Written by: Craig Ferriman (@MrImpact_Blog)
January 12th live from the Bomb Factory in Dallas Texas IMPACT Wrestling gave us their first pay per view of the new year and of the new decade. History was made, titles were retained and the roster proved that they’re #HardtoKill, the matches were solid and although there were a few booking decisions that confused me slightly I still very much enjoyed it and here are My Thoughts.
Ken Shamrock def. Mad Man Fulton
The show was opened by Ken Shamrock vs Mad Man Fulton and was a match I was very intrigued by. I’m sure like many I thought this match was going to be over pretty quickly, but the two managed to hold their own and the match went longer than expected. Shamrock looked impressive and managed to keep up with the big man, Fulton proved himself as a future star for IMPACT despite sustaining an injury when his shoulder popped out of place. He certainly earned everyone’s respect by wanting to continue despite the official wanting to end the match, Shamrock would eventually pick up the win via tap out.
All in all a solid opener 7/10
X Division Championship: Ace Austin (c) def. Trey Miguel
A great X Division style match from two incredible athletes, I didn’t really think Trey would be picking up the win in this match given how long Ace has been champion for but watching the match I did believe that he could, which I guess is down to great booking. Ace showed just why he’s suited to being the X division champion, from the day he first walked in the door he’s been working hard and improving particularly with his current persona.
Trey is undoubtedly going to be X division champion by the end of this year, the two seem to have great chemistry and can really work together. Both came close to picking up the victory but Ace Austins Fold would put away Trey just like it’s put away anyone else who has felt it. The two would continue fighting after Ace approached Treys mom and asked for a kiss, it was broken up almost instantly but it’s clear this feud is far from done.
Thoroughly enjoyable match: 7/10
Knockouts Championship: Taya Valkyrie (c) def. ODB & Jordynne Grace
This was one of the matches I didn’t enjoy as much as I thought I would, it’s been great seeing ODB back home but I feel like her time to be champion again has passed although she’s still as entertaining as ever, I truly felt that this would be the time that Jordynne Grace would finally become Knockouts champ and I’m more than a little confused as to why that trigger is yet to be pulled.
The champion still looked incredible and it’s easy to see why she’s approaching 400 days as champion, but as for the match itself I was behind it but only because I thought this would be Jordynnes’ time. The finish came after Jordynne delivered the Grace Driver to ODB but the referee would get distracted by John E. Bravo and as Grace jumped up to get in the face of Bravo, Taya would pin ODB after Bravo pulled Grace out of the ring and Taya Valkyrie retains.
Not my favourite match of the night but still an ok showing from the Knockouts: 6/10
Rob Van Dam vs Brian Cage (RVD def. Daga)
RVD benefited from an early distraction from his girlfriends girlfriend Jennifer. Rob just beat the living day lights out of Brian Cage for around ten minutes when they made it back into the ring no bell was sounded. Cage took the full force of a Van Daminator and then the referee put an end to it by calling for help from the back as Cage had busted lips.
RVD was having none of it and went to attack Cage again but Daga would make the save, it’s important to note that RVD teased Daga during an interview segment before the match with Cage. RVD attacked Daga and the official called for the bell to begin the match, a bit of back and forth then a 5star frog splash later RVD picks up the win.
Not my favourite match of the night as I don’t really understand why it needed to happen but RVD, Cage & Daga somehow made it work: 7/10
Call Your Shot Trophy: Eddie Edwards def. Michael Elgin
Technically one of the best matches on the card, I keep saying it but these two are arguably two of the hardest strikers on the roster as well as fantastic wrestlers, and although it was an incredible match we did see it a few days before on IMPACT. I’m all for previews of matches just before Pay per views that’s just a standard part of go home shows but they are typically in tag matches or usually some shenanigans but this was a ppv quality match on free TV.
This is nothing against Eddie or Elgin but the same match twice in one week with similar quality just doesn’t really keep my interest for too long, ok it was different in the fact Eddie won but it was still the same match and it did spoil my enjoyment of it slightly.
Based on the match quality alone: 8/10
No Disqualification: Spear vs Gore: Moose def. Rhino
A quick shout out to Moose’s Macho man inspired ring attire.
I think some had reservations about this match when it was first announced given that it had little to no build up but Moose is Mr IMPACT Wrestling. He never disappoints and as I said in my predictions Rhino has a fire lit under him and has proven he can go with anyone, Obviously this style of match suits the war machine but Moose is arguably one of the best in wrestling today and he proves it in any style of match against any style of opponent. Moose truly paid homage to the Macho Man by delivering the famous elbow drop onto Rhino.
Rhino would manage to deliver the gore through a table that had been set up in the corner, but Moose would cleverly pull the ref in front of him to stop himself from taking the full force of the Gore. Finally Moose would deliver the No Jackhammer needed spear for the win, It would later surface that Moose picked up a concussion after taking a bump on the ramp, he was taken to hospital so let’s hope everything is ok.
Very hard hitting match: 8/10
IMPACT World Tag Team Championships: The North def. Willie Mack.
Injuries had been a pretty big problem during this ppv but particularly during this tag title bout, with Rich Swann picking up a leg injury on the Friday before at Bash at the brewery 2 and Ethan Page suffering with salmonella poisoning the day of the PPV nobody was really sure if the match was going to go ahead as scheduled but it did….. Kind of. Rich Swann was refused clearance to compete but Willie Mack chose to go out there and fight for them both and as for Ethan Page despite really not feeling right he went ahead with the match as planned.
Willie really earned his one to watch in 2020 award from the fans during this match, so much heart and passion he really is one to watch this year. He came about as close as you can to winning those titles but The North are just too good to go against by yourself, despite Willie kicking out of their double clash they managed to work together and eventually came away with the win.
Great showing by all 3 guys: 8/10
IMPACT Wrestling World Championship: Tessa Blanchard def. Sami Callihan. NEW WORLD CHAMPION
It finally happened, I’m sure after the latest controversy surfaced about Tessa many probably thought it wouldn’t be the right time but it is and now professional wrestling has changed for the better. In todays wrestling it’s all about equality and making statements, you can talk about an Evolution you can talk about Wrestlemania main events but as the progression of women’s wrestling goes this has to be the pinnacle.
Impact Wrestling have changed the game, Tessa Blanchard is the IMPACT World Champion. This match not only had a championship on the line but it also had history on the line, Tessa and Sami have perfect chemistry and are very much ying and yang simply two of the best in all wrestling today. Whilst I feel bad for Sami I think he understood that it was now or never when it came to Tessa making that history.
What else needs to be said other than this changed the game: 9/10Thank you for reading, I truly recommend you catch the replay of Hard To Kill on FITE TV. If you haven’t already I know I’ve been a little critical of the show but I encourage you to make your own decisions and personally history being made was worth everything.
