Impact Wrestling preview (Oct. 4, 2018): Lacking

Impact Wrestling returns tonight from Fronton Mexico in Mexico City. It is the third episode from the most recent set of tapings.

Advertised for tonight:

• Rich Swann vs. Matt Sydal
• Joe Hendry vs. Murder Clown
• Su Yung vs. Kiera Hogan
• Eli Drake’s open challenge continues
• Scarlett Bordeaux tries to find a client to take her to the top
• What will LAX do next?

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

1) Will things pick up prior to Bound for Glory?

It’s only two episode of television before their big BFG pay-per-view (PPV) at the Melrose Ballroom in New York City. But it doesn’t feel that way.

While Impact was really hitting their storytelling groove headed into Slammversary, it feels like they’ve lost that on their way into this PPV.

Johnny Impact’s feud with Austin Aries fails to excite. Even with Aries feud with Moose at Slammiversary, the champ made sure to say what he needed in order to make it personal. But outside a three on one attack, this title feud feels pretty ho hum.

While Eddie Edwards’ match with Moose makes sense in the storyline, it feels like the least interesting thing Eddie has done since slowly losing his mind due to Sami Callihan.

Other matches feel like retreads of matches they had at Slammiversary to some degree, such as the oVe match against the Lucha Bros. and Brian Cage or the LAX rematch. The only match that actually feels exciting right now is the Knockouts title match between Taya Valkyrie and Tessa Blanchard and even that is just going on strength of characters.

They have two weeks to kick it into high gear and make BFG feel like the biggest PPV of the year for the promotion that it’s supposed to be. Let’s see if they find that spark tonight.

2) Will we get new talent coming in after BFG?

One of the reasons Impact has to stall its storytelling is because of an overall thin roster. PPVs are a good spot to bring in new additions to the roster and they can desperately use more wrestlers to give them more creative options.

Su Yung has been feuding on and off with Allie (and now Kiera Hogan) for awhile. While overall the stories in the KOs division have been good, they have to seemingly recycle matches to keep the thread moving.

There are a couple free agents on the market to keep an eye on. Supposedly Tenille Dashwood (fka Emma) was a free agent after her Ring of Honor match last Friday. However, most recent word is she needs shoulder surgery and plans to sign with ROH, taking her off the table. If Taya is going to be back full time and Rosemary is back soon, that should help bolster the division. If that’s not the case, they should try to bring a couple more women in.

Another big free agent is Neville, who just started wrestling against in Dragon Gate. But we don’t know if that’s it for him or just returning home to start his indie career back up. I know I wouldn’t be opposed to Neville vs. Aries with the rolls reversed.

And of course there’s, Chris Jericho, who Impact loves to remind us of. Just the other week, Aries called himself the best in the world at what he does, which is one of Y2J’s many catchphrases. Is Jericho on his way to Impact to face Aries? Probably not. But I wouldn’t be that surprised if he showed up at Bound for Glory.

3) How does the Swann/Sydal match transition to a BFG match?

Most likely, Rich Swann will face Matt Sydal at Bound for Glory. That has been the looks of things ever since they crossed paths, and Sydal insisted he can help Rich Swann.

They extended the story by having them team up against the Lucha Bros in a losing effort. Now they’re set for a match tonight, just a week plus from BFG.

They could go the non-finish route. Or they could have Sydal pick up a dirty win and then add a stipulation on their bigger match in New York. It’s tough to give fans part of a match and then tell them to pay for it again in a week, but we’ll see how they navigate that.

4) Is Scarlett Bordeaux mainly going to be a manager?

Smoke show Scarlett Bordeaux has been in Impact for two plus months know and has yet to lace up her boots for a television match. Given her next move is going to be finding someone to manager, it’s possible in-ring competitor isn’t going to be a major role for her.

I’m always very curious to find out who they pair her with. She is clearly looking for a singles star she can take all the way to the top. (Meaning I doubt she’ll be managing any tag teams.) With the roster as thin as it is, I can’t think of one person who is upper midcard who could use a small addition to help take them to the top.

Venture any guesses below.

5) Will Joe Hendry have a song for Murder Clown?

If he does, it may be the last he ever sings.

Impact Wrestling returns tonight at 8 ET on Pop TV. Who’s watching?