Impact Wrestling returns tonight (Nov. 1) from the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York. It is the second episode from the most recent set of tapings.
Advertised for tonight:
- Tessa Blanchard (c) vs. Taya Valkyrie for the Knockouts championship
- LAX (c) vs. Matt Sydal & Ethan Page
- Rich Swann vs. Willie Mack
- Pentagon Jr. vs. Homicide
- Desi Hit Squad in action
As per usual, here are our five questions about Impact tonight:
1) Is this the final match between Tessa & Taya?
The Knockouts title match tonight is a rematch from Bound for Glory, where Taya and Tessa tore it down in what I’d argue was the match of the night. That was under three weeks ago.
There wasn’t a build to their first match and the last two weeks was just Taya baiting Tessa into giving her this return bout. Meaning if the feud ends tonight, we lost out on a build that showcases that uber confident attitudes of both women butting heads.
While a proper build would be something I’d like to see, running rematches multiple times is hardly a creative way of telling a story. So tonight may very well be it.
Either way, if this comes close to their match at Bound for Glory, it’s worth getting some eyes on.
2) Is it too soon for Kross to have a title match?
Last week’s Impact ended with Killer Kross laying out Johnny Impact backstage. This was the set up to an already announced title match between the two next week.
This is a big step for Kross, who just a few weeks ago was living in the shadow of Austin Aries. Now Aries is gone, and he has stepped into that main event spot himself.
It’s a good trajectory but rather quick for a man who hasn’t had many matches, and I would argue, no high profile singles matches. Compare this to Brian Cage, who could have been there ages ago but they’ve opted to go the very slow route with him.
Being in the world title scene is good, but they’ll have to navigate Kross losing his first real feud when it’s all said and done.
3) Will Willie Mack and Rich Swann’s friendship be unaffected?
It was a bit odd that Willie Mack chose his friend as his first singles match in Impact. Two friends can compete, but they’re not often asking for it.
Even if he just wanted good competition from a man he trusts, we’ll be keeping an eye on whether or not this leaves any cracks in their friendship. Especially if Mack wins.
Rich recently lost an X Division title match against Brian Cage. A loss tonight would put him on a two-match skid. (He won alongside Willie Mack at Bound for Glory, but prior to that, he lost another singles match against Matt Sydal.) Will another loss start trying his patience? Will the fact that loss is against the friend he brought into the promotion be a tough pill to swallow?
4) What is King’s plan?
Last week, King felt he had a plan for the OGz to get their hands on LAX without outwardly defying the boss’s orders. The beginning of that plan took place at the end of Impact when the OGz attacked Fenix after he was unsuccessful in capturing Johnny Impact’s title.
Not at all surprisingly, this drew the ire of Fenix’s brother Pentagon. The former Impact champion will face Homicide tonight.
How does this connect to LAX? Not that I’m aching for that feud to continue in any way, but King said he had a plan. Somehow it has to connect, right?
We’ll wait and see as Pentagon tries to murder a man called Homicide.
5) Is Rohit Raju down with the new Hit Squad?
Last week, Gama Singh introduced a new member of the Desi Hit Squad after he made Gursinder Singh return to India.
It was a weird turn. Gama forced Raju to face him last week. His protege was obviously apprehensive to beat on a man in his 60s. In the end, a man attacked Rohit from behind and Gama picked up the win.
After the match, Gama raised the arms of both men, indicating this is the newest incarnation of the Desi Hit Squad.
Is this something Rohit is going to be OK with? He seemed rather close to his former partner. And seems to be continually tiring of Gama’s games. There’s only such much he’ll be able to take before he decides to venture out on his own.
Impact Wrestling airs tonight at 10 ET on Pop TV. Who’s watching?