Impact Wrestling: Results, Analysis, and Grades for September 13th, 2018

Here it is, everyone – the moment I never knew I was waiting for. Before the match starts, I would like to say that if the influence of Scarlett Bordeaux is how Fallah Bah got his championship match, I am very curious to see how Scarlett’s influence will influence the roster going forward. I would love for it to get her a Knockout’s Championship opportunity.

Austin Aries vs. Fallah Bah

Tons of sport underdogs are referenced, and if you throw the 1980 Olympic Miracle Hockey Team in the conversation, you know we’re getting ready for a big moment. It’s even getting it’s own introduction.

EVERYONE is rooting for Fallah, it seems.

I’d like to point out that even though Aries has Kross and Moose in his corner, KM is a pretty big guy himself; I’d like to believe this is decently matched on the outside.

The match starts off slow, a flip there, a headlock here. They’re building this up painfully slow. Aries starts to land slaps and elbows into Fallah’s stomach. Fallah seems to be wearing out early, like the cardio is suddenly hard for him (seriously, we get it).

I’ll note also that during the commercial break, I am actively biting my nails. It seems ridiculous, but it’s so hard not to root for Bah. He’s such a pure babyface, and you just don’t get those very often anymore.

We return from break with more chops and headlocks. Austin is a bit more acrobatic, but Fallah is getting some shoulder slams in. Fallah has chops, too. Fallah finally gets Austin on his shoulders, but Austin counters and takes Fallah’s leg out.

Aries finally seems to have a clear upper hand, attacking Fallah’s legs while he’s on the ground. Another chop-match ensues. Aries misses a sunset flip before ducking a sitting slam from Fallah.

Fallah lands an impressive suplex before KM starts a “Bah” chant for the crowd. Big Samoan Drop from Fallah, followed by the SLOWEST COUNT EVER. Aries is still alive.

Fallah lands his belly-to-belly followed by another slow count, but now he’s fired up. Fallah does his classic rollout right into a submission by Aries, but Fallah gets his foot on the rope.

Aries tries fruitlessly for a Brain Buster and keeps failing. Bah lands another slam that Aries kicks out of at two-and-a-half. Fallah climbs the ropes where Kross and Moose are ready to intervene.

Aries wins by submission. That’s every bit of the lack-luster explanation that ending deserves.

Moose, Kross, and KM get involved. KM gets caught in that same chair tandem Johnny Impact found himself in last week. Yeah, that’s it.

Grade: C+

This match had every chance in the world to be the best of the night, but they turned two whole hours of giddy anticipation from what I imagine to be most of the viewers into a major let down. And for what? The match had a mismatched style, which you had to have expected, but it would have been well worth it if the underdog Bah had went over. It wasn’t Bah, it was just… Blah.

Well, anyway, tune in next week, Thurssday at 8PM for another review of Impact Wrestling on Pop TV, and thank you for sticking it out with us!