Impact Wrestling preview (Nov. 30, 2017): Vacant reigns supreme

Impact Wrestling returns tonight (Nov. 30) with their forth episode from the most recent set of tapings.

Here’s what’s advertised for tonight:

• Johnny Impact vs. Alberto El Patron
• The Knockout’s championship tournament begins
• James Storm vs. Texano
• Matt Sydal vs. Dyson Dux
• LAX speaks
• Hakim Zayn vs. Ishimori

As per usual, here are our five questions about Impact tonight:

1) Who is going to the finals of the Knockouts championship tournament?

Tonight is the first of two triple threat matches, where the winners will go and fight one on one to crown a new Knockout’s champion. They haven’t specified who’s in which match. But it’ll still be fun to guess who’s going to the finals.

The six participants are Madison Rayne, KC Spinelli, Laurel Van Ness, Rosemary, Sienna, and Allie.

While upsets are always possible, I think it’s safe to take Spinelli and Madison off the list. This is KC’s first time actually in the Impact Zone (she was part of a couple matches that aired from Border City Wrestling) and Madison is likely just helping fill out the numbers.

Laurel Van Ness has done great character work while at Impact and I wouldn’t be super shocked if she advanced, but I’m still thinking that the most likely group is two of either Sienna, Rosemary, and Allie.

I’m going to guess Allie and Rosemary. Sienna being left out would be a bit surprising, but it’d freshen things up not to see Rosemary vs. Sienna again. Sienna vs. Allie could work but they really shouldn’t leave Rosemary out of the finals.

2) Can the Alberto/Johnny Impact issues be contained in a standard match?

Tonight’s match between Alberto El Patron and Johnny Impact is being billed as a grudge match. But it’s also just a regular ol’ one on one match. No stipulations. Nothing goes to the winner but pride.

Last time we saw these two, they were fighting all over the backstage area into the arena. It was heated and personal. It certainly didn’t feel like something that’s going to be resolved in a match that doesn’t involve weapons.

Perhaps this never gets off the ground because they attack each other too early and the referee can’t control it. Perhaps they resort to weapons during the match resulting in a DQ. And then there’s always Champion Eli Drake, who likely knows he’ll have to contend with one of these guys at one point, if not both. He may decide to use this opportunity to get the drop on them.

3) Are LAX going to issue a challenge for the tag team titles?

We’re set to hear from the Latin American Exchange tonight. And most likely, they’re going to make their intentions to reclaim the tag team championships known.

They lost the titles prior to Bound for Glory and Sami Callihan helped oVe retain them at the PPV. But last week, LAX won a 3 on 3 match against oVe & Callihan. Surely, that’s enough for them to at least lay claim to a tag team championship match.

Whether they may have other business remains to be seen. For awhile, LAX was trying to get their fingers in every pie. But currently, they only have a tag team and don’t have someone else to compete in the X Division, the heavyweight division, or the Knockouts division (my understand is Diamante was hurt this round of tapings.) But they can always try to recruit someone new.

4) Are James Storm and Texano fighting for cowboy supremacy?

They damn well better be! Both dudes wear cowboy hats and Texano even carries around a bull rope. If they’re not going to put a cowboy hat on a pole, they should at least make this for Cowboy pride.

James Storm always has some issues with American Top Team, which is Bobby Lashley’s MMA group. He better watch his back or they may prevent him from earning the title of Supreme Cowboy.

5) Is Chris Adonis and Eli Drake on the same page after the turkey suit fiasco?

Last week, Eli Drake didn’t only have to watch his friend get forced into wearing that embarrassing turkey suit, but then Adonis accidentally hit Drake in the face with a pie.

Is the champ a forgiving guy or is he going to be miffed with Adonis after the wackiness rom last week?

Impact Wrestling airs tonight at 8 EST on Pop TV. Who’s watching?