Closing out the December 8th episode of IMPACT Wrestling on AXS was ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey and IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander wrestling for 60 minutes. Alexander scored the victory after hitting two ‘C4 Spike’ finishers back-to-back.
This match came about because Alexander became fed up with Bully Ray and instead of waiting for their match at Hard To Kill, Alexander issued an open challenge so Bully could come face him for the title on IMPACT TV and still keep his pay-per-view match. Bully appeared via video and told Alexander he’ll wait until Hard To Kill so stepping up to the challenge was Mike Bailey.
Post-match, Alexander and Bailey received standing ovations. When Bailey came to the back, one of the individuals ‘showing their respect’ was Kenny King who ended up spitting water at Bailey.
.@bullyray5150 refuses to answer @Walking_Weapon's open challenge! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/APoQpadO0w
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 9, 2022
.@bullyray5150 might not be here but @SpeedballBailey IS! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/cIStLAIcCi
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 9, 2022
60 mins and 2 C4 Spikes FINALLY put @SpeedballBailey down! @Walking_Weapon #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/xRPJ7Ic3QF
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 9, 2022
EXCLUSIVE: Everyone BUT @KennyKingPb2 showed their respect for @SpeedballBailey and @Walking_Weapon going 60 mins in one of the best matches in IMPACT history!#IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/lN2Mfw7tbs
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 9, 2022
Opening the program was an IMPACT World Tag Team Title match that saw the champions Rhino and Heath defend against Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin). The match was thrown out after Brian Myers and Matt Cardona ambushed Shelley & Sabin.
Due to Bailey versus Alexander going 60 minutes, the singles match between Eddie Edwards and Delirious that was supposed to main event has been moved to December 15th.
The Design (Deaner, Kon & Alan Angels) made their first TV appearance since Deaner ‘killed’ former Violent By Design leader Eric Young. Kon took on Sami Callihan in singles competition.
"The Design" has arrived in the IMPACT Zone!@Big_Kon1 @CodyDeaner @Alan_V_Angels #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/2LqrtRkmn4
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 9, 2022
‘Before the IMPACT’ featured X Division Champion Trey Miguel besting Jason Hotch in a non-title bout. After the match, Miguel spray painted Hotch with the same color of paint he used to spray paint the X Division Championship.
.@TheTreyMiguel just TAGGED @TheJasonHotch on #BeforeTheIMPACT!#IMPACTWRESTLING pic.twitter.com/c5n3ztCwP5
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 9, 2022
Hard To Kill is scheduled for January 13th and in addition to the Alexander versus Bully match, Mickie James is putting her career on the line in a match against Jordynne Grace with Grace’s Knockouts World Title hanging in the balance.
