Preview: Tonight’s show consists of the fallout from Under Siege, and what better way to make it exciting than a Gauntlet for the Gold where the winner faces Josh Alexander for his championship at Slammiversary. In addition, just days after facing each other, Josh Alexander and Tomohiro Ishii team up to face Bullet Club’s own El Phantasmo and Jay White. And, following her recent victory against Madison Rayne, Gisele Shaw teams up with Alisha to challenge the Influence for their Knockouts tag team championship, and much more. Who will come out on top? Will there be payback coming? Lets strap ourselves in (or just read the review here), as the review has begun.
The show opens up with the commentators in the ring welcoming the fans. They announce the Gauntlet for Gold for the main event of tonight’s Impact. We also get a video package explaining the rules of the gauntlet for gold, with several competitors stating they will win the match. Before the commentators can explain anything else, they are interrupted by Honor No More as they get ready for the next match.
GOOD: Up next is a qualifying match for the Ultimate X at Slammiversary as Honor No More’s Kenny King goes one on one with Bullet Club’s Chris Bey.(Maria Kannelis joins commentary for this match. Wait, Honor No More is banned from ringside, yet Honor No More’s Maria Kannelis joins commentary?) The match begins as King and Bey lock up. King tries to go for an arm hold, but Bey tries to fight back. King puts Bey in a headlock, but Bey tries to escape, but King uses another maneuver. Bey puts King in an arm lock, followed by Bey going for a jump straight that forces King to go outside the ring. Bey attempts to go for a running dive, but stops as King walks away.Bay goes outside and unleashes some strikes to King. King goes for a forearm shot on Bey, forcing Bey to go for a running dive to King outside the ring (But this time it connects). The two return to the ring, as Bay kicks King in the face, but King pushes Bay off the top corner, followed by hitting Bay with the double knees. Bay fights back as he attempts a rollup, but fails. Bay and King unleash tackles towards one another, followed by King going for a powerslam on Bay. Bay fights back, but King bodyslams Bay, but Bay escapes a leg drop by King. Bay smacks King, followed by knee strikes and punches. King kicks King on the back, followed by a high jump from the corner. Bay tries to pin King but fails. King fights back with a chin checker, followed by a super kick and a powerbomb to Bay. Bay attempts for a super jump by the ropes, but King pushes the ropes down to bring Bay down, and tries to go for a surprise roll up but fails as the referee sees King hold the ropes in order to cheat. Bay goes for a DDT, but King kicks out after a pin attempt. Bay kicks King in the head, but Bay goes for a sliced bread on King and goes for the top rope. However, Maria gets out of commentary in order to distract Bay, allowing King to use an uppercut, and a super kick to the top rope. This allows King to go for a royal flush to score his ticket to Ultimate X at Slammiversary.
Result: Kenny King pins Chris Bay to qualify for Ultimate X at Slammiversary.
Joezeh Ramirez’ WR Star Rating- 3 Stars
ABOVE AVERAGE: Up next, the Influence (Tenille Dashwood and Madison Rayne) defend their Knockouts tag team championships against Gisele Shaw and Alisha. The match begins as Alisha and Rayne lock up. Alisha attempts for some surprise roll ups, but Rayne kicks out. Alisha goes for a clothesline. Shaw tags in and tries to double team on Rayne, but Tanille gracefully catches her (in an elegant fashion), leading to the two teams to brawl. Order is restored as Tenille and Shaw try to lock up, but Shaw body slams her. Alisha tags in and double team on Tenille. Alisha unleashes some pouches and strikes on Tenille, but Rayne holds Alisha’s leg in order to allow Tenille to gain the advantage. Tenille unleashes some kicks to Alisha in the corner. Rayne tags in and double team on Alisha. Rayne taunts Shaw, but while the referee is distracted, Tenille beats up Alisha in the corner. Rayne unleashes several strikes and kicks to Alisha. Alisha fights back, but Rayne goes for a neck breaker on Alisha. Raynne goes for several pins but fails, and takes out her frustration on Shaw, angering her. But, while the referee handles Shaw, Raynne beats up Alisha some more. Alisha fights back as she kicks Rayne in the head. Shaw tags in and unleashes several punches, kicks and maneuvers on the Influence. Shaw goes for a DDT on Rayne and tries to pin her, but Rayne kicks out. Alisha tags in and goes for a flatliner, but Tenille breaks the pin. Shaw tries to help her teammate, but the referee stops her, allowing Tenille to go for a sneak attack on Alisha. Alisha is accidently rams Shaw in the mid-section. Tenille tags in and the Influence goes for the colab on Alisha, allowing Tenille to pin Alisha to retain the knockouts tag team championships
Result: Tanille Dashwood pins Alisha to retain the knockouts tag team championships for her team.
Joezeh Ramirez’ WR Star Rating- 2.75 Stars
Cut to backstage where Violent By Design talks about stories. To make it short and simple, they are issuing their rematch for the tag team championships next week. However, Erik Young explains he will win Gauntlet for the Gold.
GOOD: Gail Kim is in the ring to talk to the fans. She talks about Slammiversary, with a special announcement as for the first time ever, there will be a Queen of the Mountain Match for the Knockout’s Championship at Slammiversary. Kim also announces the five competitors for the match are Knockout’s champion Tasha Steelz, Chelsea Green, Jordan Grace, Deonna Purazzo, and……before she can announce the 5th entrant, Steelz and Savannah Evans interrupt Kim. (Commentary explains Evans was released from the darkness by Decay.) Steelz likes the idea of the historic match…..but she believes Kim will do anything to go after Steelz’ championship (At least according to Steelz). Steelz questions Kim on why? Steelz gives the 5th spot to Savannah Evans. However, Kim explains this match only (aside from Steelz as she is the current champ), who are former champions. Kim’s 5th participant….is Mia Yim. Steelz is angry by this as she believes this is personal. Steelz and Evans get ready to take out Kim, but Mia Yim comes out and beats up Evans and Steelz. However, Deonna comes out to beat up Mia as she wants revenge. It is now a triple team on Mia. But, Taya Valkyrie and Jordan Grace appear to even the odds. It ends with Taya, Mia, and Jordan standing tall.
Joezeh Ramirez’ WR Star Rating- 3.25 Stars
Cut to backstage where Rich Swann how he feels of entering Gauntlet for the Gold. Rich explains it’s a huge opportunity, but it’s not gonna be easy. He also explains he wants a piece of the Digital Media Championship, but for now, Gauntlet for Gold comes first.
GOOD: Up next, Bullet Club (El Phantasmo and Jay White) go up against Impact World Champion Josh Alexander and Tomohiro Ishii (But the main question being…..will they coexist?). The match begins as Josh and Jay say things, but El tags in. El and Josh soon lock up. Josh goes for a slam on El, but El puts Josh in an arm lock. Josh escapes and returns the favor with an arm lock. El goes for leg lock, but Josh turns it into a pin. The two unleash several strikes to each other. Jay tags in, followed by Ishii tagging in. Ishii and Jay lock up, but Ishii is resistant to Jay’s tackles. So….Jay just unleashes some punches. This angers Ishii as he unleashes several strikes, followed by a tackle. El tries to help Jay, but Ishii runs him over. Jay escapes a bodyslam as Jay goes for a DDT. El beats up Josh outside the ring. Jay tags in El and double team on Ishii. Jay tags in and double team on Ishii. El tags in as El puts Ishii in an arm hold. However, all this does is anger Ishii. Ishii gets El in a choke, but Jay makes the save. Ishii tries to beat up Jay and El, but they once again double team on Ishii. Jay goes for some chops. However, Ishii is angry as he goes for a powerslam. Josh and El tag in as Josh goes for some tackles. Josh goes for several german suplexes. However, El breaks free, but Josh turns it into an ankle lock, but Jay makes the save, but suffers a C4-Spike by Josh. El goes for a surprise roll up but Josh breaks free. El goes for several maneuvers on Josh in order to pin Josh, but Josh kicks out. Ishii tags in and goes for several attacks on El. Ishii goes for a German suplex on El. Jay stops Ishii as he holds Ishii’s legs and tries to allow El to go for an attack, but Josh holds El’s legs and goes after Jay. El goes for a chop, but Ishii gets angered so much, El is shocked like he’s seen a ghost for the first time. Meanwhile, Josh and Ishii double team on Ishii, allowing Ishii to go for a brainbuster to get the pin.
Result: Tomohiro Ishii pins El Phantasmo to get the win for his team.
Joezeh Ramirez’ WR Star Rating- 3.25 Stars
Cut to backstage where the Briscoe Brothers tell the fans they told them so. They want to enter Slammiversary with the tag team championships, but first they need to get through Violent By Design. They insult VBD as they won’t win.
We get a rundown card for next week’s Impact.
GREAT: And now it’s time for the main event as its Gauntlet for the Gold. The first two to start are….Motor City Machine Guns Chris Sabin as he goes up against…..his partner Alex Shelley?! (Interesting turn of events) The match begins as the two bump first as a sign of respect, and then lock up. Alex puts Chris in a hold, but the two keep trying to escape each other’s locks. Just as Alex puts Chris down, Alex smacks Chris in order to anger him. The two continue to out maneuver each other. Enter……Honor No More’s Eddie Edwards.
Eddie is double teamed by the Guns. Eddie fights back as he headbutts the two. The Guns double team on Eddie once more, but Eddie still fights back. Enter…..Honor No More’s Vincent.
It is now the Guns vs Honor No More. Vincent beats up Alex, while Eddie unleashes some strikes and kicks on Chris. Vincent and Eddie double try to double team on Alex, but Alex counters as Alex and Chris double team on Eddie. Vincent fights against the Guns, but gets double teamed by the Guns. Enter……Steve Maclin.
Maclin goes after Sabin as goes for a slam, then goes after Alex as he also slams him. Steve gets into Eddie and Vincent’s face as he also has issues towards them from a while back. Steve puts Alex in the corner on top of Chris as Steve goes for the crosshairs on the Guns in the corner. Vincent goes for a flying move on Alex. The three heels try to eliminate the Guns but they resist. Enter……Shark Boy.
Shark beats up the heels, but Honor No More instead double team on Shark, but Shark dodges and the Guns unleash some kicks to both Vincent and Eddie. Shark goes for the double clover on Honor No More. (During commercial break, enter…..Raj Singe. In addition, Shark Boy is eliminated by Eddie. Also enter….Trey Miguel)
We return from commercial where the competitors are still beating up each other. Enter…Gujjar. Guijar and Raj go at it. Gujjar also beats up Raj and tries to eliminate Raj…..and it succeeds as Gujjar goes for a drop kick on Raj. Enter…..Shera. Gujjar and Shera beat each other up. Guijar and Shera unleash some strikes to each other in the corner. Meanwhile, Steve is shoving his foot on Chris’s face in the corner. The faces and heels are at it. Enter……W. Morrissey.
Morrissey beats up Vincent and Steve as Morrissey choke slams Steve. Morrissey and Shera lock up in power, but Morrissey wins as he eliminates Shera as well as Vincent. Trey goes after Eddie as he unleashes some strikes. Enter……Violent By Desing’s Erik Young. Erik smacks Morrissey with his mask and goes for a pile driver on Morrissey. Guijar unleashes some strikes on Erik, but Erik tries to throw out Guijar and succeeds as Erik kicks Guijar in the head to eliminate him.Erik shoves his foot in Chris’s face. Trey and Steve go at it. Enter…..Johnny Swinger.
Johnny enters, but gets thrown out by Erik. (Johnny is like oh well….back to the dungeon.) The match continues as Erik tries to eliminate Alex and we go to commercial break. (During commercial, Heath and Black Taurus have entered the gauntlet. In addition, Eddie eliminates Alex Shelley while Steve eliminates Trey Miguel)
We return from the commercial break as enter…….Rhino. Rhino gores Eddie, allowing Chris to eliminate Eddie. Heath and Erik go at it in the corner. Rhino tries to eliminate Taurus. Enter…..Moose.
Moose eliminates Taurus. Moose eliminates Rhino. Heath tries to eliminate Moose, but Moose knees Heath in the head. Heath unleashes some strikes, but Moose eliminates Heath. Enter…..Rich Swann.
Rich goes after Moose as he unleashes some strikes and kicks. Moose catches the kick, but Rich fights back, followed by a cutter. Rich tries to eliminate Erik but Erik fights back. Enter……commentator Matthew Rehwoldt?!
Matthew eliminates Rich and insults Rich. Matthew beats up the downed competitors. Matthew tries to eliminate Chris but Chris fights back. Erik and Matther double team on Chris. Enter……Honor No More’s PCO.
PCO unleashes some tackles on everyone. PCO rushes after everyone. Matthew tries to blindside Matthew…….but gets eliminated. Morrissey and PCO stare at each other and go at it. Morrissey and PCO try to out power each other, but both get eliminated by Steve Maclin. Moose returns to the ring as the final four as Chris Sabin, Erik Young, Steve Maclin, and Moose. SThe competitors go at each other. Moose is getting ready for another attack, but the lights go out as a wild Sami Callihan appears to beat up Moose and gets eliminated thanks to an assist from Chris. (Or you can say Moose ran out to the ring to eliminate himself, it’s up to the reader to decide.) Steve goes after Chris, but Steve and Erik stare at each other and decide to eliminate the biggest threat, that being Chris. Steve and Erik try to double team on Chris, but Chris goes for a running attack on the two. Chris kicks Steve, while Chris goes for a DDT on Erik. Chris and Erik fight by the ring, but Chris wins the fight as he eliminates Steve Maclin.
It is now a singles match as it is between Chris Sabin and Erik Young where the winner faces Josh Alexander at Slammiversary. The match begins as Erik tries to finish off an exhausted Chris as he goes to the top rope for an elbow drop, but Chris kicks out. Erik goes for a clothesline to try to finish off Chris but it’s not enough. Erik unleashes some more strikes, but Chris goes for a DDT on Erik. Chris tries to go for a surprise roll up followed by going for a coast to coast, but Erik shoves his thumb in Chris’s eye and uses the piledriver to punch his ticket to Slammiversary as he earns the right to face Josh Alexander for his championship. The show ends with Violent By Design standing tall . (As a story is told, there is a hero…..and there’s a faction.)
Result: Erik Young pins Chris Sabin to win the Gauntlet for the Gold, earning the right to face Josh Alexander at Slammiversary.
Joezeh Ramirez’ WR Star Rating- 3.75 Stars
Overall, Impact delivered a great fallout from Under Siege. The match of the night was Gauntlet for the Gold. The match was great with not only stories progressing, but also Chris Sabin delivered a fantastic performance as while he did not win, he put in an impressive showing in the match. Had he picked a different number, there might’ve been a good chance Chris could’ve won. Erik winning was an interesting choice as not only is he a former champion, but he also has his brothers Violent By Design that can make Josh Alexander’s defense rather difficult. However, the one match that did have some nonsense stipulation (with all do respect), is between Chris Bay and Kenny King. Now, even though Honor No More was banned from ringside, Maria Kennelis, a member of Honor No More, is allowed on commentary…..and still interferes. This simply made the entire being banned from ringside meaningless. Aside from that, Impact delivered a good follow up. Watch (or rather read) next time as we review next week’s edition of Impact.
Matches: 0.5 /1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.5/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.75/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.75/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.5/1 Stars
Overall Rating: 3/5 Stars
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
