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Impact Wrestling Reviews

The Final IMPACT Before “Hard To Kill” – Special Edition – January 6th, 2022 Review

BySteph Franchomme

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For 2021, the game is over. It’s time to play the game of 2022. A “normal game” without miss COVID, the lockdowns, the tests… A very normal year for wrestling, with less bad news… When it comes to Impact Wrestling, we continue, we don’t change. The case continues… That would be a good motto for 2022, wouldn’t it? Episode 1 – It’s Hard To Kill time. As I’m writing those words, we are a few hours away from the biggest Impact Wrestling PPV of the year (sorry, this review comes late, as usual). If you’re so Hard To Kill, you will be there tonight because everything Impact Wrestling is about is represented in this card. Hardcore, Knockouts, X-Division, partnerships, all those words that have been the essence of the company since its beginning nearly 20 years ago. Let the game begin.
On the menu, from Nashville, Tennessee, Masha Slamovich will make her debut in the Impact Zone. Deonna Purrazzo will face off Mercedes Martinez. Heath and Karl Anderson will compete to determine if their team will have the advantage at Hard To Kill. Ace Austin and Madman Fulton will team up against Johnny Swinger and Hernandez. The Ultimate-X participants will fight as Rachael Ellering, Rosemary and Jordynne Grace will face off Chelsea Green, Tasha Steelz and Lady Frost. JONAH will square off with Jake Something. Of course, I’ll review this episode, but I will use it as a platform to preview the PPV and give you my predictions, with this Nutcracking spirit you love so much. So no more words, let’s get ready for some action, but your French Nygma Steph way, of course…

The Nygma’s Chart of the Week

Many hype videos on ‘Hard To Kill’ matches I chose not to relate here. D’Lo Brown and Matt Striker were on commentary. On BTI, Juice Robinson w/ David Finlay defeated Raj Singh w/ Rohit Raju.

  • Lady Frost, Chelsea Green and Tasha Steelz w/ Savannah Evans defeated Jordynne Grace, Rachael Ellering and Rosemary w/ Havok. Chelsea Green pinned Rachael Ellering after hitting the Unprettier.

  • Moose cut a promo and said he was ready to hurt Matt Cardona and W. Morrissey to stay champion. He wasn’t going to complain about the numbers game because he is too awesome to do that.

  • NJPW on AXS promo.
  • JONAH defeated Jake Something. After the match, Josh Alexander went after Jonah but Jonah ran him over. Jonah grabbed a table and drove it into Alexander’s already bad ribs, setting up the top rope splash to put Alexander through the table.

  • Masha Slamovich defeated Sandra Moone.

  • Backstage, Steve Maclin said he is ready for his one on one X-Division Title match at Hard To Kill. Gail Kim came in to say if Maclin loses, he never gets another shot.
  • Backstage, Gia Miller talked to Chelsea Green and Matt Cardona. Green said she is fine after the chair shot because she is a wrestler and has taken worse. She was worried about how it is going to impact Matt’s chances of winning the World Title. Green talked about how great Cardona is and knew she is looking at the next World Champion. Cardona seemed happy.

  • Deonna Purrazzo w/ Drama King Matt Rehwoldt defeated Mercedes Martinez. Mickie James was at the announcer’s table. She had a big staredown with Deonna after the match, but don’t forget the no-contact clause…
  • Backstage, The IInspiration were ready for their new talk show, All About II, with Jai with an I. They mocked the Influence, who came in to accuse them of ripping off their talk show. Yelling and hair pulling ensued. The Influence went after the belts but that was too far and the IInspiration left.

  • Backstage, Josh Alexander was being taken care of.
  • Ace Austin & Madman Fulton defeated Johnny Swinger & Hernandez. After the match, Ace beat down Hernandez, Fulton sent a chair to the ring while Swinger was fleeing. Austin broke the arm of Hernandez, trapped into a chair.

  • Backstage, W. Morrissey told Gia Miller he didn’t have anyone to help him get back from rock bottom. He doesn’t know why he wanted to be partners with Moose because he is better on his own. He doesn’t need fans or friends, because, on Saturday, he will be winning the World Title alone. Just like he likes it.

  • The Winner Takes The Advantage For His Team Match – Heath w/ Eddie Edwards, Rich Swann, Willie Mack and Rhino vs Karl Anderson w/ Doc Gallows and Violent By Design (Eric Young, Deaner and Joe Doering). Brawl at ringside, they were all sent backstage. So Karl Anderson on his own defeated Heath. After the match, Gallows arrived and they attacked Heath. Rhino came to save his friend. Violent By Design came in with toys. Eddie brought Kenny. Huge hardcore brawl to end the show.

The Nygma’s Noticeable Fact(s) of the Week

– Grand Master Scott D’Amore

I have not been a fan of the Forbidden Door when AEW was using the Impact Zone as a platform to gain TV time and was taking away some time the IMPACT roster deserved. Yesterday night, I fell off my chair (really) when I read that Mickie James, our IMPACT Knockouts Champion, will take part in the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble match, representing not only Impact Wrestling but NWA in WWE. In an hour or so, we’ve never heard the words “Impact Wrestling” than in the last 10 years at least.
D’Amore said yesterday: “WWE wanted it, Mickie wanted it and IMPACT Wrestling’s philosophy is always to work with other major promotions to create buzz for the fans. There’s never been a time like this for wrestling fans. In a 12 month period, IMPACT Wrestling has worked with NWA, AAA, New Japan, AEW and now WWE. IMPACT Wrestling is the nexus of the forbidden door era.” I agree with the fact things can be simple when we want them too but I also disagree with Scott D’Amore on the Forbidden Door. What happened yesterday night just made the door explode and initiated a revolution. Everything is possible now…

– What’s next?

Usually, the Fallout episode is a moment when new feuds emerge, the ones that will be developed in the episodes after. It seems obvious some alliances will explode at Hard To Kill, maybe after, mostly Violent By Design and The Good Brothers. The Knockouts are making history again tonight, which is not a surprise but there will be one when we’ll see who will grab the X sign on top of the structure. Ring of Honor is in the Impact Zone, for a match or for a while? What about Speedball Mike Bailey? Like I said before, everything is possible right now. All we know at this very moment is there will be a PPV on Saturday and a new episode next Thursday. The continuation of the story remains to be written and taped. IF you’ll be there, I will be too.

Impact Wrestling’s Hard To Kill Preview, Stakes and Predictions

Hard To Kill is what Impact Wrestling is. These three words mean everything that Impact Wrestling have become over the last three or four years. They’ve fought every battle, war, Forbidden Doors… and they won every time. The “family” that Impact Wrestling is so strong, so united, it could be the place of more revolutions in the years to come (as if they were not revolutionary yet…).
Quite strangely, the sceptical in me didn’t find any main question around that PPV. Because Hard to Kill is a celebration of Impact Wrestling, of its incredibly talented roster, of its death-defying imagination. Ring of Honor is coming with Jonathan Gresham finally giving Chris Sabin an opportunity at the World title he won like 3 years ago.  And that’s not a problem. AEW’s incursion into the Impact Zone blurred the year 2021, but it gave the company a reason to fight for it, more than ever, to us, the real, die-hard fans. Things are following a plan, don’t forget that…
You heard like me about Mike and Maria, will they be there? Will Speedball Mike Bailey make a surprise debut? Is Moose able to get rid of 2 opponents at the same time? After what he did to Josh Alexander at Bound For Glory, I can hear some of you saying he should lose. If you look at the rest of the card, it’s 100% Impact Wrestling. X-Division, Knockouts, a 10-Man Hardcore match, a Texas Deathmatch, and the first-ever Women’s Ultimate-X Match. And that’s wonderful because no other company can mix that cocktail better than Impact Wrestling. So, shaken or stirred?
Like I’m used to saying, every Impact Wrestling PPV is a do-or-die one. The COVID changed the card, a little. The card is displaying the array of talent the company has in its roster, melting different eras and repertoires. On Sunday around 4 AM GMT (clock saving), will we be in awe? We’ll see. I will say what I’m used to saying, I genuinely want a PPV like Impact Wrestling can do, with good, great and awesome matches. What I absolutely don’t want is to tell you, on Sunday night, “I told you” or “I saw it coming”. Let’s scrutinize this card and see what may happen (rain in the North of France, the crystal ball is cold)…

  • Countdown to Hard To Kill – Chris Bey vs Ace Austin vs Jake Something vs Laredo Kid

This match was announced yesterday. You know my position on X-Division match, it’s always a good opener for a show and that match is made for that. Since his comeback to the Impact Zone, Laredo Kid hasn’t won a match, it’s a chance for him to redeem himself and, why not, become a challenger for the belt. Chris Bey and Ace Austin are still in quest of a chance to win the X-Division title back. When it comes to Jake Something, we saw what he is able to deliver in a Championship match, like against Josh Alexander last year. These 4 men are so uber-talented and so “X-Division” this match can only be excellent.

Last-Minute change : Speedball Mike Bailey will replace Jake Something. 

The Nygma’s Crystal Ball says… Laredo Kid

  • Josh Alexander vs. JONAH

There will be blood because blood already runneth over. JONAH is on a mission, destroy Josh Alexander in order to make an example and go straight to the World Championship. Josh Alexander’s angriness hasn’t helped him as JONAH always has always had the best of him, until now. A fast win would be a sign of weakness and means Alexander is not the wrestler he was used to being and the road to redemption, and the World Championship, will be very long. One thing is sure, that will be one hell of a fight…

The Nygma’s Crystal Ball says… 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. Alisha Edwards vs. Rosemary vs. Tasha Steelz

Once again, Imapct Wrestling is making history. Excepted for the King of the Mountain and the Barbed Wire Massacre, I think there’s not a men’s match women have not taken part in. Monsters Ball, Lethal Lockdown, Falls Count Anywhere, they have tried them all because that’s the way Impact Wrestling is, treating his Knockouts as equals to the men. The Ultimate-X Match is a very difficult match, with scaffoldings to climb and ropes to dangle from in order to reach the coveted X Sign.
Last-minute, Alisha is replacing Rachael Ellering in the match, which is not a surprise as she so wanted to be in. For Chelsea Green, Rosemary and Jordynne Grace, it will be about chasing a chance to be Champion again. Alisha, Tasha and Lady Frost will try to win a chance to become Champion. Lady Frost is the unknown in the game as, if we already saw her at Knockouts Knockdown, for example, she is the New Kid on the Block. Which means a threat.

The Nygma’s Crystal Ball says… Lady Frost or Rosemary

  • 10-Man Hardcore War Match – Eddie Edwards, Rich Swann, Willie Mack, Heath and Rhino vs. IMPACT World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) and Violent By Design (Eric Young, Deaner, and Joe Doering)

I didn’t really understand the reason for that match but… The fact is The Good Brothers has defeated all the teams on the roster and, because of Wrestle Kingdom, FinJuice are in Japan. At the same time, I have nothing against a good hardcore match. That should be fun…

The Nygma’s Crystal Ball says… The good guys (what does it mean?)

  • ROH World Championship Match – Jonathan Gresham (c) vs. Chris Sabin

For the first time ever, Jonathan Gresham will defend the ROH World Championship on an IMPACT event as he squares off with one of the greatest X-Division Champions of all time, Chris Sabin in a highly-anticipated dream match. May we call that a dream match? I think. Chris Sabin is a Legend, on TNA/Impact Wrestling, of course, but also in ROH. Jonathan Gresham is one of the best wrestlers in the business right now. A mat technician and a grappler who calls himself the Foundation. In some ways, what matters in this match is not who will win because the fans are always the winners with monumental matches like this.

The Nygma’s Crystal Ball says… The Gresh

  • IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Championship Match – The IInspiration (Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay) (with Jai with an I) (c) vs. The Influence (Madison Rayne and Tenille Dashwood) (with Kaleb with a K)

The IInspiration, Jessica McKay and Cassie Lee, will not be defending their Knockouts World Tag-Team Championship at IMPACT Wrestling’s HARD TO KILL Pay-Per-View event tomorrow night.

The champions informed IMPACT Wrestling that they have been in close contact with an individual who shortly thereafter tested positive for COVID-19. Out of an abundance of caution and with the health of their peers in mind, Jessica and Cassie will self-isolate over the weekend.

IMPACT Executive Vice-President Scott D’Amore said: “IMPACT’s COVID protocols are in place to keep our talent roster, staff and fans safe. I am sure the fans will share The IInspiration’s and my disappointment that they won’t be in action at tomorrow’s stacked HARD TO KILL event, but we look forward to their return soon.”

  • X-Division Championship Match – Trey Miguel (c) vs. Steve Maclin

I don’t know how many times Trey Miguel and Steve Maclin have squared off, one-on-one or in multi-man matches, but this is a storyline that is meant to end tonight. Because of the stipulation, it will end tonight. If Maclin doesn’t win the X Division title tonight, he won’t get another chance as long as Trey Miguel is champion. Something is meant to happen tonight… I’m not sure I’m going to like it…

The Nygma’s Crystal Ball says… Steve Maclin

  • Texas Deathmatch for the Impact Knockouts Championship – Mickie James (c) vs. Deonna Purrazzo

I’m torn on this one. Of course, it’s a rematch of Bound For Glory. Of course, these 2 Knockouts hate each other. Of course, there will be blood because it’s a deathmatch. The problem lies elsewhere. When Deonna Purrazzo invaded ROH PPV, she told Rok-C she wanted a Winner Takes All Match, which means she had to win the match tonight to make it happen. But Mickie James was announced to be at WWE Royal Rumble as IMPACT Knockouts Champion in 3 weeks… Only if she retains tonight. I ask myself if it will be a “real” deathmatch because it involves a level of violence we haven’t seen very often in the Impact Zone.

The Nygma’s Crystal Ball says… Deonna Purrazzo

  • Three-Way Match for the Impact World Championship – Moose (c) vs. Matt Cardona vs. W. Morrissey

Three very different men with very different styles, and one belt. After Moose discredited Cardona on IMPACT and said that he would never be more than a “mid-carder”, the one who is “Alwayz Ready” made him pay for his actions by pinning Moose in the main event. Moments later, Moose would learn that there can be no friends when you’re talking about the IMPACT World Title as he was laid out by his former ally, W. Morrissey. Moose is Mr PPV on Impact Wrestling, he will deliver. Cardona could be his worst enemy as he so wants to become Champion. W. Morrissey would be an unexpected Champion even if he has proven he could do it.

The Nygma’s Crystal Ball says… That one is not simple… Moose

To be eNYGMAtic…

It was exactly what you can expect from a Fallout episode, the tension increasing, feuds at their maximum, the company did a great job with this episode. I already told you so much I think there’s no need to tell you more. Don’t miss the Hard To Kill review on Sunday night (if I’m not late). Impact Wrestling will tap some new episodes soon, still from Dallas. Next week, I have no clue what’s going to happen.
I talked to JONAH and Rosemary not so long ago, I took part in a Women’s Ultimate-X match press pass, enjoy these interviews.
What could I add? Follow me on @FrenchNygma and react to the reviews and interviews. Every like, every word is gold. On this very “Nygma is a Killer” note, until Hard To Kill, until next week, never EVER forget to stay #eNYGMAtic…

All pics, videos, and screenshots courtesy of Impact Wrestling, Fight Network, Fite TV and AXS TV. Photocollage 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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