Tag: smackdown

The backlash is upon us, a WrestleMania Backlash. For the second year in a row, WWE have shoehorned the word WrestleMania into one more event as we see several rematches and follow up matches from last month’s extravaganza. Join Jez and Dan on The Main Event Podcast as we take you through the entire event.

Seth Freakin’ Rollins vs. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes

The opening contest was the rematch between Seth Freakin’ Rollins and Cody Rhodes. At WrestleMania, Rhodes was a “surprise” opponent but on this occasion Rollins knew exactly who he was facing. Rollins began the match with his trademark confidence as the pair locked up and exchanged holds. Rollins avoided Rhodes’ drop down ‘Goldust’ style punch, suggesting that this time he had done his homework on The American Nightmare. As the match progressed, Cody’s offense was able to bed in and he was able to hit the drop down punch on his second attempt as well as a Disaster Kick. Rollins continued to act like he had the number of his opponent while at the same time not doing enough to put Rhodes away. After avoiding a trademark move himself, punching Rollins as he attempted to dive through the ropes, Rhodes hit the Cody Cutter but was only able to achieve a two count. Rollins went for the Pedigree but Cody fought out of it and set up one of his own however Seth escaped that as well. Seth started to build his own momentum and hit a Frogsplash but Cody was only kept down for a two count. Rollins caught Rhodes in a Superplex and was setting up to chain together a second but The Architect was instead caught in Cross Rhodes. Cody made the cover but Rollins got his leg on the bottom rope. Seth delivered a Pedigree but Rhodes kicked out of the pinfall attempt. After this, the end of the match came by surprise. Rhodes hit another Cross Rhodes and tried to chain together another but Seth escaped and rolled Cody up. Despite a handful of tights, Cody reversed the roll up and with his own fistful of lycra, Cody Rhodes was able to collect a three count and defeat Seth Freakin’ Rollins for the second time in a row.

Jez’s Pick: Cody Rhodes
Dan’s Pick: Cody Rhodes
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Jez 1 – Dan 1

Omos (with MVP) vs. Bobby Lashley

Next up, in a massive change of pace, was the rematch between Bobby Lashley and Omos. Lashley tried to strike fast on The Nigerian Giant and tried to overwhelm the big man with continual offense. This plan was working well until MVP climbed on to the apron and provided the opening Omos needed to go on his own physical offensive. MVP continued to jaw at Lashley throughout the match but this did not stop The All Mighty tying Omos up in the ropes and teeing off on him. Omos saved MVP from oblivion but this distraction allowed Lashley to regain the control once again. Lashley locked in the Hurt Lock but, unlike Lashley’s usual opponents, Omos was able to break out of it. Omos launched Lashley shoulder first into the ringpost but when he went in for the kill, the referee moved him away. With this distraction, MVP jabbed Lashley in the throat with his cane which Omos followed up with the Two Hand Chokeslam and picked up the 1-2-3.

Jez’s Pick: Omos
Dan’s Pick: Omos
Winner: Omos
Jez 2 – Dan 2

AJ Styles vs. Edge
Damien Priest is Banned from Ringside

The third WrestleMania rematch of the night came when AJ Styles went one-on-one with Edge one more time. Damien Priest was the difference in their first meeting but, on this occasion, Priest was barred from ringside. AJ Styles brought the frustration of the last month to the ring with him and launched into a ringside assault on the Hall of Famer to start the match. Styles looked to end the match quickly, setting up for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Edge kicked Styles in the injured shoulder and went to work exploiting the damage he and Priest set up weeks previously. AJ tried to fight back but each time he would get any offense in, Edge would return to the shoulder and ground the Phenomenal One again. When Styles was able to execute manoeuvres or lock in submissions, he was unable to capitalise because of the weakness in his arm. AJ used the ropes to help him set up for the Styles Clash and although he delivered the move, Edge kicked out at two. Styles, unable to springboard, went to the top rope to deliver the Phenomenal Forearm but as he climbed Damien Priest came to the ramp and caused a distraction followed by a black clad figure that pulled him down from the ropes. Edge locked in The Gallows, a tight sleeper hold, and AJ Styles passed out to award the match to Edge. After the match, this dark figure revealed themself, the newest member of Judgment Day: Rhea Ripley.

Jez’s Pick: AJ Styles
Dan’s Pick: AJ Styles
Winner: Edge
Jez 2 – Dan 2

SmackDown Women’s Championship “I Quit” Match: Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Ronda Rousey

In the first championship match of the night, Charlotte Flair defended the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Ronda Rousey. As the bell rang, Rousey went on the offensive quickly but Charlotte used her experience to surprise her challenger with a deep German Suplex and take over the contest. Charlotte took the fight to Ronda at ringside and offered her her first opportunity to quit. Flair grabbed a Kendo Stick and looked to continue her beatdown but Rousey liberated her from her stick and chased the champion up the ramp. Ronda tee’d off on Charlotte with two Kendo Sticks but she refused to quit. As the match spilled into the crowd, it turned back in the champion’s favour and this momentum continued as the contest went back into the ring. Charlotte hit Natural Selection on a steel chair and also locked in the Figure 8 Leg Lock but, on each occasion, Rousey still refused to quit. It would be the chair that Charlotte introduced that would be the downfall of the champion as after Rousey used it to escape the Figure 8, she used the chair for extra leverage in an Armbar, forcing Charlotte to say the words, “I Quit.”

Jez’s Pick: Ronda Rousey
Dan’s Pick: Ronda Rousey
Winner: Ronda Rousey
Jez 3 – Dan 3

Happy Corbin vs. Madcap Moss

The first contest of the night that was not a rematch from WrestleMania saw Happy Corbin take on his former court jester, Madcap Moss. As the bell rang the pair locked up in the middle of the ring but Corbin soon resorted to a cheapshot that allowed him to take control. Corbin wore down his former employee fairly systematically as the match progressed. However, when Madcap turned up the intensity he was able to fire up and wrest control from Happy. Moss tossed Corbin into the ringpost and sent him back into the ring to deliver a Fallaway Slam. Despite Corbin mounting a small comeback and hitting Deep Six, Moss was able to surprise Happy with a Sunset Flip and collect a big victory.

Jez’s Pick: Happy Corbin
Dan’s Pick: Happy Corbin
Winner: Madcap Moss
Jez 3 – Dan 3

Six Man Tag Team Match: The Bloodline (Roman Reigns & The Usos) vs. RK-McBro (Randy Orton, Riddle & Drew McIntyre)

In the main event of WrestleMania Backlash, the team of the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, and the SmackDown Tag Team Champion, The Usos, took on the RAW Tag Team Champions, RK-Bro, and Drew McIntyre. The Bloodline vs. RK-McBro. Randy Orton and Jimmy Uso started the match but the babyface team made frequent tags and isolated Jimmy from his family. It wasn’t long though before Drew McIntyre thrust the Uso cousin into the corner and insisted that Roman Reigns make the tag and join the match. Reigns did indeed tag in but after doing a circle of the ring, he tagged back out to his right hand man, Jey Uso. From there, The Usos were able to reverse the early strategy and worked to isolate Riddle away from his partners using quick tags between the brothers. The Undisputed Champion did spend some time in the match but refused to square off with McIntyre and continued the destruction of the Original Bro. However, later in the match, Reigns tagged into the match and was not quick enough to prevent the tag to the Scottish Warrior. The two big men came to blows in the middle of the ring and Reigns got the best of the exchange. The Tribal Chief took the time to pose in the ring with his championship belts and received a surprise Claymore Kick from McIntyre for his trouble. Both men tagged out and Randy Orton went on a tear, delivering RKOs from every direction and securing a nearfall on Jimmy Uso. The Viper continued his tear at ringside and McIntyre joined the fun, trying to put Reigns through the announce table, but it would be Drew that would go through the announce table at the hands of a Urinagi from the Tribal Chief. Reigns followed this up with a Spear to Riddle in the middle of the ring to bring home a win for The Bloodline.

Jez’s Pick: The Bloodline
Dan’s Pick: RK-McBro
Winner:
Jez 4 – Dan 3

Final Rating

Dan awards 3.5 out of 5 Cloaked Rhea Ripleys
Jez awards 3 out of 5 Cloaked Rhea Ripleys

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This podcast is not affiliated with WWE, AEW, Impact Wrestling or any other promotion. All clips, soundbites and trademarks are used in accordance with UK fair use copyright law and remain property of their respective owners.

Still riding the high of a hot, WrestleMania weekend, Stand and Deliver premium live event, the NXT brand presents this special episode of NXT 2.0, Spring Breakin’. This was the first event under this title. Does it deserve another based on the merits of the first? Join Jez and Dan as we break it all down on The Main Event Podcast.

The show kicked off with “sizzling hot open” from the new NXT Tag Team Champions, Pretty Deadly. They ran through the card before jumping into a swimming pool and taking us into the arena.

NXT North American Championship – Cameron Grimes (c) vs. Solo Sikoa vs. Carmelo Hayes (with Trick Williams)

The opening contest was the Triple Threat Match for the NXT North American Championship with Carmelo Hayes and Solo Sikoa challenging the champion, Cameron Grimes. In the early going, Sikoa and Grimes double teamed Hayes but after he escaped from the ring, the champion and his largest challenger went one-on-one in the ring. Throughout the usual turntaking expected of a three-way match, we saw periods of all out competition including a stack superplex and Solo Sikoa paying homage to his father Rikishi, with a running butt strike as both men were tangled in the corner of the ring. Sikoa tried to capitalise on this by heading to the top rope but he was taken down with a kick from Grimes. With the interjection of Hayes, though, Sikoa was able to head back up again and hit the Uso Splash on Grimes. Carmelo broke up the pinfall and went to work on Solo but Grimes retaliated with a Cave In from the top rope to both men which allowed him to pin Sikoa and retain the NXT North American Championship.

Jez’s Pick: Solo Sikoa
Dan’s Pick: Cameron Grimes
Winner: Cameron Grimes
Jez 0 – Dan 1

Mandy’s Rose Sunburn

In an interlude, Mandy Rose visited a tanning salon to top up her bronze. After getting into the sunbed, Wendy Choo arrived and turned up the dial which turned Mandy’s bronze glow into a crimson flare. Her Toxic Attraction friends suggested she get some aloe while they went to the beach. It wasn’t the greatest day for Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne either, though, as while taking in the sunshine at the beach and splashing in the warm Florida sea, Wendy Choo and Roxanne Perez stole their keys and shoes and ran off with them.

Diamonds Aren’t Forever

In the Diamond Mine locker room, Roderick Strong asserted his leadership over the group by talking down to the Creeds and Ivy Nile, insisting that the Brothers better be ready for the challenge of the Viking Raiders later in the night. We then cut to Indy Hartwell, mourning the release of her man, Dexter Lumis, when Duke Hudson walked in and made a pass at her. She spurned him and walked away.

Grayson Waller vs. Nathan Frazer

In his stateside NXT debut, Nathan Frazer took on Grayson Waller. The pair locked up and engaged in a classic test of strength before Frazer used his agility to escape and deliver some electrifying moves. Waller tried to ground Frazer throughout the match but the Brit was able to work his way out of holds and continue his high-flying offensive. After getting a nearfall with a rolling Unprettier type manoeuvre, Waller got cocky and was readying a top rope strike when Andre Chase startled him with an air horn from the Chase University Section. This allowed Frazer to hit the Phoenix Splash and pick up a win in his debut.

Jez’s Pick: Grayson Waller
Dan’s Pick: Nathan Frazer
Winner: Nathan Frazer
Jez 0 – Dan 2

Tony D’Angelo and Santos Escobar Sit Down Meeting

In the next segment, we saw footage from the Sit Down Meeting between Tony D’Angelo and Santos Escobar. D’Angelo started off by saying that he called the meeting before things escalated between them to a place where neither man wanted to go. He followed on saying that he was willing to forgive the insults of the previous weeks. Escobar answered that he respected the way Tony D carries himself but not his business acumen. He added that on the streets, people trust Santos Escobar while D’Angelo decided to play games. Escobar suggested that they could probably do business together but that Tony D would have to follow his lead. The Don of NXT said he didn’t follow anybody but the two did finally agree on peace. The two shared a toast and the D’Angelo group left. Later in the night, Escobar confronted Tony’s consigliere in the parking lot and Legado Del Fantasma kidnapped AJ Gallante.

Cora Jade and Nikkita Lyons vs. Natalya and Lash Legend

The next in-ring action saw Cora Jade and Nikkita Lyons take on Natalya and Lash Legend. Jade and Legend started the match and Lash went straight to work manhandling her smaller opponent and tossing her around the ring. After Natalya tagged in, Nikkita Lyons soon followed and the two blondes turned up the physicality, laying into each other with stiff strikes. As the match progressed, Natalya and Legend worked well as a team, tagging in and out and isolating Cora Jade. Jade worked hard to reach her partner, Lyons, and was able to make the tag after throwing Legend into the turnbuckle and kicking off the grasp of the B.O.A.T. Natalya tagged in her partner but continued to stay involved in the match, leading to a miscue where Natalya kicked Legend in the face while trying to break up a pinfall attempt. This would cost their team as, after Cora Jade tagged in, Jade hit a Senton Splash from the top rope and pinned Lash Legend to secure victory.

Jez’s Pick: Natalya and Lash Legend
Dan’s Pick: Cora Jade and Nikkita Lyons
Winner: Cora Jade and Nikkita Lyons
Jez 0 – Dan 3

The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) vs. The Creed Brothers (Brutus and Julius)

In a tag team exhibition match, The Creed Brothers took on The Viking Raiders. The match began physically with the Vikings overpowering their young opponents. Julius Creed fell victim to the Viking Experience but was able to kick out of the pinfall attempt. After tagging in, Brutus Creed was able to fare better using his strength to overpower Erik and keep him at bay for a short while. After the Creeds gained a nearfall, Erik regained control and tagged in and out with his partner, Ivar. Ivar squashed the Creeds with a Sitout Powerbomb and a splash from the top rope but Julius Creed surprised him with a Superplex. As Erik seemed ready to take it all, Roderick Strong struck from behind the referee’s back which allowed Julius to deliver a Basement Clothesline to the Viking and pin him to pick up the win. After the match, the Creeds took exception to their leader’s help and let him know about it in the middle of the ring.

Jez’s Pick: Viking Raiders
Dan’s Pick: Creed Brothers
Winner: Creed Brothers
Jez 0 – Dan 4

NXT Championship – Bron Breakker (c) vs. Joe Gacy

In the main event, Bron Breakker defended his NXT Championship against Joe Gacy. Breaker started the match strong, locking Gacy in a collar and elbow tie up and forcing him through the ropes and out of the ring. Gacy tried to take advantage of the unbridled rage of Breakker, dropping him into the turnbuckle and trying to wear him down with headlocks but this did very little to stop the onslaught of the champion. Gacy took over the match, however, with a stiff clothesline outside the ring and carried the momentum throughout the commercial break. Gacy held his control until he made a mistake and tried to launch at Breakker through the ropes but the NXT Champion struck his challenger with a forearm to the side of the head. Breakker lowered the straps on his singlet and went for the kill, delivering a huge spear and defending his title. After the match, the creepy black-clad men of Joe Gacy struck, delivering a beatdown and carrying Breakker out of the arena on a strange cloth and barbed-wire stretcher.

Jez’s Pick: Bron Breakker
Dan’s Pick: Bron Breakker
Winner: Bron Breakker
Jez 1 – Dan 5

Final Rating

Dan awards 3.5 out of 5 Stolen Sandals and Keys
Jez awards 2.5 out of 5 Stolen Sandals and Keys

Search for The Main Event Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts or anywhere you get your podcasts from. Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with all of the new content coming from The Main Event Podcast!

This podcast is not affiliated with WWE, AEW, Impact Wrestling or any other promotion. All clips, soundbites and trademarks are used in accordance with UK fair use copyright law and remain property of their respective owners.

Our first post WrestleMania show hits the airwaves with IMPACT Wrestling’s Rebellion pay-per-view. This event sees the long awaited match between Moose and Josh Alexander for the IMPACT World Championship. Tune in as Jez and Dan break it all down on The Main Event Podcast.

Pre-Show: Eddie Edwards vs. Chris Bey

As the Countdown to Rebellion got underway, it was announced that a match originally scheduled for the show could not take place because Jonathan Gresham had not been cleared to compete. Instead, Honor No More’s Eddie Edwards took on Bullet Club’s Chris Bey. As the match began, the two felt each other out and the crowd chose who they would get behind in the Ultimate Finesser. After Edwards backed out of a test of strength, he began to wear down Bey with a series of well executed Suplexes and throws. Bey fought back into the match using his signature quickness and took Edwards down with a dive to the outside of the ring. As the match moved closer to a conclusion, the pair turned up the physicality and exchanged stiff forearms but after Edwards hit the Die Hard Driver and picked up the win.

Jez’s Pick: Jonathan Gresham
Dan’s Pick: Eddie Edwards
Winner: Eddie Edwards
Jez 0 – Dan 1

Pre-Show: IMPACT Knockouts World Tag Team Championship – The Influence (Madison Rayne and Tenille Dashwood) (c) vs. The IInspiration (Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay)

The next contest was for the Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Championship with The Influence defending their championships against The IInspiration. The champions elected to come to the ring first and used this advantage to jump Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay before the match. Madison Rayne and Tenille Dashwood continued their dominant start by isolating Cassie Lee away from her partner. When McKay got the hot tag, she went to work on both women and soon gained herself a nearfall. As The IInspiration sought to put the match away with a double team manoeuvre, Dashwood held the leg of Lee on the top turnbuckle before sending her crashing down to the mat. Dashwood followed this up with The Spotlight but it wasn’t enough to put the challengers away. Likewise, The IInspiration were milliseconds from taking the victory after Lee avoided a shot to the face with the title belt but this too was only worth a two count. However, when Lee and McKay went for The Idolizer, Rayne speared Lee. The champions then hit The Collab and this time were able to get a three count for the win. 

Jez’s Pick: The IInspiration
Dan’s Pick: The IInspiration
Winner: The Influence
Jez 0 – Dan 1

Chris Sabin vs. Jay White vs. Steve Maclin

The opening contest on the main pay-per-view was the triple threat match between Chris Sabin, Jay White, Steve Maclin. As they were with his Bullet Club teammate earlier, the crowd were behind the Switchblade in this match but White was not interested in joining the match in the early going. Sabin and Maclin squared off as White circled the ring, only entering to break up pinfalls. However, White was caught by Steve Maclin who took his moment to begin an assault on Switchblade around the ring apron. Intervention by Sabin allowed White to avoid extra damage and the match returned to the ring and White gained a nearfall. As is common in triple threat matches, the three men engaged in brief one-on-one flurries but there were also good moments in which all three competitors fought at the same time. White gained a couple of nearfalls before taking to the top turnbuckle with Sabin. Sabin fought out and hung White from the turnbuckle before himself being hung on the opposite side of the ring. Steve Maclin delivered a Spear to the prone Jay White but was sent crashing out of the ring when Sabin evaded that same fate. Now alone with Sabin, White delivered a Half and Half Suplex and went for the Blade Runner but Sabin rolled up White for two. Sabin and White fought to hit their finishes and Sabin succeeded in nailing the Cradle Shock but from behind Maclin rolled Sabin into a Crucifix pin and stole the biggest victory of his career.

Jez’s Pick: Jay White
Dan’s Pick: Jay White
Winner: Steve Maclin
Jez 0 – Dan 1

AAA Reina de Reinas Championship – Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs. Taya Valkyrie

In her first match in IMPACT Wrestling in over a year, Taya Valkyrie took on Deonna Purrazzo next as Valkyrie sought the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship that she never lost in Purrazzo’s Champ Champ Challenge. The match began very traditionally with Valkyrie gaining the early advantage with pure wrestling skill and following up with Pandemonium. The challenger took a moment to take in the adulation of the crowd and the champ relished this distraction, dragging Valkyrie into the ringpost and shifting the momentum her way for the first time in the match. Purrazzo hit a flatliner and followed up with a Koji Clutch but Valkyrie escaped. The match spilled back to ringside and Purrazzo delivered a Russian Leg Sweep against the ring apron but she hurt herself with this move as much as she did her opponent. Back in the ring, Purrazzo tried for the Fujiwara Armbar but she could not fully lock it on and Taya reached the bottom rope to break the submission. It was at this point the match started to turn in Valkyrie’s favour as she countered an offensive move from the top rope by the Virtuosa and delivered a Sitout Powerbomb to the champion. Purrazzo continued to fight back but soon Valkyrie delivered the Road to Valhalla and pinned the Champ Champ to officially demote her to just Champ.

Jez’s Pick: Taya Valkyrie
Dan’s Pick: Deonna Purrazzo
Winner: Taya Valkyrie
Jez 1 – Dan 1

IMPACT X Division Championship – Trey Miguel (c) vs. Ace Austin vs. Mike Bailey

The X-Division Championship Triple Threat Match was up next with Trey Miguel defending against Ace Austin and ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey. Ace Austin tried to convince his opponents that the outcome of this match was inevitable but this quickly proved not to be the smartest of moves as both Miguel and Bailey physically showed him why he was wrong. Austin was sent out of the ring and the other two men turned up the speed and demonstrated their technical ability. When Ace Austin came back into the ring, he turned up the physicality and delivered hard chops and kicks to his opponents but no matter what he did, Austin frequently found himself on the receiving end of high flying manoeuvres at ringside. Mike Bailey took the advantage in the match, delivering double knees to a prone entanglement of Austin and Miguel and got a nearfall on Ace following Ultimo Weapon. Bailey fell victim to a huge Brainbuster and a Meteora but Miguel’s pinfall was broken up when Austin pulled the leg of the referee. Ace Austin struck quickly and delivered The Fold to Miguel, pinning him to become the NEW IMPACT X-Division Champion.

Jez’s Pick: Trey Miguel
Dan’s Pick: Trey Miguel
Winner: Ace Austin
Jez 1 – Dan 1

Jonah vs. Tomohiro Ishii

From the fastest competitors to the biggest, next, as the ‘Top Dog’ Jonah collided with the ‘Stone Pitbull’ Tomohiro Ishii. As the bell rang, the two men came face to face before launching into each other with hard forearms and deep chops. After Jonah took down Ishii for the first time, he began to wear down the Japanese veteran, eventually locking him in a Sleeper Hold. After Ishii escaped, the dominance of Jonah continued. The Stone Pitbull tried his hardest to fight back in phases and eventually was able to chop down the big Australian with strikes to the knee but a sudden move from Jonah was all it took to ground Ishii once again. Things started to turn in Ishii’s favour when he avoided Tsunami and hit his Basement Lariat but this only put Jonah down for two. Ishii followed it up with headbutts and defied all laws of physics, hitting his signature Brainbuster and was able to get the three count, pinning Jonah to pick up a huge victory.

Jez’s Pick: Tomohiro Ishii
Dan’s Pick: Jonah
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii
Jez 2 – Dan 1

Eight-Team Elimination Challenge for the IMPACT World Tag Team Championship – Violent By Design (Eric Young, Deaner, and/or Joe Doering) (c) vs. Major Players vs. Jordynne Grace & W. Morrisey vs. Johnny Swinger & Zicky Dice vs. Rich Swann & Willie Mack vs. Honor No More vs. Heath & Rhino

Up next at Rebellion was the Eight-Team Elimination Challenge for the Impact World Tag Team Championship with Violent By Design defending their titles against seven other tag teams. The two teams to start the match were the Major Players and the unique pairing of Jordynne Grace and W. Morrissey. Grace and Morrisey teamed well and delivered a number of double team manoeuvres but when Chelsea Green caused a distraction, Matt Cardona rolled up Jordynne Grace for the surprise 1-2-3. After the elimination, the brawl continued and Chelsea paid for her intervention – being Powerbombed through a table by W. Morrisey. 

The next team to enter was the Good Brothers and the Major Players were forced to abandon Green in the rubble and return to the match. Fortunately for Cardona, the match didn’t last long and the Major Players were eliminated after the Magic Killer. The next entry came from the shortlived team of Johnny Swinger and Zicky Dice – the second victims of the Magic Killer. Thanks for coming. Providing more of a challenge for Anderson and Gallows were Rich Swann and Willy Mack. The Good Brothers isolated Swann away from his partner and made frequent tags to make their way towards another elimination. Willie Mack eventually made the hot tag and even got a very close nearfall on Karl Anderson but after Gallows shoved him off the top rope, the pair hit another Magic Killer and advanced.

The next entry was Honor No More who misdirected the Good Brothers by sending Vincent and Kenny King down the ramp, setting up a blindside attack from the actual entrants, Matt Taven and Mike Bennett. The attack backfired for Bennett as he fell victim to the Gun Stun but Matt Taven pinned Karl Anderson as Maria held his foot under the ropes, eliminating one of the favourite teams to win in The Good Brothers. Next to join the match were Honor No More’s old enemies Heath and Rhino who went to work quickly on Mike Bennett. Maria once again got involved in the match and this shifted momentum back towards her boys, Bennett and Taven. However as the match broke down, Rhino surprised Matt Taven with a Gore and eliminated Honor No More in shocking fashion. 

The final team to enter was the defending IMPACT World Tag Team Champions, Violent By Design. Eric Young and Joe Doering were the chosen two for the champions and Young went right to work on former VBD member, Rhino. Rhino found himself isolated away from Heath and double teamed until Heath grabbed the tag and a nearfall with the Wake Up Call. The third member of VBD, Deener, drew Heath into the fist of Doering at ringside and the momentum once again shifted back towards the champions. Eric Young hit the Piledriver on Heath and pinned him to retain the IMPACT World Tag Team Championships.

Jez’s Pick: Major Players
Dan’s Pick: Violent By Design
Winner: Violent By Design
Jez 2 – Dan 2

IMPACT Knockouts World Championship – Tasha Steelz (c) vs. Rosemary

The championship action kept on coming as, next, Tasha Steelz defended her Knockouts World Championship against Decay’s Rosemary. Rosemary started aggressively as the bell rang, full throat screaming as she tossed the champion around the ring. Steelz took the damage for a time before baiting Havok into being ejected from ringside and taking control of the match. Steelz went on the offensive, punishing Rosemary with clubbing forearms to the chest on the ring apron. Steelz continued to wear down her opponent and although Rosemary was able to fight back in flurries, Steelz kept the momentum. When the champion collected her title belt, this distracted the referee and allowed Savannah Evans to take down Rosemary. This allowed Steelz to hit the Blackout but only got a two count. Evans tried to get involved again but Rosemary gave her a Green Mist for her troubles. Rosemary went for the kill, heading to the top rope but Steelz shocked her with a Cutter and followed it up with a Falcon Arrow to collect the 1-2-3 and another successful title defence.

Jez’s Pick: Tasha Steelz
Dan’s Pick: Rosemary
Winner: Tasha Steelz
Jez 3 – Dan 2

IMPACT World Championship – Moose (c) vs. Josh Alexander

In the main event, Moose defended the IMPACT World Championship in a long awaited contest against the challenger, Josh Alexander. As Alexander made his way to the ring, he was accompanied by his son in matching ring attire whereas Moose was resplendent in gold. As the match began, Alexander outmuscled the champion and ground him down to the mat with amateur wrestling manoeuvres. Moose escaped the ring and got into the face of Alexander’s family. This enraged Alexander but the rage provided an opening for Moose to surprise his challenger and take control of the match. The self proclaimed Wrestling God used the ringside area to wear down his challenger but Alexander seemed more willing to throw everything he had at Moose and regained control. Alexander delivered a succession of ten German Suplexes before releasing his grip on an exhausted Moose. The challenger didn’t capitalise on his work, though, and this once again allowed Moose back into the match. The action went back and forth again with each man giving the other the opportunity to deliver their best shot. Alexander delivered a C4 Spike but Moose got his foot on the bottom rope. From out of nowhere, Alexander surprised us all with a Styles Clash and followed it up with an Anklelock but once again Moose reached the ropes and this time pulled off a turnbuckle cover. It was into this exposed turnbuckle that Alexander was launched head first and Moose followed it up with a Spear. However, Alexander kicked out at 2. Moose went for another Spear but Alexander met it with a swift knee to the face. Josh Alexander followed this up with a second C4 Spike and pinned Moose to finally regain the IMPACT World Championship.

Jez’s Pick: Josh Alexander
Dan’s Pick: Moose
Winner: Josh Alexander
Jez 4 – Dan 2

Final Rating

Dan awards 3.5 out of 5 Cauliflower Ear Protectors
Jez awards 3 out of 5 Cauliflower Ear Protectors

Search for The Main Event Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts or anywhere you get your podcasts from. Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with all of the new content coming from The Main Event Podcast!

This podcast is not affiliated with WWE, AEW, Impact Wrestling or any other promotion. All clips, soundbites and trademarks are used in accordance with UK fair use copyright law and remain property of their respective owners.

All Elite Wrestling return to pay-per-view for the first time in 2022 with the hotly anticipated Revolution event. In the main event, it’s the Battle of the Adams as Page and Cole vie for the AEW World Championship. Elsewhere on the card, it’s CM Punk vs. MJF and the Face of the Revolution Ladder Match. Join Jez and Dan to go through it all on The Main Event Podcast.

Pre-Show: “Legit” Leyla Hirsch vs. Kris Statlander

The opening contest on the Revolution Buy-In saw “Legit” Leyla Hirsch take on Kris Statlander. Early in the match, Statlander made the mistake of trying to fight a mat based match with Hirsch and, after being bounced off the steps outside the ring, found her limbs targeted by the submission specialist. Statlander fought back into the match where she could and almost picked up the win after a huge drop from the top rope. Frustrated by the nearfall, Statlander took her eye off the ball and found herself struck in the head with a spare turnbuckle mounting. Hirsch hit a Springboard Moonsault and pinned Statlander to pick up the win.

Jez’s Pick: Kris Statlander
Dan’s Pick: “Legit” Leyla Hirsch
Winner: “Legit” Leyla Hirsch
Jez 0 – Dan 1

Next up on the Buy-In, we were expecting to hear from a returning Kenny Omega but instead we were treated with his business advisor, Don Callis. Callis blamed the AEW fans for driving Omega to receive multiple injuries and have to wrestle through them. He shared his confidence that the Young Bucks would become World Tag Team Champions after tonight and that, without Kenny Omega around, Adam Cole would become a fantastic transitional champion for Omega when he walks back through the doors at AEW.

Pre-Show: Hook vs. QT Marshall

The next pre-show contest saw the leader of The Factory QT Marshall went one-on-one with Hook. Hook dominated the early part of the contest with the technical brawling style we’ve come to love from the ‘Handsome Devil’ and so Marshall tried to lure Hook out of the ring. Hook didn’t bite at first but, when he did, it backfired on QT as he fell victim to an Exploder Suplex on the floor. While QT Marshall did take control of the match for a brief period, he was surprised by Hook after he locked him in the Tazmission, forcing Marshall to tap out.

Jez’s Pick: Hook
Dan’s Pick: Hook
Winner: Hook
Jez 1 – Dan 2

Pre-Show: The House of Black vs. Pac, Penta Oscuro and Erick Redbeard

In the main event of the Revolution Buy-In, the team of Pac, Penta Oscuro and Erick Redbeard took on The House of Black – Malakai Black, Brody King and Buddy Matthews. Pac and Black started the match but the pair quickly tagged out to Penta and Matthews, respectively. The pair fought frantically before tagging in the big men, Redbeard and King, who engaged in a battle of shoulder blocks. Meat collided with meat but neither man was able to take the other down. As you might have expected, the match did not remain a traditional six-man tag for very long and the action broke down all over the ringside area. Later in the match, after Penta Oscuro dropped Malakai Black on the apron with a Piledriver, he assumed that Black was the legal man. However, Buddy Matthews was legal and, after hitting a Kerb Stomp on Penta, got a nearfall. Redbeard came to the rescue and the House of Black attempted to triple team the big man. Redbeard was about to chokeslam the trio in succession but as he lifted up Black, he spewed the Black Mist into Erick’s face. Brody King followed this up with a Sitting Piledriver and Matthews picked up the pin and victory for the House of Black.

Jez’s Pick: House of Black
Dan’s Pick: Penta, Pac and Redbeard
Winner: House of Black
Jez 2 – Dan 2

Chris Jericho vs. Eddie Kingston

The Revolution pay-per-view kicked off with the brawl between Chris Jericho and Eddie Kingston. The pair wasted no time getting into it and Kingston immediately nailed Jericho with the Half and Half Suplex, immediately sending the Demo God giddy. There was an element of Jericho playing possum here though and, once back in the ring, he went on the offensive, targeting the head of Kingston with precision right hands to the forehead. As the match progressed, the evil brilliance of Jericho was on display as he used manoeuvres that repeatedly dropped Kingston on his neck and shoulder. He locked in the Walls of Jericho but Kingston dragged himself to the bottom rope to break the hold. Jericho didn’t show any intelligence here, though, as he got into it with referee Aubrey Edwards rather than go for the kill. This allowed Kingston to get back into the match and pick up a nearfall after a series of Side Suplexes and a Spinning Back Fist. Jericho hit a pair of Codebreakers but still Jericho procrastinated and in going for the Judas Effect, he waited to long. Kingston hit another pair of Back Fists on Jericho and locked in the Stretch Plum, forcing Jericho to submit. After the match, Kingston tried to have Jericho make good on his promise to shake his hand if he beats him but Jericho walked away instead.

Jez’s Pick: Eddie Kingston
Dan’s Pick: Chris Jericho
Winner: Eddie Kingston
Jez 3 – Dan 2

AEW World Tag Team Championship – Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) (c) vs. reDRagon (Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson)

In the first championship match of the night, Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus defended their AEW World Tag Team Championship against reDRagon and The Young Bucks. Jungle Boy and Kyle O’Reilly started the match before Kyle tagged in his partner, Bobby Fish. ReDRagon worked with The Young Bucks to keep Luchasaurus out of the match for as long as possible which was a successful tactic for a while but even when the big man did break into the match, it was still a 4-on-2 disadvantage for the champions. The partnership between the Bucks and ReDRagon was tested when each team went for pinfall attempts which allowed Luchasaurus back into the match to take down all four of his opponents with chokeslams and flying dinosaur manoeuvres. Jurassic Express hit Doomsday Device but only picked up a two count. After The Young Bucks and ReDRagon came to blows, the match became a little more evenly fought. Matt Jackson tried to bring a title belt into the ring but Kyle O’Reilly stole it and, after hitting Jungle Boy between the eyes with it, got a nearfall. Jungle Boy fought back against all of his opponents and, with an assist from Luchasaurus, the pair hit the Jurassic Express on Jackson to collect a hard fought 1-2-3.

Jez’s Pick: Jurassic Express
Dan’s Pick: ReDragon
Winner: Jurassic Express
Jez 4 – Dan 2

Face of the Revolution Ladder Match – Keith Lee vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Ricky Starks vs. Wardlow vs. Christian Cage

The next action packed contest at Revolution was the Face of the Revolution Ladder Match with Keith Lee, Orange Cassidy, Powerhouse Hobbs, Ricky Starks, Wardlow and Christian Cage all vying to earn themselves a future TNT Championship opportunity. As a Sonic the Hedgehog style ring hung high above the competitors, the highlights of the early portion of the match included a meeting of the three big men – Lee, Hobbs and Wardlow – and Orange Cassidy getting his trademark lazy stuff in whilst trying to climb a ladder with his hands in his pockets. Cassidy also had a good moment where he used the ladder to helicopter blade down his opponents but when Wardlow and Keith Lee intervened, Cassidy was forced to skin the cat to the top of the horizontal ladder to try and escape. This backfired on him when the pair shook the ladder and crotched Cassidy between the rungs of the ladder. With all six men in the ring, two ladders became packed with humanity but one by one they all fell, leaving Wardlow and Powerhouse Hobbs reaching for the ring. The pair fought and came crashing down but recovered quickly to square off once again with Keith Lee, who was fresh off yeeting Orange Cassidy out of the ring. The three big men fought up the ramp and up to the commentary position. As Lee and Hobbs struggled against each other, Wardlow took a running start and launched the two men off the stage and through a table. Wardlow made his way back to the ring where he thwarted the climb of Ricky Starks with a powerbomb onto a ladder before reaching up and claiming the brass ring to become the NEW Face of the Revolution.

Jez’s Pick: Wardlow
Dan’s Pick: Keith Lee
Winner: Wardlow
Jez 5 – Dan 2

Before the next match, Tony Schiavone took to the ramp to introduce a new signing to AEW. After flashing a contract to the camera that very clearly said SWERVE on it in big letters, he introduced Shane “Swerve” Strickland. Swerve said he was looking forward to the competition in AEW and asked the audience whose house it was.

AEW TBS Championship – Jade Cargill (c) vs. Tay Conti

Another championship contest came next when Tay Conti challenged the undefeated TBS Champion, Jade Cargill, for her gold. Played to the ring by Cristone “Kingfish” Ingram and dressed as Jade from Mortal Kombat, Jade Cargill kissed Conti to start the match. Perhaps a kiss of death foreshadowing what was to come, Cargill made light work of her opponent despite Conti becoming enraged by the TBS Champion’s mocking of her martial arts background. Cargill also took out Anna Jay with a big pump kick at ringside and kicked out of a rollup despite Jay getting revenge with a steel chair behind the official’s back. Conti gave Cargill her best effort and picked up a few nearfalls of her own but once Cargill had plucked her from the top rope and delivered Jaded, it was all over for the challenger. Jade Cargill pinned the Brazilian to remain undefeated and the TBS Champion.

Jez’s Pick: Jade Cargill
Dan’s Pick: Jade Cargill
Winner: Jade Cargill
Jez 6 – Dan 3

Dog Collar Match – CM Punk vs. MJF

The next match was perhaps the most anticipated of the pay-per-view when MJF took on CM Punk in a Dog Collar Match. Punk came to the ring dressed in classic attire and to his old Ring of Honor entrance music before he was shackled to Friedman and the match began. Punk dragged MJF towards him with the chain, catching him against the ring ropes on multiple occasions, choking him. MJF got himself back into the match by reopening the laceration he created on the forehead of CM Punk last week on Dynamite. MJF took to the mic to encourage Punk to quit but Punk suggested he eat s**t instead. Max climbed the ropes and shouted at the crowd on the mic but Punk yanked on the chain and brought him crashing to the mat, destroying the momentum he had created. Punk, now bleeding profusely, went for the kill, crushing the fingers of Friedman in the chain and going for Go to Sleep. MJF broke out of the move by jamming a finger in the open wound of Punk and looked to pass him out with a Sleeper Hold. Punk survived and soon locked in a submission of his own, the Anaconda Vice, but MJF rolled it into a pinfall attempt that forced Punk to break the hold. Punk maintained control of the match for a time and went for his Diving Elbow from the top rope. MJF moved aside and went under the ring for a bag of thumbtacks. Max hit Punk’s own knee on CM Punk and was going for his Bulldog into the tacks when Punk bit the hand of MJF and broke free. Punk wouldn’t avoid the tacks for long, though, as MJF would Superplex the Second City Saint into them. MJF called for Wardlow to come from the back and the big man searched his pockets for the Dynamite Diamond Ring but could not find it. CM Punk surprised Friedman with a GTS and Max fell into the tacks. Wardlow then miraculously found Max’s ring, place it on the ring apron near Punk, and walked away. Punk put the ring on, flipped MJF the bird and nailed MJF square between the eyes before making the cover and picking up a bloody, brutal victory.

Jez’s Pick: CM Punk
Dan’s Pick: CM Punk
Winner: CM Punk
Jez 7 – Dan 4

AEW Women’s World Championship – Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (c) vs. Thunder Rosa

With a brand new AEW Women’s World Championship belt in tow, Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. defended her title against Thunder Rosa. The match began on the mat with the two women exchanging holds and counter-holds. As the match progressed, we saw Jamie Hayter get involved from ringside, as is often the case in Baker championship defences, but Thunder Rosa kept fighting. Baker was handed her single black glove, suggesting that she was ready to deliver Lockjaw, but Rosa struck fast and delivered a Superplex to bring down the champion. Rosa fought to keep the champion down but she was countered regularly and almost locked into Lockjaw twice. Rosa hit a Tombstone Piledriver and went for the win but Rebel (not Reba) distracted the referee, preventing the count. With the ref still distracted, Baker hit a Kerb Stomp onto her championship belt but only managed a two count. Rosa locked in a Straight Jacket submission but once again Rebel took the official’s attention. Rosa had had enough and took Rebel out with a Spear through the ropes but when she returned to the ring, Baker hit another surprise Kerb Stomp and picked up the 1-2-3.

Jez’s Pick: Britt Baker
Dan’s Pick: Britt Baker
Winner: Britt Baker
Jez 8 – Dan 5

Jon Moxley vs. Bryan Danielson

The next match was another match that looked to steal the show as Jon Moxley took on Bryan Danielson. As the crowd chanted “We Want Violence”, the two men felt each other out. Mox was gracious enough to give Bryan a free right hand to the face but responded with two harder hits of his own. The strikes only got harder between the two men as the match continued. As the match spilled outside of the ring, the pair opened up with Headbutts. Both men were busted open by this barrage but Moxley found his wound was a gusher and his face became a crimson mask. Danielson exploited this with right hands and stiff knees and eventually went for the win with the Labell Lock but Mox reached the ropes. Bryan grabbed the arms of Moxley to deliver his stomps to the face but Mox rolled over and the pair had to exchange kicks to the chest instead. Moxley got the best of this and locked in the Bulldog Choke but Bryan escaped and hit the Psycho Knee for a two count. Bryan locked in a Triangle Choke and was close to submitting Mox but he rolled over and Bryan found himself in a pinning position. The referee counted three and handed Jon Moxley the victory in some extremely dubious circumstances. Bryan got in the referee’s face before the fight continued. As the pair brawled, William Regal came down the ramp and broke up the two men. He slapped some sense into both men and encouraged them to shake hands which, reluctantly, they did.

Jez’s Pick: Jon Moxley
Dan’s Pick: Jon Moxley
Winner: Jon Moxley
Jez 9 – Dan 6

A.H.F.O. (Andrade El Ídolo, Isiah Kassidy and Matt Hardy) vs. Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara and Sting

The next contest was a tornado trios match with Andrade El Ídolo, Isiah Kassidy and Matt Hardy taking on Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara, and Sting. After a long entrance video package, Allin’s team wasted no time in starting the match and the brawl was on around the outside of the ring. With no disqualifications in the match, the weapons were swinging early. The first two men to make it into the ring were Matt Hardy and Sting. Kassidy soon joined Hardy and so Sting took care of both men with a trash can. This battle eventually spilled into the crowd where the Butcher and the Blade were laying in wait to take out Sting and Darby Allin. Hardy dragged Sting up into the bleachers and tried to throw The Icon off and through some stacked tables but when Allin placed Andrade on top of the tables, Sting dived off and drove El Ídolo through the stack to the ground. Meanwhile, on the stage, Marq Quen joined Isiah Kassidy to try and take out Sammy Guevara but the TNT Champion took Kassidy and drove him through tables with a Spanish Fly from on top of the tunnels. Back in the ring, Allin and Hardy fought using a chair. After Allin hit a Scorpion Death Drop while the chair was wrapped around Hardy, he followed up with a Coffin Drop and picked up the win for his team.

Jez’s Pick: Allin/Guevara/Sting
Dan’s Pick: Allin/Guevara/Sting
Winner: Allin/Guevara/Sting
Jez 10 – Dan 7

AEW World Championship – “Hangman” Adam Page (c) vs. Adam Cole

In his fourth defence of the AEW World Championship, “Hangman” Adam Page defended against Adam Cole (Bay Bay) in the main event. As the match began, the pair seemed content to fight at ringside. This worked in favour of the champion at first but it wasn’t long before he was on the receiving end of two tosses into the ring steps at the hands of his challenger. Back in the ring, Cole continued to wear down Page, also arguing with the referee about the length of a rope break. Cole got a little too cocky and rather than go for the kill and the championship, Cole opted to shout into the face of Page and inform him that he would never beat him. Page answered this with a big slap to the face and started to shift control of the match his way. Momentum shifted back and forth as the crowd chanted “This is Adam” and “Fight Forever”, and both men secured several close nearfalls. On the top rope, Cole went for an Avalanche Panama Sunrise but after Page countered it, ReDRagon made their way to ringside to provide a distraction. Cole hit Panama Sunrise on the floor outside the ring and put the AEW Champ back in the ring for another nearfall. Cole followed up with another Sunrise and a knee to the back of the head but Hangman kicked out again. O’Reilly and Fish set up a table at ringside but it was Cole that found himself put through it with a Deadeye from the ring apron. This also brought the Dark Order to ringside and a brawl took ReDRagon away from the ring. With the distractions neutralised, Page hit the Buckshot Lariat but Cole touched the ropes to break the count. Hangman delivered a Cole-esque knee to the back of the head and nailed another Buckshot to pick up the 1-2-3.

Jez’s Pick: Adam Page
Dan’s Pick: Adam Page
Winner: Adam Page
Jez 11 – Dan 8

Final Rating

Dan awards 3.5 out of 5 Massive William Regal Slaps
Jez also awards 3.5 out of 5 Massive William Regal Slaps

Search for The Main Event Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts or anywhere you get your podcasts from. Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with all of the new content coming from The Main Event Podcast!

Wrestling Theme Covers by JaydeGarrow
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This podcast is not affiliated with WWE, AEW, Impact Wrestling or any other promotion. All clips, soundbites and trademarks are used in accordance with UK fair use copyright law and remain property of their respective owners.

It feels like it was only last week we were discussing IMPACT Wrestling… Oh wait, it was! With an insanely quick turnaround, IMPACT Wrestling presents it’s second IMPACT Plus event in a fortnight, Sacrifice. Featuring a main event of Moose vs. Heath and a number of shocking changes, was Sacrifice worth doing an event so soon after the last? Tune in as Jez and Dan break it all down on The Main Event Podcast.

Pre-Show: Gisele Shaw vs. Lady Frost

The in-ring action began on the Countdown to Sacrifice pre-show when the Quintessential Diva Gisele Shaw took on Lady Frost. As the match began, Shaw delivered a Snapmare to Frost and patronisingly rubbed her on the head. This, understandably, riled up Frost and the match immediately became a physical, personal affair. After hitting her version of the Cannonball – the Snowball, Frost went for the win from the top rope but Shaw escaped doom and got a nearfall of her own with a Draping DDT. This setup was repeated as Shaw once again tried to prevent Frost coming off the top rope but Lady Frost pushed Shaw off the top rope and hit Frostbite to pick up the 1-2-3 and hand Shaw her first loss in IMPACT Wrestling.

Jez’s Pick: N/A
Dan’s Pick: N/A
Winner: Lady Frost

Pre-Show: Honor No More (Mike Bennett and Matt Taven) vs. Rich Swann and Willie Mack

In the next preshow match, Willie Mack and Rich Swann teamed to face two members of Honor No More – Mike Bennett and Matt Taven. Swann started the match against Bennett and the pair got off to a fast start. When Willie Mack, the match’s biggest man, tagged into the match, the match, if anything, got a little faster and soon spilled to the outside. This extracurricular action allowed the team of Honor No More to weaken Mack and isolate him once back inside the ring. Swann eventually got the hot tag but Bennett and Taven were able to switch their isolation tactics to him instead. Rich Swann was able to pull of the surprise victory, though, dropping in a Sunset Flip out of nowhere and collecting a pinfall.

Jez’s Pick: Honor No More
Dan’s Pick: Honor No More
Winner: Swann/Mack

IMPACT X-Division Championship – Trey Miguel (c) vs. Jake Something

The opening contest on the main Sacrifice event was for the IMPACT X-Division Championship with the challenger, Jake Something, taking on the champion, Trey Miguel. Something emphasised his size and dominance in the early going, pushing the champion down but Miguel hit Jake with a stiff elbow to the nose before taking to the ropes to try and ground the big man. This was successful to a point but Something retaliated on several occasions, most notably with a massive Sitout Powerbomb that almost drove Miguel through the ring. Something went for the kill and got a nearfall after Spearing Miguel through the turnbuckles but the champion refused to die and grounded his challenger, at least for a moment, with a Neckbreaker. After Something hit his second Powerbomb of the match, he got a nearfall and frustratedly went for a third. Miguel was wise to this and countered it into a Meteora. He didn’t get all of it, though, and Jake Something kicked out. This led to a battle atop the top turnbuckle and Miguel fought his way into hitting another Meteora as Something dangled from the middle turnbuckle and this time was able to pick up the victory.

Jez’s Pick: Trey Miguel
Dan’s Pick: Trey Miguel
Winner: Trey Miguel
Jez 1 – Dan 1

Eddie Edwards vs. Rhino

In the next bout, the traitor of IMPACT Wrestling, Eddie Edwards, went one-on-one with Rhino. Each man was accompanied by their teammates, creating the potential for chaos in the contest to come. This was not a hugely technical affair and the two men began by taking lumps out of each other with stiff chops across the chest. Maria then attempted to hand Edwards a Kendo Stick but she was caught by referee Brian Hebner and promptly ejected from ringside. This didn’t end the interference of Honor No More, though, as with the back of Hebner turned, Taven tripped Rhino as he hit the ropes. Eventually, inevitably, this broke into a fight between the two factions at ringside. With the referee distracted by the fracas, Steve Maclin came to from the back and delivered a DDT to Edwards. He then picked up the Kendo Stick and reared back to hit Eddie with it but instead struck Rhino across the back, allowing the new leader of Honor No More to pick up the win with the Boston Knee Party.

Jez’s Pick: Eddie Edwards
Dan’s Pick: Eddie Edwards
Winner: Eddie Edwards
Jez 2 – Dan 2

IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Championship – The IInspiration (c) vs. The Influence

In a match for the IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Championships, The IInspiration defended the gold against The Influence. The match start was catty but soon got more physical after Rayne and Dashwood bounced McKay and Lee off the ring apron and barricades. This allowed The Influence to double team Jessie McKay and make frequent tags. When Cassie Lee made it back to the apron, the hot tag was made and momentum swung back to the champions. Although banished from the match, Kaleb with a K came to ringside and was the difference in the match. Kaleb slid a championship belt to Tenille Dashwood who used it to great effect and made the cover to claim the IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Championships.

Jez’s Pick: The IInspiration
Dan’s Pick: The IInspiration
Winner: The Influence
Jez 2 – Dan 2

Before the next contest, Brian Myers once again took his place at ringside for commentary but he was quickly chased away by W. Morrissey, who put a security guard though a table… because why not?

Jonah vs. P.C.O.

Next up at Sacrifice was the battle of the big men with Jonah taking on Honor No More’s P.C.O. The match quickly spilled out of the ring where Jonah was sent head first into the ringpost and P.C.O. was Russian Leg Sweeped on the ramp. Still refusing to keep the match in the ring, P.C.O. dived out of the ring onto Jonah and followed it up with the Deanimator on the apron. When the match finally got back in the ring, Jonah took control but he could not put down P.C.O. as he refused to quit. Through frustration and desperation, Jonah took the match back to ringside and, after slamming P.C.O. head first into the steps, he delivered a stiff Tombstone Piledriver onto the steps, Powerbombed him onto the floor and tossed him back into the ring to deliver a Tsunami and pick up the hardest fought win of Jonah’s IMPACT career.

Jez’s Pick: Jonah
Dan’s Pick: Jonah
Winner: Jonah
Jez 3 – Dan 3

“Switchblade” Jay White vs. Alex Shelley

An old rivalry was renewed next as “Switchblade” Jay White took on his first opponent in New Japan Pro Wrestling, IMPACT Wrestling legend, Alex Shelley. As the early portion of the match developed, it seemed that Alex Shelley was very much in the head of his mentee and the Motor City Machine Gun exploited his knowledge of Jay White to avoid big moves. This may have all been a game, though, as after White got his knees up to avoid damage, he launched into a systematic assault of his former mentor, slamming him ribs and shoulder first into the ring apron. This frustrated Shelley who launched into several reckless, high paced attacks on White but the Switchblade had an answer each time and maintained his momentum. White attempted to go for a Urinagi but Shelley fought out with deep chops. The leader of Bullet Club eventually managed to hit his Urinagi but Shelley reached the ropes and survived a little longer. The pair exchanged near finishes as the arm of Jay White started to trouble him. As White escaped the ring to give his arm a chance to recover, White attempted a Springboard that was countered into a Blade Runner against the ring apron. The pair clambered back into the ring where White went for a second Blade Runner but Shelley turned it round into one of his own. Shelley tried to capitalise by going straight into the Border City Stretch but White escaped, hit a brutal Blade Runner and covered Alex Shelley to pick up a huge win. After the match, Shelley held out his hand for a handshake but White laughed it off and walked away.

Jez’s Pick: Jay White
Dan’s Pick: Jay White
Winner: Jay White
Jez 4 – Dan 4

Deonna Purrazzo’s Champ Champ Open Challenge

It was time for the Champ Champ Open Challenge next at Sacrifice with Chelsea Green challenging Deonna Purrazzo for the Ring of Honor Women’s Championship. The match started off in the catch-as-catch-can style within the ring but when Purrazzo took a breather at the bottom of the ramp, Chelsea Green launched herself through the ropes at the champion, almost overshooting her completely. Purrazzo took this misstep as an opportunity to chain together hard strikes and submissions and hold on to the wrist of her challenge to prevent her from escaping. However, Chelsea Green did escape and began to fire up for a time, pressing Purrazzo’s face into the bottom turnbuckle and stealing the champ’s Fujiwara Armbar. Green went for another submission but Purrazzo countered out of it and damaged Green’s wrist in the process. The referee held Purrazzo off for a moment but when Green shoved her away, The Virtuosa went for the kill and locked in her own Fujiwara Armbar. The match ended but Purrazzo did not relent and had to be chased away by Mickie James.

Jez’s Pick: N/A
Dan’s Pick: N/A
Winner: Deonna Purrazzo
Jez 4 – Dan 4

IMPACT Knockouts World Championship – Mickie James (c) vs. Tasha Steelz

With Mickie James still tending to her fallen friend, Chelsea Green, Tasha Steelz marched to the ring to demand the start of her title match against the Knockouts World Champion. Steelz jumped James after the introductions and continued her attack as the bell rang. This was shortlived, though, as the champion channelled her rage at Deonna Purrazzo hurting her friend into beating down her challenger. As James went for the submission victory, Savannah Evans tried to attack Green but Mickie released her submission to intervene. Steelz took advantage and surprised the champion with a dive out of the ring and followed it up tossing James into the ring steps. Steelz slowed things down here and brought the fight to her opponent, locked in submissions and tested the official’s five count on several occasions. Mickie James did fight her way back into the match and, after hitting the Mick-D-T, she had the opportunity to pick up the win but Savannah Evans once again made her presence felt and diverted the champ’s attention. This distraction allowed Steelz to hit the Blackout but it did not keep James down for three. Mickie took to the top rope but she was held up by Evans once again. As James did eventually dive from the top rope, Steelz countered it into a Cutter and pinned Mickie to become the NEW IMPACT Knockouts World Champion.

Jez’s Pick: Tasha Steelz
Dan’s Pick: Mickie James
Winner: Tasha Steelz
Jez 5 – Dan 4

IMPACT World Tag Team Championship – The Good Brothers (c) vs. Violent By Design

In our next championship contest, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson defended their IMPACT World Tag Team Championships against Eric Young and Joe Doering, Violent By Design. Young and Anderson started out the physically charged contest before they tagged out to their big men, Gallows and Doering. Despite a big collision of meat, neither team could gain a prolonged advantage in the match for very long and men on both sides managed to gain very close nearfalls throughout the contest. As Gallows and Young fought their way up the ramp, Joe Doering showed his dominance in the ring, crushing Anderson with a huge clothesline. Eric Young returned to the ring to execute a double team Powerbomb/Neckbreaker combination and Doering pinned Anderson to crown his team the NEW IMPACT World Tag Team Champions.

Jez’s Pick: Good Brothers
Dan’s Pick: Good Brothers
Winner: Violent By Design
Jez 5 – Dan 4

IMPACT World Championship – Moose (c) vs. Heath

In the main event, the IMPACT World Championship was on the line as the champion, Moose, defended against Heath. As the bell rang, the two men came face to face in the centre of the ring. Moose tried to dominate Heath but the challenger stayed light on his feet and was able to avoid the champion for a time. However, it wasn’t long before Moose caught up with him and the beatdown from the self proclaimed ‘Wrestling God’ began. This beating continued outside the ring where Moose forced Heath into the ringpost and threw him against the ring steps. Heath was taken apart systematically for the majority of the contest until Moose was sent out of the ring with a surprise Back-Body Drop. It was here that Heath had a flurry of offense but it was shortlived and Moose soon picked up the win with a Urinagi followed by a Spear. After the match, the “sent home” Josh Alexander snuck up behind Moose and delivered a C4 Spike to the champion. On the mic, Alexander revealed that he had signed a multi year contract with IMPACT Wrestling but also had finally booked his World Title match against Moose at the next pay-per-view, Rebellion.

Jez’s Pick: Moose
Dan’s Pick: Moose
Winner: Moose
Jez 6 – Dan 5

Final Rating

Dan awards 2.5 out of 5 IMPACT Multi Year Contracts
Jez awards 3 out of 5 IMPACT Multi Year Contracts

Search for The Main Event Podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts or anywhere you get your podcasts from. Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with all of the new content coming from The Main Event Podcast!

Wrestling Theme Covers by JaydeGarrow
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCit4zHRRYaU5Og8ZHqvA7jQ

This podcast is not affiliated with WWE, AEW, Impact Wrestling or any other promotion. All clips, soundbites and trademarks are used in accordance with UK fair use copyright law and remain property of their respective owners.