Cero Reviews Impact Wrestling Against All Odds 2019

[cero2k]

Impact Wrestling
March 29, 2019
Las Vegas, Nevada

Opening Video - Tonight’s episode had a special opening video narrating all build up to tonight’s card. I found it really interesting that they made Killer Kross to be the ‘Anti-Machine’ and not Johnny Impact.

LAX vs Lucha Bros Brawl - LAX and Konnan opened the show coming down to the ring. Konnan cut a promo saying they have a problem with Pentagon Jr and Fenix claiming that he told them all about the problems that come from wrestling for the titles. He called out the Lucha Bros to a fight.

Pentagon Jr and Fenix immediately came out. All men brawled inside the ring until security ran down to pull them apart. Fans chanted “Let them fight!” while all four men kept trying to reach one another. Lucha Bros and LAX started superkicking security, LAX hit a border toss with one of the security guard into the rest, but as they turned their backs, Pentagon and Fenix greeted them with chairs.

Lucha Bros brought out two tables and set them up on the corners. Pentagon kept talking trash to Konnan before LAX recovered and hit stereo DVDs through the tables. Santana and Ortiz grabbed the belts and posed over the fallen bodies of the Lucha Bros.

Backstage, Konnan, Santana, and Ortiz said that this is not even about the titles anymore, now they’re out there for respect. Konnan then made the challenge, Full Metal Mayhem for the titles at Rebellion.

Scarlett Bordeaux vs “Disco Inferno” Glenn Gilbertti - 3/10, but achieved its purpose.
Before Scarlett’s entrance, Disco gave her one last chance to cancel the match. Scarlet just told him to ‘shut up and wrestle turkey boy”. The match was what it had to be in terms of competitiveness, I would had liked for Scarlet to be more vicious on Disco to show off more. The match saw Disco be vicious instead while Scarlet was a great babyface selling and building towards her comebacks. Finish saw Disco go for the 10 punches in the corner, but Scarlet countered and hit a powerbomb pin instead to pick up the win.

Taya & Johnny Interview - Melissa Santos interviewed Taya Valkyrie and Johnny Impact. Taya talked about scouting Jordynne Grace, and she said that Grace is strong, but just not ‘Guera Loca” Strong. Johnny said that tonight he’s just enjoying how Killer Kross takes out Brian Cage.

Backstage, Disco Inferno made his way to the back while Kiera Hogan and Alisha Edwards made fun of him calling him a loser.

United We Stand Card Announcement - Josh Matthews announced that Johnny Impact said he doesn’t want to team with Brian Cage at United We Stand and instead wants to be part of the X-Division match. So far, the Impact Wrestling vs Lucha Underground match is handicap match.

GWN Flashback Moment of the Week - It was RVD defeating AJ Styles for the world title from the April 19, 2010 Impact!

“The Walking Weapon” Josh Alexander Vignette - He is being sold as Canadian Strong Style.

Rob Van Dam documentary Trailer - It's called Headstrong. Looks interesting.

Madison Rayne’s return vignette - Good, made her look like a big deal.

Tessa Blanchard Interview - Melissa Santos interviewed Tessa Blanchard. Tessa said that Gail Kim had no other choice than give in to her demands. She said that Gail deserves everything that is coming to her and that legends come and go, but Diamonds are forever. She went straight to the ring to get her apology.

Gail Kim Apologizes to Tessa Blanchard - Out in the ring, Tessa cut a promo that today was a great day. Today was the day that she gets what she deserves and that is payback from Gail Kim. Today she gets justice for Tessa and called out Gail Kim.

Gail Kim came out. Tessa talked trash to Gail Kim for a bit and told her to apologize. Gail Kim did so. Tessa then moved on to the other demand, for Gail Kim to resign from Impact Wrestling. Gail Kim said that earlier today, she had given Impact management her resignation. Tessa then mocked Gail Kim for being part of the bra and panties era of wrestling and that if she had been part of Tessa’s era, she wouldn’t even be good enough to lace her boots.

Gail Kim told Tessa that she resigned from Impact, but under the condition that she was coming out of retirement to kick Tessa’s butt. They brawled and Gail Kim ran off Tessa to the back.

Matthews and Callis confirmed that Tessa Blanchard vs Gail Kim takes place at the Rebellion Pay-Per-View.

oVe Promo - We got a video with oVe forcing Fulton to watch violent television a la Clockwork Orange. Callihan said that they brought out the potential inside Fulton.

Impact Knockout’s Champion Match
Jordynne Grace vs Taya Valkyrie (c) - 6.5/10
During Taya’s entrance, Don Callis called Taya the ‘Queen Bee’, which may or may not be a hint to Taya’s feud once she is done with Jordynne Grace. Match made Taya look really dominant, having control over Jordynne most of the match, but she always got that momentum thanks to dirty tactics, giving Grace some strength.

Finishing sequence saw Jordynne Grace set up the Muscle Buster, but Taya escaped it, so instead, Grace went for a superplex, which Taya also escaped with a headbutt. Taya went for a moonsault, but Grace moved away and went for the Grace Drive. Taya once again went for Grace’s eyes and started faking a rib injury. Johnny Impact came out to check on her as they walked to the back, the ref counted out Taya, retaining the championship due to the champion’s advantage.

Before Johnny and Taya walked to the back, Brian Cage came out and chased after Johnny while Taya back up into Grace. Brian Cage cornered Johnny and Taya, but Killer Kross jumped him from behind, throwing him into the ring post.

Back from commercial, a new referee has made his way to the ring to start the match.

Killer Kross vs Brian Cage - 7/10
Pretty good match. Killer Kross worked Cage's shoulder and arm all match, the same he rammed into the ring post during the pre-match attack. Cage sold it nicely as he rarely used it for his lariats and kept failing to lift Kross for any of his big attacks. Cage didn't really work any limb, but rather just survive via kicks, knees, and a small amount of power moves.

Finish saw Cage chased the Drill Claw, but his arm wouldn’t allow it. He hit an F-5 instead, but Johnny came out and put Kross’ foot on the ropes to break the pin. Johnny distracted Cage while Taya sneaked behind for a low blow. Kross hit two Doomsday Saitos, but Cage still kicked out. Referee still called for the bell and raised Kross’ hand, but the fact that Callis and Matthews called him out on it hints that Kross and Johnny most likely forced him to. Pretty good match, but that finish and the confusion about it is not going to sit well with the fans.

Post-match - Johnny Pilmanized Cage’s arm.

Josh Matthews and Don Callis closed their side of the show, sending us to Rosemary’s return to the Undead Realm.

Rosemary Returns to the Undead Realm - Awesome and kinda emotional. We first saw Rosemary grab a meat cleaver and Dark Allie as they headed into the Undead Realm.

We got a couple of funky visuals before we saw that Kiera Hogan also snuck into the Undead Realm behind them. As Rosemary and Dark Allie walked around, they reached a ring with several undead citizens around it. James Mitchell welcomes them all.

James Mitchell told Rosemary that he is only setting up the stage for her to meet ‘the boss’. Rosemary battled The Luchasaurus first, who got an early advantage, he was going to attack her with a wrench, but Rosemary hit the mist, took the wrench, and killed him.

Rosemary then fought against two face painted barbarians, but Rosemary straight up cut their throats with the cleaver. Third, Rosemary fought against an army of Undead Bridesmaids, but out came Kiera Hogan for the assist, giving Rosemary a sword, which she used to take them all out. Finally, out came Su Yung, who released Dark Allie from her chain.

Su Yung and Dark Allie fought Kiera Hogan and Rosemary, but Allie had a change of heart and couldn’t take out Rosemary at the end. Rosemary took out Su Yung, but as the battle settled down, James Mitchell had Kiera Hogan hostage.

Finally, the master came out -- Kevin freaking Sullivan! Rosemary claimed Allie’s soul, but Sullivan told her that this is his realm and Rosemary has no claims here. Behind her, Su Yung, wearing a Freddy Kruger looking glove, went to stab Rosemary, but suddenly, Allie pushed Rosemary and took the knife to the throat. Allie bled and fell as Rosemary catched her. Rosemary and Allie had a touching goodbye before Allie’s body disappeared and the show went black. RIP Allie.

A lot of people dislike this sci-fi content for being too wacky, but this ended up being really emotional and the best way to write off Allie from Impact Wrestling.

OVERALL THOUGHTS
Overall, this was a great show. Inside the ring, we got two good matches that unfortunately had bad finishes; however, outside the ring, we got a good amount of storyline developments and angles that have now started shaping up the Rebellion Pay-Per-View.