With two big matches around the corner at Slammiversary, the build-up is enjoyable to watch. We now find out with Madison Rayne will be joining the Gauntlet Match at the pay-per-view to snag the number one contender spot for the Knockouts Championship.
There were two matches this week. The first was a tag team match serving as a nice preview for that upcoming Gauntlet Match as four of its participants squared off.
Susie & Kylie Rae faced Rosemary & Taya Valkyrie.
The match starts with Susie facing off against Rosemary. Rosemary early on trying to get into the head of Susie who ends up throwing a fit as a result. Rosemary had enough of the tantrum throwing so she tosses Susie into the corner and sets her up for a running splash. Susie avoids the maneuver and then goes on the offense.
Susie is able to get a series of near falls before Rosemary hits her with a forearm where she falls into her corner. Kylie Rae hits the blind tag to get herself in the match. After a quick double team on Rosemary, she was about to tag in Valkyrie.
Rae hits a hurricanrana after Valkyrie misses with a clothesline. Susie is then tagged in where she and Rae hit a double bulldog. After Rosemary enters back into the match, she continues with trash talk but this time on Rae. Rae’s fluidity continues in the match putting together a beautiful transition between forearms into a head scissors followed by a cannonball in the corner.
Valkryie back into the match and hits a beautiful northern lights suplex but Rae was able to kick out. Rosemary then breaks up a near fall before she and Susie are sent out of the ring. Rae locks in the STF which causes Valkyrie to tap out.
The second match of the night was a non-title match between Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace as she faced Kimber Lee.
The battle between these two was defintely a battle of strength and agression. After a quick near fall from Grace, she goes for the Grace Driver but Lee was able to get to the rope to avoid the champ for putting this away quickly.
Lee hits Grace with an enzuigiri and follows that up with a kick to the spine. Moments later Grace hits a Michinoku Driver but Lee still wasn’t ready to stay down. She kicks out causing her to get several kicks in on Grace. She then heads up top to deliver a beautiful swanton bomb which gives her only a near fall as well. Jordynne with several kicks and a swanton bomb for a near fall.
Lee shows an incredible amount of frustration so she crawls over to the ring corner and pulls out the hidden brass knuckles. As Lee goes to seal the deal with Grace, she is caught and is delivered a Grace Driver. This was enough to put Lee away and for the Knockouts Champion to be victorious.
Grace didn’t have much time to celebrate as her challenger for Slammiversary, Deonna Purrazzo, appeared on the screen. Grace was prepared to fight thinking Purrazzo was physically there but Purrazzo explained that she didn’t come to IMPACT for frivolous combat. She came to be the Knockouts Champion.
Let’s get into the Winners & Losers –
WINNER: Kylie Rae
I am so impressed by her athleticism and fluidity throughout her matches. This tag match was fun to watch and Rae is definitely going to be a future champion. Whether they bring back the tag titles or not, she will most likely go after the Knockouts Title in the near future.
WINNER: Madison Rayne
Her putting on her interview with herself was funny and her entering the Gauntlet Match is great. It will be nice to see her back in the ring, and how this will change the dynamic – if it does. It would be nice to see her go for the title again if she wins or if she somehow is a factor between the Havok & Nevaeh partnership.
WINNER: Jordynne Grace
She has certainly gained momentum as Slammiversary approaches. With Deonna not presently being there, I wonder how Grace will look after next week’s show. The go-home episode before the pay-per-view could mean the world of difference for the champion. She looked very good against Kimber, a match I would like to see again.
Not sure if there is a loser from this week’s show. I am having a hard time picking one. Each woman did a phenomenal job. Even the losers of the matches were still entertaining and helped put over the winners. The only thing I can see is this has been more than once now that Kimber has gone for the brass knuckles and failed. If that is her thing then maybe not have her go for them when she is losing the match?
I am looking forward to these two upcoming matches at Slammiversary. I am interested to see who is going to win the Gauntlet Match as it really could be anyone. Perhaps there will be a surprise entrant or two. Curiosity is also peaking on if they will give Purrazzo the title this fast after such a quick push to the top.
What did you think of this week’s IMPACT? Who were your Winners & Losers? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
