The show tonight is dedicated to Don West’s memory.
Before the IMPACT, an exclusive match kicks off the action.
KiLynn King vs Gisele Shaw with Jai Vidal
KiLynn King takes on “The Quintessential Diva”! Shaw attempts a Facebuster but King counters and throws Shaw face-first into the ropes. When King is perched on top, Shaw strikes her with an open palm, sending her crashing to the floor. After hitting the running back elbow for two, Shaw chokes King with her boot.
King builds momentum with a missile dropkick. King almost puts Shaw away with a modified powerbomb. Shaw avoids the Frog Splash, which allows Shaw to capitalize with Shock & Awe to close the fight. In order to win, Shaw hit a double foot stomp followed by a pump knee strike.
KiLynn King is defeated by Gisele Shaw & Jai Vidal
The first IMPACT! of 2023 airs eight nights before Hard To Kill.
Taylor Wilde vs Masha Slamovich
As part of Hard To Kill’s Four-Way #1 Contenders match, Masha Slamovich and Taylor Wilde go head-to-head! A competitor from that match, Deonna Purrazzo, joins Matthew Rehwoldt and Tom Hannifan on commentary. Slamovich is choked on the ropes, then pushed into the apron face-first by Wilde.
In a series of snap suplexes, Slamovich shuts her down, including one into the corner turnbuckles. Wilde quickens up the pace, then hits a modified Codebreaker for two. Both Knockouts are down after double clotheslines in the middle of the ring. While Slamovich disrespects Purrazzo at ringside, Wilde capitalizes by rolling her up for three.
Masha Slamovich is defeated by Taylor Wilde
Slamovich assaults a member of security after the match, delivering the Snow Plow outside.
At Hard To Kill, Rich Swann challenges Steve Maclin to a Falls Count Anywhere in Atlanta match.
Anthony Greene vs. Black Taurus with Crazzy Steve
Tony Greene makes his IMPACT debut against the #1 Contender for the X-Division Title, Black Taurus! Greene hits a Hurricanrana, but Taurus counters with a power slam.
To gain control, Greene sends Taurus crashing into a steel ring post. Greene walks across the ropes, then soars towards Taurus and connects with a cutter. Taurus turns the tide with a headbutt, then quickens the pace with a series of Slingblades. Taurus wins with a Samoan Drop pop-up followed by Destination Hellhole.
Anthony Greene defeated by Black Taurus and Crazzy Steve
The X-Division Champion Trey Miguel tags Greene with spray paint as he exits the IMPACT Zone.
Mike Bailey’s Montreal dojo is viciously attacked by Kenny King.
After observing King’s actions, Mike Bailey challenges him to a Pit Fight without ropes. There is only one way to win is by knockout or submission.
Ernest R. Anthony vs. Jonathan Gresham
As Jonathan Gresham prepares for his Hard To Kill match with Eddie Edwards, he goes head-to-head with Ernest R. Anthony. Gresham shows off his skills early on, dropping Anthony with a dropkick.
Anthony can’t get anything going as Gresham continues to attack on the leg. Gresham locks in a submission, then traps Anthony in a pinning situation.
Ernest R. Anthony is defeated by Jonathan Gresham
Tasha Steelz and Savannah Evans reach out to Gisele Shaw for assistance in defeating the Knockouts World Tag Team Champions, the Death Dollz.
He agrees to accept Sami Callihan into The Design, but first, he must allow them to shave his head.
With 257 days under his belt, Josh Alexander is now the longest reigning IMPACT World Champion of all time.
At Hard To Kill, Moose will defend his Digital Media Title against reigning champion Joe Hendry. He claims that Hendry behaves like he owns the locker room after he joined IMPACT Wrestling only a few months ago. Hendry has never faced adversity, according to Moose.
Moose declares victory in their Digital Media Title match and vows to wipe Hendry’s smile from his face. Hendry appears on stage and shows off the new entrance music he created for Moose, which pokes fun at his shortcomings. Moose wants to fight him before Hard To Kill.
At Hard To Kill, Mickie James reflects on her career as she prepares to face Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace.
Stars of Impact Wrestling past and present pay tribute to Don West.
IMPACT World Tag Team Champion Chris Sabin vs Matt Cardona vs Brian Myers
It’s the first time Chris Sabin has ever wrestled Matt Cardona, and the World Tag Team Title Four-Way Elimination match is on the way! On the steel ramp, Sabin delivers a back body drop. During the commercial break, Cardona trips up Sabin on the apron, then whips him into the steel ring post to gain control. Cardona gets a hat trick of neckbreakers for two.
Cardona shuts Sabin down with a clothesline when he tries to gain momentum. Sabin hits a running boot, then a delayed running dropkick in the corner. Sabin counters the Reboot, then sends Cardona to the floor. Sabin hits a tornado DDT, but Myers distracts the referee from ringside. Shelley chases Myers into his partner’s boot.
By diving through the ropes, Sabin takes out both of the Major Players on the outside. The official is put in danger by Cardona, who capitalizes with a suplex into the turnbuckles. Cardona hits back-to-back ReBoots, but Sabin puts him away with the Cradle Shock for three.
Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley defeat Matt Cardona and Brian Myers in the IMPACT World Tag Team Championship match
Don’t miss the final IMPACT! before Hard To Kill next Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders.
While IMPACT Executive Vice President Scott D’Amore sent both IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander and Bully Ray home until their World Title match at Hard To Kill, Bully Ray is here and challenges Alexander.
D’Amore criticizes Bully instead for not following his instructions. D’Amore talks about rewriting his own story in professional wrestling, so he wanted to give Bully the same chance.
Bully, however, has proven once more that he is unreliable. Unlike Alexander, who is respected and adored by the locker room, the fans, and his family, Bully has alienated everyone in his life who ever had faith in him. The IMPACT locker room is cultivated by D’Amore to do things the right way – but that doesn’t mean he has to.
The Good Hands blindside D’Amore and hold him back as he strikes Bully to the mat. As Bully powerbombs the IMPACT Wrestling Executive Vice President, Jason Hotch and John Skyler get the tables. Bully stands tall as IMPACT! goes off air as he powerbombs D’Amore through a table.
