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Last week's Uncaged special of Impact Wrestling featured some pretty incredible matches, including another controversial finish for the Impact Wrestling World Championship. While Brian Cage looked to have Killer Kross finished with the Drill Claw, Johnny Impact managed to pin Moose with the Starship Pain, after Moose had already taken a Drill Claw moments earlier. Tonight, Johnny Impact would address the crowd and the Impact fans around the world.
Also, during the World Cup Finals last week, Eli Drake betrayed Eddie Edwards, cracking Kenny over the skull of Impact's Hardcore Icon. Tonight, Edwards had a chance to get some revenge, as he faced Drake in a one-on-one match tonight. All that and more on tonight's episode of Impact Wrestling!
Johnny Impact opened the show with the championship hanging on his shoulder. Impact said that he's done what he said he would do when he won the title, be a fighting champion. He's had many successful title defenses since picking it up all those months ago.
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Addressing the controversy, Impact said that he shut the mouths of three men at Uncaged. Now putting the Brian Cage issue behind him, he's ready to move onto the next contender. However, Moose had other plans. The former Grand Champion said that Impact isn't a fighting champion. In fact, he's nothing more than a crybaby.
Moose said the only reason he's not here as the new champion is because of Brian Cage and Killer Kross. The latter walked out to confront Moose and Impact. Kross called Moose a defiler and a betrayer, warning him to never cross a killer. Kross insulted Moose's outfits. Impact egged them on, insulting Moose's golden boots.
As the argument between both men got even more heated, Impact reminded them that only one of them is in the upper echelon. Impact said the best way to settle it and to find his new #1 contender, is to have a match between them tonight.
Moose caught Kross with a cheap shot, but the Killer came back nearly catching him with the Kross Jacket.
Moose vs Killer Kross
Kross and Moose locked up while Johnny Impact joined the commentary team. Eventually, they broke it up and began trading shots. Kross dropped Moose with a shoulder tackle and a strong right hook, stunning Moose.
Kross crashed into Moose with a pair of clotheslines in the corner. Moose pulled the ref in the way of the third one before kicking Kross in the crotch. A roll-up nearly gave him the win, but Kross kicked out. Moose threatened the ref, and when he turned around Kross hit him with a little taste of his own medicine. Moose kicked out at two as well.
Back to their feet, they went back and forth. Moose won the trade and sent Kross over with a clothesline. Kross landed on his feet, dragging Moose out with him. They fought around ringside, and Kross bounced Moose's skull off the ring post. Kross splashed hot coffee in the face of Johnny Impact, then avoided a running boot from Moose that leveled the champion.
Back inside the ring, they continued to brawl, but Impact came in to get revenge, ending the match in a no-contest.
Results: No-Contest thanks to interference from Johnny Impact.
Kross locked Impact in the Kross Jacket as Moose stomped him out. Before they could finish the beatdown, Brian Cage made the save, leveling both of them with clotheslines. Back to his feet, Impact joined Cage in superkicking both men out of the ring. Cage picked up the World Championship and handed it to Impact.
Backstage, Konnan pumped up LAX as they looked to regain the Impact Wrestling Tag Team Titles. Tonight would be the final match between them and the Lucha Bros, Fenix and Pentagon Jr.
Backstage, Impact thanked Cage for helping him out. Impact said as much as he deserved a one-on-one match for the World Championship, there's no way they can have that with Moose and Killer Kross constantly interfering in their business.
Cage said that at the end of the day, they're close friends, but he's having a hard time trusting him. Impact handed Cage a contract already signed by him and said if he helps get rid of Kross and Moose, Cage can have that title shot any time he wanted it.
The Desi Hit Squad would take on the Rascalz later on tonight. However, backstage, Gama interrupted the trio's circle to bring them a hookah, telling them that this is what real men smoked. Ten minutes later, all three members of the Rascalz were indisposed while Gama simply shook his head before taking a puff and leaving.
Another vignette played of Reno Scum, who are set to make their return to Impact Wrestling next week.
The Desi Hit Squad were focused tonight, and with Gama Singh's plan, it looked like they would finally pick up a win over the Rascalz. Des, Trey, and Wentz? Well...they didn't look ready for competition...
Desi Hit Squad vs The Rascalz (Des and Trey)
Des was immediately rolled up by Raj Singh, but managed to kick out at two. Raj began beating him down, sending him crashing to the mat with a running double ax handle. Des tried to fight out as Raj tagged out. Raj dropped him with a flapjack facebuster while Rohit connected with a shining wizard.
Rohit tagged Raj back in, but Des, after suffering more punishment, managed to stun him with a superkick. Des worked his way over to Trey, but Trey was distracted by the fans. Rohit tagged in, but Trey was finally tagged in by an accidental slap from Des, taking out the smaller of the Hit Squad with their faced paced kicks followed by a mushroom stomp.
Trey caught Rohit in the knee with a dropkick and nearly pinned him after an innovative springboard cutter. Raj broke it up. Trey got rid of Raj but was swept to the mat by Rohit. The Hit Squad connected with a wheelbarrow DDT. Des broke up the pin and took out Raj with an enziguri. Rohit sent him outside then took Trey up top, going for a superplex.
Trey brought him in the turnbuckle for a package superkick and the Rascalz connected with a double 619, sending Rohit crashing down to the mat. A diving meteora would give Trey and Des the win.
Results: The Rascalz defeated Desi Hit Squad via pinfall.
Backstage, Drake was asked about what happened last week. Drake said in the book of Eli, it says "Thou shalt not raise thy hand toward E-Li-Drake." Drake said that he's not angry with Edwards, but wants to show him that hardcore wrestling isn't the way to go. Drake's crusade against hardcore continued tonight as he attempted to prove to Edwards that old school is the only way to go.
Sami Callihan visited Rich Swann in the hospital, telling him that he was sorry. Callihan said that he just wanted to see Swann live up to his potential. H said that he was actually proud of him for standing up to him. Callihan said that his big brother would be here for him no matter what. Swann turned away, trying not to look him in the eyes, but it seemed that he was giving what the Death Machine said some thought.
Callihan said that when he was finally ready, no matter how long that took, he'd be waiting. A nurse told him that only family was allowed to visit, only for Swann to tell her that he was family. Callihan and Swann smiled, and the leader of oVe left the shirt on him before walking away.
Eli Drake vs Eddie Edwards
Edwards looked to show Drake that he hadn't forgotten what got him to the dance, outwrestling the Namer of Dummies early on. Drake caught Edwards with a few shots but would be sent outside after a hip toss.
Drake rolled back in and said that this was what he was looking for, saying that Edwards didn't need that "hardcore crap." Edwards chopped him and clotheslined him to the outside. Drake caught him with another shot and almost drove him into the ring post, but Edwards escaped, crotching him on the ring post. Edwards admired his work on the ramp.
He went for Kenny, but the ref stopped him. Turning around, he was met with a lariat from Drake. Back inside, Drake took him to the corner and attacked his ribs with multiple shoulder thrusts. The ref pulled him off, allowing Edwards to recover. However, a jumping DDT planted him in the middle of the ring. Drake to the second rope for a diving elbow. Edwards rolled out of the way.
Drake sent him back down to the mat with a boot and attempted a springboard moonsault. Edwards rolled away as Drake crashed and burned. Drake met him with multiple chops. Set up in the corner, Drake was met by an enziguri and dropped with a backpack stunner. Edwards went for the pin, but Drake kicked out.
Edwards sent Drake down with the blue thunder bomb, but he again kicked out. Back on his feet, Edwards countered the Gravy Train with a roll-up. Drake kicked out and took over with a sleeper slam. Edwards kicked out.
Edwards escaped another Gravy Train and planted Drake spine first with a tiger driver, but again he kicked out. Edwards finally went outside and grabbed Kenny. The referee prevented him from using the kendo stick, allowing Drake to drop him with the burning hammer. Miraculously, though, Edwards kicked out. Drake went for Kenny, only to be pinned by Edwards with a jackknife hold.
Results: Eddie Edwards defeated Eli Drake via pinfall.
Backstage, Tessa Blanchard demanded another shot at the Knockouts Championship. Blanchard said that management was still upset about what happened to Gail Kim, and said that she'll get her rematch one way or another.
Backstage, Glenn Gilberti asked how to get to the management office. Earlier in the night, it was revealed that Don Callis had hired him on. Through a few "bad directions" he ended up outside of the building, locked out.
Alisha Edwards vs Delilah Doom
Edwards sent Doom to the ropes with a drop toe hold. Doom escaped, dropping her into the ropes and connecting with a 619. In the corner, she hit her with several knees. Doom went for a running double knee to a seated Edwards, only to miss. Edwards sent her across the ring with an enziguri and went up top.
A crossbody from the top nearly got her the win. She didn't get all of it, however, but did drop Doom with a sickening flatliner. The match was interrupted as Tessa Blanchard attacked both women.
Results: No-Contest via interference from Tessa Blanchard.
Delilah Doom held her own against Blanchard. Blanchard caught her 619 attempt, though, bringing her in and dropping her on her head. Blanchard deadlifted her in the powerbomb position, dropping her with a spinning sit-out powerbomb. She spiked her with the Buzzsaw to end the beatdown.
A vignette played of upcoming Impact Wrestling star Ace Austin prior to a recap of Tessa Blanchard's beatdown. Delilah Doom then challenged Blanchard to a one-on-one match next week.
James Mitchell confronted Rosemary who was stalking Dark Allie and Su Yung. Rosemary and Mitchell made a deal. Mitchell wanted to bring the Demon Assassin back to his side, while Rosemary wanted Allie. The two agreed on a "dark war" pitting Rosemary's team against Mitchells. If Rosemary wins, Allie is free and back to normal. If not, Rosemary is Mitchell's.
Melissa Santos interviewed Taya Valkyrie backstage regarding Tessa Blanchard's recent actions. Valkyrie said that Blanchard was a child throwing a temper tantrum and that you don't give spoiled children what they want.
Impact Wrestling Tag Team Title Match: LAX vs Lucha Bros
LAX attacked the champions as they made their way down to the ring. They worked around the ring, sending Fenix and Pentagon Jr. into the steel steps and ring posts.
Santana feined a dive, forcing Pentagon to dive while Ortiz took Fenix out with a tope con hilo. Santana went for a dive but Pentagon stunned him with a kick, sending him down to the ground on the outside.
Back from commercial, Ortiz and Fenix traded strikes. Ortiz stunned Fenix with a flip flop and caught an attempt at a kick. Santana came in and rocked him with a superkick. Pentagon did the same to Ortiz, leaving Pentagon and Santana standing.
They met in the middle of the ring where they traded elbow strikes. A spinning back kick doubled Pentagon over, but he caught Santana with a superkick. Running off the ropes, Ortiz set him up for a running boot from Santana.
Ortiz planted him with an Oklahoma slam and a leg drop while Santana connected with a springboard moonsault. Fenix was set up in the corner where LAX ran into him with a pair of clotheslines. A pair of top rope body splashes left Fenix hurting, but he kicked out at two.
Ortiz allowed Fenix to get back up and they traded shots again, with Ortiz getting the upper hand. LAX kept Fenix in their corner, beating him down and working his left arm. Fenix avoided a double team maneuver, dropping Santana with a knee and Ortiz with a pair of superkicks.
Pentagon, tagged in, took out both with a top rope crossbody. Pentagon set Santana up in the corner and dodged a dropkick from Ortiz, where he connected with his partner's back.
A pair of superkicks sent Ortiz to the apron. A Pentagon Driver almost picked up the win for the champions, but Ortiz broke it up. A spinning back kick rocked him, and as they sent Santana to the outside, they worked over Ortiz with a unique "What's Up" spot. Ortiz sent Fenix to the outside and Santana dropped Pentagon with the rolling cutter. A top rope codebreaker and a double wheelbarrow slam almost gave us new champions, but Pentagon kicked out.
Santana tagged in Ortiz. Santana went up top but was kicked off by Fenix. Pentagon and Fenix connected with the Fear Factor, retaining the Impact Wrestling Tag Team Championship and ending the rivalry between the Lucha Bros and LAX.
Results: Lucha Bros defeated LAX via pinfall.
Konnan shook the hands of Pentagon Jr. and Fenix and told Santana and Ortiz to do the same. LAX struggled to do it, but after a few moments finally went in for the handshake.
The Lucha Bros denied the handshakes, though, and were beat down by LAX for their trouble. Santana and Ortiz stole their masks to end the show. It looks like this feud is far from over.
