With Slammiversary two weeks away, Impact Wrestling looks to keep their build strong. A big Triple Threat could give the winner a lot of momentum for the PPV.

Moose is trying to build his confidence against RVD, so he has a match against Tommy Dreamer. Styles are nothing alike, but I guess since he’s a former ECW guy it’ll help. Sure…

Aside from that, the Heavyweight and Knockouts Championship scenes are in good positions. Plus we’ve got this intergender war that Tessa seems to be spear heading. So a lot of moving pieces tonight.

Let’s see where it all goes!

-But first-

Don’t pass on Impact, just join Konnan and the boys in Iran.

.@Konnan5150 warns The Rascalz to show LAX some respect… or else!#IMPACT @SantanaLAX @Ortiz5150 @DezmondXavier @zachary_wentz @TheTreyMiguel

WATCH HERE: https://t.co/sWu6SEiYN7 pic.twitter.com/LH1sSnKnYi

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) June 22, 2019

Ratings:

• Jake Crist vs Tessa Blanchard: Tessa wins via Magnum – ***
• Eddie Edwards vs Madman Fulton: Fulton wins via Lifting Reverse STO – **
• Moose vs Tommy Dreamer: Moose wins via Spear – * 1/2
• Knockouts Championship Match: Su Yung vs Taya Valkyrie (c): Taya retains via DQ – * 1/2
• Ace Austin vs TJP: TJP wins via Detonation Kick – **
• Rich Swann vs Johnny Impact vs Michael Elgin: Swann wins via 450 Splash – *** 1/2

Analysis:

Solid ring work, but the story was very easy to follow. Jake’s job was to make an example of Tessa and every time she kicked out, Jake got more concerned. Not about Tessa, but about what Sami would say/do after the match. So Jake really just tries to get Sami’s approval and failed at his mission to take out Tessa. As we know from her Wrestle Circus match with Brian Cage, Tessa hands well in intergender matches. So these should all be good matches against oVe.

Match started fast…sortuv. Edwards took it to Madman and they brawled for a few minutes on the outside, even though that was technically before the bell. After the match officially started Edwards’ speed gave him a bit of an edge, and then he went for Kenny 2.0. Killer Kross shows up on the Tron and is apparently waterboarding The Sandman in a janitors closet, which distracts Eddie. So distracted Eddie gets eaten up with Fulton’s End of Days, and then after selling a bit he goes to the back to try and find Kross and Sandman.

This has been a no nonsense start to IMPACT with third match in the first 45 minutes. As a match however, this leaves something to be desired. Moose just needed an ECW original to kinda send a message to RVD I guess. It was plodding, messy, the chair coming into play and the referee technically having full knowledge and letting the match continue is awkward. This was really just a filler match before the RVD match at Slammiversary, but this was pretty lame.

What did we just hear?!@TheTayaValkyrie has asked @WeAreRosemary for help in her battle against @realsuyung & @FearHavok!#IMPACT

WATCH HERE: https://t.co/sWu6SEiYN7 pic.twitter.com/FivrqXgA1E

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) June 22, 2019

Well there was a good assumption that this was going to end in shenanigans, but the match itself was really boring. We see Taya dominate a good bit of the match, her personality and posing was on display. Su didn’t really do much, so Havok interfering felt forced and awkward. Rosemary shows up to stop Havok and Su from ganging up on Taya, but then James Mitchell announces the 4 Way Monsters Ball match at Slammiversary for the Knockouts Title.

Ace Austin comes out to issue an open challenge since he’s undefeated. So we know where this is headed. Cocky bragging turns into TJP’s big return match. It was fast paced, not a lot of time to catch your breath, but not bad. Too quick to be considered “good”, but this will probably build towards one of those ” I wasn’t ready” excuses for a rematch with more time. An alright re-debut for TJP, but the match was a building block match.

IMPACT Plus Flashback Moment: Pentagon vs Sami Callihan, Mask vs Hair at Slammiversary, July 22, 2018

After the Flashback moment, Eddie finds Kross, and attacks him. Alisha tries to stop him, Kross begs him to continue and well…Eddie bites Kross? His fact comes up bloody, then he goes for a stomp and it cuts to black. Did Eddie Mike Tyson Killer Kross, did he kill him…did he…eat him? I don’t know what I watched. You decide:

.@TheEddieEdwards walks right into @realKILLERkross' trap but Eddie shows a more vicious side of him than we've ever seen before! #IMPACT

WATCH HERE: https://t.co/sWu6SEiYN7 pic.twitter.com/ieh3koxVLY

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) June 22, 2019

Impact main events have been really impressive last few weeks and this one fell a little short of that mark, but not by much. Many moves missed by just a hair or looked too cooperative to really get full marks, but it was a fun match. Swann getting the pin on Johnny was a spot. John E. Bravo comes out to help Johnny beat down Rich. Elgin doesn’t want Johnny to use the big red X, but doesn’t seem against destroying Swann. But Brian Cage’s music hits, and comes out with a plan. Gorilla Press tosses Johnny out of the ring, has a quick back and forth with Elgin and then does the full Kevin Nash putting the cigarette out flair, before hitting a Jack Knife Powerbomb on Elgin.

Overall Score: 6.5/10

Impact versus technology man. The Impact Plus Flashback Moment was labeled was Cage vs Sydal: X Division Title, Slammiversary, July 22, 2019. These tech guys need to go back to Vo Tech or wherever they are finding them at. Kindergartners with a See N Say, a 1998 Gateway Computer and a half a box of crayons could do more consistent work.

Tech issues aside, the show wasn’t bad. A lot of matches in a two hours, some may not have been great quality, but they all moved stories along. TJP and his re-debut. Brian Cage’s big surprise return. Definitely a good show around the two week marker until Slammiversary.

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
• 5/24/2019 – LOW: 5,200/HIGH: 10,070
• 5/31/2019 – LOW: 4,550/HIGH: 8,075
• 6/7/2019 – LOW: 7,100/HIGH: 13,606
• 6/14/2019 – LOW: 3,400/HIGH: 8,250
• 6/21/2019 – LOW: 3,460/HIGH: 4,630

WOW, the views hit the tank this week. This was the worst week since being on Twitch for Impact. Not sure if it’s because of Summer, technical issues last few weeks may have annoyed people or whatever, but this is surprising. After a strong May, June is falling off the mountain faster than the dad in the new season of The Detour.

But hell, the shows have still been good, Slammiversary is getting pretty good build, so I’m still excited for what they’re building towards. The views don’t reflect the quality currently, but maybe if they get that new TV deal we can see some things change.