Impact Wrestling
Date: November 25, 2015
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Josh Matthews, D’Angelo Dinero
It’s the final night of group play as we’re finally going to know the final sixteen people who could become the new World Champion. That means the matches almost all have meaning for a change, which should mix things up a good bit. There’s no word on what happens after this but the finals should be coming soon. Let’s get to it.
We open with the standard recap and preview.
Group X-Division: DJZ vs. Manik vs. Tigre Uno
This is a playoff after these three tied in points. It’s a two fall match with the winner of the first fall getting to leave and then the second winner advancing as well. They all go after each other to start with Tigre sending both guys to the floor and hitting a huge moonsault off the top to take them both out. Back in and Manik and Uno trade arm holds until DJZ comes back in to break it up, only to be sent to the floor. Manik puts Tigre in a Gory Special and adds a reverse Boston crab to DJZ at the same time. Back up and DJZ grabs a quick double DDT to advance to the round of sixteen.
Tigre starts fast with a reverse suplex into a Stunner for two (cool move) but gets caught in a cross armbreaker. That sends Tigre to the ropes so Manik tries a belly to back superplex, only to get elbowed down. A split legged corkscrew moonsault sends Tigre to the next round at 7:57.
Result: Tigre Uno and DJZ b. Manik – Corkscrew split legged moonsault (7:57)
Drew Galloway was in Glasgow and talks about being married to this business because it’s all you have time for as a wrestler. This is the longest time he’s been home in ten years and he can’t wait to come back here with his perfect partner: the World Heavyweight Championship.
Group UK: Rockstar Spud vs. Drew Galloway
Feeling out process to start until Drew unleashes the power with a gorilla press. They head outside with Drew sending him back first into the apron, only to miss a charge and go head first into the steps. Drew barely beats the count back in and misses a charge into the post to make things even worse. Some running dropkicks and an enziguri mean it’s time for Spud to take off the bowtie. The Underdog is broken up but Drew can’t bring himself to take a cheap shot, allowing Spud to grab a jumping DDT for two. Not that it matters as the Claymore (running boot, to the chest in this case) puts Spud away at 7:17.
Result: Drew Galloway b. Rockstar Spud – Claymore (7:17)
Group UK
Drew Galloway – 9 points (0 matches remaining)
Bram – 3 points (1 match remaining)
Rockstar Spud – 3 points (0 matches remaining)
Grado – 0 points (1 match remaining)
Group UK: Grado vs. Bram
If Bram wins, he advances to the round of sixteen. If Grado wins, there’s a three way playoff with Spud, Bram and Grado later tonight. Grado dances a lot and gets rolled up in four seconds.
Result: Bram b. Grado – Rollup (0:04)
Group UK
Drew Galloway – 9 points (0 matches remaining)
Bram – 6 points (0 matches remaining)
Rockstar Spud – 3 points (0 matches remaining)
Grado – 0 points (0 matches remaining)
Preview of Lashley vs. Austin Aries tonight.
Group Future Four: Micah vs. Jesse Godderz
Winner advances. Micah gets sent to the floor to start as Pope talks about getting the job done no matter what he was doing. Back in and Jesse slowly pounds away until Micah makes his comeback to indifference. A Samoan drop puts Jesse down but he avoids a top rope headbutt, setting up the Adonis Crab to advance Jesse at 4:29.
Result: Jesse Godderz b. Micah – Adonis crab (4:29)
Group Future Four
Eli Drake – 7 points (0 matches remaining)
Jesse Godderz – 6 points (0 matches remaining)
Micah – 4 points (0 matches remaining)
Crimson – 0 points (0 matches remaining)
Recap of Group Tag Team.
Kurt Angle has been in the UK to hype up the Maximum Impact tour. He officially announced his retirement tour and says his run is over, possibly after this tour.
Group Tag Team Specialists: Robbie E. vs. Davey Richards
Winner advances. They trade armdrags to start and it’s an early standoff. Robbie’s armbar doesn’t work and Davey sends him to the floor, only to have Robbie switch places for a flip dives off the apron. Back in and Davey takes over with a clothesline and inverted Indian deathlock. Robbie fights up with some clotheslines to set up the Boom Drop for a close two, more or less sealing his fate. They trade rollups until Davey stomps onto Robbie’s chest for two more. Creeping Death advances Davey at 7:15.
Result: Davey Richards b. Robbie E. – Creeping Death (7:15)
Group Tag Team Specialists
Matt Hardy – 9 points (0 matches remaining)
Davey Richards – 4 point (0 matches remaining)
Robbie E. – 3 points (0 matches remaining)
Eddie Edwards – 1 point (0 matches remaining)
Group Wild Card: Crazzy Steve vs. Kenny King
If Steve wins we have another playoff but if King wins, he advances. They start fast and trade armdrags to continue a popular trend tonight. Josh recaps the Menagerie until King elbows Steve in the face to take over. Steve goes up top and honks his horn before a springboard hurricanrana gets two. What appeared to be a Codebreaker is countered into the Royal Flush to advance King, who I don’t think is with the promotion anymore, at 4:29.
Result: Kenny King b. Crazzy Steve – Royal Flush (4:29)
Group Wild Card
Mahabali Shera – 9 points (0 matches remaining)
Kenny King – 6 points (0 matches remaining)
Aiden O’Shea – 3 points (0 matches remaining)
Crazzy Steve – 0 points (0 matches remaining)
Aries says Lashley will have to be at his best to win.
Pope gives out more awards:
Move of the Tournament – Sky High to Kenny King
Upset of the Tournament – Brooke b. Gail Kim
Turkey of the Tournament – Grado vs. Rockstar Spud
Group Champions: Lashley vs. Austin Aries
Winner advances. Aries bounces off Lashley to start until a missile dropkick staggers Lashley a bit. That’s fine with Lashley as he throws Aries away and starts driving shoulders in the corner. Aries knees his way out of a delayed vertical suplex by knocking Lashley down to a knee but Lashley stands back up and suplexes him anyway.
Back from a break with Aries elbowing out of Lashley’s grip but getting caught in a belly to belly. The spear hits the post though and Aries follows up with a missile dropkick. Lashley slaps him out of the corner though and dead lifts him into a powerslam.The Last Chancery doesn’t get Aries anywhere so he goes with discus forearms. Lashley again powers out of the brainbuster and throws Aries over his head with a release German.
Aries avoids the spear but Lashley sidesteps the suicide dive. The match slows down as Aries is holding his arm with ninety seconds to go. Lashley finally clotheslines him down again as we’re under a minute. Aries grabs the Lash Chancery but Lashley makes the rope. Instead of standing around for the last thirty seconds, Aries tries a 450 but eats a spear to send Lashley on at 15:05.
Result: Lashley b. Austin aries – Spear (15:05)
Group Champions
Ethan Carter III – 7 points (0 matches remaining)
Lashley – 6 points (0 matches remaining)
Austin Aries – 4 points (0 matches remaining)
Mr. Anderson – 0 points (0 matches remaining)
We recap the night.
Here are the official round of sixteen brackets:
Ethan Carter III
DJZ
Bram
Davey Richards
Lashley
Drew Galloway
Mahabali Shera
Eli Drake
Tigre Uno
Gail Kim
Eric Young
Kenny King
Jesse Godderz
Awesome Kong
Bobby Roode
Matt Hardy
Ethan Carter III is thrilled with his draw.
DJZ is ready…..for the three women he’s brought home.
Davey Richards is of course respectful about Bram.
Eli Drake is a smarmy jerk and says he won’t be dancing with Shera.
Eric Young IS GOD.
Jesse Godderz isn’t worried about any man, woman or Kong.
Bobby Roode says his toughest test is coming.
Matt Hardy thinks no one is stopping him.
Quick Results
Tigre Uno and DJZ b. Manik – Split legged corkscrew moonsault
Drew Galloway b. Rockstar Spud – Claymore
Bram b. Grado – Rollup
Jesse Godderz b. Micah – Adonis crab
Davey Richards b. Robbie E. – Creeping Death
Kenny King b. Crazzy Steve – Royal Flush
Lashley b. Austin Aries – Spear
