SRS IMPACT Wrestling Hard to Kill Live Blog (Patreon)

Brian Myers defeated Josh Alexander
5.75/10

There's a sick sliding body press spot onto Brian Myers. They go to "commercial," but we till hear the audio. Brian Myers and Josh Alexander was really good. So glad that got the time and both of these guys are showing out as singles competitors.

Decay defeated Kaleb With A K & Tenille
4.75/10

This is definitely more of a sports entertainment match than a knock-down drag out, as intended. You get full-on intergender work here. Fine for what it was, but a little disjointed at times. The ingredients involved were all very good. Kaleb and Tenille are such a fantastic pair.

Extreme Rules
Violent by Design defeated Jake Something, Rhino, Tommy Dreamer
5.5/10

I liked the Deaners, but the split is going to be great for Jake Something and Cody Deaner. Jake is a STAR, and Deaner is more versatile than most realize. Joe Doering not backing down from three dudes with weapons is great, but the execution after wasn't. Jake Something is the star of this match with his big dive, spinning sidewalk slam, and the Piledriver he took from EY. Tacks came into play as well, which is fun.

Vacant IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Championships
Fire & Flava (Kiera Hogan & Tasha Steelz) defeated Jessicka Havok & Neveah to become champions
5/10

I figured for PPV they would have went with an increased workrate tandem to go against Kiera & Steelz, but Havok has stepped up her pace. I really think the way to debut these titles would have been a torrid paced, high spot match instead of a WWE-esque tag team match. Tower of Doom, another dove cries. Hogan does an incredible neckbreaker, and picks up the win with a fisherman's neckbreaker. The right team won! Gail Kim and Madison Rayne presenting the tag team titles is a GREAT touch.

Matt Cardona defeated Ace Austin (w/ Madman Fulton) via DQ
5/10

Ace Austin tries to elbow his way into the X-Division title match. Scott D'Amore says he'll get a match, but it's against Matt Cardona! What a cool surprise. Cardona looks huge next to Ace Austin, and his timing is off in the early parts of the match. Madman Fulton comes in and gets Ace Austin DQ'd. You realize how big Matt Cardona is when he's working in an 18 foot ring. He sends Fulton packing with his finish. Matt Striker has been really good on commentary, but does the "Holy sh.....I'm marking out, bro, it's a mark out moment" line that made a lot of people cringe. I would have maybe avoided that. Otherwise, he's been fantastic.

X-Division Championship
Manik (c) defeated Rohit Raju and Chris Bey
7/10

Rohit Raju is more worried about ripping the mask off of Manik through most of the match. It looked like Chris Bey was about to win with a double springboard stunner. Manik almost wins with a Thumbelina Crucifix Bomb, as they're arguing over whether or not Manik is TJP. Commentary has rocked for this X-Division Title match. A little bummed out that Manik won, but I'm glad that Chris Bey didn't get pinned. I think they could have accomplished more if Manik and TJP's personal issues cost them the match and Bey ended up winning the title. The same shot of them mad each other after the match could have happened.

IMPACT Knockouts Championship
Deonna Purrazzo (c) defeated Taya to retain the title
6/10

Deonna Purrazzo's gear is always mega-star level. Everyone gets kicked out from ringside, including Decay. Purrazzo works over the arm, but Taya dominates much of the match. Again, IMPACT commentary team absolutely OWNING near-finishes and signature moves, something that has been lacking for months. It really adds to when Deonna Purrazzo locked in the armbar. Great transitions towards the end of this, too.

If Taya is leaving, IMPACT does need to restock. Losing Tessa Blanchard, Kylie Rae, Taya and Madison Rayne would be a big hit to the depth.

Karate Man MURDERS Ethan Page

Worth noting that Ethan Page did not want to do Karate Man in IMPACT and actively asked them not to. This was also filmed way back in November, and he's been done with the company for weeks. This is great B-movie green screen stuff. KARATE MAN RIPPED OUT ETHAN PAGE'S HEART. I'm pretty sure they just murdered Ethan Page on Hard To Kill. Next year's PPV will be called "Okay We Overstated The Difficulty To Kill." This was better than Cobra Kai

Barbed Wire Massacre
Eddie Edwards defeated Sami Callihan
6.5/10

IMPACT's insistence on having Alisha and Eddie deliver promos and dialogue continue, but they've gotten better. The Barbed Wire Massacre setup looks bad ass. Callihan does a Cactus Jack elbow. I love a good Blue Thunder Bomb. This kind of match just isn't for me, and I'm not really the demographic they're aiming for in this. Callihan does a GREAT piledriver out of the corner through a barbed wire board. Callihan kicks out of the Boston Knee Party at 1. A whole lot of Japan influence here, and the Emerald Flowsion on a board wins it. I'm not a fan of that kind of wrestling, and I thought that Callihan/Edwards match was a blast.

Bullet Club (Kenny Omega & Good Brothers) w/ Don Callis defeated Team IMPACT (Rich Swann, Moose & Chris Sabin)
8.5/10

Before the match, Moose makes good with his teammates, but Callis wants Moose to "BROTHER OMEGA SOFTLY." Omega comes out wearing a Bullet Club shirt, as are his teammates. Moose casually busts out a standing moonsault. What!? I'm a big fan of the assisted DDT from Sabin and Swann. This is an insane performance for Moose, he does a Spanish Fly on Kenny Omega. Sabin does the Future Shock, but the pin is broken up. Omega with a V Trigger and Tiger Driver 98. Omega went for a One Winged Angel on Moose, but instead eats a Swann/Moose Doomsday Device. Kenny Omega is taking thorough ass whippings from everyone on the IMPACT team. This match has ruled.

Magic Killer hits on Swann, then a One Winged Angel. It took both finishers to pin Rich Swann

Rating Guide
10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor

Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a "star rating," which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive "TV match" lands at a 5. The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones that may change upon a second viewing, or sitting on the match for a period of time. Don't take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!