Impact Wrestling Hard To Kill Results 1/16/21, Madison Rayne Announces Retirement

Kenny Omega, Doc Gallows, and Karl Anderson with Don Callis defeated Rich Swann, Chris Sabin, and Moose

BARBED WIRE MASSACRE
Eddie Edwards defeated Sami Callihan

The Karate Man defeated Ethan Page

IMPACT KNOCKOUTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Deonna Purrazzo (c) defeated Taya Valkyrie

IMPACT X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Manik (c) defeated Chris Bey and Rohit Raju

Matt Cardona made a surprise appearance against Ace Austin.

Austin came out to the ring, demanding to be added to tonight’s triple threat match for the X-Division Title since he believed he was the number one contender after winning this year’s Super X Cup. Scott D’Amore came out and ended up offering a different opponent to Austin in the form of Cardona.

Cardona ended up winning the match via disqualification after Fulton got involved in the bout. Post-match, Cardona was able to fight off both guys, landing radio silence on Fulton.

Matt Cardona defeated Ace Austin with Madman Fulton

IMPACT KNOCKOUTS TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz defeated Havok and Nevaeh to win the Impact Knockouts Tag Team Championship

OLD SCHOOL RULES SIX-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH
Eric Young, Deaner, and Joe Doering defeated Cousin Jake, Rhino, and Tommy Dreamer

Crazzy Steve and Rosemary defeated Tenille Dashwood and Kaleb

PRE-SHOW
Brian Myers defeated Josh Alexander

At the end of the pre-show on AXS TV, Madison Rayne announced that she is retiring from Impact Wrestling and will focus on being a wife and mother.

Impact Wrestling Hard To Kill 1/16/21

DATE: January 16, 2021 at 8:00 PM ET
LOCATION: Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
AVAILABLE ON: FITE, Traditional PPV

Impact Wrestling Hard to Kill takes place tomorrow night on Impact Plus, FITE and Traditional PPV. The pre-show will air on AXS TV at 7 pm ET. The main card starts at 8 pm ET.

CARD

Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers with Don Callis vs. Rich Swann, Chris Sabin and Moose

IMPACT KNOCKOUTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs. Taya Valkyrie

IMPACT KNOCKOUTS TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz vs. Havok and Nevaeh

OLD SCHOOL RULES SIX-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH
Eric Young, Deaner, and Joe Doering vs. Cousin Jake, Rhino, and Tommy Dreamer

BARBED WIRE MASSACRE
Eddie Edwards vs. Sami Callihan

IMPACT X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Manik (c) vs. Chris Bey vs. Rohit Raju

The Karate Man vs. Ethan Page

Crazzy Steve and Rosemary vs. Tenille Dashwood and Kaleb

PRE-SHOW
Josh Alexander vs. Brian Myers

Moose To Replace Alex Shelley In The Impact Hard To Kill Six-Man Main Event

Impact Wrestling has announced a change to the main event for Saturday’s Hard To Kill pay-per-view.

TNA World Heavyweight Champion Moose will be replacing Alex Shelley in the six-man main event.

The new main event will see Moose, Impact World Champion Rich Swann and Chris Sabin take on AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and Impact World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers.

Impact noted that Shelley informed them late last night that he is unable to travel to Nashville for the pay-per-view due to unavoidable circumstances.

“When we got the news from Alex there was no question what we needed to do,” said Impact Co-Vice President Scott D’Amore in a press release. “Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures – I personally contacted Moose and he accepted the match immediately. I know Rich Swann in particular has his issues with Moose. but this is time to put personal issues and egos aside.

“HARD TO KILL is a huge event for IMPACT Wrestling and a historic one for professional wrestling in general. IMPACT Wrestling needs to put our best foot forward. Moose fits that bill. He is a physical specimen, a five-tool athlete, and has proven himself to be a world-class professional wrestler. Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers will have their hands even more full now when they step into the ring with IMPACT World Champion Rich Swann, IMPACT Original Chris Sabin, and the TNA World Heavyweight Champion Moose.”

The Impact Hard To Kill 2021 pay-per-view will take place this Saturday, January 16 from Skyway Studios in Nashville, Tennessee.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Matt Striker And D’Lo Brown Revealed As New Impact Announce Team, Josh Mathews Promoted

Impact Wrestling has announced that a new broadcast team will start this Saturday with the Hard To Kill pay-per-view.

Matt Striker will serve as Impact’s new play-by-play announcer, while D’Lo Brown will handle color commentary duties. Striker and Brown will call the weekly Impact TV show, and pay-per-view events.

Striker noted that he’s excited, nervous, thankful and humbled to be returning to TV.

“I’ve always loved professional wrestling. It is a love that unites so many people,” Striker said in the official press release. “Pro wrestling is a sport and I want to be mindful to call it as such. I’ve learned and grown so much since I began, and I thank the fans – and the critics – for that.

“It is not lost on me the opportunity that is before me – I can once again lend my voice to the sport that I love. In doing so, I’m poised to describe, analyze, and witness the most advanced athletes the sport has ever seen. I am excited, nervous, thankful, and humbled. I cannot wait to get out there. You will always be able hear the fan in me.”

Brown also said he’s very excited to join the commentary team after working behind-the-scenes for the company.

“I’m very excited to join the IMPACT Wrestling broadcast booth and I know working alongside Matt Striker will be a lot of fun,” Brown said. “I believe in IMPACT Wrestling, with its amazing roster of skilled Superstars and Knockouts – and can’t wait to have the best seat in the house to call all the action.

“I’m humbled to follow the IMPACT broadcasting path of Don West and Mike Tenay, and most recently Don Callis, Madison Rayne and certainly Josh Mathews. I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity. I know there are big shoes to fill, but Striker and I will do our best.”

Striker and Brown are replacing Josh Mathews and Madison Rayne. Mathews has signed a new multi-year contract with the company and is being promoted to Senior Producer of the weekly Impact TV show and pay-per-view events. Rayne will give an update on her future at Saturday’s pay-per-view. The veteran Knockout provided color commentary in 2020 but is reportedly leaving the company for a job outside of pro wrestling.

“My play-by-play career has spanned nearly 20 years – from WrestleMania to Bound For Glory to incredible moments from IMPACT Wrestling on AXS TV,” Mathews said in the press release. “Producing will allow me to have a bigger role in the overall production of our weekly show, PPVs and IMPACT+ Specials.

“This transition has been a great process, Matt and D’Lo are bringing a fresh energy and are ready to go. It was a special year in 2020, and both Madison Rayne and I will always be grateful for the opportunity and look forward to these exciting changes.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Don Callis Says There’s Nothing Left For Him To Do In New Japan

Don Callis has hinted that his association with New Japan Pro Wrestling may be at an end as there’s nothing left for him to do there.

Callis addressed his NJPW business dealings on Sitting Ringside with David Penzer.

“I see my business with New Japan as being done,” he said. “When I went into New Japan in 2017, they were on one level. When I booked Jericho vs. Omega at the Tokyo Dome, their entire business model changed. Their revenue went up exponentially. They’ve been riding the Don Callis effect ever since,” he continued,

Callis then suggested that his time with New Japan is probably at an end.

“There is nothing left for me to do in New Japan,” he claimed. “Anything I could do in New Japan now would pale in comparison to the game-changing nature that I did three years ago,” he said.

Despite hinting at the end of his relationship with NJPW, Callis did recently tease a program between AEW Champion Kenny Omega and IWGP Champ Kota Ibushi.

“In order for Kota Ibushi to truly evolve into the Kota Ibushi he can be, he Kota needs to get on an airplane and he needs to come from Japan and defend that title around the world like Kenny Omega does,” he told TalkSPORT’s Alex McCarthy.

As you may recall, the dastardly Don Callis recently took on the role of Omega’s manager. Callis also instigated a Bullet Club reunion on Dynamite.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Impact Wrestling Preview 1/12/21

This week’s show is the go-home edition for Saturday’s Hard to Kill PPV where Omega teams up with Impact World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers against Impact World Champion Rich Swann and The Motor City Machine Guns. IMPACT! tonight at 8/7c on AXS TV and Twitch!

* Kenny Omega and Don Callis to appear

* Rich Swann vs. Karl Anderson

* Tenille Dashwood with Kaleb vs. Rosemary

* Kimber Lee with Impact Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo vs. Taya Valkyrie with Rosemary

* Deaner with Eric Young and Joe Doering vs. Tommy Dreamer with Rhino and Cousin Jake

As noted, Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows appeared on last week’s AEW Dynamite where The Young Bucks also joined up for a Bullet Club reunion.

Impact Wrestling ‘Genesis’ 1/9/21

Impact Wrestling presents Genesis this Saturday on Impact Plus.

I Quit Match
TNA Champion Moose vs. Willie Mack

Jordynne Grace vs. Jazz

* First Round Of The Super X Cup Tournament: Suicide vs. Ace Austin

* First Round Of The Super X Cup Tournament: Daivari vs. Cousin Jake.

* First Round Of The Super X Cup Tournament: Crazzy Steve vs. Tre Lamar.

* First Round Of The Super X Cup Tournament: Blake Christian vs. KC Navarro.

* Super X-Cup Semi-Finals and Finals

Genesis will broadcast exclusively on IMPACT Plus. Those who sign up now will recieve a free 30-day trial.

Impact Wrestling Preview 1/5/21

Impact Wrestling will return to its in-ring programming following their two-week holiday break at 8/7c on AXS TV and Twitch!. This will be their go-home show before their Impact Plus exclusive event Genesis, which will take place this Saturday at 8 PM EST.

* We’ll hear from the AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and the Impact World Tag Team Champions, The Good Brothers, ahead of their main event match with Rich Swann and the Motor City Machine Guns at Hard To Kill on Saturday, January 16.

* The last semi-final matchup of the Knockouts Tag Team Title Tournament between Jordynne Grace and Jazz versus Havok and Nevaeh.

* 3 Minute Challenge: Moose vs. Matthew Palmer

* Rhino and Cousin Jake vs. Eric Young and Joe Doering

* KC Navarro vs. Crazzy Steve vs. Blake Christian vs. Ace Austin

* Sami Callihan vs. Eddie Edwards

Impact Wrestling Preview 12/8/20

IMPACT! tonight at 8/7c on AXS TV and Twitch!

* Don Callis and new AEW World Champion Kenny Omega will discuss Omega’s Title win this past week on AEW Dynamite

* Eric Young vs. Cody Deaner

* Brain Myers vs. TJP

* Josh alexander vs. Chris Sabin

* Knockouts Tag Team Championship Tournament Match: Deonna Purrazzo and Kimber Lee vs. Taya Valkyrie and Rosemary

Backstage News On Plans For Crossover AEW – Impact Wrestling Match, Don Callis’ Future

This past Wednesday night, AEW presented a special edition of Dynamite titled “Winter Is Coming”. On top of the surprise debut of Sting, the show ended with Kenny Omega defeating Jon Moxley for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship. Omega was assisted by current Impact executive Don Callis for the win. Following the bout, Callis announced that Omega would be headed to Impact this coming Tuesday to discuss the title win.

According to Wrestling Inc., the relationship between Impact and AEW is not currently scheduled to be that intertwined. From what we have heard, Omega’s appearance on Impact will be a one-off and was largely done as a favor from Omega for Don Callis, who is a good friend of Omega’s. Omega also requested that Don work as the commentator for his big title win over Moxley.

Tony Khan apparently liked the idea and signed off on it. Beyond Omega making a one-off appearance on Impact, it was also relayed to us that The Good Brothers will likely be coming to AEW for one match as well. Omega’s appearance on Impact this Tuesday will likely be used to setup the Brothers coming to AEW to take on a team that was not disclosed to us, however, the Young Bucks would seem likely.

Furthermore, we have heard that Don Callis’ contract with Impact Wrestling may be coming up next month. Once Callis is done with Impact, it sounds like he would move to AEW full-time to work as Omega’s on-screen manager.

Source: Wrestling Inc.