Impact Wrestling: Emergence Night 2
August 25th, 2020
Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
By: Davie Portman
Commentary by: Josh Matthews and Madison Rayne
Impact World Heavyweight Championship
Eddie Edwards Open Challenge
Eddie Edwards vs Rob Van Dam w/ Katie Forbes
Eddie Edwards hits an Over Head Belly to Belly Suplex early in the match sending Van Dam to the outside. Van Dam gets distracted as he kisses Forbes allowing Edwards to hit him with a Tope Suicida. As Edwards is draped over the guard rail, Van Dam hits his signature Spin Kick off the apron. As the referee is distracted Forbes hits a Running Knee to Edwards and Van Dam follows up with the Split Legged Moonsault for a two count. Edwards comes back with the Blue Thunder Bomb and the Tiger Driver for a two count. Van Dam hits a kick to Edwards as he is strung up on the top rope. He follows with Rolling Thunder and goes for the Five Star Frog Splash but misses. Eddie Edwards hits the Boston Knee Party and Eddie Edwards retains the Impact World Heavyweight Championship
Eddie Edwards defeats Rob Van Dam via Pinfall in 7 mins 18 secs
After the match, Eric Young attacks Eddie Edwards and declares that he is going to face Edwards next week for the Championship.
Davie’s thoughts: I felt this was a pretty basic match considering the two people involved. Nothing was particularly bad but I expected these two could put on something a bit better. It just wasn’t very interesting.
The post-match angle was good and I’m surprised that Young is going for the title so soon. I wouldn’t be surprised if they make the decision to put the title on Young next week.
Wrestle House
The Deaners are getting ready for a Toga Party. Whilst in their Togas Cousin Jake throws powder in the eyes of Cody Deaner and yells “Fuji” as a callback to WrestleMania IX. Jake says that Johnny Swinger taught him it and Cody is very upset and says that the first rule of Wrestle House is to not listen to anything Johnny Swinger says.
Johnny Swinger is checking himself out in the mirror and insults Crazzy Steve on his toga choice. Swinger says that he is going to “Fuji” every member of Wrestle House and then they will have all the ladies to themselves.
We cut to the living room where everyone is partying in their Togas. Taya Valkyrie is drunk and talking to the camera saying that she organized this party to blow off some steam after everything that happened last week. Kylie Rae tells Taya that she thought she did really well last week and Taya vomits. Acey Romero asks for a truce with The Deaners. The Deaners agree to the truce as long as Acey promises it wasn’t him who stole their beer last week. Swinger tries to “Fuji” Larry D but he ducks and he gets Crazzy Steve in the face. Steve is complaining that he is now blind but Dream reminds him that he is already blind. Tommy Dreamer makes a Blindfold Match between the two where the loser has to dress as the other next week.
Blindfold Match
Crazzy Steve vs Johnny Swinger
Crazzy Steve has a bike horn and keeps playing it to taunt Johnny Swinger. Johnny Swinger is pointing trying to find where Steve is and the other members of Wrestle House cheer to let him know that he is close. Wrestle House trick him so Swinger charges, thinking he’s going for Crazzy Steve but hits the turnbuckle and is rolled up for the pinfall.
Crazzy Steve defeats Johnny Swinger via Pinfall in 1 min 24 secs
Davie’s thoughts: I’m never a fan of these segments but this week seemed a bit better than the last few weeks with some jokes that actually landed. I think Johnny Swinger and The Deaners are the best characters on this show and I found the “Fuji” stuff quite funny. As always, the match was nothing but isn’t really meant to be a proper wrestling match.
Edwards Searches For Young
Eddie Edwards is backstage searching for Eric Young following the post-match attack from earlier tonight.
Bound For Glory Commercial
We see various versions of Eric Young walking through a prison talking about a revolution before we see the graphic for Bound For Glory, which will take place on October 24th. Just like their Slammiversary promos, I thought this was shot really well and furthered this psychopathic character that Eric Young has been playing since his return to Impact.
Rhino Challenges Reno Scum
Rhino is angry from Reno Scum attacking him and stealing the arm wrestling winnings, so challenges them to a tag team match next week and he wants Heath by his side. He pushes #Heath4IMPACT but says that even if management doesn’t allow Heath to wrestle, he will still defeat them.
Davie’s thoughts: I really hope they change the Heath character. I would love to see Heath use Rhino to get a job in Impact and then turn on him next week to be the new leader of Reno Scum. We all know Heath can do comedy, but from his final performance on Raw, we saw he can be serious too. I would love to see Impact give Heath a chance as a serious competitor and a program with Rhino could be the right first step.
Eddie Edwards Accepts
Eddie Edwards storms the ring and accepts Eric Young’s title challenge. He says that he doesn’t want to wait for next week and that they can have the match right now.
Eric Young comes out and calls Edwards pathetic. He says that Edwards is playing chequers whilst he is playing chess and he is always five steps ahead. Young says that they won’t fight this week but next week just as he planned. Edwards accepts the match for next week but attacks him. The two are brawling at ringside as security, referees, and Scott D’Amore try to separate them. During the commotion, Edwards accidentally knocks down D’Amore as the two are torn apart.
Rohit Raju Interview
Raju talks about all the plotting and scheming he has done over the last few months and how he used to be a victim of the political game but now he has turned it into his favor. After being called a loser, last resort, the bottom of the barrel he wants to give other people a chance and asks “who can beat, Rohit!”.
Locker Room Talk With Madison Rayne
With Johnny Swinger stuck in Wrestle House, Rayne introduces her new co-hosts, The Rascalz. Wentz and Dez say the place reminds them of The Treehouse because of all the “green” in there. Rayne thinks they are talking about the plants but when they imply that they are actually talking about weed she is offended so The Rascalz call her “Karen”. This week’s guests of the show are Ace Austin and Madman Fulton. Rayne asks them how they are feeling after their loss to The Good Brothers. The Rascalz laugh about them and Fulton gets in their face. Austin talks him out of attacking them and they leave. The Rascalz invite Rayne into the Treehouse but she turns them down.
Sami Callihan Promo
Callihan says that if it wasn’t for RVD attacking him, he would now be Impact World Heavyweight Champion. Callihan says that RVD wasn’t at his best tonight because he was in his head and that he is also in the mind of Katie Forbes. Callihan calls out RVD to see him in the ring next week on Impact.
EC3 Vignette
EC3 is sat in a room talking to the stolen TNA World Heavyweight Championship and recalls July 1st, 2015 when he beat Kurt Angle for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. He says that it was one of the biggest professional and personal moments of his life and that it was the last time he was truly happy and he can’t let go. EC3 says that he gave his body, his soul, his mind and heart and all he wanted in return was respect, pride, and love but all he got was pain, regret, and hate. As long as the physical manifestation of the Championship exists, he can not be free. EC3 goes on to call Moose a false idol but thinks he has potential. EC3 feels the TNA World Heavyweight Championship is weighing both he and himself down and that he must destroy it. They must destroy the title to be free.
Davie’s thoughts: I thought this was a very different but excellent promo. I can’t say that I completely understood all of it but I feel that EC3 has been planning this character for a while and therefore I’m willing to go along the ride. EC3’s delivery is excellent and I feel there was a lot of personal truth in his words. I really hope he can succeed after the bad hand he was dealt with at WWE.
Brian Myers vs Willie Mack
The match starts off very back and forth until Willie Mack hits a Hurricanrana and a Dropkick. Brian Myers is frustrated and gets into the face of Willie Mack and talks trash until he tackles Mack to the ground and starts using some dirty tactics. Mack hits a Sunset Flip for a two count but Myers comes right back with a back elbow followed by a lazy cover. Mack hits a huge One-Handed Spinebuster to Myers followed by a Powerslam and a big Leg Drop for a two count. Mack hits the Samoan Drop followed by the Standing Moonsault for another two count. The two start fighting on the top rope but Myers pushes Mack off and follows up by an Elbow Drop for a two count of his own. Myers goes for a DDT but Mack counters with a Forearm and Myers retaliates with a Step Up Enziguri for another two count. Myers talks more trash so Mack slaps him in the face, goes for an Urinage but Myers counters and rolls up Mack using the tights for the win.
Brian Myers defeats Willie Mack via Pinfall in 9 mins 38 secs
Davie’s thoughts: I found the first portion of this match pretty dull but it picked up towards the end. My main issue is that Myers hasn’t reinvented himself enough since being Curt Hawkins for me to take him too seriously. I thought his gear was awful in WWE and it’s awful here in Impact. Leaving a company should be an opportunity to change your look, change your character, and change the opinion of the audience and unfortunately, I don’t think Myers has done that. I’m also a little worried about Willie Mack’s position in the company as he has seemed to be floating around with no real direction since losing the X Division Championship.
#Heath4IMPACT
Heath puts out another commercial pushing for him to be signed by Impact so that he can help Rhino in his match against Reno Scum next week.
Wrestle House Part 2
Back at the Toga Party, Cousin Jake says to Cody Deaner that Lawrence D is Stephane from Family Matters. Rosemary appears for her date with Lawrence D and Alisha tells her that she knows she is doing this just to make John E Bravo jealous. Tommy Dreamer tells Bravo to man up and not let Rosemary go on the date with Lawrence D. At the date, Larry D puts on some cologne, which makes Rosemary cough. John E Bravo interrupts the date to tell Larry D to take his hands off of Rosemary. Bravo slaps Lawrence D who then gets really serious, takes off his jacket and says that he is not Lawrence anymore. Tommy Dreamer calls for “Match Time”.
Larry D vs John E Bravo
Acey Romero is the special guest referee for this Wrestle House match. Larry D knocks Bravo down with a stiff right hand and picks up the win immediately.
Larry D defeats John E Bravo via Pinfall in 36secs
After the match, Bravo tells Rosemary that it’s all his fault as he should have told Taya from the start that he has feelings for her. A drunk Taya Valkyrie shows up and Bravo tells her that he has feelings for Rosemary and thinks that Rosemary has feelings for him too. This upsets Taya and she challenges Rosemary to a “Winner Takes All” Match next week.
Davie’s thoughts: I can’t believe I’m saying this but…Wrestle House was actually…not bad this week! Bravo, Taya and Rosemary have been playing this strange love triangle really well over the last few weeks and it was cool seeing Bravo finally admit his feelings. I hope they capitalize by Taya and Rosemary actually having a decent match next week rather than your usual Wrestle House match.
Next Week
Taya Valkyrie vs Rosemary
Ace Austin & Mad Man Fulton vs Dez & Wentz (The Rascalz)
Sami Callihan vs Rob Van Dam
Eric Young vs Eddie Edwards (Impact World Heavyweight Championship)
Impact Knockouts Championship
30 Minute Iron Man Match
Deonna Purrazzo vs Jordynne Grace
04.13 (plus commercials)
Early on in the match, Deonna Purrazzo is selling her shoulder. Grace traps her in a Head Scissors Submission but Purrazzo manages to headstand out of it and poses. Grace manages to trap Purrazzo in a Single Leg Boston Crab but Purrazzo makes it to the ropes. Purrazzo begins to weaken the arm of Grace by doing a Shayna Baszler-esque Elbow Stomp. Purrazzo continues to apply submissions and attacks on the arm of Grace to weaken it for the Fujiwara Armbar and also prevent her from hitting the Grace Driver. Purrazzo keeps making pin attempts but Grace is able to power out. With less than ten minutes left in the match, neither competitor has been able to pick up a fall. Grace starts to get back into the match with a series of Back Elbows followed by two Sentons for a two count. Grace manages to trap Purrazzo in a Rear Naked Choke and manages to put Purrazzo to sleep for the first fall with four minutes left on the clock.
Jordynne Grace wins the first fall via Submission in 25 mins 30secs (0-1)
Purrazzo starts to fire back with a Running Knee to the face followed by a Flatliner immediately into a submission but Grace is able to make it to the ropes. The match really starts to pick up in aggression as both are slugging it out with stiff Forearms and Elbows to the face. Purrazzo manages to block a Grace Driver and pulls the referee in front of her as Grace goes for a Splash into the corner. The referee then does some of the best selling I’ve ever seen with a ref bump as he is wheezing as if he got winded really badly. Jordynne Grace manages to hit the Grace Driver but the referee is down with ninety seconds left on the clock. Purrazzo hits Grace in the face with the Title Belt and picks up the second fall.
Deonna Purrazzo picks up the second fall via Pinfall in 28 mins 39 secs (1-1)
Immediately after the second fall, Deonna Purrazzo applies the Fujiwara Armbar but Grace is able to power out of it. Purrazzo hits a Pump Kick followed by a Bridging German Suplex for a two count. Purrazzo transitions into a Fujiwara Armbar and Jordynne Grace taps with three seconds left on the clock.
Deonna Purrazzo wins the third fall and the Iron Man Match via Submission (2-1)
Davie’s thoughts: I thought this was another excellent match between these two. With every Iron Man Match, it’s about how you build the drama in the last few minutes yet manage to keep you invested in the first part of the match. I thought both women managed this really well and part of me expected it to end in a draw to lead to a Triple Threat Match with Kylie Rae. I think I preferred the first encounter between these two, but that isn’t a knock on this match. I could happily watch these two go at it again and again and it proves that the Impact Knockouts division is in very good hands.
Overall, I thought this was an episode of Impact that improved as it went on but didn’t feel any different from a regular episode, despite being treated like a PPV event. Apart from the main event, all of the matches were forgettable. I felt that Wrestle House had greatly improved but I would still rather we had less of it. The EC3 and Bound For Glory vignettes were really good but obviously the highlight of the night was Jordynne Grace vs Deonna Purrazzo and I would definitely recommend going out of your way to watch it.
6.5 Toga Parties Out Of 10