Reviews by Dave
By David E Houston II
Show air date: May 27, 2021
Impact Wrestling on AXS-TV put on another very good show to continue their recent streak of strong shows. Good wrestling and great storyline progression to the stunningly important Against All Odds Impact Plus special. The return of Josh Matthews on commentary showed he and D’Lo are much better than Matt Striker and D’Lo. Also, another show where they use a huge chunk of the roster, and not having an all tag team match show.
Tense Stand-Off
Following a good Before The Impact (BTI) (featuring a good Eddie Edwards victory over young Sam Beale), they start with a Sami Callihan in-ring promo, where he challenges World champion Kenny Omega but is met by number one contender, Moose. Their tense standoff is interrupted by Omega’s Super Elite mate, the Good Brothers–Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson.
You know how it goes: main event booked: Moose and Callihan vs the Brothers. Talk about a tense standoff, fellow Executive Vice Presidents Don Callis and Scott D’Amore finally have one since D’Amore didn’t really like Callis booking matches, something he hasn’t done (on TV) in a while.
TJP and Fallah Bahh defeated Josh Alexander and Petey Williams
The return of one of my favorite teams from the summer of 2020 saw TJ Perkins and Fallah Bahh defeat X Division champion Josh Alexander and Petey Williams (fresh from his bath in the Fountain of Youth) in a good tag match, with TJP pinning Alexander with the Mamba Splash. Good storytelling with Bah getting to play the giant but still get in his comedy stuff. Backstage, D’amore gets with Alexander and TJP and for next week’s BTI, books them in a blowoff match for the X Division title in an Iron Man match. Damn, that’s going to be good.
Rich Swann Attacks
W. Morrissey sits down for a great interview with Gia Miller…and then gets a receipt from Rich Swann for his attack on Swann last week. Awesome segment.
Rosemary, Havok, Rachael Ellering, Tenille Dashwood, and Jordynne Grace defeated Deonna Purrazzo, Kimber Lee, Susan, and Fire ‘N Flava
After a great promotional video for the Knockouts division and backstage interview, Rosemary, Havok, Rachael Ellering, Tenille Dashwood (with Kaleb with a K), and Jordynne Grace (a reluctant substitute for a missing Taylor Wilde) beat KO champion “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo, Kimber Lee, Susan (who worked in the most Karen-esque shoes ever), and tag champs Fire ‘N Flava–Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz in a good 10 KO tag match with Rosemary pinning Purrazzo. Good in-ring work from all with the tag champs showing TF out, on offense and defense. It did not turn into the normal match where it ends with everyone running in and hitting their move. They just had a normal good match.
Great video package playing up the real life history of Jake Something and Rohit Raju before their Tables match next episode.
“Put this on New Japan World”
Eric Young’s Violent By Design, with their new tag titles in tow, laid out how this has been their plan for “curing” the wrestling business all along, and dammit, it made sense. Satoshi Kojima comes out and challenges Joe Doering for Against All Odds, a match that screams “Put this on New Japan World”.
Decay defeated Johnny Swinger and Hernandez
Nice, mostly comedy match with Decay beating Johnny Swinger and Hernandez (with Alisha).
Main Event: The Good Brothers defeated Moose and Sami Callihan
The Good Brothers got the win over Moose and Callihan in a good match but more angle than a match. The former tag champs beat the two singles guys that don’t even like each other. Two guys that ended up kicking each other in the face during the match!! Moose ends the show, hitting the Lights Out on Sami after the match and walking off.
Good show that moved fast and made some big matches.
Thanks for reading!
