Twitch stream was hosted by Melissa Santos. Don Callis made a cameo, who is in Japan working the New Japan Cup. Post-show interview was former Impact wrestler Crimson, who promoted the upcoming Salute to the Troops show on May 11th.
X-Division Champion Rich Swann vs Ethan Page - 6.5/10
Match was a power vs speed bout with Swann getting the advantage every time he had the space to run around Page, but when Page would get his hands on Swann, he would strike or drop Swann with power moves. Swann connected with the Phoenix Splash for the win. Ok match, it picked up towards the end.
Post-match - oVe came out. Sami Callihan cut a promo saying that tonight is the night that Rich Swann finally joins oVe. Callihan said that family is everything and Swann and Callihan hugged it out in the ring. Swann put the oVe shirt on and started chanting with them, but behind their backs, he superkicked Callihan and hit a double cutter on the Crists before ripping the shirt off. Crowd popped.
LAX Skit - Backstage, Konnan told Santana and Ortiz that he is getting their rematch against the Lucha Bros tonight. He tells them to just pay attention to tonight’s Lucha Bros vs Razcals match from tonight.
We got a video from last week post-show with Rolando Melendez interviewing Brian Cage with his inappropriate questions. Josh Matthews told us that Cage was taken to the hospital, but that Brian Cage is next in line for Johnny Impact’s championship as soon as Johnny can return.
Ace Austin vs Jake Atlas - 6/10
Ace Austin made his Impact debut tonight with his X-Men’s Gambit gimmick.
Match was fast paced, lots of strikes since Austin's offense is mostly kicks from all sides. Finish saw Atlas went for a kick, but Ace countered with a kick combo, ending with an interesting looking Curb Stomp and finished Atlas with a running Blockbuster, which he calls The Fold. Good showing for Ace Austin, but Jake Atlas looked even better if you asked me.
Johnny and Taya Interview - Rolando Melendez interviewed Johnny Impact and Taya Valkyrie, who are in their house in Los Angeles, California. Melendez asks about letting Brian Cage down, to which Johnny answers that he did, but it was an accident. Melendez asked about working injured like others do, to which Taya brings up that he is getting Neck Fusion surgery, yikes, bad timing to make that the kayfabe injury after Ciampa’s legit injury. Johnny said that Cage will get his title shot when he is ready to return. Rolando Melendez is a great character.
Reno Scum Promo - They cut a promo backstage. Throwstone said that it took them two years to come back to Impact and that Fallah Bahh and KM were their unfortunate victims. They accepted a rematch against Bahh and KM.
Alisha Edwards Announcement - Alisha Edwards came out for a special announcement. Alisha thanked Impact Wrestling and said that her contract is expiring at the end of the month. She said that she enjoys coming out every week, but she also has considered staying home and starting a family. Suddenly, the Desi Hit Squad interrupted.
Rohit Raju cut a promo against the women’s empowerment movement and said that Alisha should indeed go home because it’s her job. Raj Singh said that all the women in wrestling should follow in her footsteps. Gama Singh said that God created women to serve men and Alisha finally had enough and slapped Gama in the face. When Raj and Rohit got in her face, Eddie Edwards came out to help her, but the numbers game was too much for Eddie until Eli Drake came out.
Eli Drake hinted joining Desi Hit Squad in on the attack, but Drake attacked Desi Hit Squad and defended Eddie Edwards. Drake told Eddie that this was ‘something to think about’ before walking to the back.
Backstage, Eddie and Alisha talked when Drake walked up to them. Eddie thanked Eli Drake for helping them both. Eli Drake once again suggested they team up and chase the tag titles. Alisha actually agreed with Eli Drake and pushed for the tag team too, bringing up that Drake is the only man Eddie Edwards has left. Eddie agreed to tag team with Drake and take on Desi Hit Squad next week.
GWN Flashback Moment of the Week - It was The Wolves vs The Hardys vs Team 3D in a ladder match for the tag team championships from 2014’s No Surrender.
Killer Kross and Moose Interview - Melissa Santos interviewed Killer Kross and Moose. She asked about what is next for them now that they have taken out Johnny Impact and Brian Cage. Moose celebrated with a new suit. Killer Kross said if he or Moose can’t get title shots, then no one is getting title shots, and so if he doesn’t get a shot once Johnny returns, he is going back to the hospital.
Rascalz' That 70's Show - The Rascalz were in their round table. Dezmond said that in order to win tonight, they need masks to gain lucha powers, and revealed he had Kikutaro’s mask. They made fun of Moose’s Pepto Bismol colored jacket. Wentz told Xavier to just give Kikutaro his face back. It was funny, but not a lot of substance.
The Dark War. If Team Rosemary wins, they gain control of Allie. If Team James Mitchell wins, he take's Rosemary's soul
Rosemary, Kiera Hogan, & Jordynne Grace vs Su Yung, ‘Dark’ Allie, & The Undead Bridesmaid of Honor (w/Father James Mitchell) - 4.5/10
The Undead Bridesmaid of Honor was Buggy Nova, fka NXT’s Skylar Moon. Rosemary came out with a big entrance attire, she got a huge pop from the crowd.
The match wasn't really that good, it was really fast paced with tons of quick tags from both teams, so it felt rushed and like it never built tension. I think they should have just done a Tornado Tag and make it properly chaotic. Finish saw Su Yung go for the mist, but hit the Undead Bridesmaid of Honor instead. Kiera Hogan took out Su Yung while Jordynne held Allie, allowing Rosemary to pin the Undead Bridesmaid of Honor and win the match.
Post-match - Rosemary put a collar on Allie and dragged her to the back as James Mitchell had to hold off Su Yung.
Backstage, Glenn Gilbertti asked Konnan about Don Callis. Konna instigated Gilbertti telling him that Callis said he had been hired to become a mascot. Konnan told Gilbertti to go into a room and call out Callis. Gilbertti went in and saw a bald person, who he said his piece to, but the bald person turned out to be Killer Kross, who kicked Gilbertti’s butt.
Back from commercial, Glenn Gilbertti walked out from his beating. He was hallucinating confusing people with Russo, Jarrett, Cody, and the Bucks, name dropping AEW. He finally found Scott D’Amore, who talked him down. Gilbertti walked out and join Callis in commentary.
Scarlett Bordeaux Announcement - In the ring, Josh Matthews introduced Scarlett Bordeaux. Matthews asked about Scarlett’s talent search, to which Bordeaux responded that none of the entries showed any potential to win a championship. Scarlett made fun of Glenn Gilbertti wearing the turkey suit on Thanksgiving.
Glenn Gilbertti got in the ring and asked why Scarlett would want to wrestle. He said that just by walking around she was the biggest deal, but the only thing that would happen if she wrestled is that she would just suck. Gilbertti said that women’s wrestling hasn’t been good since the last Bra and Panties match. Scarlett, in the name of all women, slapped the misogynist Gilbertti.
Scarlett challenged Glenn Gilbertti to her debut match. Gilbertti talked some more trash telling Scarlett to go home and do the dishes and said if after all that she still wants to wrestle, he’ll be there waiting. Disco Inferno and Scarlett Bordeaux just had one of the best angles i’ve seen in a while on TV, they were both great. I’m sold on that match, which takes place in 3 weeks at the Against All Odds special episode.
Tessa Blanchard Interview - Melissa Santos interviewed Tessa Blanchard about a number one contender’s match she has against Jordynne Grace. Tessa said that Impact management is screwing her for what she did to Gail Kim. Tessa said that she will defeat Grace and get her rematch.
Impact Tag Team Champions Lucha Bros! vs The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz) - 7/10
Great short match, Rascalz looked awesome in defeat when Pentagon picked up the pin on Wentz after a Superkick and Penta Driver Combo. The match was fast paced from the get go and Rascalz actually worked a smarter, more vicious side of them.
Post-match - Backstage, Lucha Bros were greeted by Konnan. Pentagon and Fenix told Konnan to tell Santana and Ortiz to never touch their masks again. Konnan asked for the rematch, but the Lucha Bros told Konnan to wait, but Konnan said he wasn’t asking, he was telling them and that next time he saw them, he wanted a date. Konnan walked away. Pentagon told Fenix that they’re not going to take orders from Konnan.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Overall a great show. Impact Wrestling low-key made a big deal of International Women’s Day by putting their own female roster over and not just selling a women’s revolution. While the main event was great, the storyline developments of tonight were the stronger parts of the show.
Next week, Johnny Impact returns. oVe takes on Willie Mack, Rich Swann, and Tommy Dreamer, and Tessa Blanchard vs Jordynne Grace fight in a Knockout’s Championship No. 1 Contendership match.