Final IMPACT - IMPACT Wrestling recap for August 3, 2023

"The Quintessential Diva" Gisele Shaw beats Heather Reckless in the BTI match.

Trinity heads to the ring to start tonight's show. She says that Chicago, Illinois holds a special place in her heart, as this is the very building where she made her IMPACT debut and it is so surreal to her because not long ago, she was at her lowest and considered giving up on wrestling. She then reached her highest when she debuted in IMPACT Wrestling, and on that very night in that very same building, she said she would become Knockouts Champion, and now, she has done it. "The Virtuosa" Deonna Purrazzo suddenly shows up and states that if they are recreating Trinity's debut, it is only natural that she show up and interrupt her. The crowd chants "You tapped out" as Deonna says the only difference is that the role of champion and challenger and reversed as she congratulates her, and says she knows that while she knows what it is like to win the Knockouts Championship on the first opportunity after having done it herself. She then says the difference between herself and Trinity is that she is not a quitter. This leads to another "You tapped out" chant, which Trinity reminds her about. Deonna tells Trinity that she will get her title rematch and that nobody beats her twice, to which Trinity responds "I bet you I can." The Coven shows up, and KiLynn King says this is not "The Trinity and Deonna Show" and that nobody wants to hear Trinity speak or see Deonna's face again. KiLynn then mentions that she was Trinity's opponent during her debut, and the crowd chants "You lost." KiLynn tells Trinity that she got lucky that night and says that if things turned out differently, there would be a different Knockouts Champion in the ring right now. As she says that her loss does not sit well with her the more she thinks about it, Taylor Wilde mentions the fact that they are in Chicago and how she hates having been beaten by Trinity. Trinity dares The Coven to do something about it, and KiLynn proposes that Taylor give Trinity "a little card reading." Taylor throws her cards at Trinity and attacks her, and Deonna has to fend The Coven off with Trinity. Security separates all four women before Director of Authority Santino Marella arrives and makes a tag team match between all four women for later tonight. Deonna says she is here for a fight and wants the match right now, and the fans agree, leading Santino to make the match the first one of the night before security leaves.

The Coven (Taylor Wilde and KiLynn King) beat Trinity and "The Virtuosa" Deonna Purrazzo after Trinity inadvertently kicks Deonna in the head.

Backstage, we hear from The Rascalz (Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz). Trey says this is their first tag team match in an IMPACT ring in three years, then says it should be for the tag team titles before saying they will beat Mike Bailey and Jonathan Gresham on the way to the titles. Wentz says that they will soon get their match with Subculture (Mark Andrews and "Flash" Morgan Webster) and make the tag team titles theirs. Scott D'Amore shows up and docks them two weeks' pay for returning to the building after being ejected from it before telling them they will still have their tag team tournament tonight. He then tells them that if they interfere in any tournament matches, they will be suspended indefinitely.

Backstage, we hear from Eddie and Alisha Edwards. As Alisha brags about running Traci Brooks out of IMPACT, Jody Threat shows up and says Traci has decided Alisha is not worth her time. When Eddie tries to bully Jody, Jody pushes back, and when Alisha threatens to run Jody out of IMPACT, Jody challenges Alisha to a match next week. Alisha accepts.

Heath beats Alan Angels with the Wake-Up Call after ducking the Halo Strike.

Backstage, Gia Miller interviews Eric Young. Eric Young says he had a feeling that The Design (Deaner and Kon) would attack him and that he will deal with it very shortly. On the subject of his "death," he says the world who saw the video thought they knew the truth and that it was furthest from the truth, and that the world will see what really happened tonight.

Jake Something beats Davey Vega.

Backstge, Bully Ray, Brian Myers and Moose meet with Lio Rush. Bully Ray says they are excited and proud that he has joined them, but Lio Rush insists that he is not here to make friends, but Moose says they do not want him as a friend, but as a member of a team. Lio Rush says he can be trusted, but tells them that this will not last for long. Bully Ray says this can last forever if Lio lets it, then says that management does not like them and that he wants Lio to experience their trust. After mentioning that they want him to be on their team in a six-man tag match next week, Bully says that they can trust Lio unless he gives them a reason not to, then he, Moose and Myers leave.

Before the next match, Joe Hendry says life is all about lessons, and he has learned that life is short and his title reigns are long. He then says that because life is short, one should tell their friends how they truly feel, including letting friends interject themselves into your title match and letting friends say the two magic words "We believe." After Yuya Uemura makes his entrance, he simply introduces himself as a champion.

Kenny King retains the IMPACT Wrestling Digital Media Championship against Yuya Uemura and Joe Hendry after Sheldon Jean pulls Hendry out of the ring from the outside and Kenny shoves Uemura into Hendry before hitting the Royal Flush to retain.

The Impact Plus Flashback Moment of the Week is Mike Bailey vs. Jack Evans for the IMPACT Wrestling X Division Championship from Emergence 2022.

Backstage, Gia Miller interviews "Speedball" Mike Bailey and Jonathan Gresham. Gresham says he is feeling confident in beating The Rascalz, especially with Bailey, but Bailey says he had to convince Gresham that they stand a chance of winning together due to rules not being enforced. Gresham reminds him that he lost his last match because of cheating, but Bailey says they can win as long as they have the right mindset and optimism. Gresham says optimism does not win matches and that they must watch each others' backs.

We hear from Josh Alexander and Time Machine (Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, KUSHIDA), who want a match with Moose, Brian Myers, Bully Ray and Lio Rush at Emergence.

Backstage, The Death Dollz (Courtney Rush and Jessicka) try to figure out how to get a Knockouts Tag Team Championship match when they run into Crazzy Steve. Steve says they need to talk, but Courtney and Jessicka are too busy trying to get a tag title match.

The Rascalz (Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz) beat "Speedball" Mike Bailey and Jonathan Gresham to advance in the #1 Contender's Tag Team Championship Tournament after Wentz tosses a can of spray paint to Trey, who sprays paint into Gresham's eyes behind the referee's back.

We see a video that shows what happened after Deaner supposedly killed Eric Young. Deaner puts the bloody shank on the table, then Eric Young suddenly comes back to life and crawls to his motorcycle before riding off into the night. Eric Young ponders both life and death, particularly death itself and its finality, then says that death can be beautiful and that he is not dead yet. He says he has lived a thousand lives in the business and that while a man can be killed, a body can be disposed of, and flesh can be removed, an idea is eternal and can live forever. Eric Young says that he is more than a man, more than life, more than death, then says that he is an idea and that he will live forever.

Here's tonight's post show!

Here's tonight's must-see moments!