It's the final episode of IMPACT Wrestling before Slammiversary. The go-home show for one of the most anticipated pay-per-view events of the year.
We had a few preview matches tonight. The heavy hitters of every team in the IMPACT Wrestling Tag Team Title match squared off in a four-way in the main event. We also saw Havok and Tasha Steelz go one-on-one ahead of the Knockouts Tag Title bout at the pay-per-view.
All the competitors in the IMPACT Wrestling X-Division Championship Ultimate X match were in action in a tag team match that also included Madman Fulton and Shera. All that plus Matt Cardona being attacked by a ghost from his past, and a shocking revelation regarding Su Yung.
We kicked IMPACT Wrestling with Jordynne Grace and Rachael Ellering. After Tenille Dashwood attacked Jazz last week, they challenged Dashwood and Kaleb with a K to a match tonight.
Tenille Dashwood and Kaleb with a K vs Jordynne Grace and Rachael Ellering on IMPACT Wrestling
Kaleb with a K started things off with the former IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion. Jordynne Grace planted Kaleb with a series of back suplexes and slams. She allowed Kaleb to crawl over to his corner and tag in Tenille Dashwood.
Rachael Ellering encouraged it and was happy to get the tag from her partner. Jazz's prized powerhouses pummeled Dashwood. We even saw them hit a pair of spinebusters on both opponents. Kaleb distracted Ellering, though, allowing Dashwood to get the better of her with a hair pulling slam.
Kaleb tagged in, but Ellering sent Dashwood to the floor and nearly rolled up Kaleb. However, Kaleb shook off the pinfall attempt and splashed Ellering in the corner after nearly losing his trunks.
Ellering was able to get back to her partner, and Grace demolished Kaleb with a hellacious sit-out powerbomb. Grace and Ellering hit a vader bomb and springboard leg drop for a two-count. Kaleb managed to break up the tandem offense with a superkick to Jordynne. Rachael took him down with a slingblade, but the Spotlight Kick caught her on the button.
Grace slammed Dashwood with a spinebuster and hit a suicide dive on Kaleb. On the inside, Kaleb countered the Grace Driver with a small package, and dropped her a little high with a power slam. Grace kicked out, and the former IMPACT Wrestling Tag Champions broke out a brand new finisher.
Grace picked up Kaleb, and Ellering spun him around for a spinout slam from Jordynne. What a finish!
Results: Jordynne Grace and Rachael Ellering defeated Kaleb with a K and Tenille Dashwood via pinfall on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: B+
IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo refused to sign the contract for Slammiversary, as she didn't know her opponent just a few days before.
D'Amore said that it included a winners bonus and...just on the off chance she lost, a rematch clause. Purrazzo ran down the list of everyone she'd beaten in the past year.
Frustrated with IMPACT Wrestling management, Purrazzo demanded to know the name. D'Amore teased her, claiming that the situation was a "Hot Mess" and that it would be an "IIconic" night. Being in Tennessee, things could get "Hardcore Country." When Purrazzo asked again for the name, D'Amore said, "No Way Jose."
Have I mentioned how great Scott D'Amore is as an authority figure?
Tasha Steelz w/Kiera Hogan vs Havok w/Rosemary on IMPACT Wrestling
IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Tag Champions Fire 'N Flava would defend their titles against Havok and Rosemary at Slammiversary. Tonight, Tasha Steelz faced Havok in a one-on-one match.
Havok, obviously, overpowered Steelz. The champ was sent into the corner and flattened with a big splash from IMPACT Wrestling's Kaiju Queen. During the break, Steelz was able to get Havok off her feet and took her to the corner.
A superkick dazed Havok while Steelz twerked in her face. Never change, Tasha. A running forearm and running uppercut rocked Havok as well, and it seemed that Steelz was on her way to a win.
However, Havok kicked out at one. She was one big move away from turning things around, though, and did so with a nasty running knee to a seated Steelz. Tasha went for a springboard maneuver but was hoofed with a big boot. Havok followed with a belly-to-belly for the two-count.
Steelz avoided the Tombstone for a moment, but was caught out of the air. Unfortunately for Steelz, she couldn't avoid it forever. The Tombstone Piledriver eventually spiked Steelz for the win.
Results: Havok defeated Tasha Steelz via pinfall on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: B+
On IMPACT Wrestling last week, Kimber Lee left Susan with Father James Mitchell hoping to bring Su Yung back. This week, we saw Kimber waiting for Mitchell outside his door.
Susan appeared to say that Mitchell had a hard time summoning Su Yung, revealing she'd known about the Undead Bride the whole time. She then dragged Kimber into the room as Lee screamed in agony.
Steve Maclin vs Cal Hero on IMPACT Wrestling
Steve Maclin demolished another young competitor on IMPACT Wrestling. Boots, forearms and more left him nearly out cold from the word "go." Maclin hung him up in the tree of woe for a spear that would've ended it had Steve let the pin go through.
However, Maclin wanted to send a message and took a bit more time out to hammer his opponent with elbows. He screamed, "You're going to quit just like everybody tried to do on me!"
After that, he spiked his opponent with what we're gonna dub the Maclin Driver.
Results: Steve Maclin defeated Cal Hero via pinfall on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: D
After the match, Steve Maclin grabbed a microphone, speaking for the first time since his debut. Maclin said the worst thing anyone could do was give him time. With time he can prepare and wait. Now that he's in IMPACT Wrestling, he's tired of waiting.
Rosemary and Decay were with Havok backstage, and the Demon Assassin was excited about the possibility of becoming IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Tag Champions. Rosemary wanted Havok to do something to bring them closer together as a unit. Unfortunately, that meant using Father James Mitchell.
They both hated him, but they needed him to prepare for IMPACT Wrestling Slammiversary.
Ace Austin, Madman Fulton, Rohit Raju, and Shera vs Petey Williams, Trey Miguel, Josh Alexander, and Chris Bey on IMPACT Wrestling
At IMPACT Wrestling Slammiversary, these men (Minus Shera and Madman Fulton) will battle in the Ultimate X for the IMPACT Wrestling X-Division Championship.
We started things off with Rohit Raju and IMPACT Wrestling original Petey Williams. Petey nearly got an early Canadian Destroyer but settled for a tilt-a-whirl Russian legsweep. Ace Austin tagged in, as did champion Josh Alexander.
Alexander hammered Austin with a shoulder block and went for an ankle lock. Austin shook him off but was flattened with a running boot. Trey Miguel was in next, and he caught Austin with a series of unique kicks. A dropkick finished the combination, leaving Austin dazed in the corner.
Ace Austin avoided a splash in the corner to get to Madman Fulton. The monster dropped Trey with snake eyes and a running boot. Raju followed up with a series of running strikes in the corner.
Shera was in next, slinging Ace at high speed into Trey. Ace hit the northern lights for a two-count. Trey managed to fight out of the corner and through all four opponents.
The Rascal of IMPACT Wrestling got to Chris Bey, who came in like a house on fire. Bey hit a reverse DDT/flatliner combination on Raju and Austin.
Fulton planted Bey with a powerslam but was sent overhead with a rolling German suplex. Raju laid out a distracted Alexander with a series of kicks and a neckbreaker but fell to the Canadian Destroyer.
Austin dropped Petey Williams but failed to avoid Trey Miguel's lightning-fast offense. Miguel was planted with a chokeslam by Shera, only for IMPACT Wrestling's Ultimate Finesser to roll him up for the win.
Results: Chris Bey defeated Shera via pinfall.
Grade: B+
After the match, Bey helped fend off a beatdown from Ace Austin, Madman Fulton, Rohit Raju, and Mahabali Shera with a chair. However, Bey cracked Josh Alexander and Trey Miguel with the steel as well.
Brian Myers and Sam Beale were trying to find someone to join them against Jake Something and Matt Cardona tonight. Though Hernandez shrugged him off, Myers saw someone in a doorway that he thought would be perfect.
Brian Myers calls out Jake Something on IMPACT Wrestling
Last week, IMPACT Wrestling's Most Professional Wrestler Brian Myers was supposed to call Jake Something a professional after losing to the big man in singles action. Instead, he and Sam Beale blindsided him. Matt Cardona made the save, returning to IMPACT Wrestling early.
Brian Myers called Jake Something down to the ring to confront him. While Myers had Beale tonight, Something had Cardona with him. Brian Myers called Jake a professional, but that he would never be a star.
After insulting Something a bit too much, a brawl broke out. Jake took Beale to the floor while Cardona planted Myers with an Unprettier. Cardona set up for the boot in the corner, but he was attacked by...Tenille Dashwood!
Kaleb with a K got some shots on the beatdown, surely to put on the Gram. Dashwood hit a low blow, allowing Myers to get the better of him. Cardona's ex-girlfriend and former best friend left him in a heap on IMPACT Wrestling.
Backstage, Cardona cut a promo on the Most Professional Wrestler of IMPACT Wrestling. He wanted to put Myers behind him, and he'd not talked to Tenille Dashwood in years. He wanted payback at Slammiversary.
IMPACT Wrestling EVP Scott D'Amore made the match official. It would be Brian Myers and Tenille Dashwood vs Matt Cardona and a partner of his choosing.
D'Amore once again teased us by saying Slammiversary is a "Hot Mess" while Cardona said the timing was perfect for the match.
Moose vs Hernandez w/Johnny Swinger on IMPACT Wrestling
On IMPACT Wrestling last week, Moose attacked Chris Sabin in Swinger's Palace. Inadvertently, he destroyed the palace. Being Swinger's personal security, he demanded Hernandez get some revenge for him against Moose tonight.
Hernandez rushed Mr. IMPACT Wrestling early, sending him to the floor and driving him into the steel barricade. Back in the ring, Moose escaped a powerbomb for a uranage slam. The Lights Out cut Hernandez in half, and that was it for Super Mex.
Results: Moose defeated Hernandez via pinfall on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: D
Moose grabbed a steel chair and wrapped it around the ankle of the IMPACT Wrestling legend. Before he could stomp it, Chris Sabin made the save.
Sabin caught Moose's boot and sent him overhead with a dragon screw. Moose's knee was in danger, and Sabin looked to make it worse with a chair around the knee. Luckily, the self-proclaimed Wrestling God escaped to the floor. The former IMPACT Wrestling World Champion got the better of Moose tonight.
At Slammiversary, there will be no running for Moose. He'll have to come face-to-face with Chris Sabin in what should be a fantastic clash between former world champions.
Fallah Bahh vs Willie Mack vs Doc Gallows vs Joe Doering on IMPACT Wrestling
In the IMPACT Wrestling main event, the second Fatal Four-way between the tag title match participants took place. It was the heavy hitters of each team going at it for a bit of momentum heading into IMPACT Wrestling Slammiversary.
Doc Gallows paired off with Willie Mack while Fallah Bahh went to war with Joe Doering. Gallows and Bahh won out, but one half of the Good Brothers was sent to the floor by Bahh and Mack.
Bahh and Mack went at it, but before they could get a decisive victor, Gallows and Doering came in. The current (Doering) and former (Gallows) IMPACT Wrestling Tag Team Champions battered Bahh and Mack around ringside. Mack hammered Doering with some right hands, seemingly getting the best of the giant.
Inside of the ring, Bahh squashed Gallows with a running body splash. A running hip attack left Gallows out.
Joe Doering sent Bahh through the ropes while Doc Gallows hit Willie Mack with a running boot and elbow drop. Mack avoided another elbow drop, moving to the floor in time to avoid Joe Doering's rampage.
The IMPACT Wrestling Tag Champion opted not to go after Gallows, instead following Mack to the floor. After a few more minutes, though, we finally saw Doering and Gallows one-on-one.
They squared off, with Doering laying out Gallows and sending him to the floor. After sending Gallows into the post, he followed up with a running clothesline. On the inside, Bahh planted Willie Mack with the Samoan Drop.
Doering dropped Bahh with a running crossbody and finished the night with a short-armed clothesline.
Results: Joe Doering defeated Fallah Bahh via pinfall on IMPACT Wrestling.
Grade: B
Heading into IMPACT Wrestling Slammiversary, it was the Tag Champions, Violent By Design, who picked up the much-needed momentum.