Impact Wrestling’s Under Pressure Show Brings a Pay-Per-View Feel to Pop TV
Impact Wrestling presented Under Pressure last Thursday. It followed a relatively stacked show the week before. Impact didn’t take a week off with this show either. The show started out with Scott Steiner versus former Tag Team Title partner, Eli Drake. After their miscommunication caused them to lose the title a few weeks back, they look to settle who’s at fault in the ring.
Tessa Blanchard faced her first huge test at Under Pressure. Blanchard has targeted newcomer Kierra Hogan since making her debut. After an attempted attack last week, Madison Rayne came to Hogan’s aid. Blanchard wanted the two to meet in the ring and the match was made for Under Pressure. Can Blanchard continue to make her name in Impact Wrestling with a victory over a multiple time Knockout’s Champion?
The Knockout’s Division didn’t something that has never been seen before. For the first time ever, a casket match was the stipulation for a women’s match. Not only was this the first every mainstream casket match for women but it also was for the Knockout’s Title. Allie defended her Knockout’s Championship against Su Yung.
Cage looked to continue his winning ways against Dezmond Xavier. He was met with a tough task if he wanted to match speed and agility with the high flying, Xavier. The main event was another first time ever occurrence. Pentagon Jr. and Austin Aries battled for the World Championship in a one on one contest. Could Pentagon Jr. prove himself against Austin Aries at Under Pressure?
Eli Drake Gets Steiner Back in an Eerily Similar Fashion
Scott Steiner made his return just back a couple of weeks before Redemption. During that time, Drake and he became the Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champions. Steiner has looked relatively impressive during his return to Impact Wrestling which is a huge credit to the booking. It came to a head at Under Pressure when the two went one on one.
It was a battle of two huge egos who have had their recent downs as the match starts with a war of words. Steiner hits one of his best looking moves since making his return the belly to belly suplex. Drake finds himself in control with his power offense but momentum didn’t last long for either man in the opening contest. As the match goes to the outside, the surroundings come into play. Drake almost gets himself disqualified but an attempt with a steel chair allows Steiner to fight his way back.
Steiner was always looking with to slow the pace down which was the best option given his age. Drake goes for a move that has costed him multiple times in the past, a springboard moonsault. Much like the fatal shot that costed them the Tag Team Championships, Drake hits Steiner with a steel chair. The shot knocks him out cold and gives Eli Drake the first victory of the night at Under Pressure.
Madison Rayne Makes Her In-Ring Return Against the Hungry Tessa Blanchard
Tessa Blachard has been trying to make a name for herself since the moment she stepped in the Impact Zone. It started with Kierra Hogan but that soon turned dirty. When the mood turned with Hogan, Madison Rayne came to her aid. At Under Pressure, Blanchard wanted to two to meet in the middle of the ring. This one came to blows early in what has been an aggressive feud early.
Rayne tries to quicken the pace but Blanchard has it well scouted. Blanchard turns up that aggression by striking Rayne with multiple punches and a stiff forearm. The quickness of Rayne allows Rayne to fight back but her time is short lived. Blanchard continues to dish out punishment as she lets Rayne know that she’s in control.
As the commentary stated, Blanchard hasn’t turned down her intensity since the bell rang. Rayne caught Blanchard with some shots in this match as her offense focused on speed and agility. Blachard drops Rayne with a reverse hangman’s STO but these two are never saying die. An attempt for the hammerlock ddt ended up with Blanchard stacked up. Madison Rayne steals one against Tessa Blanchard at Under Pressure.
Dezmond Xavier Tries to Stop the F’n Machine
Brian Cage has been, well for lack of a better term, an F’n Machine since coming to Impact Wrestling. He has defeated wrestlers of all calibers both in the Impact Zone and on his World Tour. At Under Pressure, he faced probably the most athletic of all of his competitors in Dezmond Xavier. Xavier has a chance to show that there is some weakness in the Swolverine.
Cage starts by throwing around Xavier as this match starts. Xavier speeds up the pace early as he jumps right on Cage to start the match. This one went to the outside early and it looked like it would play into Xavier’s favor. Cage would take control on the outside and start to wear down Xavier with his power game both inside and outside of the ring.
An incredible reversal into a butterfly suplex gives fans a look into the wrestling skill of Brian Cage. It once again the agility of Xavier that allows him to take advantage. Cage almost came off in this match like he could take no pain as he bounced back from every attack. The Drill Claw signals the end for Dezmond Xavier’s miracle chance at the Machine.
The First Ever Casket Match in the Knockout’s Division
Su Yung and Allie made history at Under Pressure. For the first time ever, a pair of women battle in a casket match. Everyone felt like it would be Rosemary and Su Yung but after the funeral of Rosemary, Allie is all they have left. Allie adopted a demon like look to try and play mind games with Su Yung as she channeled her inner Rosemary.
If there was any match set up for Su Yung to win, this would be the one. Yung’s Undead Bridesmaids even brought out the casket to be used in this match. Allie did catch Yung by surprise by paying homage to Rosemary. The two tried to incapacitate each as they would try to force the other into the casket. This was a whole new Allie than the sweet innocent assistant of Maria Kanelis-Bennett. She’s went through a complete transformation especially being paired with Su Yung.
The mind games were evident by Allie but it seemed to only make Yung more angry. After a codebreaker to a chair, Allie had the best chance to win this match. Yung uses the mandible law to force Allie to pass out. Yung shuts the casket lid and become the new Knockout’s Champion. Su Yung stands on top of the coffin with her Undead Bridesmaid’s by her side and the KO’s Championship.
Austin Aries Looks to Prove He’s the True World Champion
Austin Aries started out as “the Greatest Man that Ever Lived” but recently has been known as “the Belt Collector.” Back at Redemption, Pentagon Jr. took away one of these belts. It was the most important one, the World Championship. Aries knows that Pentagon Jr. cannot win in a one on one match. Aries starts this match off with a suicide dive showing off his desire for the World Title as Don Callus mentioned.
The pendulum would bounce back and forth on the outside of the ring. When the match goes back into the ring, Aries had regained control. Pentagon Jr. slows down the match but when Aries runs away, it looks to bring out the aerial attack. Aries plays great defense and goes into his calculated style back inside the ring.
Pentagon Jr. is able toe fight his way back as both men look for their signature moves. These two have been in plenty of matches with one another so they know how counter these huge maneuvers. This one ended in with Aries not able to get Pentagon Jr. back into the ring.
Next: Could Cena vs. Joe Happen At SummerSlam?
Aries asks for a restart and almost gets rolled up. Two devastating moves on the apron left both men out and a double countout once again. Pentagon Jr. restarts it again but Aries hits a low blow and defeats Pentagon with a Brain Buster.