Last week’s episode of IMPACT Wrestling was a historic one, to be sure. Executive VP Scott D’Amore addressed the fact that Kenny Omega is now IMPACT World Champion. During his in-ring promo, he announced a series of qualifying matches for a 6-way match for #1 Contendership at Under Seige. D’Amore also added that he would strip Kenny Omega of the IMPACT World Championship if he failed to appear that night. Omega barely beat the clock, showing up during the main event with Don Callis and The Good Brothers in tow. Omega and The Good Brothers then laid into Sami Callihan and Eddie Edwards, causing a DQ finish. This week, we expect to see three more qualifying matches, along with knockouts action and an IMPACT Wrestling Debut as we Brace for IMPACT for 5/6/21.
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Brace For IMPACT for 5/6/21
Under Siege Qualifying Matches
Trey Miguel vs Rohit Raju (w/Mahabali Shera)
It seems like Trey Miguel has an uphill battle every time he faces Rohit Raju. The last time they faced off in singles competition was during Rohit’s run as X-Division Champion. On September 22nd, Trey Miguel defeated Chris Bey and TJP to become #1 Contender, and Raju offered him the title match immediately after.
Trey took him up, starting the match then and there, but The Desi Hitman rolled him up to retain within six seconds. This time, Rohit has his Desi Hit Squad teammate Mahabali Shera at ringside. Knowing The Desi Hitman, it’s likely Shera will have an appreciable impact on the match. However, it’s possible that Trey Miguel has learned from his past encounters with Raju.
Rhino (w/Violent By Design) vs. Chris Sabin (w/James Storm)
Fresh off their clash at Rebellion, Violent By Design will clash with Sabin & Storm yet again. This time, Rhino faces off against Chris Sabin for the right to compete for #1 Contendership. While both of these men have held the top title in IMPACT, they were world champions at very different eras.
Rhino last captured the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Jeff Jarrett in 2005, while Sabin defeated Bully Ray at Destination X in 2013. The last time Rhino faced Chris Sabin in singles competition was in 2005 when Rhino defeated an up-and-coming Chris Sabin. Both men have come a long way since then, but we’ll see who’s come the furthers when they square of this Thursday night.
Moose vs. James Storm
Sabin’s tag team partner James Storm will also see action this Thursday night when he faces Moose. This match seems right up Moose’s alley, seeing as he spent 2020 as reigning, defending TNA World Heavyweight Champion. In that time, he would only defend the unsanctioned title against TNA Originals, and James Storm is as TNA Original as they come.
Most interestingly, these two have never crossed paths in singles action. While they have shared a ring, most of their experience together comes from a short-lived tag team run in 2017. Analyzing the match, it seems like anyone’s game. These are two of the strongest men in IMPACT Wrestling, and they’re bound to tear the house down on this week’s IMPACT on AXS.
Brace For IMPACT for 5/6/21
Taylor Wilde vs. Susan (w/Kimber Lee)
Last week, Taylor Wilde made her return to IMPACT Wrestling after a decade in retirement. This week, she intends to follow up with a victory over one of Purrazzo’s proteges, Susan. While Lee is tasked with reclaiming the lost honor from last week, The Virtuosa will be paying close attention.
Should Taylor Wilde defeat another of her minions, she might find herself next in line for the Knockouts Championship. This makes it an excellent time for Purrazzo to get to know her weaknesses and how to exploit them for a later match.
Doc Gallows (w/Karl Anderson) vs. Juice Robinson (w/David Finlay)
For a whole month, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson were chomping at the bit for their championship rematch with FinJuice. The IMPACT World Tag Team Champions had been away, working for New Japan Pro Wrestling. When David Finlay & Juice Robinson returned at Rebellion, we expected The Good Brothers to stand alongside Kenny Omega as champions, but FinJuice pinned them for a second time.
As such, Gallows & Anderson have to earn another title match. This has made The Good Brothers absolutely furious, but will that anger come into play when Gallows faces Juice Robinson in singles action Thursday night?
Brace For IMPACT for 5/6/21
Kiera Hogan (w/Tasha Steelz) vs. Rachael Ellering (w/Jordynne Grace)
When Jazz formally retired from wrestling, she left Jordynne Grace without a tag team partner. However, Jazz wasted no time finding Grace a suitable replacement. The following week, Jordynne Grace took on Kiera Hogan in a singles match that broke down into a beatdown angle. As the Knockouts Tag Team Champions laid into Jordynne Grace, Rachael Ellering made her IMPACT Wrestling debut. The daughter of the legendary Paul Ellering came to make the save, and that weekend at Rebellion, Grace & Ellering captured the Knockouts Tag Team Championship.
Fire ‘n Flava still have their rematch clause, but they intend to soften up Grace & Ellering before their next match. This week we see Rachael Ellering make her singles debut in IMPACT Wrestling as she takes on Kiera Hogan. The only question is: Can these two keep it to a singles match?
El Phantasmo Debuts
It seems Tony Khan’s ‘Forbidden Door’ is still open, as NJPW Junior Heavyweight standout El Phantasmo debuts in IMPACT on Thursday night. El Phantasmo is a two-time Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion and Super J Cup winner. He joins FinJuice on the list of current NJPW stars in IMPACT Wrestling. However, most interestingly, Phantasmo is a member of the current incarnation of Bullet Club.
This opens some interesting directions he could go in IMPACT Wrestling. With the right words to Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers, we might see Bullet Club come to IMPACT. Or maybe Phantasmo takes a similar path to FinJuice and dominates the X Division. Regardless of what happens, expect pulse-pounding, high-flying action when El Phantasmo debuts in IMPACT Wrestling.
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