Which barriers to break? Being locked down, forced to stay at home. Fans are in need of entertainment, wrestlers in need of competition. Fans are trapped at home and wrestlers are in a no-crowd space taping some shows. Despite all the precautions taken, I can’t help but think of a contradiction between what is asked and what is happening. Yes, we need Impact. More than that, we need a safe Impact roster. I don’t think any wrestling fan is not currently troubled by this strange dichotomy the business is showing us.
My purpose here is not to judge but be as honest as I’ve always been with you. The world is turning upside down and we can’t do a lot against that. We can celebrate the fact Rebellion will not happen on PPV but on TV. It will air for free on Tuesday on AXS TV and Twitch in the USA and on Wednesday on Fight Network UK and 5Star on Friday in the UK. This shows how fans have always been important for Impact Wrestling and how strong the company has become to make such a gift to them.
On the menu this week, from Atlanta, Georgia, the contract signing between Sami Callihan and Ken Shamrock. Rohit Raju will face off Hernandez. The new number one contender for the Impact World Tag Team Championships will be determined in a 4-Way match including Reno Scum, XXXL, The Rascalz, and TJP & Fallah Bahh. Johnny Swinger and M. Jackson will square off. Taya Valkyrie will compete against a returning Tenille Dashwood. 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

Josh Mathews and Madison Rayne were on commentary this week.

• Johnny Swinger defeated Mike Jackson.
• Backstage, Ace Austin called Willie Mack a “scumbag.” Trey interrupted and said that the last he checked, Austin was the scumbag. Austin asked Trey how his mom was doing? Trey grabbed hold of Austin and they both brawled.
• TJP & Fallah Bahh defeated The Rascalz (Dez & Wentz), XXXL (Acey Romero & Larry D), and Reno Scum (Adam & Luster) to become the new #1 contenders for the Impact World Tag Team Championship.

• We got a #Cancelculture video package, running down the Deaners. Joseph Ryan was mad at the Impact production team for showing the wrong video package. So, they switched it over to Rob Van Dam and Katie Forbes who were sitting in their hot tub. Car-wash time.
• Hernandez defeated Rohit Raju w/ Gama Singh in more or less a minute.
• Madison Rayne and her co-host, Johnny Swinger, welcomed fans to their new talk show, “Locker Room Talk.” Their first guest was Kylie Rae. Rayne asked Rae what’s it like to be the new Knockout? Rae said it’s extremely exciting. She was happy she’ll face Kiera Hogan at Rebellion. Rayne wanted Rae to tell her how she really feels about Hogan. Rae said she loves her, she’s a really nice person. That was not the answer that Rayne wanted, so, she invited Hogan on to her show. Hogan informed Rae that she’s going to slap the smile right off of her face. Rae fired back by saying Hogan isn’t very nice and left the show right after.

• Video of Eddie Edwards and Michael Elgin competing at Qatar Pro Wrestling recently. By defeating Edwards, Elgin became the new QPW Middle East Champion.
• Ace Austin defeated Trey.
• Backstage, Willie Mack said that Austin should learn to play mind games with somebody else. He was looking forward to winning the X-Division Championship and to also beat some respect into Austin.
• Tenille Dashwood defeated Taya Valkyrie (w/ John E. Bravo). After the match, Taya attacked Tenille with chairs and a trash can and hit Dashwood repeatedly with them. Jordynne Grace made her way down to the ring with a kendo stick and smacked Valkyrie and Bravo with it. Grace checked in on Dashwood.

• Tommy Dreamer and Rhino challenged oVe to a 6-Man Extreme match next week.
• Sami Callihan and Ken Shamrock made their way down to the ring. Callihan ordered Mathews to leave the ring. Callihan grabbed a microphone and told Shamrock that he knows he wants to choke the living life out of him, but he can’t. Their contract signing had been issued as a no-contact contract signing. Callihan congratulated Shamrock’s accolades over the years in TNA and Impact. But, he believed this will be the most talked-about match of his career. Callihan informed Shamrock that he makes ratings. He wanted Shamrock to thank him for giving him so much buzz. Callihan brought up Shamrock’s family and Shamrock got up. Callihan told Shamrock to keep standing there. He also called him “The Most Dangerous B**ch.” Shamrock threw the table over, and Callihan disappeared, leaving several people wearing “ICU” masks standing around the ring. Shamrocks headed to the back. Scott D’Amore stopped Shamrock, but he pushed past him. He got into a car and his phone rang. It was Callihan telling Shamrock to make sure he “tips his driver.” His driver turned around and revealed his “ICU” mask. The car was surrounded by ICU guys.

The Nygma’s Nutcracker(s) of the Week

– XXXL vs The Rascalz vs Reno Scum vs TJP & Fallah Bahh
Adam and Acey Romero began with Romero controlling with his size and power. Larry D tagged in and double teams followed. Adam cut him off, Wentz in and Adam cut him off too. Adam and Luster worked double teams, taking control. Post break, Reno Scum continued to control. Wentz fired back but got cut off by Reno Scum. They worked quick tags as Luster followed with slams. The Pity city followed, Wentz fired back but was cut off with double teams. Wentz countered, hit the knee strike and tagged in Dez. Dez ran wild and Wentz joined in for double teams. TJP tagged in and he got to run wild, Wentz cut him off, Bahh in and it broke down. XXXL took control, following with suicide dives and back in, TJP and Bahh cut off Scum, the Samoan Drop and the frog splash finished it.

– Ace Austin vs Trey
They worked into a fun fast-paced opening stretch as Trey took control early on. They battled to the floor, Austin slammed him to the apron and then took control back in the ring. Austin choked him out, talked shit and grounded things. Trey fought to his feet, fired up and followed with a neck breaker. He tripped Austin up and followed with kicks, headed up top and followed with the missile dropkick. Austin stunned him of the ropes, followed with the springboard kick and Trey countered the fold, hit Cheeky Nandos and the 619. They worked into counters, and Austin cradled him with the tights for the win.

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

Mike Jackson, 70, former NWA/WCW jobber… Do I add something? No, because the mood of the night is so low I don’t want to shot down on anybody.

The Lollipop and Baby-Oil Nygmalicious Moment of The Week 

I said, cancelled!

.@JoeyRyanOnline interrupted a recap of his defeat to @CodyDeaner with the latest update from @TherealRVD and @TheKatieForbes. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/SaPT4mHpfg

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) April 15, 2020

The Nygma’s Noticeable Facts of the Week

– Taya Valkyrie
I can’t wait to watch the Full Metal Mayhem match between Jordynne Grace and Taya Valkyrie. When you see the eyes of Taya when she is smashing Tenille’s body with chairs, you understand who will have a serious advantage in this match. La Wera Loca is able to do everything and use every weapon to win.

– ICU, everything, everywhere
Symbolic and so true at the same time. I couldn’t help but think of 1984, “Big Brother is watching you.” We let the screens invade our lives and vice versa. Very disturbing because absolutely real.

– Rebellion card
Next week, Sami Callihan vs. Ken Shamrock will main-event the first night of PPV, are announced Kylie Rae vs. Kiera Hogan, Willie Mack vs. Ace Austin for the X-Division title, oVe vs. Tommy Dreamer, Rhino and a mysterious partner. On April 28, Chris Bey vs. Trey vs. Suicide vs. Rohit Raju was announced, the Knockouts, Tag Team and World titles should be defended.

.@realjoshmathews breaks down what you can expect from #Rebellion over the next two weeks on @AXSTV! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/sQIjaviQvA

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) April 16, 2020

To be eNYGMAtic…

Last week, I was concluding on Rebellion happening or not, you had the answer. It is going to happen and on Tuesday nights. This episode was more than good but didn’t have the usual taste of a go-home show like before any PPV. Impact Wrestling turning a PPV into a two-week TV special was the right move for the fans and the company, all things set apart.
We can argue on the way wrestling companies run the current situation. It’s up to the fans to say yes or no. Of this big contradiction I was telling you about in the intro, the answer belongs to the wrestling fans. If you want some action, you will have some. If not, shut down your TV and stop complaining in social media. 
More than ever, take care, stay home, watch wrestling. I’ll be back next week for Rebellion part 1 special review. On this “Nygma Is Locked Home – Day 24 – And It’s Not Over” 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.