IMPACT Final Resolution Review - December 9, 2023

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Pre-Show: PCO def. Jessie V

This match was joined in progress, at least when I tuned into the pre-show after it already aired. I don't believe I missed much. PCO dominated the match and won in a matter of minutes. PCO is always over in front of the IMPACT audience, but as a Canadian, he's especially over when he competes in Canada. This simply served to get him on the show in some capacity. He recently re-signed with the company, so he'll be sticking around.

Pre-Show: Jack Price def. Aiden Prince

Both guys have been in action in IMPACT in the past, but I'm not sure why they needed to have a match against each other on this show. It was passable for a pre-show matchup and it did give both guys more exposure, but it's all about the follow-up and what the company choose to do with them from here. The commentators acknowledged that this marked Price's first win in IMPACT, so we'll see if this was just a one-off or the start of something for him.

Pre-Show: Frankie Kazarian def. Sheldon Jean

Jean was previously linked with Kenny King before King left the company about a month ago. It's not like he was winning many matches alongside King, but I assume he'll remain in an enhancement role on his own as well. As for Kazarian, I'm hoping he can continue to rack up wins and build more momentum entering the new year. He ended his feud with Eddie Edwards on top but has lacked direction since then. This was a fairly average outing.

Impact World Tag Team Champions ABC def. Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards

It was noted beforehand that Moose is focused on Hard to Kill and thus gave Edwards his blessing to tag with Myers to pursue the tag titles. That was random, but I guess they didn't want Moose losing at all before he challenges for the Impact World Championship, even though he wouldn't have had to take the pinfall loss here. Nonetheless, this was a fun opener. The Rascalz attacked the champs afterward, so it looks like they want their rematch from Bound for Glory.

Jody Threat def. Alisha Edwards

Alisha stuck around in the ring after the opener, so Santino Marella put her in an impromptu match with a familiar foe in Threat. Their previous matches were nothing special and this was no exception, but at least it got Threat on the show in her home country. She's perfectly competent in the ring, but she simply hasn't clicked as as character yet and hasn't been put in a position for fans to really rally behind her, either.

Impact Digital Media Champion Tommy Dreamer def. Deaner

It would have been fitting for Dreamer and Crazzy Steve to finish their feud on this show with it being Final Resolution, but Deaner got a title shot instead despite not being on IMPACT programming in months. This has been a fine little run for Dreamer and this match was okay, but I can't imagine it will be lasting much longer. On the bright side, The Design seems to be a thing of the past since Kon wasn't in Deaner's corner.

Trent Seven and "Speedball" Mike Bailey def. The Rascalz

Bailey and Trey Miguel were scheduled to go one-on-one before Marella turned it into a tag team match and introduced Seven as Bailey's partner. He's made a few appearances for AEW since being released by WWE last year and TNA is a logical landing spot for him. I don't know if it was necessary for Scott D'Amore to made a big deal about his signing afterward, but he is a pickup for TNA. This was an enjoyable outing, but it was strange for The Rascalz to lose before they seemingly get their rematch for the tag titles soon.

Jake Something def. Jason Hotch

There was some setup for this on the pre-show with Hotch attacking Something from behind and Hotch cut a promo during his entrance, but otherwise, there was no reason for this to happen. It got Something on the card, so there was that, but I hope Something can find direction soon and settle into a feud with someone other than Dirty Dango. This was serviceable, but it felt like filler.

Moose def. Rhino in a Street Fight

Moose got himself intentionally disqualified with a low blow within the first few minutes, but the bout was then restarted as a Street Fight. They definitely benefited from the stipulation as that made the match more interesting and they had quality chemistry together. Moose winning was the only outcome that made sense as he'll be fighting for the Impact World Championship sometime soon.

Jordynne Grace and Impact Knockouts World Champion Trinity def. Deonna Purrazzo and Gisele Shaw

Trinity will be defending the Impact Knockouts World Championship against Grace at Hard to Kill and they proved here they could coexist before then. Purrazzo has wrestled Grace and Trinity ad nauseum this year, but at least she always works well with them and thus this was a solid match. Shaw has improved a ton this year, but she can never seem to win on pay-per-view/special events. Needless to say, Purrazzo being attacked by Shaw afterward was meant to be her swan song from the company, unless she decides to re-sign.

Josh Alexander and NJPW World Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr. def. The Motor City Machine Guns

As two of the best technical wrestlers in the world, Alexander and Sabre made for a hell of a team. Putting them up against Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin made for an awesome main event. The action delivered and they rightfully received plenty of time. Alexander pinning Sabin was necessary, not to earn him a shot at the Impact X-Division Championship but rather to give him a big win after losing to Shelley at Bound for Glory and possibly plant the seeds for a future rematch.

Overall Show

For a show with practically no buildup, Final Resolution was a good time. The undercard was decent at best, but the announcement that Seven has signed was notable and the main event was excellent as expected. Nothing else is worth seeking out if you missed it, but I also don't feel like I wasted my time by tuning in. It was also the final event under the IMPACT banner, so it was historically significant in that way as well. As I've said several times already, the promotion is in a placeholder period until the TNA relaunch next month, but I'm glad they've already announced so much for the upcoming shows, including appearances from Will Ospreay nd Kazuchika Okada.

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