Coming off a great episode with a quality main event, IMPACT has a lot of momentum. Do we see a spike in viewers? Do we get more quality TV?

Impact Wrestling has done a solid job dancing around any official announcements with Brian Cage, which is really smart. He’s got a lot of IWC support, and allowing the show to move forward while he heals is great.

Too often and too quickly do we see vacancies and title strips, I don’t mind a few weeks without The Machine!

I will admit though, it would be fun if they make his injury out to be worse than it is, just to further the fact that he’s not a normal person.

Either way, eat some chicken and prepare for this show!

Ahead of their title shot against @SantanaLAX and @Ortiz5150, the Rascalz decided to get serious about training.@TheTreyMiguel @DezmondXavier @zachary_wentz #IMPACT

▶️ – https://t.co/sWu6SEiYN7 pic.twitter.com/eeapf0O5uc

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) May 18, 2019

Ratings:

• Knockouts Battle Royal: Glenn Gilbertti wins – **
• Demon Collar Match: Rosemary vs Su Yung: Rosemary wins via Red Wedding – *
• Madman Fulton vs Randy Shawn: Fulton wins via Modified Lifting Reverse STO – N/A
• Killer Kross vs Eddie Edwards: Kross wins via Doomsday Saito – ** 1/2
• Michael Elgin vs Rich Swann: Swann wins via DQ – **** 1/4

Analysis:

So good ole Disco returns to run down the Knockouts. He gets in the ring, says it would be better if it was a Bra and Panties Battle Royal, then stops himself and says “on second thought, maybe it’s best you all keep your clothes on”. The Knockouts gang up on Disco and kick him out of the ring, so he joins commentary. Apparently he’s a legal competitor in the match, but the commentary between Glenn, Josh and Don is actually tremendous.

The final three are Kiera Hogan, Scarlett Bordeaux and Tess Blanchard. Kiera is being a little more aggressive and mouthy, so she’s getting into her new character. Kiera eliminates Scarlett, Tessa then eliminates Kiera and Glenn slides in from commentary to hit a Lariat on Tessa and throw her over the top rope. Don’t be disrespectful to Disco. Sheesh. Battle Royal was fine, a few hiccups and odd spots, but generally enjoyable.

Elgin gets back to back segments showing him attack Willie Mack in the parking lot, which sent him to the hospital. So Elgin is continuing to build his list of Emergency Room beds. Rich Swann steps up to fight for his buddy Willie.

Wow this collar match was…bad. It was slow, overly telegraphed at times, strikes looked weak and Su’s collar broke at some point so that made the finish weirder. Rosemary took Su Yung to the pack like a trophy hunter, so who knows what’s going on with this still. But sheesh, that was rough boys and girls.

Well Fulton eats this kid. Randy Shawn couldn’t decide on a first name, but he should make a new career choice.

RVD announces that he will face Tommy Dreamer next week at the 2300 Arena. So old school ECW throwback match. Yes, we get them a bit in Impact.

Wow…this is an awful “update with a fake doctor” video, I half expected the doctor to say ” I understand he isn’t normal, that he is a machine…”:

#IMPACT physician Dr. Ariel provided a medical update on @MrGMSI_BCage, but unfortunately, the World Champion's return date is still unknown.

▶️ – https://t.co/sWu6SEiYN7 pic.twitter.com/G57SInMHe3

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) May 18, 2019

Kross and Eddie have a pretty solid match. Both men show they’re a little deranged by asking for punishment, but Kross catches Eddie trying to use Kenny, with the Doomsday Saito. Kross zip ties Eddie to the rope and makes it look like he’s going to beat Eddie with Kenny, but instead he stops and snaps it in half in front of Eddie. Eddie is heartbroken. Also extra note, Kross had F.T.W. on his wrist tape.

via GIPHY

IMPACT plus Flashback Moment: Kongo Kong vs Brian Cage, IMPACT July 5, 2018

The North and Moose are apparently plotting something for RVD.

So damn this main event went 2 commercial breaks, but it was really solid. Swann wouldn’t stay down and even had great hope spots. A Super Frankensteiner countering the Avalanche Powerbomb, Lethal Injection, 450, but Elgin kicked out. Swann tried a top rope Phoenix Splash, and missed. Elgin hits Splash Mountain, and Rich kicks out. Elgin rolls to the outside, catches Rich and repeatedly Powerbombs him into the post. Kid Ref tries to get the match back in the ring, Elgin pushes Kid Ref and Powerbombs Swann again for posterity. Kid Ref calls for the DQ and then runs for his life. This was a great match, the “non-finish” is rather annoying coming out of a roughly 25 minute match. But love him or hate him, Elgin can wrestle.

Overall Score: 6.5/10

The second half of the show was great. Eddie’s story with being helpless to watch his friend Kenny get killed in front of him, a really good Flashback match and the main event was damn good. Hell, Disco’s anti-women’s wrestling character is something he does fantastically. Yes the collar match awful, the doctor’s update was laughable, but it was still solid generally speaking.

Twitch Views:

• 5/3/2019 – LOW: 4,000/HIGH 6,550
• 5/10/2019 – LOW: 3,800/HIGH: 7,130
• 5/17/2019 – LOW: 6,900/HIGH: 12,220

Well I don’t know what went on tonight. I guess the Bucks and Raptors aren’t compelling TV because something spiked viewership. The show opened with the Knockouts and that’s when the numbers were really spiking. So even if the Battle Royal was gimmicked and the Demon Collar match was a mess, the Knockouts seem to be the main draw at moment.

The Twitch stream usually averages 6,000 and tonight was 9,000. Also to be noted, tonight marked the highest viewership numbers since the 3/1/2019 simulcast is still the record at 14,400 viewers.