Impact: Last stop before Slammiversary

Boris Roberto Aguilar

Impact: Last stop before Slammiversary

Greetings and salutations. We are days away from one of the premiere shows on the Impact calendar. This is the go-home show also and we have quite the lineup. Before their Ultimate X match on Saturday, “Speedball” Mike Bailey will be taking on Kevin Knight on tonight’s show. The Rascalz are also looking to punch their ticket to Windsor, Ontario and get a tag team title shot if Zachary Wentz can beat Chris Bey. Speaking of that Tag Team Title match, two teams already in Saturday’s multi-team match will fight tonight as Moose and Brian Myers take on Rich Swann and Sami Callihan. We will also see Joe Hendry teaming up with “say his name” Yuya Uemura versus Kenny King and Sheldon Jean. We have tons on the go, so without further ado, let’s get to it!

The show starts off with a video package recapping how Deaner will be replacing Steve Maclin at Slammiversary.

Zachary Wentz vs. Chris Bey

The match gets started as Zack Wentz takes Bey to the corner, but then needs a break and leaves the ring. Back in the ring, Bey takes control by locking in a headlock. Both men then hit a series of combos and go back and forth, ut this ends when Bey stomps on Wentz’s back who was on the mat. Wentz once again takes a breather outside of the ring and goes to Trey Miguel for some coaching. Ace Austin goes around the ring and slowly approaches The Rascalz. Wentz goes back into the ring and kicks Bey and apples an arm stretch focusing his elbow to the collar bone of Bey. Bey is able to roll through and escape then begins to chop Wentz.

Bey with a Lariat, and this is only good for a 2-count. Both men hit a series of moves and combos which ended when Bey hit a Code Red for a 2.9-count. Their partners, Miguel and Austin begin to battle it out on the outside and this distraction gave Wentz the opening for Bey to kick a distracted Wentz. The two keep battling and Bey walks into a Headlock DDT, giving Wentz the win, thus including them in the Tag Team match at Slammiversary.

Winner: Zachary Wentz

We see footage from the “Before the Impact” match betwwen Dango and Heath. Dango once again makes comments about Santino’s daughter prompting Santino to leave the commentary desk and punching him.

Backstage, The Rascalz confron Sanitno and Scott D’Amore. Santino tells them that he never officially authorized the stipulation on if they beat a member of ABC, they’d be in the tag team title match. The Rascalz are pissed and Trey Miguel tells Santino that he would regret that.

We see a great video package hyping Alex Shelley VS Nick Aldis for Slammiversary on Saturday.

Mike Bailey vs. Kevin Knight

Bailey gets things started off really quickly by hitting a shoulder tackle on Knight after hitting the ropes. Bailey with an arm drag , but Knight returns the favour by hitting an arm drag of his own, followed by a Power Slam. Knight then goes to the top and lands a Splash on Bailey for a 2-count. Bailey is back up and hits a Knight down out to ringside, followed by a Moonsault to Knight on the outside of the ring. Both men traded blows until one of Bailey’s kicks sent him to the corner and eventually send him down on the mat. Bailey with the knees to Knight’s back.

After a 1-count, Knight gains some momentum by sending Bailey to the corner, then hitting a splash, followed by a Dropkick from the top rope, sending Bailey down hard on the outside of the ring. Knight with a splash on Bailey in the outside. Back in the ring, Bailey kicks Knight, sending him to the ropes then follows that up with Knee right to Knights back. Bailey with a Superkick, but Knight ducks and hits a Superkick of his own to Bailey, Bailey staggers but eventually hits a Tornado Kick. Knight flips him over and both men are down.

Both men slowly make their way up and and trade chops, kicks, and punches. Knight with a Dropkick on Bailey, but Bailey does a kick up and hits a Knee on Knight. Bailey now going to the ropes but Knight follows him and eventually hits a Superplex on Bailey. Knight with control of the match, hits a beauty Spinbuster on Bailey for a 2-count. Bailey fights back and hits Knight on a Turnbuckle and connects with a Whirlwind Kick. Bailey finally reaches the top rope and hits the Ultimo Weapon for the win.

Winner: Mike Bailey

Masha Slamovich and Killer Kelly had choice words for The Coven in a pre-recorded promo.

Joe Hendry & Yuya Uemura vs. Kenny King & Sheldon Jean

Hendry started the match for his team and King teased the crowd as he was out at the start but he quickly tagged Sheldon in to actually start the match. Uemura comes in for his team and gets the quick advantage via an arm drag followed by a Headlock. Hendry is chirping at the ref and as the ref goes to Hendry, Jean and King double team Uemura and separate him from his partner by splitting the ring in half. Jean kicks Uemura numerous times. Jean tags in King and King goes for a pin, but it wasn’t enough to end the match. King wants to put the boots to Uemura, but Uemura rolls through and is able to get the hot tag to Hendry.

Hendry comes in and hits some uppercuts to both King and Jean. Hendry with a huge Clothesline, and follows that up with a Fallaway Slam on King. Hendry with some punches on King that sends him to the corner. Jean with a blind tag. Hendry hits King but Jean is now the legal man and comes in as Hendry has his attention on King. Jean with some kicks to Hendry. Uemura runs in and Dropkicks Jean. King is back in and hits a Tiger Driver on Uemura. Hendry now finally manages to take Kings jacket off to a huge pop from the crowd. Hendry with a clothesline on King after throwing his jacket at him. King retreats and is trying to escape to the back. Jean runs in and tried to take out Hendry, but Hendry hits a Standing Ovation and gets the win.

Winners: Joe Hendry & Yuya Uemura

Flashback Moment of the Week shows Sabin winning Ultimate X for the X-Division title at Slammiversary 2013.

Lio Rush sends X-Division champion a warning ahead of Slammiversary.

In the back Gia Miller is with Chris Sabin. Sabin says that Rush is one of the most talented wrestlers he has ever seen, but he now knows why no locker room has ever wanted him. Sabin says that Rush is cocky and arrogant. Sabin says that he will humble Rush on Saturday.

Moose & Brian Myers vs. Sami Callihan & Rich Swann

The match starts with Myers pushing Swann down on his butt. Swann with a takedown, followed by a dropkick. Moose interjects himself by knocking Swann off the ropes and taking a swipe at Callihan. Myers holds the momentum on Swann through the early stages of the match and locks in a headlock. Moose decides to enter the match legally now, but Swann gets him down quickly, but Moose comes right back and his a Standing Urinagi. Moose is now firmly in control of the match Moose gives Swann the boots, but Swann managers to kick Moose in the head, rolls through and tags Callihan in.

Callihan is in and Bulldogs Moose, then delivers a Clothesline to Myers. That clothesline gives Moose the time to recover so that when Callihan tries for a Cactus Driver, Moose is able to counter it, but he and Callihan take each other out with a double clothesline. Moose tags Myers in, while Callihan tags Swann back into the match. Swann with takedowns and kicks to both Myers and Moose. Myers comes right back with a kick of his own, but instead of it hitting Swann, it hits his partner Moose. Swann takes Myers out. Callihan and Swann double team Myers and Swann hits the cutter. Swann with a pin, but Moose is back up and shoves Callihan into the pin to stop it. Moose is now the officially back in the match. Swann is ready for Moose now as he connects on a kick and take down. Vallihan with a DVD on Moose, Swann climbs and hits a 450 Splash and goes for the pin, but Moose is up at 2.9. Myers throws Swann out, Moose with a low blow on Callihan, and follows that with a Spear and the win.

Winners: Moose & Brian Myers

A Subculture promo airs. They vow to win the Tag Titles on Saturday.

An Angels promo airs. He says that he is more than just a guy. He says he is celestial and plans to leave his mark on Saturday in the Ultimate X match.

We get an excellent video documenting Nick Aldis’ road back to Impact and the World Title picture.

Knockouts World Championship: Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs. Jody Threat

Deonns wsa in the ring and reminded everyone that she is 3-time champ. She issued the open challenge and Jody Threat answered it. The match kicks off with Deonna locking in a wrist bar on Threat. Thread with a reversal until Purrazzo rolls through. Threat with a knock down on Purrazzo. Purrazzo gets back up and the two women lock up and its Purrazzo who takes down Thread with a Headlock Takedown. Threat and Purrazzo fight near the corner, Threat with a kick to the champ knocking her to the corner. Threat with a clothesline to the champ while on the corner. Threat with a toss to Purrazzo, followed by a Code Breaker. Threat maintained control for a while until Purrazzo side stepped Threat and hit a Russian Leg Sweep. Purrazzo now looking for the Fujiwara Armbar. Purrazzo locks the Armbar in. Threat is able to reach the bottom rope for the break.

With both women back up, Threat hits a German Suplex on the champ. Purrazzo is on the ropes and Threat with Double Knees and a second German Suplex, but it was only good for a 2-count. Both women are back up and Purrazzo attempts a Queen’s Gambit, but Threat is fighting her way out, Threat with a headbutt that finally releases her. Purrazzo is down. Threat climbs to the top rope and does a Cannonnball but it was only good for a 2-count. Threat tries for an F-Bomb but Purrazzo lands on her feet and hits a Pump Kick on Threat. Purrazzo with an armbar, but Threat rolls through, hits a driver, goes for the pin, but Purrazzo rolls thorugh and hits a Venus De Milo and gets the win days before Slammiversary.

Winner: AND STILL Knockouts Champion; Deonna Purrazzo

After the match, Threat and Purrazzo exchange pleasantries. Gisele Shaw, Savannah Evans, And Jai Vidal run down and attack Threat and Purrazzo. The Death Dollz come out for the save, but The Coven are outand it’s Pandemonium 2023. Killer Kelly and Masha Slamovich join the party. Trinity is out and starts to take down some female refs but security is out now. The ring clears and we are left with Trnity and Deonna Purrazzo back to back. They bump backs and turn around. We get an eye to eye confrontation. Each woman grabs and puts the belt over their heads. Trinity and Purrazzo eventually trade blows and refs break them up. Purrazzo walks up the ramp not looking away from her Slammiversary opponent, Trintiy.

A full Slammiversary hype video airs. We cut to Scott D’Amore. He is on the phone and says “PCO can’t come back to life, can you?” We then see a Team Canada jacket to end the show….

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