Which barriers to break? My beautiful country of France has lost its noisy and rowdy soul. The sun is shining on people who are stomping on our good old values of freedom, brotherhood and equality. And that hurts… Because a virus wants us to be selfish, let’s be selfless. It’s time to stop being vipers tongues on social media. To whine and complain about events cancelled. Impact Wrestling had no other choice but to postpone Lockdown, March Breakdown and TNA: There’s No Place Like Home. They did it for very good reasons.
This rough moment is made to think about who we want to be, the wrestling fan we want to be. 95% at least of the Impact Wrestling roster are independent workers. Support them, watch more wrestling, buy their t-shirts, subscribe to their Patreons. Help them think their future is not in danger. Also, subscribe to Impact Plus and enjoy the gems of 18 years of great wrestling. And like the great philosopher, Gloria Gaynor, said, We Will Survive. Because we are Hard To Kill.
On the menu, this week, from Las Vegas, Nevada, TJP and Fallah Bahh will try to grab the Impact World Tag Team Championships away from The North. Chris Bey will make his debut as a member of the Impact roster. Kiera Hogan will be in action. ICU will reveal his face. We’ll hear of Ken Shamrock and an important announcement about him. Jake Crist will face Daga. RVD and Joey Ryan will square off with The Deaners. So no more words, let’s get ready for some action, but your French Enygma Steph way, of course…

The Nygma’s Chart of the Week

• The North (Ethan Page and Josh Alexander) defeated TJP and Fallah Bahh to retain the Impact World Tag Team Championship.
• At “The Real Housewives of Slam Town,” Taya Valkyrie introduces Rosemary to her friends. Rosemary showed off her new look. Taya and her friends loved it but Rosemary started sucking the souls out of Taya’s friends.
• Chris Bey defeated Damian Drake.
• Alisha Edwards asked Jordynne Grace if she is able to get back in the ring with her and join her on her team at Lockdown. Grace said that Alisha was all for her being on her team.
• New vignette of Tenille Dashwood strolling in Vegas.

• Gabby Loren was interviewing former 3-time NWA/TNA World Tag Team Champion Chase Stevens when Moose interrupted them by saying he was honoured to meet singer and musician Bret Michaels. Stevens looked at him, quite puzzled. Stevens couldn’t believe that Moose is “Mr. Impact Wrestling.”
• The fourth episode of the GutCheck challenge saw the winner be announced.
• Jimmy Jacobs sat down with Tessa Blanchard and asked her how it’s been since she won the Impact World Championship. Blanchard said it’s been very busy for her, but she is glad that she can defend it. She said that after defending her title against both Valkyrie and Ace Austin, she’s now become a different Blanchard. She is ready for her triple threat match with Michael Elgin and Eddie Edwards at Rebellion.
• Cancel Culture (Joey Ryan, Rob Van Dam, and Katie Forbes) made their way down to the ring. Joseph P. Ryan introduced himself and says that he, RVD, and Forbes have “extraordinary gifts.” He announced that everyone has lost their privileges of seeing how they looked before. RVD criticized the fans who are drinking beer in the audience. The Deaners made their way down to the ring. Cancel Culture defeated The Deaners.
• Gabby Loren asked Ken Shamrock if he can fill her in as to why he’s there tonight. Shamrock informed her that Impact management called him, so he has no idea what is going to be announced.

• Willie Mack refused Ace Austin’s offer at being tag team partners.
• Kiera Hogan defeated Lacey Ryan.
• Su Yung found a letter from Father James Mitchell. Mitchell believed that Yung and Havok should face each other next week in the Undead Realm.
• Daga defeated Jake Crist.
• Security informed Scott D’Amore that they found the hacker. D’Amore told them that’s not him.

• Josh Mathews headed to the ring and called for Ken Shamrock to come down. The fans all chant in unison “Welcome back.” Mathews thanked Shamrock for all the contributions he’s made in pro wrestling, the fans do the same. Mathews announces that at Bound For Glory, Shamrock will be the newest inductee in the Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame. As they rolled a video package showcasing Shamrock’s career in TNA/Impact, “ICU” hacked in. Next, we saw a man standing in front of Shamrock. The man threw a fireball towards Shamrock’s face. It was Sami Callihan The lights went off, and Callihan disappeared. Several referees and medics came down to the ring to check on Shamrock.

The Nygma’s Nutcracker(s) of the Week

– TJP & Fallah Bahh vs The North
They brawled at the bell and as Bahh shouted some Bahhs right away and took control. TJP joined in for double teams and picked up an early near fall. TJP followed with kicks, fought off Page but Josh finally cut him off and the champions followed with double teams. Page tagged in and followed with some strikes, worked over TJP in the corner and the champions followed with quick tags. Josh grounded TJP and then worked some double team moves with Page. Page followed with a backbreaker, and the handoff suplex spot followed as TJP countered out. TJP tagged to Bahh but the referee didn’t see it, so the champions continued with double teams. Josh back in as TJP fought off the double teams and ran them together, hot tag to Bahh who ran wild on the champions, hitting ass attacks, backdrops, and a powerbomb. TJP back in, Page dumped him, Josh followed with a dive and the champions were back in control.

Post break, Josh was working over TJP. TJP fought back, tagged in Bahh and it broke down until everyone was down. TJP and Josh traded, with Josh taking control until TJP fired back with kicks, Page cut him off, Bahh attacked, Josh hit a German suplex but Bahh popped up with a lariat. He followed with chops, took Page up top and Josh attacked. Page followed with the Swanton and the double Gotch followed (Double underhook powerbomb). Bahh kept fighting back, hit some clotheslines and TJP flew in with the high cross, kneebars Page and transitioned to an STF. Bahh cut off Josh until Josh escaped, distracting the referee as Page phantom tapped. TJP hit the wrecking ball dropkick. Bahh hit a dive but Page cut him off and TJP fought back again, hit a DDT and the champions countered the detonation kick into the double spinebuster/northern assault for the win.
Excellent match, controversial ending and a thought for Alexander’s neck as he put Bahh on his shoulder. Rematch welcomed, please…

– Daga vs Jake Crist
This was a rematch from Sacrifice, which Daga won. They locked up and worked into counters, as Daga grounded things. Jake made the ropes and Daga cradled him. They traded and Daga followed with kicks, a double stomp and arm drags. He grounded Jake, but he made the ropes and to the apron as Jake attacked the knee, slamming him to the apron. He followed with a spin kick and a suicide DDT to the floor. Post break, Jake strangled the eyes and worked into a grounded submission until Daga made the ropes. Daga fired back, they worked into counters and ended in a double down. They traded again, Daga took control and followed with clotheslines and a dragon screw. The powerbomb followed. Jake countered back, followed with a flurry of kicks. Jake followed with a German suplex, but Daga popped up and hits a German of his own. Daga went up top but flew into a cutter by Jake. Daga then hit the snapdragon and the Daga Driller for the win.

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

Can we focus on the positive? At least, I need it…

The Lollipop and Baby-Oil Nygmalicious Moment of The Week 

Cancelled until THE REAL Joey Ryan is back… He says #CancelCulture, I say #CancelJoey.

The Nygma’s Noticeable Facts of the Week

– Ken Shamrock
The UFC Hall of Famer will enter the TNA/Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame next October or November at Bound For Glory. We can’t say Shamrock spent a lot of time on TNA/Impact Wrestling but he was there at the very beginning. On the inaugural TNA pay-per-view on June 19, Shamrock won the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship in a Gauntlet for the Gold match and is recognized as TNA’s first-ever World Champion. Shamrock briefly returned to TNA in July 2004. In his return, he only wrestled twice, for the NWA Heavyweight Championship in a gauntlet match, and an eight-man guitar-on-a-pole match. Shamrock has been a pioneer in transitioning from MMA to wrestling and mixing MMA style into wrestling. “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” earned its nickname, but it’s a legacy that Impact Wrestling have decided to celebrate.

– Sami Callihan
Since his loss at Hard To Kill, Sami Callihan just appeared on screen when he threatened Tessa Blanchard just after her win. If you carefully hear the crowd, you understand everybody knows. I knew. But ICU had to remain a mystery until the end. I didn’t really like the way Callihan lost the title and I still think a rematch would have been welcomed. Callihan is a hard worker, he has put Impact on his shoulders during this long process of rebuilding. Then, because it will happen, wrestling Ken Shamrock can be considered as an honour. That’s a match I want to see.

– Chris Bey
Not so long ago, the name of Chris Bey was on many promoters’ lips. Sadly for them, Impact Wrestling signed him first. The Ultimate Finesser is 24, in the business for 3 years, a very talented high-flyer. But if you read my weekly reviews, you have already heard about him because every time Impact Wrestling is in Vegas or California, Bey is there. For the X-Division, he is a tremendous addition.

– “Suplex Shogun” Jackson Stone
Here is the winner of the Gut Check Challenge. Self-described as “just a guy who loves wrestling, talking smack, and suplexing your favourite wrestler”, Stone’s physical gifts include his immense size and strength to execute power moves as well as high-flying including dropkicks. Over the last 5 years, he has wrestled guys like Trey, Shera, Kongo Kong, Cody Deaner, Michael Elgin, and legends like Rob Conway, PCO and Chase Owens. With his unique gimmick, I can’t wait to see him debut in the Impact Zone.

To be eNYGMAtic…

Until Rebellion, Impact Wrestling have taped enough episodes to make sure we will have all the action we need. No negativity this week. Just thank you to Impact Wrestling. The episode was great. Like I said earlier, watch more wrestling, support the wrestlers, give back to them all they have given to you show after show, match after match. Be the fan you have ever wanted to be. On this “Nygma Is Locked Home” note, until next week, never EVER forget to stay #eNYGMAtic…

All pics, videos, and screenshots courtesy of Impact Wrestling and AXS TV. Photocollage custom made by @frenchnygma exclusively for @steelchairmag.