WrestleRant
  • Home
  • Columnist Corner
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • WRR
  • Audio
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • About
    • Contact

Columnist Corner

IMPACT! Wrestling Review - April 7, 2020

4/7/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Willie Mack def. Reno Scum in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match

It's well documented that Reno Scum do absolutely nothing for me, so I had no problem with them losing here despite the odds being stacked against Mack. It was a pretty basic bout that was largely made bearable by Mack's offense. Mack was attacked by Ace Austin afterward, setting the stage for their upcoming clash for the Impact X-Division Championship. This would be the perfect time for Rich Swann to return so Mack could have some backup against Austin and Reno Scum.

Chris Bey def. Daga

Both of these guys are terrific talents and will be breakout stars in the X-Division soon enough. I would have been happy if either of them won, but Bey is the fresher face of the two and needed the victory more. They were given an ample amount of time and made the most of it by producing a fun affair. I wish Bey would have won more decisively, but I also don't mind Daga being protected in defeat.

Havok def. Madison Rayne

Considering both Havok and Rayne are heels, I'm not sure who the crowd was supposed to cheer for here. Havok's matches can be sloppy, but she's solid when she's in there with the right opponent like Rayne, who sold well for her. Havok dominated Rayne for a majority of the match before scoring the win with a jumping Tombstone. I could see Havok being built up as Jordynne Grace's first real challenger for the Impact Knockouts Championship after Taya Valkyrie gets her rematch. Whatever happened to the Grace vs. Rayne feud that was teased?

Jimmy Jacobs Interviewed Ken Shamrock

 It's been three weeks since Sami Callihan returned and attacked Shamrock. I didn't mind the angle, but Shamrock sold me on it with his promo here. His matches in IMPACT since returning haven't been anything amazing, but to his credit, his mic work is still strong. It's a shame the formal Rebellion pay-per-view in New York City was canceled because I would've liked to have seen that match in person. From what I've read, IMPACT will go ahead with the show in an empty arena similar to WWE WrestleMania 36.

Rhino & Tommy Dreamer def. oVe (Dave Crist & Jake Crist)

As I've said before, I'm perfectly fine with Rhino having a regular role on the show, but there is zero need for Dreamer to be wrestling as often as he has been on TV in 2020. Everybody and their mother has beaten him and his matches are almost always slow and boring. This was decent while it lasted, but I hated the outcome. If Madman Fulton was going to attack afterward anyway, why not just have oVe win? I swear, this faction is so weak outside of Callihan.

Kiera hogan def. Susie

Of course, Susie is Su Yung's alter ego, but because she is more of a character and less of a wrestler, this wasn't much of a match, at least in the beginning. It eventually turned into a competitive contest with Susie surprisingly holding her own, only for Hogan to go over in the end. IMPACT's Knockouts division is stacked right now and adding Kylie Rae into the mix will make it that much stronger.

Impact World Tag Team Champions The North def. Impact World Champion Tessa Blanchard & Eddie Edwards

Despite not being a regular team, Edwards and Blanchard made for a terrific team here and had great chemistry. This received a ton of time and yet the pace was consistently exciting. Everyone put in a fantastic effort, but Blanchard in particular stood out as a star. The North held nothing back whenever they were in the ring with her and she withstood everything they dished out. I can understand why some fans wouldn't find that believable, but in my mind, it made sense because she's been established as being on their level. Blanchard wanting to finish the fight on her own was what cost her and Edwards the tag titles in the end, obviously adding more fuel to the fire heading into their three-way Impact World Championship match at Rebellion.

Overall Show

That was one of the best main events on this show in recent memory and you should definitely make time to check it out. Nothing else came close to being nearly as excellent, but I thought the build to Rebellion (which apparently is still on in some form or fashion) was well done. Bey vs. Daga and Shamrock's sit-down interview were also among the highlights on this edition of IMPACT! Wrestling. Enjoy these regular audience shows while they last because the company will reportedly be taping in an empty arena sooner rather than later.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.


    Categories

    All
    #AskGSM
    Battle Of The Belts
    Cruiserweight Classic
    Halftime Heat
    Hidden Gems
    Lists/Rankings
    Mae Young Classic
    Mixed Match Challenge
    News
    NJPW
    NWA Shockwave
    Opinion
    Previews
    Retro Reviews
    Reviews
    RJ's Two Cents
    Satire
    SummerSlam Recall
    The Deadly Draw
    Tribute To The Troops
    Women's Eliminator
    Worlds Collide
    WrestleMania Recall
    WWE Draft
    WWE Starrcade


    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010

    RSS Feed

©2023 WrestleRant. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • Columnist Corner
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • WRR
  • Audio
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • About
    • Contact