Andrew’s IMPACT Results & Match Ratings: 12.22.2022

We get a Knockouts Tag Team match, a potential retirement match, and who knows what else. Since I’m not sure if we’ve got another real episode left in 2022, tonight’s show should set up some big wrinkles. Bully and Josh could use another altercation since Dreamer getting in his feelings last week just adds a weird vibe. I’m really figuring that Dreamer will turn heel to side with Bully and this is just a long con to take Josh by surprise.

Time for us to see what goes down tonight in case it is the last episode of 2022!

Ratings:

• Knockouts Tag Team Championships: Deonna Purrazzo & Gisele Shaw w/Jai Vidal vs DeathDollz (JesSICKa & Rosemary w/Taya Valkyrie) (c): Death Dollz retain via Tandem Backbreaker/Spear – **
• Speedball Mike Bailey vs Yuya Uemura: Speedball wins via Ultima Weapon – *** 1/2
• Jason Hotch & John Skyler vs Zicky Dice & Johnny Swinger: 
• Rich Swann vs Steve Maclin: Double Count Out – ** 3/4
• Tasha Steelz & Savannah Evans vs Mickie James & Jordynne Grace: Grace wins via Kinniku Buster – ***

Results:

Knockouts Tag Team Championships: Deonna Purrazzo & Gisele Shaw w/Jai Vidal vs DeathDollz (JesSICKa & Rosemary w/Taya Valkyrie) (c)

Jess and Deonna start off, they basically trade a few moments, Gisele comes in and gets rocked by Jess. Rosemary comes in, bites Gisele and throws her around early before Gisele finally gets some momentum.

Gisele works Rosemary into her corner, tags in Deonna and the Virtuosa starts to take charge. A quickish tag back to Gisele and she chokes Rosemary and keeps the offense going. Draping her across the middle turnbuckle, Gisele hits a Double Stomp for 2, and tags Deonna back in.  Deonna tries to wear down Rosemary further, but an Exploder Suplex tosses Deonna and the stereo tags bring Jess and Gisele in.

Sick Kick, into a Low Crossbody has Jess in complete control. Deonna breaks up the pinfall, they try a tandem move but malfunction at the junction; Deonna gets tossed out, Backbreaker into Spear from Rosemary for the defense!

Can @MickieJames and @JordynneGrace co-exist TONIGHT in our main event when they take on @RealTSteelz and @SavannahEvansNV?#IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/twE2UtubYz

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 23, 2022

Sami Callihan comes out and calls out The Design since he hasn’t been able to shake them regardless of Eric Young’s leadership or the new Deaner Design. Deaner comes out, calls Sami “Samuel” and over enunciates it like a pompous douche. Says his sickness is sacrificing his body for “these people”. The Design starts to encircle the ring and Sami stalls them saying he wants to join. 

Angels freaks out a bit at the concept of Sami joining The Design. Makes a Dark Order reference since he “knows about strength in numbers”. Deaner calms Angels a little, Sami frames it as he softened EY up for Deaner to kill him, and Sami enjoys the violence. So there seems to be a measure of sincerity from Sami, but The Design attack, Deaner plunges his thumbs into Sami’s eyes and hits the Deaner DDT before literally sitting on Callihan and posing victorious. 

Speedball Mike Bailey vs Yuya Uemura

Still amuses me how much Yuya looks like a young Tanahashi. But early on its some basic mat wrestling and Yuya gets a small advantage with the basics, but Bailey manages to make some space with some quick aerial moves, a Yakuza Kick and Double Knees before going into a Single Leg Crab. Bailey seems to be taking the heel role since he’s definitely more aggressive, deliberate and mean with his offense.

A stiff Round Kick drops Yuya, before we go into a Strike Exchange. Bailey misses the Pump Kick and eats a Running Shoulder, before eating a Crossbody into a Bulldog for 2. Uppercut, Double Chop, Dropkick and Backdrop Suplex for 2 from Yuya. Yuya hits a Lariat sending Speedball to the floor and we go to commercial.

Returning to the show, Bailey stops Yuya’s offense by grabbing the ropes. Ties up Yuya with Double Wrist Control into a short range John Woo. A few crisp kicks into the Standing Shooting Star, and Bailey is very determined and measured with his kicks after Yuya kicks out of the Shooting Star. Yuya fights back from the apron, Bailey eats forearms, but Bailey hits the Gamengiri sending Yuya crashing, Escalera Moonsault has Yuya floored. PK into Flipping Double Knees for 2. Tornado Kick…but Yuya catches the leg, refuses to let go and lands the Double Overhook Belly to Belly.

Fighting Spirit moment. Bailey gets the best of things with kicks, but Yuya hits a big Lariat and falls into a cover for 2. Running Dropkick, High Angle Single Arm Slam, Bailey powders but Yuya follows him. Yuya goes back to the ropes, Double Knees from Bailey counters and the Strikes continue. Tornado Kick misses, Snap German Suplex from Yuya but Bailey gets up quick enough to hit the Tornado Kick into Ultima Weapon.

IMPACT Flashback Moment: 1.4.2010, Hulk Hogan’s TNA debut

Jason Hotch & John Skyler vs Zicky Dice & Johnny Swinger

Well it looked like we were gonna get a lower card tag match, but Bully Ray decides to show up, beat up Hotch and Skyler (since Dice and Swinger ran for the hills immediately). He calls out Josh Alexander, takes a shot at Jade by saying he loves her OnlyFans account, and looks to massacre Jason Hotch. Josh comes down with a chair finally and cuts Hotch free. 

Bully lays in wait as Hotch and Skyler grab Josh, so Bully mugs him. Hotch and Skyler solidify themselves as heels who were in on the rib against Josh Alexander. Dreamer of course makes the save, hits the ring and takes Bully down with a Cutter before a Low Blow stops Dreamer in his tracks. Piledriver for Dreamer. Bully buries Dreamer under a ladder, hits the chair into the ladder as Josh is zip tied to the ropes watching Dreamer get beaten for trying to make the save for Josh.

Rich Swann vs Steve Maclin

Short tie up as Steve throws hands, tosses Rich from the corner and now just goes into Knife Edge Chops and a Back Elbow. A few quick knees to the lower back helps Maclin drive Rich into the corner and Maclin keeps beating on Rich. Maclin is obviously pissed at getting overlooked and not pushed to the top of the card after a good amount of success this year.

Swann finally throws a few moves together, goes for a Back Handspring Cartwheel Crossbody, but Maclin catches him and hits the Tilt-a-Whirl Backbreaker. Commercial break cuts in and Maclin is still in control. Rich with a small rally, Maclin tries to stifle it but an Overhead Spin Kick stuns Maclin. Big Side Slam from the corner gives Maclin a 2, and then he hits a Backbreaker and keeps stalking around the ring just looking to inflict punishment.

Tree of Woe, Caught in the Crosshairs, but Swann sits up to avoid and throws together a barrage of strikes again with Maclin kicking out at 1. Rich goes to the corner for either a 450 or Phoenix Splash, but Maclin powders, Rich hits 1 Senton off the apron. Rich goes for another but Maclin moves and then tosses Rich into the steps and then face first into the ramp. Maclin is telling off the referee during the 10 count, he doesn’t care about the match and just keeps laying into Rich.

The referee throws out the match as a Double Count Out, tries to stop Maclin but Maclin attacks the ref, security comes out to break things up but then Swann dives at Maclin. Probably leading to a Hard to Kill match, so good for them to get on the PPV.

Tasha Steelz & Savannah Evans vs Mickie James & Jordynne Grace

Mickie and Tasha tie up early, hair pulling and everything. Tasha tries to send her, but Mickie slides between Tasha’s legs and pops up behind her hitting a Thesz Press. Mickie tags in Jordynne and Tasha immediately retreats to Savannah. A few quick strikes, Spinning Backfist from Grace as she jumps on Savannah’s back and tries to take her out with a Rear Naked Choke. Savannah counters with the ole slamming her back into the corner, and then Savannah and Tasha start holding control.

Jordynne manages to fight out of the corner, little Ricky to Robert with the forward roll, and Mickie tags in for some nice offense until Savannah pushes her off the top rope giving Tasha a chance to capitalize. Strike Exchange, but Tasha hits a Pump Kick for 2. Mickie is getting worn down. Tasha and Savannah take a few classic heel short cuts and illegal double teams while Mickie remains isolated.

Mickie finally hits a Neckbreaker to give her the chance to tag out. Slow crawl, Savannah tags first, cuts off Jordynne while Mickie stands and seems to have chosen not to tag out. Mickie dodges the Spear into the corner, Avalanche Thesz Press but Tasha breaks up the pinfall. Mickie seems spend, Evans goes for the Full Nelson Bomb, Mickie tries to slip into a Victory Roll but Savannah is too strong. Backdrop Driver from Savannah, Jordynne breaks up the pin, Mickie breaks up the double team, Jordynne blind tags herself in as Mickie is fighting out to Mickie’s irritation. Kinniku Buster on Tasha, Jordynne picks up the win.

Mickie and Jordynne have words, Mickie’s offended, Jordynne swings at Mickie, but Mickie drops her with a Mick Kick and walks off. 

Overall Score: 7.5/10

Well I’m pretty sure they talked about doing the awards next week, so I’m not sure what kind of episode to expect next week. This episode was decent though. Josh and Bully got a new wrinkle with the Hard to Kill match becoming Full Metal Mayhem, a 4 Way Tag Title match and some heat finally added to the Knockouts title picture are all good things.

Sure the Knockouts tag titles are still worthless, but that’s really the only obvious low spot in the company at the moment. Bailey and Kenny King got a little bit of momentum, Gresham and Edwards is a solid story without a title and Maclin pissing off Swann will at least be a good match.

Lots of things to like from this week, lots of stuff building towards Hard to Kill. So all in all, can’t be upset.