Pay-per-view air date: April 23, 2022
On April 23, 2022, IMPACT Wrestling presented their annual Rebellion pay-per-view, live from the historic Majed J. Nesheiwat Convention Center, the former Mid Hudson Civic Center, the same building “Macho Man” Randy Savage debuted Miss Elizabeth as his manager in the WWF in 1985. It’s the same building where Ken Patera and Big John Studd cut Andre the Giant’s hair. As well as the venue Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda won the WWF tag titles from the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff.
IMPACT sought to create some history of their own with a very good show. They maximized having access to not only their own roster but stars from AAA and New Japan Wrestling.
The pre-show saw Honor No More’s leader Eddie Edwards defeat Bullet Club’s “The Ultimate Finesser” Chris Bey in a great match. The Influence–Madison Rayne and Tenille Dashwood–successfully defended their Knockouts World tag titles against former champions, the IInspiration, Cassie Lee, and Jessie McKay, in what I think is the best IInspiration match to date.
Steve Maclin defeated Chris Sabin and Jay White
IMPACT started the main show with a three-way match that saw Steve Maclin get the win over Chris Sabin and Bullet Club’s “Switchblade” Jay White in a strong opener. Maclin getting a win over two former world champions has to be the biggest win of his career and promises big things for him in his immediate future with IMPACT. That guy is on a roll.
A little “One Life to Walking Weapon” in the back with Josh Alexander and his family and Executive Producer Scott D’Amore.
Taya Valkyrie defeated Deonna Purrazzo (c)
For the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship
Taya Valkyrie made a triumphant return to IMPACT Wrestling, defeating “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo for the AAA Reina de Reinas championship in a good match. The old rivals picked up where they left off and gave off the intensity and physicality expected from competitors with so much history. (It was Purrazzo who beat Valkyrie in her final match in her last run in IMPACT).
Great promo from Knockouts World champion Tasha Steelz (with Savannah Evans) before her world title match against Decay’s Rosemary. I loved her Scar from “The Lion King”-inspired face paint.
Ace Austin defeated Mike Bailey and Trey Miguel (c)
For the IMPACT X Division Championship
“The Inevitable” Ace Austin became a three-time X Division champion, beating Trey Miguel (c) and “Speedball” Mike Bailey in a fantastic, high speed, athletic bout. They went in with the Austin-proposed alliance with Bailey falling apart on the previous IMPACT Wrestling on AXS episode and all three brought fire and passion, making it an extremely fun match.
Tomohiro Ishii defeated JONAH
In a slugfest, Tomohiro Ishii of New Japan edged “The Top Dog” JONAH. This was really good but surprising as Ishii worked from underneath for the majority of the match. Perfectly logical storytelling but still surprising as he’s not known for giving up a lot of the match when he’s working for companies here. He might go 50/50 but that’s it and he was dominated here with every comeback cut off by the power of the Top Dog. “The Stone Pitbull” finally won with a tough-looking brainbuster. Loved this match. JONAH is another guy who’s been on a strong run lately of good matches with a lot of different people.
Eight-Team Elimination Challenge
For the IMPACT World Tag Team Championship
Violent By Design–Eric Young and Joe Doering with Deaner ringside–were successful defending their World tag titles in an eight-team elimination gauntlet match over (in reverse order of entrance) HEATH and Rhino, the OGK (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett with Maria Kanellis-Bennett), former champions the Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson), Rich Swann and Willie Mack, Johnny Swinger and Zicky Dice, the Major Players (Digital Media champion Matt Cardona and “The Most Professional Wrestler” Brian Myers with Chelsea Green), and W. Morrissey and Jordynne Grace.
A good pace gauntlet match with a fair balance of shenanigans swerves, and heels trying to out scheme each other with some good in-ring work through most of it. Morrissey and Grace were making their surprise debut as a team. While they lost to the Players, the biggest moment of the first half of the match saw Morrissey powerbomb Green through a ringside table. (Shout out to Morrissey for awkwardly helping prevent a wardrobe malfunction by Green on the lift).
Swinger and Dice were looking for some payback for the Good Brothers for ruining their Chump-Chump Challenge. They didn’t get it. The Brothers were looking for their own measure of revenge against the OGK as they and the rest of Honor No More cost Gallows and Anderson their title rematch against VBD several weeks ago and have had an ongoing rivalry with Bullet Club. In addition, Rhino and HEATH had their own score to settle with OGK from the Team Impact-Honor No More feud and their longstanding rivalry with VBD. A lot of stories were at play and each got their own time, something not easy to do so credit to the Impact booking and agents.
Tasha Steelz (c) defeated Rosemary
For the IMPACT Knockouts World Championship
Tasha Steelz was able to fend off Rosemary’s challenge, retaining her KO World title.
Solid bout. The match started off awkward. They seemed to have an issue finding their rhythm or bringing in the live audience at first but once they found that rhythm, the Poughkeepsie crowd came to life. I would be interested in them running this back.
Main Event: Josh Alexander defeated Moose (c)
For the IMPACT World Championship
“The Walking Weapon” Josh Alexander, accompanied to the ring by his son, Jett (dressed in full Walking Weapon gear and even did his dad’s full ring walk in the cutest shit in the world.) finally avenged himself on the man who cost him his first IMPACT Wrestling World title minutes after winning it at Bound For Glory. And the man who first intimidated and later attacked Alexander’s wife, Jade, winning his second World title in a classic over Moose. This was damn good.
Alexander didn’t go in brawling and was overly aggressive, continuing the story of Alexander keeping his emotions intact against his most vicious rival. Alexander countering Moose’s Lights Out spear with a Styles Clash might be the best counter of the year. He beat Moose with a C-4 and got to celebrate with his family uninterrupted as they closed.
Hard To Kill is the standard and this wasn’t that but it was another very good IMPACT pay-per-view.
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