Two Bullet Club matches added to No Surrender
A long awaited bout between original Bullet Club members and two former IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team champions the Guerrillas of Destiny (G.O.D.) and the Good Brothers will finally come to fruition at IMPACT Wrestling’s No Surrender event. This match was first teased at NJPWoA’s Resurgence event last August. G.O.D. made the challenge last week and it was answered last night when the Good Brothers and Violent by Design attacked the Bullet Club after their victory in IMPACT’s main event. Scott D’Amore also announced that former IWGP World Heavyweight champion Jay White will be making his IMPACT singles debut against former IMPACT World champion Eric Young. No Surrender will also see IMPACT World Heavyweight champion Moose defend his title against W. Morrissey, Knockouts champion Mickie James takes on Tasha Steelz, and Team IMPACT fights Honor No More in a ten-man tag.
.@ScottDAmore just made 2 huge matches official for #NoSurrender!
The Good Brothers will face G.O.D for the IMPACT World Tag Team Championships and @TheEricYoung will go head to head to with Bullet Club leader @JayWhiteNZ! @IMPACTWRESTLING pic.twitter.com/UaL4rkpY0F
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) February 4, 2022
IMPACT! on AXS TV Review
IMPACT Wrestling has been on a roll in 2022. The February 3 episode was another good one. While they didn’t have any blow away matches, the matches were still pretty good, and the storyline evolutions were great.
Those expecting another classic between Jonathan Gresham and Steve Maclin were likely let down as they sacrificed the rematch to further the Honor No More story and add layers to Maclin’s character, which I am not opposed to, as this is episodic television.
We finally, after six months of begging and pleading with IMPACT, got the Cardona heel turn. Also, we saw the Bullet Club take on some of IMPACT’s best in a very good main event.
HITS
- Matt Cardona vs. Jordynne Grace: The match was good for what it was, but this a major hit as Cardona turned heel on Grace, hitting her with a chair to win the DMC title.
"What the hell is wrong with you Cardona!?"@TheMattCardona #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/HwwlFsz48M
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) February 4, 2022
- Jonathan Gresham vs. Steve Maclin: This match was not as good as their previous one, but it wasn’t meant to be. Maclin utilized the ropes, playing off the story of the Pure rules match, to get heat on Gresham. Ultimately Maclin was disqualified and Honor No More attacked him to save Gresham. Gresham wanted nothing to do with them.
- Josh Alexander vs. Vincent: Another story driven match with interference from HNM, but the action was good. Vincent is an interesting character who I would like to see break off. Alexander won clean and after the match, Kenny King made his return to join his fellow fired friends.
- Masha’s squash: She’s so great. She is my pick to dethrone Mickie James one day.
- JONAH destroying Crazzy Steve: Not a squash as Steve did get plenty of offense, but JONAH won looking like a monster. They are setting up a JONAH-Taurus match for No Surrender and count me all the way in for that.
- Morrissey killing The Learning Tree and Moose: Morrissey laid out the Learning Tree backstage (to some 80’s action movie music) and then found Moose in hotel and beat his ass too.
- Bullet Club vs. Something, “Speedball,” Austin, & Fulton: Very good match with lots of quality action. They went out of their way to shine up Chris Bey, who looked great. “Speedball” Mike Bailey also had some great sequences with Jay White that left me wanting more.
"Just like that @JayWhiteNZ turns the match in his favor!" @JayWhiteNZ @SpeedballBailey #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/jprCJSQRV9
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) February 4, 2022
Misses
- This is more nitpicky than anything, but I wish Bullet Club had some quality promo time. Jay White and Tama Tonga can really talk. We need to know why they are here, what their agenda is, and get to know them a bit more. They are really big stars who are kind of just being thrown on television. Let’s talk about the history with the Good Brothers. Let’s see footage of the origins of the Bullet Club.
NEWS:
- Anthem’s IMPACT Wrestling Channel and Fight Network are now included in YouTube TV’s Sports Plus package. I reported here several weeks ago that AXS would be coming to YouTube TV based on information that was passed on by someone in the company, but it looks like for now, its not included. The Sports Plus package is a premium add-on that costs an additional $10.99. The weekly IMPACT show does not appear to be available on either channel at this time.
- IMPACT offered their head coaching position to former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton. They are publicly asking him to appear at No Surrender and the subsequent taping on February 19 & 20. No idea what any of this means or if Payton will show up. Read the full press release.
- Lance Storm has signed here and will be a producer and coach. He starts at No Surrender.
- Gut Check is returning at this years Arnold Classic. IMPACT will be hosting a tryout at the event on March 6th, which will be ran by Storm and John E. Bravo. IMPACT will also have a booth set up for the three day event for meet and greets with members of the roster.
- Dave Meltzer stated on the Wrestling Observer message board that IMPACT has made an unofficial offer to William Regal. Not sure if it is related to the story Tommy Dreamer told on Busted Open radio saying there was a spot for him.
- Larry D asked for his release from IMPACT and it was granted.
- Juice Robinson’s contract with New Japan has expired and he is a free agent. IMPACT should definitely try and bring him in full time.
- Josh Alexander was mentioned in a promo by Brandi Rhodes on AEW Dynamite. She stated that the only reason AEW signed Ethan Page was to get to Josh. Since then Alexander and his wife, Jade Chung have been posting pro-IMPACT tweets.
- Speaking of Alexander, Jorge Barbosa of the Fight Network is working on a documentary about him.
Patience, we’re working on something.
🎞#Documentary #prowrestling #IMPACTonAXSTV #storytelling pic.twitter.com/mV1BzEA0cj— Jorge Barbosa (@JorgeBarbosa5) February 4, 2022
Ratings
The February 3 episode of IMPACT! on AXS TV averaged 114,000 viewers with a 0.02 demo. This is the first time in seven weeks that viewership did not grow from the week before. The numbers are down 37% from last weeks 182,000 viewers with a 0.05 demo. The show failed to make the Showbuzz Top 150.
New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS averaged 60,000 viewers with a 0.02 demo for a match between Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi from 2018.
IMPACT Ratings 2022
| Date | Total Viewership | Demo | Notes |
| Feb-4 | 114,000 | 0.02 | Bullet Club vs IMPACT |
| Jan-27 | 182,000 | 0.05 | #104 on Showbuzz; PCO vs Chris Sabin |
| Jan-20 | 126,000 | 0.03 | Josh Alexander vs Charlie Haas; #147 on Showbuzz |
| Jan-13 | 111,000 | 0.03 | Deonna Purazzo vs Rok-C. #144 on Showbuzz |
| Jan-6 | 104,000 | 0.02 | Hard to Kill “go-home” |
Brace for IMPACT is now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Brace for IMPACT, hosted by JD Oliva and myself on the Fight Game Media Network, has been given its own feed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other podcast apps. The show had been exclusive to Fight Game Media Network Plus on Patreon since March. Our weekly free show will recap IMPACT! The uncut, uncensored, ad-free version will continue on Patreon where we not only review the weekly show, but we will recap all the IMPACT Plus specials, pay-per-views, break down all the news and headlines surrounding IMPACT, Q-and-As with the listeners, classic match and event reviews, plus much more.
