Andrew’s IMPACT Results & Match Ratings: 1.5.2023

So after the best of episode, we open the first show of the New Year with a graphic and later on; a video package dedicated to Don West.

Stars of IMPACT past and present pay tribute to the passion, energy and enthusiasm of the incomparable Don West. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/8YcNiSr4Oe

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 6, 2023

So let’s see how the week before the Go Home sets things up for Hard to Kill. We have some nice story building matches, hopefully they pay off a little instead of just being pure set up.

Ratings:

• Masha Slamovich vs Taylor Wilde: Wilde wins via Inside Cradle – ***
• Black Taurus vs Anthony Greene: Black Taurus wins via Destination Hellhole – ***
• Earnest R Anthony vs Jonathan Gresham: Gresham wins via High Angle Half Crab pinfall – N/A
• Matt Cardona w/Brian Myers vs Chris Sabin w/Alex Shelley: Sabin wins via Cradle Shock – ***

Results:

Deonna Purrazzo comes out on commentary for the opening match.

Masha Slamovich vs Taylor Wilde

Some solid chain wrestling and grounded mat wrestling early on from both women. Masha gets out of a submission attempt by rotating off the corner turnbuckles and using the momentum to essentially Iconoclasm Taylor down and get away from the lock up. Taylor counters Masha’s offense in the corner and then applies an interesting choke with the inside of her knee Triangling Masha’s head.

The whole match has been nicely back and forth. Its doing great at reminding us how good Taylor really is, since she was one of the OG crop of Knockouts who was crazy impressive and came back to wrestling recently. Some nice back and forth, Wilde Ride on Masha for 2, but Masha gets up and hits a Sole Butt into multiple Snap Suplexes.

A bit of a trade, stereo lariats lay both women out but Taylor is doing a great job at getting her offense in. A nice Codebreaker gives her another near fall. Masha hangs in there, shakes off the Wilde Ride, uses the ropes to stun Taylor and spends a little extra time to talk smack to Deonna. Masha slides back in thinking she’s got things locked up, Taylor rocks her and then hits the Inside Cradle for the flash victory.

"The Death Machine WANTS The Design! But does The Design WANT the Death Machine?!" @TheSamiCallihan #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/chjz7rRp8Z

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 6, 2023

Black Taurus vs Anthony Greene

Crazzy Steve is still acting as Taurus’ personal announcer, and I’m not against it. It reminds me of when Taka Michinoku used to intro Zack Saber JUST TAP OUT. I’m just going to be very over it if Taurus doesn’t start getting the big push he should already have had. 

Greene has been managing flashes of offense to help his debut not seem like an enhancement match. A nice Flying Frankensteiner, countering a Running Slam with the slide sending Taurus into the post and then maintaining the offense after the commercial break. A rotating Rope Walk into a Flying Crossbody, then Superkick and Reverse Power Slam gives Greene another near fall.

The former NXT wrestler August Grey is putting on a bit of a show before he eventually gets caught by Taurus. Pop-Up Samoan Drop, Modified Backbreaker into Destination Hellhole for the win.

After the match Trey Miguel attacks Anthony Greene as he gets assisted out, which makes no sense. He tags the new guy who just got dropped and it looks pathetic. Trey is hot garbage. I can only hope that Taurus wins; but with Trey’s new moronic heel persona he probably will retain at Hard to Kill. 

Earnest R Anthony vs Jonathan Gresham

Neither guy gets any intros, they’re just in the ring after the interview segment. This is the obvious enhancement match. A nice Keiji Mutoh reference from Johnathan Gresham, and the kid is getting twisted and popped.

To the kid’s credit, Gresham is working the left leg, and Anthony is slightly overdoing the leg injury sell, but it at least makes this obvious squash more entertaining as Gresham is just having fun torturing the kid. Turning a modified Half Crab into a high angle pinfall.

.@TheJaiVidal, @GiseleShaw08, @RealTSteelz and @SavannahEvansNV have ONE common goal! Take down The Death Dollz! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/1kMXuooz2p

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 6, 2023

The Design answers Sami Callihan…sortuv. They say he has to be stripped down and cleansed to become one with the Design. SO if Sami accepts, he’ll get his head shaved and prolly ass kicked again next week. So this could be a way to make The Design scary again having Sami replace EY. 

.@joehendry wrote @TheMooseNation NEW entrance music! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/XUtRrVTRX0

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 6, 2023

I love Moose, but I also believe in Joe Hendry. So fan wise I’m conflicted, but Joe punked Moose so well here. This should be a fun match.

So I’ll admit back to back video packages with Mickie’s career followed by a Don West tribute did definitely put a weird vibe and slowed down the pace a bit too much; it was well done. Don West is a voice that will always resonate with reigniting my interest in wrestling after WCW folded, always loved his Brown Bag Specials and GEM MINT 10! Always kind of wished people appreciated him when he was active instead of the general opinion that he was too much or annoying or “one of the worst”. Don was amazing. 

Matt Cardona w/Brian Myers vs Chris Sabin w/Alex Shelley

Setting the table for part of  the Tag title four way at Hard to Kill, we see a bit of a back and forth with the Major Players taking early shortcuts and a few show off arrogance. Cardona with a Penalty Kick counter on the apron and triplicate Neckbreakers, Cardona holds the advantage for a good portion of time.

Cardona goes for a Reboot, Sabin counters with a Back Body Drop to the outside and then a commercial. Coming back there’s a strike trade going on which ends with Sabin hitting a Tornado DDT but Myers distracts the referee. Shelley chases him, Sabin Penalty Kicks him and then Shelley opens the ropes for the 5 Hole Dive on the Major Players. Top Rope Crossbody from Sabin for 2.

Using the referee as a shield, Cardona makes Sabin stop, Suplexes him into the corner and then Back to Back Reboots for a near fall. Missile Dropkick from Cardona, Enzuigiri from Sabin, Cradle Shock and HAIL SABIN!

Bully was supposed to be sent home until Hard to Kill, but he shows up through the crowd. Bully tries to threaten the fans if he doesn’t get a World Champion out there, but Scott D’Amore shows up. This isn’t an awful promo, but it goes too long and says the same stuff that’s been said for months. “Bully didn’t change but we wanted to give him a chance; but he’s still a scumbag”. It eventually escalates to a point where Bully is goading Scott to hit him and he almost gives in, seems to take the high road but swerves us and cold cocks Bully. Hotch and Skyler hit the ring to restrain Scott and then Bully kicks him and hits a Piledriver and then a Powerbomb through a table. 

Overall Score: 6.75/10

I’m actually pretty torn about this episode. Most of the in-ring action was pretty good given they were TV matches setting up for a PPV, but all of the video packages and talking really caused me to count minutes. The Mickie and Don West combination was 10 minutes before the final wrestling match, and the Bully Ray stuff lasted about 12 minutes. So the last roughly 35 minutes had 22 minutes of talking or video segment. Plus the Bully segment really took a while to get to a decent point and really just reiterated points they’ve been hammering home for weeks, so it felt too heavy handed on the obvious.

So the positives are I love Joe Hendry, Moose, Motor City and Taylor Wilde. Plus I have fond memories of Don West so that was very touching and well done; but trying to maintain objectivity outside of fan bias…things were placed oddly and the show felt too slow. Maybe…its because there was an extra week between story telling so they used this episode as more of a “reminder”.

Either way, it just felt like too much table setting and talking but even with a limited number of matches; action was really solid. I’m enjoying the Wilde Witch more than I expected myself to. And yes…I believe in Moose Dancing as well.

Show was alright, I don’t think it will sway opinions if they already weren’t buying the PPV; but it wasn’t unwatchable.