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0 out of 5
Credit: Impact Wrestling
The Impact Wrestling Journey to Sacrifice continued Tuesday night on AXS TV with a show called Knockouts action between Jordynne Grace, Deonna Purrazzo and Kiera Hogan, as well as an 8-Man Tag Team Match blockbuster featuring FinJuice. and Impact World of New Japan Pro-Wrestling tag team champions The Good Brothers are teaming up.
Who created the momentum ahead of the next Impact Plus presentation and what did the evening’s events hold for the company as a whole?
Find out with this recap of the March 2 show.
1 of 5
Credit: Impact Wrestling
A 3-Way to determine the No.1 contender for the X-Division Championship kicked off this week’s show as Ace Austin, Chris Bey and Black Taurus battled for the opportunity to challenge TJP.
Taurus overcame a concentrated effort from Bey and Austin early on, momentarily showing his power advantage. A double tope from Austin and Bey took their bigger opponent to the arena floor, allowing them to come back inside.
As Bey tried to jump into the ring, Taurus pulled him to the ground. He added a smack to Austin on the floor and scored a quick near-drop inside the square circle. Taurus overpowered Austin, dominating The Inevitable.
That is, until Austin shakes Taurus with a missile dropkick.
The three contestants traded strikes until Austin and Bey dropped Taurus to the ground. From there, Madman Fulton tripped Bey and Austin delivered The Fold for the win.
Result
Austin defeated Bey and Taurus
Classroom
B
Analysis
The action was uninterrupted and featured logical storytelling throughout.
Taurus was naturally presented as the unstoppable force, struggling against the opposition and swaying it with devastating head butts. He looked like a star as Austin and Bey focused their efforts on sending him off to increase their chances of victory.
In the end, that’s exactly what happened.
Austin capitalized on his own great man, Fulton, to take the win and secure a game against TJP, a victory he probably should have taken following his victory in the Super X Cup tournament.
2 of 5
Credit: Impact Wrestling
Havok went it alone, longtime partner Nevaeh, nowhere to be found, as she fought Tenille Dashwood in singles. Kaleb (with a K) assisted Dashwood at ringside.
Dashwood thwarted Havok’s first fury and brought her down before the break, taking control of the contest.
Returning from the publicity, she continued to work on her opponent, delivering the taste of the pinch in the corner before stomping on it and hammering an elbow on the back of his head.
Havok called off an Irish whip attempt and kicked Dashwood to the head. Kaleb intervened, slowing Havok’s momentum and Dashwood capitalized, delivering the Spotlight kick for the win.
After the match, Nevaeh attacked Kaleb, dropping him with a DDT stepover before checking out Havok. Dashwood, true to his character, retrieved his phone and took selfies around the ring.
Result
Dashwood defeated Havok
Classroom
VS
Analysis
It was the kind of victory Dashwood needed, a fairly dominant victory over a credible opponent.
Since returning to the company, she has had a less than stellar win-loss record, to the point where she sometimes felt like a glorified improvement talent. She turned the momentum in her favor through this victory, even though everything was a setup to (seemingly) bring Havok and Nevaeh together.
Nevaeh showed great fire when coming to the aid of his partner and Kaleb banged up fantastically to end his attack. Insofar, even, a match between Havok and Nevaeh versus Dashwood and Kaleb might not be a bad addition to the next Sacrifice map.
3 out of 5
Credit: Impact Wrestling
A video thumbnail featured Sami Callihan visiting Toledo, Ohio, and the Trey Miguel Training Center. He raised hell and brought violence down on those who stood in his way, intensifying his rivalry with the former rascal.
Elsewhere, Eric Young put Deaner in physical anguish at the hands of Joe Doering, punishment for his loss to Jake Something a week ago.
In a pre-recorded promo, Moose discussed Rich Swann’s World Impact Wrestling Championship victory at Sacrifice.
Back in the impact zone, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson made their entry for an 8-man tag team match between them and New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s David Finlay and Juice Robinson to Reno Scum and XXXL.
The feuds between FinJuice and The Good Brothers resulted in Acey Romero ditching Finlay and working him into the corner of the heel. The second-gen contender delivered a side suplex to Alex Thornstowe, creating a split and scoring Gallows in the game.
The Big LG exploded in the match and placed Thornstowe for Magic Killer. After a few fights and a close call, the Impact team champions dismissed Thornstowe with their finisher for the win.
A pre-recorded promo of Swann on his title defense against Moose aired after the contest.
Result
FinJuice and The Good Brothers defeated Reno Scum and XXXL
Classroom
VS
Analysis
It was a big disappointment, if only because we already know that there are tensions between FinJuice and The Good Brothers. Anyone who has paid any attention to the show since No Surrender knows that the two teams don’t like or trust each other. We didn’t need a glorified squash match that threatens XXXL’s credibility to hammer home for disliking between tandems.
It didn’t help that no one really had time to really shine.
What could have been a fun multiplayer match was more of a mundane exercise that doesn’t bring us closer to a showdown between current NJPW Exports and Tag Team Champions.
When it comes to thumbnails, Impact continues to impress with its ability to dig deep into storylines without overexposing the stars in matches every week. WWE would be wise to learn from the format.
4 out of 5
Credit: Impact Wrestling
Behind the scenes, The Good Brothers and FinJuice got into a fight before Doc Gallows posed the challenge of a match between the teams on Saturday February 13 at Sacrifice.
Back in the impact zone, Matt Cardona hit the ring to serve as a referee for the match between friend-turned-foe Brian Myers and former world champion Eddie Edwards.
During the commercial, Myers struggled with Edwards’ control of the game, grounding him and applying a sleeper. While fighting, the Boston native blew up the corner with a clothesline and added a Blue Thunder Bomb for two.
Edwards followed with the backpack stunner but Cardona saw Myers’ foot on the rope and stopped the count.
Later, Myers mis-loaded his elbow and delivered the Roster Cut clothesline, right in front of his former best friend and referee. Cardona called for the bell and disqualification, leaving Myers in dismay.
Result
Edwards defeated Myers by disqualification
Classroom
B
Analysis
It was less about Myers versus Edwards than telling the story of Myers and Cardona’s broken friendship.
Once longtime friends and championship-winning partners, they find themselves at a professional crossroads.
Cardona made a judgment card, letting Myers and the world know that business will not be affected by their personal relationship off the ropes.
It was a development that had to happen and will only reinforce what has the potential to be one of the company’s most intriguing storylines.
5 out of 5
Credit: Impact Wrestling
Originally slated to be a one-on-one match between Jordynne Grace and World Knockout Champion Deonna Purrazzo became a trio as Kiera Hogan joined the fray.
Purrazzo and Hogan attempted to play with Grace, but Thicc Mama Pump retaliated and kicked The Virtuosa out of the square circle, leaving her to fight Hogan. The former champion was in control of this battle before Purrazzo returned to the fray.
Even then, Grace was in control.
That’s until Purrazzo leads her into the mat and puts an armband on her. Grace fought, but Hogan led her to the mat. Hogan attacked his opponent but Grace responded with a back fist. Purrazzo looked for the armband again but Grace moved.
Grace rocked both women with the back elbows, but Purrazzo delivered a suplex. Jordynne sought out the Grace Driver but Purrazzo fought back. Grace responded with a double clothesline and stood up, just in time for Susan, Kimber Lee, Tasha Steelz and Jazz to fight on the floor.
The action continued quickly and furiously down the straight until Purrazzo scored a rollup on Grace for the win.
After the match, Grace chased Steelz down the ramp and brawled with her, making an exception to her involvement in the final moments. As The Virtuosa stood, ODB hit the ring, leveling Purrazzo and standing to close the show.
Result
Purrazzo defeated Grace and Hogan
Classroom
A
Analysis
There are two major women’s feuds going on at Impact and both were pictured here as the company continues to build toward sacrifice.
Fire N Flava handed it over to future top contenders Grace and Jazz as Steelz cost Grace the victory. Then, a week after presenting ODB behind the scenes, Knockout champion Purrazzo felt her anger at what could serve as preparation for a championship clash at the special live event.
It was a strong segment, a solid match and the post-match antics more than earned it its mark.
This Impact has a strong enough female roster to feature this match, while turning all the parties involved into other storylines is impressive.
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