 "Speedball" Mike Bailey def. Laredo Kid to Qualify for the Impact X-Division Championship Ultimate X Match at SlammiversaryBailey has been killing it in IMPACT since arriving earlier this year. He was a natural fit for the Ultimate X match at Slammiversary, but they still managed to work some suspenseful nearfalls into this match. Laredo is a hell of a hand, but this was Bailey's match to win and it was an enjoyable opener (even if it wasn't quite the X-Division thriller I was expecting). By the way, when are we going to get that rematch Bailey was supposed to have with Alex Shelley at Under Siege before it got pulled? AAA Reina de Reinas Champion Taya Valkyrie, Mia Yim and Jordynne Grace def. Impact Knockouts World Champion Tasha Steelz, Savannah Evans and Deonna PurrazzoThis was designed to serve as a showcase of the very deep and talented Knockouts division before the big Queen of the Mountain match at Slammiversary and I thought it did so effectively with everyone getting their time to shine. It was fairly basic early on but got better once they picked up the pace down the stretch. I'm a big fan on Purrazzo feeling like just another person at this point, but maybe that's a sign she's on her way out. On the bright side, I'm very happy Yim landed in IMPACT, if only temporarily. I feel like she would've gotten lost in the shuffle in AEW had she gone there. The Good Brothers def. Honor No More (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett)The faction warfare between Bullet Club and Honor No More rolls on apparently, but since virtually all of the matches have delivered, it's hard for me to complain. This was another entertaining outing, though I could have done without some of the silliness at the end. Then again, I probably should have expected that given the history these teams have from New Japan Pro-Wrestling. It'll be interesting to see if this is end for this feud or if it will continue, and if so, then how? Masha Slamovich def. Shawna ReedThe match was practically every squash Slamovich has had since coming to IMPACT. As I've said before, it's fun watching her murder her opponents, but these matches got old a while ago because she hasn't had her first feud yet, or at least until now. The lights went out afterward and Havok emerged to confront Slamovich, so there's our answer. I'm not a Havok fan personally, but she'll be a fine first contracted opponent for Slamovich to give her some credibility. Impact World Tag Team Champions The Briscoes def. Violent By Design (Joe Doering and Deaner)This was along the same lines as the match The Briscoes had with Deaner and Eric Young at Under Siege in that it was very good. Even with Young at ringside, I didn't think they'd switch the belts back so quickly, but from an in-ring standpoint, this was quality stuff. Young attempted to attack The Briscoes afterward before his Slammiversary opponent Josh Alexander made the save, so expect a six-man tag team main event one of these weeks. Overall ShowIMPACT is taking the smart approach in announcing the biggest bouts at Slammiversary early and slowly putting together the rest of the card from there. I'm really looking forward to seeing what they can come up with, and hopefully with see some familiar faces featured considering it's the exact 20-year anniversary of the promotion. As for this edition of IMPACT! Wrestling, it was another above-average show. We got plenty of superb wrestling, storyline advancement, and stuff advertised for next week per usual. There were too many backstage segments at one point during the first hour, but that's my only real nitpick of the episode.
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