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The future of Impact Wrestling was at stake Saturday night as All Elite Wrestling star Kenny Omega defended the company's world championship against Moose in a blockbuster, inter-promotional main event with long-reaching consequences.
That match headlined a card that featured all but one of Impact's major titles up for grabs and set the stage for the build to its Slammiversary pay-per-view on July 17.
Who emerged from the marquee bout with the title around their waist, and what did it mean for the company moving forward?
Find out now with this recap of the June 12 special event presentation.
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- Impact World Championship match: Moose vs. Kenny Omega
- Kojima vs. Joe Doering
- Street Fight: The Good Brothers vs. Tommy Dreamer and Sami Callihan
- Knockouts Championship match: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Rosemary
- Rich Swann vs. W. Morrissey
- Impact Tag Team Championship match: Violent By Design vs. Decay
- Knockouts Tag Team Championship match: Susan and Kimber Lee vs. Fire 'N Flava
- No. 1 Contender's X-Division match: Petey Williams vs. Trey Miguel vs. Ace Austin vs. Chris Bey vs. Rohit Raju
- Tenille Dashwood vs. Jordynne Grace
Already announced for the June 12 show:
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Sami Callihan repeatedly found himself in the crosshairs of The Good Brothers, particularly as he became a threat to Kenny Omega's Impact world title. Considering both him and Tommy Dreamer have issues with Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows' associate Don Callis, the unlikely allies teamed up in a Street Fight to kick off Against All Odds.
Callihan and Dreamer dominated the opening moments of the match, thanks in large part to the introduction of weapons from the backstage area. The Good Brothers shook off the early onslaught, though, and earned control of the bout.
Anderson and Gallows appeared well on their way to victory following a Magic Killer through a table on Dreamer, but Callihan broke it up. The Draw fended off the numbers disadvantage and put Anderson down with a shot from his trusty baseball bat for the win. Dreamer looked on as his partner celebrated the win, clearly concerned about the edgy competitor gaining momentum and what it means for the company.
Result
Dreamer and Callihan defeated Anderson and Gallows
Grade
C+
Analysis
This was a star-studded start to the show, if nothing else.
The plunder was plentiful, Dreamer took an ass-kicking, and Callihan picked up the win, all things you would have hoped for from this match. With that said, it felt a bit more by-the-numbers in terms of gimmick matches, which means anything more than slightly above-average from a grading perspective is out of the question.
Callihan earning momentum, only for Dreamer to fear such a thing rather than celebrating a huge pay-per-view victory, was a nice touch of storytelling and should lay the groundwork for a larger storyline moving forward.
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The legendary Satoshi Kojima and massive Joe Doering of Violent By Design rekindled a rivalry that began in All Japan Pro Wrestling as they squared off in the first singles bout of the evening.
Doering used his size and strength advantage to down his longtime rivalry and wrest control of the bout away early on. Kojima finally fought back, downed his opponent for the first time in the match, and dropped an elbow for two.
Kojima fought out of a powerbomb and landed a cutter. Doering answered with a Death Valley Driver and lariat. A spinning sit-out powerbomb followed and Doering earned the win.
Result
Doering defeated Kojima
Grade
C+
Analysis
This was a surprisingly one-sided match as Doering dominated most of the way through, culminating with his emphatic powerbomb for the pinfall victory.
As the big man of Violent By Design, Doering should be the greatest threat anyone stepping to the faction should experience, yet he had yet to have a signature victory to speak of. He got it here and is now primed for a run as one of the most dangerous competitors on the Impact roster.
Sadly, Kojima’s run with Impact did not mean more as he appears to have come in just to have this match and enhance Doering’s credibility. Job well done on that front.
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Five former X-Division champions battled in the night’s next match for the right to challenge Josh Alexander for the title. Chris Bey, Petey Williams, Rohit Raju, Ace Austin, and Trey Miguel rounded out the field of competitors.
Lightning-quick action, with some picture-perfect aerial assaults added in, dominated the early moments of the match. In a creative spot, Miguel and Williams trapped Austin and Bey in stereo submission holds, all while fending each other off in search of victory.
Each competitor took turns highlighting their offense, including a super Canadian Destroyer by Williams to Austin. Late, Miguel scaled the ropes looking for the win when Madman Fulton popped up on the apron and sent him crashing to the floor. The big man obliterated the competition and left Austin draped across them, but the referee called for the bell and dubbed it a No Contest.
Result
No contest
Grade
C
Analysis
The action was everything you would expect from a match of this type, and those involved all had equal opportunity to showcase their skills. So why the lower grade? The finish.
What unfolded here could, and should, have been reserved for an episode of Impact Wrestling. It did not have to take place on this already-stacked card. It invites criticism for promising one thing and not delivering.
Did Fulton look like a total badass? Sure, but he did so at the expense of every top contender in the X-Division, again suggesting any big man can dominate any little man, regardless of how good and decorated said smaller competitor may be. It was disappointing booking for sure, but at least Impact understands how to utilize big men.
Unlike a certain company that they have been closely linked to in recent months.
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Since his dominating debut, W. Morrissey has made a point of targeting former world champion Rich Swann. After weeks of intensification, their rivalry culminated Saturday in a singles bout.
Swann attempted a springboard dropkick but Morrissey caught him with a big boot and proceeded to pummel his decorated opponent. Swann used his educated feet to fight back into the match, laying Morrissey out at ringside.
Back in the ring, Morrissey caught Swann mid-flight, stood up and delivered an F-5. Morrissey booted him down and delivered three consecutive powerbombs for the win over a defiant Swann.
Result
Morrissey defeated Swann
Grade
B+
Analysis
This was an emphatic announcement to the Impact Wrestling fans that W. Morrissey is a main event attraction. He has been utterly dominant, laying waste to everyone put before him, but this was different. Here, he obliterated the most recent world champion. He completely wrecked Swann en route to his most stunning win to date.
The Impact world title picture may be controlled by Kenny Omega, and feature Moose and Sami Callihan, but it is only a matter of time before the former Big Cass is holding that title. Especially if he can maintain the momentum Impact has built for him early in his run with the company.
Kudos to Swann for selflessly putting him over here.
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Looking to reverse her recent fortunes, Jordynne Grace, accompanied by Rachael Ellering, battled Tenille Dashwood, seconded as always by Kaleb.
Thicc Mama Pump dominated the Aussie early but the heels worked together to pull Grace off the apron and to the floor to wrestle control of the match away. Grace absorbed everything thrown at her, caught Denille, and delivered a fallaway slam. She added a Vader Bomb for a close two-count.
Late in the match, Grace trapped Dashwood in a sleeper but Kaleb hopped on the apron for the distraction. Ellering pulled him off, drawing the ire of her tag team partner. Dashwood caught her with a small package seconds later and earned the win.
After the match, an irate Grace stomped off as her emotions had gotten the best of her.
Result
Dashwood defeated Grace
Grade
B-
Analysis
Dashwood is deceptively good. Her character may have changed but the woman that revolutionized women’s wrestling while in NXT is still there. Conversely, Grace is an extraordinary professional wrestler and at just 25 years old, she’s going to dominate the sport for years to come.
Whether it is in Impact or elsewhere is the question.
For now, she is in the midst of a storyline in which her frustration is boiling and is about to lead to a heel turn that ignites a feud with friend Ellering. A longtime babyface, a turn to the dark side very well could provide that freshening up her character could use.
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A rare heel vs. heel match was up next as Kimber Lee and Susan challenged Fire N Flava’s Tasha Steelz and Kiera Hogan for the Knockouts Tag Team Championships.
Lee feigned an injury early, allowing her partner to rake the eyes of Steelz. The heels took over from there, cutting Tasha off from her corner. A hot tag finally sparked a comeback for the champions by way of Hogan’s unbridled energy.
The action broke down and the challengers experienced one last burst, culminating in a swanton bomb from Lee that still only put Hogan down for two. Fire N Flava fought back and Steelz delivered the frog splash to Susan for the win and successful title defense.
Result
Fire N Flava defeated Susan and Lee
Grade
C+
Analysis
Heel vs. heel matches can be difficult to pull off but this was fun, clever, and saw hard work by all involved.
The right team went over as Fire N Flava is very clearly the class of the tag team division, with no other team ready to dethrone them for the long-term. The question now is whether or not they are so strong that there is no team with a realistic shot of actually capturing the gold.
Impact will have its work cut out for it as it searches high and low for a team that can conceivably beat Steelz and Hogan and make a real run with the titles. If not, it should let the champs run with the titles for a while.
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Decay’s Crazzy Steve and Black Taurus frustrated Impact tag team champions Rhino and Deaner of Violent By Design early in their match Saturday but the heels settled down and isolated Taurus, cutting him off from his partner. The masked man eventually reached Steve, who exploded into the match and nearly forced a submission out of Taurus.
The babyfaces worked together to keep the champions reeling, only for Taurus to tweak his knee and be taken out of the equation. Steve allowed himself to become distracted by Eric Young at ringside and Deaner scored the win and successful title retention off of a DDT.
Result
Violent By Design defeated Decay
Grade
B-
Analysis
Fans who have tuned into Impact Wrestling fairly regularly in recent months know how good a team Taurus and Steve have become. They proved as much here, performing up to the moment and delivering a fire performance that very easily could have concluded with them believably hoisting gold.
It was entirely too early in Violent By Design’s run, though, to take the titles off of them so it makes sense that Rhino and Deaner went over. That they earned the win under less-than ideal conditions gives Decay an out while continuing the build of Impact’s top heel faction.
All wrapped up in a damn fun match.
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Knockouts champion Deonna Purrazzo started her title defense against Rosemary by throwing fists, something the challenger responded to with an Upside Down and an exploder suplex on the entrance ramp. The Virtuosa answered the early onslaught by trapping Rosemary’s arm in the ring post and delivering a sickening boot.
Purrazzo worked the arm, which prevented Rosemary from delivering her As Above, So Below finisher. The Demon Assassin fought through the pain and delivered another exploder, only to try for a submission that she could not fully execute due to the pain coursing through the arm.
Purrazzo applied the Venus De Milo but Rosemary fought to the ropes. The sadistic Purrazzo removed Rosemary’s knee brace, then blasted her with a pump kick. The challenger responded with a spear. Purrazzo delivered another pump kick, this time following immediately with a piledriver for the win.
Result
Purrazzo defeated Rosemary
Grade
B-
Analysis
Purrazzo is, arguably, the best women’s wrestler in the business. Her mat skills are unmatched, she carries herself like a champion, and screams “star!” in a way others have not in a long time. That she constantly delivers in high-profile title defenses only adds to the argument for her.
This was no different.
The Virtuosa was extraordinary as she systematically picked Rosemary apart, then weathered the storm to emerge victoriously.
Like Fire N Flava, Purrazzo is so good and such a strong champion that it seems rather impossible that anyone will come along and be believable enough to knock her from her perch. That is the sign of a great champion.
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Daily’s Place in Jacksonville was the site of Saturday’s main event pitting Moose against Kenny Omega for the Impact Wrestling world title. Tony Schiavone of All Elite Wrestling and Impact Executive Vice Presidents Don Callis and Scott D’Amore made up the commentary team.
Omega outwrestled Moose, as predicted, earning the upper-hand early in Saturday’s championship encounter. Consecutive knife-edge chops showed no effect on the challenger so the cerebral champion went low with a dropkick to the knee. Moose shook it off and delivered a standing moonsault to the back.
The fight spilled to the floor, where Moose repeatedly sent the champ into the guardrail. A bit too much pandering to the crowd allowed Omega to dodge the charging challenger, sending Moose crashing into the stands.
Later, Moose escaped the One-Winged Angel and turned Omega inside out with a ripcord lariat. The medical staff checked on the challenger, only for Omega to explode across the ring with another V-Trigger. Moose joined the champ up top, bringing him down with a Spanish Fly.
An errant spear by Moose downed the referee, allowing The Young Bucks to enter the ring and deliver a trio of superkicks. The BTE Trigger knocked Moose out, the Bucks aided Omega in delivering the One-Winged Angel, and the champ retained.
After the match, Sami Callihan appeared and threatened a brutal assault on Omega until Callis rose from the commentary position and fired him, citing his role as Impact EVP.
Result
Omega defeated Moose
Grade
B+
Analysis
Moose absolutely proved himself as a main event talent in this one, hanging with a performer many consider the best wrestler in the world. While that distinction can be argued at another time, Omega performed up to his reputation, delivering a hell of a match with a guy that had not quite had a match of this magnitude in his career.
The Young Bucks interfering should have been the first thing on fans’ minds the moment it was made clear that The Good Brothers would not be available to Omega and, more importantly, that the match would take place in Jacksonville.
While the idea of The Elite beating guys down to build heat has worn off, becoming more repetitive and predictable with every passing week, it made sense in this instance because Moose would have won the match otherwise.
The post-match angle with Callis firing Callihan, leaving the main event of Slammiversary in doubt, was a great cliffhanger and leaves fans with a reason to tune into Thursday’s show.
The match itself, coupled with the show-closing angle, makes this an easy “A”.
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