Impact recap & reactions: Multiple wrestlers teased as Slammiversary surprises

Impact Wrestling (July 15, 2021) featured teases for the Knockouts Championship mystery opponent, a person from Matt Cardona’s past out to get him, and wrestlers building momentum on the go-home to Slammiversary.

Deonna Purrazzo is booked to defend her Knockouts Championship against a mystery opponent at Slammiversary on July 17. Leave it to EVP Scott D’Amore to toss out numerous references as potential surprise suspects.

D’Amore: I mean look, Deonna, you have been a great Knockouts champion, one of the best. And I know sometimes things around here get to be a little bit of a hot mess but, but, but Slammiversary is truly going to be iconic. And I don’t know, we’re in Nashville here. Things get crazy, might be a little hardcore country.

D’Amore dropped hints for Chelsea Green (aka “Hot Mess” Laurel Van Ness), Billie Kay and Peyton Royce as the IIconics, as well as Mickie James. D’Amore even added a No Way Jose reference, to which Tommy Dreamer clarified that Impact still hasn’t signed.

Part of the fun of Slammiversary is trying to figure out who will be the surprise appearances. Impact understands that, so they go all in with little teases like this. Could all four of those ladies show up at the PPV? Sure. Could none of them be in the mix? That’s also possible, since Impact throws out red herrings on purpose. Whatever the case, Impact usually delivers excitement on these surprises.

Let’s rocket through the rest of the show from beginning to end.

Josh Mathews and D’Lo Brown were on commentary.

Jorydnne Grace & Rachael Ellering defeated Tenille Dashwood & Kaleb Konley. Full intergender action with Konley taking slams and dishing them out as well. Grace and Ellering were back on the same page as a strong tag team. They closed it with a teamwork swinging slam to Konley for Grace pick up the pin.

Havok defeated Tasha Steelz. Rosemary and Kiera Hogan were ringside. Havok caught a flying crossbody to counter with a tombstone piledriver. The challengers have momentum against the Knockouts tag champs heading into Slammiversary.

Father James Mitchell was tasked bringing back Su Yung from the vessel known as Susan. As Kimber Lee waited for the results, it was Susan who emerged. Susan claimed everything went exactly according to plan. She admitted she’s always known about Su Yung. Susan grabbed Kimber by the hair and dragged her into the room with a maniacal laugh.

Next up was Steve Maclin in the ring. I’m adding this post-show promo from last week for extra context to Maclin’s attitude. Maclin has been waiting a long time. The key is that Impact came to him. Most places don’t want guys like him because of what he can do. In Impact, Maclin has provided an example of what he is capable of, but we haven’t seen a damn thing yet.

Steve Maclin defeated Kal Herro. Maclin dominated his opponent while talking smack to the camera. Maclin finished by unloaded elbows leading to his inverted facelock sitdown driver. Maclin grabbed a mic to say he is done waiting.

With the help of James Mitchell, Havok is going to officially join Rosemary’s Decay crew. That will make them unstoppable on way to winning the Knockouts tag belts.

Josh Alexander, Chris Bey, Trey Miguel, & Petey Williams defeated Ace Austin, Madman Fulton, Rohit Raju, & Shera. The finish broke down into big moves, including a Canadian Destroyer from Maple Leaf Muscle. After Shera hit a chokeslam backbreaker over his knee to Trey, Bey swooped in for the sneaky roll-up on Shera for victory. Fisticuffs broke out after the match. Bey cleaned house with a chair on the bad guys, then he turned to hit the good guys. Bey’s actions showed that he is only out for himself in the Ultimate X title match at Slammiversary.

Brian Myers was backstage searching for someone to watch his back from Matt Cardona. Hernandez brushed Myers off, then Myers found the perfect person for assistance.

Myers went to the ring to fulfill his professional stipulation with Jake Something. Sam Beale and Cardona were also present. After losing last week, Myers admitted that Jake is a professional. Myers also insulted Jake’s star power. A skirmish broke out, then Cardona went down from a low blow. It was revealed that Tenille Dashwood was the culprit. Myers and Dashwood stomped Cardona’s body with glee.

Backstage, Cardona was heated about the attack. D’Amore proposed a mixed tag bout with Cardona choosing his own partner at Slammiversary. Hot Mess was teased again.

On the BTI pre-show, Johnny Swinger competed against Chris Sabin to collect on damages done to the casino fight last week. Sabin was victorious. On the main show, Hernandez tried to collect from Moose.

Moose defeated Hernandez. Moose made quick work of Super Mex with a spear. Afterward, Moose set up a chair on Hernandez’s ankle as a message to Sabin about their match at Slammiversary. Sabin ran in to fight with Moose. He turned the tables with the chair, but Moose escaped and retreated up the ramp.

Joe Doering defeated Willie Mack, Fallah Bahh, and Luke Gallows in a four-way. The TV main event was a tease for the four-way tag title bout at Slammiversary. Doering flattened Bahh with a running crossbody then crushed him with a lariat to win.

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This episode of Impact Wrestling was a standard go-home effort. The majority of matches were designed as teases toward the PPV affairs. The promos were the most interesting aspects. It provided intrigue in how Havok might be altered as an official member of Decay, if Kimber Lee will be slaughtered at the hands of Susan, and the juicy twist of Tenille Dashwood backing Brian Myers against Matt Cardona.

I’m most curious about Susan’s plans. I never considered the return of Su Yung as a story tool to tweak Kimber’s character. Kimber is pretty much maxed out as a mid-carder in her current form. A dark edge would breathe new life into her Impact career. If Su and Kimber remain as a team, then it would bolster the depth of the Knockouts tag division. Impact will need teams for competition if an iconic duo is coming aboard.

Slammiversary airs Saturday, July 17 through PPV and Fite TV. The full lineup is looking strong.

Share your thoughts on Impact Wrestling. What was your favorite match? Who stole the show?

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