Andrew’s Impact Wrestling Results & Match Ratings: 11.16.2023

On a day when most of social media is abuzz because Zack and Cody finally get to at Chef Gigi’s restaurant in Rome; the few of us who still love TNA/IMPACT know it’s the day when the Billy Goat comes to play with the Walking Weapon!

Sure there’s other things going on, but as Chris Platt loving reminded everyone nearly every episode of POD is War…we shouldn’t bury the lead. If you’re here, you want to know if Josh Alexander and Will Ospreay lived up to the hype, if there was some shenanigans or if somehow it was lackluster. So…scroll down already, I get it, no hard feelings.

Still have to cover the whole show though!

"MK Ultra is here to reshape your reality" @mashaslamovich @Kelly_WP #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/W8J3htNVdE

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) November 17, 2023

Ratings:

• Impact Tag Team Championship: The ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) (c) vs Sheldon Jean & Kenny King: ABC wins via 1-2-SWEET – ** 3/4
• Moose w/Brian Myers vs Heath: Moose wins via Lights Out – ** 3/4
• Lucha Rules Match: The Rascalz (Myron Reed, Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) vs Juventud Guerrera, Black Taurus & Laredo Kid: Taurus wins via Destination Hellhole – *** 1/2
• Steve Maclin & KiLynn King vs Bully Ray & Jordynne Grace: Jordynne  wins via Juggernaut Driver – ** 1/2
• Sonny Kiss vs Trinity: Trinity wins via Booty Cradle – **
• Will Ospreay vs Josh Alexander: Ospreay wins via Storm Breaker – *****

Results:

Impact Tag Team Championship: The ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) (c) vs Sheldon Jean & Kenny King

Ace and Kenny start off and it’s a typical tie up/stalemate style of start. No one it getting a ton of advantage, Kenny does some Leap Frogs and up and overs; but still, nothing high enough impact for notation. ABC turn around some nefarious heel tandem attempts and isolate Kenny a bit in their corner until Sheldon picks Bey’s ankle and changes the momentum. Sheldon wracks Bey against the post and Kenny keeps control while legally tagging in Sheldon to keep the onslaught up.

Bey fights out of a legal double team, steps off of Kenny to fly into the tag for Ace, and Ace takes the hot tag and starts taking out both opponents. Flying Knees, his hide in the turnbuckles spot, comes out with the Triangle Kick, and we see the educated feet of Ace get ABC a two count. Ace tags in Bey, they look for the 1-2-Sweet but Sheldon pulls out Ace, Kenny hits a Tiger Driver out of nowhere, Eddy Gordo kick, Block Buster into Twisting Brain Buster from Sheldon for only 2. Tornillo miss from Kenny, Ace kicks Sheldon’s face off, 1-2-SWEET!! The ABC retain.

Short, a little sporadic on the action, but no offensive…just not impressive. 

Moose w/Brian Myers vs Heath

Moose pie faces Heath a few times, and then the energy picks up because Heath gets annoyed, Moose tries to get cocky but simple Arm Drags give Heath all the early mojo. Moose powders, Myers distracts Heath for a second so Heath eats a Pump Kick but then throws Moose into the post, they go back in, a few corner Splashes, Heath is feeling froggy, tries to keep things going when Moose walks along the ropes and then Moose dumps him out. Moose distracts the ref and Myers lays the boots in a little.

Go back in the ring, Moose keeps up the pressure, Myers keeps finding cheap shots, Heath tries to counter the Uranage but eats a Boot, then Heath counters the Jacknife and finally strings a few moves together. Big Jumping Knee from Heath, into the Leg Lariat, then a Scoop Power Slam for 2! Myers hops on the apron to distract Heath, Moose finally lands the Uranage, Myers slides in the briefcase to distract the ref so he can hold onto Moose to block the Wake Up Call, then Moose lands Lights Out for the win!

Rhino runs in for the save after Moose and Myers do the heel thing of post match beatdown. Moose bails and Myers eats a Gore. So even though they just worked well together, we saw Moose hang Myers out to dry to a degree. 

EXCLUSIVE: "Finally The Juice has come back to IMPACT!" @JUVENTUDGUERRE2, @Laredokidpro1 and @Taurusoriginal take on The Rascalz TONIGHT on IMPACT! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/RPOw2sio3Z

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) November 17, 2023

Lucha Rules Match: The Rascalz (Myron Reed, Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) vs Juventud Guerrera, Black Taurus & Laredo Kid

Konnan joins on commentary, so that’s just nice to hear him back in TNA/Impact. 

Trey and Laredo start off, but Lucha rules is basically a no tag match. As soon as someone eats a Tilt-a-Whirl or Frankensteiner and powders the other member can legally pop in. Early on the Rascalz have control after Trey hits the one-legged Frankensteiner flip to the outside. Laredo gets isolated, Wentz and Trey with some tandem offense but Laredo kicks out without a real threat. But the Rascalz take a few shortcuts with rope chokes and abusing the general chaos with 6 men and lucha rules.

Trey mocks Eddie Guerrero’s shimmy, and pulls off the 3 Amigos, and Juvy seems pissed off. Trey finally misses in the corner, Laredo rocks him, Juvy comes in and the luchadors get some combo offense. Juvy had his mask on for a good portion of the match until this tandem attack when he takes off the mask for the Assisted Missile Dropkick. Laredo looks to return the 3 Amigos, but only gets to 2 before Trey blocks and tags out for a very fun series of Stun Guns, Assisted Bombs and a Running Shooting Star for 2. The Luchadors haven’t really had any real offense, but it has been constant action. Laredo counters Trey on the top turnbuckle with a good ole Viva La Raza Sunset Bomb counter. Juvy is tagged in, big Crossbody eats 2 Rascalz and The Juice keeps it rolling on everyone. Code Red from Laredo, Pop Up Samoan Drop from Taurus, Juvy hits the top but the Rascalz cut off the Luchas and push Juvy onto the floor into Taurus.

Slingshot Superkick into a Double Stomp Triple Team. They follow it up with a Backflip Triple Dropkick on Laredo for 2 as the other Luchadors just fly in to barely break it up. Mexican Destroyer from Laredo, Myron hits Flame On on Taurus, UFO Cutter from Wentz, Gory Special DDT from Juvy, Myron outside in Rebound Codebreaker. Matrix Cutter from Myron, but Taurus Spears Myron out of the sky, Destination Hellhole from Taurus for the win!

All gas, no brakes. Very fun match.

Steve Maclin & KiLynn King vs Bully Ray & Jordynne Grace

I’m really curious if all of this angle of calling Bully “soft” is a set up for Nzo to debut with some kind of SAWFT reference. 

Honestly, smart booking putting a slower mix tag after the lucha match. Gives space for the big main event that most people are here for while not really hurting this match since its more of a story than a barn burner. Maclin hits a Flying Shoulder tackle, then tags in KiLynn and she lays in a few forearms and Bully is selling her strikes decently well. Bully is playing to the crowd to get them to chant for Jordynne and tags in Jordynne playing real big babyface. Hell he even Irish Whips her into KiLynn. Jordynne seems to be on guard, but Bully is playing well with her so far.

King with a Savat Kick, Double Choke into the corner and then a few Running Back Elbows puts Jordynne on the back foot. Jordynne slips the Powerbomb but KiLynn doesn’t fall so Jordynne kicks her in the ass to tag out to Bully, Bully drops KiLynn, Bully goes to the top, Maclin cuts him off and then KiLynn throws Bully off the top turnbuckle for a 1 count. Maclin gets the legal tag and now he’s working Bully over in their corner. Football Tackle from Bully stops Maclin’s offense, simultaneous tags to the Knockouts. Haymakers into a Spinning Backfist, KiLynn retreats to the corner, Sliding Hip Attack, Vader Bomb, but Maclin breaks it up. KiLynn accidentally Pump Kicks Maclin when he tries to subdue Jordynne, Bully dumps Maclin out, Juggernaut Driver from Jordynne and she wins!

Weird stare down between Jordynne and Bully after he tells her to rip the trophy from him if she really wants it. They then shake hands and Bully puts her over. This is either a long con from Bully or he finally has respect for Jordynne after all these years. 

Sonny Kiss vs Trinity

For anyone wondering, Sonny identifies as Genderfluid but uses She/Her pronouns. So even though she wrestled in the Men’s Division during her AEW stint, people change and evolve just like society and the business. So this makes sense.

A sloppy Frankensteiner/Stereo Dropkick moment, and then they do a twerking stare down…check off another thing I never thought I’d write. Sonny does her corner Booty Clap, pushes off, Slides on the knees and blows Trinity a kiss. So they’re just teasing each other and playing “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better”. Trinity Dropkick, but Sonny turns it into an Inverted Big Swing and plants her with a face buster of sorts into a Snap Suplex and Standing Moonsault for 2. Sonny puts Trinity in the Tree of Woe, Back Hand Spring Floor Routine Back Elbow from corner to corner. Sonny was looking for an Implant Buster, but Trinity counters and lands a desperation Rope Assist Bulldog.

Lariat into Back Elbow and Disaster Kick from Trin. Split Cover for only 2. Trinity just slaps Sonny, Bulldog into the Middle Buckle, Split Legged Moonsault for 2. Sonny counters Trininty and lays her inbetween the middle buckle, Cartwheel Axe Kick from Sonny for 2. Headscissor Head Spike, Bubba Bomb into the Roll over Booty Cradle for the win.

Will Ospreay vs Josh Alexander

Early Shoulder Tackle stalemate before Ospreay uses his speed to duck and weave and send Josh to the outside with a Frankensteiner. Plancha from Ospreay and then we get a commercial that comes back with Will going around the world with head rams and chops. Josh finally pops him back and Josh jaws as Will smiles. So we get a forearm exchange, Ospreay is stung, Tiger Wall Kick, Enzuigiri gets caught into an Ankle Lock! Ospreay rolls to his back but Josh transitions to a Sharpshooter as Ospreay has to find the ropes to break the hold. Chops and Uppercuts keep Ospreay reeling but he finally counters with the Pop Up Throat over the Ropes into a Back Breaker for 2. Kawada Kicks from Ospreay, Josh Overhand Chops to get back up and stop the kicks. Ospreay kicks him down and then shin across the throat for a point. Oscutter gets blocked, German Suplex gets blocked as Ospreay runs into the corner, ducks to ram Josh into the top buckle, Running Shooting Star for 2.

Ospreay fires Josh into the ropes, Josh slides between the legs and looks for the triplicate Germans. Lands two, Will flips out of 3, Enzuigiri, rope run for a Frankensteiner but Josh says nope and Powerbreaker for 2! Will tries to fight from the apron after a powder, Josh rocks him so Will is seated and Josh goes for the low sliding Crossbody to the outside of his. Knee to the spine of Ospreay, and Ospreay is trying to shake feeling back into his hands. Desperation strike exchange, but Josh cuts off the attack with a Shoulder Drive and Northern Lights Suplex Hold for 2. Sternum first Irish Whip into the corner from Josh, and now Josh is getting a little arrogant and goading the Billy Goat right before another Irish Whip to the corner, but this one spine first. Josh is relentless and not giving Ospreay a ton of space in the corner even when the referee tries to admonish him. Will bites the hand to break the headlock grip and retreats to the corner as Josh just lights up his chest with chops.

Josh is feeling it as he calls for the crowd to get into it as he throws Will but a few counters into a Lethal Injection from Ospreay finally gives the Total Nonstop Assassin an opening. Phenomenal Forearm from Ospreay for 2. Strike Exchange again, but now Will is getting the best of things but Josh puts his arms behind him and asks for more. Ospreay even kicks up his leg for momentum into the Chop but Josh fires, Will tries an Oscutter but Josh catches him, gets him stable and then Blue Thunder Bomb for 2. Josh takes Ospreay to the Top, Avalanche Rolling Senton for 2, Josh tries to hit the ropes for a Lariat, but Will flips through it for the fluid Tiger Driver he’s well known for. Will fires up, Yakuza Kick into Cheeky Nandos and Josh’s mouthpiece falls out. Ospreay goes to the top, but Josh cuts him off. Avalanche German potentially, but Ospreay back headbutt stops Josh, Spiral Tap and Josh moves, Will lands on his feet weird so Josh dives on the Ankle for the Ankle Lock. Separation, Superkick, Oscutter but a stall causes trouble and Josh catches the leg for the Ankle Lock. Ospreay rolls through, tries a Superkick again but Josh catches it into another Ankle Lock…but bottom rope is in reach!

Will holds on for dear life as Josh tries the Ankle Lock but Will turns it into a Small Package, Josh breaks, lifts him for a Fire/Thunder Driver but countered into a Stundog Millionaire. Ospreay uses the corner for a desperation Oscutter but only 2! Both guys are reeling, Ospreay is selling the leg hard, they crawl and headbutt each other, nasty strike exchange again, spin around Forearm to the back of the head from Ospreay, CHAOS THEROY GERMAN SUPLEX HOLD from Alexander! But only a 2 count. Josh stomps the leg and goes for another Ankle Lock. Ospreay fights back with Upkicks, Standing Spanish Fly out of nowhere, for another near fall!

Greatest Oscutter Ever into Strombreak-NO-Spinning Tombstone from Alexander Okada style but Billy Goat kicks out! C4 Sp-Nope, Hidden Blade for 2, Storm Driver/Ganso Bomb kick out! No Pad Hidden Blade, into Storm Breaker for the win!

Overall Score: 9/10

GODT DAMN! Nothing was really bad, somethings were average, but between the Luca Trios match and the main event…damn damn damn. This is such great shit pal!

A few story beats got pushed forward all while focusing pretty heavily on the wrestling this episode. We got a pretty cool vignette from Mk Ultra to remind us who the Knockouts Tag Champs are since that title has been fairly irrelevant since the IIconics left. Moose and Myers are keeping busy before Hard to Kill, and Juvy doing his cornball The Juice stuff one more time is the right level of cringe and nostalgia to still feel tolerable.

If you like wrestling heavy episodes, this one is for you. Plus that main event was easily PPV quality.