusApp: https://t.co/0aHsukqG4g#IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/kvieuMkTxN

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) October 7, 2022

Special Referee: Sami Callihan: Moose vs Steve Maclin

Moose comes out all taped up, hits ribs and his mid section. While Maclin looks fine and Sami has a black eye. I like the setup since Moose being banged up before the Gauntlet lends more reason to him not winning yet nit getting hurt by a loss.

Early on, the action in the ring is secondary to Sami Callihan hamming it up. He turns his back on corner strikes, stops counts and chants “WRESTLING” at the crowd. He’s really just letting things go, I think even Red Shoes would even think this is a little too rules light.

Sami’s very sarcastic and campy delivery of checking on wrestlers and starting occasional counts is great. He also congratulates people on big haymakers with the sarcastic “GOOD JOB”. The wrestling is a pretty good slugfest so far, but Sami takes away from the action with his antics; but that’s also the role he’s purposefully playing. Callihan plays into their desire to beat on each other, but the satire of the “Ref Machine” isn’t something I could tolerate often.

Standing 10 count, Sami stops at 4 and tells them to “GET YOUR ASS UP”. Which starts a chant, of course. Maclin hits the Crosshairs, and then Sami is hamming it up and takes his sweet time starting a count. Moose hits Go To Hell, but Sami got bounced and started talking to the crowd instead of counting. Light Out miss, KIA miss, round-a-bout, Lights Out, 1-2-FUCK YOU. Cactus Driver ’97 on Moose and Maclin. Sami puts Maclin on Moose and counts 3.

.@joehendry WILL MOTIVATE the CALL YOUR SHOT GAUNTLET TOMORROW NIGHT at #BoundForGlory!

Order on @FiteTV: https://t.co/dhhyC3AKtK or https://t.co/nkseDgtd1F#IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/xpRwpbgicu

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) October 7, 2022

I am so happy this was a Joe Hendry vignette. 

Swingerellas w/Zicky Dice & Johnny Swinger vs Taya & JesSICKa w/Rosemary

JesSICKa has such great intro music. I’m glad they repackaged her into something somewhat entertaining since Havoc was not worth anything anymore.

JesSICKa throws the one in the corner, Taya hits her with the Seeing Shadows Knees in the corner, Rope Hung Sliding German Suplex and then Jess comes in and hits the SICK-ishi Driver.

It was a squash match, but trying to build JesSICKa is solid.

Matt Taven w/Mike & Maria vs Alex Shelley w/Chris Sabin

A little talking and then Taven lights up Shelley. They start some counter wrestling, Taven grabs Shelley, almost hits The Climax; but Shelley counters it into a Border City Stretch attempt, and Taven powders.

Coming back in, Shelley has control with a Headlock, followed by a soccer kick to the shoulder blades. Shelley tries to speed up, Taven keeps up well and drops Shelley with a Dropkick. Bennett trips Shelley and then Sabin trips Taven in a classic eye for an eye tweener style the Guns love.

After some outside the ring antics, Shelley comes back in, charges Taven in the corner and connects. Tries to follow up but a little over aggression and admonishment from the ref gives Taven a few opportunities. Commercial break and Taven hits a nice Backbreaker for a near fall, into a Bow and Arrow stretch, Side Russian Leg Sweep into Lion Sault from Taven – no one’s home!

Slow crawl to their feet, a quick back and forth, Soccer kicks, Border City attempt, but no. Shelley keeps wrist control locomotion chops, arm breaker into – Taven’s Leg Lariat. Lion Sault from Taven for 2. Drop Toe Hold into the turnbuckle, Tornado DDT from Shelley. Bennett gets involved, Sabin equals things out, Superkick into Shiranui and Maria  puts the foot on the ropes. Ref sees Maria, but still breaks his count anyway. A little back and forth, Kick of the King into Aurora Borealis, knees up, pinfall counters…only 2! Penalty Kick, Shellshock attempt, Bennet attacks as the referee is distracted. Just the Tip from Taven, Shellshock from Shelley and Shelley wins!

Jordynne doesn’t speak well and Scott did carry a lot of the early speaking parts of the contract signing. Masha stayed silent, so hearing the champ/babyface having to brag about their resume is a little corny. Masha only says one thing really, and that’s “Masha’s Gonna Kill You” and literally flips the table onto Jordynne. 

The cliché contract brawl expected and the fact that Masha hit the Russian Death Device through the table, makes you think Jordynne will retain. 

Overall Score: 6.5/10

Solid in ring work, the video packages were good and got the point across for the bigger matches. Alisha and Eddie kinda mirroring Gisele and Tom Brady is pretty hilarious as well. The finish to the show did hurt it a little. The crowd peaked at the Sami antics, everyone loves when the Guns are in action as tag or singles…and then a color by numbers contract signing is meh.

A few of the fun story beats with Killer Kelly and Tasha, Joe Hendry and Swinger drama is a great way of showing how to weave in lower card stories without a big name or title involved; and to keep it intriguing.

Do I think this would’ve helped someone on the fence decide to purchase Bound for Glory? No, I don’t. But at this point, Impact has a niche audience so at least the card looks promising.