Tonight on IMPACT Wrestling, the hierarchy has shifted as Christian Cage has unseated Kenny Omega as IMPACT World Champion and now he’ll be making his return to the IMPACT Zone. Plus, Melina from the NWA will be making her IMPACT debut and we have a hoss fight going down as Joe Doering takes on Doc Gallows.
IMPACT WRESTLING
August 19, 2021, IMPACT Zone, Nashville, TN
Commentary: Matt Striker & D’Lo Brown
Josh Mathews and Gia Miller are standing in the ring to start off the episode. Suddenly, a fight breaks out on stage between W. Morrissey and Eddie Edwards. They fight towards ringside. W. Morrissey rlls Eddie in the ring for a corner splash before attempting a powerbomb. Sami Callihan goes to jab W. in the back with a bat and does so. W. goes to chokeslam Sami, but Eddie saves him. The two clear Morrissey of the ring before Eddie makes clear he didn’t ask for the help. Sami gets on the mic. He’s got a match and doesn’t feel like waiting. He wants to start the damn show.
MATCH 1
Chris Sabin & Sami Callihan vs. Ace Austin & Moose (w/ Madman Fulton)
Ace and Sami start it off. Ace whips Sami down but it isn’t long before Sami gets the better. A short-arm clothesline punctuates that before tagging in Sabin. Sabin soon dukes it out with Ace and takes a moment to pull Moose off the apron, but the actin continues as we go to break.
Back from break, Moose is chopping a Chris on the apron before raking the MCMG’s eyes for boos. Sabin fires away at him with punches until Madman boots Chris. Sami happens to be the one to regain control and turns Ace inside out with a lariat. He goes for a piledriver, but Moose stops him. Tornado DDT to Moose via Sabin. Sami hits a sit-out bomb on Austin for a near fall. Crowd claps as a motivator. Sami sizes Ace up and Sabin tags himself in to hit his Cradle Shock finisher for the 1-2-3.
WINNER: Chris Sabin & Sami Callihan
Post-match, Sami hits a piledriver on Sabin.
We see highlights of NJPW Resurgence of The Good Brothers defeating Jon Moxley and Yuji Nagata before being confronted by Guerillas of Destiny. Good Brothers relish in last Saturday. Doc brings up the Monster’s Ball roots of IMPACT and then talks about taking out Joe Doering before Emergence tomorrow.
Sami Callihan cuts a promo before Emergence, talking about getting his number one contender spot once more. Eddie Edwards comes in and makes clear he doesn’t need Sami’s help. Callihan is a-okay with that.
MATCH 2
Shera (with Rohit Raju) vs. Matt Cardona (with Chelsea Green)
The two men grapple up and Shera powers Matt down. Matt boots him and goes for a side headlock. Shera shoulder blocks Cardona back down. He does it again. He charges a third time, but Matt dumps him and then baseball slides him. He then senton flips on top of Shera on the outside. Rohit grabs hold of Matt’s leg on the apron as Shera boots him back to the outside. We go to break.
Back from it, Shera is over powering Cardona. Bodyslams and headlocks occur. “Let’s go Matt” chants. Rohit antagonizes Chelsea as Brian Hebner plays peacemaker. This allows Shera to choke Matt. He puts Cardona in a surfboard stretch. Cardona turns the tables and knees Shera. He soon dropkicks him and hits several corner lariats. Shera chokeslams him on his knee and Shera soon covers for a near fall.
Matt goes for his Broski boot, but Rohit hops on the apron. Chelsea pulls Rohit down and Matt soon hits his Radio Silence from the second rope for the 1-2-3.
WINNER: Matt Cardona
Locker Room Talk is back as she’s joined by Johnny Swinger. Rayne introduces Tenille Dashwood and Kaleb With A K. Although on “satellite” Tenille looks to be sitting in the exact same spot that Madison is. Rayne and Dashwood yuck it up before Tenille notes that she and Madison were meant to be tag partners as she was her first tag partner. Rayne agrees. Kaleb says “OMG” and Swinger thinks he’s referring to One Man Gang. The two women call themselves “The Influence.” Swinger and Kaleb jaw jack before Tenille settles them down.
Gia Miller asks Josh Alexander if he’s concerned about facing a bigger opponent in Jake Something. He doesn’t care how big or tough or strong Jake Something is, he’s not concerned. Something interrupts and wants to give him a reason. Camera follows him to Scott D’Amore who is talking to an irate Kaleb. D’Amore books the two in a match together. As a matter of fact, he makes it no DQ.
Out comes Christian Cage to the ring. “Welcome back” chants. Cage says it’s damn good to be back after nine long years. It’s not lost on him that he’s standing before everyone as the IMPACT World Champion. Even though he wrestles for AEW, it was an honor to take these titles back from Kenny Omega and take them back to where they belong. Way back, Cage took a chance on himself and IMPACT took a chance on hi. They allowed him to main event and compete for championships and that’s all he ever wanted. This is surreal for him. He thanks the crowd. “You deserve it” chants. Talking about his history with IMPACT, it’s not really about his history anymore. Maybe it’s time to respectfully retire the TNA Championship. This is about the here and now. This is about the future. The IMPACT Championship does that. As of this moment moving forward, the IMPACT World Championship will be recognized as the biggest prize in this company. Cage respectfully hands off the TNA Title to David Penzer. Now it’s time to get down to a little bit of business. That cues Brian Myers. Myers patronizes Cage, stating maybe we’ll see Shark Boy or a “brown bag special.” He’s not here to live in the past. He’s the number one contender. He’s killing it in the ring and outside of it. At Emergence tomorrow, that belt will belong to The Most Professional Wrestler. Christian says he’s glad Myers finally crawled out of Cardona’s shadow. Myers has always been chock full of talent, but there’s a saying: “You gotta lose before you learn how to win,” but Myers hasn’t learned anything yet. Cage says he’s the best professional wrestler. The two talk trash to one another. Myers shoves Beale into Cage who attempts an attack, but Cage pops him and Myers bails.
Melina jokes around with Trey Miguel backstage before making her way to the ring for her IMPACT debut.
MATCH 3
Melina vs. Brandi Lauren
“Melina” chants. Melina arm drags and corners Brandi, but Brandi nails a neckbreaker Melina turns the tide and kicks herself free from the opposite corner. Crossbody before nailing a knee to Brandi’s back while against the ropes. Melina has locked in a Muta Lock before turning it into her California Dream for the submission win.
WINNER: Melina
Post-match, Deonna Purrazzo attacks Melina from behind. She stomps at the challenger, but Melina trips her up for some mounted punches. Matt Rehwoldt comes in to grab hold of Melina, but Miguel comes in for the save. He takes Matt out and Melina takes out Deonna.
John Skyler wasn’t shocked at defeating Matt Cardona next last week, but is interrupted by Finlay yelling for medical help as he finds Juice Robinson laid out holding his leg.
MATCH 4
No Disqualification
Jake Something vs. Kaleb With A K
Kaleb starts to fight but Jake launches him into the turnbuckle. Kaleb avoids a corner attack, but Jake Something release suplexes him. Massive sit-down powerbomb by Something. He gets out of the ring and pulls out a table. He leans it in the corner and sizes Kaleb up before spearing him through the table. 1-2-3.
WINNER: Jake Something
Post-match, out comes Josh Alexander to stare down Something.
We cut to Su Yung. She has hold of a lock of Kiera Hogan’s hair. Kimber Lee hopes she pleased “mother.” She collected her first soul and won’t be her last.
MAIN EVENT
Joe Doering (with Violent By Design) vs. Doc Gallows (with Karl Anderson)
Bell sounds and the two beasts go at it. Doering lariats Gallows out and Doc sends Doering into the steel steps as AXS TV sends us to break.
Back from it, Gallows collides with Doering in the corner and then knocks him down center ring for a two count. Doering catches Doc with a German. Joe pulls himself up and the two men slug it out. Gallows boots, but Doering hits a shotgun forearm. Doering hits a stalling suplex. Very impressive. Big LG powders.
Gallows sends Doering into the barricade. Harsh elbow to his chest. Joe fights back. Gallows flings a chair at Doering’s midsection. Doering and Gallows both roll into the ring. Both Gallows and Doering collide with one another as both wrestlers spill out to the floor. The ring bell lays at ringside as Gallows looks steamed. Doering and he continue to fight on the outside. Gallows boots Joe down. They brawl on the entryway. Gallows sit-out bombs Doering through the stage. Both men are out.Anderson checks on Docas officials and Dr. Ross come out. D’Amore is out there as well. Gallows is pulled free first and fights himself away from the officials and security. He’s crawling back to the ring as Doering gets up next. He begins to do the same. He makes his way back to the ring and Doc is shocked. Both men are up. Doering charges, Doc boots him. Gallows leaps up top and comes down, but Doering catches him with a Hansen lariat. He falls on top of Gallows: 1-2-3.
WINNER: Joe Doering
