Reviews by Dave
By David E Houston II
Show air date: July 8, 2021
Impact Wrestling on AXS-TV was 9 days before their major Slammiversary pay-per-view and had a solid show. Heavy on angles and promos but with some decent to good wrestling throughout.
Jake Something defeated Brian Myers
With the odd stip of the loser having to declare the winner a “professional” (playing into Myers’ gimmick), Jake Something pinned “The Most Professional Wrestler” Brian Myers with a Black Hole Slam in a good, back and forth match. Being the pro he is, Myers and his young boy, Sam Beale, decide instead to jump Something instead. Matt Cardona makes a surprise return (something alluded to on BTI in the “Iceman Intel” segment), chasing off his former friend and tag partner.
Deonna Purrazzo (c) defeated Lady Frost
For the IMPACT Knockouts Championship
Good backstage interview from Gia Miller with Knockouts champion “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo. Purrazzo puts up her title in an open challenge match against the debuting Lady Frost. A good short match where Purrazzo took advantage of an opening and tapped Frost to her armbar finish. A very good exchange between Purrazzo and Gail Kim, who announced Purrazzo will face a mystery opponent at Slammiversary (and it won’t be Kim). By “coincidence” The Flashback Moment this week featured Mickie James. Hm.
Sabin Should Have Been Watching the Door
Swinger’s Palace is missing its owner, Johnny Swinger, and his stooge, John E Bravo, who are off on some “secret business” but does have Swingerellas, who clearly need a union. Chris Sabin should have been watching the door as his Slammiversary opponent, Moose, beats his ass. Hernandez!! You’re security. You just gon’ let Moose punk you, ha? Stunt and front you, ha?
Callihan Gets Arrested
Gia Miller tries to have an interview with Sami Callihan before his world title contract signing, but Callihan gets arrested for assaulting Don Callis!! I don’t like arrest angles and that didn’t change here. Credit Callis for promo later in the show, selling this “assault” but still one of my least favorite angles in pro wrestling. Credit them for putting their own spin on it. Found out what that “secret business” for Swinger and Bravo was and dammit, they made me laugh.
W. Morrissey defeated Jason Page, Deonte Evans and Manny Smith
W. Morrissey squashed three guys-Jason Page, Deonte Evans, and Manny Smith- in a handicap match.
Loved Jazz’s Shad Gaspard t-shirt on “All About Me”.
Rosemary and Havok defeated Kimber Lee and Susan
Rosemary and Havok beat Kimber Lee and Susan in a fine TV match to become number one contenders to the KO tag titles.
Father James Mitchell is back and Kimber is looking to make a deal with the devil.
Main Event: Karl Anderson defeated Deaner, Rich Swann and TJP
Good segment with Rich Swann and Willie Mack having a confrontation with TJP and Fallah Bah, interrupted by tag champs, Violent By Design, and then, a little surprisingly, the Good Brothers. All the challengers had legitimate reasons to be number one contenders (less the GB than the others since they lost their rematch with FinJuice). Anthem Liaison Tommy Dreamer announces a title match at Slammiversary with all four teams then books a 4-way match with Deaner, TJP, Swann, and Anderson, a match won by Anderson. Good match with Deaner really shining. Great staredown afterward. I think a one on one with any two of them would have been better but it was good for what it was.
Kenny Omega and Sami Callihan Contract Signing
I did like the contract signing. Of course, it wasn’t a peaceful, professional signing and it got the Swingman on my TV. Good ending with the Slammiversary challenger putting Omega dropping Kenny Omega on his head, signing the contract, and then putting Omega through the table.
A violent ending to a solid show.
Thanks for reading! Tell us what you thought about the July 8, 2021 episode of IMPACT on AXS TV in the comment section below or on our social media platforms. Use the hashtags #DDTDivas and #ReviewsByDave
