Impact Wrestling live results: Jonathan Gresham vs. Mike Bailey 3
Thursday’s Impact on AXS TV has a little bit of everything on the road to next Sunday’s Rebellion pay-per-view.
“Speedball” Mike Bailey and Jonathan Gresham will battle in a trilogy match with the winner earning a shot at X-Division Champion Trey Miguel at Rebellion.
Impact World Champion Josh Alexander will relinquish his title due to a torn triceps.
Former Impact Tag Team Champions the Motor City Machine Guns will take on TMDK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito) in a non-title match while new signee Jody Threat will make her Impact in-ring debut.
In a trios match, Tommy Dreamer, Yuya Uemura and former NHL enforcer Darren McCarty will take on Bully Ray and The Good Hands. Dreamer and Ray will be on opposite sides of a team Hardcore War match at the PPV.
A grudge may finally be settled in a feud that has been raging for several months as PCO takes on Eddie Edwards.
Former Impact Tag Team Champions Heath & Rhino vs. Shera & Champagne Singh will be on the pre-show.
BTI pre-show:
Heath & Rhino defeated Champagne Singh & Shera
After a good back and forth match, Rhino eventually nailed Shera with the Gore to get the 1-2-3.
Main show:
The opening video focused on Josh Alexander’s torn triceps, forcing him to undergo surgery and ultimately relinquishing the Impact World title later tonight in the Impact Zone.
Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) defeated TMDK (Bad Dude Tito & Shane Haste)
Haste and Shelley began the match but before the two could lock up, Tito interfered and it was all four men in the ring. MCMG managed to land some offense on the outside but it wouldn’t gain them any momentum as the pure power of Tito began dominating the legal man Shelley.
It was quick tags by TMDK and they dominated the match for the next few moments before Shelley was finally able to land the tag to a hot Sabin. Sabin began to school Haste and as Tito attempted to interfere, Shelley stepped up and it was all MCMG at this point.
TMDK attempted to regain momentum but MCMG was simply too much and after isolating Tito, Sabin was able to roll-up Haste for the victory.
– Backstage, Impact Tag Team Champions Chris Bey & Ace Austin confronted the Machine Guns. Chris Sabin stated that at Rebellion for their rematch, why not make it an Ultimate X match for the titles? Bey stated that if they could make that happen, then it’s on.
– Backstage, Eddie Edwards was with Kenny King. Edwards asked if he could rely on King for backup tonight, but King questioned him and walked away.
– Backstage, Scott D’Amore was confronted by Tommy Dreamer. Dreamer wanted D’Amore to step up for Rebellion and the Hardcore War but D’Amore downplayed his in-ring career and walked away.
In a X-Division no. 1 contender’s match, Mike Bailey & Jonathan Gresham went to a no contest
As you would expect, it was quick back and forth stalemate action by both men in the beginning as current X-Division champion Trey Miguel shared his thoughts on commentary.
Gresham was able to nearly score a victory before Bailey was nearly able to score a victory as well before Gresham was able to lock Bailey in a figure-four leglock. Bailey reversed it followed by a Gresham reverse and as you would once again expect several moments into the match, we were still at a stalemate.
The match spilled to the outside and as Bailey almost nailed Miguel accidentally, Miguel decided to take matters into his own hands. As Bailey and Gresham re-entered the ring, Miguel attacked both men causing the match to get thrown out.
– Backstage, Deaner (with The Design) scolded Callihan for losing his last couple of matches. Callihan took exception and told Deaner he wanted Step 7 in his initiation. Deaner challenged him and Callihan said he was ready before walking away from The Design.
– Backstage, Mike Bailey and Jonathan Gresham confronted Santino Marella as Trey Miguel and Dirty Dango interrupted. Marella stated that due to Miguel’s actions tonight, the X-Division title would be defended in a three-way elimination match at Rebellion against Bailey and Gresham.
Jody Threat defeated Tara Rising
Impact was treated to the debut of the one and only “Wild Child.” Threat has been one of the most gifted and rising stars on the Canadian independent wrestling scene in the past several years.
Threat dominated the match in its entirety and after a slew of powerful moves, Threat finished Rising with the F416 for the victory.
– Backstage, Santino Marella was seen recovering from an attack at the hands of The Design. Dirty Dango and Scott D’Amore tended to Marella and Dango told D’Amore he wanted The Design. Marella then made it official that Dango, Joe Hendry and himself would face The Design at Rebellion.
– Backstage, Gia Miller was with Tasha Steelz. Before Steelz could say too much, she was interrupted by Gisele Shaw, Jai Vidal & Savannah Evans. Steelz challenged Shaw to a match next week but before we got an answer, Shaw and company walked off.
Tommy Dreamer, Yuya Uemura & Darren McCarty defeated Bully Ray & The Good Hands (Jason Hotch & John Skyler)
What a sight to see four-time Stanley Cup champion Darren McCarty competing in a match.
Dreamer and Skyler began the match and Dreamer was able to gain quick momentum before making the tag to Uemura. Quick tags were made by both men before Hotch was able to capitalize with a cheap shot and Dreamer was now in no man’s land.
Bully was tagged in and after some Dusty Rhodes tributes, Dreamer was able to land a DDT and we finally got to see McCarty tagged into the match.
After taking out Hotch and Skyler, McCarty wanted Ray. Ray entered the ring and quickly exited as quick as he entered. McCarty soon found himself in the ring with Skyler as Hotch was taken out by Uemura on the outside. McCarty then landed the stunner on Skyler for the 1-2-3.
– After the match, Kenny King hit the ring to attack McCarty as Masha Slamovich and Killer Kelly also joined the melee. Before King and Slamovich could do much damage, Dreamer and Uemura alongside Kelly were able to send them running.
– A video promo aired on the legacy of Josh Alexander’s Impact World championship reign and his upcoming relinquishing of the title due to injury.
– A clip of Deonna Purrazzo was shown winning the four-way match last Thursday at Multiverse United earning her a shot at the Impact Knockouts championship at Rebellion. Purrazzo stated that no matter if it was a one on one match or a three-way match, she would become a three time champion.
Eddie Edwards defeated PCO
As the match started with both men beating on one another, the words “technical classic” definitely weren’t going to apply to this match. With that being said, PCO hit a frankensteiner from the top rope as we headed to a commercial break.
We were back from commercial and the match has now taken to the outside and Edwards was not faring much better as PCO was still on the attack.
Back on the ring apron and Edwards was finally able to ground PCO with a superplex but unfortunately for Edwards, it wasn’t able to ground him for long.
PCO recovered and after a huge chop fest, PCO sent Edwards to the outside and followed up with a PCO-sault through the ropes. If that wasn’t bad enough for Edwards, PCO then landed a chokeslam to the ring apron as we headed to another commercial break.
We were back from commercial and both men were back in the ring and PCO nailed Edwards with a ddt before further punishing him with a Deanimator. PCO attempted to squash Edwards in the corner but Edwards pulled the referee in the way and PCO squashed the referee instead.
PCO thought about going for the PCO-sault from the top but Alisha Edwards ran down to the ring to confront the French-Canadian Frankenstein. Alisha nailed PCO with “Kenny” and Eddie seized the opportunity. Eddie followed up the illegal tactics of his wife by nailing PCO with a buckle bomb followed by the Boston Knee Party to finally gain a much needed victory over the monster.
After the match, as Eddie and Alisha celebrated, PCO came “back to life” and chased the couple from the building and into the parking lot.
Josh Alexander relinquished the Impact World title
Impact Wrestling president Scott D’Amore and KUSHIDA were already in the ring as an aggressive Steve Maclin entered the ring.
D’Amore stated that while there was an ending with the historic run of Josh Alexander, there will be a new champion crowned at Rebellion between KUSHIDA and Maclin. D’Amore then called Alexander to the ring.
Alexander, in a sling, came down to the ring with his wife and son. Alexander stated that he has been one of the most decorated champions in the company’s history while the fans followed up with a “Best World Champ” chant.
Alexander stated that he had a torn tricep and that he would go back to where he first started. Alexander stated he would be watching who watching who would become the next world champion as he praised both KUSHIDA and Maclin.
Alexander warned both men to watch out for him when he was cleared again. Alexander then attempted to give D’Amore the title but Alexander’s son intercepted. D’Amore was finally given the title and Maclin grabbed the mic and stated that this was Alexander’s “way out” before putting down his family.
Before Maclin could continue, D’Amore grabbed the mic and defended Alexander and his family and called Maclin a coward. D’Amore reminded Maclin that he recently tapped out to KUSHIDA and Maclin responded that he chose to tap out as nothing was on the line.
KUSHIDA stepped up to Maclin and as the two went face to face, Maclin was sent to the outside. KUSHIDA followed up with a somersault over the top rope to the outside before grabbing the world championship and posing with the title as the show came to a close.
Final Thoughts:
This was an excellent Impact Wrestling setting up for Rebellion in just ten days. As a Canadian, it was sad to see Alexander officially relinquish the title but I was proud to see Threat make her debut and let the pro wrestling world know what she’s all about.
Next week will be the go-home edition going into Rebellion and it’ll be interesting to see whether or not Mickie James is announced in being involved in the Knockouts championship match and if they push the KUSHIDA vs. Maclin feud even further. Both matches are going to worth the cost of the PPV alone.
Happy Easter weekend, everyone!
Next Week:
- Tasha Steelz vs. Gisele Shaw
- Taylor Wilde vs. Jessicka
- Callihan & Angels vs. Joe Hendry & Dirty Dango
- Kenny King vs. Frankie Kazarian (Winner gets the advantage for their team in Hardcore War at Rebellion)
- The final decision on the status of Mickie James for Rebellion
New for Rebellion:
- Knockouts Tag Team Champions The Coven defend against The Death Dollz
- X-Division Champion Trey Miguel defends against Mike Bailey and Jonathan Gresham in an elimination match
- The Design vs. Joe Hendry, Dirty Dango & Santino Marella
- Impact Tag Team Champions Bullet Club defend against Motor City Machine Guns in an Ultimate X match