Reviews by Dave
Show air date: January 19, 2020
Impact Wrestling on AXS-TV put on a solid show, coming off a hot couple of pay-per-view shows, closing out some angles while starting new rivalries and stories with some surprise debuts and returns and the return to TV of some company favorites.
They started with a segment with the Elite–AEW world champion Kenny Omega and Impact tag champs the Good Brothers–backstage after Hard To Kill, with Omega doing a good job of selling he was in a tough fight. Don Callis says he and Omega have business to take care of in Jacksonville so they’ll be at Dynamite Wednesday night.
Eric Young defeated Rhino
Leader of the new Violent By Design group (shout out to Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge), Eric Young beat Rhino in a good TV brawl. Joe Doering trips up Rhino behind the referee’s back and Young takes advantage, locking in a heel hook, which looks to be his new finish, a return to it from the summer.
They give Rhino a classic Pillmanizer with a steel chair and his leg and leave the Manbeast and Cousin Jake, who accompanied him to the ring, laying. They are giving this group a ton of heat and momentum.
Brian Myers defeated Fallah Bah
We see backstage new Knockouts tag champions Fire N Flava–Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz–trying to put together their own celebration for their historic title win. They’re calling it “Fire and Flava Festival”. A lot of shenanigans with the return to TV of Johnny Swinger (trying to get in on that two for one he’s been offering the ladies) and Fallah Bah, who ends up in a confrontation with “The Most Professional Wrestler” Brian Myers. In their match, Myers beat Bah in a good TV match with Myers overcoming Bah’s huge size advantage with clever heel tactics and a great running lariat. Myers has quietly become one of the better heels in wrestling.
What are Big Money Matt and Private Party Doing In The IMPACT Zone?
The Good Brothers come out to boast about their Hard To Kill win and are confronted by Chris Sabin, who shows he’s found a suitable replacement for his injured tag partner, Alex Shelley: The Cowboy James Storm. They’re all shocked when Matthew Hardy–bringing back his great persona before he was Broken, Big Money Matt–and his proteges, Private Party from AEW. A good promo segment overall with Storm and Hardy standing above everyone else. The Party vs Storm and Sabin to crown the top contenders for the tag titles is the main event.
Kimber Lee and Susan defeated Jordynne Grace and Jazz
In another solid match, Kimber Lee and Susan get the win over Jordynne Grace and Jazz when KO champion Deonna Purrazzo whacks Jazz in the back of the head with the title belt. I knew Jazz should have grown a nice afro. She needed it here.
Who Shot Ya!
Taya Valkyrie is interviewed backstage where she’s confronted by John E. Bravo, Tommy Dreamer, and Acey Romero, who revealed she set up Larry D to shoot Bravo this fall. SHOCKING!!! Hilarious exchange with Dreamer, Acey, and Bravo on where she might end up. Why the ROH shade, Acey??? Very touching company exit for Valkyrie with Rosemary clearly fighting back real tears.
Rich Swann Calls Out Moose
Impact World champion Rich Swann shows good intensity, calling out and picking a fight with “TNA champion” Moose. Good segment to move that forward and show Swann isn’t afraid of anyone, even a giant moose.
Main Event: Private Party defeated James Storm and Christ Sabin
In the main event, Private Party defeat Storm and Sabin (Beer Guns, anyone? Anyone??) in a good match that had some things I did not like. Brian Hebner looked like a goober officiating this match. Isaiah Kassiday just stayed in the ring forever to do all their PP moves without the ref saying jacksh-t. No. Do a better job, B. While I like seeing Jerry Lynn, a true TNA original, back on this show, I hated his interfering to help PP win. One, they’re faces. Two, it continues losing the thread of this crossover, just like all the time Tony Khan takes digs at the company. You’re not mad at IMPACT, fool. You’re mad at your own world champion. He and his boys have jumped Impact and AEW talent alike.
They go to black with Private Party, the Brothers and Storm and Sabin involved in a wild brawl. I thought it was a good show for a reset show with them setting up some interesting matches next week. Striker and Brown were decent on commentary but still, need a lot of work.
Thanks for reading!
