Impact Wrestling Preview (Jan. 25, 2018): Genesis is the end

Impact Wrestling returns tonight (Jan. 25) with their tenth episode from the November set of tapings.

Here is what’s advertised for tonight:

• Eli Drake (c) vs. Johnny Impact vs. Alberto El Patron for the Global championship in a steel cage
• Laurel Van Ness (c) vs. Allie for the Knockouts championship
• EC3 (c) vs. Matt Sydal for the Grand Championship - no rounds/no judges
• Moose vs. Lashley
• Ishimori (c) vs. Andrew Everett for the X Division championship

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

1) Is the end of the Global title match still going to contain some unknowns?

The chances are, you know the finish of the title match. If you don’t, I won’t spoil it here (though I have prior in past previews so you probably know). But when Impact went ahead and spoiled something big with the championship that happens next week, in essence, they spoiled the finish to this match as well.

So what’s should those of us who know the finish be looking for? Obviously, there’s a good chance the in ring action is entertaining. That doesn’t mean that there won’t be things that happen that take us by surprise. Even if we know who wins, we don’t know how. Or if something big is set up coming out of it.

There are definitely reasons to still watch for. It’s just a bummer that the ending isn’t one of them.

2) Is the Grand Championship getting rid of the rules for good?

Matt Sydal challenged EC3 for a Grand Championship match without rounds and judges because he wants Carter to prove he can beat him without any excuses. So for the first time in the short history of the title, this will be a regular ol’ match.

The style of this match has always had a problem fitting in. The story never really called for such a regimented match and they never had a full division/style that meshed with it. Could that mean that this is a permanent change, leading this to be a glorified TV title.

We won’t get the answers tonight, but the near future should let us know.

3) Is Moose’s career on the line tonight?

Moose will be taking on American Top Team’s Bobby Lashley tonight. He is looking for a measure of revenge for Top Team’s leader, Dan Lambert, retiring James Storm in an atrocity of a match.

Last week, they played a video promo where Dan Lambert hinted that he may get a chance to retire both James Storm (which he already has) and Moose. This could just mean that Lambert believes Lashley will beat Moose so badly that he’ll have no choice but to retire. But perhaps Lambert convinced the big man to put his career up for grabs as well. That hasn’t been announced as a stipulation, so probably not. If a career is on the line, it’d be clear going into it.

4) Is Everett still allied with the Helms Dynasty?

Tonight, Andrew Everett will challenge Taiji Ishimori for the X Division title. Everett has been an on again/off again member of the Helms’ dynasty. Last we checked, they were teaming together, but Everett has been absent this round of tapings.

This match is actually taped in Japan with Pro Wrestling NOAH. So even if Everett is representing the Carolina crew, they won’t be at ringside to have his back. It’s just as likely Everett is just doing his own thing over there separate of Trevor Lee and Caleb Konley.

5) How do they advertise next week?

This is the final episode from the November set of tapings. Next Thursday will finally start the latest shows from the more recent tapings, the set led by Scott D’Amore and Don Callis.

Do they tease what they’ve already spoiled weeks back? Outside that championship spoiler, there hasn’t been much the promotion has let on to what happens. Do they leave us blind going into next week or start teasing some of the bigger happenings?

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