On Thursday, January 5th, 2023, IMPACT Wrestling aired another episode of IMPACT as we are on the road to Hard To Kill and review after the IMPACT for 01/05/23. Kicking off this week’s IMPACT with a recap of last week’s episode & an in-memorial graphic of Don West.
After The IMPACT for 01/05/23
Masha Slamovich vs. Taylor Wilde
The match starts off with a lock-up before Masa Slamovich hit a drop toehold into a headlock on Taylor Wilde, but Wilde reversed it with the headscissors before Slamovich rolled over and got another headlock.
Wilde got up and got a wrist lock on Slamovich, but Slamovich flipped around and reversed it into a wrist lock takedown on Wilde. Wilde & Slamovich exchanged forearm strikes before Slamovich hit a springboard Mexican arm drag on Wilde and kicked Wilde’s back.
Slamovich hit a chop on Wilde in the corner. Wilde evaded Slamovich in the corner before hitting a backbreaker and hitting a Thrust Kick on Slamovich onto the bottom turnbuckle. Wilde got Slamovich in the headscissors on the ropes. Slamovich got to the ropes for a spear on Wilde, but Wilde caught her with a foot stomp on Slamovich onto the apron before getting back in the ring by hitting a sunset flip on Slamovich for a near fall.
Slamovich hit 2 northern lights suplexes and a foot stomp on Wilde for a near fall. Slamovich hit two back elbows on Wilde, but Wilde responded by hitting a German suplex for a 2 count. Slamovich hit a series of palm strikes, a spinning gut kick, and two snap suplexes on Wilde before hitting a suplex on Wilde onto the bottom turnbuckle for a near fall. They exchanged strikes before Wilde hit two chops & a running lariat on Slamovich. Wilde hit two running back elbows, a scissor kick, and a Code Breaker on Slamovich then goes for a cover but Slamovich kicks out..
They exchanged stand & switching waist locks before Wilde sent Slamovich onto the apron, but Slamovich hit a roundhouse kick on Wilde and slammed her onto the ropes. Slamovich spat at Deonna Purrazzo’s shoes, which caused Purrazzo to go on a rant on commentary. Slamovich got back in the ring, but Wilde caught her with a gut kick. Wilde pump faked a suplex, but Wilde instead got Slamovich in a small package for the win.
Winner: Taylor Wilde
After the match, Masha Slamovich threatened the timekeepers before hitting a delayed brainbuster on a Security Guard before being escorted by a group of referees.
Sami Callihan cut a recorded promo calling out The Design. Callihan told them that he wanted the Design but demanded an answer on if The Design wanted him.
Backstage we get a promo from Rich Swann & he challenges Steve Maclin to a Falls Count Anywhere Match at Hard To Kill.
After The IMPACT for 01/05/23
Anthony Greene vs. Black Taurus
Black Taurus & Anthony Greene locked up before both men evaded each other’s offense before doing a standoff. Black Taurus hit an arm drag off Greene’s back, but Greene hit a Hurricanrana in response. Taurus hit corner lariats, back elbow, and Enziguri kick before hitting a running power slam for a near fall. Black Taurus hit a pimp slap on Greene, but Greene responded with a forearm strike & two chops.
Black Taurus went for a monkey flip, but Greene dumped him to the outside. Greene got on the apron, but Black Taurus dropped him off the apron. Greene hit a lariat on Black Taurus on the outside before the commercial break. Back from the break, Greene stomped Black Taurus before getting a single leg hook on Black Taurus for a near fall. Greene hit a snap mare dropkick on Black Taurus for a near fall.
Greene stomped away at Black Taurus before going for a back suplex, but Black Taurus blocked the move before tossing Greene onto the apron. Greene hit a diving crossbody, a thrust kick, and a flipping back suplex on Black Taurus for a 2 count. Greene went for an Irish 2hip on Black Taurus, but Black Taurus responded with a forearm strike, a boot, a headbutt, and a pop up Samoan Drop on Greene. Greene hit a rising knee on Black Taurus, but Black Taurus hit a torture rack backbreaker on Greene before hehit Destination Hellhole to get the win.
Winner: Black Taurus
After the match, X Division Champion Trey Miguel hit Greene with the X Division Title as he spray painted Greene’s body.
Kenny King attacked Mike Bailey’s students at Bailey’s Dojo in Montreal and calls Bailey out.
Mike Bailey was interviewed backstage by Gia Miller, saying that King finally pissed him off. Bailey challenged King to a Pit Fight (we found out that today it be on Jan 19th).
Jonathan Gresham vs. Ernest R Anthony
Ernest R Anthony got a headlock on Gresham before hitting a shoulder tackle, but Gresham bounced on the ropes and hit a shoulder tackle of his own. Gresham hit a springboard Tijeras before attempting a dropkick, but instead did a pump fake and hit a gut kick and then finally hit a dropkick. Anthony went for a sunset flip on Gresham, but Gresham rolled over and got a front ankle lock before he got a rope break.
Anthony went for a kick, but Gresham hit a chop on his injured knee. Gresham flipped Anthony before hitting a dropkick on the leg and doing a takedown on the leg. Gresham got a leg hammerlock on Anthony before getting his ankle and twisting it while on the hammerlock before locking in a variant of a single-leg crab before getting Anthony on his shoulder for the win.
Winner: Jonathan Gresham
Tasha Steelz & Savannah Evans talked to each other backstage they were interrupted by Jai Vidal & Gisele Shaw. The four agreed to be a unit to take down Death Dollz.
The Design responded to Callihan’s promo by saying that joining the Design is a long, difficult & violent process and that he needed to realize his purest form. Deaner told Callihan that in order to start the process, he needed to shave his head and that he did not get to choose to join The Design.
There was a video package highlighting IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander after he became the longest reigning IMPACT World Champion in history, overlapping the previous holder, Bobby Roode.
Moose was in the ring to cut a promo but was interrupted by Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry. Hendry presented Moose with new Entrance Music he made for him, but Moose was not amused. Moose said that he believed that he would stick his size 13 boot on Hendry’s ass and would make sure no one believed in Hendry. Moose demanded to play his music, but they instead played the new theme by Hendry, which bamboozled Moose.
There was a video vignette of Mickie James recalling her career, from signing with ROH, doing work with Raven & CM Punk in IMPACT Wrestling, her multiple runs in WWE, her success in IMPACT Wrestling, her marrying to Nick Aldis, and her latest run in IMPACT. James stated that she gave everything to the business stated that if she can motivate one person from her run, then everything would be worth it.
There was a video package of multiple members of the IMPACT Roster giving tribute to Don West, who passed away on December 30, 2022. Gail Kim, Josh Alexander, Moose, Chris Harris, Eddie Edwards, Sami Callihan, and AEW’s Frankie Kazarian give tribute to West.
After The IMPACT for 01/05/23
Chris Sabin vs. Matt Cardona
Matt Cardona & Chris Sabin locked up before they exchanged wrist locks, with Sabin hitting an arm drag on Cardona’s right shoulder. Cardona hit a knee strike on Sabin’s gut and tossed home to the other corner, but Sabin hit a dropkick, and another arm drag into a wrist lock on Cardona. Cardona leaned Sabin to the ropes before Brian Myers distracted Sabin and clotheslined him to the outside. Cardona hit a sliding dropkick on Sabin to the outside.
At ringside, Cardona went for a powerbomb, but Sabin reversed it what a backdrop onto the ramp before the commercial break. After the break, Cardona hit a choke while doing some push-ups on Sabin before getting a near fall. Sabin got up and hit a series of chips before Cardona slammed Sabin to the corner with an Irish whip. Cardona hit a neck breaker on Sabin for a near fall.
Cardona got a snap mare into a headlock on Sabin. Sabin got up and hit two sunset flips on Cardona for a two count, but Cardona responded with a lariat on Sabin. Cardona hit a series of punches on Sabin from the middle turnbuckle, but Sabin got underneath Cardona and dropped him with a dropkick on the leg. Sabin hit two jabs, a backslide, and a Helluva Kick on Cardona before hanging Cardona on the top rope and hitting a leaping dropkick on an upside-down Cardona.
Cardona got up and racked Sabin’s eyes before slamming him to the ring post, but Sabin tossed Cardona to the outside with the Bandera before the commercial break. Back from the break, Cardona hit a running knee strike on Sabin, but Sabin hit a kick before hitting a tornado DDT off the top rope for a pin, but the referee was distracted by Myers on the outside.
After Shelley chased Myers down, Sabin hit a PK Kick on Myers off the apron before dumping Cardona to the outside with the help from Shelley. Sabin hit a tope suicida on Cardona & Myers to the outside. Back in the ring, Sabin hit a Diving Crossbody on Cardona for a near fall. Cardona got the referee in front of Sabin to put him off before hitting a suplex on Sabin onto the bottom turnbuckle.
Cardona hit two Reboot on Sabin for a pin, but Sabin reversed it with a crucifix for a near fall. Cardona hit a dropkick off the middle rope on Cardona, but Sabin got back up and hit an enziguri kick before hitting the Cradle Shock to put Cardona away.
Winner: Chris Sabin
After the match, a ransom Bully Ray was in ringside and threatened to rip Tom Hannifan’s head off. Bully Ray walked around ringside with a steel chair & called out Josh Alexander before Scott D’Amore came to the ring to confront Bully before the commercial break. After the break, D’Amore taunted Bully Ray for coming to IMPACT while Alexander was not here.
Bully Ray said he did not respect D’Amore, but D’Amore responded by saying that he brought back Bully Ray to see if he could see either a redemption story or if he could be a cautionary tale for anyone who may be interested in ruining his life. D’Amore told Bully that he turned away everyone that ever trusted him.
D’Amore told Bully that Alexander would give him the beating he deserved but did not discount Bully winning. D’Amore then said that no matter the outcome, Alexander would leave as a respected man while Bully would be left by himself as a lonely & pathetic man.
Bully said that it would not leave him pathetic or lonely, but rather as a three-time IMPACT Champion because he did not care about anyone’s respect and called D’Amore a sucka.
The two smack the microphones off one another, and Bully demanded D’Amore punch him, but instead, D’Amore told Bully that he was a piece of shit and said that built a locker room full of people that improve the business.
D’Amore hit a punch on Bully, but The Good Hands got D’Amore from behind before Bully hit a gut kick and a Gotch Style Piledriver on D’Amore. Bully Ray hit a powerbomb on D’Amore onto a table and then say Do you know who I am? I am Bully Ray, your next IMPACT World Champion to close out IMPACT.
Next Week’s IMPACT
Brain Myers vs. Heath
Knockouts Tag Team Champion Rosemary vs. Savanah Evans
6 Man Tag Team Match
Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry, Jonathan Gresham & Rich Swann vs. Moose, Eddie Edwards & Steve Maclin
IMPACT World Title Full Metal Mayhem Match
Josh Alexander (c) vs. 2022 Call Your Shot Gauntlet Winner Bully Ray (This is Bully Rays Call Your Shot Gauntlet Cash In)
Title vs. Career Match
Jordynne Grace (c) vs. Mickie James (Career)
Jonathan Gresham vs. Eddie Edwards
IMPACT World Tag Title Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match
Motor City Machine Guns (c) vs. Major Players vs. Bullet Club vs. Heath & Rhino
X Division Title Match
Trey Miguel (c) vs. Black Taurus
Knockouts Title #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way Match
Masha Slamovich vs. Taylor Wilde vs. Deonna Purrazzo vs. Killer Kelly
Digital Media Title Match
Joe Hendry (c) vs. Moose
Falls Count Anywhere Match
Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin
6 Woman Tag Team Match
Death Dollz vs. Tasha Steelz, Savannah Evans & Gisele Shaw (Pre Show)
Fatal 6-Way Match
Alan Angels vs. Bhupinder Gujjar vs. Kushida vs. Mike Bailey vs. Yuya Uemura vs. Mike Jackson (Pre-Show)
Please share with us what you thought of this week’s edition of IMPACT! and what you anticipate happening next week in the comment section below.
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