Final Impact - Impact Wrestling recap for August 18, 2021

Tasha Steelz beats Havok after Savannah Evans on BTI boots Rosemary in the face on the ring apron.

Josh Mathews and Gia Miller are in the ring to start tonight's show. As they talk about how Christian Cage has won the Impact World Championship, W. Morrissey and Eddie Edwards brawl their way into the ring. As W. Morrissey goes for a powerbomb on Eddie Edwards in the ring, Sami Callihan jumps in, and Eddie saves him from Morrissey. Both Sami and Eddie almost come to blows, but Eddie knocks Morrissey out of the ring just in time for security to show up and hold Morrissey back. Eddie tells Sami he didn't need his help, then Sami grabs the microphone and says he wants his match started right now.

Sami Callihan and Chris Sabin beat "Inevitable" Ace Austin and Moose after Sabin tags himself in to hit Austin with Cradle Shock. After the match, Sami raises Sabin's hand, then spikes him with a piledriver for stealing his moment.

We see footage from last Saturday's NJPW Resurgence, where The Good Brothers ("The Big LG" Doc Gallows and "Machine Gun" Karl Anderson) retain the Impact World Tag Team Championships against Jon Moxley and Yuji Nagata only to walk away when The Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa) show up. We then hear from The Good Brothers, who brag about their victory at Resurgence before the two of them tell The Guerrillas of Destiny that getting in their faces is not worth it before Gallows calls tonight's match with Joe Doering "an appetizer." Gallows then blames Violent By Design (Eric Young, Joe Doering, Deaner, Rhyno) for making tomorrow night's tag team title match at Emergence a three-way match.

Backstage, we hear from Sami Callihan, who says Chris Sabin poked him one too many times and made himself fair game just like in tomorrow night's World Championship #1 contender's match. He then says he made good on his promise of taking a piece of Kenny Omega until the Impact World Championship was off Omega's waist, then Eddie Edwards says that he does not need his help just because they teamed together one time. Sami says that he is not a team player and that he has things to attend to.

Matt Cardona beats Shera after Chelsea Green stops Rohit Raju's distraction attempt.

The Impact Plus Flashback Moment of the week is Christian Cage beating Jeff Jarrett for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on Feb 13, 2006.

It's time for Locker Room Talk. Tonight's guest is Tennille Dashwood after Johnny Swinger mentions Swinger's Palace. We find out that Tennille Dashwood is on the set of All About Me, and that Madison Rayne is the guest for tonight's show. Tennille says that she allied herself with Madison because she and Kaleb have been looking for a partner, and while it happened a year ago and it did not work out, Tennille thinks it can work out now. It is mentioned that Madison Rayne was Tenille's first tag team partner, and Tennille notes that this situation has gone full circle before saying that her range and Madison's experience make them "the influence." Kaleb and Swinger then have an argument after Kaleb states they don't have to take crap from Scott D'amore anymore.

Backstage, Gia Miller interviews "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander. Alexander says he intends to be the face of the company going forward, and while Christian Cage may be the new Impact World Champion and became a legend here, he will not be carrying the Impact banner as Jake Something shows up. Alexander says he is not concerned about how big and strong he is, and Jake Something says he will give a reason to be concerned and pay attention by approaching Kaleb and Scott D'Amore as they argue, wanting a match. Kaleb, saying he is medically cleared even though he isn't, is wanting a match, and D'Amore puts Kaleb in a match with Jake Something and makes it a no-disqualification match, much to the horror of Kaleb.

Christian Cage heads to the ring. He says it is good to be back in the Impact Zone after nine long years as Impact World Champion, and even though he wrestles for AEW, it was an honor to take the championship from Kenny Omega and bring them back where it belongs. He talks about how he left WWE in 2005 and took a chance on himself, which lead to Impact taking a chance on him and allowing him to up his stock and compete in the main event for championships, which is all he ever wanted. Christian says this is surreal for him, and he thanks the fans, who chant "You deserve it!" He says that talking about history in Impact has made him realize that this is not about his history anymore and that he had some talks with Scott D'Amore, and as much as the TNA World title means to him, he says it is time to retire it. He says that it is about the future, and that the Impact World Championship represents that future, which means a lot for the locker room. He then says the Impact World Championship will be the biggest prize in the company. Christian then says that the TNA World Heavyweight Championship's lineage will be emblazoned in his and Impact's souls forever, then hands the title off and relinquishes it once and for all. As Christian gets down to business, Brian Myers and Sam Beale show up. Beale carries a notebook with "Christian Not My Champ" written on it as Myers states he is the #1 contender and that he has killed it on Impact for the past year. Myers proclaims that the Impact World Championship belongs to him tomorrow night, and Christian tells Myers it took him long enough to get out of Matt Cardona's shadow before mocking him and Beale. Myers proclaims that the Impact World Championship belongs to him tomorrow night, and Christian tells Myers it took him long enough to get out of Matt Cardona's shadow before mocking him and Beale. He goes on to say that while Myers is the most professional wrestler, he is the best professional wrestler. This leads to a staredown between Myers and Christian. Myers fails to cheap shot Christian with Sam Beale, who gets rocked with a right by Christian.

Melina meets Trey Miguel backstage.

We see an advertisement for NWA Empowerrr and NWA 73.

We see footage from last Saturday's Triplemania, where Deonna Purrazzo faced and beat Faby Apache to become the AAA Reina de Reinas Champion.

Melina beats Brandi Lauren (who has performed in Impact Wrestling in the past as Ava Storie) with the California Dream. After the match, Melina is attacked from behind by Deonna Purrazzo, and Matthew Rehwoldt jumps in to hold Melina down before Trey Miguel runs in and fights Rehwoldt. Afterwards, Deonna threatens to "slap the shit" out of Trey before Melina hits her with a Lou Thesz press and throws her out of the ring.

Backstage, Gia Miller interviews John Skyler, who says there is nothing shocking about last week's win and that he was the guy who hit the final blow before it is revealed that Juice Robinson has been attacked while David Finlay tries to get some help.

We hear from Jordynne Grace, who talks about her recent powerlifting meet. She credits Rachael Ellering being there as part of her win, and Ellering says she cannot wait to see what Jordynne does next. Jordynne states that after setting state records, she plans to break national records in November.

Jake Something beats Kaleb Konley in a no-disqualification after putting Kaleb through a table. After the match, Josh Alexander shows up and has a staredown with Jake Something.

Kimber Lee tells Su Yung says she has collected the first soul, but not the last, as she hands Su Yung some of Kiera Hogan's hair.

Joe Doering beats "The Big LG" Doc Gallows. During the match, Gallows choke bombs Doering through the side of the stage. Security, medics and referees have to help both men out of the crater made in the stage. Gallows is helped out first, and he crawls to the ring. When Doering gets out, it is under his own power, and he also goes back to the ring. Doering gets the win after clotheslining Gallows out of the air.