On Thursday, March 2nd, 2023, IMPACT Wrestling aired another episode of IMPACT on AXSTV (United States) & Fight Network (Canada) as we review after The IMPACT for 03/02/23. We are on the road to Sacrifice. We got Mike Bailey is in action against Shane Haste, X Division Champion Trey Miguel goes 1 on 1 with PCO in a Non-Title Match & Kenny King is in action against Kevin Knight.
Kicking off this week’s IMPACT with Bullet Club’s Chris Bey & Ace Austin made their entrance for a promo. Bey took the mic and introduced him and Ace as the Ace & Bey Connection (ABC) of Bullet Club. Bey said that he & Austin have big plans for their future. Bey gave the Las Vegas crowd a shout-out and called the town Las Beygas. Bey talks about how he got his start in wrestling in Vegas and how he had his 1st Impact match in Vegas.
Bey talked about how he’s had some of his big moments in Vegas. Austin said he also started in Impact in Vegas. Austin said he also beat Chris Sabin in Vegas. Bullet Club talked about how they were influenced by the Motor City Machine Guns. Their promo was cut off by IMPACT World Tag Team Champions Motor City Machine Guns making their entrance.
Sabin said Bey & Austin were looking really cute right here. Sabin said that Bey & Austin have been a tag team recently, but the Motor City Machine Guns have been a tag team since Bey & Austin were in their respective mother’s wombs.
Sabin said the Motor City Machine Guns were the best but have gotten better over time. Sabin said both sets of IMPACT World Tag Team Titles show that they are the best tag team in the world. Austin said the Motor City Machine Guns are only champs because they never got a fair shot.
Bey challenged the Motor City Machine Guns to a match at Sacrifice. Shelley said that Bullet Club are doing their best Motor City Machine Guns imitation. Shelley said Bey can have even more history in Vegas, and they don’t have to wait until Sacrifice but rather have their match tonight. Bey & Austin shook the hands of the Motor City Machine Guns for a tense moment.
Gia Miller interviewed Shane Haste & Miller noted that Haste is facing Mike Bailey later. Haste hyped up the upcoming Multiverse show between NJPW & IMPACT. Haste said he loves the letters NJPW as much as he loves TMDK. Haste said Bailey was in for a fight later on. Haste said he’s going to treat Bailey like Karate Kid 3, the worst Karate Kid movie.
Gia Miller interviewed Rich Swann. Miller told Swann that he put in a good effort in his IMPACT World Title match. Swann said he did lose. He said he’s not going to let the loss deter him, and he’s going to go after the IMPACT World Title again.
The camera panned over to Raj Singh & Shera, who was randomly giving up $100 bills. Raj talked about how he and Shera made big bucks in Vegas. Swann said he’s not here for games, but he’s ready to kick some ass. Singh counted his cash and walked away, making sure Shera didn’t attack Swann.
After The IMPACT for 03/02/23
Mike Bailey vs. Shane Haste
Shane Haste started the match with a shoulder tackle, but Mike Bailey quickly did a kip-up. Haste stalled on the ropes a bit. Haste gave Bailey a snap mare and dropkick. Bailey recovered and hit Haste with a roundhouse. Bailey hit his rapid kicks and dropped haste off the apron with a boot and sweep kick. Haste blocks a dive with a punch and gave Bailey a backbreaker on the apron.
Haste gave Bailey’s arm a PK. Haste grinded Bailey’s head on the ring post. Haste slowed down the pace and worked on Bailey with the methodical offense. Haste got a two-count after a Saito Suplex that sends us to a break.
After the break, Haste hit Bailey with a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Bailey got a moment of respite after a missile dropkick. Bailey hit Haste with an Axe Kick combination. Bailey hits Haste with a standing Red Arrow. Haste blocks a Chamber Kick. Bailey & Haste traded strikes. Bailey slams Haste on the mat and hit him with a standing Ultima Weapon.
Haste recovered and hit Bailey with a few kicks and a high-angle suplex. Bailey rolled up Haste a few times and dumped him to ringside. Bailey hit Haste with a Triangle Moonsault. Haste blocked a Cyclone Kick and dodges an Ultima Weapon attempt. Haste hit Bailey with a high dropkick and Dynamic Bomb for a two-count.
Bailey reversed a powerbomb into a Poisonrana. Bailey took down Haste with a back kick, and Cyclone Kick followed by Ultima Weapon, scores the win.
Winner: ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey
The Design faction were having a meeting backstage. Angels advised Deaner that they should give up on Callihan after he bashed Kon in the head with a chair at No Surrender. Angels said he believes the rumors that Callihan is trying to destroy The Design from within. Rhino randomly showed up and got in Deaner’s face.
Rhino said he didn’t like how Violent By Design messed with his head. Sami Callihan showed up and got in Rhino’s face and said The Design is where he wants to be. Rhino said Callihan is not thinking clearly, and he’s going to have to knock some sense into Callihan. Rhino left, and Deaner said Callihan is about to embark on Step 6 of the 7 deadly steps.
After The IMPACT for 03/02/23
Kenny King vs. Kevin Knight
Kevin Knight wanted a handshake out of respect, but Kenny King gave him a right-hand punch. Knight came back with a tightrope arm drag and dropkick. King dodged a plancha and tossed Knight back into the ring. Knight came back with a flip dive. Knight hit King with a tackle in the corner. Knight was backdropped and turned inside out with a lariat.
King hit Knight with a sweep kick combo for a two-count. King reversed a springboard crossbody into a backbreaker for a two-count. King put Knight in a Camel Clutch. Knight rolled up King a few times for some two counts.
Knight hit King with a tilt-a-whirl Backbreaker and a springboard crossbody. King came back with a spinebuster for a two-count. King staggered Knight with a punch and then plants him with the Royal Flush for the win.
Winner: Kenny King
Footage aired of NJPW Battle Tn The Valley in San Jose. They aired footage of an 8 Man Tag Team Match that involved Kushida & Josh Alexander on opposing teams. Kevin Knight had picked up the win for Kushida’s team, while Alexander was kept out of the decision because Kushida had him in a Hoverboard Lock. Alexander & Kushida got in each other’s face after the match.
Gia Miller congratulated Josh Alexander for a successful IMPACT World Title defense at No Surrender. Miller noted that before Alexander faces Steve Maclin at Rebellion, he has to get past Kushida at Multiverse. Alexander said he lives for these challenges. Alexander noted he shouldn’t overlook Kushida because of how well-versed Kushida is.
Alexander said he took exception to Kushida holding on to the submission long after the bell rang at Battle In The Valley. Alexander noted that Sacrifice is before the Multiverse show. Alexander challenged Kushida to a 6 Man Tag Team match between Time Machine and a team that Alexander will put together.
Steve Maclin showed up to confront Alexander. Maclin begged Alexander to hold on to the IMPACT World Title at Multiverse because he wants to beat the longest-reigning IMPACT World Champion at Rebellion.
Footage aired of the live Busted Open Radio segment at No Surrender. The segment involved Bully Ray tossing hot coffee in Dreamer’s face.
IMPACT Wrestling doctor Dr. Ross Forman informed Santino Marella & Dirty Dango that Tommy Dreamer is doing fine aside from minor burns and retinal damage. Dango said God rest his soul. Forman said that Dreamer isn’t dead. Bully Ray showed up and asked how Dreamer was doing.
Ross reiterated that it was just minor burns. Bully mocks Dreamer for being overweight and having high cholesterol. Bully wondered if the fat bastard is still alive. Ross said Dreamer is alive. Bully said he can make sure that Dreamer isn’t alive. When Bully walked away, he walked into Bhupinder Gujjar. Bully said hey, Bupie!. Bhupinder said My name is Bhupinder.
Bully said no one gives a damn because no one will remember Gujjar in 10 years. Gujjar grabs Bully by the collar and pinned him against the door, saying that Dreamer is his friend and what Bully did was low. Bully calmly said that Gujjar should back down. Bully said he respects that Gujjar was sticking up for somebody. Bully then slapped Gujjar and walks away. Security guards had to hold Gujjar back.
Knockouts Champion Mickie James made her entrance & she talks about how she’s proud to have left No Surrender still the Knockouts Champion. She noted that people were all saying that Masha Slamovich was going to kill James and take the Knockouts Title. James said after all that; she’s still the champ. James talked about there also being controversy, Jordynne Grace claiming that James tap out in their Knockouts Title match.
Gisele Shaw, Jai Vidal & Savannah Evans made their entrance. Shaw claims that James faced Slamovich to dodge Grace. Shaw said James is only facing Grace to dodge her next real opponent. Shaw teased James about tapping out to the Rear Naked Choke. Shaw said James is just ducking out from facing her. James said she already beat Gisele Shaw on the Last Rodeo. Shaw said James hasn’t beaten This Gisele Shaw.
Shaw said she has a personal stylist now in Jai Vidal and a head of security in Savannah Evans. Shaw brags about how she tears apart tag teams. She said she owns who she is. She said she doesn’t just destroy tag teams but everything in her path. She said she was going to be the future Knockouts Champion.
Shaw said when James is done with Grace, Shaw’s next. James took the mic and said that Shaw doesn’t have to wait unit the Grace match. James said Shaw can ask for a match tonight.
Shaw said she can’t because she’s not dressed to compete. James said that’s the difference between Hardcore Country & Shaw. James said she doesn’t need wrestling gear to beat Gisele Shaw. Gail Kim made her entrance. Kim said that Shaw runs away way too often. Kim said that James has earned the right to call her own shots.
Kim books Mickie James vs. Gisele Shaw for the Knockouts Title for next week. Shaw & James jawed with each other, with Evans getting between them.
Backstage, Brian Myers was randomly talking to a truck driver before he was approached by Moose, who said that IMPACT still has a Joe Hendry problem. Myers said Moose has a Joe Hendry problem, not him. He said he doesn’t want to get involved because Matt Cardona got involved, and now he’s gone. Moose said he’s just here to help Myers regain the Digital Media Title. Moose said Myers didn’t even get his rematch for the Digital Media Title.
Myers asked what was in it for Moose. Moose said he wants to humiliate Joe Hendry, and he knows that Myers would be on board with that.
Jordynne Grace confronted Santino Marella & Dango backstage. Dango was randomly putting out caution tape for no reason. Grace said she’s ok with Shaw getting a Knockouts Title shot before her, but she wants to face the winner of the Shaw vs. James match by invoking her rematch clause. Marella agreed and books Grace in a Knockouts Title match at Sacrifice & Grace left.
Zicky Dice rolled over Johnny Swinger to Santino in Swinger’s ring cart. Swinger said that Scott D’Amore was just screwing him over, and nobody can do the 50-wins gimmick. Marella said Swinger couldn’t even beat Barry Horowitz. Swinger claimed that “Gene Simmons” has had it out for him for years. Dice said that Horowitz held on to the tights. Marella said he doesn’t care, but he’s allowing Swinger to face any opponent he wants
After The IMPACT for 03/02/23
Non-Title Match
Trey Miguel vs. PCO
Trey Miguel kept his distance by backing away from PCO. PCO no sold Miguel’s strikes and flapjacked him. PCO turned Miguel inside out with a lariat. PCO dumps Miguel to ringside with an exploder suplex. PCO gave Miguel a backbreaker at ringside. PCO crashed and burned on a suicida cannonball attempt after Miguel sidestepped PCO.
Miguel hit PCO with a kick and double stomp combo. PCO did the Undertaker sit up. PCO hit Miguel with a pop-up powerbomb. PCO hit Miguel with a Codebreaker and top rope leg drop. Eddie Edwards ran in and hit PCO in the back of the head with a shovel, which PCO no sold. The referee saw it and called for the DQ.
Winner By DQ: PCO
After the match, PCO hits Edwards with a Suicide Cannonball. PCO hits Edwards with a Chokeslam in the middle of the ring. Security Guards tried to hold back PCO, but he tossed them all back. PCO tried to give Edwards a moonsault, but Edwards ran into the crowd. PCO gave the security guards a moonsault. PCO posed with Edwards’s shovel.
After The IMPACT for 03/02/23
IMPACT World Tag Team Titles Match
Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) (c) vs. Bullet Club (Ace Austin & Chris Bey)
Chris Sabin & Ace Austin starts the match at a stalemate. Sabin wanted a handshake but Austin gave Sabin a Too Sweet. Sabin pie-faced Austin. Austin countered Sabin’s quick moves and gave Sabin a drop toehold into a kick. Alex Shelley tags in and gave Austin a kick.
Chris Bey tags in. Shelley gave Bey a shoulder tackle then Motor City Machine Guns traded quick tags to work on Bey with tandem moves. Austin tags in and worked on Motor City Machine Guns with tandem offense. Bullet Club hits Motor City Machine Guns with stereo dives. Bullet Club swarmed Shelley with kicks. Austin got a two-count.
Bey hit Shelley with his signature laminated playing card spot. Bey tags in and hit Shelley with a corner splash and corkscrew uppercut. Shelley gave Bey a diving knee to the shoulder. MCMG hits Bey with a high-low combination. Shelley hit Bey with a baseball slide. Shelley trips Austin off the apron. Shelley got a two count and floated into a Crossface. Bey got to the ropes for the break. Sabin hit Bey with a PK heading into the break.
After the break
Shelley tried to chop Bey, but hurt himself by chopping the ring post. Shelley also hurt himself by punching the post after Bey dodged. Shelley tossed Bey into the post and then stomped on the elbow of Bey. Bey got a window of opportunity after a backflip overhead kick. Ace took the hot tag and cleaned the house. Ace did a head stomp for a two-count. Bey hit The Guns with a flip dive.
Ace and Bey hit Sabin wtih a backflip and legdrop combo for a two count on Sabin. Sabin shoved Bey and Ace off the top rope and hit them with a high crossbody. Sabin hit Ace with a DDT. The Guns gave Ace double kicks. Ace did a backslide on Sabin for a two-count. Shelley hit Ace with a rope-assisted Dragon Screw. Sabin held Bey in place so Shelley could hit him with a Gamengiri to the shoulder.
Bey hits MCMG with desperation Cutters. Shelley blocked Bey’s springboard cutter finisher. Motor City Machine Guns hit Bey with a Doomsday Device Dropkick. Shelley hits Bey with Shellshock for a two-count. Shelley put Bey in a Crossface. Sabin gave Bey’s arm a PK to prevent the break. Sabin hit Austin with Cradle Shock.
Bey rolls up Shelley for a two-count. Motor City Machine Guns gave Bey stereo Buzzsaw Kicks. Austin shoves away MCMG. Bullet Club hits Sabin with stereo Savate Kicks. Bey hits Shelley with an assisted Cutter follow. The Fold scores the win.
Winners: AND NEW IMPACT World Tag Team Champions: Bullet Club
Next Week’s IMPACT
Knockouts Title Match
Mickie James (c) vs. Gisele Shaw
Sami Callihan vs. Rhino
Jonathan Gresham vs. Kushida
Sacrifice Card So Far (March 24th)
Knockouts Title Match
Mickie James or Gisele Shaw (c) vs. Jordynne Grace
6 Man Tag Team Match
IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander, TBD & TBD vs. Time Machine (Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin & Kushida)
IMPACT & NJPW Multiverse Of Matches: Only The Strong Will Survive Card (March 30th)
Non-Title Match
IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander (IMPACT) vs. Kushida (NJPW)
Mike Bailey (IMPACT) vs. Will Ospreay (NJPW)
Moose (IMPACT) vs. Jeff Cobb (NJPW)
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