Final Impact - Impact Wrestling recap for February 8, 2018

We see footage of Ethan Carter III knocking a cup of someone's hand as he enters the buidling, as well as Moose, Alberto El Patron and Johnny Impact entering the building.

Sonjay Dutt guests on commentary for tonight.

Taiji Ishimori and "Reborn" Matt Sydal beat El Hijo del Fantasma and Rohit Raju (formerly Hakim Zane). Both team show respect after the match.

We see footage from last week where Austin Aries speaks to the press. He says it feels great to be back in Impact and that he is as shocked as everyone else that he is Impact Global Championship, and he had the opportunity and took it. He did not expect to win a title on the first night, and he has yet to sign a contract with Impact and is still a free agent. When asked what will happen if he loses the title on a non-Impact show, he says that he will have to make sure that does not happen. All of a sudden Eli Drake and Chris Adonis try to confront Austin Aries but are stopped by security. Eli Drake wants the title shot, but Austin Aries tells him that if he wants a rematch, he will give him time to prepare so there can be no excuses.

Austin Aries will defend the Impact Global Championship - now the Impact World Championship - next week.

The GWN Flashback Moment of the Week is Austin Aries beating Bobby Roode for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship to become a world champion in Impact for the first time and bring Bobby Roode's record-setting run to an end after 256 days.

Trevor Lee and Caleb Konley - now officially known as The Cult of Lee - beat T.E.C.H. (TC Reed and Mike Monroe). After the match, The Latin-American Xchange show up on the TitanTron. Konnan tells The Cult of Lee that they may be mocking them, but they are only wanna-bes, trying-to-bes and never-will-bes. Konnan tells them to get acquainted to failure, saying it is a great teacher as it tells you what not to do next time. He then tells The Cult of Lee not to mess with LAX, and that they are coming for them.

Backstage, Allie meets Kiera Hogan, congratulates her on last week, and tells her that she will be backstage watching her back if anything happens. All of a sudden, Allie gets a large postcard with a message telling her to meet them in the Impact Zone next week, the day after Valentine's Day. It is signed "Your secret admirer."

Mackenzie Mitchell interviews Moose. Moose says he played for Syracuse University and the NFL, and not once did he get a shot at a national championship or a Super Bowl. In the two years he has been in Impact, he has yet to wrestle for the Impact World Championship. It doesn't matter who he has to face for it, as he will become #1 contender tonight.

Laurel Van Ness retains the Impact Knockouts Championship against Kiera Hogan, then continues to attack Hogan after the match and pushes the referee back. Allie runs into the ring and fights off Laurel Van Ness, who retreats when Allie tries to strike her with the Knockouts Championship.

We see camera footage from oVe (Jake Crist, Dave Crist, Sami Callihan) where somebody is watched from around a corner.

Brian Cage is coming to Impact...

Mackenzie Mitchell interviews Ethan Carter III. EC3 says there is a lot of speculation and controversy about where he stands, but says he is the best guy here, there and anywhere, and if anyone thinks he will not fulfill his destiny of becoming a three-time World Champion, they are fools. He will hunt Moose, he will drink Alberto El Patron's shot, and Johnny Impact is an impact in name only, as he is the real impact player and he is EC3.

The Pluto TV Rewind of the Week is "Wildcat" Chris Harris hitting a leg drop off the top of a cage.

We hear from Jimmy Jacobs and Kongo Kong. Jacobs says he is a good guy, not a bad guy, and he nicely asked Joseph Park to bring Abyss to the Impact Zone this week, and yet there is no Abyss. He does not like repeating himself, and if this is how Joseph Park wants to do it, then if Park will not bring the monster, then he and Kongo Kong will drag the monster out of him.

We hear from "Reborn" Matt Sydal and Taiji Ishimori backstage. Sydal says that if there is one thing his spiritual adviser has helped him, it is to harness the power of another champion, absorb what they put out, and put it in your heart and soul. Sydal says that Ishimori has the heart and soul of a champion, and next week, he will defend the X Division title against El Hijo del Fantasma. He wishes Ishimori the best of luck, then says he can feel and absorb every ounce of what goes on in Impact Wrestling.

We see camera footage of oVe (Jake Crist, Dave Crist, Sami Callihan) stalking somebody in front of their car. That person gets beaten up and by oVe and thrown into the trunk of their car, then Sami Calliahn says "Thumbs up...thumbs down." After the break, it is announced that the person that was being stalked by oVe was Lashley.

Hania the Huntress beats Amber Nova. After the match, Rosemary comes out of the crowd and attacks Hania from behind. Hania manages to escape Red Wedding and get out of the ring.

Johnny Impact beats Ethan Carter III, Alberto El Patron and Moose in a four-way dance to become #1 contender for the Impact World Championship after reversing a One Percenter into a roll-up with a bridge.