IMPACT WRESTLING RESULTS: Shenanigans Again Get in the Way of Legendary Performer (March, 23rd 2021)
Welcome everybody to this weeks IMPACT Wrestling report, as the Road to Rebellion narrows. This week, Knockouts action comes to us twice, from a showdown between Alisha Edwards and Knockouts Tag Team Champion Tasha Steelz on the “Before the Impact” pre show to Jazz’s singles bout against Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo on the main show, coming off Jazz’s victory in last weeks twelve Knockout tag team match.
First its to the pre show, as Alisha Edwards latest solo match sees her up against one half of the Knockouts Tag Team Champions, Tasha Steelz. Out first is Tasha, accompanied expectedly by her fellow champion, Kiera Hogan, while Alisha enters by herself. The ending moments sees Alisha rebound from the prior chop fest by Tasha, connecting with a powerslam to the charging Tasha Steelz shortly after, then clambering to the top rope, knocking off an interfering Kiera Hogan along the way. Tasha charges back to Alisha, and in time, stalls her ascent with a forearm. Tasha moves upward to the middle rope, ready to set up something but Alisha fights back, and after a flurry of fists, Tasha ends up heading to the mat. Tasha charges back but Alisha leaps off the ropes, evading Tasha before being momentarily taken down by a pump kick. Tasha slams Alisha down to the mat after and pins the fellow Knockout. Tasha wins the match.
Then its to the main show, which opens with Knockouts Action, as Knockouts Champion, Deonna Purrazzo, gracefully makes her way to the ring alongside Susan, Kimber Lee not present due to injury. Jazz, meanwhile, has equal numbers in her corner, walking down alongside Jordynne Grace. Towards the finish, Jazz escapes a chinlock by Deonna as she connects with a jawbreaker, then giving Deonna some forearms in a corner before looking to whip her into an opposite corner, only for the Knockouts Champ to reverse. Deonna charges to Jazz after Jazz’s collision with the targeted corner but Jazz moves out and Deonna ends up having a collision of her own with that corner. Deonna shakes off meeting the ring post to return to the ring, getting into a forearm exchange with Jazz. Jazz gets the upper hand in the exchange and follows through with a clothesline after a whip, taking down Deonna. Jazz connects with one more clothesline and elbows Deonna after she springs back, finalizing the round of offense with a back kick before covering, leading to Jazz getting a near fall. Jazz goes for the X Factor post pin attempt but Deonna counters into her armbar, though Jazz breaks loose and manages to connect with the X Factor on the second occasion. Jazz covers again but is close to the ropes, to which Susan takes advantage, sneaking her comrades foot on the ropes and notifying the referee. Jordynne storms over to Susan, ready to make her pay for her interference, but is sent face first into a nearby ring post. Jazz yells at Susan and grasps her, but Susan breaks loose and after Jazz knocks back Deonna, Susan pulls out her shoe and whacks Jazz with it, Deonna capitalizing a short time later by rolling up Jazz, pinning her. Deonna wins the match.
Meanwhile, Rosemary, Crazy Steve and Black Taurus hang by backstage, listening to Eddie Edwards chewing out the Good Brothers, Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows, over the tag title loss and making it clear the two arent welcome in the locker room. When asked what they are laughing at, Rosemary wonders where to begin. First they let the Impact tag team titles fly off to Japan, now their popularity in the locker room appears to have decayed. The Decay members continue to laugh at the misfortune of the Good Brothers as they depart.
In the final hour of the episode, Gia Miller catches up backstage with Nevaeh and Jessicka Havok. Gia asks how they feel after their latest win, and Nevaeh is first to comment. She feels great and she feels assured that they are doing well as a team again. Havok chimes in that shes still on a high after their win, and they could use the win from the twelve Knockout Tag as motivation to maybe pursue the Knockouts tag team titles again. Kiera and Tasha, however, have heard about their refreshed confidence, and accuses “raggedy and tragedy” of being at it with their bull again. Nevaeh asks if they are running their mouth again as usual and Kiera has no issue admitting that. She sees that Nevaeh and Havok continue to talk about them, and if they have got what it takes, they can step up again and take the L on the chin, though it definitely wont be for the titles because they need to earn that. Tasha and Kiera exit, and next to irk the reunited team are Kaleb Konley and Tenille Dashwood. Tenille, like the many times before, insists she didnt mean to eavesdrop, she was just going for a stroll, but she heard the whole conversation. Kaleb adds that Nevaeh and Havok got lucky in last weeks tag team match, and questions both Havok and Nevaeh as to when they last won a match singles wise. Tenille claims they have been rather unsuccessful, mostly down to not having the right partner. Havok reminds Tenille that she made it clear before she wasnt interested in associating, but Tenille has moved on. She wasnt talking to Havok, but to Nevaeh. Kaleb thinks that with a different hairstyle and makeover done to Nevaeh, they could make this latest thought partnership work. Tenille believes she and Nevaeh could be the winning team and tries to get a photo with her but Havok shoves away Tenille. Tenille is disgusted at just being touched and leaves while Nevaeh looks stressed.
(Alisha Edwards vs Tasha Steelz w/ Kiera Hogan 29.27 – 39.44)
(Jazz w/ Jordynne Grace vs Deonna Purrazzo w/ Susan)
Thoughts On:
Tasha vs Alisha: I thought this was a good match, and as much as i appreciate trying to make the Nevaeh and Havok vs Kiera and Tasha feud different than before because Nevaeh and Havok have had tensions this time, and they have Tenille on their back, i think to freshen up the KOs tag team title scene, they could have used this match, or Alisha’s loss at least, to bring in Ray Lyn, Alisha’s tag team partner from WOW, or Davienne, who has worked with Alisha at Chaotic Wrestling. It would have been a fresh tag team for sure but it looks like Alisha is staying in the babyface enhancement role for the time being.
Jazz vs Deonna: I was gutted that Jazz lost here to be honest. It made use of the typical heel antics on Deonna’s side with Susan striking Jazz in the end, but thats twice a veteran such as Jazz has been subjected to outside shenanigans involving objects, so you’d think she’d be booked in a situation where she’d see it coming and fend it off. I wouldnt mind seeing Jazz continue to feud with Deonna, considering she deserves a rematch based off that finish alone, but i can see it being a filler heading into Hardcore Justice anyway, as Jazz hasnt challenged for the title yet, or Deonna possibly moves onto someone from AEW to prove AEW can get their women involved with IMPACT Wrestlings Knockouts, and vice versa with the Knockouts on Dynamite as well.
– Catherine
Cattie's Womens Wrestling 