IMPACT Wrestling wrote its final chapter on Saturday night, as Final Resolution 2023 from the Don Kolov Arena in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada was the final event from the promotion before they will revert to their TNA Wrestling brand in 2024.
As the main event wrestlers stood in the ring on Saturday night, those in attendance were told that this would be the final match in IMPACT Wrestling history. The main event was a “last” in some ways, but also a first in many others.
The Final Resolution 2023 main event saw NJPW World Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr. make his second-ever appearance on an IMPACT Wrestling show, with his prior appearance in the promotion being on a card co-promoted by NJPW. He teamed with Josh Alexander — a Canadian who was clearly one of the most well-received talents of the night — and faced the all-star Motor City Machine Guns duo of IMPACT Wrestling World Champion Alex Shelley and IMPACT Wrestling X-Division Champion Chris Sabin.
Sabre Jr., a talent who has worked all around the world in thousands of matches, was wrestling with three prominent names he had never shared a ring with before. But the fans inside the tight gym-turned-television-studio venue received quite a lot from these four, as they went 28 minutes before Alexander won for his team with a piledriver.
The slow-burn style of the contest was easily the match of the night, as the experienced wrestlers went nearly half an hour but kept pulling out new twists and turns that made the match remain exciting. All of the technical tricks you usually see from Sabre Jr., including stomping propped-up elbows and twisting the necks of his opponents, were all part of the performance.
While Alexander isn’t next in line for the world title, the fact that he is a former champion still in pursuit of the belt also added a nice little dash of storytelling to the long-form headliner. The match was perfect for the atmosphere it was in, as the live audience was incredibly engaged, expressing their adoration for each wrestler involved in the match until the final minute.
After the main event, IMPACT Wrestling President Scott D’Amore invited his roster around the ring to bid adieu to the brand that they have carried the promotion under for many years. Before ending the evening, he called ring announcer David Pezner into the ring. D’Amore said that Pezner won’t be with IMPACT in 2024, but wanted to thank him for his work in the promotion and presented him a trophy.
Trinity, Jordynne Grace Work Together Before January Title Match
Just a few weeks before they will square off with the IMPACT Women’s World Championship on the line at their Hard To Kill event in Las Vegas, Nevada, titleholder Trinity and Jordynne Grace beat the team of Gisele Shaw and Deonna Purrazzo. While this 11-minute match teased possible tension between the soon-to-be opponents, it didn’t really deliver on that. After watching this match, the question of “Can they coexist?” was quite simple: Yes.
In fact, it was actually the team of Shaw and Purrazzo who failed to work together. The two argued after the match, resulting in Purrazzo getting attacked by Shaw. This result, which could be perceived as a send-off, comes the same day as a report from Fightful that said Purrazzo’s last date with IMPACT Wrestling was this weekend.
Moose, Rhino Deliver With Unexpected Street Fight
Moose won in his grudge match against Rhino, just not in the way that he might have expected.
A bout between Moose and Rhino was part of Saturday’s card due to developments on IMPACT Wrestling’s weekly television show. A rivalry was sparked between these two after one of their friends on the roster was attacked by each other (Heath and Brian Myers respectively).
Nearly two minutes into this match, a low blow from Moose caused him to get disqualified. However, Rhino wasn’t done yet. He challenged Moose to a street fight match to keep the fight going. Moose wasn’t sold on the idea but was essentially forced to compete after Santino Marella said he would be stripped of his Feast or Fired IMPACT World Championship shot if he didn’t.
After many weapons were used, the match had a hectic finish. Rhino earned a near fall with a Gore, with the referee being hurt and a secondary official entering the ring causing a delay in the pin count. Just moments later, Moose dodged a second Gore, with Rhino accidentally putting the secondary referee through a table with this move. The initial referee came back to his senses after Moose landed a Lights Out spear on Rhino, causing the bout to end.
This match had a fan-friendly hardcore style and didn’t overstay its welcome, making it a successful part of the show.
Coming back after being attacked earlier in the day, Jake Something put away Jason Hotch in six minutes with the Black Hole Slam. Something’s strength was put over well in this match, and the crowd gradually got behind him as it progressed.
Trent Seven Debuts And Is Here To Stay
In one of the more unexpected moments of the night, Trent Seven made his IMPACT Wrestling debut in a tag match alongside Mike Bailey. This wasn’t the match that was billed — as Bailey was originally scheduled to face Trey Miguel in a singles match — but fans likely didn’t mind the change. Zachary Wentz of The Rascalz was added to the match as a punishment for his attack on ABC earlier in the night, and Bailey was given a mystery opponent, who ended up being Seven.
This match proved to be one of the more fun performances of the evening and a fun debut for Seven. Allowing a healthy amount of back-and-forth between the former tag champs and the team of Bailey and Seven, it was an exciting match to watch. Seven and Bailey eventually closed out the match by hitting both of their finishing moves.
After the match, Scott D’Amore signed Seven to a contract with TNA. “Somebody was dumb enough to let you go,” said D’Amore, likely referring to Seven’s WWE run which concluded in 2022. To a loud reaction from the live crowd, Seven signed his contract on the back of Bailey.
Tommy Dreamer, ABC Retain Belts
Tommy Dreamer kept his reign as IMPACT Wrestling Digital Media Champion alive at 92 days strong, beating Deaner in a slow-paced match that was full of comedy moments. Deaner was able to get a reaction from the audience with some of his humorous spots — like when he sold a move but took more than 10 seconds to finally hit the canvas due to absorbing the blow — however, this match felt like it dragged to the finish line with 11 minutes in total.
The team of Ace Austin and Chris Bey — ABC — defended their IMPACT Tag Team Championships against the team of Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers in an 11-minute win. The match showed the difference storyline-wise between a team with chemistry versus one that has dysfunction. ABC worked as a strong duo, while the makeshift team of Edwards and Myers, who were teaming up for the first time, often hurt each other’s momentum in the ring.
Unexpectedly, ABC beat the team of Myers and Edwards, hitting their 1, 2, Sweet double-team finishing move. Former tag team champions The Rascalz attacked ABC after the match, setting up a rematch (and putting together a development that would unfold later in the show).
It was a tough night for the Edwards family. After the tag team lost, Alisha Edwards was given an impromptu match against Canadian Jodi Threat. This match against Threat was announced by Santino Marella, due to the Edwards family and Myers not leaving the ring after the match. It ended up being a victory for Threat in seven minutes.
PCO, Frankie Kazarian Among Winners On Pre-Show
Frankie Kazarian closed out the “Countdown” portion of the card with a fast win over Sheldon Jean. He wrapped up his brief six-minute performance with a Crossface Chickenwing submission.
In a fun back-and-forth match on the pre-show, Jack Price beat Aidan Princey. After escaping a top rope move from Princey, Price hit his double-knees move Lights, Camera, Action for the win.
PCO opened the night with a quick victory, showcasing his toughness against Jessie V in a five-minute victory. PCO opened the match with a dive to the outside, then had a brawl around the ring that featured a leg drop and a Swanton bomb on the apron. After rising from the dead twice, he finished the match with a moonsault off the top rope.
IMPACT Wrestling Final Resolution 2023 Results:
- PCO def. Jessie V (5:24)
- Jack Price def. Aidan Princey (6:30)
- Frankie Kazarian def. Sheldon Jean (6:23)
- Ace Austin & Chris Bey def. Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers (IMPACT World Tag Team Championships) (11:34)
- Jodi Threat def. Alisha Edwards (7:43)
- Tommy Dreamer def. Deaner (IMPACT Digital Media Championship) (11:37)
- Mike Bailey & Trent Seven def. Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz (15:11)
- Rhino def. Moose (DQ) (1:57)
- Moose def. Rhino (Street Rules Match) (7:49)
- Jordynne Grace & Trinity def. Gisele Shaw & Deonna Purrazzo (11:00)
- Josh Alexander & Zack Sabre Jr. def. Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin (28:07)
