Final Impact - Impact Wrestling recap for August 11, 2022

Steve Maclin beats Crazzy Steve in the BTI Match.

"Machine Gun" Karl Anderson beats Kenny King with a Gun Stun counter from out of nowhere. After the match, Kenny King strikes Karl Anderson in the injured left knee with a chair before choking him with it. King then places Anderson's foot in the chair, but he soon gets laid out from behind with a Wake-Up Call from Heath.

We see a video package for the events leading up to Alex Shelley vs. "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander for the Impact Wrestling World Championship at Emergence.

KUSHIDA beats Deaner.

This week's Impact Plus Flashback Moment of the week is Alex Shelley vs. Chris Sabin for the TNA X Division Championship from Genesis 2009.

Backstage, Brian Myers brags about his win from last week when Bhupinder Gujjar shows up and challenges him for the Impact Wrestling Digital Media Championship, and quotes Myers as saying a champion never backs down from a challenge. Myers asks Gujjar if he thinks he has what it takes before telling him he will see him at Emergence.

Backstage, Eric Young tells Cody Deaner and Joe Doering that he has given them opportunity after opportunity to defeat the sickness only for them to fail, then says that he must now step in. He then says that the world belongs only to him.

Killer Kelly quickly beats Tiffany Nieves with the Killer Clutch.

We see a video package for Bullet Club vs. Honor No More at Emergence.

Backstage, Honor No More convene concerning their match at Emergence. Eddie Edwards says they have been in this situation before, but they are still here. He says "Machine Gun" Karl Anderson limped his way out of his match, and says PCO proved himself against "The Big LG" Doc Gallows. Eddie says that because of all they that have done, they have all the momentum they will need at Emergence, and that they will not only win Impact's tag team titles, but continue to spread their message that there truly is honor no more.

Mia Yim beats Madison Rayne.

Backstage, VXT ("The Virtuosa" Deonna Purrazzo and Chelsea Green) discuss Deonna Purrazzo's bachelorette party and what is going on with Decay (Rosemary, Taya Valkyrie, Jessicka). Chelsea Green says that they will party "like it's 1999" when they win the Knockouts World Tag Team Championships.

Backstage, Jordynne Grace meets with Mia Yim. Mia says she is ready for their match at Emergence when Jordynne asks her if she is, but Jordynne says she lost their two tag team matches. Mia Yim says it takes two to win and it takes two to lose, and when Jordynne says she is a former Knockouts World Tag Team Champion, Mia Yim says her team was the shortest-reigning before telling her to get used to short reigns.

"Speedball" Mike Bailey retains the Impact Wrestling X Division Championship against Rocky Romero. Romero raises Bailey's hand after the match in a sign of respect.

Scott D'Amore moderates a contract signing between Alex Shelley and Josh Alexander. He says that he has had many roles over the years, but no matter what, he will always be a coach, and he has coached and achieved greatness over the years. He says that he has coached the two individuals in this contract signing to great success, then brings out Alex Shelley first and Josh Alexander second. D'Amore says he has talked to both men individually and that he is excited for them to be competing at the top of their game for the ultimate prize, and says that their match is a dream match and that he is excited to make it official. Alexander says that nobody is more excited for this match than him and that he has wanted this for some time. He says this will be "one hell of a match," as his first live wrestling show in 2005 had Alex Shelley in it. He says that while Shelley has talent, he dared to "be original in an unoriginal business," and the night after that, he started his own professional wrestling career. Alexander says that in the last seventeen years, they have never faced off, but he has seen Shelley's influence through the years. He says it will be an honor to face and beat "the real Alex Shelley," then signs the contract. Shelley says he has copious amounts of respect for Alexander and that their careers have run parallel in several ways, but Alexander did something he could not: become World Champion and the best Impact has to offer. On the subject of Alexander beating him, he asks Alexander what makes him different from "the Alex Shelley clones," and Alexander says he is more of "a Chris Sabin guy" after winning the big one. Alexander then asks Shelley why he has yet to win the big one despite all his accomplishments and talent, then chalks it up to Shelley being scared of the pressure and responsibility of being champion. He then says he wants to beat a Shelley who is better than his best, as his best has not been enough to get the job done in the past. Shelley admits he has never had a world title shot and that his love for wrestling has wavered over the years, and says that Chris Sabin is an example on what one has to go through to be at the top of the mountain, citing his knee injuries. Shelley also lists off Alexander's injuries throughout his career, then says his injuries will be nothing compared to what he will go through in his psyche when he takes him back to 2005 as they square off, for all he will see is "an Alex Shelley mark." After stating that Alexander will not leave with the world title, he offers a "consolation prize." Shelley signs the contract, pushes the contract back to Alexander and tells him to enjoy his Alex Shelley autograph.