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Let me start off by saying that I wasn't a fan of United We Stand and I'd voiced my concerns in the post-show recap. But the weekly episodes of Impact Wrestling continue to impress. As compared to WWE, there's just that element of long term-storytelling that I quite like. It's the same thing that makes NXT so very special.
While Impact Wrestling did not bring us the two best hours of television in history, there was certainly more good than bad this week. I will try and recap the action for you, and also separate the good from the bad. I hope that you will voice your opinions in the comments section below.
Tell me what you liked and disliked from this week's show if you did happen to watch it. If you didn't, I strongly recommend that you check out the Twitch broadcast which is great and there's also a fantastic chatroom to connect and interact with fellow pro wrestling fans.
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Well, here's what I enjoyed about this week's show.
#1 Best: The North makes its official debut
Ethan Page and Josh Alexander made their debut as a tag team on this week's episode of Impact Wrestling. There was certainly a lot of hype around them, as they took on a team of local competitors.
Alexander, in particular, was supremely impressive and he proved by he's called the 'Walking Weapon' through a dazzling display of really impressive moves. Page seemed more impressive than I've ever seen him and I'm really curious to see how far this team can go.
The North is also a fantastic name, and I like their no-frills attitude. The tag team division of Impact Wrestling is their strongest asset.
This was a great signing for Impact!
#1 Worst: The Eli Drake situation
Impact Wrestling put a lot of stock into building Eli Drake and Eddie Edwards as a tag team unit. Their storyline stems from both men coming from opposite schools of thought but discovering how well they work together because they bring different elements to the table.
And just when the storyline was getting interesting, Eli Drake was fired according to an official announcement. Which is a shame because he has always been one of the main reasons that I watch the show, one of the more entertaining men in the Impact locker room.
I wonder where this leaves Eddie Edwards, who we know is in the company for the long haul. Edwards needs to find a new tag team partner or maybe enter the X Division again and put on a variety of interesting matches with Rich Swann.
It's just a whole mess, with this ugly situation.
#2 Best: The heel ref
The concept of a heel referee is not new in wrestling. I mean the nWo was doing this in the 90s, and it's been done several times since. But the fact that this referee heel turn came out of nowhere was just entertaining to watch.
Referee John E. Bravo turned on Brian Cage during the course of the main event match, where Johnny Impact teamed up with Taya Valkyrie to take on Brian Cage and Jordynne Grace. As the heel turn happened, many things just began to make sense to fans. There have been several questionable decisions from the referee over the past few months!
And nearly every single decision that John E. Bravo has undertaker has favored the Impact World Champion Johnny Impact and his wife Taya Valkyrie. Bravo has been referred to as the 'head referee', so the fallout should be quite interesting.
#2 Worst: Rosemary
Rosemary is one of my favorite characters in modern day wrestling. But there just seems to be something missing since she's returned to action from injury. I wonder if she is still injured because she just seems like she's a step slower.
Rosemary and Su Yung clashed in what would have a great match otherwise, but there was just something about the clash that did not seem to come together at all. And I hate to say this because Rosemary really is someone who commits to her character and goes the extra mile to tell a story. Maybe this was just an off night for her.
Or maybe it's the fact that with performers like Tessa Blanchard and Taya Valkyrie in the division, we've all come to expect a certain level of work from the Knockouts Division. This was not a good follow-up to the Undead Realm skit, quite honestly.
#3 Best: Tessa Blanchard vs. Madison Rayne
Like I mentioned on the previous page, we've come to expect a certain level of 'work' from the Knockouts Division. Madison Rayne and Tessa Blanchard put on a fantastic match that I found quite exciting.
Blanchard also told a fantastic story about being distracted by the presence of Gail Kim who was seated at ringside, and hence, could not focus on the proceedings. We all know that Kim is coming out of retirement at Rebellion to face Tessa Blanchard.
Because Blanchard's mind wasn't completely into the match per se, it allowed Madison Rayne to score a victory over the third-generation Superstar and extend the undefeated streak that Rayne has against Blanchard in all her matches. I like how even a throwaway match on Impact Wrestling has a storyline happening at various levels.
I really think that WWE and Vince McMahon should watch an Impact Wrestling once in a while.
#3 Best/Worst: Moose vs. The Rascalz
I really cannot call this a 'worst', as the match between Moose and Wentz was actually not bad. But at the same time, I wonder if it's the best idea to have The Rascalz, who should be putting on extraordinary X Division matches, just take on Moose every single week.
Hasn't the X Division been a little lackluster ever since Rich Swann became Champion? And I had assumed that it would be the other way around considering how good a performer Swann is, with the potential to put on great matches with just about everyone.
According to me, The Rascalz are young and hungry and they should be competing with the likes of LAX and the Lucha Brothers on a weekly basis, putting on some extraordinary matches. Even someone like Moose could be used to help bolster the X Division.
As Jeff Jarrett had said- It's not about weight limits, it's about no limits!
#4 Best: Killer Kross
I've praised Rosemary with regard to commitment to her character in this article. Another person who embodies this trait in the roster is one Killer Kross. Kross is just one of those individuals who sows the seeds of discord between performers and has been lowkey doing that for a great many weeks.
I think Kross has the potential to become the face of Impact Wrestling if the company decides to invest in him. My colleague Greg Bush even believes that he has the potential to turn face in due course of time because he's just that good. I love how, at a time, when nobody's promos seem to have passion, Killer Kross makes you lean in and listen to every word.
Also, what do you guys think of the Scarlett-Bahh alliance that we've seen lately? Are you as jealous as most people around the world are?
Let us know in the comments below.
