Andrew’s IMPACT Results & Match Ratings: 1.12.2023

Got to love Go Home episodes, don’t ya? Hard to Kill is tomorrow, the main event scene is set, the Knockouts have weight, Hendry vs Moose is entertaining, and the tag match is getting some final touches for heat before the four way dance.

Lets see if they address Scott D’Amore’s actions from last week, some weird punishment angle or whatever. Could go a few ways with all of it.

.@gailkimITSME doesn't intend to take @ScottDAmore's place in his absence after last week's brutal attack by @bullyray5150, but the person who will is going to be revealed at #HardToKill TOMORROW LIVE on PPV and @FiteTV. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/XkLsohJJi3

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 13, 2023

Ratings:

• Brian Myers w/Matt Cardona vs Heath w/Rhino: Heath wins via Wake Up Call – ** 3/4
• Rosemary w/JesSICKa vs Savannah Evans w/Tasha Steelz, Gisele Shaw & Jai Vidal: Savannah wins via Full Nelson Bomb – ** 1/4
• Speedball Mike Bailey vs Anthony Greene: Bailey wins via Ultima Weapon – *** 1/2
• Joe Hendry, Rich Swann & Jonathan Gresham vs Eddie Edwards, Moose & Steve Maclin: Moose wins via Lights Out – *** 1/4

Results:

Okay the show starts weird with Josh Mathews on a Zoom call with Josh Alexander and Bully Ray. It’s like watching a promo podcast, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Not terrible, just a little weird watching a digital promo. 

Brian Myers w/Matt Cardona vs Heath w/Rhino

A little early back and forth, but some Flying Forearms from Heath, 10 Count Punches and then Myers powders. Cardona and Myers try to goad a DQ, but Rhino puts the brakes on. The referee isn’t taking the risk though and ejects both of the seconds.

Myers takes full use of the small delay, stuns Heath into the ropes and starts slowly dissecting him. Heath tries to fight back, but Myers cuts him off with that Sliding Trip. Heath keeps trying to fight back but Myers cuts him off and does the Raven pose. Because of the time to pose, Heath rallies a little and we start looking at a possible Wake Up Call. Myers ducks the Wake Up Call, hits a Pele Kick, Implant DDT…Roster C-nope! Double rope run, Spear from Myers for 2.

Going to the top, Myers tries something but Heath runs to the top and hits an Avalanche Powerslam for 2. Trading blows goes into the corner, Myers rakes the eyes, drops the Macho Man Elbow for 2. Cradle from Heath for another 2, as Myers is dazed, Wake Up Call for the win!

Major Players have lost both of their prep matches, so either Ace and Bey will be conquering heroes back from Japan, or MCMG wins to set up Ace & Bey for a legit title shot. That could be money with how much momentum Ace & Bey currently have. 

Rosemary w/JesSICKa vs Savannah Evans w/Tasha Steelz, Gisele Shaw & Jai Vidal

Before the match Taya was apparently attacked by the four opponents, so Rosemary is incensed. 

Rosemary starts off feral, throwing hands, biting faces, Snapmares the larger wrestler over her and keeps attacking. Chokes, strikes and just blinded by rage until Savannah moves and Rosemary eats turnbuckle.

Savannah eats a Flying Forearm, Savannah powders, Rosemary goes to top and jumps on the pile, but Gisele managed to get out of the way (probably because she’s in a tight cocktail dress and couldn’t really bump that). Commercial hits, we come back and Rosemary is working over Savannah, a few counters and the Upside Down keeps things in Rosemary’s advantage. Ref gets distracted, Rosemary has to keep an eye on the 3 outside and then eats a boot from Savannah.

After the boot, Savannah is wearing down Rosemary. Headlocks, takeovers, power strikes and Rosemary just can’t fight out until she slips a Death Valley Driver into a Scorpion Death Drop. Burst of offense from Rosemary, punctuated with a T-Bone suplex for 2. Savannah fights back and hits a beautiful Fisherman’s Suplex Hold for 2. Rosemary hits the Spear off the ropes, but all of the outside help pays off. All 3 distract the ref and eventually set up a situation for Savannah to hit the Full Nelson Slam.

Post match beatdown on JesSICKa while Rosemary has to watch. 

Hard to Kill 2020: Moose vs Rhino, NoDQ match

At #HardToKill, the people's witch @RealTaylorWilde will rise. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/UEIfqqLFfn

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 13, 2023

The Design comes out for their situation with Sam Callihan. Will he submit to the will of The Design, or is it just a trap? Huh, Sami played ball, seemed to be on the same page with Deaner and shaved his head. Will apparently be known as only Callihan in The Design.

Speedball Mike Bailey vs Anthony Greene

Greene will probably lose this match much like last week, but he’ll probably put up a decent fight against Bailey to help get him over and tune up Bailey for Kenny King next week.

Greene takes a little bit of a shortcut to have the early moments over Bailey, gets caught by the rapid fire kicks but Greene does manage to turn things back around. So much like I thought, Greene is doing fairly well. He pulls off his Double Underhook Side Bomb into a Single Legged Crab before Speedball gets to the ropes.

Trying to continue his momentum, Greene goes for a rope run, Bailey dodges, Baseball slide from Greene, countered by an Asai Moonsault and Bailey is rolling. Twisting Shooting Star Press, Buzzsaw Kick – miss and Greene Schoolboys Bailey into the bottom rope. Bailey fires back, Greene counters with a Gutwrench Powerbomb. Superkick from Greene, Avalanche Unprettier attempt, gets countered. Double Knees backflip from Bailey, Tornado Kick attempt but blocked. Greene tries a kick, Bailey counters with a Spinning Heel Kick, hits the Tornado, Ultima Weapon and Bailey wins!

Joe Hendry, Rich Swann & Jonathan Gresham vs Eddie Edwards, Moose & Steve Maclin

The "Dancing Moose" chants suggest the crowd in Pembroke Pines believes in @joehendry. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/zbE6NabRko

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 13, 2023

Gresham and Eddie start off, and its a nice preview to something that could be match of the year quality. Oh but Eddie plays the heel thing and tags out to Steve Maclin before contact. Gresham has the visible advantage even when Maclin almost finds openings. Hendry comes in, and more of the same. Maclin looks for openings but Hendry is wrestling circles around Maclin. Swann gets tagged in, lights up Maclin a few times before Maclin uses a knee lift to slow down Swann and tag out before eating more offense.

Eddie and Swann go back and forth, Gresham tags in but Eddie gets a few shots in and tags out, still not willing to give the fans the preview. Gresham tries for an early Octopus on Maclin and all 6 men get in. They pair off to their Hard to Kill opponent and then we get the big moves clearing the ring spot. Maclin manages to side swipe Swann with a Shotgun Kick, commercial hits, and then Maclin is still in control, tagging out to Eddie and the heels are controlling the match.

Heels keep control for a few minutes, Swann is getting manhandled until he finally gets Gresham in and hot tag central kicks in. Amusing spot with Moose towering over Gresham, Moose grabs him by the neck, throws him onto Eddie’s shoulders and Eddie hits the Blue Thunder Bomb for 2. Moose tags in and Gresham is getting thrown around. Moose takes a cheap shot at Hendry and then tags out to Maclin.

Gresham shoots between the legs, shakes off the leg pick from Maclin and Hendry comes in and starts hitting power moves on everyone except Moose. So that will probably be a thing tomorrow is Hendry actually pulling off a power move. Moose gets in the way enough for Hendry to get caught up by Eddie. Car crash spots from everyone, Moose blind tags himself in, Lights Out on Hendry and Moose wins!

After the match, Eddie is still in the ring, the lights flicker and there’s thunder and ominous music for a few seconds. Most likely PCO’s return is being set up since he did stick his hand out of the ground. Eddie keeps trying to bury his past, and failing. 

Overall Score: 7.5/10

The open was weird and redoing the video package for Mickie’s Last Rodeo was a little redundant, also video package for the title match was unnecessary. However, the matches were solid and IF you only watch Go Homes, I guess this summed things up pretty damn well.

Hopefully the fill in executive won’t be Don Callis, just because that means there might be another recursion of Kenny Omega in IMPACT and I’d rather shot in the face at close range from a sawed off shotgun. The AEW crap didn’t help IMPACT, it just lowered the quality of the IMPACT show.

So it was a pretty good show, but I swear if Hard to Kill has Callis, this will be one of those turning point episodes that lead to garbage. Lets hope the dark times are over.