Impact Wrestling (Feb. 25, 2020) resumed their tapings from Las Vegas with a Knockout title contest, match 4 between Michael Elgin and Eddie Edwards, and an X-Division championship bout between Ace Austin and Tessa Blanchard.
Let’s blitz through the results.
Daga defeated RVD via countout. RVD was mostly in control, but Katie Forbes was distracted by internet trolls on her phone. Forbes ended up leaving the area in the middle of the match. RVD lost his focus, and Daga gained momentum. Daga climbed the corner for a big move, but RVD rolled out of the ring and left to find Forbes.
RVD caught up with Forbes backstage. She was upset. The trolls in the crowd are the same people as online. The fans don’t deserve to see them. RVD agreed that the fans are horrible people, but they bought tickets so they do deserve to see them. Joey Ryan walked up. He understands the troll backlash. He’s got the super penis, Forbes has the super ass, and RVD is a superstar. When you have gifts like them, you become targets. Ryan offered an olive branch of peace. If they ever want to talk, he’s their guy.
Super-Penis, Super-Ass and Super-Star?
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) February 26, 2020
Are @JoeyRyanOnline, @TherealRVD and @TheKatieForbes a potential Super-Group? #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/oIKA2AUPcl
Jordynne Grace will be a fighting champion. She offered an open challenge tonight. Madison Rayne approached. She wasn’t interested in a title shot on that night, but there are plenty of younger stars to challenge Grace. All they need is a locker room leader to help. Rayne will find an opponent for Grace.
Rohit Raju defeated Zachary Wentz. Rohit had a promo about interfering in the Rascalz’ tag title opportunity at Sacrifice. He’s tired of waiting. Rohit and Shera will take what they want, and they are focused on tag gold. Gama Singh, Shera, Dezmond Xavier, and Trey Miguel were all ringside. In the end, Shera tried to interfere on Wentz atop the turnbuckles. The Rascalz handled Shera, but that distraction allowed Rohit time to recover. He rolled away from Wentz’s flying attack. Rohit went up top for a flying double stomp to Wentz’s back to win.
Ace Austin questioned why Tessa Blanchard gets a title shot instead of it being the other way around. When he beats Tessa in his X-Division title defense, that will make him #1 contender for Tessa’s World Championship. He will go on to become the youngest World Champ in Impact at 23 years of age.
oVe is frustrated with losing. Sami Callihan is gone and might not be coming back. oVe needs a new leader. Madman Fulton stepped up in Dave Crist’s face. Jake Crist calmed everyone down. They will take over because that’s what oVe does.
Knockouts Championship: Jordynne Grace retained against Miranda Alize. Madison Rayne was ringside in support of Alize, but she didn’t interfere at all. It was a competitive contest won by Grace with the Grace Driver.
The North have a non-title match next week against TJP and Fallah Bahh. The North is the standard-bearer in wrestling. They will become the longest reigning tag champs in Impact history.
Chris Bey is coming soon.
Havok was wandering tentatively backstage. Rosemary flashed up behind her. Rosemary had a present for Havok. NO DQ fight next week against Su Yung.
.@WeAreRosemary gleefully informs @FearHavok that Havok will face @realsuyung in a No DQ match NEXT WEEK! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/CWQeP0dSz1
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) February 26, 2020
Eddie Edwards defeated Michael Elgin in match 4 of the best-of-5 series. This bout came from Dayton, OH via Pro Wrestling Revolver. Edwards was more competitive in this match than the previous three, but Elgin was still dominant. For the finish, Edwards ducked a clothesline then utilized a fancy roll-up to win. That tied the score at 2-2.
IT'S 2-2! #IMPACTonAXSTV @TheEddieEdwards pic.twitter.com/QIKHkAEFnP
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) February 26, 2020
Scott D’Amore and Petey Williams promoted Impact’s throwback show TNA: There’s No Place Like Home on April 3. Moose rolled in and said TNA is dead. He wanted to talk about something more relevant, himself. Williams said the difference between the stars coming to that TNA show and Moose is that all of them were champions. Moose did not like that answer.
Johnny Swinger sat down next to Willie Mack to discuss the Mack and Pack Connection. Disco Inferno appeared to inform Swinger that Mack was obviously not interested. Those two bickered, while Mack exited the scene. Somehow they talked themselves into tagging with each other.
The Mack and Pack Connection has died so the New York Connection can live again. #IMPACTonAXSTV @TheRealDisco @Willie_Mack pic.twitter.com/z5vxEw7KxK
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) February 26, 2020
Gut Check. Scott D’Amore welcomed seven participants. There was a short clip of a match between Shogun and Leonis Khan. Shogun accidentally hit Khan for real in the face. D’Amore questioned Shogun’s ability to be safe.
7 of the brightest young prospects in wrestling are looking to prove they have what it takes to compete in IMPACT Wrestling in the return of GUT CHECK! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/BrI4q9jVpO
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) February 26, 2020
X-Division Championship: Tessa Blanchard defeated Ace Austin via disqualification. Perhaps it was a no contest though. For the finish, Tessa hit a tornado DDT. She revved up for a follow-up maneuver, but Taya ran in to spear Tessa. Taya pounded Tessa to close the show.
.@Tess_Blanchard Two Belts was in sight but @TheTayaValkyrie derailed Tessa's X-Division title match with a BRUTAL attack. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/Bf34riKnmu
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) February 26, 2020
The big surprise for me in this episode was the run-in by Taya in the main event. With all the possible contenders lining up to wrestle Tessa Blanchard for the Impact World Championship, I completely forgot about Taya. She even managed to get herself a title shot next week.
BREAKING: For the first time ever, two women will compete for the IMPACT World Championship as @Tess_Blanchard will defend the title against @TheTayaValkyrie TUESDAY at 8/7c on @AXSTV! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/rWi8XFCUCD
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) February 26, 2020
That should be a good one. Taya and Tessa always put on a show when against one another. I’m hoping Taya wrestles to her full potential without relying on assistance from John E. Bravo. Win, Taya, win!
The second big surprise was Disco Inferno. I love the idea of Disco tizeaming with Johnny Swinger. I always look forward to scenes with the Swing-man. Adding in Disco should provide plenty of comedic moments. Perhaps they can climb the ranks quickly to earn a tag title shot against The North at TNA: There’s No Place Like Home on April 3.
I’m not very interested in Gut Check. The drama felt manufactured. I’m also not too keen on seeing Joey Ryan team with RVD. If I were RVD, I wouldn’t trust the super penis man. He might be trying to weasel his way close to Katie Forbes.
Match 4 between Michael Elgin and Eddie Edwards maintained the same quality as the previous bouts. It was clear Edwards was going to win and send it to the match 5 tie-breaker. I’m excited for that one. I have no clue who will win. Both men have interesting stories and would make good opponents against Tessa at Rebellion on April 19, assuming she still has the Impact World Championship.
We’ll close with Josh Matthews twitter account getting hacked by ICU.
//THE ONLY CODE THAT MATTERS//
— HACKED - GO FOLLOW @RealityIsLost (@realjoshmathews) February 26, 2020
FOLLOW @RealityIsLost #RealityIsLost
PS: I wonder if @MATTHARDYBRAND will start responding to this account also? pic.twitter.com/k2w7mZRECx
That binary code translates to MARCH17. The Matt Hardy reference points to a binary code message earlier this week from the Dark Order in AEW. I fully expect Sami Callihan to be behind the ICU messages. My basis for reasoning is how he used the TV monitors to mess with Tessa on the episode after Hard to Kill.
What was your favorite moment from this episode of Impact? Are you excited for Tessa vs Taya for the Impact World Championship next week? What is your prediction for match 5 between Michael Elgin and Eddie Edwards? Who do you think is behind ICU?