IMPACT Wrestling 02 16 2023

IMPACT results for Thursday are courtesy of impactwrestling.com.

Chris Bey w/ Ace Austin vs KUSHIDA w/ IMPACT World Tag Team Champions Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley)

Momentum is up for grabs ahead of the blockbuster six-man tag team match between Bullet Club and Time Machine at No Surrender! KUSHIDA hits a handspring back elbow, then soars off the apron with a diving knee. KUSHIDA continues to target the arm of Bey before both men are taken out with a double clothesline on the outside. The referee counts to nine as Bey and KUSHIDA make it back in the ring just in time. Bey spikes him head-first into the mat for two. KUSHIDA regains his composure and launches himself off the top rope with a Swanton Bomb to the floor. Bey comes back with a springboard Famouser for another near fall. The action is back and forth as KUSHIDA rolls up Bey to win.

KUSHIDA w/ IMPACT World Tag Team Champions Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) def Chris Bey w/ Ace Austin

Santino Marella announces that at No Surrender, Dave LaGreca will moderate the first ever Busted Open LIVE between bitter rivals Tommy Dreamer and Bully Ray. Dreamer says that he doesn’t want to do this and suggests they go their separate ways. Bully tells Dreamer that he should leave IMPACT Wrestling, reigning the tension. Next week, there will be a Beat the Clock Challenge where whoever beats their opponent in the fastest time will earn the opportunity to speak first at No Surrender.

Steve Maclin vs Rhino – #1 Contenders Match Qualifier

The winner of this bout will move on to the Four-Way #1 Contenders match at No Surrender! Rhino gains the early advantage with an arm drag out of the corner. Rhino goes for the Gore but Maclin retreats to the outside. The fight spills to the floor where Maclin drives him into the steel ring post. Back in the ring, Maclin crashes and burns on a diving headbutt attempt. Rhino builds momentum with a series of strikes, followed by a belly-to-belly suplex for two. Rhino hits a big Spinebuster but Maclin counters the follow-up Gore into a spear of his own. Maclin connects with the Wake Up Call, which is the finishing move of Rhino’s tag team partner Heath, to pick up the victory.

Steve Maclin def Rhino – #1 Contenders Match Qualifier

Gia Miller conducts a sit-down interview with the #1 Contender for the Knockouts World Title, Masha Slamovich. Two weeks ago, Bully Ray got in Masha’s ear and suggested that Knockouts World Champion Mickie James wasn’t taking her seriously. This led to Slamovich blindsiding James with a brutal assault last week on IMPACT. Slamovich believes that the message has not been received and wants James to sit front row for her match against Alisha tonight.

ohnny Swinger w/ Zicky Dice vs Barry Horowitz

Johnny Swinger attempts to kick off his road to 50 wins against an opponent hand-picked by Zicky Dice: wrestling legend Barry Horowitz! Swinger attacks him from behind, then distracts the referee as Dice gets involved from ringside. Swinger delivers a thumb to the eye when The Demon makes a shocking appearance. The distraction allows Horowitz to roll up Swinger for three.

Barry Horowitz def Johnny Swinger w/ Zicky Dice

n an interview with Gia Miller, Moose vows to get even with Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry. After inadvertently smashing the window of Santino Marella’s car, Moose is put into a Dot Combat match at No Surrender – against Joe Hendry!

Eddie Edwards vs Heath – #1 Contenders Match Qualifier

Who will be the final competitor to qualify for the Four-Way #1 Contenders match at No Surrender? Heath somersaults off the apron to take out Edwards on the floor. This time it’s Edwards who flies with a dive through the ropes. Heath quickens the pace with a knee strike, followed by a big powerslam for two. Heath is fired up as he goes for the Wake Up Call. Edwards counters but Heath hits a Spinebuster instead. Edwards shuts down his momentum, then hits a big Superplex, followed by a Tiger Driver. Edwards is setting up for the Die Hard Driver when PCO’s thunder and lightning echo throughout the IMPACT Zone. Heath capitalizes off the distraction with the Wake Up Call for three.

Heath def Eddie Edwards – #1 Contenders Match Qualifier

After the match, PCO appears behind Edwards but he escapes before PCO can connect with the PCO-Sault.

Deaner reveals that he and Callihan will battle Frankie Kazarian and Yuya Uemura in tag team action next week, which will lead to Step 5 in Callihan’s initiation process.

Alongside Father James Mitchell, Allysin Kay and Marti Belle, otherwise known as Hex, deliver a message to the Death Dollz. The two teams will collide with the Knockouts World Tag Team Titles on the line at No Surrender.

Alisha vs Masha Slamovich

Knockouts World Champion Mickie James joins Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt on commentary for Masha’s match against Alisha! Slamovich makes quick work of Alisha, putting her away with the Snowplow to score the dominant victory.

Masha Slamovich def Alisha

After the bell, Slamovich locks in a Rear Naked Choke until James leaves commentary and makes the save. A brawl breaks out between champion and challenger at No Surrender, leading to Slamovich locking in the Rear Naked Choke on James.

Crazzy Steve challenges X-Division Champion Trey Miguel to a Monster’s Ball match!

Dirty Dango continues to overstep his boundaries with Director of Authority Santino Marella. Dango tells Jonathan Gresham and Mike Bailey that before they compete against each other on Countdown to No Surrender, they will team up against IMPACT World Tag Team Champions the Motor City Machine Guns next week. Marella actually likes that idea and makes the match official.

Following his victory earlier tonight, Barry Horowitz approaches Santino Marella and wants the same deal as Johnny Swinger: 50 wins gets him a shot at the IMPACT World Title. Marella puts him a match against Rhino and Horowitz quickly reconsiders, saying that he’d rather go out on top.

Don’t miss the final IMPACT! before No Surrender, next Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders. Bully Ray and Tommy Dreamer compete in a Beat the Clock Challenge to determine who will speak first during Busted Open LIVE at No Surrender. IMPACT World Tag Team Champions the Motor City Machine Guns battle Jonathan Gresham and Mike Bailey. Allysin Kay goes one-on-one with Knockouts World Tag Team Champion Taya Valkyrie. Frankie Kazarian and Yuya Uemura take on Deaner and Callihan of The Design. Plus, Trey Miguel defends the X-Division Title against Crazzy Steve in a first for the X-Division – Monster’s Ball!

Rich Swann vs Kenny King

It’s main event time as #1 Contender Rich Swann battles the brash Kenny King! Swann launches himself off the apron, colliding with King on the floor. Back in the ring, Swann remains in control with a top rope crossbody. Swann charges into the corner but King catches him in mid-air and drives him face-first into the turnbuckle. King hits a swinging backbreaker but Swann counters a vertical suplex attempt moments later. Swann begins to build momentum but King shuts him down with an explosive Spinebuster. Swann hits a Poison Rana, spiking King’s head and neck. King locks in a Half Boston Crab but Swann crawls to the bottom rope in order to break the hold. Both men are down following a series of kicks. Swann hits the Handspring Cutter but it’s not enough. King bounces back with the Tiger Driver but this time it’s Swann who kicks out just in time. Swann rolls up King to score the victory.

Rich Swann def Kenny King

After the match, King blindsides Swann and is about to attack him with a steel chair when IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander makes the save. King ducks, causing Swann to inadvertently superkick Alexander. IMPACT! goes off the air.