Welcome to the recap of the October 29th, 2019 edition of Impact Wrestling, a new chapter of sorts for the company just began, with their debut on AXS TV and their return to Tuesday Nights. Commentators Josh Matthews & Don Callis open the show in the ring to hype up this new era as well as the main event, a steel cage match between Impact Champion Brian Cage & Sami Callihan, where the belt is on the line.
Marufuji vs. Josh Alexander
In our first match of this new era of Impact, we got Japanese Legend Naomichi Marufuji representing Pro Wrestling NOAH facing one half of the Impact Tag Team Champions The North, Josh Alexander. The advantage for Marufuji lies in his striking ability, while Alexander has more experience on the mat, and Alexander knows this, doing his best to avoid being struck by the lethal kicks of Marufuji for a while in this match.
Alexander spent most of this match just picking away at his opponent, clearing having Marufuji well scouted, but not able to avoid all of his offense. Alexander hit a huge Torture Rack Bomb for the closest 2 count you’ll see all week, followed by Marufuji regaining control, hitting a hook kick followed by a running knee strike fr a close 2 count as well, and finally closing the match using Sliced Bread No. 2 in the corner for the victory over Josh Alexander in a very fun if unremarkable opening contest.
In a sign of sportsmanship, Marufuji offered a handshake to Josh Alexander, only for Alexander’s partner Ethan Page to come in and try to convince him otherwise.
OvE Banned From The Building
To ensure no cheating in the main event, Sami Callihan’s faction mates, Dave Crist, Jake Crist, and Mad Man Fulton are banned from the building. While this frustrates Sami, he will play by managements rules and sends them on their way and goes to prepare for his main event without backup.
Rosemary, Jordynne Grace, Alexia Nicole vs. Kiera Hogan , Madison Rayne & Taya Valkyrie
Our next match is a 6 woman tag team match, featuring most of the top talents in the Knockouts division, including Knockouts Champion Taya Valkyrie. The action is as chaotic as a 6 person tag match can get, with everyone getting a chance to shine. The team of Hogan, Rayne & Valkrie isolated Alexia Nicole and worked over the least experienced member of the match. Kiera Hogan feigned an injury to her shoulder following a hurricarana to Nicole, only to poke Nicole in the eye as she took this as a chance to get her team more momentum, and quickly tagged out to Taya Valkyrie, with her injury status unknown, Don Callis calling that it could be a separated shoulder.
Taya Valkyrie lost control of Nicole, who tagged in the powerhouse of the women’s division, Jordynne Grace. Valkyrie attempted to tag in Madison Rayne but she wanted nothing to do with Grace, who proceeded to steamroll the current Knockouts Champion who was left without someone to tag, with Hogan hurt & Rayne scared. Grace would roll up Valkyrie for the win, perhaps punching her ticket to the top of list of challengers for the prestigious title.
Catching Up With RVD
At a show over the weekend, Rob Van Dam turned on his tag team partner and fellow ECW alumni Rhyno, superkicking and abandoning him during a tag match. We cut to a shot of him in a hot tub with his wife, claiming he is the originator of much of the move-sets of the younger generation of wrestlers, who were inspired by him, saying there would be no Kenny Omegas, Daniel Bryans or Young Bucks without Rob Van Dam’s influence. He also says he’s tired of carrying people like Rhyno & the legacy of ECW, he just wants to be Rob Van Dam.
Desi Hit Squad (Rohit Raju & Raj Singh) vs. Willie Mack & Rich Swann
Next up is some classic tag team action, with Desi Hit Squad getting the early jump on Mack & Swann before the bell even rang, trying to cut down the talented duo. While Mack & Swann are established single stars, Desi Hit Squad are a established tag team giving them the advantage throughout the match. Tag team offense like a back-breaker hold into a running kick to Swann showed their chemistry, but once the big man Willie Mack got in, momentum switched in favor of their team. An elevated tag team neck-breaker on Rohit would get Mack & Swann the win, putting them in the conversation for a tag team title shot.
Whats Up With Moose?
Appearing on a very nicely groomed golf course, Moose decides to remind everyone that he beat Ken Shamrock at Bound For Glory, which he claims makes him the greatest MMA fighter of all time. He also hyped up his past as an offensive lineman for teams such as Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, St. Louis Rams, and Indianapolis Colts in NFL.
To try and prove he’s truly the greatest multi-sport athlete, he demonstrates his ability to hit a hole in one, which we saw a nice swing on; but no entry into the hole. He bickered with some golfers who were already on the green, threw one into the nearby sand and dropped a ball in the hole. I’m not gonna argue that he’s a great golfer, I’d prefer to stay out of the sand.
What Is Next For Ken Shamrock
After his loss to Moose at Bound for Glory, the 55 year old legend of MMA and wrestling, spook on his future with Impact Wrestling. Before he could get to the point, he was interrupted by all around sleezeball Joey Ryan, who said he has one more mountain to climb. Ken Shamrock returned by simply saying he doesn’t even know who is, before remembering him as, and I quote “The Penis Guy”, and informs Ryan he wasn’t coming out to retire. He’s sticking around to bring the pain to anyone who wants a piece. The Worlds Most Dangerous Man vs. The Worlds Most Dangerous Manhood is set for next week, truly a dream match of our time.
Ace Austin vs. Eddie Edwards
Next up is a Street Fighter between two bitter rivals, where Ace Austin has been getting intimate Edwards wife. Eddie has the edge in this match, having perfected a brawling style during his feud with Sami Callihan. They beat each other all around the ringside area, using trash cans, crutches, tables and much more. The high flying Ace Austin used his agility to get some advantages, but none would last long, but the tag team Reno Scum would also come to the aid of Ace Austin as well, with Adam Thronestone being put through a table set up in the corner for his troubles ending their involvement.
Some more weapon brawling ensues, with a steel chair added to the mix. The X-Division title would be used by Austin as a shield from a kendo stick shot, and then used to cave in the face of Edwards, but that only lead to a two count. Another table would be set up in the ring, only for Eddie Edwards to be put through it by Ace Austin for the victory. This was a great weapons based brawl, something Impact has never shyed away from displaying. If this will end this rivalry isn’t clear, but I certainly hope not after this fantastic matchup. Ace Austin would then meet up with Eddies wife Alisha Edwards, and offer to take her out for dinner next week, just as friends. We will see how that goes then.
Main Event: Brian Cage vs. Sami Callihan for the Impact World Championship
At Bound For Glory, Cage was barely able to escape with his title reign intact in a fantastic matchup against Callihan, but he wouldn’t be clear of Callihan. OvE raided Cages home, endangering his wife and child, forcing Cages hand into giving him this rematch, and to add to the intensity of this match will be handled in a steel cage.
Before Cage would even get into the ring, the cage door would be dropkicked into Cages face, and as a receipt, Cage would powerbomb Callihan into the side of the cage and raked his face across it. Callihan locked himself in the cage to escape the mauling, only for Cage to climb his way in like it was nothing, and the bell finally rang. Callihan would use his signature baseball bat which he brought to the cage with him to get an advantage, busting Cage open. This would simply give Callihan a target, with him going as far as biting the wound on the forehead and spreading the blood on his own face.
Cage would attempt a comeback, by dodging a charge sending Sami into the side of the steel cag, but wouldn’t have enough to immediately capitalize. An exchange of strikes would ensue, with Cage being dropped by a huge lariat for a two count. A piledriver would simply piss of Brian Cage at this point, who kicked out at one, getting a much needed rush of adreneline. A pop up powerbomb into a buckle bomb, Cage would then attempt for his finisher, the Drillclaw, but Sami rolled him up into a small package for another close fall.
A series of stiff strikes, three more piledrivers, and another near fall for Sami Callihan. He needs something different to put away this machine of a man. A fifth piledriver would be countered into an Alabama Slam, into a vicious dicuss lariat, but wouldn’t be enough to put away Callihan. A top rope piledriver would end the 180 day reign of Brian Cage, and crown a new world champion.
Throughout this heated match up, neither man ever attempted to escape the cage. They kept it inside the ring and tore each other apart, how a cage match should be fought. Brian Cage will not take his loss lightly, a rematch can’t be far off, and that is something to look forward too as this was fantastic. It delivered on the hype and build for sure.
But there is someone else who wants a shot first, and that is Tessa Blanchard, who has shattered the glass ceiling in Impact, transcended the knockouts division, and is ready to take a few more shots at Sami Callihan to try to become Impact World Champion. The show ends with a stare down between the champion, and likely one of his first challengers.