August 17, 2023
Chicago, Illinois – Cicero Stadium
Commentary – Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt
Results via ImpactWrestling.com
Quick Match Results
- Before The Impact pre-show: Johnny Swinger defeated Sheldon Jean via Pinfall
- Deonna Purrazzo defeated KyLynn King via Venus De Milo (submission)
- Killer Kelly defeated Savannah Evans and Jessicka via Death Valley Driver (pinfall)
- Moose defeated Kevin Knight via Spear (pinfall)
- Eric Young defeated Kon via Disqualification
- No Disqualification match – Bully Ray defeated Black Taurus via Pinfall
- #1 Contender Impact World Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals – The Rascalz defeated Rich Swann & Sami Callihan via Hot Fire Flame (pinfall)
Announcement: NJPW Strong Women’s Championship Match for Impact Emergence 2023
Before the opening match gets underway, it is revealed that Giulia will defend the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship against Deonna Purrazzo, Gisele Shaw and Momo Kohgo this Sunday at Multiverse United 2.
Deonna Purrazzo vs. KyLynn King
.@DeonnaPurrazzo gets the W over @KiLynnKing on #IMPACTonAXSTV sending a clear message to her #Emergence opponent @TheTrinity_Fatu! pic.twitter.com/pe0l3et8IF
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) August 18, 2023
Deonna Purrazzo hopes that Knockouts World Champion Trinity is watching as she looks to make an example out of KiLynn King in this first-time-ever matchup! Purrazzo hits a baseball slide dropkick to the outside. King counters a head scissors attempt and plants her face-first into the mat. The fight spills to the floor where Purrazzo hits a side Russian leg-sweep into the hardest part of the ring. King avoids Queen’s Gambit, then hits a Gutbuster DDT combo for two. Purrazzo turns the tide with a Flatliner, then locks in the Koji Clutch. King almost puts her away with a Neutralizer. Purrazzo counters the Queen’s Curse into Venus de Milo, forcing King to submit.
Winner: Deonna Purrazzo via Submission.
After the match, we see that Knockouts World Champion Trinity was watching on a monitor backstage.
Backstage: Kenny King, Sheldon Jean
.@KennyKingPb2 had words for @HEATHXXII and @swinger_johnny on #IMPACTonAXSTV! @MeanGiaMiller pic.twitter.com/qo5BOdI6G3
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) August 18, 2023
Despite Johnny Swinger’s victory over Sheldon Jean earlier tonight on BTI, Kenny King doesn’t see him as a threat to his Digital Media Title reign.
Backstage: Santino Marella, Bully Ray, Brian Myers, Alex Shelley, Moose, Kevin Knight
Bully Ray pleads with Director of Authority Santino Marella to help him solve his PCO problem. Moments later, Brian Myers demands an IMPACT World Title opportunity against Alex Shelley. Moose calls KUSHIDA a coward but is confronted by his ally, Kevin Knight. Marella makes a match between Moose and Knight for later tonight. Shelley accepts Myers’ challenge for an IMPACT World Title match next week – that is, if he’s still champion after Multiverse United 2.
Jessicka vs. Savannah Evans vs. Killer Kelly
.@Kelly_WP picks up the W by giving @SavannahEvansNV a DVD ON @FearHavok! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/j2dRpffiSD
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) August 18, 2023
Momentum is up for grabs ahead of the 4-way Knockouts World Tag Team Title showdown at Emergence! Jessicka and Evans square off with a series of strikes but Kelly takes them both down with a top rope crossbody. Evans hits Kelly with a Spinebuster, followed by a German suplex. Jessicka connects with a running splash on Evans but Kelly breaks the pin attempt. Jessicka fights off a Sleeper attempt from Kelly but Evans immediately spikes her with a DDT. Kelly hits a Death Valley Driver on Evans, which sends her crashing into Jessicka. Kelly pins Jessicka to score the victory.
Winner: Killer Kelly via Pinfall.
Video: Dirty Dango, Alpha Bravo
.@DirtyDangoCurty has a problem with @JakeSomething_! @JohnEBravo1st #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/1jwxSof5Wo
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) August 18, 2023
After being embarrassed by Jake Something last week, Dirty Dango has some choice words for the big man.
Kevin Knight vs. Moose
.@TheMooseNation sends a message to #KUSHIDA on #IMPACTonAXSTV! pic.twitter.com/ghcd6nzITL
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) August 18, 2023
Following their backstage confrontation earlier tonight, Kevin Knight steps up to Moose in singles action! Knight connects with a series of chops. Moose hits a thunderous Sky High out of the corner for an early near fall. Moose pummels Knight with strikes, then adds insult to injury by stepping on his neck. Knight hits a superkick but can’t get the big man off his feet. Moose plants him with a standing Uranage. Knight attempts to quicken the pace but Moose hurls him over the top rope to the floor. Moose catches him in mid-air but Knight counters into a head scissors on the exposed ramp. Knight is in total control as he soars with a dive to the outside. Back in the ring, Knight almost puts Moose away with the Code Red. Moose hangs him up on the top rope, then delivers a message to KUSHIDA and he spears Knight for the three count.
Winner: Moose via Pinfall.
Backstage: The Rascalz, ABC, Santino Marella
"Who do you think you are I am"
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) August 18, 2023
Will The Rascalz leave The IMPACT Zone #1 Contenders for the IMPACT World Tag Team Championships?! ABC battles the Good Hands NEXT WEEK on #IMPACTonAXSTV! @ZacharyWentz @TheTreyMiguel @DashingChrisBey @The_Ace_Austin @milanmiracle pic.twitter.com/eIhbswLBHz
After The Good Hands cost ABC their match in the Number 1 Contenders Tag Team Championship Tournament last week, Santino Marella gives them a chance at revenge next week.
Kon vs. Eric Young
"@CodyDeaner sits upon his throne of violence"@Big_Kon1 @TheEricYoung #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/9bR6TKau0Z
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) August 18, 2023
Kon looks to destroy his former leader, Eric Young, as Deaner watches on from ringside! Deaner provides a distraction from the outside, allowing Kon to flatten Young. Kon distracts the referee, as Deaner delivers not one but two cheap shots to Young. Young begins to build momentum with a big back body drop out of the corner. Young drops him with a Death Valley Driver for two. Kon quickly shuts down his momentum with a Spinebuster. Young is going for a Piledriver when Deaner cracks him in the back with a steel chair.
Winner: Eric Young via Disqualification.
Kon hits a thudding Chokeslam on Young as Deaner follows up with the Antidote DDT onto the chair. The Design stand tall over a downed Eric Young.
Video: Joe Hendry, Yuya Uemura
.@joehendry and @Im_YuyaUemura working as a team.#IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/QZ75AlGecL
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) August 18, 2023
We’re treated to a new music video about IMPACT’s newest tag team, Joe Hendry and Yuya Uemura.
Backstage: Crazzy Steve
Content Warning: Discussion of suicide@TomHannifan continues his sit-down interview with @steveofcrazzy on #IMPACTonAXSTV. To Be Concluded… pic.twitter.com/hPZNPfWJnR
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) August 18, 2023
Tom Hannifan’s emotional sit-down interview with Crazzy Steve continues. After Steve reveals a troubled family situation during his upbringing, Hannifan asks what’s next for him. The interview will be concluded next week.
Backstage: Chris Sabin, Samuray Del Sol
.@SuperChrisSabin and @gloat will face off NEXT WEEK on #IMPACTonAXSTV! pic.twitter.com/XNSVIxLKgK
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) August 18, 2023
Chris Sabin is poised to dethrone Lio Rush as the X-Division Champion. Sabin challenges Samuray Del Sol to a match next week, after Rush attacked him before his scheduled debut last week.
No Disqualification Match
Bully Ray vs. Black Taurus
.@Taurusoriginal went for the second Twisting Senton but it backfired! @bullyray5150#IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/s86tZzMy9k
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) August 18, 2023
Bully Ray locks horns with Black Taurus in a No Disqualifications match but is PCO lurking in the shadows? Taurus charges the ring during his entrance and immediately takes Bully down. Taurus takes a bite out of Bully, then dumps him to the outside. Taurus hits a slingshot crossbody to the outside. Taurus is in complete control after driving him into the steel ring post. Back in the ring, Bully rakes the eyes of Taurus but gets whipped into the ladder face-first. Taurus flies with a top-rope twisting senton for two. Taurus goes for another one but Bully evades, causing Taurus to crash into the ladder. Bully scores the pinfall to win.
Winner: Bully Ray via Pinfall.
After the match, the lights go out as PCO confronts Bully in the ring. Bully chokeslams him through a table but it has no effect. PCO rises once again and chases Bully to the back.
Backstage: Eddie Edwards, Frankie Kazarian
.@TheEddieEdwards and @FrankieKazarian will END their issues where it all began! Killer Kowalski's Wrestling School in Massachusetts!#IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/M28syuAPoS
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) August 18, 2023
Eddie Edwards provides a medical update on his wife, Alisha, after she was inadvertently struck with a kendo stick by Frankie Kazarian last week. Edwards says that Alisha will be fine but there was no way he would allow her to step foot into the IMPACT Zone tonight. Kazarian confronts Edwards and suggests they go their separate ways so that nobody else gets caught in the crossfire. Edwards wants to finish things once and for all and Kazarian suggests they do where it all started, Killer Kowalski’s wrestling school in Boston.
Emergence 2023, Multiverse United 2, & Next Week’s Show Cards Rundown
LIVE this Sunday, August 20th at 5pm ET streaming exclusively on FITE, IMPACT and New Japan Pro-Wrestling join forces for another co-branded mega event, Multiverse United 2: For Whom the Bell Tolls from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. Tickets are on-sale now at 2300arena.com
Who will conquer all obstacles and emerge victorious? Find out when IMPACT Wrestling presents Emergence LIVE August 27th at 8pm ET on IMPACT Plus, YouTube for IMPACT Ultimate Insiders and FITE from the Rebel Entertainment Complex in Toronto. Tickets are on-sale now at Eventbrite.com. Just announced: IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Sanada will battle Jake Something.
Don’t miss an all-new IMPACT! next Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders. Samuray Del Sol makes his IMPACT in-ring debut against Chris Sabin. Knockouts World Champion Trinity faces off against Jody Threat. ABC are out for revenge against The Good Hands. Deaner goes one-on-one with Laredo Kid. Plus, if Alex Shelley is still the IMPACT World Champion, he will defend the title against Brian Myers.
#1 Contender Impact World Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals
The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) vs. Rich Swann & Sami Callihan
.@TheTreyMiguel and @ZacharyWentz secure their spot as #1 Contenders for the IMPACT World Tag Team Championships! Rascalz vs SUBCULTURE at #Emergence! #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/7J2Cjwh4ZL
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) August 18, 2023
Who is headed to Emergence to challenge SUBCULTURE for the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles? We find out in our main event! Callihan drives Miguel into the hardest part of the ring with a Death Valley Driver. Swann soars over the top rope, colliding with the both of the Rascalz on the floor. The Rascalz deliver thumbs to the eyes of their opponents, then fly with in-sync Moonsaults to the outside. Wentz pulls Callihan off the apron, preventing Swann from making the tag. Miguel continues the assault until Swann creates separation with a rolling clothesline. Swann makes the tag to Callihan who quickens the pace with a Flatliner DDT combo to the Rascalz. Callihan spikes Wentz with the Cactus Driver 97 into the sternum of Miguel. Minutes later, Miguel launches Wentz as he dropkicks Swann in the corner. Wentz follows up with a double stomp for two. Everybody is down following a series of superkicks. Both teams exchange strikes in the middle of the ring. Swann hits an assisted cutter on Wentz but it’s not enough. Wentz takes out Swann with a huge dive to the floor. Miguel blinds Callihan with spray paint while the referee is tending to Swann. The Rascalz hit Hot Fire Flame on Callihan to win the match and the tournament.
Winner: The Rascalz via Pinfall.