IMPACT! Wrestling Review - October 27, 2020

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Impact World Champion Rich Swann def. Eric Young

The show started with Swann and Young brawling backstage, and although Young injured Swann again, Swann agreed to defend his title against him right then and there. Their backstage brawl spilling into the ring was a hot way to kick off the night, but the brief championship match they had that followed was completely pointless, especially if the rivalry is supposed to continue (and it seems like it will considering they're on opposing teams in a tag matchup next week). Their Bound for Glory main event was so great that I have no idea why IMPACT decided to rush into a rematch at the beginning of this episode and not have it be anything substantial.

Tommy Dreamer def. Brian Myers in a Hardcore Halloween Match

I'm a sucker for a good Trick or Street Fight, and given that's basically what, I enjoyed it. I always acknowledge how Dreamer shouldn't wrestling regularly on this show in 2020, and while that is true, I was willing to excuse it here because of how this week marks 31 years he's been in the business for. Plus, he thrives in this type of environment, even though he's done the hardcore stuff to death. I wasn't expecting Myers to lose, especially due to interference from Swoggle, but he can bounce back. I just don't want him to settle into an enhancement role like he did in WWE.

Team XXXL def. The Rascalz (Dez and Wentz)

Team XXXL have grown on me this year and I think it helps that they've been making more and more appearances on IMPACT! Wrestling and winning more than they lose, or maybe it just feels that way. Regardless, this was a quality contest from the two teams. My only issue with it was that it came across as random and had no stakes or bad blood attached to it. These teams can trade wins back and forth all they want, but if they don't eventually compete for the Impact World Tag Team Championship, then nothing they do matters. The Rascalz have lost a lot lately and I have no clue why.

Impact Knockouts Champion Su Yung Attacked Deonna Purrazzo, Kimber Lee, RD Evans and Scott D'Amore

Is it just me or does it feel like we have seen way too much of D'Amore on IMPACT TV lately? I'm glad he doesn't abuse his power like a heel authority figure, but he was also heavily involved in the opening segment and he tends to be a regular on these shows. He isn't terrible in his role, but he also isn't necessary. At any rate, this was a solid segment designed to set up Purrazzo vs. Yung in a rematch for the Impact Knockouts Championship last week. The stuff with Evans (a former WWE creative writer I believe) bored me, but it accomplished what it needed to. I really hope Purrazzo regains the gold because she shouldn't have lost it in the first place.

Tasha Steelz and Kiera Hogan def. Alisha Edwards and Jordynne Grace

It was announced earlier in the evening that the new Impact Knockouts Tag Team Champions will be crowned at Hard to Kill in January and that a tournament to determine who will fight for them there will begin shortly (if I heard that correctly). Alisha was left without a partner and Grace stepped up like a good friend. Unfortunately, it ended up backfiring as they lost and bickered afterward. The match itself was forgettable, but it served as a nice preview of what to expect in the upcoming tag team title tourney with the women.

John E. Bravo Was Shot During His Wedding with Rosemary

I haven't absolutely loved the storyline with Bravo and Rosemary the past month or two, but it has made for some fun moments here and there. I don't know if I would have ended the first episode of IMPACT! Wrestling after Bound for Glory with this under normal circumstances, but with Bravo getting "shot," I can understand why it did. It was a goofy albeit enjoyable segment on the whole, and as dumb as the whole "murder" of Bravo thing goes (there was no confirmation he died in storyline), I realize they likely did it to get people talking. I'm willing to give it a chance and see where it goes, 

Overall Show

The leadup to the wedding dominated a majority of this episode, and again, the timing was weird because IMPACT is coming off a relatively well-received pay-per-view on Saturday night. To follow that up with the wedding stuff was certainly questionable, no matter where it's going. The rest of this show didn't light the world on fire, but there was plenty of solid storyline progression and build to next week's installment. Throw in a Halloween-themed match and you have yourself a thumbs-up effort from IMPACT.