By Jason Powell
Impact Wrestling on PopTV
Taped in February in Orlando, Florida at Universal Studios
[Q1] The show opened with a shot of Dutch Mantell, Bruce Prichard, Josh Mathews, Jeremy Borash, and Raphael Morffi sitting in a boardroom “earlier today.” Mathews told Borash that if he has any say in what happens in the company they should all be looking for other things to do. They agreed to some motion that was brought up before the show. They spoke about EC3 briefly and then Karen Jarrett interrupted and told them to have Sienna meet her in the ring later. Mathews and Borash went back to bickering. Prichard threatened to make changes to the broadcast team. Borash suggested they replace Mathews with his wife, saying he’s not even the best broadcaster in his family…
A video package recapped Karen Jarrett’s return to television last week… The broadcast team was Josh Mathews, Jeremy Borash, and “Pope” D’Angelo Dinero…
Karen Jarrett headed to the ring. The fans chanted “fire Josh” and she said she put that on her list last night. Karen brought up Maria leaving the company and said it has led to some extremely ugly and unprofessional behavior in the Knockouts locker room. Karen said she wouldn’t tolerate bullying in her house. She called out Sienna, who came to the ring. Mathews laughed at the idea of bullying.
Karen said she hasn’t heard one positive word about Sienna from the locker room, backstage, or from the male wrestlers. She said she wouldn’t tolerate bullying in her house. Karen told Sienna to tell her if she has a problem. Sienna questioned who told her this. Karen said it’s none of her business and as her boss she doesn’t owe her an explanation. Sienna said Allie was responsible. The fans chanted Allie.
Karen told Sienna to take a step back. Sienna told her that she got to Impact Wrestling on her own ability, not because of who she married. “Dropping some reality,” Mathews said on commentary. Karen said Sienna has no idea how she got there. She said there are things she did 10 or 15 years ago that she regrets. Karen gave Sienna 15 seconds to apologize. “Or what?” Sienna asked. Karen started to count down until she was interrupted by entrance music.
A man headed to the ring. The broadcast team acted like they were unsure who the man was. Pope said he has a connection to Sienna. The man introduced himself as KM and said he’s the cousin of Sienna. He yelled at Karen to show his family the respect they deserve. KM told her to shut the hell up. KM started his own apology countdown. Braxton Sutter and Allie ran out and cleared the two heels from the ring. Karen scolded them for talking to her the way they did. Karen booked KM vs. Sutter for later in the show…
Powell’s POV: Stephanie McMahon has competition for most obnoxious authority figure. Karen was overbearing and unlikable in this segment. I’d love to hear about these things she did 10-15 years ago to get into the business. Is there more to the story than her being married to two pro wrestlers? If they are going to have the heels point out the obvious then they need to come up with a good defense for her. This didn’t cut it. KM (Kevin Mathews) was obnoxious and unlikable as a good heel should be.
[Q2] [C] An X Division showcase video aired with DJZ, Trevor Lee, and Andrew Everett talking about themselves and the division…
1. DJZ vs. Andrew Everett. Borash said Z and Everett are the fastest two wrestlers in the division. Mathews spoke about the new working agreement with the AAA promotion. Z performed a nice flip dive over the top rope and onto Everett on the floor. Everett went for a moonsault, but Z put his boots up. Z went for his finisher, but Everett countered into an inside cradle for the win…
Andrew Everett beat DJZ in 4:30.
After the match, Gregory Shane Helms and Trevor Lee walked onto the stage. Helms said it was a big win for Everett, who isn’t used to winning. He said it was a one in a row streak. Helms said it takes more than one win to earn a shot at the X Division Title. Helms said he’s a generous man and “opportunity will be yours” next week…
The broadcast team hyped Rosemary’s “Knockouts Burial Celebration” for after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: Everett is a really talented guy who needs to put some work in on his hair and physique. I don’t say that to be cruel. Rather, it’s a cosmetic business and his look stands out in a negative way. Is the Helms promo another indication that the champions call the shots as far as who they defend the title against?
[Q3] Borash stood in the ring and introduced Knockouts Champion Rosemary. Mathews spoke about being close to his dream of having a one-man broadcast booth. He said he had an idea that he was going to approach Borash with later in the show. Borash asked Rosemary who is left for her to defeat.
Rosemary called herself the Demon Assassin and boasted about what she has done to the other Knockouts. ODB’s music played and she headed to the ring. ODB said she’s a four-time Knockouts Champion and an original Knockout. She said Rosemary wouldn’t be standing in the ring if it wasn’t for her and others. She said she would become a five-time champion. Rosemary said ODB might consider herself worthy, but “the hive” disagrees.
Rosemary went to leave, but Brandi Rhodes, Madison Rayne, Rebel, and some of the newcomers walked out, causing Rosemary to return to the ring. Rayne said she has been Knockouts Champion more times than everyone in the ring collectively. She wants her shot. Brandi said she wants a shot. Diamante from LAX said she wasn’t there to talk. A brig brawl broke out between the Knockouts…
Powell’s POV: Rosemary hasn’t had enough title defenses for anyone to act like she’s plowed through everyone as a dominant champion, so that felt like a reach. I guess this was their way of showing off all the new Knockouts and the potential challengers that she has yet to face. It was an awkward introduction for some of the new faces.
Mathews called Borash a mark for passing out backstage passes during the commercial break. Mathews called him a slap nuts..
Powell’s POV: Mathews is feuding with Karen Jarrett, yet he used Jeff Jarrett’s favorite insult.
[Q4] EC3 made his entrance and slapped hands with fans on his way to the ring. On commentary, Pope tried to play peacemaker. Mathews said he knew Borash would never wrestle him, but he suggested they both put teams together. Borash said it was a terrible idea.
EC3 apologized to Karen Jarrett for things he said the previous week. He said he’s a bit of a hot head and he said some things that he didn’t mean. He said Impact Wrestling is changing and he needs to change along with it. EC3 said he needs to rebrand, retool, and do what he does best. He said he needs to be the guy who beat everyone and dropped a nuclear bomb on the Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame.
“I need to be the real EC3,” he said. EC3 said he was champion twice, which puts him on the level of someone who is Phenomenal, someone who has the It Factor, and Lashley. EC3 said he won’t rest until he becomes a three-time champion.
James Storm walked out without entrance music and took exception with EC3 not mentioning his name. EC3 said he was referring to multiple time world champions. Storm said he respects EC3 and what he’s accomplished in short order. Storm said he was on the first pay-per-view and questioned where EC3 was. EC3 said he watched at his friend’s house and he was in high school.
Storm continued to talk about the things he did in the company and questioning where EC3 was. He brought up Beer Money and asked EC3 where he was. “I was drinking a lot of beer and spending a lot of money,” EC3 said. Storm said that was a good answer. Storm said they both want to be Impact Champion. Storm said that if anyone deserves a last call it’s him.
EC3 praised Storm and said he respects the hell out of him. EC3 said it’s a decision that’s beyond them and the office. EC3 said he thinks the next challenger should be decided by the people. They both played to the crowd at ringside and then continued to do it once they returned to the ring. EC3 said it might be Storm’s last call, but he has it on good authority that the people will make the right call. EC3’s music played. Storm and EC3 shook hands while Mathews questioned the idea of letting the fans decide. Borash questioned what Alberto El Patron would have to say…
The broadcast team mentioned Cody vs. Moose for the Grand Championship… A brief feature aired on Laredo Kid and Garza Jr. heading into while a graphic hyped the Impact Wrestling Tag Title match for later in the show…
Powell’s POV: A solid segment with EC3 and Storm, but the idea of the fans choosing the challenger is an odd one. I guess we’ll see where it goes. My guess is that the fans choose Storm and that pushes EC3 into his heel turn. Meanwhile, it’s odd that we’re nearly an hour into the show and they’re just starting to crank up the hype for the two title matches. You’d think that would have been the big selling point right out of the gate.
[Q5] A Reno Scum video aired. They said winning the titles would be validation and people will stop throwing garbage at them… Mathews set up a video package on Cody, Brandi, and Moose…
2. Moose vs. Cody (w/Brandi Rhodes) for the Impact Wrestling Grand Championship. Cody wore the Global Force Wrestling NEXGEN Title to the ring. Mathews said the judge’s made the wrong call in ruling in favor of Moose when he beat Drew Galloway for the title. With 55 seconds left in the first round, Cody tried to superkick Moose at ringside. Moose moved and Cody’s kick took out one of the judges. Back in the ring, Cody performed a hangman’s DDT before the end of the round. Borash hyped the judge’s scores after the break. [C]
Bruce Prichard replaced the injured judge. Moose won the first round 2-1. Mathews questioned whether Prichard was even watching backstage. He said the match should be thrown out. Cody lured Moose to charge at him and then pulled down the top rope. Cody tried to leap onto Moose at ringside, but Moose caught him and slammed him onto the apron. Cody pulled Brandi in front of him and took a cheap shot at Moose. Cody applied the figure four back inside the ring to end the round.
[Q6] Cody won the second round 2-1. Cody celebrated the round and kissed the ring. He tried to give Brandi a kiss, but she put her hand up and told him they can kill themselves if they want to. Brandi stormed out before the start of round three. Cody cut off Moose’s offense with a Beautiful Disaster kick. The wrestlers traded punches and knocked each other down. They stood up and traded punches again as the time expired. Borash entered the ring and said there was a split decision. Moose was named the winner by winning the third round 2-1…
Moose defeated Cody to retain the Impact Grand Championship via split decision.
An Eddie Edwards and Davey Richards feud video aired. Edwards vs. Richards in a Last Man Standing match was advertised for next week. The broadcast team hyped KM vs. Braxton Sutter for after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: Mathews heeled it up by siding with Cody throughout the match and complained about the ruling afterward. Mathews was being a heel, but Pope should have spoke up louder in defense of the judging, as Mathews was a little too convincing. The match was decent, but that’s enough to make it the highlight of what has been a talk heavy night thus far.
An Eli Drake “Make Impact Great” video aired. He spoke about himself briefly and then spoke about the stars and the rising stars. He said he is head and shoulders above the rest and people can see that…
The broadcast team recapped Moose vs. Cody. Mathews continued to complain about the judge ruling. Karen Jarrett approached Borash and handed him some papers. Mathews threw a fit. Borash stood up and announced to the crowd that there would be a gauntlet battle royal next week to determine the new No. 1 contender to the Knockouts Championship…
[Q7] 3. KM (w/Sienna) vs. Braxton Sutter (w/Allie). Sienna and Karen crossed paths on the ramp before the match. The bigger KM dominated the early offense. Sutter came back and performed a neckbreaker off the middle rope. Sienna grabbed Allie, which distracted Sutter. KM performed a powerbomb onto his knees for the win…
KM beat Braxton Sutter in 3:30.
Allie and Sienna fought after the match. KM tried to grab Allie, but Sutter recovered and pulled him off. The babyface couple cleared the ring. Laurel Van Ness walked onto the stage in her wedding gown with a bottle in her hand and makeup smeared all over her face…
At the LAX clubhouse(?), Konnan told Homicide that they have to leave with the tag titles. Diamante told Konnan that she has Rosemary “on lock.” Konnan fired up the two new male members. A graphic hyped the tag title match for after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: A cool finishing move by KM, who looks really big in the ring with Sutter. I’m not sure the post match bit to even things up was worth it in that it took away from KM’s debut. They tell the same joke with Van Ness every week and you either like it or you’re tired of it. Let’s just say I’m looking forward to the next set of tapings and whatever comes next for her.
A video featured a woman walking down the steps and looking at photos of Braxton Sutter and Allie. The “Fury Will Be Unleashed” graphic hyped the debut for April 13. Mathews said the future doesn’t look bright for the home wrecker because justice is coming… Ring entrances for the tag title match took place…
Powell’s POV: If they want viewers to care about Allie then they have to give her promo time to remind them of what makes her so lovable. Watching her stand in Braxton Sutter’s corner isn’t cutting it.
[Q8] 4. Santana and Ortiz (w/Konnan, Homicide, Diamante) vs. Abyss and Crazzy Steve (w/Rosemary) vs. Reno Scum vs. Laredo Kid and Garza Jr. for the vacant Impact Wrestling Tag Titles. Mathews explained that two men were allowed in the ring at once, but the wrestlers could tag in anyone. Garza ripped his tearaway pants off. Kid performed a cool dropkick on Decay. A short time later, Kid performed a big dive off the top rope onto all of his opponents on the floor. Garza followed up with a dive of his own. [C]
LAX was dominating the action when Rosemary entered the ring. Diamante ran in and tackled her and they fought to ringside. A short time later, Ortiz caught Kid going for a move off the ropes, then tagged in Santana, who performed a blockbuster off the top rope onto Kid, who was on the shoulders of Ortiz. LAX celebrated the tag title win after the match to close the show…
LAX’s Santana and Ortiz defeated Decay, Reno Scum, and Laredo Kid and Garza Jr. in 11:50 to win the vacant Impact Wrestling Tag Titles.
Powell’s POV: The LAX entrance is already the coolest entrance in the company. Garza and especially Kid are really fun and the big dives heading into the break were a nice hook for the remainder of the match. LAX winning feels like the right move because they strike me as a team that can work with babyface and heel opponents. I am definitely looking forward to them working standard tag matches with Kid and Garza as well as Decay.
Creative did a poor job of making the title matches feel important. There was so much talking in the first hour, yet none of it focussed on the the Grand Championship or the fact that new tag champions would be crowned. Why has Alberto El Patron played such a small part as the tapings have gone on? He is advertised for next week so that’s nice, but it’s odd that they didn’t try to keep the momentum going by at least featuring him in backstage interviews. That said, the second hour had more in-ring action and saved this show.
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