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Impact Wrestling Reviews

The Alpha Game – Impact Wrestling’s “Final Resolution” Results & Review

BySteph Franchomme

Dec 13, 2020 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Impact Plus monthly special events have shown us they can become some interesting game-changers in the IMPACT routine. From the classic weekly shows and 4 PPVs a year system, we now have a monthly addition when title can change hands, feuds can find an end or a beginning. Of course, you won’t make me say it’s a bad thing, even if it’s more writing work, but those special events give more legitimacy and power to the company to make its roster shine.
We’re just five weeks away from Hard To Kill and the build-up of Final Resolution was like catapulted on social media a few days ago (thanks, the Invisible Hand…). For the best or for the worst? I call that an enigma for a Nygma… Let’s dig into it. 

Old School Rules Match: Tommy Dreamer vs Larry D w/ Acey Romero

Tommy Dreamer made it clear when he made the match on Tuesday, it would be hell or jail. Old School match means hardcore match, so welcome to Toys Land, and Larry D must have won if he didn’t want to be handcuffed and throw in jail. He shot Bravo, you remember? Found guilty because of his unique perfume… Hardcore-style matches also have a unique something, made this time of tables, chairs, garbage bins and cans, cookie sheets for Josh Mathews, baking sheets for Madison Rayne, bottles, chains, weight belts, kendo sticks. Absolutely normal.

What was unexpected was when XXXL set up a table in the corner and John E: Bravo came. He ate a no-budge double clothesline but moved out of the way in time for Romero to crash into the table in the corner. Larry D sent Bravo off his feet with a powerful headbutt. Dreamer hit Larry with a kendo stick and an old school DDT for the win.  Larry D may be going to jail but it was a classic opener, the hardcore way, Tommy Dreamer at his best. One tiny regret, a very small one but for me it could have changed the game, the candy corns (even if candy canes would have fit the moment…).

Meanwhile, outside…

Kenny Omega and Don Callis’ bus was on the parking lot. So Omega is able to be in Mexico, wrestling at AAA’s TripleMania and in Nashville at the same time… This Invisible Hand, so strong…

Sea Stars vs Havok & Nevaeh

It would have been sad for Delmi Exo and Ashley Vox not to have a second match in the Impact Zone. They were eliminated in their opening round match against Kiera and Tasha but that didn’t mean the SHIMMER Tag Team Champions did a bad job in that match. Then they were facing Havok and Nevaeh, the current Guardians of RISE Champions, women who have known each other for at least 15 years to a point I kindly dubbed them the Sisters of Doom.

Once again, Sea Stars didn’t do a bad match even when facing a team that could potentially become the new IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Champions. That’s probably what this match proved to us, not only young talents like Delmi Exo and Ashley Vox have everything to be members of the Knockouts but Havok and Nevaeh will be definitely ‘Hard to Kill’ when it comes to the Tag Team belts. The sit-out facebuster/sliding cutter combo did the job and gave the win to Havok and Nevaeh, but once again Sea Stars have nothing to be ashamed of in this good match.

Meanwhile, backstage…

Tasha and Kiera were asking themselves what to do with the cash they stole…

Alisha & Eddie Edwards vs Tenille Dashwood & Kaleb with a K

At first, you could ask yourself what Eddie and Kaleb were doing in this match as the problem was between Tenille and Alisha. But Alisha targeted Sami two weeks in a row and, obviously, that brought the men into the equation. Then, I won’t hide my pleasure to see Mr and Mrs Hardcore working together in the ring. And if we haven’t seen Kaleb with a K in a ring for quite a while (it was a time when we were calling him Caleb Konley and he was not wearing glasses), it was a good thing to bring him back in it.

Aside from when Sami would attack because he was going to attack, I regretted the match was a mixed tag bout and not an intergender tag one. When Alisha was not afraid of unloading a tilt-a-whirl DDT on Kaleb, Tenille avoided Edwards like a plague. Intergender is not for everybody, I fully agree, but I definitely think it’s a major part of Impact Wrestling’s DNA that should not be neglected anymore. Match wise, as Edwards was connecting with a suicide dive to Kaleb, Sami Callihan’s music hit, which allowed Tenille to hit Alisha with the Spotlight Kick for the win.

After the match

Sami Callihan emerged from under the ring, attacked Eddie and hit the Cactus Special 97. He tried to do the same on Alisha Edwards but security guards prevented him from doing it.

Meanwhile, outside…

Don Callis got off the bus and told Gia Miller Kenny is here, “he’s visiting family…”

Fallah Bahh vs Hernandez

Like we say in my country, money issues are like public lice, that’s not something you share (sorry, but we really say that). And everybody messed up with Hernandez’ money, first Fallah Bahh, then Tasha and Kiera. The match kept going a storyline that has not more sense anymore. Hernandez and Bahh had a good brawl, everybody wants the money but where is the money now? The way Hernandez was furious could make those ladies run, and fast.

After the match

Tasha Steelz couldn’t find the money in her fanny pack, Hernandez grabbed a knife or a razor from his kneepad and the ladies rushed backstage.

Meanwhile, backstage…

Chris Bey told Gia Miller tonight is the most important match of his career.

Eric Young w/ Joe Doering vs Rhino

Now, we know what Eric Young’s method is. He is decided to drive everyone’s crazy. If this match emanated from the beatdown Young and Doering gave to the Deaners, I’m not sure Rhino was expecting what happened between the Deaners. The match was going pretty well, with a few interferences from Joe Doering, until Young inadvertently connected with the referee in the corner.

Young grabbed his mask while the referee was down, but the Deaners rushed down to the ring to stop him. Cody Deaner grabbed the mask, said that he isn’t a nobody, and levelled Jake Deaner as Young watched. Cody Deaner headed to the back as Young picked up the mask and levelled Rhino. Doering revived the referee, and Young covers Rhino for the win. After EC3’s Control Your Narrative method that worked pretty well on Moose, EY is experimenting with a kind of ‘Dilate Your Mind’ way of turning friends into foes. The Deaners passed the test.

Meanwhile, backstage…

Impact Wrestling EVP Scott D’Amore was telling the security guard who could and couldn’t go outside. Of course, IMPACT World Tag Team Champion Karl Anderson was allowed to.

Defeat Rohit Challenge – Impact X Division Championship Match: Rohit Raju (c) vs. Manik

Rohit, of course, had to grab the mic and grace us with his 2020 successes. He beat them all, he won them all, he’s the Greatest X-Division Champion of this lifetime. We were expecting Manik, this masked character, to get out of the woods and he finally did it tonight. I won’t contradict Josh Mathews when he said it is TJP because that’s true. The in-ring repertoire, the style, that’s him but with a mask. Remember Scott D’Amore advised TJP to do so…

Manik appeared on the top turnbuckle and took the fight to Raju as soon as the bell rand. Raju fought back with a low kick to the face, but Manik replied with a running back elbow shot in the corner. Manik caught Raju in a modified crucifix pin. Raju tossed Manik to the outside, but Manik disappeared under the ring. Manik emerged behind Raju and hit him with a neckbreaker. Raju went for a big boot over the top rope, but Manik sidestepped him. Raju connected with a running elbow drop. Manik ducked a kick, but Raju caught him with a back suplex.

Raju chopped Manik in the corner and followed up with a side Russian leg sweep. Raju stomped on Manik’s fingers and then set him on the top turnbuckle. Raju headed up top, but Manik flipped over Raju to head back down to the mat. Manik hit Raju with the GTS and followed up with a springboard DDT. Raju fought back with a rolling senton in the corner and then connected with a double stomp to the back from the top. Raju locked in a crossface, but Manik fought back to his feet. Raju landed a leaping knee shot to the face, but Manik caught him with a schoolboy pin for the win.

To be very honest, I was thinking TJP would never become X-Division Champion under his own name. Working regularly on three televised wrestling promotions was not making it easy for him. I am not judging TJP’s choices as an independent contractor but as a wrestler so talented and innovative, he deserved it. If he needed that mask to get free of himself, then congratulations Champ. Very good match, so, of course, I want more…

Meanwhile, backstage…

TNA World Heavyweight Champion Moose told Gia Miller that his purpose for being here tonight is that he’s angry that he isn’t being recognized for his victories and for being a defending TNA World Heavyweight Champion. He said that he’ll be watching Rich Swann/Chris Bey’s match very closely, and he plans to take that title away from the winner.

Impact World Knockouts Championship Match: Deonna Purrazzo (c) w/ Kimber Lee vs Rosemary w/ Taya Valkyrie

What happened on Tuesday changed the stakes for both these ladies. The chances to become a double Champion switched hands from Deonna to Rosemary. With Taya and Kimber at ringside, sadly, chances of a potential title change were lowering. The match was very, very good but a title change was definitely not on the program. As Josh Mathews and Madison Rayne said recently, Rosemary is the cornerstone of the Knockouts division, always loyal to the company and devoted to the show. If Deonna had something to prove, a win against Rosemary would be significant.

Deonna headed to the outside as soon as the bell rang and strategized with Lee. Deonna slowly climbed back into the ring, but Rosemary caught her with a spear. Rosemary slammed the back of Deonna’s head into the mat and then tossed her across the ring. Rosemary repeatedly slammed Deonna’s head into the top and middle turnbuckles, but Deonna dumped Rosemary to the outside. Deonna whipped Rosemary shoulder-first into the ring post and then rolled her back into the ring. Deonna continued the assault on Rosemary’s arm. Deonna twisted Rosemary’s arm around the top rope and then stomped her in the corner. Deonna locked in a Fujiwara armbar, but Rosemary fought back to her feet and dumped Deonna to the outside. Deonna headed back into the ring, but Rosemary worked her over in the corner. Rosemary hit the Scorpion Death Drop and a back elbow shot and locked in the Tarantula.

Kimber tried to interfere and Taya kindly asked her to go back in her corner. Deonna landed an elbow to the face that knocked Rosemary off the apron and to the floor. Rosemary headed back into the ring, but Deonna levelled her with a clothesline. Deonna locked in a rear chin lock, but Rosemary fought back to her feet. Deonna went for a modified triangle, but Rosemary fought out and hit a sidewalk slam. Rosemary levelled Deonna with a clothesline and followed up with a Sling Blade. Rosemary connected with a splash in the corner and hit a butterfly suplex. Deonna regained control and again locked in the Fujiwara armbar, but Rosemary broke the hold and hit the Red Wedding. Purrazzo got back to her feet and hit the Cosa Nostra for the win.

After the match

Taya Valkyrie cleaned the ring and came to help Rosemary. Deonna is now afraid Taya could take the Knockouts title away from her.

Meanwhile, outside…

Karl Anderson was in the bus with Omega and Callis, and their title belts. Bullet Club reunion to come soon?

The North Gets Tag Title Shot If Ethan Page Wins: Ethan Page vs Karl Anderson

Anderson and Page locked up in the middle of the ring, and Anderson muscled Page to the corner. Anderson slammed Page’s face into the top turnbuckle and then chopped the chest. Anderson levelled Page with a back elbow shot and then went to work with a ground-and-pound offence. Page fought back with a stiff forearm shot, but Anderson regained control with a back elbow shot. Anderson worked over Page in the corner and then whipped him out of the ring. Anderson chopped Page’s chest and then rolled him back into the ring. Anderson tried to climb back into the ring, but Page caught him with a double underhook into a backbreaker. Page dumped Anderson to the outside and whipped him into the ring post. Page rolled Anderson back into the ring and locked in a rear waist lock on the mat.

Anderson broke free, but Page hit a superkick followed by a standing elbow drop. Page locked in a rear chin lock on the mat, but Anderson again fought back to his feet. Page connected with a standing dropkick and a forearm shot to the lower back. Anderson replied with a back suplex before trading shots with Page in the middle of the ring. Anderson got the best of the exchanges and levelled Page with a back elbow shot. Anderson hit a running senton and then worked over Page in the corner. Anderson caught Page with a spinebuster. Page ducked a clothesline and sent Anderson to the corner. Page took Anderson up top and flipped him back down to the mat. Page again took Anderson up top, but Anderson knocked Page back down to the mat. Anderson hit the Gun Stun for the win.

Where can our Ego bring us? What is the limit? Ethan Page now knows it can fracture teamwork and a long-time friendship. Alexander warned him again and again against himself but Page only listened to himself. And he lost. The match was good, even if slightly too long. It’s no secret Ethan Page’s contract with the company is coming to an end and, at the time they were taping, no one could say if he would stay or go. This storyline is far from over, I can’t wait for the next chapter.

After the match

The North lost a chance to regain the Tag Team titles. Josh Alexander came to the ring. He yelled at Page and then left the ring.

The next Impact Plus Special Event will be Genesis on January 9, 2021, so a week before Hard To Kill (5 reviews in 14 days, what?).

Impact World Championship Match: Rich Swann (c) vs. Chris Bey

Swann worked over Bey’s arm to start, but Bey countered into a standing hammerlock. Swann went back to the arm wringer, but Bey broke free and connected with a shoulder to the gut between the ropes. Swann hit a dropkick and locked in a cravat. Swann landed a kick to the back and followed up with a standing leg drop. Swann hit a flipping leg drop. Swann went for the Rolling Thunder but Bey got his knees up. Bey took control with a rolling neckbreaker. Bey locked in a headlock and then whipped Swann chest-first into the corner.

Swann fought back and went for a sunset flip. Bey applied an abdominal stretch, but Swann broke free and slugged it out with Bey in the middle of the ring. Bey headed up to the second turnbuckle and hit a diving elbow shot to the back. Bey charged at Swann in the corner but ate a back elbow shot. Swann levelled Bey with a clothesline and went to work with a series of jabs. Swann headed up top, but Bey swept the legs and tied up Swann in the Tree of Woe. Bey hit a running dropkick in the corner and followed up with a Torture Rack.

Swann fought back with an uppercut followed by a cartwheel into a standing moonsault. Swann went for a corkscrew Rolling Thunder, but Bey rolled out of the way and countered with a Code Red. Swann hit a superkick, but Bey responded with a roundhouse kick. Bey hit the Rock-A-Bye Bey. Swann kicked Bey in the face and headed up top for the Phoenix Splash to finally get the three-count. Match of the Night, of course. That was just magic…

After the match

Moose makes his way down to the ring, the TNA belt in hand, and picked up the IMPACT Championship. Moose handed the IMPACT Championship to Swann and stared down at Swann as he headed back up the ramp. He reminded Swann that he’s here, and he’s the real champion. That’s what I call controlling his narrative.

To be eNYGMAtic…

I will use the two tweets below to explain my words. When I saw Chris Bey’s words on Twitter a few minutes after the show came to an end, it literally broke my heart. There’s no shame in losing. What Bey has been able to accomplish in his first year on IMPACT is impressive. He earned this World Championship match. Rich Swann is clearly saying in a tweet put online the day after. Chris Bey is only 24 years old, his potential is just unlimited. He will be World Champion, without any shadow of a doubt. There’s no shame in coming up short. There’s no shame in failing. We end the year with a great iPPV that went crescendo and delivered. As I said, I want more hardcore spots like the one we saw, I want more intergender, but I want to remind something to someone. Omega is the ultimate letter of the Greek alphabet, which means in Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World,” some would not even exist.

 

Four weeks before Genesis and five weeks before Hard To Kill, the heat is on, between Moose and Rich Swann, Sami Callihan and Eddie Edwards, Taya Valkyrie and Deonna Purrazzo, Josh Alexander and Ethan Page, the Deaners… Let’s hope 2021 will be more kind with the wrestling business and allow the fans to be back in the arenas. We, fans, missed the wrestlers as much as they missed us. We want to scream, we want to boo. We want a bit of normality in a world that forgot what normal means…
What’s next? I have no clue. For the moment, all I know is there’s a new episode on Tuesday night. Will I be there? Probably…

Final Resolution Complete Results:

  • Larry D’s Freedom On The Line, Old School Rules Match: Tommy Dreamer defeated Larry D w/Acey Romero, with a little help from John E. Bravo
  • Havok & Nevaeh defeated Team Sea Stars (Delmi Exo & Ashley Vox)
  • Tenille Dashwood & Kaleb with a K defeated Alisha & Eddie Edwards, thanks to Sami Callihan
  • Hernandez defeated Fallah Bahh with Kiera Hogan as the guest referee, Tasha Steelz as the guest announcer
  • Grudge Match: Eric Young w/ Joe Doering defeated Rhino, thanks to Cody Deaner attacking Cousin Jake
  • ‘Defeat Rohit’ Open Challenge: Manik defeated Rohit Raju to become the new Impact X-Division Championship
  • Impact Knockouts Championship Match: Deonna Purrazzo (c) defeated Rosemary
  • The North Gets Tag Title Shot If Ethan Page Wins Match: Karl Anderson defeated Ethan Page
  • Impact World Championship Match: Rich Swann (c) defeated Chris Bey

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

By Steph Franchomme

News, Reviews, Social Media Editor, Impact Wrestling Reviewer, Interviewer Well, call me The Boss... And French...

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