Impact Wrestling Final Resolution live results: Zack Sabre Jr. debuts
Impact Wrestling presents their final special of 2023 as the clock moves closer to their rebranded future as TNA Wrestling in January.
NJPW TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. makes his Impact debut, teaming with former Impact World Champion Josh Alexander against the Motor City Machine Guns, comprised of Impact World Champion Alex Shelley and X-Division Champion Chris Sabin.
Ahead of their clash for the title January’s Hard to Kill, Knockouts Champion Trinity will team with challenger Jordynne Grace against Gisele Shaw & former champion Deonna Purrazzo.
Impact Tag Team Champions ABC (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) will defend against Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards who have both held TNA Tag Team gold before.
Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer will look to extend his run as he defends against Deaner.
Other action includes World title no. 1 contender Moose vs. Rhino, Speedball” Mike Bailey battles Trey Miguel, Jason Hotch against Jake Something, and Frankie Kazarian vs. Sheldon Jean on the pre-show at 7:30 PM Eastern.
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PCO defeated Jesse V
The countdown feed started off a few minutes late with a PCO match with Jesse V in progress. PCO landed an apron legdrop before dishing out machine gun chops. Jesse V took him down with an enzuiguri before landing a frog splash. PCO recovered enough to hit a reverse DDT and finished him off with a PCO-Sault.
Backstage, Jake Something said he’s here to take out Jason Hotch for the final live show of the Impact Wrestling era before Jason Hotch jumped him with a chair. Tom Hannifan hyped up the switch to TNA+ and the inclusion of all major tentpole events being included for championship tier-level members. Rehwoldt says that these two are always available for Impact when needed and thus they’re being rewarded here.
Jack Price defeated Aiden Prince
Price started off strong with a big elbow to counter a German suplex attempt by Prince, who hits a hard chop on the apron. Price hit a hard flatliner for 2.5 before working on the face more with a boot scrape using the ropes. Price sent Prince into the buckle with a face-first burning hammer before a deadlift German is avoided by Prince en route to a rolling kick on the mat. Prince landed an impressive brainbuster for 2 before Price drilled him with a leg lariat for 2.
Prince ran wild with a blend of overhand and knife-edge chops that landed hard before hitting a flatliner of his own. Price poked the eye en route to hitting a double-knee gutbuster for the win – and his first win in Impact to boot! This was a fantastic showcase for both men and they came into this as basically unknown and both had chances to shine and did so.
Backstage, Jordynne Grace and Trinity met with Gia Miller and talk about how they can be friends today and rivals at Hard to Kill. Jordynne said she’s been knockouts champion twice as many times as Trinity, who pointed out that she hasn’t lost it yet – unlike Jordynne.
Frankie Kazarian defeated Sheldon Jean
Jean started off strong with a tackle before they go back and forth in the ropes on a tie-up. Jean dominated on the mat with a neck crank before Kaz fired up with elbows before eating a pump kick out of the corner. Kaz landed a springboard legdrop for 2 before earning a tapout with the crossface chickenwing.
The show-opening video hyped up the main event and the new era of TNA beginning in January with the Hard to Kill PPV. Edwards and Myers came out in matching gear to look a bit more like a cohesive unit.
The ABC defeat Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers to retain the tag titles
The champions gained an early advantage with some double-team offense and quick tags alongside an uppercut to the neck of Edwards for 2. Myers grabbed the leg of Bey to allow Edwards to chop Bey and then drop his gut on the ropes in theory, but he landed thighs-first instead.
Myers tagged in and got 2 off a goardbuster before Hannifan hypes up Myers holding Impact tag gold in 2015 before he torments Bey on the mat with a stretch. Edwards tagged in for a big chop and ground away with a reverse bearhug. Myers came in and got 2 off a back suplex into a uranage. Bey is such a great babyface in peril here and given that he’s usually working heel, that doesn’t come out as much here – but it’s working because the fans are absolutely rabid.
Austin tagged in and landed back and forth Black Mass kicks before a springboard tornado kick on Edwards got 2. Austin called for the 1-2-Sweet and Edwards cradled him for 2 before getting 2.5 off a blue thunder bomb. On the floor, Bey is sent down hard with a spear from Myers. Edwards landed a backpack stunner before an HBK flying elbow got 2 for Myers! That was a tremendous nearfall! Bey prevented a double suplex and Austin low-bridged Edwards to the floor. Austin stomped Myers down for 2. The 1-2-Sweet hits and the champs retain! Hannifan says that 2024 is going to be the TNA-BC era! The Rascalz jump ABC and hold the gold high.
Josh Alexander and ZSJ were backstage and Alexander says he’s come to beat the company’s greatest tag team ever and ZSJ said it’s about time – because the Guns are one of the best teams ever and tonight, he’ll take out the supposed greatest pro wrestler in Shelley before saying that everyone here has a title – but Alexander, so they’ll have to work on getting him a title too.
Alisha screeched on the mic and yelled about not being able to understand the fans and she really hated spending so long getting to this place. She said it’s all about them before Santino came out and ordered her to leave and since she won’t, she’ll face Jody Threat in an impromptu match.
Jody Threat defeated Alisha Edwards
Threat dominated early with a corner lariat series before an exploder landed. Myers and Edwards went after Threat, so the ref ejected them – but not before she hit a flip dive on them to a huge pop. Edwards worked over the back before Threat landed a series of punches to the midsection. Edwards got 2 off a corner basement crossbody and choked her out on the rope.
Edwards locked on a fantastic Boston crab before Threat ran wild with lariats and a Michinoku driver got 2. Edwards avoided a death valley driver with elbows to the head and landed a flatliner for 2. Threat caught her off a crossbody and hit the Shove It/F5 for the win. Deaner vs. Dreamer is hyped up with Deaner having won their prior match, but also being absent over the past two months.
Tommy Dreamer defeated Deaner
The match started off with ECW chants before Deaner said this isn’t ECW before stalling like an AWA Larry Zbyszko match. Dreamer wanted a bionic elbow, but only got the punch combo before Deaner rolled out and they fought on the floor and made great use of the venue’s metal bleachers by slamming Dreamer’s arm on them. Dreamer wanted a sunset flip, but a very long Aloha Arn led to an arm breaker by Deaner to wear that body part down even more.
Hannifan hypes up the 35 year career of Dreamer and how he put that on the line to get this title. It’s kind of remarkable that he’s held so few titles – really about one per decade, with the ’90s having the ECW Tag Title, the early ’00s having the ECW World Title briefly, the WWE ECW World Title before he left WWE and now this. He doesn’t hold titles often and thus every reign is at least memorable.
Deaner bit the left arm to avoid a superplex before going up top and eating a boot to the face and wobbling around to either hold in a sneeze or fall – turns out he needed to fall. Dreamer landed the bionic elbow and a running elbow missed for Dreamer, but a cutter didn’t and got 2. Deaner sent the bad left arm to divorce court for 2 before grabbing the belt and telling the ref he’ll do what he wants before she threatened a DQ. Dreamer got 2 off a schoolboy before eating a lariat and Deaner set the belt up over the top turnbuckle. Deaner got slingshotted right into the gold before a big DDT hit for the win. This was better than expected for a straight Tommy Dreamer match in 2023.
Backstage, the Rascalz say that Hard to Kill will be their rebirth alongside the rebirth of TNA. Santino makes an impromptu tag team match with them facing Mike Bailey and a mystery partner. I love Wentz coming out just looking annoyed while Trey is more laid back and down for whatever. Trent Seven comes out as Bailey’s partner to a pretty big pop.
Mike Bailey and Trent Seven defeated The Rascalz
A giant “Speedball/Trent!” chant started off before some Wentz stalling on the floor and then a Speedball Mountain chant. Seven chops away at Miguel while Bailey lands a series of round kicks to the stomach of Wentz. Miguel tripped up Seven to set up a snapmare and snap PK by Wentz to Bailey.
Seven tagged in, but had to eat a flurry of offense on the floor before getting back in and getting worked over by Miguel, who used Seven’s own hand to fake a hand clap to rile the crowd up. Miguel and Seven went back and forth with forearms before the Rascalz ran wild with a codebreaker/neckbreaker/standing shooting star series for 2. Seven wanted a tag, but Bailey was taken out by Miguel before a superkick sends Miguel down and they got the tag!
Bailey ran wild with kicks and got a standing shooting star for 2. Seven tagged in and ran wild with chops on Wentz before getting a big single-arm powerbomb out of the corner. Bailey sent Miguel into orbit with an apron pump kick before Seven ate a German after wanting a burning hammer. Wentz hit a double stomp on Seven before a seamless dive to Bailey. The ABC came down, opening the door to a Bailey dive. Trent’s burning hammer set up the Ultima Weapon and the win for Speedball Mountain!
Scott D’Amore came down to a big TNA chant and he said it’s coming soon – but 24 years ago, he was with Don Kolov and they all mourned Owen Hart here. He talked about getting a message about some guy named Anthony Carelli when he was here and also signed Josh Alexander here alongside Mike Bailey. He loved seeing Trent Seven and while he couldn’t sign him then, he can now because someone was dumb enough to let him go. Trent signs the deal after telling Bailey that he’s too sweaty – and Seven is now officially in TNA.
Backstage, the Motor City Machine Guns talked about how great Josh Alexander and ZSJ are. Alexander having the longest run with the Impact World Title given its long history tells you all you need to know, while ZSJ is the best technical wrestler on the world – in theory. However, Shelley argues that they hold the gold in Impact, and thus they’re the best. Jason Hotch comes out and says he took Something out earlier, but Something came out hurt.
Jake Something defeated Jason Hotch
Hotch worked the back over with kicks and a modified camel clutch before Something responded with a huge body slam. Hotch got 1 off a superkick using the ropes. Hotch kicked away with shots to the knees and body before a hard thrust kick, but another kick opens the door for a spinebuster to give Something an edge. Something landed a series of clotheslines before a corner avalanche and another mid-ring lariat. Something hit a giant poweromb before winning with Into the Void. Moose comes out and got a bird flip with every “MOOSE” chant.
Moose defeated Rhino
Rhino got an early edge with corner-mounted punches before Hannifan talks about Rhino winning the World title against Jarrett in 2005 while Rhino slammed Moose’s head on the apron a ton. Moose hits Rhino low and loses by DQ. Rhino says he didn’t come here to win by DQ – he wants a street fight!
Moose said he doesn’t need to wrestle, but is told by Penzer via Santino that if he doesn’t wrestle, he’ll lose the World Title match at Hard to Kill. Rhino suplexed him hard on the ramp before a series of ringpost chops, but Rhino wanted one too many and slammed his hand into the post. Moose slammed a chair into the hand twice before going for some corner mount punches and eating a powerbomb through a table for 2.
Moose wanted a corner charge, but ate a hiptoss into the corner-mounted ladder for 2. Rhino tossed Moose into the ref and landed the Gore, but a new ref only got a 2 count on it. Rhino went for a corner Gore before Moose put him in the path of a Gore through a table. Moose hit the spear and the first referee came to in time to count the win. This was the best usage of ref bumps in ages – they were done perfectly with a standby ref there quickly and then enough time passing to have the first ref get up.
Backstage, Kazarian says that he bet on himself to not be a part of someone’s vanity project. He says that for 20 years, he’s done a lot – but he hasn’t done it all. He hasn’t won the World Title and he’s going to make 2024 the year he wins it. Hannifan hypes up Gisele Shaw being an Out Sports top wrestler of 2023.
Jordynne Grace and Trinity defeated Gisele Shaw and Deonna Purrazzo
Purrazzo and Trinity started it off with matwork before Hannifan hypes up the history created in the Impact era before tying it all into how the present stars are the best of the era. Grace and Shaw go at it with Grace running Shaw down with tackles and lariats. A Grace stalling goardbuster hits Shaw before landing a rotating powerslam. Trinity held the ropes open for Grace to dive onto the heels on the floor.
They recover with some illegal double-teaming and a corner uppercut by Shaw setting up some offense from Purrazzo alongside some corner chops. Trinity came in and got 2 off a spinning bulldog before Purrazzo broke it up. Trinity wanted the full nelson bomb, but got victory rolled by Shaw en route to a double stomp for 2. Grace came in and clubbed away at Purrazzo with some big forearms.
Purrazzo locks on La Mistica, but Grace escapes both that and a Queen’s Gambit before a pumphandle suplex hits. Grace hits a striking combo before a Judas Effect sets up the full nelson bomb. Trinity started the Gedo clutch before Grace loses her grip on a jacknife pin for the win. Purrazzo and Shaw go to shake after the match, but Shaw attacks with a full nelson Irish curse backbreaker and then a snap flatliner.
Backstage, Gia Miller talked about Moose’s shot at the World Title and gaining momentum here. Moose said that it’s the last night for Impact and tonight begins a new era for himself because the Wrestling Gold, Mr. Impact Wrestling, and the Five-Star Athlete are all done and will be replaced by Moose – the new TNA World Champion. Okada and the Machine Guns face Eddie Edwards, Moose, and Brian Myers at Snake Eyes.
Josh Alexander and Zack Sabre Jr. defeated The Motor City Machine Guns
The match began with some quick work between Sabin and Alexander before Shelley and ZSJ tagged in for a mat clinic. ZSJ won out to start by popping up from a headscissor before getting lock into a seatbelt cradle for 2 that Shelley chained into a hammerlock. The Guns used their double-team offense to get an edge before Alexander came in to work with Sabin.
Sabin ground him with armwork before bringing Shelley in to deal more damage out. Hannifan brought up how Sabin played a part in Alexander going into the World Title mix by telling him to cash in the X Title to get a shot and that wound up paying off for him. Alexander worked the knee over with a kneebreaker before tagging ZSJ in for some arm work on Shelley’s arm. Alexander stomped on the leg for a bit before ZSJ came back on to twist and tear at the ankle in every direction.
Alexander continued the pain cranking on the leg and they trap Shelley in the ropes where he eats a Pele kick on the arm and a kick to the back of the leg. The Guns use some double-team moves to take down ZSJ to set up a Shelley straightjacket and backstabber combo! Sabin locked on a standing neck crank while trapping the leg before a Romero special double-team bulldog got 2 for Shelley.
Alexander tagged in and landed a huge German on Shelley while the crowd clapped like crazy for him. He went for the C4 Spike before Shelley worked on the bad elbow and sent him into the buckle face-first. Sabin and ZSJ came in and Sabin locked him into an STF before ZSJ turned it into an arm crank, which only helped so much because it opened the door to a discus elbow that led to a Sabin 2 count off a tornado DDT.
Shelley and Alexander want to land their finishes, but avoid them at all costs before ZSJ sends Shelley down with a European uppercut. The Guns lock on stereo figure four leglocks and as Josh went to tap, ZSJ slapped his chest to fire him up and it worked! Sabin tagged in for a crossbody that got turned into an armbar and that itself got turned into a schoolboy. Sabin superkicked ZSJ down before setting up Cradle Shock that ZSJ turns into a double a double arm-stretch! Sabin rolls through it, but then got locked into an even worse position.
Shelley locked on a dragon suplex to save Sabin, but got locked into an Alexander ankle lock for his troubles. Good lord, this has been a fantastic match and a very good show bell-to-bell. ZSJ locked on the European clutch for what should have been three, but was only 2.9 before a Clothesline from Hell, MI hit and they double-team Alexander to gain an edge.
The Guns wanted the double-team sliced bread before ZSJ locks on an armbar and Alexander got an ankle lock – this time on Sabin! Alexander hits the C4 spike to win the match – easily one of the best tag team matches in the history of TNA/Impact. This win set up a few things – Alexander possibly winning the X Title en route to the World Title. You could also have Alexander use it as fuel to get a shot at Shelley saying he beat his partner.
An epic video airs on Josh Alexander vs. Will Ospreay with Ospreay saying he was made a fan by Daniels vs. Joe vs. Styles and he’s wanted to come to TNA because he was a TNA kid. At Snake Eyes, it will be Will Ospreay vs. Josh Alexander II!