On Thursday, February 16th, 2023, IMPACT Wrestling aired another episode of IMPACT as we reviewed after the IMPACT for 02/16/23. We had our final 2 Qualifying matches for the Fatal 4 Way Match at No Surrender as Steve Maclin & Rhino meet in 1 & Heath & Eddie Edwards meet in the other one. We also got a preview of the 6-Man Tag Team Match at No Surrender as Chris Bey went one-on-one with Kushida.
We also got the #1 Contender to the Knockouts Title Masha Slamovich is in action against Alisha Edwards.
We are kicking off this week’s IMPACT with a recap of last week’s Digital Media Title match.
After The IMPACT for 02/16/23
Chris Bey vs. Kushida
Chris Bey hides in the ropes to start this match; then, they end up on the mat for some chain wrestling before Kushida backs off—a test of strength initiated by Bey. Next, Bey double-stomps Kushida on the back. Next, Bey throws a few punches, but Kushida returns with a springboard elbow off the ropes.
Outside the ring, Bey drives Kushida into the apron. They go back inside as Kushida kicks Bey’s arm and again flies out of the ring with a knee to the left arm. Back in, Kushida works the left arm until Bey gets to his feet and punches his way out. Then, Kushida applies a chinlock and ten dropkicks the left arm in the corner.
Kushida twists the arm in a hammerlock. Bey escapes and manages to kick Kushida on the outside. They double clothesline each other, and both are down. They beat the count right before 10. They throw punches in the middle of the ring for quite a bit until Bey breaks it up with kicks.
Bey uses his injured left arm for a strike in the corner. Bey drops Kushida with a near fall. They trade big kicks, and Bey falls out of the ring. Kushida goes up top and front flips onto Bey.
Kushida dropkicks the left arm and goes for a Hoverboard Lock, but Bey backs him off. Bey drops Kushida, but there’s another kick out. Bey goes for Art Of Finesse, but Kushida catches him with the Hoverboard Lock. Bey gets out and hits a spin kick then Kushida rolls Bey up into a small package for the win.
Winner: Kushida
Backstage, Santino Marella sits down with Tommy Dreamer & Bully Ray & Marella proposes a live Busted Open recording at No Surrender. Instead, they end up yelling at each other until Marella interferes and pitches a Beat The Clock challenge for next week.
After The IMPACT for 02/16/23
#1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way No Surrender Qualifying Match
Steve Maclin vs. Rhino
Rhino starts with a headlock. Steve Maclin breaks free and kicks Rhino. Rhino puts Maclin in the corner for chest chops. Maclin goes for a German suplex, but Rhino hits one of his own. Rhino lands a hip toss and teases the Gore, but Maclin rolls out of the ring.
Outside, Rhino delivers chops until he hits the ring post. After the break, Maclin beats down Rhino in the ring. Maclin clotheslines and goes for a cover, but it got a two count.
Maclin holds Rhino in the ropes for a running knee. Maclin places Rhino in the corner for a chop and kicks. Maclin applies a chinlock in the middle of the ring. Maclin goes for a diving headbutt, but Rhino rolls out of the way.
Rhino comes back with clotheslines and a shoulder in the corner & that gets a near fall. Next, Maclin throws forearms to the face, but Rhino counters with a spinebuster. Next, Maclin hits a Gore, but Rhino kicks out. Finally, Maclin hits Wake Up Call on Rhino to score the victory.
Winner: Steve Maclin
Gia Miller attempts to sit down with the #1 Contenders to the Knockouts Title, Masha Slamovich, but Slamovich keeps her answers short and in Russian. So instead, she invites Knockouts Champion Mickie James to watch her match tonight.
After The IMPACT for 02/16/23
Barry Horowitz vs. Johnny Swinger
Barry Horowitz walks down the ramp, and Johnny Swinger takes it to him when the bell rings. Horowitz manages to throw punches in the corner. Swinger goes for a neckbreaker, but The Demon walks out onto the stage & that distraction allows Horowitz rolls Swinger up for the win.
Winner: Barry Horowitz
Backstage Gia Miller interviews Moose. Moose reiterates that he is the wrestling god and will get even for what happened last week. Moose goes out and smashes a car window in. Marella runs out and reveals that it was his car that Moose was destroying. Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry walks up and has words that leads to Marella booking a Dot Combat match for the Digital Media Title at No Surrender.
After The IMPACT for 02/16/23
#1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way No Surrender Qualifying Match
Heath vs. Eddie Edwards
Heath has control to start with a boot in the corner before clotheslining Eddie Edwards out of the ring. Heath throws Edwards back in but eats a hip attack. Edwards dives out to take him down. Edwards throws Heath back in and delivers a knee to the head. Heath kicks out. Edwards throws jabs and covers again.
Heath hits his comeback with a running knee, and then a power slam goes for the cover, but Edwards kicks out. Edwards counters Wake Up Call, but Heath hits a spinebuster, then hooks the leg but only gets a two-count.
Heath goes up top and eats a kick to the head. Edwards hits a big superplex and a Tiger Driver for a near fall. Edwards with a big clothesline before trying another Tiger Driver when PCO’s thunder rumbles. Heath takes advantage and hits Wake Up Call to put Edwards away.
Winner: Heath
After the match, Edwards gets up as PCO enters the ring. Edwards & PCO brawl until PCO flattens him. PCO hits a reverse DDT and then goes up top, but Edwards rolls out.
The Design talks to Sami Callihan backstage. Frankie Kazarian & Yuya Umeura have challenged two members of The Design to a tag match next week.
Father James Mitchell cuts a promo with The Hex. He calls them the next Knockouts Tag Team Champions. The Hex also speak about returning to IMPACT as they have unfinished business. James bids them farewell.
After The IMPACT for 02/16/23
Masha Slamovich vs. Alisha Edwards
Alisha Edwards throws the first couple of chops, but Masha Slamovich eventually clotheslines her twice. Slamovich hits a snap suplex. Then, Alisha goes for a kick, but Slamovich catches her with a German suplex, followed by the Snow Plow for the victory.
Winner: Masha Slamovich
After the match, Slamovich applies a choke hold until Knockouts Champion Mickie James gets in to break it up. Then, Slamovich applies the rear naked choke on James until other officials try to break it up. Slamovich relents and retreats to the back.
Crazzy Steve cuts a backstage promo on Trey Miguel and issues a challenge for an X Division Title shot in a Monster’s Ball match.
Marella officially books Jonathan Gresham vs. Mike Bailey for No Surrender. Dirty Dango helps him book Gresham & Bailey vs. IMPACT World Tag Team Champions Motor City Machine Guns for next week. Barry Horowitz says he wants to chase a winning streak. Marella books Horowitz vs. Rhino, but he goes out on top.
After The IMPACT for 02/16/23
Rich Swann vs. Kenny King
Kenny King starts things off by taking Rich Swann to the corner with strikes. King runs at Swann, but Swann dodges, and King falls out of the ring. Swann tosses him back for a big crossbody; the cover only got a two-count. Next, Swann whips King across the ring a couple of times before a snap mare and kick to the back.
King catches Swann and drops him face-first into the turnbuckle. King clotheslines Swann and gets in a cover. King goes for a leg drop, but Swann avoids that and sends us to a break.
After the break, Swann clocks King with back fists and then a neckbreaker. Swann hits a big kick and covers. King rolls Swann up out of the corner and lands a big spinebuster. Swann hits a pump kick, but King fires back with a Superman Punch and scoop slam for the two.
After brief back & forth, Swann manages to hit a big poisonrana for a near fall. Swann with a spin kick to the midsection. King grabs Swann’s leg for a single-leg crab out of nowhere.
Swann reaches the bottom rope to break it up. King & Swann flatten each other by trading kicks. Swann lands a springboard cutter, but King kicks it out. Swann hits the Phoenix Splash on the mat as King rolls out. King hits Tiger Driver and hooks the leg, but Swann kicks out. King goes for Royal Flush, but Swann rolls him up for the victory.
Winner: Rich Swann
After the match, King beats Swann down quickly, then he grabs a chair, but IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander runs down. Swann goes to superkick King, but he moves, and Swann hits Alexander instead to close out this week’s IMPACT.
Next Week’s IMPACT
Beat The Chock Challenge
Tommy Dreamer vs. Jason Hotch
Beat The Clock Challenge
Bully Ray vs. Bhupinder Gujjar
Non-Title Match
IMPACT World Tag Team Champions Motor City Machine Guns vs. Mike Bailey & Jonathan Gresham
Knockouts Tag Team Champion Taya Valkyrie vs. Allysin Kay
X Division Title Monsters Ball Match
Trey Miguel (c) vs. Crazzy Steve
Tag Team Match
The Design (Sami Callihan & Deaner) vs. Yuya Uemura & Frankie Kazarian
No Surrender Card (February 24th) (Non-Spoilers)
Mike Bailey vs. Jonathan Gresham (Pre-Show)
Knockouts Title Match
Mickie James (c) vs. Masha Slamovich
IMPACT World Title Match
Josh Alexander (c) vs. Rich Swann
IMPACT World Title #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way Match
Brain Myers vs. PCO vs. Steve Maclin vs. Heath
6 Man Tag Team Match
Time Machine vs. Bullet Club
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Gisele Shaw (Pre Show)
Knockouts Tag Team Titles Match
Death Dollz (Taya Valkyrie & Jessicka) (c) vs. The Hex (Allysin Kay & Marti Belle)
Frankie Kazarian vs. Big Kon
Digital Media Title Dot Combat Match
Joe Hendry (c) vs. Moose
********
Stay tuned to Pro Wrestling Post for this and additional stories from the wrestling world. Readers can rely on Pro Wrestling Post as their daily source for everything inside the squared circle. As a result, readers can expect daily news, history, and much more.
Please visit IMPACT! Wrestling’s site here for news and information on the promotion and upcoming events pertaining to IMPACT are available on IMPACT+ and FITE TV’s official website. FITE+ currently boasts 1000+ hours of live action each year. $4.99 a month/$49.99 a year with a 7-day Free Trial.
