Reviews by Dave
Show air date: August 18, 2020
Impact Wrestling on AXS-TV’s “Emergence: Chapter One” is in the books with a strong outing, with a lot of focus on the tag division and X Divison.
Rohit Raju defeated TJP and Chris Bey (c) for the X Division Championship
IMPACT Wrestling opened immediately with X Division champion (Finesse Division champion) Chris Bey defending his title against his ally “The Desi Hit Man” Rohit Raju and TJP in a very good three-man match. Avoiding some of the normal trappings of one of these by the story being Raju trying to help Bey with both taking runs at TJP, who was wearing down as the match went. Raju was playing his role and BAM!!, hits a double stomp off the top on a defenseless Bey to win his first title. That division is wide open right now.
Moose (c) defeated Trey Miguel for the TNA Championship
TNA “champion” Moose, rocking his gold and white BLM gear, beat Trey Miguel, defending his self proclaimed championship in a good big man/smaller man match up. Miguel tried to match Moose’s power and size with speed and an arsenal of kicks to every part of Moose’s body. Moose might have the best dropkick going today. That dirty back jumper ECIII attacks Moose from behind after the match and lays him out, taking the title belt. I guess that makes him the champion. No more losses for Miguel, please. Put him in there with Bey and Raju.
“World Class Maniac” Eric Young
Great vignette for the “World Class Maniac” Eric Young that leads into the Flashback Moment when he took out Kurt Angle in 2015.
Hernandez Pays of Reno Scum
Hernandez pays off Reno Scum for getting his money back from Rhino in what was really a low key old school reference to how promoters used to get over underpaying talent back in the day.
Brian Myers, The Most Professional Wrestler in the World
Brian Myers, the Most Professional Wrestler in the world, cuts a good backstage promo but he cut off Willie Mack, who let him know that wasn’t working for him. Of course, a scuffle ensues.
The Good Brothers defeated Ace Austin and Madman Fulton
Good tag team match with the in-ring debut of the Good Brothers–Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson–beating their heated rivals Ace Austin and Madman Fulton. The right team won as big acquisitions have to be treated as such, but they let the young guys shine a lot and have a probably more competitive match than expected.
Kylie Rae defeated Taya Valkyrie
WRESTLEHOUSE shenanigans with the sole match being Taya Valkyrie facing Kylie Rae with Taya’s friend and tag partner Rosemary (dressed like she’s trying to bring back Daffney’s old zombie hot gimmick) in one of the better-wrestled matches while still doing the WH goofiness. Rae wins with the superkick.
Motor City Machine Guns (c) defeated The North for the IMPACT World Tag Team Championship
The main event for Chapter One was the rematch for the world tag titles with the Motor City Machine Guns–Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin–winning over former champs, The North–Ethan Page and Josh Alexander in another great match between the two teams. Another match of speed vs size with this time speed getting the win.
Strong show with Chapter Two looking like it might be even better.
