Impact Wrestling results: Slammiversary XVII go-home show

Impact Wrestling returns from the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, NY for the final stop before Slammiversary this coming Sunday. Opening video recapped the ongoing stories surrounding the main championship feuds, the war between Killer Kross and Eddie Edwards, and Tessa Blanchard’s beat down at the hands of oVe.

Twitch stream was hosted by Melissa Santos. She broke the news that The North defeated LAX for the tag team titles at Bash at the Brewery, and showed the post-match promo from Ethan Page and Josh Alexander. There was another earthquake during the broadcast, but Melissa kept hosting.

TJP defeated Ace Austin

Different from other Ace Austin matches, this started with some hold-by-hold series of reversals for wrist and head control. TJP got to display his proficiency, while Ace would fail at trying to copy TJP, playing into Ace’s cockiness, and pushing him to resort to kicks instead.

TJP locked in a really innovative Sharpshooter while holding both of Ace’s hands, and later transitioned into a Last Chancery. Ace once again resorted to use his kicks to take control of the match for a bit, but TJP kept escaping, but it was until TJP went for a springboard dive that Ace got the upper hand. Ace hit a Space Flying Tiger Drop, cut TJP’s finger with a card, and worked over TJP’s arm with an elbow bar.

Ace Austin hit the jumping curb stomp, but TJP dodged it, hit a Springboard dropkick. Ace hit a Disaster Kick for a two count. Ace went for a Superplex, but TJP blocked it, so instead Ace hit a beautiful leg-scissors takedown. Ace went for a roll up with the ropes, but the ref caught him, giving TJP time to recover, take out Ace’s leg and connect with a lungblower for a two count.

Ace and TJP exchanged strikes and kicks with the latter getting the upper hand, as he went for House of Cards, TJP dodged, grabbed the leg, locked in a kneebar, and submitted Ace Austin. Great opener.

– We got a video recapping Brian Cage’s title win, injury, and road to recovery. It also featured Michael Elgin’s path of destruction into Sunday’s title match.

– Melissa Santos interviewed Johnny Impact and Bravo. She asked if he would be able to survive with Bravo as his tag team partner. Johnny said he is the one man Mega Powers. Johnny Bravo had a fake man-bun. This was funny.

Kiera Hogan defeated Madison Rayne

Hogan has dyed her hair blue-ish, so she’s no longer the ‘Girl on Fire’. Jordynne Grace joined commentary for the match.

Match started with Hogan running at Rayne, looking for the quick roll up, and thus they traded a couple of near falls with quick roll-ups until Hogan left the ring. Madison went for the chase, but Hogan caught her with a kick. Hogan antagonized Grace at the commentary table, but it was enough distraction for Rayne to recover.

Back in the ring, Hogan kicked out Rayne’s leg while climbing the turnbuckles, and got a two count after her running hip attack combo. Hogan stayed in the offense, while constantly mocking Jordynne outside. Rayne started a comeback after a desperation enzuigiri, hit a couple of strikes, and landed a cutter for a two count.

Hogan went for a school girl with her legs on the ropes, which prompted Grace to leave the table. Hogan hit a swinging neckbreaker and pin for the win.

After the match, Jordynne went after Hogan, but the Girl no longer on Fire ran off. In the ring, Madison Rayne blamed Jordynne Grace for losing the match.

– Outside the building, Gama Singh gave Rohit Raju a surprise for tonight’s match. It was the Singh Family Tea set, it’s been in the family for generations, while he explained this, the Deaners poured some beer into the teapot behind their backs. The immediately figured out it was beer. Rohit drank it anyway.

– Somewhere in the Undead Realm, James Mitchell is trying to break up the tension between Su Yung and Havok. He tells them that they need to be patient and work together this Sunday. Their plan is for Havok to walk out as the Knockout’s champion.

– Impact Plus Moment of the Week was Jeff Hardy vs Broken Matt Hardy from Slammiversary 2016.

– We got a video recap of the ongoing story with Taya, Rosemary, Su Yung, and the returning Havok.

– We got a showcase video for Sami Callihan that built into the Tessa vs Callihan feud.

Rohit Raju (w/Raj and Gama Singh) defeated Laredo Kid

Match started quick with what would seem to lead to a series of reversals and counters, but Rohit got a quick clothesline to gain control, which didn’t last long as he played to the crowd and got taken out. Laredo Kid jumped on the first rope and the rope snapped on him, but he was safe. Laredo still hit a moonsault from the second rope for a two count.  Don Callis said that a two-rope ring is still better than a 6-sided ring.

Rohit regained control of the match and went after Laredo with stomps to the back. Rohit swept the leg, but once again started playing to the crowd. Snap suplex for a two count. Laredo hit a rana and Tope Suicida to get back in the match, earning a two count.

Laredo went for a top rope corkscrew, but Gama and Raj distracted him, giving Rohit the time to recover, dodge the move, hit a big foot stomp, and get the win.

– We got a video recapping RVD’s return and feud with Moose. Good promo by Moose.

Moose came down to the ring, looking amazing like always. He cut a promo saying that he loved RVD as a kid, he put over his matches in ECW, but that was 20 years ago and things have changed. He said that he can’t be a fan of him anymore because he’s now better than him in every sense. He then showed a video of Moose beating up Sabu someone backstage. He told RVD that at Slammiversary, he will retire him.

Rob Van Dam finally came out and brawled with Moose. They got into a short pull-apart.

Zachary Wentz defeated Trey Miguel and Dezmond Xavier, he pinned Trey Miguel to eliminate him from the Slammiversay Tag Team title match.

Match stipulation was that the man taking the fall would sit out the Slammiversary tag title shot. All men shook hands before starting.

All men started the match trying to get quick roll ups on each other. Dez and Wentz hit a combo on Trey, but Wentz was taken out before they could end, leading Xavier and Trey doing a sequence of reversals, with Trey getting the upper hand. Wentz returned and also did a sequence with Trey before Dezmond returned, superkicked Wentz, hit a rana on Trey Miguel, and sending both of them to the outside. Dezmond went for a dive, but Wentz caught him. Trey Miguel instead hit a rana to the outside on Wentz. Dezmond and Wentz got dives in before Dezmond got a two count after a top rope corkscrew on Wentz.

All men traded strikes in the middle of the ring that ended with a double move on Trey and a standing shooting star from Wentz to Dezmond for a near fall. Xavier and Wentz traded strikes until Trey returned with a springboard senton and a double cutter for two separate near falls. Trey went for Meteora on Dezmond, but took enough time for Xavier to dodge. Wentz took him out and together with Dezmond, hit Hot Fire Flame on Trey for the finish.

All men embraced after the match and consoled Trey for losing.

– Tessa Blanchard arrived at the arena with a baseball bat.

– We got the buildup video for Killer Kross vs Eddie Edwards. From start to finish, we got to see how Kross’ character has changed so much in so little time. After the video, we saw Killer Kross at the same church from last week, he cut a promo in the form of mass. He said that at Slammiversary, someone will die and that he is Edward’s only true salvation.

– We got the video building up Johnny Impact chase for Swann’s X-Division championship and the consequent wins they’ve traded. They’re selling this as Johnny wanting to add his name to the X-Division championship’s legacy.

– Commentary ran down the card for Slammiversay, adding an open challenge by TJP.

X-Division Champion Rich Swann & Willie Mack defeated Johnny Impact & Johnny Bravo

Swann and Impact started the match with a quick sequence, trading kicks and a series of reversals. Mack tagged in, but Impact decided to stay in the ring, with whom he traded another sequence of counters and reversals with some Lucha flavor. Swann and Mack hit a double team move, but Bravo finally made his presence felt, distracting Swann and giving Impact the opening to turn things around. Swann was tossed outside where Johnny worked over his neck.

Back in the ring, Impact used Bravo as a weapon, slamming him on to Swann. Bravo tagged in and got a couple of strikes in and a two count. Bravo telling Kid Ref to count faster was great. Bravo choked Swann, but Impact tagged in before Swann could break out. Mack tagged in and ran wild over Impact, but also got distracted by Bravo. Impact went for a Spanish Fly, but was countered into a top rope Neckbreaker instead. Mack hit a running Cannonball, Samoan Drop, and Moonsault combo for a two count when Bravo broke the pin.

Mack got distracted with Bravo again, allowing Impact to hit a Disaster Kick. Swann tagged in and took out Impact with a shotgun dropkick, leaving Bravo stuck between Mack and Swann, who beat him up. Mack hit a stunner on Bravo, and after a Phoenix Splash, Swann picked up another win over Impact. This was surprisingly good considering Johnny Bravo was part of the match, he played his part perfectly.

– Outside the building, Sami Callihan and Jake Crist are celebrating early their win over Tessa, who arrives wielding a bat and tossing Dave Crist over the food table. Tessa takes out Jake first. Sami and Tessa brawl with the former having an obvious strength advantage, but Tessa has no off switch. Jake recovers and holds Tessa for Callihan to get another bat shot, but Tessa low blows Jake, dodges Callihan, and hits him with the bat. Tessa stands tall to end the show.

Final Thoughts –

Impact had been closing feud builds for the last two weeks, so this show mostly consisted of video recaps and a set of good matches. By the time the stream ended, there was unfortunately, no update on the status of the LAX vs Rascalz match for Sunday.