Review of Impact Wrestling Versus UK (2018) – Part One

My first dealings with TNA wrestling were back in 2003, the days of when they relied on a weekly Pay-Per-View that would run for, I believe, three hours per week, if memory serves. I thankfully didn’t have to pay, seeing as I was a thirteen-year-old boy with nary a penny to my name; instead, there was a Wrestling Channel on Sky Sports, a channel I still feel a sense of nostalgia for. This channel was perfect for any wrestling fan who only knew the Big Three of WWF, WCW and ECW to broaden their knowledge. It allowed me to view British promotions (Frontier Wrestling Alliance, which was run by Alex Shane and featured Johnny Storm and World Champion Doug Williams, who I still find underrated), Technical-based Indy promotions (my introduction to Ring Of Honor as they played several of their first Pay Per Views, introducing me to Low Ki, Daniel Bryan, and Christopher Daniel), garbage/hardcore wrestling (Combat Zone Wrestling and to a lesser extent, Blue Meanie’s Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling), and most obviously, Total Nonstop Action.

Total Nonstop Action was my first introduction to several wrestlers I became a fan of, such as AJ Styles (who quickly became and is still now one of my favourite wrestlers on the planet), Chris Sabin, CM Punk, Frankie Kazarian, Abyss, America’s Most Wanted, and also showed me old favourites such as Jerry Lyn, Raven, Kid Kash and more. During the years that AJ Styles and Jeff Jarrett fought over the title was when I most into it, but Jarrett’s 347-day title reign between June 2004-May 2005 was way too reminiscent of Triple-H’s monopoly of the World Championship at the time, which made it slightly unbearable. Amazingly, the last time I watched it on a weekly basis was in September 2006, when Kurt Angle was announced as coming to TNA, which was insane to imagine at the time. Over the next few years, I kept an eye on and watched irregularly, but as Russo and Dixie Carter became more prevalent, it became more difficult to watch, and my interest was finally killed off when Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff joined at the end of 2009. It seems history has vindicated my decision as looking back, Hogan and Bischoff did nothing but poison TNA and turned them into a WWE wannabe, as opposed to a WWE alternative.

I originally planned to never watch TNA wrestling again, following their multiple issues and fuck-ups that gradually lost them TNA mainstays and superstars such as Samoa Joe, The Hardy Brothers, Eric Young, and AJ Styles. But in the last few months, there has been positive buzz of Impact Wrestling, suggestions that between Don Callis and Scott D’Amore, they were slowly turning things around, and it culminated in a review by Larry T Csonka, a fantastic reviewer on 411Mania, where he touted Impact Wrestling as having put on one of the PPVs of the year and how fans needed to give it a chance. Having not yet been led wrong by this man, I decided to give Impact Wrestling a chance to earn my interest back, and ended up massively impressed by their PPV, Slammiversary 2018 Part One Review Part Two Review. There are two PPVs recently done by Impact that I am looking to try out, which is their end of year Bound For Glory, and this PPV, Impact Wrestling Vs UK, coming to fans from the Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester.

Instead of the usual opening video, my link just straight into the entrants of the first match entering the ring. Sonjay Dutt is on commentary, which is an interesting decision, representing Impact, alongside the UK representative Alex Shane, who recently was involved with World Of Sport Wrestling as their commentator. Alex is able to introduce Sonjay, and in connection, to the unknown superstars, having in-depth knowledge of them.

Triple Threat Match

Trevor Lee Vs Rich Swann Vs Matt Sydal

Trevor Lee is a name I’ve heard good things about but not seen in action, his generic appearance of black pants and boots belies a tremendous wrestler with a great reputation. Sydal had a good match at Slammiversary where he unsuccessfully defended his X-Division Championship against the awesome Brian Cage. Sydal often touts his Third Eye, his reference to being spiritually open, the reason why he’s better than anybody else. Rich Swann is a former WWE Cruiserweight Champion who was looking to become a main forte of the division, until he was suspended for his arrest for domestic violence on his wife, Vannarah Riggs, who actually portrays Su Yung from the Knockouts Division. Following his suspension, WWE and he ‘mutually agree’ to part ways. Curious to see how the three match up. There’s a lot of smoke in the arena, which creates a weird atmosphere. Match opens with a comedy spot as all three attempt a three-way test of strength, then decide to leave it and start kicking each other, Lee being cleared out of the ring, so Swann can focus on Sydal. Whilst knocking Lee off the apron, Swann gets rolled up by Sydal for a two-count, with Sydal now on top. The acoustics of the arena are very strange with every noise sort of bouncing along like in a well, Sydal hitting a suplex on Lee whilst having an Indian Death Lock on Swann. Lee gets the first main chant from the crowd, and every count by the referee reverberates around the arena. Lee gets clotheslined out again, and Swann hits a Tope onto both Lee and Sydal, with all three wiped out on the floor.

Weirdly enough, Sydal gets up first, and hides under the ring, with Swann trying to follow him. Swann gets hit with something, possibly a chair, but nobody can actually tell, and Sydal ends up back in the ring, where Lee hits a Inverted Backbreaker for a two-count. Lee seems the most popular of the three, in terms of crowd reaction so far. The crowd is quite polite in clapping often, it’s obviously a British thing. Swann now back in, and all three are involved, hitting some hard kicks to Lee’s head, before a Kip-Up Hurricarana off the top-rope for another two-count. Lee hits a hard elbow smash to Sydal, psyches up and turns into a Superkick from Swann, followed up by a Rolle-Up with a Cradle on Lee, and a three-count as Sydal misses out on the break-up. The three count looks like a botch, the referee falls down and starts the count as he lands, which means what the wrestlers’ thought was the two count (both Lee attempting to kick and Sydal making the save) was actually a three count. There are a few seconds of confusion before the referee announces Swann as the winner. It’s unfortunate the finish was fluffed as it felt like the match was just entering the third gear, when it suddenly finished.

Tag Team Match:

Adam Maxted & Robbie X Vs Jake McCluskey & Lucas Steele

Robbie X and Maxted are both known from World Of Sport Wrestling, Robbie as the masked luchador who had a mild feud with Crater, whilst Maxted was part of a tag team with Nathan Cruz. McCluskey and Steele are less familiar to me, so curious to see them in action. Steele looks like Baron Corbin if he didn’t have a receding hairline, whilst Sonjay Dutt mixes him up with McCluskey. These four seem very unfamiliar to the Impact audience, and with the crowd slightly underwhelmed after the flat finish from the Triple Threat, they’re already up against it. Robbie X and Steele to kick off, Steele supposedly was only in his ELEVENTH month as a competitor at this time, which would have been September 2018 to be exact. We get the two power men Maxted and Steele to tie up, some hard clotheslines and shoulder blocks to begin with, before a dropkick sends Steele to the corner. McCluskey tagged in, but Robbie X and Maxted now in control. Robbie X attempted a Springboard Cutter but McCluskey reverses, but still gets hurricarana’ed out of his boots. Robbie looking fluid as he and Maxted hit quick tags in and out, McCluskey struggling. Steele on the apron gets knocked off, and then Robbie hits a plancha on both after a Maxted assist! But Steele is able to grab Robbie X’s leg and McCluskey ends up on top. Robbie gets Snake Eyes’d onto the apron and now Robbie is struggling.

Robbie as face in peril, but Steele’s strength keeps Robbie from getting the tag. Very nice offense where Robbie is crotched on the middle rope and McCluskey slides underneath to hit a German Suplex into the ring! Very creative offense I have to say, and McCluskey follows up with an enziguri off the middle rope for another two count. Robbie X gets a Warm Tag to Maxted, who gets a head of steam and hits a dropkick on Steele, Spinebuster on McCluskey, and then a Missile Dropkick to Steele for a close two-count. Maxted impressing with his mixture of pace, agility and power, lovely combo where Maxted catches McCluskey’s foot same time as Steele catches Robbie X’s. Both Robbie and McCluskey get flipped over, land, Robbie hits Steele with an enziguri whilst McCluskey hits Maxted with a Superkick to the knee and then to a crouching Maxted, leaving Robbie and McCluskey alone. McCluskey almost steals the victory with a slam on Robbie, McCluskey goes for a Moonsault but lands sternum first on Robbie’s feet. Robbie hits a Death Valley Driver, rolls over and Shining Wizard, but Robbie turns into a Powerslam by Steele, leaving Steele and Maxted throwing forearms at one another.

Maxted slides out of a Powerbomb attempt, hits a Buff Blockbuster from the second rope on Steele, but gets hit by McCluskey’s Shining Wizard after. Robbie attempts a Springboard Stunner on McCluskey but gets Superkicked in the face during the Moonsault section! Steele attempts a Powerbomb on Robbie, Maxted forearms McCluskey, Robbie reverses with a hurricarana on Steele, who gets hit with a Springboard Sling Blade by Maxted! Robbie hits McCluskey with the Springboard Stunner, then a Standing Shooting Star Press, and the three-count victory for Robbie X and Adam Maxted! Really good sequence of events at the end by all four men, they got a uncertain crowd onside and by the end, this match was good fun, got the crowd back into the event, good work.

Knockouts Match:

Lana Austin Vs Su Yung

Hometown girl Lana Austin, Alex Shane was predicting she’d get a similar welcome to ‘British Bulldog’ Davey Boy Smith at Wembley, which raised my eyebrows mildly, I admit. When Lana came out, she got a good reaction, but definitely no Wembley reaction, she comes across as quite cute and shy, waving at the crowd shyly. Su Yung, meanwhile, the former Knockouts Champion, looks absolutely terrifying, but isn’t accompanied by her Bridesmaids, which surprises me.

Lots of chants for Lana as she prepares for the match, with Su Yung kicking off with screaming in Lana’s face, terrifying her into the corner. Lana tries some quick roll-ups to get the crowd excited, following up with the Peach Pump? (Austin danced a little and hit Su Yung in the face with her ass). Austin hits a crossbody for a near pin with Su Yung rolling out, and the battle on the outside leads to Austin being thrown into the guardrail Su Yung suplexes Austin onto the floor and rolls Austin into the ring. Chants of “Let’s Go Lana” as Su Yung throws Lana around the ring by the hair. Austin gets set up in the tree of woe and Su Yung just kicks her back repeatedly. Austin tries to escape a sliding dropkick but Su Yung just follows up with a Neckbreaker, sending Austin out. Su Yung sits Austin on a chair on the outside, peels off her dress and Cannonballs onto Austin off the ringside apron!

Su Yung only gets a two count, which angers Austin, who starts fighting back with several clotheslines and a Side Russian legsweep for a two count. Both collide with clotheslines to end up on the mat. The two exchange slaps, palm strikes and forearms, before Austin headbutts Su Yung, and hits a vicious Roaring Elbow for another close two count! Su Yung spider crawls up the turnbuckle and headscissors Austin into the turnbuckle, but only a two count. Su Yung takes out her bloody glove as she prepares for the Mandible Claw, only for Austin to headbutt her in the chest! Reversal back and forth, Austin hits a DDT and a desperate Su Yung rolls out. Su Yung throws a chair in, and as the referee was distracted, she mists Austin in the face to blind her, and hits the Panic Switch for the three count! I admit, Austin impressed me, she took a lot of punishment and came out looking fantastic, good effort from her and she deserves more opportunities in the future as she leaves to a standing ovation from the audience, bowing in thanks.

IMPACT Tag Team Championship Match

LAX (Santana and Ortiz) defend against Jody Fleisch and Jonny Storm

Jody Fleisch and Jonny Storm are two of the biggest veterans of the British wrestling scene, I remember watching them round about the year 2000 when Jody had bleached hair and Jonny had a leotard with long black hair. Both have made several appearances in companies such as Combat Zone Wrestling and Ring Of Honor, I saw them at a live event and they were amazing to watch live, could not take my eyes off them, they were the original human highlight reels and often brought the best out of each other. In the last week, my local promotion has announced that Jody Fleisch will be featuring, and I am ridiculously excited for that event. This match could steal the event, and I cannot wait, even if it takes a minute to get used to Jonny and Jody being bald in comparison to their more recognisable bleached hair and long hair.

Match begins with a handshake, and then LAX attack the Brits from behind. LAX trying popping Fleisch up for a powerbomb, only for him to hurricarana one member into spearing the other! Fleisch hits a Springboard Total Elimination, fakes a plancha, only for Storm to hit a Twisting Tornado to the outside and wipe both Santana and Ortiz out! Fleisch and Storm now on top, double dropkicking Santana, who gets a Springboard Armdrag, but Storm replies with his own and tags Fleisch in. Santana escapes and tags in Ortiz, who start double tagging Fleisch, only for Fleisch to escape with a Matrix handstand and Enziguri, leaving Ortiz wobbly, and Jody hits a reverse hurricarana! Fleisch looks like he hasn’t lost a step, as Santana and Ortiz double Tope their opponents on the outside. Now LAX are focusing on Fleisch’s elbow and arm, attacking Storm on the apron to wind him up, frustrate him. LAX do a combined Wheelbarrow into a Sliced Bread/Sit-Out Powerbomb which transfers through into a Boston Crab on Fleisch, grounding him. LAX have taken out the fire in Fleisch, cutting off the ring and dissecting him down.

Fleisch battles back, missing a Shooting Star Press on Ortiz but landing on his feet, then a Spanish Fly on Santana! Now he’s desperate for the tag, but Ortiz wipes Storm out, cutting off the tag. Now Santana and Ortiz Irish Whip Fleisch, who jumps on both their backs, locks either leg into their arms and then hits a Double Code Red! I saw it and can barely describe it, insanity. Fleisch gets the hot tag, Storm hits a huge double cross body, he’s got the adrenaline, hurricarana on Ortiz, Pop-Up Moonsault off the second rope for a two-count. LAX have to work together to take Storm down, but he battles back, tags in Fleisch, and he hits a Springboard Asai Moonsault off the top rope with amazing elevation! Chants of “This Is Awesome” as Storm does a Springboard Japanese Armdrag off the second rope on Santana, then a Standing Shooting Star Press by Fleisch, but Santana kicks out! Fleisch goes up top, then Storm jumps onto the second rope, and Release German Suplexes Fleisch to Moonsault onto Santana?! That was insane to see, and somehow Santana kicks out. This match feels like Storm and Fleisch threw a bunch of words into a tumbler, and then went “Yeah, we’ll do that”, and it’s amazing for it.

Fleisch attempts a reverse hurricarana on Santana, but ends up leaning backwards over the top rope, to lock a headscissors submission on Santana, only for Ortiz to slide under and lock Fleisch in a front face headlock, and then Storm locks the Boston Crab on Ortiz?!  Storm superkicks Ortiz, Santana Big Boots Storm, Fleisch enziguris Santana, only for Ortiz to Running Knee Fleisch, and now everybody is down and out! What a match. Fleisch goes for the 720 Tornado DDT on Santana, who catches him, Fleisch hits a slam and goes up top. Fleisch jumps across the ring and gets Powerbombed by Storm onto Santana!! They supposedly call it the British Airways, and it looked amazing, with Ortiz only JUST breaking up the pin. Suddenly LAX hit a sequence of moves, big boot to Fleisch in the corner, elevated Senton into the corner, and then hit the Street Sweeper (Sit-Out Powerbomb/Buff Blockbuster combo) for the three -count!

After the match, Fleisch and Storm take the belts, and strap them around LAX in a sign of respect, with LAX dropping to their knees and offering their hands in respect. This was an excellent match, very imaginative combos and interplay between the four, LAX brought the ring psychology of struggling when one-on-one but their superior partnership eventually taking the victory, whilst Fleisch and Storm rolled back the years with some tremendous high-flying moves. These four slotted in seamlessly with one another, and I loved every second of that match, without question.

Look out for Part Two, where we get to see the ‘Local Hero’ Joe Hendry, the former friends turned enemies in Eddie Edwards and Moose, and the Barbed Wire Baseball Bat Death Match between Sami Callihan, and Jimmy Havoc…

@BigBadaBruce

@Rasslinblogs

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