Impact Wrestling 6.8 Review: 4 Championships On The Line!
Posted: Jun 9th, '17, 12:28
Impact Wrestling
June 8th, 2017
Show starts with Borash, Josh, and Prichard. Bruce says that if there is any physical altercations between each other, both of them will be fired. Borash and Josh will be on commentary together tonight, no Pope.
We got some Indian culture packages, videos of the talent's travels to India. Of the stage being built. Of the talent interacting with the people. This was really good. Intro song is Indian-ish too. They really made the point that this is the first time an American Promotion is broadcasting from India.
Alberto El Patron Promo - Alberto, speaking Spanglish to an Indian crowd, and they still chant Si Si Si. Alberto can't pronounce Slammiversary. His promo was pretty much about how he has wrestled all over the world and won tons of titles, but there is one more he wants, the Impact World Title. Out comes....
Lashley just defended his cause saying that Alberto has nothing on him and he's gonna kick his ass, Alberto focuses to much on the fans, Lashley focuses on the match. As things kinda heated up, Bruce Prichard comes out. Prichard announces that both men will defend their titles tonight, he didn't announce the competitors yet, they're both live unboxing matches. So tonight we have 4 title matches.
Bruce Prichard meets The Mumbai Cats - They're like an Indian version of the Conquistadors. They wanted a fight with Lashley and Patron. Petition rejected.
X-Division Championship Match
Caleb Konley vs Low Ki (C) - 6.5/10
Fans completely behind Low Ki. Slow match, not a lot of flying or super action packed at first. Low Ki got busted open during a tope suicide right on top of the eye, which is kinda weird because the whole Dutt/Ki feud is based on an eye injury. Low Ki won with the Warrior's Way.
Post-match - Sonjay Dutt came out. He spoke in Hindi? He cut a face-to-face promo on Ki and asked for a title shot. He said that this ain't New York, he doesn't have Homicide and Da Hit Squad behind him anymore, but HE has a whole country behind now. Low Ki takes off his glove and accepts. Great little segment.
The crowd reactions are the weirdest thing, they're just like WOW and BOO. No chants, nothing. Tons of hot chicks in the crowd tho. It's all younger people.
Swoggle vs Spud Vignette - They made a blood feud between Swoggle and Spud as a big dramatic thing. This is seriously awesome.
Davey Richards vs ??? Kumar - Squash
Josh tells us that after the mixed match, Prichard was asked to stay home. Richards did quick work on the local jobber. As Davey is walking to the back, ECIII came out. III and Richards kinda faced off a bit.
ECIII attacks and destroys the poor little jobber with a strap. Gotta pay your dues, kid. James Storm came out for the save. ECIII ran away.
Eli Drake and Prichard - Drake is calling bullshit on Prichard's judging on his Grand Championship match from last week. Drake is getting physical. Adonis comes in and says that Prichard needs to ammend by giving them the title shots at Lashley and Patron.
Impact Hall of Fame Announcement - They've started pushing that at Slammiversary they'll reveal the new inductee. They had all the talent talk about being part of a Hall of Fame.
Josh says that next week, he's doing a sparring exhibition. Main event next week is Dutt vs Ki for the X-Division. They're interrupted by Swoggle and Spud coming down to the ring. Nothing happened.
Mahabali Shera Vignette - The right thing to do for this show.
Joseph Park & Jeremy Borash Training Video - It was comedy, it was ok.
Impact World Heavyweight Championship Match
Lashley (C) vs Moose - 7/10
Dang, World Heavyweight vs Grand. This was a back and forward match that really made Moose seem like he's right up there with the top contenders for Lashley's title. Lashley won clean when he countered a Game Changer and hit a Spear, but throughout the match, Moose was close to winning, or at least credible near falls.
LAX Promo - Konnan says that all these titles mean they now have a bargaining chip on their side. Sure, at least in the Tag Division
We got another traveling video, mostly focused on Spud. They showed Van Ness without the crazy attire, not the best to show right before her match.
Knockouts Championship Match
Rosemary (C) vs "Hot Mess" Laurel Van Ness w/Sienna - 4/10
Van Ness HAS to be the best played gimmick today, everything she does is perfect for her gimmick. Quick match
Post-match - Sienna and Van Ness jump Rosemary, Allie of all people comes for the save, with some kind of stick. Rosemary, in her own weird way, thanks Allie.
Bruce and KM Segment - KM tries to get himself into the Patron match. KM says he's undefeated and the No 1 Contender, Prichard says "but, you're not undefeated and you're not the no 1 contender". I have finally understood KM's gimmick.
Borash and Park Training Part 2 - Good comedy. Parks tries to teach him how to be an X-Division wrestler by jumping on a pool. I really hope we get some kind of Ivan Drago training video with Matthews and Steiner.
GFW Global Championship Match
Alberto El Patron (C) vs Chris Adonis w/Eli Drake - 7/10
So those vignettes actually paid off at the end. Match was back and forward too, mostly tried to lock in each's submissions all match. Finish saw Alberto hit the laziest foot stomp ever.
Post-match - Eli Drake and Adonis gang up on Patron. Lashley comes out to the ramp and just watches. Moose comes out for the save.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Not gonna lie, these India shows feel weird, the announcer, some chants, it just feels weird. The show was great, 4 title matches, the build up to Patron vs Lashley is properly under way, Dutt vs Ki will be great next week, it has a big match feel to it even if it really isn't.
June 8th, 2017
Show starts with Borash, Josh, and Prichard. Bruce says that if there is any physical altercations between each other, both of them will be fired. Borash and Josh will be on commentary together tonight, no Pope.
We got some Indian culture packages, videos of the talent's travels to India. Of the stage being built. Of the talent interacting with the people. This was really good. Intro song is Indian-ish too. They really made the point that this is the first time an American Promotion is broadcasting from India.
Alberto El Patron Promo - Alberto, speaking Spanglish to an Indian crowd, and they still chant Si Si Si. Alberto can't pronounce Slammiversary. His promo was pretty much about how he has wrestled all over the world and won tons of titles, but there is one more he wants, the Impact World Title. Out comes....
Lashley just defended his cause saying that Alberto has nothing on him and he's gonna kick his ass, Alberto focuses to much on the fans, Lashley focuses on the match. As things kinda heated up, Bruce Prichard comes out. Prichard announces that both men will defend their titles tonight, he didn't announce the competitors yet, they're both live unboxing matches. So tonight we have 4 title matches.
Bruce Prichard meets The Mumbai Cats - They're like an Indian version of the Conquistadors. They wanted a fight with Lashley and Patron. Petition rejected.
X-Division Championship Match
Caleb Konley vs Low Ki (C) - 6.5/10
Fans completely behind Low Ki. Slow match, not a lot of flying or super action packed at first. Low Ki got busted open during a tope suicide right on top of the eye, which is kinda weird because the whole Dutt/Ki feud is based on an eye injury. Low Ki won with the Warrior's Way.
Post-match - Sonjay Dutt came out. He spoke in Hindi? He cut a face-to-face promo on Ki and asked for a title shot. He said that this ain't New York, he doesn't have Homicide and Da Hit Squad behind him anymore, but HE has a whole country behind now. Low Ki takes off his glove and accepts. Great little segment.
The crowd reactions are the weirdest thing, they're just like WOW and BOO. No chants, nothing. Tons of hot chicks in the crowd tho. It's all younger people.
Swoggle vs Spud Vignette - They made a blood feud between Swoggle and Spud as a big dramatic thing. This is seriously awesome.
Davey Richards vs ??? Kumar - Squash
Josh tells us that after the mixed match, Prichard was asked to stay home. Richards did quick work on the local jobber. As Davey is walking to the back, ECIII came out. III and Richards kinda faced off a bit.
ECIII attacks and destroys the poor little jobber with a strap. Gotta pay your dues, kid. James Storm came out for the save. ECIII ran away.
Eli Drake and Prichard - Drake is calling bullshit on Prichard's judging on his Grand Championship match from last week. Drake is getting physical. Adonis comes in and says that Prichard needs to ammend by giving them the title shots at Lashley and Patron.
Impact Hall of Fame Announcement - They've started pushing that at Slammiversary they'll reveal the new inductee. They had all the talent talk about being part of a Hall of Fame.
Josh says that next week, he's doing a sparring exhibition. Main event next week is Dutt vs Ki for the X-Division. They're interrupted by Swoggle and Spud coming down to the ring. Nothing happened.
Mahabali Shera Vignette - The right thing to do for this show.
Joseph Park & Jeremy Borash Training Video - It was comedy, it was ok.
Impact World Heavyweight Championship Match
Lashley (C) vs Moose - 7/10
Dang, World Heavyweight vs Grand. This was a back and forward match that really made Moose seem like he's right up there with the top contenders for Lashley's title. Lashley won clean when he countered a Game Changer and hit a Spear, but throughout the match, Moose was close to winning, or at least credible near falls.
LAX Promo - Konnan says that all these titles mean they now have a bargaining chip on their side. Sure, at least in the Tag Division
We got another traveling video, mostly focused on Spud. They showed Van Ness without the crazy attire, not the best to show right before her match.
Knockouts Championship Match
Rosemary (C) vs "Hot Mess" Laurel Van Ness w/Sienna - 4/10
Van Ness HAS to be the best played gimmick today, everything she does is perfect for her gimmick. Quick match
Post-match - Sienna and Van Ness jump Rosemary, Allie of all people comes for the save, with some kind of stick. Rosemary, in her own weird way, thanks Allie.
Bruce and KM Segment - KM tries to get himself into the Patron match. KM says he's undefeated and the No 1 Contender, Prichard says "but, you're not undefeated and you're not the no 1 contender". I have finally understood KM's gimmick.
Borash and Park Training Part 2 - Good comedy. Parks tries to teach him how to be an X-Division wrestler by jumping on a pool. I really hope we get some kind of Ivan Drago training video with Matthews and Steiner.
GFW Global Championship Match
Alberto El Patron (C) vs Chris Adonis w/Eli Drake - 7/10
So those vignettes actually paid off at the end. Match was back and forward too, mostly tried to lock in each's submissions all match. Finish saw Alberto hit the laziest foot stomp ever.
Post-match - Eli Drake and Adonis gang up on Patron. Lashley comes out to the ramp and just watches. Moose comes out for the save.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Not gonna lie, these India shows feel weird, the announcer, some chants, it just feels weird. The show was great, 4 title matches, the build up to Patron vs Lashley is properly under way, Dutt vs Ki will be great next week, it has a big match feel to it even if it really isn't.