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Welcome to the better late than never PWInsider.com coverage of Impact Wrestling for the 3/23/17 episode on Pop. I am filling in for the sick Stu Carapola. Hope you are feeling better buddy!
Impact opened with an in memoriam graphic for the late Jan Ross. Extremely classy move by Impact. Kudos. Jim Ross, we are all thinking of you.
They then went into a video package of last week's highlights.
I love the new opening, but when we see the owl fly across the screen, it just makes me laugh.
Davey Richards (with Angelina Love) vs. Suicide
Richards and Love kissed on the stage before they headed to the ring. I kind of dig the "Natural Born Killers" Mickie and Mallory vibe they give off. For those wondering, Suicide was Caleb Konley under the hood. Richards just stared at him with an icy glare before taking Suicide down with a shoulderblock. Richard worked over Suicide with kicks in the corner. Suicide caught him and came out of the corner with a head scissors that sent Richards to the floor. Suicide hit a pescado to the outside.
The announcers were teasing "she" is coming.
Back in the ring, Richards was nailed with a running dropkick into the corner. Richards knocked Suicide to the floor and sent him into the guard rail. Richards nailed a Mafia Kick on the floor and tossed him back inside the ring. Suicide nailed several body shots but was cut off with a clubbing clothesline. Richards nailed a series of kicks in the corner then turned to make out with Angelina. Richards charged at Suicide but was nailed with a shoulderblock and a springboard dropkick. Suicide followed up with a tope suicida.
Suicide nailed a flying bodypress of the top for a two count. Richards tossed off a back suplex attempt but was caught and nailed with a springboard moonsault. Richards nailed him and hit a running forearm in the corner. Richards ascended to the top and went for a big stomp. Suicide moved out of the way and rolled up Richards for a two count. Richards finally nailed his kick to the head aka Creeping Death and scored the pin.
Your winner, Davey Richards!
Solid, competitive bout. The Richards/Love act is money. There's these spooky, off-center, intensity to Richards that just fits his moveset. As a way to continue to establish Richards' new direction, a good spotlight.
We got to ringside where Josh Mathews is now full-blown arrogant pr**k, claiming Jeremy Borash was off on his phone looking at the "stooge reports." A confident Borash said that Mathews is not going to like "her" coming back tonight. Mathews complained, asking who she was. Borash said he was going to find out.
They went to a video feature on LAX that seemed to be Lucha Underground meets Grand Theft Auto in its inspiration. Konnan bragged about none of the Impact crackers were going to be able to do anything about them. Well produced character stuff. I really love seeing EYFBO on this stage. That's a team I would have hired immediately if I was running a company, so I'm thrilled to see them getting this shot.
Backstage, McKensie Mitchell encountered the drunken, ranting Laurel Van Ness. Mitchell asked her how she was holding up. Van Ness played the deliriously upset jilted girl who was promising that she's fine before admitting she wasn't because she was supposed to be having babies. She started naming them and then asked if she wanted to see pictures. Mitchell said she would and Van Ness lost it saying they don't exist and started blaming everyone. Sienna showed up and tried to calm her, saying that she doesn't blame Maria because Maria gave her everything. Sienna said they needed to blame Allie and Braxton because they took it away from her. She said she needed Van Ness to be ready because she had a surprise for them. Van Ness asked what it was but was told she's had too much stress and didn't need to know. Sienna left, leaving Laurel to sing "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow" before getting too choked up to continue. Van Ness is awesome in this role. I'm curious to see how long they can keep her going and keeping it fresh with this, but it's entertaining.
Idris Abraham & Fallah Bahh & Mario Bokara vs. Mahabali Shera & Laredo Kid & Garza Jr.
This was presented as a big match to showcase new international players with Abraham (Egyptian American), Bahh (Filipino), Bokara (Croatian), Shera (Indian) and Kid and Garza from Mexico. Idris and Garza went back and forth . Kid tagged in but was dropkicked in the leg by Abraham. Bokara tagged in but Kid escaped his suplex attemptts and nailed a nice rana, sending him into the corner. Bahh tagged in. Kid tried to move him but was shoved down by the larger competitor. Bahh backdropped him over the top to the apron. Kid tried to use his speed but Bahh nailed a running cross bodyblock to squash the luchador.
Bokara tagged in and worked over Kid, even trying to rip off his mask. He started whipping out suplexes and scored several two counts. He held Kid in the corner for Abraham to work him over. Abraham missed a charge in the corner and was nailed with a stunner. Shera made the hot tag, nailing Bokara with right hands before slamming him. Abraham tried to interfere but was tossed to the floor. Bahh hit the ring but was nailed with a Sky High. Kid and Garza got involved and hit stereo moonsaults off the corner on Bahh and Abraham on the floor. Shera nailed a Sky High and pinned Bokara.
Your winners, Mahabali Shera & Laredo Kid & Garza Jr.!
About as good as a five minute match involving six competitors is going to get. They protected Shera by just having him come in at the end of clean house. Bahh got to show his agility and Bokara whipped out his suplexes. Overall, it felt more like a primer as to what these talents could do as opposed to them getting to really make their mark. But, when you are debuting new talents at the same time, that's what happens. Fine segment.
A limo was seen in the back. Borash said we were going to find out who was in it later tonight. Well, why didn't the camera man just go knock on the window then?
When we came back, a security guy was preventing the camera man from looking in the window. Well, I feel silly now.
Decay (with Rosemary) vs. Reno Scum
Crazzy Steve and Thornstowe started out. Steve got hit with a big right as he charged. Adam cleaned house early on. Abyss and Luster tagged in and they faced off. Luster nailed him into the corner and nailed a series of headbutts to the chest. Abyss whipped him into the corner but it was reversed. Luster nailed another big headbutt. Steve tagged in but was double teamed in the corner. On the floor, Rosemary worked over Thornstowe.
Steve worked over Thornstowe with crossfaces. Abyss tagged in and charging with a splash in the corner. Steve followed up and wiped out Thornstowe. They worked over Thornstowe until Luster tagged in and took it to Abyss, taking him down with a shoulderblock off the top. Abyss went to the floor, where he was whpped into the stairs. Rosemary spewed mist but got Steve by accident. Rosemary was pressed and tossed to the floor onto Abyss. Reno Scum took out Steve and scored the pin.
Your winners, Reno Scum!
This just didn't click at all. Scum didn't look strong or bring anything special to the table. Scum could be a fun, colorful gimmick if they can get the fans behind them interacting and chanting, but this didn't showcase them in a strong light to get that going. Worse, it took some of the aura from Decay as well. I get wanting to get the new acts over but why do it at the expense of an act that was over? It was a mistake when it happened during the Hulk Hogan era and is now. The show was moving along pretty well until this. There were far too many times it felt like time was standing still.
They aired a promo promising "Fury will be unleashed" on 4/6/17. We will see who that is.
Eli Drake (with Tyrus) vs. TNA Grand champion Moose.
As Eli went to the ring, they said something was happening in the back. Cody and Brandi Rhodes emerged from the limo. She was trying to stop him. Cody said he wasn't going to do anything stupid. He went into the Impact Zone's backstage area and attacked TNA Grand champion Moose with a steel chair. Moose was nailed and walked up the stairs to the stage. Cody followed him and nailed him again, then hit Moose with CrossRhodes on the stage. Brandi arrived and pulled Cody away, telling him they had to leave now.
As officials checked on Moose, Josh Mathews said Moose had to know this was coming because he had been called out for the last two weeks and said Moose even claimed he was in Japan to avoid him. Moose still wanted to fight but the officials finally forced him to the back.
Back at ringside, Josh was back in full antagonist mode, saying Moose was gone forever. He assumed Rhodes was who was in the limo, but Borash pointed out that "she" had not arrived. Josh again asked who was she? As a way to try and build up interest in the reveal, they did a good job.
LAX (Santana and Ortiz with Konnan, Homicide and Diamante)vs. DCC (Bram and James Storm with Kingston)
LAX's separate entrance is back. Konnan cut a promo. He basically said his past here was rough but unlike the past where they went to court, LAX was taking it street style.
LAX's chaotic nature worked to their advantage as they had Bram on the defensive. After a commerical, James Storm was worked over. He made a comeback and tagged Bram but the referee missed it. Storm was worked over until he finally made the tag. He nailed a powerbomb on Ortiz. Storm tagged himself in and nailed a neckbreaker for a two count. Storm nailed a Codebreaker and set up for the Last Call superkick but got distracted. Santana and Ortiz caught him with a double 747 and scored the pin.
Your winners, LAX!
Storm blamed Eddie Kingston for the loss and got shoved. They went at it. Bram shoved Storm. Storm declared he started "all this" (DCC? TNA?) and that he was the Cowboy and walked off. Fans chanted for Storm as he departed.
They went to Michael Cole, I mean Bruce Prichard with a backstage interview. Lashley said he was an ordinary person who does extraordinary things. He went over his fighting background and said he defies the odds. Prichard noted he trained with the United States Olympic team. Lashley ran down his past in amateur wrestling, listing his accolades.
They aired a "Make Impact Great" promo with DJZ. He said it's always been innovative and promised that we were going to see more great moments and more incredibe wrestling action.
McKensie Mitchell announced Moose vs. Cody next week for the Grand championship. She brought in Allie and Braxton Sutter, saying Sienna threatened them last weekl. Braxton said that Allie was the best thing that ever happened to him and he wasn't going to let Sienna, Maria (?), Laurel or anyone else threaten her. He said he would defend her to the day he died. Good old school babyface stuff. Allie looked like she was going to melt over his words. She does a great job in her role.
Rebel vs. ODB
Rebel attacked ODB before the bell and sent her to the floor. She went to the top but missed a flying bodypress. ODB drank from her flask and psyched herself up before nailing a clothesline and following up with another. ODB nailed a running charge in the corner. She nailed the Bronco Buster in the corner and then said, "I'm a classy broad." She missed a charge in the corner and was rolled up for a two count. Rebel got mad at Earl Hebner and threatened to hit him. He stopped her, put on her cowboy hat and kissed her. ODB let him try her flask. He spit it out and asked what was in it. ODB grabbed him and kissed him, which got a pop. ODB finally scored the pin.
Your winner, ODB!
Short. They tried. It was silly.
We continued with the Lashley sit-down interview. Lashley told a story about almost getting shot and destroying his knee while dropping down. Prichard pushed him about whether he had a chip on his shoulder. Lashley said that he works so hard because he knows what he is capable of. Lashley came off as likable, which is a little at odds with his heel character but as a way to deepen his character, it was a good effort. Prichard was very good in the role.
Impact champion Lashley vs. Jake Holmes
This won't last long. Holmes tried to step to Lashley but realized what a bad idea that was and tried to back down. Lashley wiped him out and nailed the Dominator but pulled Holmes up. Lashley continued to toy with him, hitting a big Beel over the ropes into the ring and nailing spear for the pin.
Your winner, Impact champion Lashley!
Squash that served its purpose.
She was revealed and it was Karen Jarrett. What, you expected Dixie Carter?
Jeremy Borash introduced Jarrett, who came out playing pure babyface, even hugging kids at ringside. Borash welcomed her back and asked her what she was doing here. Jarrett said her family started the company with their hard work, sweat and tears. She said that they put everyhing they had into this company and the last few years have been difficult. The crowd chanted "Thank you Jarrett!" Karen thanked the fans and reiterated it's been very difficult and incredibly humbling. She said there were a lot of changes in their lives and a lot in her life. S
Karen said the old Karen would have come up and given everyone all the answers they want, but today she's going to take the high road and look to the future and the changes. She said you could feel the energy backstage, but was cut off by a loud "Fire Josh" chant. Jarrett said she would put that down on her list of changes. She said that she didn't expect the response she's gotten today and thanked their "incredibly hard-working crew" backstage and began thanking the fans, saying they were here for the good times...but was cut off by EC3.
EC3 walked to the ring shaking his head no. He said that he can feel the energy here in the Impact Zone and she was right. EC3 said they have the best fans in the world. He said he had so many friends who were fans, naming some of them. He said that the production is great and said the entire team rules but then told Karen that the most important part was the locker room. He said it was, without fail, one of the best locker rooms he's ever been here. He said he's like George Patton here, a locker room leader and even the new guys who don't want to introduce themselves are great. He said everyone wants to make Impact great but it started being great when he showed up, began beating a bunch of legends, shaved some heads and became the only true original star this company has ever created. He told Jarrett, "Your top man is reporting for duty" and said that together, they will make Impact great.....but he's not doing it for her last name, he's going to do it for his.
Josh Mathews took a mic and told them all to stop. He said he has something to say and entered the ring. He began speaking towards Karen in a mocking tone and said she's back and the first move is to put the JV squad at the table with him. He mocked her for bringing in legends. He said that he hopes Bruce Prichard was dead and said that Dutch is 270 years old. Mathews called Jeremy Borash a stooge and said the fans don't pay to get in since they can't afford a ticket so they need to shut up.
Mathews said that his problem isn't any of them but Jarrett. He said she's part of the three headed monster. He named his wife publicly as Madison Rayne and put her over. He said that it's only a matter of time before the Jarrett family is gone from Impact forever. Karen slapped him down and be sat in the corner looking back at Jarrett while Borash did his Mr. Furley eyes.
The crowd saw Jarrett as a major returning star. Mathews was good as the arrogant jerk here.
Quick thoughts: Overall, the energy level was good the entire show, even for the matches that honestly, didn't deliver from an in-ring perspective. You can see they are setting the chess pieces on the board. Some decent action in some bouts and they did a nice job building to the Karen reveal. The Cody-Moose angle was a solid way to set up for next week and they built some interest in the Tag titles. I don't get the pushing Lashley as a babyface when you just introduced Patron, but we'll see where it leads. Lashley vs. Patron looks to headline Slammiversary. The LAX act is great.
That's it everyone!
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