IMPACT! Wrestling Review - January 28, 2020

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Hijo del Vikingo def. Impact World Tag Team Champion Josh Alexander

I don't think Alexander gets enough credit for being one of IMPACT's most consistent performers, both in singles and tag team action. He can always be counted on for a quality contest and this was no exception. I'm too familiar with Vikingo at all, but he had a strong showing here as well and the two of them produced a very entertaining opener. I'm curious if Vikingo's win means he'll soon be challenging for the Impact World Tag Team Championship with a partner of his choosing on one of these shows emanating from Mexico.

The Rascalz def. Pagano and Murder Clown

Similar to Alexander, The Rascalz are almost incapable of having a bad match, regardless of who their opponents are. Pagano and Murder Clown held their own and it was a fun little matchup on the whole despite not lasting long. The crowd enjoyed it and I'm all for The Rascalz winning more matches, but I'm ready for them to stop spinning their wheels and either re-enter the tag title picture or have a meaningful program with another team in the division.

Moose def. Taurus

Moose and Taurus previously clashed in a three-way match also involving Rhino last week that was won by Taurus. It made sense to book a rematch to give Moose his win back and it helped that the matchup was well wrestled while it lasted. Rhino emerged afterward to lay out Moose, so apparently their feud isn't over yet. Their bout at Hard to Kill wasn't anything special, so here's hoping the inevitable rematch is better.

Jordynne Grace def. Kiera Hogan and Madison Rayne in an Impact Knockouts Championship No. 1 Contender's Three-Way Match

For a match with so much talented involved, this was disappointing. IMPACT has booked three-ways with Hogan and Rayne before, but I don't think they've ever won, so I doubt many viewers viewed them as a legitimate threat here. There wasn't anything technically wrong with the matchup, but it was painfully average and Taya Valkyrie didn't offer anything interesting on commentary. I'd be shocked if Grace doesn't wind up beating her for the belt given the amount of times she's unsuccessfully challenged for the championship so far.

Daga and Dr. Wagner Jr. def. Reno Scum

It's awesome that Dr. Wagner Jr. can still go (to an extent) at his age, but I could do without him wrestling on these shows, personally. The crowd was into him, but this was pretty poor. Then again, that was likely Reno Scum's fault because I have yet to see an above-average match with them in it. Daga tried to make it bearable but to no avail. This felt like filler to the highest degree.

Michael Elgin def. Eddie Edwards in Match #1 of the Best of 5 Series

Elgin and Edwards have proven with their string of matches over the last month or so that their chemistry is crazy good and it was on full display here. I don't know how I feel about them having another five matchups after already having two matches on IMPACT! and at Hard to Kill, but if they're going to continue to be this excellent, I'll have little to complain about. This was a top-notch, fast-paced and action-packed main event with Elgin picking up the first win in the Best of 5 Series.

Overall Show

I really hope not every edition of IMPACT! Wrestling emanating from Mexico is going to filled with meaningless matches like this one was. Half of the matches, while solid, didn't serve much of a purpose, and I assume none of the AAA talents will be a part of the upcoming events outside of Mexico. The main event was a blast and I liked the opener, but this show needed more promos and storyline development. Why was there no mention of Tessa Blanchard and Sami Callihan?