WRITTEN BY: CRAIG FERRIMAN (@MRIMPACT_BLOG)
This Sunday live from Dallas, Texas IMPACT Wrestling will present their first pay per view of the year, Hard to Kill. The card for this show looks incredible, we have a dream match & a history making match. Impact never disappoint on the PPV stage and with a card like this it’s promising to be something special, here are my predictions for Hard To Kill.
Mad Man Fulton vs Ken Shamrock
This is one of the matches that I’m really interested in and looking forward to seeing what happens, since his return Shamrock has only won one match, that was against Joey Ryan. Ken seems to know when he needs to put someone over and I think he will in this match, as for the mad man this will be his first singles match on a PPV which he has earned since his debut last year. Fulton has truly been laying waste to all of his opponents and it’s very rare to see the big man get pinned and I don’t think Shamrock will be able to beat him, I can’t see this match going too long as longevity is neither man’s strength but I think Mad Man Fulton will come out victorious.
Winner: Mad Man Fulton
Knockouts Championship: Taya Valkyrie (c) vs ODB vs Jordynne Grace
The Knockouts never disappoint on the big stages for IMPACT, well not since the new regime took over. Taya has now been champion for well over 365 days and has been chosen as Knockout of the year by the IMPACT fans but I don’t think that will be enough for her to escape with her title at Hard to Kill, ODB’s participation in this match I think was a surprise to everyone but after pinning the champ in a non-title match on IMPACT a few weeks ago she has earned her spot. Jordynne Grace surely has to be many peoples favourite going into this match, people were scouting her as a future Knockouts Champ from the day she debuted and even though the odds aren’t in her favour I still believe she will win this match but I don’t think she’ll pin the Champ.
Winner: Jordynne Grace
Call Your Shot Trophy :Eddie Edwards vs Michael Elgin
Two of the best all rounders on the IMPACT roster today, will face off for only the third time in their Impact careers and with Elgin holding two victories over Eddie history would tell us that Eddie should be picking up this win. Particularly as his call your shot trophy will be on the line, Eddie won the trophy in a gauntlet match and has the right to cash it in for a title opportunity of his choosing at any point. But as Eddie is yet to beat Elgin I don’t know if that will change in Dallas but Edwards will certainly not want to lose his trophy, however Big Mike has made his intentions clear. He wants to be world champion and the Trophy can certainly make it easier however I can’t see Eddie losing this one.
Winner: Eddie Edwards
Spear Vs Gore: Moose vs Rhino
The war machine Rhino is arguably in the best shape of his career and recently had a fire lit under him due to his mistreatment in WWE, his want to prove himself has rejuvenated his career and it comes across in his matches. He can go with anyone in the ring whether it be Michael Elgin or The North Rhino has looked great as has his opponent, Moose is still pretty early in his career and already he’s one of the best big men in the sport today he’s another man who wants to be world champion. Moose has a passion to prove to everyone that IMPACT is the place to be, everywhere he goes he wants to be announced as “Mr IMPACT Wrestling” he’s one of the most loyal roster members and hardest workers that’s why I think he can and will beat Rhino.
Winner: Moose
IMPACT Tag Team Championships: The North(c) vs Rich Swann & Willie Mack
The North have been my favourite team from this year, they’re a great throwback team and great heels. Swann and Mack have been showing themselves as a great team and a great addition to the tag division, this will be their third opportunity at the titles but judging by how Page & Alexander have been planting the seeds for a Willie Mack heel turn I don’t think Swann & Mack will be walking away as new tag team champs so I’m going with a North retention.
Winner: The North
X Division Championship: Ace Austin(c) vs Trey
This is another one of those matches that I’m really looking forward to, in my opinion two of the best athletes in the company today. I said in April last year that Ace Austin would be X Division champion by the end of the year and in October at Bound for Glory he proved me right and although it seemingly came out of nowhere he earned it, his character work has been amazing and the same goes for his in ring work. As one third of the Rascalz Trey has been doing some incredible work and although his number one Contenders win came from nowhere his work rate proves that’s he has earned this spot and the storyline currently taking place between champion and challenger has been some of my favourite things currently taking place on IMPACT. I can’t see Ace losing his title this soon after winning it although I feel like Trey will come close but I’m say Ace Austin will retain.
Winner: Ace Austin
Dream Match: Brian Cage vs RVD
This is a match I didn’t know I wanted to see and although I’m not expecting it to be a 6 star classic it should certainly be entertaining. This RVD is in my opinion the best version we’ve seen of him, although his in ring stuff has slowed down a little it’s still exciting to see what he can do as a heel and it always thoroughly entertains me. Brian Cage surely has to come out the winner in this match, he had quite the year last year and that unfortunately cost him having a great reign as world champion but now he’s back and I believe he’s better than ever I believe he will beat RVD and will also overcome the outside interference from Katie Forbes.
Winner: Brian Cage
IMPACT World Championship: Sami Callihan (c) vs Tessa Blanchard
Making history, what else needs to be said about this match? These two have had an absolutely incredible rivalry and it’s all coming to the end. Sami’s run as world champion hasn’t been the best but in my opinion that’s been down to booking and although he sometimes loses or wins with help from the rest of oVe he always picks up the win when he needs to. Tessa has been a thorn in the side of callihan ever since he became world champion and she’s said many times she wants to make her own history and whether she wins or not she has made history, I’ve been going back and forth with my predictions of this match I keep thinking about how many times IMPACT has swerved the fans, I also keep thinking that there is no way they would make Sami Callihan a transitional champion. I have made my prediction though, I think Sami Callihan will retain his world championship.
Winner: Sami Callihan
Thanks for Reading!!!
