This week, in the second part of Impact Wrestling Best of 2021 (read our first part review here), it’s time for the Men’s Match of the Year, Match of The Year and the Knockouts Tag Team of The Year, chosen by the fans. I prepared a little something of a Top 5 by myself, match wise, and be sure I had my little idea on the Moment of the Year.
It’s hard to look back when the present and the future are about to collide. As we are slowly closing the book of 2021, we will start 2022 in a few hours, with IMPACT every Thursday and Hard To Kill on January 8. Last week, the company unveiled its schedule till April, and I’m already tired…
Like last week, I’ll review for you this Best of 2021, Part 2, and share with you The Nygma’s own 2021 Impact Wrestling Favourites of The Year. Were my choices the same as the fans? No more words, let’s get ready for some action, but your French Enygma Steph way, of course…
Thursday 8/7c on #IMPACTonAXSTV!
Join us as we relive the greatest matches and moments of the historic year that was 2021 Part 2! Plus, the rest of the winners of the Year End Awards will be revealed!
Preview:https://t.co/g1LitFBe4K pic.twitter.com/qJt2nqWPe5
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 28, 2021
The Nygma’s Chart of the Week
I won’t review the matches again, but add a few words to the reviews I’ve already done in the following section. Josh Mathews and Impact EVP Scott D’Amore hosted the episode (again, thanks for the Nutcrackers in front of the chimney, guys). On Before The Impact, Decay (Crazzy Steve & Black Taurus w/ Rosemary & Havok) defeated VSK & Zicky Dice.
- D’Amore and Mathews discussed Moose taking the title and his reign thus far before taking us to the first match of the night.
- Turning Point – Full Metal Mayhem Match for the IMPACT World Championship: Moose (c) vs. Eddie Edwards.
- Backstage, Kaleb with a K was with the Influence when the IInspiration came in to say they’re interrupting their photoshoot time. Kaleb pulled out his phone and showed them it’s their time. The IInspiration blamed jet lag on being stuck on LA time. Tenille asked what holiday they’re dressed for “StripMas.” Kaleb said they don’t even have a photographer, so he’s not taking their pictures. Jai Vidal came up with a Polaroid©. Kaleb said he’s Kaleb with a K, Jai said he’s Jai with an I. The Influence calmed Kaleb down and said they have enough photos. Jai posed with the IInspiration.
“You’re in the wrong place buddy!”
The Iinspiration square off with The Influence at #HardToKill!@JessicaMcKay @CassieLee @MadisonRayne @TenilleDashwood @kalebKonley
LIVE at @thefactoryDE in Dallas, Texas!
TICKETS: https://t.co/Ijd0hGrl2t
#IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/UDTRNzemCm
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 31, 2021
- Mathews and D’Amore discussed the upcoming Influence vs. IInspiration match at Hard to Kill before taking us back to the debut of the IInspiration.
- Bound For Glory – Decay (c) vs The IInspiration for the IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team titles.
- The Knockouts Tag Team of the year, as voted by the fans, is Jordynne Grace & Rachael Ellering. Jordynne Grace thanked the fans, she was happy to win with her best friend. Rachael Ellering thanked the fans too, she said they both enjoyed the year 2021 and the best is yet to come in 2022. D’Amore added The IInspiration won’t be happy…
- Backstage, Eddie Edwards, Rich Swann, Willie Mack, Rhyno and Heath talked down VBD and said they know what to do when the time comes and they’re going to run through all of them. Willie Mack said he’s got a foot to go up the asses of the Good Brothers. Rhino said he’s going to run through all of VBD with a GORE, GORE, GORE!
"WE ARE #HardToKill!"
Brace yourself for a Hardcore War LIVE January 8th on pay-per-view at #HardToKill!@HEATHXXII @Rhyno313 @TheEddieEdwards @Willie_Mack @GottaGetSwann #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/15JzfcBh0Q
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 31, 2021
- Slammiversary – Impact World Championship – No DQ – Sami Callihan vs. Kenny Omega (c)
- D’Amore and Mathews talked about Callihan being injured and JONAH‘s debut when he attacked Josh Alexander at Turning Point.
- IMPACT (December 2, 2021) – JONAH defeated Jai Vidal.
- D’Amore and Mathews talked about the X-Division, Chris Sabin and the upcoming Women’s Ultimate-X Match.
- Slammiversary – X-Division Championship – Josh Alexander (c) vs. Trey Miguel vs. Rohit Raju vs. Chris Bey.
- W. Morrissey cut a promo about his history and how his fans turned their backs on him.
.@TheCaZXL is determined to defeat @TheMooseNation & @TheMattCardona and leave #HardToKill with the #IMPACT World Championship!
LIVE at @thefactoryDE in Dallas, Texas!
TICKETS: https://t.co/Ijd0hGrl2t #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/BFbqv1bsZB
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 31, 2021
- The Men’s Wrestler of The Year, as voted by the fans, is Josh Alexander. He was very humbled to win, mostly this year.
- Sacrifice – World Title Unification Match – IMPACT World Champion Rich Swann (c) vs. TNA World Champion Moose (c)
- Masha Slamovich will debut next week.
.@mashaslamovich arrives next week on #IMPACTonAXSTV!#IMPACTWRESTLING pic.twitter.com/kMyPpVYDnU
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 31, 2021
- Mercedes Martinez cut a promo on Deonna Purrazzo and told her to put some respect on her name. She told Deonna that better women than her have tried and failed. She challenged her to a match next week.
.@RealMMartinez just called out @DeonnaPurrazzo next week on #IMPACTonAXSTV! pic.twitter.com/5lzYPKwX6C
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 31, 2021
- The Match of The Year, as voted by the fans, is the 60-Minute Iron Man Match for the X-Division Championship between Josh Alexander (c) and TJP.
- A pregnant Su Yung ate the souls of Brandi Lauren and Kimber Lee to feed her baby.
Its the Undead…mother to be!?!?@realsuyung @Kimber_Lee90 @brandilauren_ #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/3C9NPaDEjl
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 31, 2021
The Nygma’s NutCrackers of the Week
Click on the name of the event to find the original review of the show and the match.
- Turning Point – Moose (c) vs. Eddie Edwards for the IMPACT World Championship Title
Eddie Edwards and Moose went 31 minutes in hell. And it was fabulous. There’s no match they haven’t tried, I think, except the bloodiest ones.
.@TheMooseNation PLANTS @TheEddieEdwards on the exposed ringboards. #TurningPoint pic.twitter.com/Zqzr4wOQRB
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) November 21, 2021
- Bound For Glory – Decay (c) vs The IInspiration for the IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team titles
The IInspiration iconic entrance was saying a lot about the fate of the match, due to the importance that was given by the company on their debut. Rosemary and Havok clearly dominated the match but Cassie and Jessica used these tiny moments when the referee was not paying attention to give themselves the necessary momentum to win.
Destructive double team by @FearHavok and @WeAreRosemary. #BoundForGlory pic.twitter.com/20ulWoZ0mK
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) October 24, 2021
- Slammiversary – Impact World Championship – No DQ – Sami Callihan vs. Kenny Omega (c)
Our belt had to come home, making this match a No-DQ was quite simply meaning making it a deathmatch bout. Matt Striker had no reason to apologize for the brutality, the blood and the toys, that was what we wanted.
- Slammiversary – X-Division Championship – Josh Alexander (c) vs. Trey Miguel vs. Rohit Raju vs. Chris Bey.
That was a fantastic Ultimate-X match with some pretty interesting spots. Without the crowd, it would definitely not have been the same. I loved the fact everyone was able to shine. Of course, we are not in the early 2000s anymore, with the crazy falls and jumps, but that was a great match. Not only Josh Alexander is an Iron Man but he is an Ultimate Man… I don’t remember if D’Lo or Matt said it, but he is really our IMPACT Champion.
- Sacrifice – World Title Unification Match – IMPACT World Champion Rich Swann (c) vs. TNA World Champion Moose (c)
That was fantastic, without interference, incredibly tense, if a bit too short. Moose really shinned and did everything he could but Swann is the Champ for a reason and his surprise victories get the job done. Moose lost here but will only become greater from this, and will step up in the coming months.
- BTI/IMPACT (June 3, 2021) – 60-Minute Iron Man Match for the X-Division Championship – Josh Alexander (c) vs TJP
I will choose the same two words as D’Lo Brown to define that match, instant classic. You know I hate perfection and I think the interference at the ramp and having Petey and Fallah at ringside was not necessary. This match was between these two men. This moment belonged to them. That was just amazing. Watch it, you’ll see if I’m right or not…
Impact Wrestling 2021 Awards vs. The Nygma 2021 Awards
– Knockouts Tag Team of the Year: Jordynne Grace & Rachael Ellering – Our Opinion: 150% Nygma
I thought Fire ‘N Flava would win but the fact the team split may explain… I love the alchemy between the Hossettes, this friendship/sisterhood. I agree with Rachael when she says the best is yet to come in 2022…
– Men’s Wrestler of the Year: Josh Alexander – Our Opinion: Nygma-Meter Exploded
Beyond the Forbidden Door, the comings and goings, Josh Alexander climbed the mountain one step after another. And that worked…
– Match of the year: BTI/IMPACT – 60- Minute Iron Man Match for the X-Division Championship – Josh Alexander (c) vs TJP – Our Opinion: Of Course…
That was my Match of The Year. Watch it, you’ll know why.
No Top 5 Matches of the Year. I will submit some matches (some were already chosen by IMPACT) but without saying if one was better than another. Of course, comment on these choices on my social media @FrenchNygma.
- Ace Austin vs Blake Christian – Super X Cup Finals – Genesis
- Eddie Edwards vs Sami Callihan – Barbed Wire Massacre IV – Hard To Kill
- FinJuice vs The Good Brothers – Sacrifice
- Chris Sabin vs Moose – Slammiversary
- Any of the Josh Alexander matches
- Joe Doering vs Satoshi Kojima – Against All Odds
- Eddie Edwards vs W. Morrissey – Homecoming
- Christian Cage vs Ace Austin – Victory Road
Knockouts Knockdown is, for me, the PPV of the year…
The Nygma’s Nutcrackers of this Best Of
- The Forbidden Door
I had been very vocal about it. The Forbidden Door brought some great things to the show, as long as the wrestlers were embracing the spirit of the show they were performing on. Wrestlers like Christian Cage or Mickie James defended the titles, showed respect to the roster and the fans, gave added value to Impact Wrestling because they knew where they came from. Meanwhile, Jazz or FinJuice who had never wrestled in the Impact Zone before became members of the Family. Kenny Omega, for me, stole not only time for the true IMPACT talents but showed the title as another belt to add to his collection. To be honest with you, coming Slammiversary, I just had so enough of all of this. Taking two weeks off to take care of my health helped me find my way back to my show…
- The Knockouts at their best
Every year is a year for the ladies. But in 2021, they had their own PPV, Knockouts Knockdown, probably the best of the year. Impact Wrestling signed Lady Frost, Mercedes Martinez, The IInspiration, Masha Slamovich, and more. Like the X-Division, the Knockouts have been a standard for a company about to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
On the flip side of the coin, Impact Wrestling signed a lot of ladies but, suddenly, we started to lack talents in the X and Tag Team Divisions. That was a choice…
- Moose and Josh Alexander, the Year Stealers
A lot of fans said Moose “stole” Josh Alexander’s momentum when he cashed in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet Opportunity. Impact Wrestling always have a tree to hide a forest. When we were all focused on Josh Alexander’s incredible rise to the top, Moose was becoming inevitable. The Bound For Glory situation perfectly reflected another Impact Wrestling ability, being a talent factory, slowly but surely. For sure, Moose had been waiting a long time to reach that gold but hard work always pays off. Josh Alexander felt the gold a few minutes, soon he will have it longer around his waist. But once again, time and patience are everything an IMPACT talent needs to reach the so-coveted gold.
The Yearly “Enigma For a Nygma”
No comment, just imagine the huge smile on my face…
To be eNYGMAtic…
The episode was nicely done. I’m not surprised by the second part of the 2020 Awards. Saying more would be unnecessary because, as I said earlier, Hard To Kill is just around the corner. And I will have a lot to tell you…
Despite the Forbidden Door, talents coming and talents going, Impact Wrestling stole the year 2021, once again. As we’re living the first hours of 2022 (I’m late this week…), we can only wish this year will be an absolute comeback to normality.
I will thank everyone like I did last year, Executives, Creatives, Talents and PRs. I have to because they know how grateful I am to be a part of their family. And I know I am a part of theirs. Behind the scenes of the reviews or the interviews, there is a mutual trust I’ve valued day after day. This year represents countless interviews and media calls, 52 weekly reviews, 4 PPVs reviews, 3 or 4 iPPVs reviews. It’s a lot of time but it’s also a lot of pleasure. Because Impact Wrestling earn it and because we earn it… We are Hard To Kill, period.
In 2022, the motto will be… Sorry, but I have to think about it so you’ll find out on Thursday episode’s review… On this very “Nygma is Definitely Hard To Kill”, until next week, never EVER forget to stay #eNYGMAtic…
Hard To Kill Card (as of today):
- Josh Alexander vs. JONAH
- Knockouts Ultimate-X Match – The winner will become the #1 contender for the Impact Knockouts Championship – Chelsea Green vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Lady Frost vs. Rachael Ellering vs. Rosemary vs. Tasha Steelz
- 10-Man Hardcore War Match – Eddie Edwards, Rich Swann, Willie Mack, Heath and Rhino vs. The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) and Violent By Design (Eric Young, Deaner, and Joe Doering)
- ROH World Championship Match – Jonathan Gresham (c) vs. Chris Sabin
- IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Championship Match – The IInspiration (Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay) (c) vs. The Influence (Madison Rayne and Tenille Dashwood) (with Kaleb with a K)
- Texas Deathmatch for the Impact Knockouts Championship – Mickie James (c) vs. Deonna Purrazzo
- X-Division Championship Match – Trey Miguel (c) vs. Steve Maclin
- Three-Way Match for the Impact World Championship – Moose (c) vs. Matt Cardona vs. W. Morrissey
All pics, videos, and screenshots courtesy of Impact Wrestling, Fight Network, Dan The JOBR, and AXS TV. Photocollage custom made by @frenchnygma exclusively for @steelchairmag.