Welcome to another edition of POINTS OF IMPACT—a breakdown of the top moments of this week's edition of Impact Wrestling.
This segment will fill you in on the most important parts of the show worth checking out or keeping up to date with, in case you missed this episode of Impact Wrestling.
Without further ado, let's inspect the biggest takeaways of the week!
IMPACT WRESTLING: APRIL 7, 2023 RESULTS
#5 - The Design are DOA
In a backstage segment this week, the loyalty of Sami Callihan was once more questioned by the Design. They claimed that he cost them their match against Time Machine two weeks prior, and Callihan was having none of it, claiming to have taken a bullet for the Design, and pointing out that he had done everything they’d asked of him so far. Callihan said he was ready for Step Seven.
Step Seven is, according to Deaner, proving that the Design is the authority above all in his life, doing so by eliminating all other authority. Later in the evening, we saw Director of Authority Santino Marella had been attacked backstage, and the dots were connected back to the Design.
This lead to a match being made for Rebellion, a six-man tag pitting the Design against Santino, Dirty Dango, and Joe Hendry. At the very least, this was decent progression, and the six-man at the PPV will be fun.
#4 - A New Threat Emerges
In the lone Knockouts match from this week’s episode of Impact, Jodie Threat made her Impact debut, putting in a strong showing against enhancment talent Tara Rising (yes really.) The crowd were clearly interested in Threat, with the red-haired rebel’s entrance music, infectious energy, and stiff in a good way offense winning over the Impact faithful in under ten minutes.
This was my first time seeing a Jodie Threat match, and I have to admit, I’m a fan. I think she’ll fit the Knockouts division like a glove. Threat picked up what will hopefully be the first of many wins in Impact with the F416, her version of the F5.
#3 - The Mighty Don’t Kneel, They Just Lose
Opening this week’s episode was an absolute cracker of a tag match, between the Motor City Machine Guns and, representing New Japan’s TMDK, Shane Haste and Bad Dude Tito. To say these two teams had chemistry would be an understatement.
Haste and Tito played the rough, obnoxious heels perfectly, their toss into a Blue Thunder Bomb spot being particularly impressive, and the Motor City Machine Guns may honestly be getting better with age. Their sneaky, inventive manoeuvres and fluidity have always been a strong point, but as they age gracefully, they just seem like the smartest tag team in the world as they find new ways to defeat people, case in point being the Crucifix/Jackknife pin combo that got them the win here.
Absolute banger, and it would later be announced that the MCMG will face Bullet Club for the Impact Tag Titles at Rebellion, in an Ultimate X match.
#2 - Three is a Crowd
The respectful rivalry between Speedball Mike Bailey and Jonathan Gresham has gifted us some amazing matches in recent times, such as their singles matches, or their efforts as a tag team against more established teams such as the MCMG. This week’s instalment was on track to be another banger entry, right up until X Division Champion Trey Miguel got involved.
With Gresham/Bailey 3 having the added incentive of but he winner challenging Miguel for his title at Rebellion, and Miguel joining commentary to observe his potential opponents, the match would prematurely end when Miguel nailed both men with a middle dropkick, causing a double DQ in an attempt to have no challenger at Rebellion.
Backstage after the match, Santino Marella would make a Triple Threat with Miguel, Bailey and Gresham for the X title official for Rebellion. When Miguel pointed out he’d beaten six men at Multiverse United, Marella added an elimination stipulation.
#1 - The Best of a Bad Situation
Josh Alexander relinquished the Impact World Championship this week, unable to continue as champion after suffering a triceps tear. Wanting ti relinquish the belt in person, this segment ended the show, and everyone played their parts perfectly.
Alexander had strong words for both Kushida and Steve Maclin, who will face off at Rebellion to crown a new champion. Alexander also thanked Scott D’Amore and the fans for their support and for the opportunities he’s been given, and promised to come back even stronger. The most heartstring-tugging part of all of this however was, scripted or not, Alexander’s son grabbing the title when Alexander tried to give it back to D’Amore.
After this, Maclin was the perfect asshole heel, saying he should be awarded the belt. This enraged D’Amore, who said he hopes Kushida repeats history, and makes Maclin tap out once more to the Hoverboard Lock. Maclin would berate D’Amore, and Kushida, until Kushida ended the show by locking the Hoverboard Lock in on Maclin.
A strong episode after Multiverse United, a righting of the ship after unfortunate circumstances, this was a great episode of Impact. Rebellion looks more and more exciting with each week.
What did you think of this week's episode of Impact Wrestling?
Do you think any other moments stood out on this show?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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