Impact Wrestling 5 Takeways: First Show of 2018
By Dj Beal
5. The X-Division Championship Starts the First Show of 2018
Trevor Lee defends his X-Division Championship against Taiji Ishimori in the first match for Impact Wrestling of the new year. Once again, Impact Wrestling showcases the X-Division and it’s to begin their Impact broadcast. Fans can expect the best between Lee and Ishimori who have been impressive during their time in Impact Wrestling.
The match started off slow and technical, basically causing a stalemate early. Lee uses Caleb Konley to try and take advantage but Ishimori has Lee’s tactics well scouted in the beginning of the match. With Lee on the outside, the numbers game is bound to catch up with the challenger. The alliance gives Trevor Lee control as he starts to show his gritty, smash mouth style. Lee slows down the pace, putting himself firmly in the driver’s seat with his title on the line. Ishimori finds any opening he can to quicken the pace in this opening title match.
The best show of athleticism between these two men was when Lee reversed a handspring round kick into a flipping crossbody. That could be solidified as move of the night already in the first match. It’s the tale of two styles as Ishimori’s pace is just difficult for Lee to keep up with. Some of the reversals and combinations in this match were an amazing display of today’s wrestling. Once Ishimori could consistently keep his momentum going, he was only a 450 splash away from defeating Trevor Lee. Taiji Ishimori becomes the new X-Division Champion and is also the first from the Pro Wrestling Noah promotion. Of course, Dezmond Xavier is waiting in the wings after he defeated Ishimori in the Super X Cup last year.