Impact Wrestling on AXS Results / Report - Feb 2nd, 2023
We are in Kissimmee, Florida with Matt Rehwoldt and Tom Haniffan, our lead announcers.
Chris Bey & Ace Austin vs. KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight
Knight and Bey battled back and forth with Knight looking good. KUSHIDA tagged in and came off the ropes wth an axhandle. Knight went for a springboard move but Bey dropkicked him in mid-air. Austin tagged in and stomped away at him. The Bullet Club double-teamed him in the corner as Knight tried to fight his way out. Knight finally avoided an Austin charge and tagged KUSHIDA. Bey went for the Art of Finesse but was caught in armbar submission, Austin dropkicked him to break it up. They had a chicken fight. KUSHIDA nailed a dropkick that sent Bey flying. Knight hit a top rope rana on Austin. Austin cleaned house with kicks and avoided a Knight charge into the buckles, drilling him with a kick. Lots of strong wrestling here so far.
KUSHIDA drilled Bey while he was on the top and battled Austin, who avoided a charge through the ropes and kicked him from the apron. Knight knocked Austin to the floor and went for a pescado but in mid-air Bey dove off the top and drilled him with Art of Finesse on the apron outside. That was insanely great! Austin hit The Fold and scored the pin.
Your winners, Ace Austin & Chris Bey!
Great opening match!
Backstage, The Design told Callihan that he lost when he needed to win, but they will show him mercy because four men crossed their paths last week and they need to defeat them.
They announced former NXT star Steph De Lander will debut next week.
Gisele Shaw with Jai Vidal vs. Savannah Evans
Evans did a pre-taped promo blaming Shaw for Tasha taking time off. They went nose to nose and early on Evans showed her power. She nailed a big Beel toss that sent Shaw scrambling to the floor as they went to commercial. When they returned, Shaw was in control but Evans came back with a sideslam. They battled back and forth. Evans nailed several clotheslines and a big Samoan Drop. Evans nailed a Perfectplex for a two count. Vidal got on the apron to distract the referee, allowing Shaw to attack and nailed a knee strike for the pin.
Your winner, Gisele Shaw!
Shaw said she's being called the Black Widow of Impact because she destroys teams. She doesn't care if there are talents or teams gone because of her. The spotlight deserves to belong to her.
Backstage, Kenny King was walking through and was pissy those he passed weren't talking about him. He encountered Swinger and Zicky Dice and said he'd go to Santino Marella to fight Swinger. Swinger wasn't thrilled but Dice said if he was going to get a championship match, he needed some wins under his belt.
After a commercial, Santino told King he has his match with Swinger. Steve Maclin showed up and said he's owed a title bout and the only thing Marella should do is make it three way at the No Surrender PPV with himself vs. Rich Swann vs. Josh Alexander. Marella said he isn't going to do that. He'll have four singles matches with the winners facing in a Four-Way at the PPV to become the next contender. Maclin said it's another hoop to jump through but he will do it. Dirty Dango showed up and acred like he was protecting Santino. Maclin backed off. Dango told a confused Santino he thought he was Marella's Deputy. He said he would do anything Santino wanted, including stooging off the boys. He just wanted to be in one of the matches. Marella told him he was in one already and to leave.
Crazzy Steve with Black Taurus vs. Sheldon Jean
They went nose to nose. Jean showed some nice moves and played to the crowd early but Steve bit him and nailed several shots in the corner. He charged and hit a cannonball in the corner. He came off the top with Belladonna's Kiss, a DDT and pinned Jean.
Your winner, Crazzy Steve!
Trey Miguel attacked Taurus and blasted him into the ring post. He hit the ring, intent on spray painting Steve but was nailed. Steve sprayed his own body, playing mind games with Miguel, who didn't know how to react and backed off.
Jordynne Grace was interviewed. She has a rematch guaranteed for the Knockouts title but next week, she hears Steph De Lander wants a match. Next week, she will give him.
Backstage, Santino encountered Raven. This HAS to be the first time they've ever met on screen, right? He hears Raven is a genius, so he wants advice from him. Raven's advice was "Make me the champ." That made me laugh so hard. Ron Reis showed up and asked Raven if they were getting the Flock back together. Raven said, "Calm down Yeti." Reis said that sometimes he hurts his feelings and he cries at night. Well, OK! That was great.
Bully Ray came to the ring, tormenting some fans, including a little girl, as he made his way around ringside. The fans chanted, "You tapped out" and booed him when he started to talk. He said that he's starting to get the impression no one around here likes him. He said it was obvious the new guy in charge doesn't like him since Santino didn't put him in the Six Way last week with all the former World Champions to determine the next contender to Josh Alexander.
He warned Marella what happened to the last guy who was around here, Scott D'Amore. He said that he never really liked Tommy Dreamer. They tolerated each other. He's the most real guy that there is. Dreamer has everyone believing he's the good guy but he's really the most phony person in the business. He wants to be loved by everyone which is impossible. Mickie James came to the ring. She said that since he ruined her celebration, she's out here to return the favor. She said he calls Tommy a politicking snake, but that's who Bully is. She told him last time to get out of her ring. Now, she's telling him to get the hell out of Impact Wrestling. Bully said the wiped the smirk off her face or she'll smack it off of her and she knows he would. He said he could slam her down because he's done it to most of the women he's encountered in the business and Mickie isn't as good as those women.
Ray said he could take the high road and could do it right now, but he's going to take the low road. He called her a tramp so he nailed him with her belt. Ray snatched her up and slammed her, then grabbed her as the Good Hands put a table in the ring. Tommy Dreamer made the save with a Singapore Cane. Dreamer said he and Bully will settle this sooner than later. He told The Good Hands they were little bitches for helping Bully and challenged them to a tag match right now.
Santino said Dreamer doesn't have the authority to make the match, but Santino has the authority. He makes the match...for next week. He said Ray is banned from ringside.
Killer Kelly was doing a promo saying that usually after she beats someone, they want nothing to do with her but if Taylor Wilde wants more, she's got it. Taylor showed up and said she wants more, side by side, not against each other. Kelly asked who she gets to play with then. Knockout Tag Team Champions The Death Dollz and JeSICKa teleported in. They felt the vibrations in the Undead Realm and they agreed if they want to play, they can. Everyone cackled.
Kenny King vs. Johnny Swinger with Zicky Dice
Swinger's "Wrestlemania 3 ring" that he rolled out with never fails to make me laugh.
King had Jay Brisco's name on his wrist tape and posed to show it. The announcers noted he was paying tribute to Jay.
Swinger tried to act like he was doing all sorts of kicks and strikes and King stood at him. He nailed him with The Royal Flush and a Scorpion Kick and pinned him.
Your winner, Kenny King!
Kenny King said he's aiming for the champions going forward, the way he exposed Mike Bailey as a psychopath.
Bully Ray encountered Masha Slamovich backstage and buttered her up, saying Mickie James has been disrespecting her. He said he would never show those levels of disrespect to Masha if he was Mickie and hopes that she never lets Mickie get away with it. Masha cut a fired up promo in Russian and walked off. Bully smiled and said, "Oh Masha." So, he stirred the pot and got what he wanted.
Backstage somewhere, Matt Cardona debuted a song knocking Joe Hendry. It didn't go over with those he showed it to. He got upset when he was recognized as "Edge's Bitch."
Callihan and The Design vs. Impact Wrestling Champion Josh Alexander & Frankie Kazarian & Rich Swann & Yuya Uemara.
Deaner teased starting with Swann but tagged out to Callihan. They battled. Deaner and Kazarian tagged in. Kazarian slammed him and nailed a springboard legdrop on Angels. Swann nailed him and scored a two count but Angels drilled him. Deaner tagged in and ripped at Swann, then slammed him. Big Kon was tagged in and bullied Swann in the corner, drilling him with shots and kicks. Swann kicked up, but Kon ripped at his face and squeezed his trapezius muscles. The Design tagged in and out, working over Swann for a long time. Kazarian broke up.
Deaner missed a move and finally Swann tagged out to Josh. Alexander went for a German suplex but Kon smashed him with a back elbow. Alexander snatched him with an anklelock. Kon rolled through and kicked Josh off, but into his corner, so Yuya tagged in and hit a missile dropkick. Callihan tagged in. He and Yuya brawled. Callihan went for the piledriver but that sparked everyone hitting a series of big moves that went on for a long time. Yuya went to the top but was shoved off by Deaner. Callihan nailed the Cactus Piledriver and pinned Yuya.
Your winners, Callihan and The Design!
A good main event with a lot of fun action.
