The penultimate episode of Impact before Rebellion… After 2 solid but not really thrilling episodes, the company really has to move forward. Gursinder Singh may have left Impact, KM may have said he’s still a part of the roster, the fact is Rebellion is just around the corner. I can only hope Rebellion returns to the good wrestling form that Redemption, Slammiversary or Homecoming had in 2018 and 2019.

We’re still in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, this week and we have a few things on the menu. Tommy Dreamer will compete against Madman Fulton, Moose against Dezmond Xavier, Madison Rayne will face Taya Valkyrie in a non-title match, Fallah Bahh and Scarlett Bordeaux will square off with The Desi Hit Squad. The Lucha Brothers will also put the Impact World Tag Team titles on the lines against the “Three Amigos”, Eli, Eddie and Kenny. So, no more words, let’s get ready for some action, but your French Enygma Steph way, of course…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQVooKtQiWM&w=727&h=409]

The Nygma’s Chart of the Week

• Scarlett Bordeaux & Fallah Bahh vs. The Desi Hit Squad (w/ Gama Singh)
• The Lucha Brothers cut a promo. They called themselves the best tag team in Impact Wrestling, and LAX had better watch out.
• The Deaners were back, and Cody was hiding behind a barrel. He motivated his brother to train the right way, and we were treated to a training montage. They’ll make their debut next week.

• Eli Drake and Eddie Edwards talked about getting the tag team gold. Eddie was still imbalanced singing “We are the three best friends” song, of course referencing Kenny the kendo stick. They’ve been laying it down because they have it in them to take it. Everything’s coming to fruition, with new tag team champions. Eddie left in good spirits.
• Tommy Dreamer has done his research, and he found out he and Madman Fulton are similar. They have the same trainer, but he also found out why he was kicked out of Sanity. He was a rebel who couldn’t handle the corporate structure. When he looked into Madman’s eyes, he saw hate. Tonight, Fulton is in for the fight of his life. Tommy’s fought bigger, more dangerous, and he will get violent.
• Dezmond Xavier defeated Moose thanks to Trey and Wentz’s interference.

• Rosemary met with Kiera Hogan. She blamed Rosemary for not being there for the bunny. Rosemary reminded her how she warned Allie, but she didn’t listen, and so did Kiera when she was taken as hostage. Kiera remained adamant she will always be in the fight with her if she likes it or not. Rosemary laid her out and choked her with a chain.
• Moose ranted about his loss and wanted the footage edited.
• Tessa Blanchard thought Gail is threatened she will surpass her legacy, which is why she cost her the Knockouts title and the match last week. At 23-years-old, she’s better and the best women’s wrestler on the planet. And where is Gail? She’s famous for screwing some famous chef. She thought he would reconsider marrying her if he knew the real Gail Kim. She busted into the restaurant and caused a scene asking for Robert. After a scene in the kitchen, she was told Robert was not here today. Tessa poured food all over the chef. A manager got in her face and said he’s got a restaurant to run here, so she smashed some plates and dumped soup on his head. Gail wanted to make it personal, so…

• Gail Kim was not going to lie, she could have pressed charges but she won’t. All she saw was a spoiled, entitled brat. She admitted that was her years ago, but she had to learn the hard way. She’ll teach her a lesson at Rebellion.
• Madman Fulton w/ Sami Callihan defeated Tommy Dreamer. After the match, Willie Mack made the save with a steel chair. The rest of oVe came out and beat down on Willie. Rich Swann entered to help his friend, but Sami got him in a choke with a baseball bat before dropping him on his head with the piledriver. They made Rich Swann watch as they placed Dreamer’s arm in a chair and smashed it.
• The Deaners and RVD return’s promos.

• Dreamer was off to the hospital, Swann and Mack were concerned. After Swann walked off, Killer Kross asked Willie if he can hear the music. Kross thought he should check to see if Rich Swann is his real name. Willie said if he mentions music one more time he’ll get some hippity hop on his ass. He continued to insult Kross’ appearance. While he was not 100% right now, he’ll meet Kross in the ring next week. “Checkmate.”
• Madison Rayne defeated Taya Valkyrie in a non-title match. Before the match, she insulted the Canadians, before informing the crowd she won’t be wrestling tonight. Taya planned to walk out, but Jordynne Grace cut her off. And Madison won.
• Johnny Impact was asked about him orchestrating a lie. Johnny said Cage is one of the best athletes the business has ever seen. Johnny Bravo was behind him and is now a lackey. It doesn’t matter what people think. Johnny threatened Brian’s family, saying he could get to anyone he wants to. Cage’s downfall was his failure to comprehend what matters. He will fail and live the rest of his life telling the marks how he never lived up to his potential.

• Brian Cage was in Don Callis’ face and grabbed him by the shirt at ringside. Callis tried persuading him to let go. He was pissed at management for allowing Johnny Bravo to screw him. Cage dropped him and walked off. Don shook it off and stood up, quickly getting on his phone to warn Scott D’Amore that Cage was on the way to kill him.
• Scott D’Amore was told by Don they have a plan for Rebellion, and it’s Scott who thought of it. although they both admitted it was a lie. Cage stormed in and grabbed D’Amore, demanding to tell him the plan. Lance Storm intervened and told Cage to calm down. He let go of Scott and questioned Storm. It’s his job to stop him if required, so be professional. On the spot, D’Amore booked Lance Storm, Mr. Integrity himself, as the special referee for the match at Rebellion. Cage agreed.
• Pentagon Junior and Fénix retained the Impact World Tag Team titles against Eddie Edwards and Eli Drake. Post-match, LAX and Lucha Brothers brawled backstage while Eddie consoled Eli. Drake decided not to shake his hand, but to hug him instead. Eddie turned his back for a second and Eli attacked him with Kenny. He stroke Eddie multiple times, ending with a vicious shot to the head. Eli walked out and took Kenny with him.

The Nygma’s Nutcracker(s) of the Week

– Dezmond Xavier w/ Trey & Wentz vs. Moose
Moose beat down Wentz, he also beat down Trey, will he do the same with Dez?
Trey & Wentz are at ringside. Moose backed him off, while Dez played keep away. Dez looked for a sleeper, but Moose overpowered him and escaped. Moose kept fighting him off, but Dez laid in strikes. Moose cut off the hurricanrana and tossed Dez across the ring. The bear hug followed but Dez escaped and hit an enzuigiri. Moose almost killed him with a lawn dart and then choked him out in the ropes.

Moose whips him to the buckles and followed with chops. Dez fired back, hit a hurricanrana and then ran into a lariat. Moose laid the boots to him and then whipped him to the buckles. He connected with shoulder blocks in the corner, but Dez moved and Moose posted himself and spilt to the floor. Moose caught the Tope, slammed Dez to the steps and tossed him onto Trey and Dez. Moose brought Dez and Trey in, Wentz attacked and Dez cradled him for the win.
Slow match but a new twist for The Rascalz who, for the first time, interfered in the match. Moose was right to rant…

– Madman Fulton w/ Sami Callihan vs. Tommy Dreamer
Of course, this match is a trap. Fulton means oVe and, if they attack Dreamer, Rich Swann and Willie Mack will come to save him… Well, it’s a trap…
Sami was out with Fulton. They locked up and Fulton overpowered Dreamer to begin. Fulton followed with shoulder tackles and clubbing strikes. Dreamer fired back, but Fulton cut him off and laid the boots to him. Sami then attacked, but Dreamer fought him off. The ref tossed Sami to the back. Dreamer stunned Fulton off the ropes, but Fulton quickly cut him off. The bear hug followed, but Dreamer escaped and followed with mounted strikes in the corner.

Fulton looked for a powerbomb but Dreamer pulled him to the floor. They brawled at ringside, Dreamer posted Fulton and Fulton fired up and then crotched Dreamer on the barricade. Fulton rolled him back in and rolled into a grounded bear hug. Fulton followed with a suplex and a splash. The side slam followed. Fulton missed a head butt off the ropes, allowing Dreamer to fire back. Dreamer bit him and hit a cutter. Fulton no sold and levelled him with a big right. Dreamer cut him off and hit the DDT. Dreamer got a kendo stick, but Fulton was still alive, cut him off and hits the End of Days for the win.

– The Lucha Brothers vs. Eli Drake & Eddie Edwards
That is a first-ever and that deserved to be said. The collision of 2 different styles and generations, with the Impact Tag Team belts on the line. This match is meant to be something at least interesting, I hope it will very good…
Drake and Fénix began. They locked up and Drake overpowered Fénix to begin. Fénix fired back, and the Champions followed with double teams on Drake. Edwards made the save, and the challengers ran wild and cover for 2. Edwards took the heat on Fénix, tags in Drake and he followed with a suplex for 2.

The challengers worked quick tags and hit a double team knee strike/burning hammer for 2 as Pentagon made the save. He got cut off, it broke down and the champions ran wild with superkicks. Fénix hit a dive as Pentagon covered for 2. LAX arrived, distracting the champions, and Drake got a cradle for 2. Superkick by Pentagon as Drake missed the kendo shot. The double stomp/fear factor combo, that I’m used to calling the Bumcracker, finished things.

The not-Nygma’s Moment(s) of the Week 

I can keep on with Moose’s sense of the style or the failure The Desi Hit Squad has been. But this week, I have other things to say…

– Because we all know that Eli Drake left the company and the match will never happen, why not cutting the segment where Eli is betraying Eddie Edwards? Things could have ended like that and Eli would have disappeared from the screens like Jeannie in “I Dream of Jeannie” or Samantha in “Bewitched” (old 1960s fantasy sitcom, if you’re too young to know…).

– Gail Kim has never hidden the fact she’s been married to Chef Robert Irvine. He already appeared on Impact, when Gail became a Hall of Famer in 2016 or during a special Thanksgiving episode. But was it necessary to add him in the Tessa and Gail feud? This feud is about a conflict of generations, wrestling wise. For me, that’s already enough…

The Nygma’s Award of the Week

– Scarlett Bordeaux
I said a Nygma Award every week until the end of June, but this week it’s widely deserved. Scarlett is a real wrestler, she has no fear, she wrestles men. Of course, she’s beautiful, sexy and sultry. But she’s a wrestler, above it all. In this “Beauty and Beast” scenario with Fallah Bahh, she’s really excelling, just because she’s herself… Bahh!!!

– Lance Storm
The Canadian legend, who trained Taya Valkyrie, among many others, was given a try as a producer at the Windsor tapings. Don Callis, Impact’s EVP, and Lance Storm are hosting a podcast together, they’ve known each other very well. Now, he’s becoming the special guest referee of the Impact World Championship match. The question now is, which voice will he listen to at Rebellion? The management seems to be angry at Cage, but Lance Storm has always a fair-trade man, worthy of the morals, values and training he received from the Hart family. 

To be eNYGMAtic…

What to say of this week’s episode… Action, there was. Cinematic moments, there were. Moving forward, there was not… 8 days before a major PPV, seriously, where are we going? There are still 3 slots to fill in the card, some results are already heavily predictable…
Impact Wrestling has always been used to driving fans and reviewers nervous the final days before a PPV, but some bad habits must be lost… Of course, I will be there for the last Impact before Rebellion and to review the PPV. And you know the Nygma is not going to go out of her way… I say it when I love and I say it when I hate…
On this very determined note, until next week, never EVER forget to stay #eNYGMAtic…

Impact Wrestling “Rebellion” Card (as of Saturday, April 20th):

• Impact World Championship match with Lance Storm as Special Guest Referee: Johnny Impact (c) vs. Brian Cage
• Impact Knockouts Championship match: Taya Valkyrie (c) vs. Jordynne Grace
• Impact X-Division Championship match: Rich Swann (c) vs. Sami Callihan
• Full Metal Mayhem match for the Impact World Tag Team Championship: The Lucha Brothers (c) vs. LAX w/ Konnan
• Knockouts Match: Tessa Blanchard vs. Gail Kim

All pics, videos, and screenshots courtesy of Impact Wrestling. Photomontage custom-made by @frenchnygma exclusively for @vulturehoundmag and @steelchairmag.