Recapping American wrestling since 2013. Not only following the current stuff in WWE, Impact and ROH but also going back in time and doing stuff from back then as well.
Gia Miller interviews "Speedball" Mike Bailey for Around The Ring. Bailey says that if he were not a professional wrestler, he would be a professional cook one way or another. He says that he even went to professional cooking school for a year to train to be a chef and worked in a kitchen for less than six months due to low pay and most jobs being on the weekend when he was wrestling. He learned from his cooking training how to cook something that fit the nutrition profile for professional wrestling while also being fun and delicious. Bailey talks about a time where he was obsessed with cooking with a slow cooker and ended up with a pulled pork brie grilled cheese recipe that he was never able to recreate. He also talks about he has created a "salad system" where he makes a whole load of nutritious, healthy salad that act as building blocks towards healthy meals.
We look back at Jeff Hardy vs. Bully Ray in the 2012 Bound For Glory Series finals from No Surrender 2012.
Dirty Dango beats Laredo Kid after Alpha Bravo distracts the referee so that Oleg Prudius can trip Laredo Kid off the top rope.
Laredo Kid beats Jai Vidal with an avalanche Spanish Fly.
Gia Miller interviews Kevin Knight for Around The Ring. Kevin Knight talks about how he and his wife got into roller skating during the pandemic. Gia Miller admits that she cannot skate at all, especially after working at Sonic Drive-In as a teenager. Knight says that everyone starts somewhere and that it is all in the toes and small ligaments. Knight also shows off some Stacy Adams roller skates.
We look back at Mr. Anderson vs. "The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero in the TNA World Heavyweight Championship tournament semi-finals at No Surrender 2010.
This week's episode is a "best-of" episode featuring past Turkey Suit matches from TNA/IMPACT's history. Matches and moments include:
Alex Shelley vs. Shiek Abdul Bashir vs. Rhino in the 2008 Turkey Bowl match
Before the next match, Jason Hotch says that while TNA is back, so is the turkey suit. He says nobody has to worry about him or his teammates in the turkey suit, as Champagne Singh is lucky enough to be on the winning team with "these Good Hands."
In a new match for this episode, Jake Something, "Speedball" Mike Bailey, Johnny Swinger and PCO beat The Good Hands (John Skyler and Jason Hotch), Champagne Singh and Jai Vidal in the 2023 Thanksgiving Gravy Train Turkey Trot Match. PCO pins Jai Vidal with the PCO-Sault, and therefore, Jai Vidal must wear the turkey suit. After the match, Jai Vidal tries to run out of the ring, but Savannah Evans and Gisele Shaw make sure that he wears the suit.
Robbie E vs. Grado in the Turkey Suit Challenge from 2016
Rockstar Spud's Thanksgiving Dinner from 2013
The Eli Drake Gravy Train Turkey Trot from 2017
Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles vs. Chris Sabin in the finals of the 2007 Turkey Bowl
Tasha Steelz beats Killer Kelly after "The Virtuosa" Deonna Purrazzo pulls the referee out of the ring as Kelly has Tasha in a sleeper hold.
Backstage, John Skyler asks Savannah Evans to be her tag team partner. "The Quintessential Diva" Gisele Shaw says everyone knows Skyler has been begging online, but Skyler calls Savannah "the first girl" he has asked. Jai Vidal tells Skyler he just messed up, but Gisele mentions Jai Vidal costing her a victory recently and makes him Skyler's tag team partner, much to Skyler's aggravation.
Backstage, Gia Miller interviews Jonathan Gresham. As Gresham talks about incompetent refs and wrestlers getting away with things, "Speedball" Mike Bailey confronts Gresham wanting to know what he is doing. Gresham walks away.
Tommy Dreamer heads to the ring. Dreamer says he has asked IMPACT for this time to address Crazzy Steve, and calls Crazzy Steve out. Crazzy Steve shows up and heads to the ring with his Feast or Fired briefcase. Dreamer mentions Steve's attack on him with the Feast or Fired briefcase, then mentions that he and Steve have been friends for a long time and that Steve is also legitimately blind. Dreamer also talks about the one night he taught Steve how to drive and how it was the one time he felt normal, then compares what Steve had to go through his mother with what he had to go through with his own father. He says that if Steve wanted a Digital Media title shot, all he had to do was ask, as he and the fans love him, and at the end of the day, it is all about creating moments and Steve is his friend and he deserves it. A visibly sobbing Crazzy Steve hugs Dreamer, but it is all a ruse to stab Dreamer in the back with a fork. Steve tells Dreamer that he is not his friend as referees and security plead with Steve to stop, then leaves with his briefcase.
Jake Something, Dirty Dango, Champagne Singh, Eric Young and Jordynne Grace beat Brian Myers, Shera, KiLynn King, Jody Threat and Bully Ray in a ten-person tag match after Jake Something attacks Dirty Dango and the rest of his team and hits Shera with Into The Void. His team will go on to the five-way match next week that will determine the #1 and #20 spots in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet Match at Bound For Glory.
Backstage, Gia Miller interviews Josh Alexander. He says it may not be the wisest decision to take on Kon tonight, but having been a champion, he does not back down from a challenge. He says that iron sharpens iron and that is how one challenges one's self. Alex Shelley shows up and says a champion's mentality can get one in a lot of trouble, and while he has a lot of respect for Alexander for what he has done, he wants to make sure Alexander is at his best at Bound For Glory and will be in his corner to ensure that.
We see a video package chronicling Mickie James' relinquishing of the Knockouts Championship and her return to the championship scene against Trinity at Bound For Glory.
Backstage, Gia Miller interviews Trinity. Trinity says Mickie James' rematch was to be expected as she never lost the title, but she has known Mickie for years and she owes it to her to bring her best. She also plans to walk out the same way she walks in: as champion.
Before the next match, John Skyler calls the Memphis, Tennessee fans "a bunch of insufferable, illiterate pigs," and says that when he tosses Ace Austin and Chris Bey out of the ring "despite [his] horrible tag partner," he wants the fans to whip them with their good hands.
ABC ("Inevitable" Ace Austin and Chris Bey) beat John Skyler and Jai Vidal in a Fans' Revenge Match.
We see a video package chronicling the feud between the team of Eddie and Alisha Edwards and the team of Frankie Kazarian and Traci Brooks.
Moose beats Bhupinder Gujjar. After the match, Steve Maclin shows up and heads to the ring. After the commercial break, Maclin says that the Feast or Fired Briefcase and the World title shot that comes with it is his and that Rhino stopped him from getting it, and demands that Moose hand him the briefcase. Moose says Maclin may be crazy, but he is not dumb, and says there is two of him and one of Maclin, and thinks this is a trick by Bully Ray. Maclin says this is no trick and that Bully Ray has gone soft, then says he is not scared of PO after beating him and he is not scared of Moose. He says that Moose will either give him the briefcase, or he will take it from him. The lights go out, then lightning strikes, and when the lights come back on, PCO is in the ring. Moose and Maclin fight over the briefcase after Myers is booted out of the ring, and PCO clotheslines them both. As Maclin makes his way to the back, he is Gored from out of nowhere by Rhino.
The Rascalz (Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz) tag the tag team titles with a big green "R," and as Director of Authority Santino Marella chews them out, ABC ("Inevitable" Ace Austin and Chris Bey) shows up and challenges The Rascalz for the titles at Bound For Glory. Sami Callihan and Rich Swann show up and mention that they have beaten Subculture, then Santino locks in ABC's cash-in at Bound For Glory before giving a title shot to Sami and Swann.
We hear from Chris Sabin, who says that he and KENTA will make history when they face each other for the first time at Bound For Glory and that he will be walking out as the X Division Champion.
Alex Shelley guests on commentary for the next match.
"The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander beats Kon. During the match, the ref goes down after Big Kon's boot hits him as Alexander tries to keep him up. Deaner tries to hit Alexander with a chair on the outside, and Shelley takes the chair away only for Alexander to inadvertently hit him. After the match, Shelley and Alexander have a verbal confrontation in the ring, and when Alexander walks away, Shelley hits him with Shell Shock.
Johnny Swinger beats Bhupinder Gujjar following a fast count - and biased refereeing - by referee "Outlandish" Zicky Dice.
Trey Miguel vs. Chris Sabin for the IMPACT Wrestling X Division Championship ends in a no-contest when Sabin is suddenly attacked from behind by Zachary Wentz, who has not been seen since he headed to (and got fired from) WWE. Wentz and Trey gang up on Sabin, then flee when Alex Shelley make the save.
We hear from Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz. Trey says the more things change, the more they stay the same, as it has been three years since The Rascalz have been in Impact. He also says he is after more than X Division gold. Wentz says that the fans abandoned Trey while he had his back, and that he left and went through hell and was abandoned by the fans himself. He says that The Rascalz are back and that they are taking what is theirs.
"The Virtuosa" Deonna Purrazzo guests on commentary for the next match.
Trinity beats Jai Vidal with Starstruck. After the match, "The Quintessential Diva" Gisele Shaw and Savannah Evans gang up on Trinity, and when Deonna Purrazzo heads to the ring, she waits before Gisele Shaw sees her and runs her mouth towards her. Purrazzo then get in the ring and cleans house to save Trinity.
Backstage, Moose is met by Brian Myers and The Good Hands (John Skyler and Jason Hotch). Myers says he is glad Moose came to his senses, and at Slammiversary, they will be the tag team champions. Moose says that with their talents combined, they are guaranteed to win tag team gold, but it is his and Myers', not The Good Hands'. He tells Myers to "ditch the dead weight" and leaves. Myers tells The Good Hands that this is only temporary and leaves. John Skyler asks what happened, and Jason Hotch says "I think we just got jobbed."
Backstage, Johnny Swinger and "Outlandish" Zicky Dice celebrate their victory on tonight's BTI when referee Daniel Spencer shows up and tells them that Swinger's win does not count due to Zicky's fast count, as per Director of Authority Santino Marella. He also warns Zicky that if he does a fast count again, he will be stripped of his referee's license.
Lio Rush beats Jack Prince in his IMPACT debut.
In footage from last week, Dirty Dango says it is his fault that he was hit by the Cobra and that Director of Authority Santino Marella only has a career because Jim Cornette slapped him in the face and "the evil empire" was forced to fire Cornette. Dirty Dango then shows interest in Santino's daughter (who is in WWE as Arianna Grace), asking if "she is being slapped around over there." We hear from Santino Marella, who says Dirty Dango is out of his mind. He says he is the captain of his ship and his hands are tied right now, but after Scott D'Amore is back on the job, he is going to get back in the ring and humiliate him like never before for mocking his career and bringing his daughter into this, and tells him that he will pay.
Backstage, Eddie and Alisha Edwards are confronted by Frankie Kazarian, who says he is having a hard time wrapping his head around what happened in last week's match. Eddie says he tried to be on his side because they are both "Kowalski guys," but Kazarian's ego is too big for them to be a team and they are better off as opponents. Eddie and Alisha then leave.
Masha Slamovich beats KiLynn King after Killer Kelly shows up and chokes Taylor Wilde with a chain. After the match, Masha and Kelly have a staredown in the middle of the ring before tying the other end of the chain around her neck and leaving with Kelly.
We see a video package about Scott D'Amore.
Backstage, Gia Miller interviews Scott D'Amore. He says he may not be able to jump back comfortably into in-ring action at Slammiversary, but he has been training daily and he feels as ready as he is going to be. He says that he Darren McCarty as special guest enforcer is an interesting choice as there will not be many rules, The Good Hands shows up showing their dissatisfaction with recent events that have happened to them earlier tonight and wanting to give him a receipt. D'Amore mentions that he knows PCO and says he can set them up for a two-on-one handicap match with him next week after he talks to Director of Authority Santino Marella, whom he has a good relationship with.
Before the next match, Joe Hendry is seen in the production truck.
Kenny King beats Yuya Uemura. After the match, Joe Hendry shows up and congratulates Kenny King on winning before saying he has a gift for Kenny King and that it is time that Kenny got more respect around. He then premieres a music video where he makes fun of Kenny being a Chippendale dancer in the past. This leads to a "Stripper Kenny' chant from the fans.
"The National Treasure" Nick Aldis heads to the ring. He says that for two weeks, people have harassed him online and have demanded an explanation for his actions towards Alex Shelley, and states that the time is right for that explanation. Before he can do that, he wants Alex Shelley in the ring, as he has been asking for that explanation, and calls him to the ring so he can give him that explanation to his face. Alex Shelley shows up and tells Aldis that he is standing in his ring, and that nobody cares about his explanation. Aldis says he will have the ring all to himself if he wants his explanation following Shelley's superkick to Jimmy Jacobs. After mentioning that this is "an unsafe work environment," Aldis tells Shelley that he has a seat for him near the Impact fans, since he represents the fans. Shelley says he does not take this as an insult like Aldis thinks he does, as he is their world champion. Shelley then sits with the fans, and Aldis tells Shelley he is starting to believe his own propaganda. He says that he was doing well in their match when Chris Sabin tried to be the hero, found himself in deep water and nearly cost them the match. He says that he was the best candidate for the tag, but he tagged in Shelley instead, and Shelley tried to expose him, calling it a concerted effort to minimize and humiliate him when he was the best man in the match. Aldis says the time to be nice guy was over and time to put Shelley in his place, as Shelley acts like the good guy when he and Sabin have run the place for twenty years and tried to get rid of guys like him "like a fake revolutionary" as soon as he got a seat at the table. He says that Shelley had "a propaganda machine" and tried to take the business into a place that is "very dark and nasty" while he himself was being endorsed by wrestling legends, then says Shelley's reign is over once he exposes him at Slammiversary. Shelley tells Aldis to shut up and that nobody bought a ticket to hear him whine and bitch, and that Aldis will have to come to him and shut him up personally. When Aldis asks if Shelley wants him to come shut his mouth, Shelley says "Yup." After Aldis takes his jacket off, Shelley beats him up on the outside, and this starts a brawl. As Aldis is about to blast Shelley with the World Championship again, Sabin shows up and takes the title away from him. As Aldis walks away, Lio Rush suddenly shows up from behind and attacks Sabin before doing the same to Shelley. Lio Rush and Nick Aldis then go on the attack, and Lio holds Sabin down as Aldis hits Shelley with the World title. Lio Rush then blasts Sabin with the X Division Championship, and both men make their intentions to dethrone Sabin and Aldis known.
Here is tonight's post-show!
Here are the must-see moments from tonight's show!
Raj Singh - now known as "Champagne Singh" (accompanied by DJ Ocho from Latino Mix KGRT-FM 99.3 in Las Vegas, Nevada) beats "Outlandish" Zicky Dice (accompanied by Adrian "Heavyweight" Hernandez from KXST-AM 1140 AM in Las Vegas, Nevada) in the BTI Match in a local DJ challenge.
Out in the desert, PCO looks out towards the city of Las Vegas, Nevada as he cries out Eddie Edwards' name.
"Speedball" Mike Bailey and Jonathan Gresham beat Decay (Crazzy Steve and Black Taurus).
Backstage, Gia Miller interviews "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander, Frankie Kazarian and Rich Swann. Alexander says that while they have never tagged together, they share a lot of championship gold and success wherever they go, and with a little bit of chemistry, they can beat anybody. Kazarian mentions his history with The Motor City Machine Guns and Bullet Club and mentions how he was the first person to put a dagger in the heart of Bullet Club. As Rich Swann speaks, Steve Maclin shows up and insults everyone by questioning their chemistry as he reminds Alexander he is number one contender to the World title.
Backstage, Gia Miller interviews "The Quintessential Diva" Gisele Shaw, Jai Vidal and Savannah Evans. Gisele says she was close to becoming Knockouts Champion until "The Virtuosa" Deonna Purrazzo got involved. She says that Purrazzo is jealous of her because of what she has and because she beat her at No Surrender. As Gisele says Purrazzo has a receipt coming, Johnny Swinger and "Outlandish" Zicky Dice show up, and both of them agree that Jai Vidal will make an easy win for Swinger, as Jai Vidal is "not even on the roster." As Swinger and Zicky leave, Gisele asks Jai Vidal if Swinger even knows that he is a wrestler.
Steve Maclin beats Heath.
Backstage, The Death Dollz (Rosemary, Taya Valkyrie, Jessicka) brag about ensnaring The Coven (Taylor Wilde and KiLynn King) into their web so they can take care of Killer Kelly all by themselves. Taya says the thing about magic is that it is dangerous, and asks Jessicka to let her and Rosemary handle The Coven while she practices wrestling and making mimosas. Jessicka leaves, and Rosemary and Taya wonder if keeping Jessicka away from the knowledge that she is Havok is good or bad.
PCO is seen heading into downtown Las Vegas, Nevada looking for Eddie Edwards.
Backstage, "Speedball" Mike Bailey is met by Jonathan Gresham, who congratulates him on helping with the win and that he had no idea that he had a good sidekick. Bailey says they make good tag team partners, but he has not forgotten losing to him at No Surrender, and challenges him to a match at Sacrifice.
Jai Vidal beats Johnny Swinger in a match that sees Zicky Dice, Savannah Evans and "The Quintessential Diva" Gisele Shaw all get ejected for getting physically involved in the match and "The Virtuosa" Deonna Purrazzo attack Gisele after Gisele and Savannah's ejection only to be pulled away by security.
We hear from The Design (Deaner, Angels, Kon). Deaner says Callihan came to them because he wanted to join something bigger than them, and for five deadly steps, Callihan tried to gain their trust. He says that since day one, everyone has said that this is all a ploy, and while it might be, that question may not even be answered, as last week, as part of step six, Callihan faced Rhino and lost. All of a sudden, Callihan confronts Deaner over costing him his match last week, but Deaner says step six is about taking punishment like a man, and that they remind him that he cost Kon his match at No Surrender. Deaner asks Callihan if he is willing to take his punishment like a man, and Callihan says that if this is what it takes, then so be it. Deaner tells him he made the right choice.
PCO is seen near the arena as he calls out for Eddie Edwards.
Backstage, Tommy Dreamer is met by Mickie James, who says that they have a match against Bully Ray and Masha Slamovich. After finding out Dreamer wanted this match, she asks if this is a good idea. Jordynne Grace shows up and also asks if the match is a good idea, as Mickie barely squeaked by Masha a day before their championship match. She says that Mickie will not have that luxury with her, and that if she is not careful, she will make her tap out again.
Eddie Edwards heads to the ring. Eddie says that ever since Honor No More has been disassembled, he has had to re-assess things. He has decided to let the past stay in the past, as it no longer matters. He says it is time to focus on himself and his future in Impact Wrestling, and while he has been trying to do that, the past continues to show up again and again as PCO continues to stalk him again and again. Eddie states that it is time for this come to an end and that after last week, it is over between himself and PCO. We then see the footage of PCO being hit by the vehicle in the desert again, and Eddie says this symbolizes a death of PCO and a rebirth for himself. Suddenly, the lights go out, thunder and lightning can both be seen and heard, and PCO appears in the arena. All of a sudden, PCO is attacked from behind with a shovel by Kenny King, and Kenny and Eddie mock PCO and gang up on him. PCO soon gets up and fights back, and a chair to the back from Eddie has no effect. A busted-open PCO punches the chair into Eddie's face, but Eddie and Kenny are able to take PCO down again and throw him into the ring steps. Eddie and Kenny then trap PCO between the post and the steps as they continue to beat on him, but PCO shoves the steps off of himself. He fends off Kenny King only for Eddie to hit him with a shovel. Eddie then kicks the chair into PCO's head with a Boston Knee Party, then smacks the chair into PCO's head again with a Kendo stick before Kenny makes fun of PCO again.
Backstage, Director of Authority Santino Marella is met by Vladimir Kozlov, then Dirty Dango asks about Koslov. Santino asks Dango not to say Koslov's name, as his name is still trademarked. Joe Hendry suddenly appears, then asks for a rematch with Brian Myers for the Digital Media Championship at Sacrifice after what Myers and Moose did to him. Santino makes the match official, then Dirty Dango tells Joe Hendry that he has his back if he needs some back-up. Santino then makes a tag team match for next week where Dango and Hendry face Moose and Myers. Santino leaves, then Dango awkwardly asks Hendry about his plans for tonight before leaving.
The Coven (Taylor Wilde and KiLynn King) beat The Death Dollz (Rosemary and Taya Valkyrie) to become the Impact Wrestling Knockouts World Tag Team Champions!
Bullet Club ("Inevitable" Ace Austin, Chris Bey, KENTA) beat "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander, Frankie Kazarian and Rich Swann in a six-man tag match following the distraction from Steve Maclin, who peers at Alexander from just out of backstage.
Backstage, Jeff Reznick interviews Ray Rosas, Adrian Quest and Andy Brown. Rosas says they have been static for way too long, and now they have the power after winning the tag titles themselves. He says they will do what they want when they want and do it themselves.
The Wolf Zaddies (Che Cabrera and Bad Dude Tito) beat The Friendship Farm ("Sweet" Robin Shaw and Super Beetle). After the match, Johnny Yuma shows up and says that Bad Dude Tito is disrespecting his roots in Vermin, and after asking The Wolf Zaddies if they think they're so big and bad, Yuma says that Vermin never travels alone. Wolf Zaddies are attacked by Kevin Martenson, and Vermin quickly comes out on top.
Next week's show has a special start time of 11 AM Central Time.
Buddy Royal beats Keita Murray with the Royal Seal.
Gentleman Jervis beats Lazarus with the Rock-A-Bye Slam. After the match, Jeff Reznick interviews Jervis, who says he is undefeated in 2020 as of today and that he is ready for some gold around his waist.
Adrian Quest and Andy Brown beat Wasted Youth (Adriel Noctis and Sketch) following the interference attempt by Ray Rosas. After the match, Ray Rosas holds one of the UWN tag team title belts in front of Noctis' head so that Brown and Quest can hit their superkick-piledriver combo on him to greater effect than on Sketch.
