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Impact Wrestling Reviews

The Battle of The Futures, Vol. II – IMPACT – June 30th, 2022 Review

BySteph Franchomme

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Here is the case. Against All Odds is tonight, which means a day after the episode. And suddenly, you start to think like the White Rabbit in the book “Alice in Wonderlands.” “Oh, dear! Oh, dear! I shall be too late!” Or maybe, “I’m late! I’m late! For a very important date! No time to say hello, goodbye! I’m late! I’m late! I’m late!” And the case continues…
On the menu this week, from Nashville, TN, Frankie Kazarian will face Chris Sabin (no interference, please). IMPACT Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace will compete against Savannah Evans. The new Bullet Club member Ace Austin will square off with Alex Zayne. IMPACT Knockouts World Tag Team Champion Rosemary and Gisele Shaw will fight. IMPACT World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers will compete against Honor No More’s Vincent and PCO. And the new #1 contender for the X-Division Championship will be determined in a Four-Way Match between Trey Miguel, Steve Maclin, Laredo Kid and Chris Bey. 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

Tom Hannifan and The Drama King Matthew Rewholdt were on commentary. On ‘BTI’, IMPACT Digital Media Champion Rich Swann defeated Raj Singh w/ Mahabali Shera in a very good match. Brian Myers came with a chair, said he has a lot of respect for Rich, and asked for a rematch. As his commentary table was destroyed, he sat next to the ramp and watched the match. After the match, he attacked Rich Swann with the title and said he wants the rematch to happen at “Against All Odds” (BTI is now available only on Impact Wrestling YouTube and Facebook channels at 7.30 PM EST/12.30 AM GMT and on Impact Plus).

  • Backstage, The Good Brothers were with America’s Most Wanted and they were looking for a new teammate. They tried to recruit PCO but Vincent interrupted saying that he and PCO are facing the Good Brothers tonight, so the only place for PCO is with Honor No More.

  • Trey Miguel defeated Chris Bey, Steve Maclin and Laredo Kid to become the new #1 contender for the X-Division Championship. He will face Mike Bailey at Against All Odds.

  • Raven explained how he came up with the Clockwork Orange House of Fun match. He said, unlike the playground he’s sitting in now, Clockwork Orange is a little different. It’s his vision of what childhood should be like. He made this match to have fun and cause damage, be cool and barbaric. He told us Moose and Sami will have fun and he hopes someone gets hurt really bad because that will make him happy. Quote the Raven Nevermore.

  • Gisele Shaw w/ The Influence defeated Rosemary w/ Taya Valkyrie with some help from Madison Rayne and Tenille Dashwood who were on commentary. As Taya Valkyrie was taking care of Rosemary, Tenille and Madison made Gisele a member of the Influence. She will team up with Tenille against Taya and Rosemary at Against All Odds, in order to try to regain the Knockouts World Tag Team Championship.

  • Backstage, Mickie James was telling Gia Miller about Deonna Purrazzo when Chelsea and Deonna cut her off to say that she never once mentioned her tag partner during her promo because she only cares about herself. Deonna said that she and Chelsea are not just partners but best friends and if Mickie wants a shot tomorrow she better think about someone besides herself. Mickie said she has an issue with fighting her own battles, no matter the cost. She attacked Deonna and Chelsea before they got the upper hand. Mia Yim showed up and evened the score, sending Chelsea and Deonna running.

  • Backstage, Rosemary was with Taya and was seen digging through a bag before finding a necklace. She started screaming at it to make James Mitchell appear. He said that Rosemary is a ?? blocker (he only said the second word) as he was about to close a deal for a “Ménage à Trois” with a Jezebel and a Siren, so this better be good. She asked James where Havok is, he said she doesn’t participate in his brand of debauchery, she said no games, where is she. Rosemary said if he sees her, give her a message, “ALL HANDS ON DECK”. James said he doesn’t know if she wants to come back to this world, but she’ll pass the word along. He asked to be sent back to his lovemaking and she obliged.

  • IMPACT Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace defeated Savannah Evans w/ Tasha Steelz.

  • Hype video package for Joe Doering reviewing his previous accomplishments wrestling in Japan. The video package discussed his tenure in Impact and his streak of not being pinned or submitted to this point. (That’s exactly what he told me when I talked to him 2 days ago…)

  • Backstage, IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander discussed with Gia Miller going from a fan to the main eventer of the 20-year anniversary PPV and how it means everything to him. Gia discussed VBD’s attack on Josh after Slammiversary and asked Josh if he thinks Eric put them up to it. Josh said that he wouldn’t put it past Eric but he says no one has heard from Eric since Slammiversary, so he doesn’t know. Josh said Joe is big strong and has been a World Champion before. Josh said it will be his toughest match in IMPACT and, if he has to be completely focused on Joe, he always has Eric in the back of his mind.

  • IMPACT World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers defeated Honor No More’s Vincent & PCO.

  • After the match, Honor No More attacked The Good Brothers and James Storm after the match. Chris Harris hit the ring to make the save and Honor No More suddenly stopped attacking, they stared down at Chris and told him to go back to the nursing home. Heath came out to even the odds with two pipes, he handed one to Harris and they beat down Honor No More with the pipes. They sent PCO in to get beat down first before they all attacked and got dropped. Taven got left alone in the ring, he tried to leave but ran into the Last Call superkick from James Storm. He yelled out the first part of his catchphrase as the crowd finished it.

  • Backstage, The Good Brothers, America’s Most Wanted, and Heath hyped up over dominating the brawl. They said they were down one man but they’re looking at the fourth man in Heath, Harris said he’s the fifth man and everyone is excited except Storm. He said no. Harris cut a promo saying he can’t move on until he finishes this with them. James Storm finally accepted it. (Harris hasn’t wrestled a match for more than 4 years…)

  • Ace Austin w/ Chris Bey defeated Alex Zayne.

  • Chris Sabin w/ Alex Shelley defeated Frankie Kazarian. It was Brian Hebner’s last match as a referee as he is officially retiring. After the match, Sabin offered his hand to Kaz and helped him up. The two hugged one another and Kaz raised Sabin’s hand as the show went off-air.

The Nygma’s Nutcracker(s) of the Week

– Alex Zayne vs Ace Austin

Ace finally got this one and started catching Zayne off guard with kicks to the face. He lifted Zayne up, looking for an Irish whip to the corner but Zayne countered and hit a kind of hurricanrana. Ace was in the corner, Zayne charged but was shoved away, he caught Ace on the middle rope with a hurricanrana from the middle rope, sending Ace to the outside. After the commercial break, Ace had control and had Zayne in a submission lock as we saw a replay of Zayne being sent into the ring post during the break.

Ace connected with a chop to Zayne on the ropes and an Irish whip that Zayne countered, but Ace replied with a kick to the midsection. They exchanged reversals, Zayne hit a series of strikes, then a clothesline to Ace. Zayne hit some forearms and a back elbow to the face, a rolling leg drop to the back of Ace’s head. Ace countered a submission before Zayne hit Ace with the Baja blast. Zayne went up top looking for the Cinnamon Twist, then a Taco Driver but it’s blocked by Ace.

Ace hit a running clothesline in the corner and followed up with a series of forearms to the chest. He lifted Zayne up top and nailed him with an enzuigiri, then a hurricanrana, but Zayne attempted to land on his feet. Ace continued with a double springboard turn-around kick, Ace went for the Fold but Zayne lifted him up for a knee. Zayne sent Ace cowering to the outside, Zayne called for a dive but Bey blocked it. Zayne connected with the Moon Sauce, a middle rope moonsault, onto Bey and Austin. Zayne sent Ace back inside but Bey grabbed his foot and stopped him as the referee was distracted. Ace hit the Fold for the win.

– Chris Sabin vs Frankie Kazarian

Kaz connected with an Arm Drag into a headlock, they exchanged holds before getting to their feet and facing off. Neither guy could gain an upper hand so they separated. Shelley got on the apron to whisper to Sabin before Hebner told him to get out of here. Kaz with a roll-up for two, Sabin with a roll-up of his own for two. Kaz ran into a dropkick to the knee from Sabin. Sabin replied with a victory roll driver but didn’t cover, he instead sent Kaz’s knee into the canvas. Sabin lifted Kaz up and hits him with a dragon screw. Sabin locked Kaz in a Figure-Four and Kaz fought for the bottom rope forcing a break. Kaz went on the apron, Sabin looked to send him off but Kaz leapt up with a leg drop to the back of Sabin’s neck.

Kaz continued with a leaping roll-up into the ring for two, then a series of strikes, a clothesline, and a running neckbreaker to Sabin. Kaz connected with a fisherman suplex and bridged for a two count. Kaz put his knee into the spine as he stretched Sabin, trying to force a submission. Kaz rolled Sabin into a pinning predicament for a two-count. Kaz hit a running crossbody to Sabin, backed Sabin into the corner, sent him into the opposing corner and countered into a roll-up for two. Kaz was sent to the outside, Sabin set him up looking for a running kick but Kaz caught him and sent him face-first into the apron. Kaz hit the Wave of the Future into the ring post as Hebner headed out to check on Sabin, but Shelley came over to check on him. Hebner yelled at Kaz.

Back from the break, Kaz trapped Sabin in a headlock but he countered out and laid into Kaz with flying forearms and a back body drop. Sabin hit a running forearm in the corner but Kaz countered. Sabin connected with a Tope on Kaz on the outside. Back on the inside, Kaz hit a diving crossbody to Sabin, then Sabin looked for the Cradle Shock DDT but Kaz countered it in a roll-up. Kaz hit a scoop slam and a springboard leg drop that barely connected. Sabin went for another Tope but Kaz blocked it with a forearm and followed with a springboard DDT onto Sabin. Kaz set Sabin up top but Kaz sent him off, Sabin dove but Kaz moved, Sabin rolled through and went for a tornado DDT, but Kaz countered into a Northern Lights suplex. Kaz attempted a dive to the outside but jumped right into a superkick from Sabin, then Sabin hit a tornado DDT on the floor.

The referee began his count as Sabin sent Kaz back into the ring, he set up a springboard but Kaz countered and launched him into the ring for a cutter. Kaz yelled at Sabin and said he was here to win. Kaz looked to lift Sabin up but he countered into the Cradle Shock, he covered and somehow Kaz kicked out at the very last second. Sabin headed up top but Kaz broke it up and sent Sabin groin first into the top turnbuckle. Kaz went for a superplex and it connected, Sabin caught his legs and went for a pin but Kaz managed to kick out at two. They were slow to get to their feet and began exchanging forearms before they even stood up. They beat each other back down to their knees, then went back to their feet and separated. Sabin hit a superkick, Kaz hit a running kick, Sabin replied with a running enzuigiri, then went for a clothesline but Kaz countered with a German suplex. Sabin hit a clothesline and then hit the Cradle Shock for the win.

The Weekly “Enigma For a Nygma”

A threesome with a Jezebel and a Siren… That makes a lot of tails for Father James Mitchell to deal with…

The Nygma’s Noticeable Facts/Awards of the Week

– The Future is Now

The Battle of The Futures finally happened and it was a great match, a great feel-good moment. I don’t know when and where and if we’ll see them wrestle again, one-on-one, so let’s enjoy… Like Tom Hannifan wisely said, respect is eternal…

– Against All Odds

Next week, so four matches yet…

To be eNYGMAtic…

A pretty good episode, with great action, and a good load of backstage segments to finish the build-up of Against All Odds. I obviously prefer a match as an opener, but that was again not the case this week. The last 2 matches were amazing, each a masterclass of its own. 
I have to publicly thank Jade Chung, Josh Alexander’s wife, because without her I would still be thinking the show is on Saturday, as usual. Habits are comfortable… And I have had way enough on my plate recently to put together the fact it was a crowded weekend of wrestling due to Independence Day. But, be careful, IMPACT is airing on July 14, Bastille Day… Do you want me to be Frenglish for a day? Because I can…
On this “Nygma is not late as she couldn’t wait to put it online because there’s a PPV tonight” note, until tomorrow, until next week (if I want), take care, stay safe, watch wrestling, and never EVER forget to stay #eNYGMAtic…

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