Thursday night’s episode of Impact Wrestling featured matches from the company’s recent UK tour – specifically, their show in Glasgow, Scotland.

It was also, ostensibly, the “go-home” show for Turning Point, the special event that airs tomorrow night on Impact Plus and Fite-TV – but there was really no build to that event, save for a series of backstage promos.

 

Match 1: Joe Hendry vs. Frankie Kazarian

This match was the finals of a one-night tournament for the Glasgow Cup. Homegrown star Joe Hendry took the mic before the match and cut a promo. The audience chanted “TNA”, which seems to validate the company’s comments about why they are reverting to that old brand name.

They started off with a handshake, and that sportsmanship was on display for several minutes as they engaged in a technical battle. A clever spot saw Hendry chopping Kazarian instead of doing the handclaps when the crowd started singing his “I believe” theme song.

Kazarian turned up the heat by sending Hendry off the top rope and crashing to the floor. Kazarian then took over, hitting Hendry with some big moves, including a Springboard Legdrop and a huge Clothesline. Kaz tried for a Chicken Wing, but Hendry blocked it and reversed the move, hitting Kazarian with a Vertical Suplex.

 

The action went back-and-forth with both men hitting big moves, including a High Cutter by Hendry and a Fade to Black by Kaz.

The final minute saw both men go for a series of rollups, but in the end, it was Hendry who was able to keep Kazarian’s shoulders down for three. As the fans sang along to Hendry’s theme song, Impact President Scott D’Amore came to the ring to present Hendry with the Glagow Cup.

This was fine, and this being Hendry’s home country, you kind of expected him to win. Maybe this win will help elevate Hendry back on this side of the pond, since he’s kind of been in limbo recently.

Winner of the Glasgow Cup: Joe Hendry

A pre-taped promo with Brian Myers, Moose, and Deonna Purrazzo aired. They said they would win their match tonight. Purrazzo said it would be a warm-up match before she challenges Trinity for the Knockouts Championship tomorrow at Turning Point.

Joe Hendry cut a backstage promo, celebrating his Glasgow Cup win. He said that he was having a banner year, and that his former friend Simon Miller – a wrestler and writer for WhatCulture – should start to believe in Joe Hendry. Hendry will face Miller at Turning Point tomorrow night.

 

Match 2: SubCulture (Mark Andrews, Flash Morgan Webster, and Dani Luna, ) vs. Moose, Brian Myers, and Deonna Purrazzo

The commentators noted that in Impact, intergender match rules don’t limit who can wrestle who – i.e. women and men can compete against one-another.

Rehwoldt called Myers “beefy” during this one, but he must be mistaken because people actually like beef. SubCulture did pretty well against Myers and Purrazzo, but had some troubles against the power of Moose. That gave his team the advantage, and they were able to isolate Andrews and put the hurt on hm for some time.

Andrews finally got loose and tagged in Luna, who dispatched Purrazzo but then unfortunately ate a big boot from Moose. Webster tried to avenge her by hitting Moose with a big Moonsault, and then Luna got some as well, when SubCulture hit Moose with a Triple Powerbomb.

 

The match got a bit chaotic then with everyone fighting it out and hitting moves on anyone and everyone else. In the end, Moose hit Andrews with a Stun Gun and followed that up with a big Spear for the 1-2-3.

With Purrazzo challenging for the title tomorrow, it’s a bit surprising they wouldn’t have ended with her getting the win. Myers remains as boring as ever.

Winners: Deonna Purrazzo, Brian Myers, and Moose

Eric Young and Josh Alexander were in the back. They agreed that they would put aside their past differences when they team up against the Motor City Machine Guns tonight. They will take on SubCulture tomorrow at Turning Point.

 

Match 3: Grado vs. Trey Miguel

Grado, if you don’t remember, was in Impact some years ago, and is making a special appearance on this night to wrestle in front of his home country fans. This started off with a few comedy spots by Grado, which angered Miguel, who finally shut Grado down with a huge Dropkick.

Miguel tried to follow that up, but Grado bounced back with some more over-the-top moves. Grado took too much time setting up for a Cannonball and ate a big boot by Miguel and then a Springboard Moonsault for a near-fall.

Grado dodged a Double Stomp and nailed Miguel with a Death Valley Driver, but Miguel kicked out. Miguel hit a Boot to the Head, but Grado countered Miguel’s follow-up move with a Wee Boot and that was enough to keep Miguel down for the count.

 

This was pretty much a fan-service comedy match. Not the best use of Miguel to job out this way for the sake of a one-off feel-good moment. But the fans liked it, and that’s what they were going for.

Winner: Grado

Eddie Edwards cut a promo backstage about his match tomorrow night against Will Ospreay. Edwards drew parallels between their two careers, talking about their respective success in Japan. But Eddie said he is the best in Impact, and Ospreay will learn that at Turning Point.

 

Match 4: Trinity vs. Emersyn Jayne

Trinity’s Knockouts Championship was not on the line in this one. Jayne declined a handshake offer, kicking Trinity’s extended hand away. So that’s how it’s going to be, eh?

After Trinity outwrestled Jayne in the opening minutes, Jayne tried to buy time with a handshake offer of her own, but Trinity was too smart to fall for Jayne’s attempt to backstab her after the handshake.

Jayne finally started to make this a contest when she trapped Trinity in the corner and was able to mount an attack. She used her size advantage to catch a charging Trinity and hit a neat Northern Lights Suplex for a close count. Trinity fought back with a Face-Smasher that had Jayne eating turnbuckle, and then Trinity hit a trio of running attacks, and followed that up with a Rear View, but Jayne kicked out.

Jayne hit a great Grapevine Bomb that nearly resulted in an upset, but when she took pokes at Trinity, that fired up the champ, who hit back with a big Face-Smasher and a Trinity Bomb for the pin.

 

This was fine, with Jayne getting some moments to shine in what everyone knew would be an ultimate Trinity win.

Winner: Trinity

A video package aired showing highlights of the UK tour. Clearly, the talent and the fans enjoyed the experience.

Trinity cut a backstage promo. She said she would beat Deonna Purrazzo tomorrow, and per the stipulation, if she does, then Deonna will not get another title shot as long as Trinity remains champion. Impact Hall of Famer Gail Kim will be the guest referee for that one.

 

Match 5: Josh Alexander and Eric Young vs. the Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin)

This is the first time Young and Alexander have teamed in Impact – and the commentators reminded everyone of their past battles.

Alexander and Shelley started off with some scientific wrestling for several minutes, both of them countering each other’s big move attempts, including Shelley scrambling out of the ring just before Josh could clamp on an Ankle Lock.

 

Sabin and Young continued the technical-fest until the Guns broke out their tag team expertise to take control of the match. But the wily Young turned the tables on them and soon he and Alexander were back in control, keeping Shelley in their corner where they took turns wearing him down.

The pace picked up with the Guns using some more double-team tactics to surprise Alexander with a dizzying and dazzling series of Dragon Screws that hurt his legs. The Guns punished his lower extremities for a bit, but then Alexander was able to break free and tag in a fresh Eric Young.

The pace of the match picked up with tags on both sides that saw some particularly fiery action between Alexander and Sabin, complete with multiple body throws, reversals, and counters to big moves by both men.

Alexander tried to submit Sabin, but Sabin fought to get to the ropes to break the hold. Sabin then hit a Cradle Shock, but had to deal with Young so couldn’t make the cover. Young didn’t take too kindly to Sabin’s attack, so bit him, knocked him down, and hit him with a Flying Elbow for 2-and-a-half.

The action got even more fast and furious after that, and after some further exchanges between Sabin and Young, Sabin was finally able to hit a Cradle Shock that put Young down for good.

 

This was a good match, and the crowd was into it. It made sense for the Guns to win it, given their experience and the fact that it was two babyface teams, so there wouldn’t be a screwy or cheaty win. Young and Alexander losing doesn’t really help sell their match at Turning Point against SubCulture – but that match isn’t really a main event match anyway, so it doesn’t really matter. Better to preserve the tag team credibility of the Guns – not to mention that they are also both singles champions as well.

Winners: The Motor City Machine Guns

 

 

 

 

Impact Wrestling - November 2nd, 2023
3

The 02 Academy - Glasgow, Scotland

As this was pretty much a series of house show matches, there wasn’t really anything mind-blowing about this week’s episode. The matches were mostly fine, with the main event being a highlight. But there was nothing particularly necessary to match.

The lack of any build to tomorrow night’s Turning Point seemed like a missed opportunity, too, as other than the Knockouts Championship match, the rest just seems, on paper, to be a series of throwaway one-off matches.

At least the UK crowds seemed excited to be at the show – but that doesn’t necessarily make for must-see TV.