Impact Wrestling Preview (Jan. 4, 2018): Championship Showcase

Impact Wrestling returns tonight (Jan. 4) with the final episode from the most recent set of tapings.

Here’s what’s advertised for tonight:

• Eli Drake (c) vs. Alberto El Patron for the Impact heavyweight championship
• oVe (c) vs. LAX for the tag team championships, if LAX loses, they must disband
• James Storm vs. Dan Lambert career vs. career in a no holds barred match
• Chandler Park in ring debut
• EC3 (c) vs. Fallah Bahh vs. Matt Sydal for the Grand Championship
• Trevor Lee (c) vs. Ishimori for the X Division championship

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

1) Is this the end of the road for Eli Drake?

Drake has done very well holding onto his title since winning it last summer. However tonight he may be facing his biggest threat: a very angry Alberto El Patron.

Patron is incensed that he was stripped of his title and suspended. In his mind, Drake isn’t champion until Eli beats him. Since returning at Bound for Glory, Alberto has been vicious in his goal to win back his championship.

Drake will surely have Chris Adonis in his corner, but that may not even be enough. And of course there’s the X Factor of Johnny Impact, who still has beef with both men.

Will next week’s new taping start with a new champion? My guess is no. I think that this will eventually lead to a triple threat. But nothing is impossible.

2) How overbooked will the Storm/Lambert match be?

It weird that a possible career ending match for James Storm is against a man who is not a wrestler. For this match to even be competitive, it’ll have to be completely overbooked.

It’s a no holds barred match, which nowadays means no DQ. So all of American Top Team, including Bobby Lashley can get involved. Moose can help out the Cowboy on his behalf. It’s going to be chaotic and out of control. There’s little question in my mind on that one. Whether it comes off sloppy remains to be seen.

3) What happens if LAX loses?

Konnan said LAX would disband if his boys don’t beat oVe for the titles tonight. What does that mean?

Does it mean they’ll leave Impact and we won’t see them again? That would be disappointing since Ortiz and Santana are very talented. Does it mean that everyone sticks around but aren’t working together? That wouldn’t really fit for Konnan, who’s only on-screen job is to be the mouth piece for the group. Or would it mean an exit for Konnan and Homicide but the young guys stick around?

Of course, it this all will be moot if the 5150 win that gold back.

4) Does Chandler Park have the same dark side as his cousin?

Chandler Park has a wrestling match tonight and I’m dying to know if he has the same darkness Joseph Park does. Joseph can’t wrestle. But when he sees his own blood, he blacks out and his alter ego Abyss takes over. Does All Ego have a similar alter ego? Do the Parks have a shared monster?

I’m seriously pumped to find out.

5) Where’s Petey?

Three weeks ago, Kongo Kong, at the behest of Jimmy Jacobs, powerbombed Petey Williams into the crowd and walked out of the arena with the limp Canadian over his shoulder.

So... uh... where is he? Is this some Kane’s red boiler room stuff? Is he going to be gone for awhile? Am I going to see him on the side of a milk carton soon?

Inquiring minds want to know.

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