Ten days before Redemption PPV… The main event was changed at WrestleCon, as Alberto El Patron and Impact Wrestling parted ways. But the Impact vs. Lucha Underground event opened the gates for a new and exciting main event involving Impact World and Grand Champion Austin Aries, Lucha Underground Champion Pentagon Junior and Fénix in a Triple Threat Match for the Impact World Title. You’ll hear more about it in this week’s episode. But of course, action is on the menu. Moose will take on Sami Callihan, Josh Mathews is set to challenge #1 contender for the X-Division title, Petey Williams. KM, Caleb Konley, and Trevor Lee will square off against Richard Justice, Fallah Bahh, and Tyrus. And you’re also invited to a Demon’s Dance between Taya Valkyrie and Rosemary. Let’s get ready for some action so, your French Enygma Steph way, of course…
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVRbbh3FKes]
Here above is a recap of what happened last weekend. Alberto El Patron showing up for the Redemption Press Conference, then no showing at Lucha Underground vs. Impact Wrestling show, Austin Aries announcing Pentagon Jr. and Fenix will take place at Redemption for the Impact World Championship. Clips of matches from the show and comments from Matt Striker, The Mack, Tommy Dreamer, DJZ, Eli Drake and Austin Aries all come together to show off more pro wrestling to the fans.
Eli Drake and the Case of The Briefcase #1
Eli Drake came to the ring with the 2 briefcases, the Tag Team titles and World Title opportunities. He said he was wrong about the tag title shot since his partner Chris Adonis left the company. But he made a deal and then won the World title case. Even when he loses, Eli Drake wins. He now had the chance to win two titles. LAX arrived and Konnan wanted to know who’s going to be Drake’s partner at Redemption. Drake said it’s someone Konnan ran with and a former World Champion. And a Genetic Freak…
Because it’s Big Poppa Pump himself, Scott Steiner. After the break, Steiner stated Konnan looked like he’d seen a ghost. He ran down the credentials of his career, noting that he’s world famous, that’s why Drake called him. Not only they will take the titles, kick ass, but Steiner will prove he has a short fuse and the largest arms in the universe. Konnan made fun of Steiner’s speaking skills and said no one disrespected LAX. He then called out that Drake couldn’t trust Steiner because he might not show up or might just beat up Drake before the match even gets started. Konnan called Drake a “future has-been” and Steiner a “has-been.” Drake ran down Konnan, adding he and Steiner were coming for the Tag Titles.
Sami Callihan vs. Moose
Last week, Sami Callihan interfered in Moose’s match and cost him his World Title briefcase. So Moose attacked Callihan right off the bat, kept him grounded in the corner and hit a running dropkick. Moose tried to chop Callihan who rolled to the floor, Moose followed him. Both on the apron, Callihan unloaded a step-up enzuigiri, a springboard kick and a suicide dive. Callihan hit some chops on Moose’s chest out to the floor. Moose cut him off with an apron bomb, picked up Callihan and landed another on the mat. Back in the ring, Sami hit a knee strike, but Moose replied with a bicycle kick. Sami countered the Game Changer and hit a low blow. Callihan connected with kicks and chops but Moose rallied.
Moose fired up again with a nasty dropkick. Sami avoided a charge and Sami hit a face wash. Moose connected with a popup powerbomb and a running senton. Moose then hit a Go to Hell before bringing Callihan up top. He laid in strikes and followed him up. Sami bit Moose and hit a Cheeky Nandos kick (turnbuckle kick) and a powerbomb. Moose battled back, hit a lariat but Sami grabbed the bat. He hit Moose for the DQ.
oVe arrived and the beat down on Moose started. Eddie Edwards ran out and momentarily helped Moose out, but Callihan smacked him with a bat in his whole body. oVe stretched him out for another bat swing and Alisha Edwards ran out to stop them. Callihan turned his attention on her but the lights suddenly went out. Tommy Dreamer was in the ring with a kendo stick when the lights went up and cleared out the ring. Dreamer grabbed a mic and said if oVe has been trying to start a revolution, he has soldiers in Moose and Edwards to fight them off. At Redemption, it will be the first-ever 6-Man House of Hardcore Match.
Josh Mathews (w/ Matt Sydal) vs. Petey Williams
Mathews stated how rare it was for him to be in the ring. He talked about losing his title to Austin Aries but he was going to defeat Petey Williams. Williams made his way to the ring and tries to get Mathews who ended up running around the ring. Williams charged in but Mathews got out of the ring to meditate. Sydal distracted Williams, allowing Mathews to strike from the back, but it didn’t work. So he ran around the ring again with Williams chasing him.
Sydal interfered again when Williams went for a Canadian Destroyer he turned into a Sharpshooter. Sydal tried to run in, Williams saw him and he backed out. Mathews tried for a roll-up, Sydal interfered again, Williams kicked him and went for another Canadian Destroyer on Sydal, but Mathews struck again from behind. Williams went again for a Canadian Destroyer, but Sydal kicked him in the head and the match ended in a DQ. I agree with Sonjay Dutt when he said he didn’t understand what yoga really brought to Sydal…
– After a recap of the rivalry between Lashley and Brian Cage, Johnny Impact made fun of Jimmy Jacobs and Kongo Kong’s makeup to McKenzie Mitchell. Kongo and Jacobs showed up, Jacobs stated Johnny’s words showed he wasn’t taking them seriously and Kongo was going to pop that bubble Johnny is living in very soon. Johnny was not amused by the fact they interrupted his interviews and attacked him from behind. Johnny invited them to show up to the ring next week.
KM, Caleb Konley and Trevor Lee vs. Richard Justice, Fallah Bahh and Tyrus
Last week, KM joked on Richard Justice’s weight and beat him up. Fallah Bahh and Tyrus ended up coming and fighting off KM and the Cult of Lee. Bahh got control early on, using his size advantage on Lee. He hit the steamroller and tagged in Justice. He laid on jabs on Lee and pulled his straps down. KM in also ate jabs. Lee hit some cheap shots on Justice, allowing KM to take control. Lee was tagged in and took him down. Konley was tagged in.
Konley continued to isolate Justice, grounding the action. Justice dumped Lee to tag in Tyrus who tossed KM. The corner splash connected and then the Big Ending. Bahh, Justice and Tyrus took control and Justice hits a splash off of the apron on both Lee and Konley. Tyrus choked out KM, tagged in Bahh who hit the Banzai drop for the win. RIP to KM’s chest and lungs…
Rosemary vs. Taya Valkyrie (Demon’s Dance Match)
This was an anything goes match and they started out properly, bawling with good aggression. They battled up on the ramp, they teased finishers on the stage, but Rosemary tossed Taya down the ramp. Taya cut off Rosemary and slammed her into the barricade. Taya brought in some chairs, took down Rosemary, set a chair in front of her and hit the running double knees.
Taya continued to attack with chair shots but Rosemary fired back with kicks and a sling blade onto a chair. Rosemary grabbed a ladder and set it up in the corner. Rosemary went for a suplex but Taya countered it into a suplex. She connected with kicks, but Rosemary slammed her viciously into the ladder.
Rosemary grabbed a table, set it up and then worked over Taya. She missed a charge and ran into a chair set in the corner. Taya laid Rosemary on the table and headed up top. They both worked up top, Rosemary went for The Red Wedding, Taya fought off and went for The Road to Valhalla. Rosemary battle back and hit a ravishing piledriver on Taya through the table for the win.
These two wrestlers have waited a long time to put an end to their feud, that was supposed to reach his peak at Bound for Glory last November. This match was absolutely mind-blowing. The epitome of what women’s wrestling is supposed to be, unapologetic, fierce, nasty. A wrestling match, in fact.
The show ended up with a longer recap of Lucha Underground vs. Impact Wrestling event. More comments from Matt Striker, Tommy Dreamer, Austin Aries and Sonjay Dutt who hyped how there were so many first-time matches at the event. We saw clips from a bunch of different matches. Don Callis ended up throwing in the towel for Eddie Edwards in an “I Quit” Match against Sami Callihan. I let you find out below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oRasHESwvI]
This episode was another build-up one, with 3 new matches added to Redemption card. The main event was just brilliant, but the rest of the show was very lacklustre with too many disqualifications. Ten days before Redemption, I’m pretty sceptical. But that doesn’t mean we have to lose faith in Impact. The final episode before Redemption has better be good and make the upcoming PPV even more attractive. And if you agree with me, of course, I see you next week… And never forget to stay #eNYGMAtic…
Redemption Card
– Impact World Championship Triple Threat Match: Austin Aries (c) vs. Pentagon Jr. vs. Fénix
– Impact X-Division Championship Match: Matt Sydal (c) vs. Petey Williams
– Impact World Tag Team Championship Match: LAX (c) vs. Eli Drake and Scott Steiner
– Impact Knockouts Championship Match: Allie (c) vs. Su Yung
– House of Hardcore 6-Man Tag Match: Tommy Dreamer, Eddie Edwards, and Moose vs. oVe (Dave Crist, Jake Crist and Sami Callihan)
All pics, videos, and screenshots courtesy of Impact Wrestling. Photomontage by @frenchnygma exclusively for @steelchairmag.