We’ve got the first episode of IMPACT after the New Jersey domination that was the Rebellion PPV. Steve Maclin will have his changing of the guard, Joe Hendry apparently has a title match today and there’s gonna be some X Division 6 man tag craziness!

Who do we see step up to potentially challenge for the World Title and/or the Knockouts Title? Since things were messy going in with all the injuries, its safe to say no one has a clue who is going in what direction. What role does Nick Aldis play? Will there be any returning wrestlers? Let’s find out!

Welcome to the NEW Age of The Virtuosa!@DeonnaPurrazzo #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/w8ppboZHt6

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) April 21, 2023

Results:

• Time Machine (Kushida, Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs Speedball Mike Bailey, Jonathan Gresham & Trey Miguel: Sabin wins via Cradle Shock – *** 1/4
• Alisha Edwards vs Tara Rising: Lish wins via X Factor – ** 1/2
• Moose w/Brian Myers vs Yuya Uemura w/Bhupinder Gujjar: Moose wins via Lights Out – ** 1/4
• Frankie Kazarian vs The Good Hands: Kaz wins via Chicken Wing – N/A
• Digital Media Championship: Sheldon Jean vs Joe Hendry (c): Hendry wins via Standing Ovation – **

Ratings:

Time Machine (Kushida, Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs Speedball Mike Bailey, Jonathan Gresham & Trey Miguel

Shelley and Gresham start off, hand shake, Arm Wingers, Hammer Locks, Take Overs, just solid quick chain wrestling. Sabin and Bailey are next, and we get more of the Junior style with quick rope running, Arm Drags, up and overs, a lot of counter play until Sabin grabs the arm, tags in Kushida, but then Kushida gets driven into the enemy corner and Trey tags himself in. Back rake and quick cheap shot spots until all of Time Machine start quick tags and trading Arm Wringers looking like they’re gonna rip off Trey’s arm.

Trey rakes the eyes, tags in Bailey and Bailey gets worked over when Trey tries to come in but the ref stops him. Triple High Speed Dirt, a Triple Tandem shot in the corner on Bailey and the dysfunctional aspect of  the X Division team is showing clearly. Bailey is getting worked over for numerous minutes, and Trey continues to try and come in, but he makes it too obvious and Bailey eats so much offense. Its not until a small hope spot with a Round Kick gives him a shot. Kushida tags in and Handspring kicks the teammates down, so Time Machine takes advantage. Double Cutters from Kushida and Sabin on Bailey, then 5 Hole Dive wipes out Gresham and Trey as we get the commercial break.

Coming back in Bailey is still eating shots, but a Front Handspring takes out Sabin, combo kicks takes out Shelley, and he finally tags in Gresham. Back and forth Shoulder Tackles, Gresham drops Kushida and then takes out The Guns, some more back and forthuntil Shelley manages to interrupt the Cradle. Kushida and Shelley try some Time Splitters action, but Gresham puts a stop to all of it. Apron misfire when Sabin kicks Shelley instead of Gresham, Trey tries to steal the thunder from Bailey, but Kushida drops Trey, Bailey kicks Kushida mid Hand Spring and then Asai Moonsault from Bailey drops everyone.

Gresham has Kushida tied in the Octopus, but Trey tags himself in. Gresham is annoyed but all of Time Machine gang up on Trey, triple submission moment as we go into another commercial. Trey got his foot on the ropes, and is trading blows with Kushida. Kushida tags in Sabin, Missile Dropkick sends Trey careening into his corner so Speedball tags in. Yakuza Kick from Sabin, sets up a Tornado DDT, but no. Fighting Spirit moment, Knee Lift from Sabin, rope run but Bailey catches him in the Standing Spanish Fly for 2. Backflip Double Knees from Bailey, Tornado Kicks incoming,  Sabin catches tries to perch, eats an Enzuigiri. Bailey gets rocked after Sabin slips down, Avalanche German!

Trey fights Gresham for the tag, Trey gets rocked, tries to tag out but Kushida and Sabin pull down Trey’s team. Gresham breaks up the corner spot, Bailey sees Sabin trying to Powerbomb Trey and hits Ultima Weapon on Sabin. Trey is annoyed that he took some of the damage, and complains instead of taking advantage of the situation. Signature spam spot by everyone. Punctuated with triplicate tandem moves into Cradle Shock for the win!

Well this would normally lead to a Sabin getting a shot at the X Division title. So if that’s the outcome, good enough stuff. Now take the title off of Trey dammit.

The things @milanmiracle has to deal with…..@ZickyDice @swinger_johnny @MrsAIPAlisha @MeanGiaMiller #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/slpEfEa1BH

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) April 21, 2023

Alisha Edwards vs Tara Rising

You know, I’m not sure how this will go. Alisha has a little bit of a different personality, so she might be set up for something decent. Okay, she starts slow, methodical and a few Overhand Chops and Hair Tosses don’t look bad. Lish adds a little more attitude, the old lick to the hand before the chops and even blowing a little kiss before charging. Tara gets a foot up, but Lish meets her in the middle with a Lariat.

Lish uses the apron to work over Tara, throws her back in, kick to the gut and a snapping quick X Factor for the win.

This…is probably the best match that Lish has ever had. She continues the post match beating, but Jody Threat makes the save. 

Moose w/Brian Myers vs Yuya Uemura w/Bhupinder Gujjar

Time traveling baby Tanahashi gets immediately attacked by Moose but Yuya doesn’t run. He turns things around and stays resilient in trying to snap off quick kicks and Arm Drags. Yuya looks for a Plancha, but Myers pushes Moose out of the way and  takes the move to give Moose the opening. Apron Powerbomb from Moose is what the doctor ordered to give Moose the advantage again.

Moose and Myers could really be a great a tag team to bolster a slightly thin division. Moose is leaning on the younger wrestler, choking him with the ropes and just outpowering him. A big Bitch Slap wakes up Yuya, and he catches Moose a few times before Myers tries to trip up Yuya and Moose connects on a Pump Kick to stall the momentum Uemura. Moose slides in the ring and calls for the Count Out but Yuya is in at 6. Strike Exchange happens and Yuya gets the best of things, Flying Forearm sends Moose into the corner, Hip Attack and a reversal being reversed with a back Elbow keeps Yuya in control and a nice Bulldog leads to the Double Overhook Belly to Belly attempt, but no. Moose blocks, tries to attack, miss, German Suplex from Uemura, into an Akiyama Wrist Capture Suplex. Yuya heads to the corner, Moose stops him and drops him, but Yuya follows, meets Moose on top, Avalanche Double Overhook Belly to Belly! 1-2-Myers distracts the referee! Yuya perches, Myers yells at him and Moose tries to run up the corner and catch Yuya but Yuya headbutts him back down. Myers distracts the ref again and Gujjar finally takes out Myers.

Lights Out miss, Roll-Up for 2, Yuya charges Moose but Moose Stun Guns him over the top rope, Lights Out! Moose wins!

The match was hampered a little from the constant interference, but the story of Myers and Moose could’ve really turned a corner here. So all in all solid stuff.

.@RealNickAldis is BACK in IMPACT Wrestling and his sights are set on @SteveMaclin and the IMPACT World Championship! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/jQ2N70crHd

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) April 21, 2023

Hey Look! It’s Jimmy Jacobs! Zombie Princess is still around! 

Frankie Kazarian vs The Good Hands

This is a little hard to get invested in. Good Hands have been a goofy job squad, so Kaz winning the handicap match is a little too obvious and not even in the fun way.

Good hands try to start with some decent tag tactics, a little bit of short cuts and team oriented run ins before Kaz starts fighting back. Even has an interesting Figure Four + Cradle combination for a near fall. Meeting of the minds, Slingshot Cutter on Hotch and Chicken Wing on Skyler shocks no one.

.@TheSamiCallihan is coming to DESTROY The Design! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/TFzqhaN2W1

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) April 21, 2023

Digital Media Championship: Sheldon Jean vs Joe Hendry (c)

We’ve seen Jean a few times and this isn’t a terrible spot for him. He’s had a few matches where he’s been competitive but being local talent he loses in the long run. However, the Digital Media title being a new and arguably lower mid card title for now…it makes sense a local guy could get a shot.

Sheldon claws Hendry’s nose and then hits a Twisting Knee Lift to drop Hendry. Sheldon tries to keep things moving but Hendry interrupts that with a few haymakers of his own, bouncing Sheldon out of the corner and catching him with a Cutter. Shoulder Tackles into a Sack of Shit, and Hendry kips up for a camera spot. Standing Ovation, but no, Jean tries to mount something but Hendry cuts him off with a big Lariat. Hendry stomps for momentum, Standing Ovation, and the match is over.

A little too obvious to really buy into or care about the challenger. 

Maclin comes out with a few guards in boot camp camo shirts, American flag on the tron and Red, White & Blue streamers adorning the ring…IN CANADA. Beautiful work. Maclin issues an open challenge, but only to a Canadian wrestler. Scott D’Amore’s music hits and I doubt Scott will challenge for the title. But it makes for an interesting moment. 

Maclin eggs on D’Amore, and D’Amore acts like he’s getting ready to accept the challenge. Says he’s got a “Perfect Canadian…Perfect Creation One”. So it looks like Under Siege will be PCO vs Maclin. Maclin and his camo goons attack PCO, grab a table and before Maclin can put him through the table, PCO wipes out the security. DDT from PCO, PCO looks for a Powerbomb through the table, but Maclin takes the tactical retreat. However a few of the security goons are still there, so the 2 security guys get driven through the table. 

Overall Score: 6.5/10

Now I hate Trey’s attempt at what he thinks is wrestling, but the 6 man was fine since he was restricted to most heel garbage and a few quick spots that weren’t overly offensive. The show struggled a little from the wrestling perspective because there was a lot of video packages recapping Rebellion and new champions; plus the matches were supremely predictable or unengaging. Now I enjoyed Lish’s match, but because she’s a heel nothing was super flashy or cool, she just did solid work. So if you come here for wrestling, watch the first like 15 minutes then go home.

Aside from that, stories started to move forward. The Coven has taken interest in Deonna, Sabin pinning Trey means he might be in line for a shot and the finish to the show with PCO being the first challenger for Maclin’s new title reign is pretty hype. Canadian and American fans love PCO, so even if he loses (which is very likely), he will have a ton of fan support as he should, and the story is easy to build since Maclin is a wonderful shit heel.

Thusly, if you enjoy IMPACT stories and wrestlers, this was an alright episode. If you only watch for good wrestling…try again next week.