Impact Wrestling live results: X-Division title on the line
Tonight, Impact Wrestling moves on from its 1000th episode and continues the road to Bound for Glory.
The X-Division Championship will be on the line as Chris Sabin defends against Alan Angels. Sabin, the most decorated wrestler in X-Division history, began his 10th reign with the championship by defeating Lio Rush at Impact 1000.
Angels put himself in line for an X-Division title shot by winning an Ultimate X match on Impact 1000.
Knockouts Champion Trinity is set for non-title action against Gisele Shaw. They were part of a star-studded 10-woman tag match at Impact 1000 where Trinity, Awesome Kong, Gail Kim, Mickie James & Jordynne Grace defeated Shaw, Savannah Evans, Angelina Love, Deonna Purrazzo & Tasha Steelz.
“Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Jonathan Gresham is part of tonight’s lineup. Bailey has a match against Will Ospreay scheduled for Bound for Glory on October 21.
Tommy Dreamer & Heath vs. Kenny King & Sheldon Jean in a Memphis street fight, Rhino in action, and a goodbye ceremony for Yuya Uemura are also set for tonight. The BTI (Before the Impact) match is Sami Callihan & Rich Swann vs. Laredo Kid & Black Taurus.
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BFI Preshow
Iceman’s Intel saw George Iceman talk about hearing rumours that Trinity was going to be attacked by someone this week, but he couldn’t find out who it was, speculating that it could be someone new, or a returning star.
Sami Callihan & Rich Swann defeated Black Taurus & Laredo Kid
This was a very good tag match, though I am a bit surprised Callihan and Swann won with Callihan likely leaving Impact soon. Maybe he’ll work as a freelancer there instead.
Impact Wrestling Main Card
The show opened summarizing Impact 1000!
Impact X-Division Champion Chris Sabin defeated Alan Angels to retain
Angels is looking to build of his Ultimate X win, cashing in for his title shot right away, and isolating the arm of Sabin in the early part of the match. The heat segment here was long, with Sabin selling consistently for the first few minutes of the match, firing back every now and then with chops, adhering to the Ricky Steamboat method of selling.
Sabin hit a dropkick after Angels hit the ropes. Angels countered a Cradle Shock into a Rings of Saturn, but Sabin rolled it back into a pin attempt to break the submission. Sabin hit a Yakuza kick in the corner and went for a tornado DDT, but fought out and hit a tornado arm breaker. Angels went back to the Rings of Saturn, but Sabin went right to the ropes.
Angels shoved Sabin into the referee and hit a low blow before hitting the halo kick for a 2-count. Sabin dodged a splash and then hit a missile dropkick to the back of Angel’s head before hitting the Cradle Shock for the win.
–As Sabin celebrated, he was interrupted by a video highlighting KENTA, before announcing him returning at Bound for Glory. It looks like KENTA will be challenging Sabin at the PPV.
–Alex Shelley was with Gia Miller and talked about how he respected Josh Alexander, but that he was an emotional guy, so Alexander needs to respect him and the fact that Shelley is the current champion, and it is not Alexander’s belt. It is his until Alexander takes it. This was very good.
Rhino defeated Jack Price
Rhino crushed Price in this match, as Price acted as a pinball that was bounced around the ring for him. The crowd was super into Rhino, and popped huge when he hit a Gore for the win.
–Paying Rhino back for his attack from the last few weeks, Maclin came out and attacked Rhino. After a brawl, Rhino was left in the ring, with Maclin making a strategic retreat.
–Deonna Purrazzo walked up to Tasha Steelz and welcomed her back, asking to become a tag team, and Steelz agreed, since they both have a great championship lineage.
–Alisha Edwards and Eddie Edwards were backstage talking about how their feud with Kazarian wasn’t over, because while Traci Brooks beat Alisha Edwards, Kazarian did not beat him. Kazarian walked up and said that Edwards was right and that they needed to end it in the ring, and Kazarian was going to management to ask them to find a way for there to be a definitive winner.
–Joya made their way down to the ring for Yuya Uemura’s last appearance as a young lion in Impact. Hendry talked about how he had no regrets about teaming with Uemura, and then led the fans in a chant saying, “Thank you!” to Uemura. Just as Uemura was saying thanks to the fans, The Rascalz interrupted.
The Rascalz said that Joya was the only tag team in the company that had an excuse for not being champions because Uemura got fired, whereas the rest would lose to the best team. Hendry said that it was a bit ironic that Wentz & Miguel said that since they were the 2nd and 3rd best Rascal. Both groups broke into a brawl, and Santino’s music hit.
Santino them booked The Rascalz against Joya, though it isn’t a title match, but if Joya won, Uemura got to keep his job.
The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachery Wentz) defeated Joya (Joe Hendry & Yuya Uemura)
Hendry started the match beating on Wentz before tagging out to Uemura. Miguel stunned Uemura on the middle rope and started getting the heat on Uemura. Wentz hit a slingshot senton for a 2-count. As this was happening the announcers noted that this was the first time someone who ever got the “fired” briefcase in Feast or Fired had a chance to save their career.
Hendry tagged in and hit fallaway slams on both Wentz and Miguel before grabbing both and tossing them at the same time with a 3rd fallaway slam. Hendry and Uemura hit the One Hit Wonder on Wentz, but he barely kicked out. The fans really started getting behind Uemura and Hendry here, with everyone exchanging big moves. They hit the One Hit Wonder on Miguel for another two count because Wentz made the save. This led to Miguel spraying Uemura in the face with spray paint and pinning him. Uemura is on his way back to New Japan.
–Gia Miller interviewed Gisele Shaw about Shaw’s upcoming match with Trinity. Shaw talked about beating Trinity tonight in order to get a match at Bound for Glory.
–Deaner was in a pretape video, and screamed about returning to his throne that Eric Young took.
Heath & Tommy Dreamer defeated Kenny King & Sheldon Jean in a Street Fight
This was your average plunder match, with Dreamer getting the win.
Dreamer and Heath started the match brawling all over ringside with King and Jean, and it was your standard hardcore match from there, with Dreamer using plunder and bumping into plunder, like King hitting a spinebuster into a garbage can. King choked Dreamer with his shirt, as Jean grabbed a chair. King yelled “This is your DMC?” at the audience, referring to the Digital Media Championship, but I can’t help but hear “Devil May Cry” and be momentarily confused. The pains of being a gamer and wrestling fan.
Heath ran in and hit a Wake Up Call on Jean. Heath setup a table in the corner as King and Jean recovered. Heath went to hit a Death Valley Driver through the table, but King saved Jean and hit a spinning kick. King went to the top rope but was cut off by Dreamer. Dreamer grabbed a ladder and bridged it in the corner, but King shoved Dreamer and he fell between the rungs. King hit a blockbuster on Dreamer, and then blocked a Wake Up Call from Heath. King hit a torneo plancha to the floor. Jean tried to hit a bionic elbow on Dreamer, but Dreamer picked him up and hit a Death Valley Driver through the table for the win.
–Crazzy Steve ran down to the ring and hit Dreamer with his briefcase, saying that Dreamer was his next target.
–Tom Hannifan announced the Impact Hall of Fame ceremony would be on the preshow for Bound for Glory.
–ABC was backstage talking about how the Rascalz paid off The Good Hands, but now they had their tag team title briefcase, and the Rascalz couldn’t keep them away forever. ABC then said they had unfinished business with the Good Hands, so they challenged them in a Fan’s Revenge match, where they can use leather straps against them. John Skylar walked up and said that as much as he would love to fight them, Jason Hotch was at home with his newborn baby. ABC then said it was simple – find a partner to take his place. Skylar insisted he had friends.
Jonathan Gresham defeated Mike Bailey
This match was great, and an awesome heel turn. It’s simplicity was fantastic, and played off the story that everyone was beating Gresham by cheating, and Gresham was tired of it. I really liked this.
Gresham entered the ring looking frustrated, as his Impact run thus far has been less than stellar, having to face people who didn’t abide by a pure wrestling rules style. Mike Bailey wanted to show him that there are still people in wrestling who prefer an honest, pure, and fair style. This led to many great exchanges in the early part of the match with technical wrestling mixed with a little high flying from Bailey.
Bailey and Gresham continue to be two incredible workers, and the fans gave them the reaction they deserve. Bailey hit a series of hard kicks on the floor, sending Gresham to his knees. Bailey then hit a corkscrew Asai moonsault to the floor on Gresham. Gresham, however, turned it around in the ring with a brutal looking Boston crab, but Bailey made the ropes to escape.
Gresham had a familiar exchange of vertical suplex attempts until Gresham was able to finally get one, before transitioning into a sleeper as soon as Bailey kicked out. Gresham hit a big back elbow, and as Bailey kicked out twice, Gresham went for a 3rd pinfall and yanked the tights to pin Bailey, cheating to win.
–Moose & Myers were backstage talking about how they dominated the tag division, which is a stretch, but since they are heels they can exaggerate. Moose said he was going to get a warm up next week for his future world title shot.
–Steve Maclin walked up to Bully Ray backstage and said that he helped Ray with PCO many times. Ray said that he would talk to Rhino for him, because they have been friends for 25 years. Maclin accused Ray of being soft, and nostalgic because he had Devon back.
Trinity defeated Gisele Shaw (w/ Jai Vidal & Savannah Evans)
This was easily Trinity’s best match in Impact thus far. Shaw brought out the best in Trinity and vice versa. Very good main event.
Trinity ducked under a clothesline attempt from Shaw before hitting a legdrop for a 2-count. Trinity chopped Shaw in the corner and hit a snapmare. Trinity danced around Shaw and hit a clothesline off the ropes for a 2-count. Shaw threw Trinity into the ring steps to start turning the match around. Shaw managed to hit a knee off the top rope while holding Trinity’s head, driving Trinity into the mat.
The fans were very into Trinity throughout this match, and even more so during the heat segment with chants and cheers. Shaw stepped on the back of Trinity’s head to a chorus of boos before hitting a snap suplex for a 2-count. Trinity managed to hit a Samoan drop after Shaw hit the ropes for a two count. Trinity hit a crossbody off the middle rope for a two count. Shaw responded with Shock & Awe for a two count, and Shaw began to show frustration.
Shaw went for a running knee, but Trinity dodged and hit a heatseeker on Shaw for a 2-count. As Shaw hit the ropes, Vidal accidentally tripped Shaw as the referee was distracted by Evans. Trinity immediately put on the Star Struck submission and got the win.
–Vidal and Evans attacked Trinity after the match but Mickie James ran down and made the save, and they both sent Evans and Vidal packing. Mickie James grabbed a mic and said that she was friends with Trinity, and that she would always have her back. James said that she was so happy to see Trinity come through the doors of Impact to win the Knockouts championship, but she did want a title shot as she has never faced Trinity in a match before.
James then talked about the rematch clause in her contract for the title James never lost, and challenged Trinity for a match at Bound for Glory. Trinity shook James’ hand as the show went off the air.
Final Thoughts
This was a very good Impact this week. Lots of angles being setup, and lots of interesting things heading into Bound for Glory. Nothing came off that George Iceman thing from before the show, but we will see if they return to that in the weeks to come.
Impact Wrestling – October 5, 2023
- Tasha Steelz vs. Killer Kelly
- ABC vs. John Skylar & A Mystery Partner
- Jake Something, Dirty Dango, Champagne Singh, Eric Young, & Jordynne Grace vs. Brian Myers, Shera, KiLynn King, Jody Threat, & Bully Ray
- Josh Alexander vs. Kon
Impact Wrestling Bound for Glory
- Impact X-Division Championship: Chris Sabin (c) vs. KENTA
- Impact Knockouts World Championship: Trinity (c) vs. Mickie James