Written by: Craig Ferriman (@MrImpact_Blog)
On a night in which we had one of the most eventful weddings in IMPACT history we saw the return of the first NWA TNA World champion as well as a superb qualifying match for the X Division Championship ladder match at BFG. So here’s what went down and my thoughts on the latest Installment of IMPACT.
Before I get too the matches I just want too give a special shout out too the Commentary team of Josh Matthews & Don Callis who were superb as always and watching their rapport grow over these last couple years has been spectacular. Thoroughly entertaining and often have me in stitches.
Show opens then the music of LAX begins to play as well as the spotlights, it had people a little confused particularly as two guys in similar attire too Santana & Ortiz make their way too the ring. Seeing the tag team Championships hanging around the necks it’s clear it’s the the tag team champions The North, the crowd weren’t very happy two of their favourites were being buried by the current tag champs. I loved it, putting more heat on the cocky heel champions. As the North cut a brutal heel promo in the ring towards LAX. Then the Music plays again only this time it’s Konnan.
Ethan Page & Konnan in my opinion are two of the best in Impact right now when it comes to their promo work, it was a classic K-Dogg put down of the champions. He also told them he has some “Extreme” friends ready too teach the champions a lesson. Out come RVD & Rhino too a pretty good pop then a fight begins and a referee rushes out too ring the bell.
I loved this segment, The North are well deserving too be tag team champions. Fantastic heels combated perfectly by the veteran Konnan, very funny and the champions showing they can draw heel heat from any crowd. How many Canadians do you know getting booed in Canada?.
RVD & Rhino Def. Tag Team Champions The North (Ethan Page & Josh Alexander) Non Title.
This was quite a slow paced match, both teams gaining momentum but losing it back after a couple of sequences throughout the match. RVD puts together his usual offence of a Monkey flip in the corner quickly followed up by a little bit of rolling thunder. Both teams would deliver moves that make you think they were going to win, which is a credit to both teams story telling.
RVD and Ethan Page would spill their individual battle onto the outside of the ring, whilst the referee was distracted as Rob hit the floor hard, Alexander grabs a tag team title from the time keeper and after he climbs back in the ring clearly about to cheap shot Rhino, Konnan would grab the strap of the title and as Alexander snatches it from the hands of Konnan with the momentum turning Josh around straight into a Gore from Rhino. RVD is back up onto the top rope delivering a 5star frogsplash for the win.
An okay match, I get the feeling the winning team will leave a lot of the fans a little concerned that they’re pushing the older guys but I personally don’t see as that big of an issue considering Impact are a little light on tag teams.
Backstage, Gama Singh warns Raj and Rohit that they can’t afford too start their losing ways again otherwise he’ll send them back too India and replace them.
Eddie Edwards arrives at the wedding and whilst being interviewed, The Reno Scum arrive making a lot of noise and as Luster the Legend is distracting Eddie, Adam Thornstowe slips something into Eddie’s glass. Johnny Swinger makes his debut as a wedding guest. Swinger has been very entertaining during his vignettes as well as his segment at the wedding I hope he can back it up in the ring still.
Shera w/ Desi Hit Squad (Raj, Rohit & Gama) Def. Cousin Jake w/ Cody Deaner.
Once again a very short match with Shera just putting on a dominant display, but by no means was it a squash match. Cousin Jake got his fair share of offence in during the time they had for this match, I guess one match had to draw the short straw in regards to timing due too the feuds building and the wedding approaching it couldn’t last too long. Rohit distracts Jake but too no avail this time as Jake knocks Raj and Rohit off the Apron but Shera drops cousin Jake with a sky high followed by a powerslam for the win.
A Solid powerful match, Shera has improved a lot, although his matches have been pretty quick since his return he just overpowers everyone but I hope he gets a longer match soon to see what he can really do.
TJP & Fallah Bahh arrive at the wedding and as TJP is criticising Fallah for wearing shorts too a wedding Eddie Edwards appears and it’s clear whatever Reno Scum slipped into his drink is working.
Tenille Dashwood Def. Madison Rayne.
Madison Rayne takes control of the match pretty early on but momentum soon swings back in favour of the newest member of the Knockouts Division (Tenille Dashwood). All though at some points some of the match sequences weren’t as fluid as perhaps they should have been it was still an okay match. The two know each other very well due too their shared time in ROH as part of the Women of Honour division, Tenille would pick up the win after delivering the spotlight kick for the win over “Her Royal Highness The Queen Bee Madison Rayne… Locker room leader”
It was announced after the match that Tenille Dashwood has the next opportunity at the longest Reigning knockouts Champion Taya Valkyrie and her championship. That’s been confirmed to take place at Bound for Glory next month.
Back at the wedding- RVD, Katie Forbes, Rich Swann and Willie Mack arrive at the wedding. Swann & Mack congratulate Rob on his win over the North. After defeating LAX last week Rich Swann & Willis have been confirmed as number 1 contenders for tag titles. But RVD and Rhino now have a claim.
Ken Shamrock returns to talk about his issues with Moose, Shamrock is certainly unfiltered and calls out Moose telling him he doesn’t want to wait for Bound for Glory. Moose wasn’t there however, he appeared on the tron at Kens Vegas MMA dojo and just walks around laying people out in an attempt to prove too shamrock that he can beat him and he can match his MMA style.
Knockouts Champion Taya Valkyrie approaches Rosemary backstage in her lair. The Champion asks for assistance in dealing with Tenille and in return Taya will give Rosemary a shot at the Knockouts title. Rosemary declines saying that until Taya returns to her former self she’ll get no help from the shadow.
oVe arrives at the wedding with a gift in hand but are turned away by security. They agree too leave without kicking off but I think we all know that’s not gonna be the end of it. Tommy Dreamer, Brian Cage and Rich Swann are talking backstage about marriage. Tommy Seems confused by the concept of monogamy, we’re introduced too the officiant of the wedding Brian’s brother Ryan Cage.
Madison Rayne is living up too her name as locker room leader by trying too coach the bridesmaids how too walk down aisle but Kiera reminds her that she’s not even in the bridal party. Taya shows up trying to get help with her Tenille problem.
Tessa Blanchard def. Dave Crist w/ Jake & Fulton. (X Division Championship ladder match qualifier)
Tessa Blanchard once again showing everyone exactly how good she is, I truly believe that she is the best in the world right now. Her in ring style is second to none and whether she’s face or heel she can make you love her as the perfect baby face or draw heat as a vicious heel but she is without doubt the best knockout. Dave Crist put on a great display in his first singles match since returning from injury. Fulton would pull Tessa out from the ring and Dave would just avoid Disqualification but Fulton would be kicked out from Ringside. Momentum would swing back into the Blanchards favour but she would miss the Magnum after Dave ducked it but then she would deliver the Buzzsaw DDT for the win and make history in the process because now she goes on to fight for the X Division Championship at Bound for Glory.
Fulton would come back out after the match and oVe would put a heavy beat down on Blanchard. Fulton would deliver a series of heavy Chokeslams. OVE leave Blanchard laying flat out in the ring.
Now it’s time for The Wedding of Brian Cage & Melissa Santos… alot took place during this wedding so I’m just going to run through them quickly. Eddie Edwards didn’t show up to walk down the aisle with Alisha so Ace Austin quickly steps. The Rascalz sit down clearly high as they laugh occasionally blowing smoke, RVD is surrounded by the Rascalz smoke effect whilst his girlfriend adjusts herself, Rosemary appears out of nowhere next too Fallah Bahh who gets spooked and tries too runaway but is stopped by TJP, The Deaners sit next to Havok and do the fake yawn and stretch move but Havok is having none of it. Tommy Dreamer walks Melissa Santos down the aisle and as Ryan Cage asks the question if there are any objections they should speak now. Taya Valkyrie steps forward and makes it known she didn’t organise this wedding and puts it all on Bravo, then Ethan page stands up as he objects too the ECW veterans getting paid more than the champions.
As Ryan Cage asks again about objections Eddie Edwards stumbles in still under the affects of the pill that was slipped into his drink. He tries too start a fight once he sees Ace Austin. Eddie then throws up all over Ryan Cage and knocks down the arch at the top of the aisle, Tommy Dreamer then asks if there’s someone who can officiate this wedding as he asked for a minister Father James Mitchell appears and continues the wedding and marries Brian & Melissa.
Off to the reception which was being held at ringside, the bride and groom were introduced and proceeded to have their first dance but were interrupted by Sami Callihan who had drank a whole bottle of a little bit of a bubblehhh (Sorry). Sami proceeds to tell everyone that he’s gonna be the next world champion and raises a toast too ” The Bride… and The B**ch” and launches at Cage with the empty bottle however the world champion ducks and the bottle connects with Melissa Santos.
Everyone was visibly shocked about what just happened, Even Callihan was apologetic saying that he didn’t mean too hit her. Management and doctor Ariel climb in the ring checking on Melissa as the show goes off air.
I have too say I thoroughly enjoyed the wedding, Sami did such a great job of drawing real heat from the crowd. Melissa took the bottle shot like a champ, that did a great job in getting people hyped for the world title match at Bound for Glory. All though the show was clearly focusing on building up the wedding, every person on the card did such a good job making it a superb show. I was however slightly disappointed with the Vegas crowd but I think some were just there too hijack it after the “Free Killer Kross ” Chants.
That was impact for another week and was a very good show. I can’t wait till impact move too AXS tv in October hopefully this will have the desired effect at bring more people back to the product. Thanks for reading, watch the entire wedding here you won’t be disappointed.
https://youtu.be/FGJ3PSoKQyI
