As the famous villain Dark Helmet said, “Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.” Whether it was dumbness, selfishness, or simply egotism, a dysfunctional trio of Impact’s best couldn’t get past their internal squabbling long enough to effectively unite and fight for their company’s honour against Don Callis’ AEW loyalists. And so, once again, Kenny Omega and the Good Brothers stood tall at the end of the night, while Omega’s next challenger, Sami Callihan, could only look on in frustration.

The main event capped off an otherwise decent episode that focused heavily on the in-ring action with very little other filler.

 

Match 1: Satoshi Kojima vs. Eddie Edwards

Although Eddie’s entrance music played, he didn’t come down the entrance ramp. Instead, W. Morrissey appeared on the big screen. He told Kojima that he had jumped Edwards in the parking lot, and like Morrissey said, nobody was there to help Edwards. And now Kojima was left alone, just like everyone else in the world.

This brought out Brian Myers and his protégé Sam Beale. Myers told Kojima to leave the ring, because Beale can’t learn anything from Kojima. Myers then started to call out Jake Something, but an insulted Kojima confronted him. Beale and Myers beat down Kojima until Something ran in for the save, sending them scrambling.

Before they could leave the arena, referee Brandon Tolle came out and told them that Impact management had made the match official.

Match 1B: Satoshi Kojima and Jake Something vs. Brian Myers and Sam Beale

This was a fairly standard tag team match that went on for quite some time. Myers and Beale had control for much of the match, but eventually Jake got the tag to a fresh Kojima. He went on a frenzied offense, including hitting Beale with his Fire Chops, and then hit a Flying Elbow, but Beale kicked out. Kojima dropped him with a big DDT, and was setting up for a Koji Cutter, but Myers broke it up. Myers went for a running attack on Kojima, but Something intercepted him with a Black Hole Slam, and the two of them went rolling out of the ring. Kojima then hit a Koji Cutter and a Cozy Lariat on Beale for the pin.

 

This was fine, but felt unnecessarily long, particularly given the lack of dynamism in all of them not named Kojima. Beale has an interesting look – if not for all of the garish tattoos, he’s kind of a throwback to someone from the southern territorial days of the 70s/80s – but paired with Myers is holding him back.

Winners: Satoshi Kojima and Jake Something

Backstage, Gia Miller interviewed Impact Executive Vice-President Scott D’Amore to get his views about Impact appointing Tommy Dreamer as their consultant to oversee D’Amore’s performance. Before he could say anything, he found a tarot card in his pocket, and this summoned Havok and Rosemary who teleported themselves into the scene. They requested a Knockouts Tag Team Championship match, and he said he’d consider it and quickly made his exit.

 

Match 2: Tenille Dashwood (w/ Kaleb) vs. Rachael Ellering (w/ Jazz)

Ellering was just taking off her over-shirt when Dashwood rushed her with a big forearm, stunning her. Ellering quickly recovered, and fired back with some powerful shots, including a big forearm, and a senton splash. Dashwood sought some advice from Kaleb, but sacrificed him to a running attack by Ellering that sent him flying from the apron, as we headed into the commercial.

Back from the break, and Dashwood was in control. During this, Dashwood almost Statlandered a Butterfly Suplex (i.e. nearly dropped Ellering on her head), which was a bit too close. But Ellering fired back, and turned the tide with an STO. Kaleb distracted Ellering, and that left her prone for a Top Rope Sunset Flip by Dashwood. But Ellering didn’t go over, and instead sat down and stacked up Dashwood for the pin.

After the match, Dashwood attacked Ellering, but Jazz fought her off. Kaleb then held Jazz back, but before he and Dashwood could do any damage, Jordynne Grace ran in for the save and she and Ellering chased them away. Ellering reached out to shake Jordynne’s hand, and after teasing a bit by brushing her hand away, Jordynne hugged her instead. The two of them and Jazz then all hugged each other, and seemingly the tension between Grace and Ellering has been lifted.

 

The match was fine and about what you’d expect. More curious is whether the Grace-Ellering storyline will just end the way it did. After all the teasing of a split over the past several weeks, if that’s the way it ends, cue the deflating balloon fart nose.

Winner: Rachael Ellering

Backstage, Gia Miller interviewed Chris Bey to talk about his neutrality in the brewing X-Division faction war. Before he could say anything, Ace Austin, Rohit Raju, and their respective henchmen Mad Man Fulton and Shera came up to him. They said that as long as he stayed out of their way, they didn’t care if he wasn’t actively on their side or not.

 

Match 3: TJP and Fallah Bahh vs. Willie Mack and Rich Swann

These two babyface teams challenged each other last week to see which team was more-deserving of a shot at the Tag Team Champions, Violent By Design. The match started off with both teams fairly even, though Mack was able to hit Bahh with a big Samoan Drop, and seconds later, Swann hit a Somersault Bomb off the top rope to the floor, knocking his opponents and his teammate down.

 

He got up, but then was immediately clobbered from behind by VBD’s Deaner who charged down the ramp. Deaner was followed by the rest of VBD, and they picked apart both teams, punctuated by a GORE GORE GORE on Mack, a DeanerDT on TJP, and a Doering Lariat on Swann.

This was short, but effective. VBD continues to benefit from some great booking that makes them look unstoppable.

Winner: No Contest

In the back, Fire N Flava were indignant that Rosemary and Havok thought they could simply request a title shot and get one, as opposed to earning one like they did. They cornered D’Amore outside of his office and voiced their objections. D’Amore said that they would get a chance to evaluate Rosemary and Havok’s abilities next week. Not sure if this means that they face Fire N Flava in a non-title match next week or some other team. Fire N Flava were entertaining here, as always.

Gia Miller interviewed Tommy Dreamer who was with Team Dreamer for tonight’s main event – Moose, Sami Callihan, and Chris Sabin. Dreamer said that nowithstanding the tension between the three of them, they would have to come together to collectively represent Impact against Team Callis (AEW and Impact World Champion Kenny Omega and the Good Brothers). The three said that they would put their differences aside in a show of solidarity against the invaders.

 

Match 4: Chris Bey vs. Petey Williams

As one might expect, this one was a fast-paced affair early on, with both men hitting some neat moves, including a sweet Standing Hurancarana by Petey in the early moments. Petey put Bey in the Tree of Woe for a patriotic rendition of O! Canada – appropriate for July 1st. Bey was able to turn things around, though, when he trapped Petey in the ropes and hit him with some kicks. The action went back-and-forth after that, with Bey grounding Petey in a Figure Four Headlock, and Petey responding with a big German Suplex and a huge running knee to the face. Bey avoided a Canadian Destroyer, and then hit a TKO Neckbreaker for a near-fall. Petey locked on a Sharpshooter, but Bey was able to reach the ropes to break it. Petey went for another Destroyer, but Bey shoved him off, hit a Cutter, and then Art of the Finesse put Petey down for good.

 

After the match, Austin, Raju and their hired goons came to the ring, and put the boots to Petey. They tried to recruit Bey, but he walked away and headed back up the ramp. Trey Miguel and X-Division Champ Josh Alexander then ran down and they made the save. Until the numbers game caught up with them, and they got beaten down too. Bey finally ran into to the ring, and he sided with the babyfaces, punctuating his decision by teaming up with Alexander to lawn-dart Austin out of the ring and onto his cohorts.

This was a fun match with some good action. Bey as a babyface should be interesting, because he does have some great charisma and an exciting move-set. Perfect timing for it too, since they will soon be wrestling in front of fans again, starting at Slammiversary, and they’ll undoubtedly respond positively to his stuff.

Winner: Chris Bey

In the back, Kimber Lee and Susan talked about the lack of success they’ve been having against former friend Deonna Purrazzo (Susan lost to her last week, and Lee lost to her on the BTI preshow tonight). Lee said that they should concentrate on becoming Tag Team Champions. Lee said that the back-up plan would be for Su Yung to return, but Susan didn’t know who that was, despite it being one of her split personalities.

Jake Something cut a promo against Brian Myers. He said that he has made a name for himself by dropping his previous last name. So he was challenging Myers to a match, with the stipulation that the loser has to call the winner “professional.” Meh.

 

Match 5: Steve Maclin vs. Manny Smith

Maclin has a look like a video game Create-A-Wrestler if you selected the default options. But on him, it works, as he’s angry, no-nonsense, and just plain tough. The most interesting thing about his hapless opponent was a triangular haircut. Maclin simply and totally destroyed him, pausing only to yell and intimidate the referee who tried to stop Maclin from beating on Smith in the corner. Maclin had Smith in the Tree of Woe, and then hit him with a Running Spear. After that, he hit a German Suplex, a series of elbows to the head, and ended things with a Jameson Shot (or at least that’s what I’m calling it until they give it an official name), his Backslam Driver. Another good showcase for Maclin.

 

Winner: Steve Maclin

Sam Beale introduced Brian Myers who responded to Jake Something’s promo with one of his own. Myers accepted Something’s challenge. Myers said that he didn’t need to hear that he was a professional, but it would do Sam good to hear it.

Josh Mathews and D-Lo Brown announced that Rosemary and Havok’s opponents next week would be Susan and Kimber Lee. Also on the show will be the contract signing for the Slammiversary match between Kenny Omega and Sami Callihan

 

Match 6: The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows) and Kenny Omega (w/ Don Callis) vs. Moose, Chris Sabin, and Sami Callihan (w/ Tommy Dreamer)

Each of the Good Brothers and Don Callis came to the ring wearing one of Omega’s championship belts, while he wore only the Impact World Championship. Callis handled the introduction for Omega, and once again was money on the mic.

The dissension between Sabin and Moose was apparent early when they started jawing at each other in the first minute, so Sami Callihan decided to take charge and tag himself in. Omega, scared to face Callihan, left the ring to buy some time, heading into the commercial break.

Team Dreamer were working over Anderson when the show resumed, but once again Moose and Sabin had an altercation when Moose tagged in Sabin by hitting him with a forearm to the chest. This conflict let Anderson escape the corner and he and Omega hit Sabin with a sneak-attack to put Team Callis in control.

They beat down Sabin for several minutes, including hitting a Triple Timber Splash – apparently this was being contested under AEW tag team rules, which means that referees pretty much ignore it when people are in there illegally past the count.

 

Sabin finally escaped the corner, but when he dove to make the tag, Moose walked away and left him hanging. Before Team Callis could capitalize, Sabin made the tag to Callihan instead, and he was on fire. Until a distraction by Omega prevented the ref from seeing Anderson hit Callihan with a blatant low blow.

Callihan fell back into the corner and – because nobody could trust Moose – tagged Sabin back in, despite Sabin not being 100% yet. He still was able to fare quite well, taking down all three members of Team Callis with some razzle-dazzle. But then Moose blind-tagged himself in without Sabin realizing it.

Sabin was going to end Omega with the Cradle Shock, but Moose prevented it, looking to steal the glory as the legal man. Sabin shoved Moose out of frustration and Moose walked away, but not before hitting Sabin one last time, and throwing him back in the ring the hard way.

Dreamer confronted Moose on the floor, but Moose turned his back and walked up the ramp. Callis then shoved Tommy from behind into Moose, causing Moose to think that Tommy attacked him, so he dropped Tommy with a big running clothesline. Sabin then dove on Moose, taking him out.

 

Sabin got back in the ring where Omega was waiting. He dropped Sabin with a Snapdragon, and then the Good Brothers hit Sabin with a Magic Killer. Omega prevented Sami from coming in for the save by hitting him with a V-Trigger. And all that was left was for the ref to count to three.

This was good. It seems a bit inconsistent in terms of Moose’s character, though. In the past, he had teamed up with Rich Swann against the same opponents with no problems even though they were feuding over the world title. But now his feud with Sabin, which isn’t for nearly the same stakes, results in so much dysfunction?  That being said, it does help build the story of how off-track Impact has become without a homegrown champion, so Callihan becomes the company’s de-facto best, last, and only last hope at beating Omega.

Winners: Kenny Omega and the Good Brothers

Impact Wrestling - July 1st, 2021
3.5

Skyway Studios - Nashville, TN

This episode started off a bit sluggishly, but picked up with the X-Division match. With only a couple of weeks to go before Slammiversary, the buildup for the PPV matches are well underway. Some of the characters and feuds aren’t feeling truly special, though – looking at you, Brian Myers and Jake Something – and so much time devoted to those kind of made this episode hit-and-miss.