WrestleMania Weekend: Can’t-miss matches outside of the WWE

Sami Callihan vs. Eddie Edwards – I Quit Match: Impact Wrestling vs Lucha Underground

When it comes to storytelling, this match between Callihan and Edwards capitalized on everything that broke down a few weeks ago. We’re all familiar with the in-ring moment where Callihan smashed Edwards in the face with a baseball bat during a now-maligned spot. Edwards suffered multiple broken bones in his face and also a broken nose. After weeks of expert hot takes and commentary surrounding that spot, Callihan and Edwards got into the ring together for an I Quit Match during the Lucha Underground versus Impact Wrestling event.

The I Quit match was intense from the very start. Callihan’s entrance screamed emotion and Edwards attacking him before the bell helped kick things off. From that point forward they exchanged dangerous spots in a match that was slow, but the pacing didn’t take away from the action. It was a different feel from the rest of the matches on the card; rather than moving too quickly, Callihan and Edwards drug things out in a way that felt more like a real like; more like they wanted to truly injure each other.

The ending spot could be seen as predictable, but was still entertaining. Both men end back in the ring with Edwards getting the advantage. He sets up a chair on Callihan’s chest and prepares to use the bat to get “payback” before the run in by OVE for the distraction. Callihan reverses the position and before he can hit Edwards with the bat again Don Callis comes out and throws in the towel for Edwards; bringing the match to a close. Callihan continues to attack which brings out Moose to make the save.

Clearly this is an effort to continue this storyline on television. It was entertaining to watch these two wrestlers take that dangerous spot from March and make it into a match that continued the storyline for future opportunities.