IMPACT WRESTLING: Minoru Suzuki in-ring debut, Mickie James vs. Madison Rayne

John Siino reviews this week's IMPACT Wrestling featuring the in-ring debut of Minoru Suzuki. Plus, Mickie James makes her first Knockouts Championsip defence against Madison Rayne.

Photo Courtesy: IMPACT Wrestling

IMPACT! Wrestling

November 4th, 2021

By: John Siino

Sam’s Town in Las Vegas, NV

Commentary: Matt Striker & D’Lo Brown

Before the IMPACT! – Rich Swann, Willie Mack & Sam Beale def. Brian Myers, VSK & Zicky Dice by pinfall at 7:30

IMPACT X Division Championship Four-Way #1 Contendership Match: Steve Maclin vs. Rohit Raju (w/ Raj Singh) vs. Laredo Kid vs. Black Taurus (w/ Crazzy Steve)

Raju and Laredo start the match going after each other as Maclin and Taurus watch until it’s just them two in the ring. They trade leapfrogs and dodges until Maclin takes all three of them down. Taurus comes back with a sling blade before running into a boot from Raju. Raju meets Maclin outside with a suicide dive, as Laredo Kid takes Taurus down. Taurus joins them on the outside with a dive of his own before Laredo hits a moonsault on all three on the outside. Raju hits a kick inside to Laredo for a two-count. Maclin and Raju fight over who will pin Laredo, before brawling themselves and being taken out by Taurus. Taurus goes to pin Maclin and gets broken up by Laredo. Laredo takes out Taurus on the outside with a hurricanrana before hitting a splash inside for a two. Maclin dives to the outside, Laredo tries to join him but gets taken out by Raju. Raju gets distracted by Maclin and walks into a driver by Laredo Kid for the pin.

Winner: Laredo Kid by pinfall at 5:19

The X Division Champion Trey Miguel makes his way to the ring and shakes Laredo Kid’s hand, but they both get taken down by Steve Maclin. Maclin tries to hit his finisher on Miguel, but he escapes and Miguel and Laredo double team Maclin out of the ring.

Knockouts History

Gia Miller is backstage with Madison Rayne and Kaleb with a K and says Rayne has the opportunity to become the third Knockout in history to win the Knockouts Championship six times but asked to say Mickie James could be a different challenge now with the time that has passed. Rayne mentions all the types of matches she and Mickie James have had, but when she challenges for the Knockouts Championship, historically, she walks away as the champion. Kaleb says he will get his revenge as well for being smacked by Mickie last week. Gia mentions if her Locker Room Talk tonight with The IInspiration might get in the way of her pre-match preparation, but Rayne says she has no idea what she’s talking about.

I Beat Chris Sabin

Gia Miller is backstage with Ace Austin and Madman Fulton and says Fulton can beat Chris Sabin tonight, just like Austin did last week. Austin backs it up and says they need to spend a little more time about him beating Sabin and it has to be celebrated. Austin says typically he would show his chest, but tonight instead he shows off a shirt that says, ‘I Beat Chris Sabin’. Austin says he’s nothing but an honest man and can honestly tell you that Sabin is in trouble tonight. Fulton chimes in and says he hopes Sabin has recovered because he’s going to pick him apart.

The First Brick

Violent by Design comes to the ring and Eric Young says Rhino had a decision to make, and he made the wrong decision. Rhino learned that with choices come repercussions and VBD showed him last week that when you are Violent by Design, you are Violent by Design forever. Young says it’s been 6 months since he had to get his hands dirty, but it’s time for him to re-enter the fold and it’s time for the master designer of violence to get his hands dirty. Young is going to build a monument of violence that humanity will live in the shadow of for generations. That monument starts tonight, the first brick will be laid right here and right now as Jai Vidal comes out to fight him. Young says it sounds like some people know who he is, and Vidal introduces himself and says he’s right here from Las Vegas, Nevada, and it’s his first time on television. Young asks if he’s excited and he can feel Vidal’s energy and it’s a dead giveaway that Vidal is sick and has the disease, but he wants him to know something, Young has the cure for that.

Eric Young (w/ Joe Doering & Deaner) vs. Jai Vidal

This is Young’s first match back since April 2021 when he suffered an injury and Vidal is mentioned to be part of FSW in Las Vegas. Young easily takes him down and chokes him out with his boot. Young keeps Vidal in the corner and hits a powerbomb followed by a piledriver for the pin.

Winner: Eric Young by pinfall at 1:05

Inspired to Decay

We go to the set of Locker Room Talk where The IInspiration walk in, but Madison Rayne is nowhere to be seen so they say they will talk to themselves. An eerie sound hits and the screen turns to a purple filter, as The IInspiration try to escape they find Rosemary and Havok on the other side of the door. They try to turn the light on but Cassie Lee notices Rosemary and Havok’s reflection in the mirror, but it quickly disappears, and Jessie McKay says she doesn’t see anything and says they just need to get the hell out of there. As they leave, the mirror flips around and it says, ‘Turning Point’.

When we come back, Gia Miller tries to get a word with The IInspiration where Lee says they saw ghosts and she gets it that Decay wants a rematch, but she’s not here to be a Ghostbuster. Gia says if they aren’t fond of creepy characters, they should avoid Kimber Lee and Brandi Lauren. Lee asks where she can stay away from the ghosts and Gia says they usually lurk within the dark halls of the building.

The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson) vs. FinJuice (David Finlay & Juice Robinson)

This is presented as a non-title match from the Good Brothers, as Karl Anderson and David Finlay start the match. Finlay takes Anderson down by cranking his arm and tagging Juice Robinson in who hits an ax handle from the top rope and continues to work on Anderson’s arm. Finlay comes in and keeps Anderson in the corner as FinJuice keeps trading tags. Juice knocks Gallows off the apron, which causes Anderson to get in control and toss Juice to the outside where he gets attacked by Gallows as they go to commercial.

When we come back, Gallows is attacking Juice in the corner, knocking him down, getting a two-count. Gallows keeps Juice grounded in a chin lock, as the crowd gets behind Juice. Juice is able to escape as both Finlay and Anderson get tagged in, with Finlay fast and in control taking Anderson down with a flying uppercut and diving onto Gallows on the outside. Finlay hits a uranage onto her knee on Anderson and tags in Juice and tries the Doomsday Device, but Anderson escapes. Finlay takes Gallows down with a flying cross body as all four men are laid out. This prompts El Phantasmo, Hikuleo and Chris Bey of Bullet Club to come out and attack all four men causing a no contest.

Winner: Match ends in a no contest at 6:35 (plus commercials)

Bullet Club grabs the IMPACT Tag Team titles and uses them as weapons on the Good Brothers and FinJuice and taunts the crowd.

You Can Not Have My Wad

Gia Miller stops Johnny Swinger backstage who is trying to auction off the portrait from Swinger’s Palace who says he’s trying to raise money so he can purchase his own casino in Las Vegas. John E. Bravo tells Hernandez to go and talk to Swinger and snap him out of it. Swinger asks Hernandez for his wad of money, but Hernandez says he cannot have it. Hernandez asks if this is because of The Demon, but Swinger tells him not to bring his name up. Hernandez says he can’t help him with the casino, but he can help him with The Demon as they walk off together.

Every Single Time

FinJuice cut a promo backstage and said this happens every single time, and the Good Brothers would have lost the match if it wasn’t for Bullet Club. Juice tells Bullet Club to get out of here as it’s about the championships. Scott D’Amore walks in and says they deserve to get their hands on the Bullet Club, so next week they will fight and the winners get a tag team title shot and there will be a guaranteed winner.

IMPACT Knockouts Championship: Mickie James (c) vs. Madison Rayne (w/ Kaleb with a K)

As they start the match, Rayne claims the clapping is for her before they lock up. James cartwheels out of it and drags Rayne down for a 1 count. James keeps Rayne down with a Full Nelson, but Rayne breaks it on the ropes. James catches Rayne’s leg and tags her down with a kick for a 2 count. Kaleb tries to drag Rayne out, as James does a tug of war for her and drags her back in. Rayne tries to fight back but gets taken out with a flapjack. James goes to the top, but Kaleb knocks her off as Rayne distracts the referee, but Rayne only gets a two count from that. Rayne continues dominating James and ties in a bridged submission in the middle of the ring, but James rotates out of it. Rayne keeps at it and whips James across the corners. James comes back with a bunch of clotheslines, kicks and a neckbreaker. Kaleb gets on the apron to distract James for Rayne to hit a cutter for a two count. Rayne kicks James to the outside where Kaleb starts taunting her and goes to slap James, but she dodges, and he hits the post instead. James whips Kaleb to the steel steps, gets back inside and hits a Thesz Press from the top rope for the pin.

Winner: Mickie James by pinfall at 7:25, to retain

As Mickie James is celebrating, Mercedes Martinez makes her way to the ring, she gets on the mic and congratulates Mickie and says she will always have her respect and every time people put her down, Mickie steps up and levels up like no one has seen her do before. Mercedes though isn’t there to praise her and says her next challenger is standing right in front of her and reminds her that she won that Knockouts Knockdown tournament, and she will see her at Turning Point.

Now Do You Believe in Ghosts?

The IInspiration are slowly walking through the halls and run into Kimber Lee and Brandi Lauren and ask them if they are the Undead Bridesmaids, they have heard so much about and say they have a ghost problem if they would be interested to face Decay next week on their behalf. Brandi says mother always wants fresh souls, laughs, and walks away as Cassie asks Jessie if now, she believes in ghosts, which she says maybe.

On the Same Page

Gia Miller is backstage with Josh Alexander, Eddie Edwards and Matt Cardona and asks them if they feel confident to get the job done against Moose, W. Morrissey, and Minoru Suzuki. Alexander says they all want the same thing but not for the same reasons and nothing is going to take his focus off of Moose. He starts to go off, but Edwards tells him to relax, and can’t let his emotions get in his head and understands everything he’s done to him as he’s had it done to himself. Cardona says tonight it’s about all three of them and they have to stick together, focus, and kick their ass. Alexander says tonight they are all on the same page but whatever happens next, happens next.

Madman Fulton (w/ Ace Austin) vs. Chris Sabin

Sabin starts by dodging Fulton using his quickness, fights out of a catch by Fulton and tries to pull his hair. Sabin knocks Fulton out with a tilt a whirl, tries to dive to the outside, but Fulton catches him and chokeslams him onto the apron as they go to commercial.

When they come back, Fulton is in control and starts choking Sabin against the ropes including standing in the corner and jumping off the second rope with a clothesline. Sabin tries to fight back but gets stopped with a Snake Eyes. Sabin knocks Fulton to the outside and hits a flying crossbody to the outside. Sabin kicks Fulton down and gets a two-count. Sabin tries to raise Fulton for the Cradle Shock but fails. Fulton catches Sabin and knocks him down face first for a two count. Sabin fights out, hits a Tornado DDT into a small package for the pin.

Winner: Chris Sabin by pinfall at 4:53 (plus commercials)

Turning Point – November 20th

  • IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Championship: The IInspiration (c) (Cassie Lee & Jessie McKay) vs. Decay (Rosemary & Havok)
  • IMPACT X Division Championship: Trey Miguel (c) vs. Laredo Kid
  • IMPACT Knockouts Championship: Mickie James (c) vs. Mercedes Martinez

Next Week

  • Digital Media Championship: Jordynne Grace (c) vs. John Skyler
  • Undead Bridesmaids (Kimber Lee & Brandi Lauren) vs. Decay (Rosemary & Havok)
  • #1 Contenders Match: The Bullet Club (Chris Bey & Hikuleo) vs. FinJuice (David Finlay & Juice Robinson)

Moose, W. Morrissey & Minoru Suzuki vs. Eddie Edwards, Matt Cardona & Josh Alexander

Alexander and Suzuki stare each other down, Moose teases starting the match, but Suzuki asks to be tagged in. Suzuki and Alexander go for takedowns then start pushing and striking each other. Suzuki tags out to Morrissey who works on Alexander in the corner and ropes. Alexander takes him down and puts on an ankle lock before tagging out to Edwards. Moose tags in and he and Edwards now go back and forth with strikes. Edwards fights his way out of the heels corner and throws Moose to the outside. Cardona, Edwards, and Alexander all dive to the outside as they go to commercial.

When we come back, Cardona and Moose are going at it with Cardona hitting a missile dropkick for a two. Suzuki traps Cardona on the rope with an armbar followed by Moose pouncing Cardona down and tags in Suzuki. Suzuki starts stomping and holding Cardona down. Morrissey comes in and chokes Cardona on the ropes before tagging in Moose who works on Cardona’s back. The heels continue tagging in and out and keeping Cardona in their corner. Cardona tags out to Edwards, but the referee doesn’t see it, so they drag Cardona back into their corner. Cardona is able to fight off Moose and tag in Alexander who hits three German Suplexes on him before taking down Morrissey. Alexander and Edwards double-teamed Morrissey including a Blue Thunder Bomb by Edwards for a two count. Suzuki and Alexander go face to face now and exchange strikes until all six men face off and brawl in the middle of the ring. Alexander goes for the C4 on Moose, but Suzuki breaks it up and puts on a chokehold and the Gotch Style Piledriver on Alexander. Moose and Cardona end up on the outside, Edwards tries to attack Suzuki, but Morrissey stops him with a big boot and a powerbomb for the three.

Winners: Moose, W. Morrissey & Minoru Suzuki by pinfall at 11:25 (plus commercials)

About John Siino 365 Articles
New York native and reporter at POST Wrestling. He is also Associate Producer at POISONRANA, co-host of 'Collision Course' and the host of the 'Shot in the Dark' podcast.