
Lots of back and forth action early on, Sydal takes Raju outside while Ishimori hits a golden moonsault on Fantasma on the floor. Taiji and Raju fight back inside, Raju catches him in an elevated armbar, but Taiji makes the tag and Sydal kicks and chops Raju in the corner. Taiji and Sydal double team Raju for a bit, then Fantasma kicks Taiji in the face and Raju hits a modified knee lift for a close fall. Sydal and Taiji make the comeback, with Taiji hitting a lungbuster, and Sydal ends it with a Shooting Star Press.
Winners – Taiji Ishimori & Matt Sydal
Austin Aries is shown fielding questions about his surprise title win and return, and he says he didn’t know he would win the title, but he’s back and you could call him a free agent of sorts. Aries says he’s going around the world collecting titles, then Eli Drake runs in and tries to go after him. Aries says he can get ready for the rematch and tells him to stop crying, then a graphic shows that the rematch is set for next week.
Cult Of Lee vs T.E.C.H. (TC Read & Mike Monroe)
Lee attacks Monroe in the corner before Read gets hiptossed, then Konley tags in and they hit a powerbomb combo for two. Konley gets kicked and Read tries to get free, but Lee runs in and stops the tag before kicking Monroe on the apron. Lee and Konley repeatedly kick Monroe in the head, then they mock LAX and hit a double team spike piledriver for the win.
Winners – Cult Of Lee
LAX shows up on the big screen and Konnan says they better get ready and hope they learned their lesson, because it just got real and LAX is coming for them. LAX’s music cues up and Cult Of Lee look worried, but Lee says they should bail and leave without incident.
Allie talks to Kiera Hogan about beating Laurel Van Ness, and says Laurel is crazy, but she beat her. Allie says she will be here for Kiera is she needs her when she faces Laurel again, then an agent delivers a big card to her. A secret admirer says Allie should meet her after Impact next week.
Moose cuts a promo about getting left out of the Super Bowl when he was in the NFL, and he’s been left out of the World Championship picture here. He says all that means is that he’s hungry, and he’s going to be the next number one contender after tonight.
Kiera Hogan vs Laurel Van Ness
Hogan scores an early dropkick and goes for a splash, but Laurel sidesteps her and kicks her headfirst into the turnbuckles. Laurel makes the comeback and slingshots Hogan throat first into the middle rope, then hits the Unprettier for the win.
Winner – Laurel Van Ness
Laurel attacks Hogan after the match and shoves the ref when he tries to separate them. Allie runs out for the save, throwing elbows off the ropes and taking Laurel down with a Codebreaker. Allie tries to hit Laurel with the title, but Laurel ducks outside and screams that she wants the belt back.
A creepy vignette for OVE airs, where they are watching Bobby Lashley in a parking lot. They wait for him to walk back to a car and ambush him, then attack him and throw him in the trunk of a car.
Promo for Brian Cage airs – The Machine will be unleashed next week!
EC3 cuts a promo about tonight’s number one contender’s match
Jimmy Jacobs is shown backstage talking about being clear with Joseph Park, saying he wants Abyss. He says he will clear; if he won’t bring Abyss, they will drag the monster out of him.
Hania vs Amber Nova
Amber asks for a handshake but gets smacked away, then Amber goes for a crucifix hold but Hania slams her down and ties her up in the ropes. Hania showboats a bit and chokes Amber on the ropes, then ends it with a reverse DDT.
Winner – Hania
Rosemary runs in from behind and attacks Hania, then chokes her and sets up Red Wedding, but Hania runs off.
#1 Contender’s Match (World Championship)
Moose vs EC3 vs Alberto El Patron vs Johnny Impact
Moose and EC3 fight right on the floor while Alberto and Johnny fight in the corner. Alberto knocks Johnny down and rushes Moose, then they fight back to the floor and garbage cans and other weapons are involved. They fight near the guardrail before getting Moose gets back in and hits EC3 with a powerbomb while Johnny hits one on Alberto in stereo. Alberto comes back with a double knee armbreaker, but Moose gets right back into it with a clothesline. He goes for Go To Hell but it gets countered, then EC3 tries to take Moose down but Johnny takes EC3 down first and heads up top.
Johnny sets up Countdown To Impact but Alberto hits a step up enziguiri, then Alberto hits EC3 with a second one and Alberto calls for a Cross Armbreaker. Moose breaks it up with a senton and he clotheslines Alberto to the floor, then he goes for a baseball slide but Alberto sidesteps and superkicks him. Johnny springboards up and hits Alberto with an enziguiri on the apron, EC3 tries to steal it with a rollup, but Johnny blocks it and rolls through to take it with a bridging pin.
Winner – Johnny Impact
Ghetto187 thoughts and opinions
Great show over all! There were some noticeable changes that were good and bad, but the biggest change, was of the re-rocording of the commentary of the show, since Jeremy Borash is now gone from Impact.
Pros: Some big pros of the show, are the debuts of Rohit Raju fka Hakim Zane and Hania; and the Brian Cage Promo Video. An additional pro, is of Austin Aries' speech, where he highlighted that, he is the hottest free agent in Pro Wrestling; and Johnny Impact winning the number one contenders match for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Cons: As much as I love Sonjay Dutt, he definitely needs to work on his commentary skills, but with some practice he will become more comfortable and find his voice, great job.
Another big con of the show, is knowing that EC3 is gone from the company. Although he was acknowldging his support for Impact through Twitter, its not the same. While watching these pre-taped matches you can see he's "checked out" of performing for the company, based on his facial expressions and over all perfomance. Thanks EC3, you will be missed.
Overall Rating: 8/10
Ghetto187
Vice President for WrestlingWithWrestling.com, Impact Wrestling Reporter, Spanish Impact Wrestling Reporter. Follow Me On Twitter @Ghetto187