IMPACT! Wrestling
October 21st, 2021
Skyway Studios in Nashville, Tennessee
Commentary: Josh Mathews & D’Lo Brown
Before the IMPACT! – W. Morrissey def. Jake Something by pinfall at 13:18
Bullet Club (Chris Bey & Hikuleo) vs. FinJuice (David Finlay & Juice Robinson)
The winners of this match go on to face the Good Brothers for the IMPACT World Tag Team Championship at Bound for Glory. Finlay and Hikuleo start the match, with Hikuleo easily taking him down before tagging in Bey. Juice comes in and hits a senton for a two-count before bouncing Bey off the turnbuckle. Hikuleo and Finlay go at it with Hikuleo hitting a sidewalk slam for a two. Juice came in with the hot tag and hit a humongous back body drop on Bey followed by a big splash in the corner and the 10 punches in the corner followed by a bite. Finlay comes in and they hit a double-team move that Hikuleo breaks the pin off. Bey and Finlay go at it, but Bey’s leg takes out the referee by accident as Finlay tries to go for the pin. Hikuleo comes in and hits Finlay with a chokeslam before putting Bey on top of him, another referee runs in, but Finlay kicks out at two. Finlay counters Bey’s Art of Finesse with a jumping neckbreaker before they both tag out. FinJuice double team Hikuleo, but Juice ends up rolling up Hikuleo the same time Bey rolls up Finlay and both the referees make both the pins as they dispute who the winner is.
Winner: Match ends in a no contest at 8:24
When we come back from commercials, they are all arguing backstage along with the referees and ask Scott D’Amore what’s going on. D’Amore says he will make the decision later tonight on who will face the Good Brothers are Bound for Glory.
Josh Alexander Won’t Accept Failure
We go to a pre-produced package for Josh Alexander speaking about his upbringing talking about being an only overweight child with divorced parents that had no friends. He then found pro wrestling to dig down deep and find a job and became a tire technician and it was hard, but it was the only job to give him Fridays off to be a pro wrestler as ‘Jay Fenix’. He then talks about having neck surgery and reinjuring it and thinking he had to retire. We thought he hit rock bottom after his second neck injury and the doctor telling him he can’t wrestle. He then was told he would be okay with rehab and working hard, which he did. He returned in August 2016 but got in trouble crossing the borders to the USA and was told he couldn’t cross over anymore, so that made him want to become the best wrestler in Canada as they show highlights of Scott D’Amore giving him a contract to IMPACT Wrestling. He then talks about the X Division Championship and how much it meant to him, as he watched Low Ki growing up. The X Division always meant match of the night for him and that’s what he continued to strive to do. Alexander then talks about his match with Chris Sabin at Victory Road being one of the toughest he’s ever had, and he felt he beat the best X Division Champion ever and there was nothing else for him to do but cash in Option C. He then talks about challenging Christian Cage as being a historic moment for him and he has the edge on Cage in the ring. The second the bell rings, his opponent has to keep up with him and failure is not an option for him. He’s overcome so many things to get to this point and he cannot accept failure.
This was very well produced, and gave me NXT/Prime Target-like vibes, and made Alexander seem extremely important and a star. Some of the best-produced stuff IMPACT has done in a while.
Jordynne Grace & Fallah Bahh vs. Chelsea Green & Crazzy Steve vs. Tenille Dashwood & John Skyler (w/ Kaleb with a K)
These are the six competitors that will fight on the Countdown to Glory pre-show for the new Digital Media Championship. Chelsea and Bahh go at it as Bahh tries to drop on him, and Chelsea gets out, goes for the pin, and tags out to Steve. Steve and Bahh fight in the corner, but Skyler knocks Steve off and tags in, and goes on the attack on Steve. Grace and Tenille go at it, with Grace hitting a spine buster before Skyler comes in just for Grace to take out with knees in the corner and the running elbow drop, followed by the Vader Drop. Grace hits Tenille with a back fist for a two count as everybody runs in and starts hitting moves on each other including Bahh hitting a big splash on four people in the corner, goes to climb the turnbuckle to sit on Tenille, and gets pushed off by Skyler. Steve hits a DDT off the rope on Bahh but gets pulled out of the ring, as Tenille hits the spotlight kick on Bahh for the cover.
Winners: Tenille Dashwood & John Skyler by pinfall at 5:25
Uncle Rhino
Rhino is in the ring to break his silence about Heath’s offer to be his tag team partner against Violence by Design at Bound for Glory. Before Rhino can say anything, Heath makes his way to the ring. Heath says it’s been a while and asks if the cat still has Rhino’s tongue and says he and all these people here are confused. Heath mentions them two being through a lot together, including hell and high water and this non-communication stuff isn’t going to work for them. When he got injured, he didn’t hear from Rhino and knows this is because of Eric Young and VBD and asks if Rhino can say anything to him. Heath tells Rhino that he loves him, and he is his best friend, and his family miss ‘Uncle Rhino’ as Rhino shows a smile. Violent by Design interrupts them as Young, Deaner, and Joe Doering come out. Young says VBD is forever and not something you can walk away from, and Rhino made a promise to him, and this is his family now. Heath tells Rhino this isn’t family, just some crazy people talking to him and tells Rhino not to do it. Heath and Young go back and forth making their case to Rhino. This results in Heath pushing Young and VBD attacking Heath as Rhino just watches on. Rhino finally snaps out of it and pushes Deaner off of Heath but still looks conflicted as Young says Rhino is ready to sit back at the table and tells Rhino to cut Heath in half with the Gore, but Rhino leaves the ring and through the crowd. Young keeps yelling at Rhino not to quit on him before VBD goes back to attacking Heath including snapping the VBD flag over Heath knocking him unconscious as Heath was yelling for Rhino.
We get another ‘coming soon’ video for Minoru Suzuki.
Savannah Evans (w/ Tasha Steelz) vs. Mickie James
Evans was the poison that Deonna Purrazzo picked for Mickie James, and this is James’ first match in IMPACT since June 2015 when she teamed up with Magnus (Nick Aldis) to take on Serena Deeb and James Storm. Evans goes on the attack to James in the corner, but James fights out and starts chopping Evans in the corner before getting pushed off. James comes back with kicks, but Steelz trips her up as she tries to run the ropes which cause Evans to gain the upper hand. James tries to fight back, but Evans whips her and splashes her in the corner. Evans applies a bear hug, but James fights out of it with a bite to the side of Evans’ face. James goes for a DDT, but Evans picks her up and places her on the top rope. James kicks her off and hits a Meteora for a two count. Deonna Purrazzo’s music plays as she makes her way to the ring to distract James. Evans hits a Full Nelson Slam, but James kicks out at the last possible moment. Evans charges in the corner, but James moves out of the way and hits two kicks and her DDT for the pin.
Winner: Mickie James by pinfall at 7:27
Deonna gets the apron to distract Mickie James, as Matthew Rehwoldt comes from behind and takes James out with a clothesline. Deonna gets in Mickie’s face and holds up her title.
No Compete Clause
Gia Miller stops Deonna and Rehwoldt backstage and says that there was a no-contact clause, and Deonna says she didn’t do anything wrong as Rehwoldt attacked Mickie, not her. Scott D’Amore walks in and says she’s right, Rehwoldt attacked Mickie, but Deonna put her hands on Mickie first by pushing her with her finger and says he could strip the title from her but doesn’t want it stripped in a courtroom and would rather see her get her ass kicked at Bound for Glory by James. D’Amore tells Rehwoldt he is banned from ringside for the match as well.
Chapter 44: Consequences
We get another Brian Myers How to be a Professional Wrestler segment where Brian Myers is talking to his Learning Tree about how last week was an embarrassment and a total failure and tells Sam Beale notes won’t do it this time and now, they have to spill some blood. Myers says Manny Lemons is not coachable and wishes him the best in his future endeavors and they’ll send a garbage bag to his house and says he is cut as Lemons vanishes out of the scene. Beale thinks Zicky Dice and VSK are getting cut next, but Myers tells Beale it’s him. Beale asks Myers if he could at least autograph his picture on the way out, and Myers tells VSK to do it as Beale looks devastated.
IInspirational Contract Signing
Scott D’Amore is backstage waiting on Decay and The IInspiration for their contract signing, but RD Evans comes in instead and he’s representing Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay instead and says their signatures are already on the contract as Decay magically appears in the office. Rosemary complains that there’s ink in the pen instead of blood and smells extra virgin blood coming from Evans before they both sign the contract and say they are extremely excited and is sad the IInspiration couldn’t be here to show their pretty faces and at Bound for Glory they will bite them off.
Alex Zayne vs. Trey Miguel
The match started slow, with each working on each other’s arms before Zayne took down Miguel. Zayne challenges Miguel to a test of strength, as the match speeds up a bit with arm drags and each hitting moonsaults to the outside as they go to the commercial.
When we come back, Miguel is in control and hits a dropkick to the back of Zayne’s neck for a two count. They keep reversing each other until Miguel applies an innovative submission move keeping Zayne on the mat. Zayne fights out and hits a big clothesline followed by a running hurricanrana to Miguel who was on the top rope for a two count. Miguel comes back with kicks until Zayne hits a running knee, places Miguel on the top rope, but Miguel escapes and hits a Cheeky Nando’s and a 619 followed by a Meteora for the pin.
Winner: Trey Miguel by pinfall at 12:22
Steve Maclin runs in after the match and starts attacking Miguel including hitting Mayhem for All. El Phantasmo runs out with Chris Bey and Hikuleo and they start attacking Maclin including ELP hitting a superkick on Maclin. Bey and Hikuleo hold up Miguel and ELP delivers the nut punch.
Bound for Glory Card
· Vacant X Division Championship: Trey Miguel vs. Steve Maclin vs. El Phantasmo
· Inaugural Digital Media Championship: John Skyler vs. Crazzy Steve vs. Fallah Bahh vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Chelsea Green vs. Tenille Dashwood (w/ Kaleb with a K)
· Awesome Kong Hall of Fame Induction
· Violent by Design vs. Heath & ??? (Rhino, if he accepts)
· IMPACT World Tag Team Championship: Good Brothers (c) vs. FinJuice vs. Bullet Club (Chris Bey & Hikuleo)
· Call Your Shot Gauntlet Match
· IMPACT Knockouts Championship: Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs. Mickie James
· IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Championship: Decay (c) vs. The IInspiration
· IMPACT World Championship: Christian Cage (c) vs. Josh Alexander
Slamming the Forbidden Door
Josh Alexander is in the ring and says in two days he challenges for the IMPACT Wrestling World Championship at Bound for Glory and people have called this a risk, but what is a risk? Since six years ago he thought he was done with wrestling but through the grace of God, he was given an opportunity to come back. And he has scraped and clawed and taken every single risk he could on the way for every opportunity to be standing where he is right now as the #1 contender for the World Championship, and he will take risks all day long. There is one risk he is not willing to take and that is sending a message to his sons at home not taking that risk because every risk yields the biggest rewards. Christian Cage makes his way to the ring. Cage says here they are just two days away and understands this moment for Alexander as he’s been on the biggest stage before and been on legendary matches that pay per views are named after. Cage says what it comes down to is pressure and how you deal with it, and if Alexander can keep his emotions in check and deal with the pressure as some people fade into oblivion but others like Cage thrive and win world titles. Cage says for as hungry and talented as Alexander is he hasn’t done anything these last couple of weeks that prove has it in him. Alexander says he hears all his criticism, and it sounds familiar, as he’s had people over the years say the same and it should to Christian as well, as they both came from established tag teams. Alexander said in 2005, Cage had to prove himself and these are the shoes Alexander stands in now and as long as Cage is cashing a check from a billionaire that owns a different company, he will never be the face of IMPACT Wrestling. And at Bound for Glory, Alexander will bring that title back home where it belongs and slam that forbidden door in his face and if anybody dares step through it, Alexander will be there waiting for him. Cage says Alexander isn’t even the best wrestler from Canada, and Cage is better, and nothing will change at Bound for Glory. Alexander says pissing him off won’t work to his advantage and attacks Cage putting him on an ankle lock, before security comes out and break them apart as they continue to fight, prompting the entire IMPACT locker room to come out and keep them apart.
Another awesome segment from these two to really drive home the importance of this main event on Saturday.
