Right here, right now. Happy Day 89 of 2021. “What is the rebellion? A rebellion is a process of forgetting everything you know and asking questions about what everything is again.” Step two on The Road To Rebellion, the example of a legacy like no other should be an inspiration for the road you will choose to take. Being one of the pillars of the company, walking the ramp of the Impact Zone a thousand times, collecting the belts not only because you’re a true Champion in the squared circle but also because you’re a champion at heart. That is your legacy, whatever the path you have taken to succeed.
Right here, right now, hold your breath and count to ten, fall apart and start again.
On the menu this week, from Nashville, Tennessee, Cowboy James Storm will have his 1000th match in the Impact Zone and 25th confrontation with Eric Young. IMPACT X-Division Champion Ace Austin and Madman Fulton will face off TJP and Josh Alexander. Sami Callihan will compete against Larry D. Brian Myers will square off with Suicide. And we’ll hear from Kenny Omega and Don Callis as they’re coming to the Impact Zone. So no more words, let’s get ready for some action, but your French Enygma Steph way, of course…
IMPACT is TONIGHT at 8/7c on @AXSTV! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/ARXxUWcP0F
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 30, 2021
The Nygma’s Chart of the Week
D’Lo Brown and Matt Striker were on commentary. On ‘Before The Impact’, Rohit Raju and Hernandez defeated Mahabali Shera and Fallah Bahh, Hernandez hit Shera with a chair.
- IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Champions Fire ‘N Flava defeated Havok & Nevaeh. After the match, a frustrated Nevaeh attacked Havok.
- Backstage, a super happy James Storm told Gia Miller how excited he was about his 1000th match. He said as much as this should be a celebration, it’s more of dedication because he wasn’t even supposed to have one. Storm talked about getting help early on in his career from the late Bob Ryder and how he always pushed for him and Chris Harris, his America’s Most Wanted partner, to get more work. Storm then told Eric Young he’s going to come out there and beat him up. Storm then said he’ll have some more friends of his own out there. Jake Something and Chris Sabin had a surprise for him, the Wildcat was there for Storm’s 1000th match.
The moment we've been waiting 15 years for – America's Most Wanted reunites! #IMPACTonAXSTV @JamesStormBrand @AMWwildcat @SuperChrisSabin @JakeSomething_ pic.twitter.com/e70B9UqVly
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021
- Backstage, IMPACT Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo and Susan were talking to Gia Miller, saying Jazz deserves a beating, but Jazz attacked them and destroyed Susan.
.@Phenom_Jazz just DESTROYED @realsuyung. #IMPACToAXSTV @DeonnaPurrazzo pic.twitter.com/WroZnTYod2
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021
- Sami Callihan defeated Larry D w/ Acey Romero. XXXL attacked Callihan after the match but Sami replied with a vicious smile of his own.
- Footage from NJPW and the IMPACT World Tag Team Champions, David Finlay and Juice Robinson. Backstage, Kenny Omega, Don Callis and The Good Brothers were shown watching the video. Callis and Omega were impressed but Anderson and Gallows weren’t as enthused. Callis felt like Doc and Karl are a bit off, but understood because they don’t have the belts and wrestling is a “what have you done for me lately?” kind of business. They passed a secret down by whispering and looked excited.
.@THEdavidfinlay and Juice Robinson have been tearing it up in Japan – including Finlay reaching the semi-finals of the prestigious New Japan Cup.
But @KennyOmegamanX, @MachineGunKA and @The_BigLG don't seem impressed. #IMPACTonAXSTV @TheDonCallis @njpwglobal pic.twitter.com/hPecX3QGMN
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021
- Backstage, Sami Callihan, back from his match, talked with Trey Miguel about how he saved Trey last week, and Miguel didn’t return the favour. Sami says a couple of weeks ago they wrestled and he saw Trey lacked passion. He wants Trey to get to the next level and he can get him there. Sami said he’ll be Trey to be his mentor. Trey wasn’t feeling that idea at all. Sami said it could be the two of them taking Impact Wrestling to the next level. Next week he wants XXXL in a tag match and the only person he wants to tag with is Trey. “Hell no!” Trey responds. Sami asked him to think it over and get back to him by next week.
.@TheSamiCallihan wants to be @TheTreyMiguel's mentor. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/6TKNgaqmjY
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021
- Brian Myers defeated Suicide (well, TJP). He was totally unprofessional, he didn’t cheat. After the match, Myers replied to Cardona’s challenge. Myers said Cardona is just trying to get the rub, and it’s not going to happen. Myers said Impact Wrestling is his and that doesn’t include Cardona.
- Backstage, Jazz was looking for Scott D’Amore but ended up with Dreamer. He then decided to book Jazz vs. Deonna in an Ultimate Jeopardy match, as a tribute to ECW. In this match stipulation, the combatants must put something on the line. Deonna is putting her title up for grabs, so Jazz decided to put her career on the line.
.@Phenom_Jazz is going to put her career on the line against @DeonnaPurrazzo at #HardcoreJustice with the Knockouts Title on the line. #IMPACTonAXSTV @THETOMMYDREAMER pic.twitter.com/vBaLeEad05
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021
- AEW’s paid ad.
- At Swinger’s Palace, John E. Bravo and Johnny Swinger were checking out how much money they made this week and it’s been a whole lot. Kenny Omega and Don Callis showed up. Callis said he heard they are taking bets on Omega vs. Rich Swann at Rebellion. Swinger said the odds are close, things are pretty much one to one. Callis then showed him the one-winged angel footage to maybe get the odds swinging in Omega’s favour. Callis then said they are going to put $20,000 on Omega winning, then headed off.
The odds have swung in @KennyOmegamanX's favor in Swinger's Palace. #IMPACTonAXSTV @TheDonCallis @JohnEBravo1st @swinger_johnny pic.twitter.com/rEkxh8lBQt
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021
- IMPACT X-Division Champion Ace Austin & Madman Fulton defeated Josh Alexander & TJP. After the match, the losers argued about the miscommunication that cost them the match.
- Backstage, Willie Mack was approached by Don Callis. He said he has big plans for Mack and shows him Omega’s one-winged angel compilation because he knows Mack is friends with Rich Swann. Swann walked in and Callis talked a little trash about Omega kicking out of Swann’s finisher. Callis said he’s in Swann’s head, and Rich said he’s not. Swann said he has the heart and determination to beat Omega. If Callis wasn’t his boss, he’d smack his sunglasses off. Callis says he’s going to do Swann a favour and say for the next ten minutes he’s not going to be his boss. Callis took his shades and other gear off. They went to brawl, but The Good Brothers and Omega showed up. A big brawl ensued, Eddie Edwards ran in to help out and chased the bad guys away.
It was CHAOS backstage as @GottaGetSwann and @KennyOmegamanX came to blows before backup arrived after @TheDonCallis continued to play mind games. #IMPACTonAXSTV @TheEddieEdwards @Willie_Mack @The_BigLG @MachineGunKA pic.twitter.com/uXdmFhz4J0
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021
- Strange vignette about something coming soon in April (see below in the Enigma for a Nygma section).
- Backstage, Rohit Raju bumped into Hernandez with a possible tag name, ILX (Indian Latin Exchange). Hernandez said they aren’t a team, he just gets paid to help.
- Violent By Design segment. Eric Young talked about James Storm having 1,000 matches in Impact, and he’s the one who challenged Young. Young talked about violence being the way, it’s what brought in Rhyno. The future of the company hangs in the balance tonight and this world doesn’t belong to Storm, it belongs to him and his group.
.@TheEricYoung and @JamesStormBrand have faced 1-on-1 24 times in IMPACT – Young won 14, Storm won 9, 1 no contest.
Young plans to teach Storm another lesson in our main event. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/xAJNy16Ls1
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021
- Backstage, Tommy Dreamer reunited the Knockouts to talk about Hardcore Justice. Deonna said it will just be another legend that she’s going to lay waste to. Tommy then asked Susan if he could talk about her friend, Su. Susan didn’t know what he was talking about. Tommy then announces a multi-women Knockout scramble match. The winner will face the champion at Rebellion. All weapons will be legal. It will feature Jordynne Grace, Susan, Tenille Dashwood, Havok, Rosemary, and Alisha Edwards.
.@THETOMMYDREAMER had a special #HardcoreJustice announcement for the Knockouts Division. #IMPACTonAXSTV @TenilleDashwood @WeAreRosemary @FearHavok @realsuyung @MrsAIPAlisha @DeonnaPurrazzo @JordynneGrace pic.twitter.com/Hyd87lz7wR
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021
- James Storm w/ Chris Sabin, Jake Something and Wildcat Chris Harris defeated Eric Young w/ Deaner, Rhino and Joe Doering.
Legendary southpaw @AMWwildcat sets up his old partner @JamesStormBrand for the Last Call once again.
Storm wins his 1000th match! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/0cVzmhPnDQ
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021
The Nygma’s Nutcracker(s) of the Week
– James Storm vs Eric Young
Storm and EY locked up as words were exchanged. Storm landed some right hands, a knee and leg drop to a grounded EY. Storm hit some big elbows to the upper body of EY. Deaner distracted Storm, allowing EY to damage Storm on the outside. VBD and Storm’s crew stared down. Back from the break, EY had full control, flipping Storm into the corner with a throw. EY connected with a big neckbreaker. Storm fought back with a flurry of moves. Storm set up the Eye of the Storm but EY escaped.
Storm looked for it once more, this time landing it. EY fought back with a boot and a running neckbreaker. He followed up with a long-distance elbow drop. EY landed a superkick of his own. They got up exchanging punches. Deaner tried getting involved but Sabin put a halt to it. Storm got sent outside where everyone was brawling. Chris Harris grabbed EY’s leg on the other side of the ring and landed a left hand. He sent EY into the Last Call Superkick for a James Storm victory. From the ramp, Storm sent a message to Bob Ryder, who was essential to TNA.
– Ace Austin & Madman Fulton vs Josh Alexander & TJP
Josh met Fulton to kick it off as The Walking Weapon got dumped. Austin came in but quickly tagged Fulton back in. Josh attacked him from the top and invited Ace Austin into the ring. Ace accepted but immediately wanted out. Alexander controlled him on the ground but Ace reached the ropes. Fulton interfered, causing TJP to do the same. Ace caught TJP with a kick to the face and switched the momentum. Fulton came in and choked TJP from the second rope. TJP needed a tag desperately as Ace re-entered the match and showed off some teamwork with Fulton.
TJP found his way to a rope-assisted DDT and tagged in Josh. Fulton came in and ate some powerful forearms. Josh lifted Fulton up for a suplex and followed up looking for his double underhook piledriver. Fulton landed a big boot and set Josh up in a suplex position. TJP interrupted Ace and things went wild. TJP and Josh worked on Fulton but lost their timing as Josh ran into TJP. Ace hit a combo on Josh, setting up a Fold attempt. Josh sneaked a punch in and TJP sneaks a tag in and a Mamba Splash. TJP and Josh fought over the pin as Ace caught TJP in a roll-up for the win.
The Weekly “Enigma For a Nygma”
Let’s Get Ready? Let’s Get Rowdy? Let’s Get Wild, no, that doesn’t work… One thing is sure, with Deonna Purrazzo at the top of the setlist, that must be a woman…
#ComingSoon pic.twitter.com/nwkcFT6iB7
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021
A Nygma’s Cowboy Story
Since 2002, aside from 2019, Storm has appeared on IMPACT television every year of the company’s existence. He may have left, a few months, but he always came back. In that time he has created one of the most memorable characters of his era. James Storm flourishes in any setting and knows how to grip an audience like few others. The Cowboy is the absolute American character, for us Europeans. So many wrestlers embodied it but Storm added to an aspect to it, that requires no horse or gun, the beer. He often made me think of a Belgian/French comic book character, Lucky Luke. A smooth guy, drinking milk only but the cigarette at the corner of his mouth, using his gun faster than his shadow but only for the good. James Storm is a TNA original, his attitude has always spoken for itself. Whether you love it or hate it, you can’t deny what he has accomplished on TNA/Impact Wrestling is huge. Next IMPACT Hall of Famer?
One-half of America's Most Wanted
One-half of Beer Money
Leader of The Revolution
Leader of DCC
8 time NWA World Tag Team Champion
7 time TNA World Tag Team Champion
1 time King of the Mountain Champion
1 time TNA World Heavyweight Champion1000 matches. @JamesStormBrand pic.twitter.com/d7Dytn2fJa
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 31, 2021
The Nygma’s Noticeable Facts/Awards of the Week
– Back to Thursday, Wrestle Week and Eric Young
I asked myself if I was Bad News or Good News Nygma last week because news had never stopped falling. Eric young announcing his injury was not the easiest thing to share with you. He must be a despicable man in the ring, he is an IMPACT guy, totally devoted to the company and we can only wish him a speedy and complete recovery. Then on the flip side of the coin, AXS TV will be celebrating Rebellion with a Wrestle Week with unique content and shows. And finally, IMPACT is back on Thursdays starting next week. I remember it was the day it was airing when I started to do this review nearly 4 years ago now. Most importantly, because it will be the only show that day of the week, Impact Wrestling could bring more and more fans to them. That’s all I wish them…
– Hardcore Justice
Thanks to our friends of Fite TV, I can now confirm Hardcore Justice will air at 3 PM EST (8 PM BST) on April 10. This is Mania week and, as the wrestling fan I’ve been for a very long time, I want to see what Impact Wrestling will do, but I also want to see the Night One of WrestleMania and some of GCW and ICW indie shows. It’s never been a better time to be a wrestling fan, let’s enjoy and celebrate that…
Nothing new when it comes to the card of the PPV. Like I said last week, the art of being patient (I hate that)… There will be another CELL-ebration, the day of Rebellion. I will take part in it for the third time and I can only wish you to join us because this event is cool. Spending two hours with your favourite IMPACT talents, ask some questions, receive some unique gifts, well, you feel like you’re a star…
To be eNYGMAtic…
That was way better. The action was very good. And the promos did the job. Nevaeh attacking Havok was highly predictable but it can provide some interesting matches in the coming weeks. You can see the smoke between TJ and Josh Alexander, Sami Callihan and Trey Miguel. Chris Harris’ comeback for James Storm’s 1000th match was an unforgettable moment. I was expecting a title vs career match between Jazz and Deonna at Rebellion but it will happen faster than I thought.
Then, two weeks before Hardcore Justice and four before Rebellion, I remain puzzled on how things are moving forward. Some will I’m an overthinker and they will be right. But, to entertain you properly, the poor lonesome cowboy I am will always push a bit further. Hard to Kill, Hard to Change…
On this “Nygma Needs Three Advil, please” note, until next week but on Thursday (if I want), take care, stay safe, go get vaccinated, watch wrestling, and 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.