Impact Wrestling: Results, Highlights and Grades for December 17th, 2019

Right before the holiday, Impact Wrestling offers a treat of a show featuring Tenille Dashwood vs. Jordynne Grace and Rich Swann vs. Ethan Page. Plus, World Champ Sami Callihan promises to “expose the truth” about his future Hard to Kill opponent Tessa Blanchard.

Without wasting any time, Impact opens up with Knockouts action. It’s all about Tenille Dashwood vs. Jordynne Grace. The two shake hands respectfully before locking up. Dashwood has a side headlock before Grace reverses with a leg headscissors, then she gets Dashwood in a headlock before Tenille locks in a headscissors of her own.

Grace gets out of it with a clothesline. Another headlock until Dashwood transitions with a wrist lock takeover, until Grace backs Dashwood into the corner. Dashwood tries to recover with a Full Nelson, but Grace breaks out. Series of wrestling waist lock transitions until Grace nearly puts her away with a Grace Pumphandle Driver, but Tenille avoids it with another waist lock.

We transition into some power moves, with Grace hitting a shoulder block and then sending Dashwood off the ropes. Catches Dashwood with a catch and release suplex for a two count. Tenille recovers quickly with a hurricanrana for a one count.

She sends Grace to the apron, where she nails a middle rope neckbreaker for a two count this time. Dashwood hits a series of stomps in the corner before Grace whips her into the opposite side.

Dashwood attempts a big boot, but gets elbowed for her troubles. Grace gets Dashwood in the corner, but Dashwood counters into a Tarantula Lock against the ropes. She then goes for a Double Arm Suplex.

Grace fights out of it enough for Dashwood to settle for a reverse DDT. Dashwood then goes for a Knee Trembler, but Grace goes for a schoolgirl pin for a two count. Dashwood runs at Grace, who reverses with a gnarly spinebuster for a two count.

Grace goes for a Grace Driver, but Dashwood keeps fighting out of it until Grace has no choice but to hit a clothesline.

Back to her feet, Dashwood lures Grace in the bottom corner where she hits a flying forearm. Afterwards, Dashwood hits a Double Arm Suplex for a near fall.

Dashwood goes for a La Magistral pin attempt, but Grace reverses with a crucifix pin for the win.

Grace goes to shake Dashwood’s hand, and Dashwood accepts. They raise each other’s hand before Dashwood leaves the ring for Grace to celebrate. It’s then that the Knockouts Champion attacks Grace from behind. Dashwood runs back in to make the save, sending Taya Valkyrie away.

Winner: Jordynne Grace

Grade: B+

This was surprisingly enjoyable. Figured they had it in them to put on a great match, but I was surprised we got such a mat wrestling centric match, filled with takedowns, transitions. It worked, it was different, and incredibly entertaining. Great chemistry.

Backstage, Moose runs into Rhino. As a man who beat RVD at Slammiversary, Moose says it’s a shame Rhino came up short in his own recent match with Rob Van Dam, as Moose could’ve given him some pointers. He says it’s really a shame that Rhino’s Gore couldn’t do what Moose’s Spear could do.

Of course, this inspires Rhino to Gore the life out of Moose.

Elsewhere, The North approach Willie Mack. They promise they’re not here to jump Mack. They are trying to convince Mack to let his partner, Rich Swann, realize his full potential as a singles star by leaving his side.

Cue Rich Swann who storms out to confront them. The North claim they’re just trying to help, but Swann says the only way Page can help is by going to the ring so they can fight later.

TJP (w/ Fallah Bahh) vs. Daga

Another match that starts with a handshake.

Quickly reach a stalemate after multiple wrestling transitions. Then, a test of strength before Daga locks in a headlock, which TJP turns into a crossface, then wrenching back to his feet. More quick style transitions before TJP dropkicks Daga.

Daga recovers with a leg takedown into a crucifix pin. Daga applies an arm lock and keeps it on tight, which TJP eventually turns into a spinning headscissor. Daga tries to turn it into a pin attempt, but TJP kicks out to lock it back in.

Daga gets out of it again before we get a bevy of wrestling transitions, followed by a double dropkick, then a double kip up before we go to a single commercial break.

Back from break, Daga and TJP are trading chops and uppercuts in the corner until TJP unleashes a hurricanrana off the top of the opposite corner, leading into a dropkick out of the ring.

Perkins rolls Daga back in and hits a springboard senton for a two count. Then, an arm lock into a modified arm trapped rear naked choke. Daga makes it back to his feet, but TJP pumps his breaks by snapping Daga’s arm back.

Eventually, Daga is able to mount a comeback spot, which includes a big ole sunset flip from the outside to the inside for a two count. He then puts TJP into a powerbomb position, but Perkins gets out of it. Daga quickly recovers with a bevy of offense, including a senton for a two count.

He puts Perkins back into a powerbomb position for a Tiger Bomb, but TJP reverses. Counter after counter until both men are down.

Back to their feet, they trade forearm strikes and uppercuts until TJP nails a hurricanrana into an armbar. Daga struggles to reverse with a deadlift powerbomb before TJP locks in an Octopus Stretch, but Daga turns it into a Half Crab.

TJP rolls him up for a two count before both men hit a double clothesline. Back to their feet, Daga hits a series of stomps and kicks for a two count. Daga goes to the top, TJP tries to run up for a suplex off the top, but Daga pushes him off. TJP runs back up for a superplex, but Daga blocks it.

Finally, TJP nails the superplex, but holds onto it to nail a deadlift Detonation Kick for a two count. He spins it into his TJP Clutch leg lock. Daga nearly gets the bottom rope before trapping his arm into a modified Crossface, forcing Daga to tap out.

Immediately after the match, Desi Hit Squad attack TJP and Bahh after the match, but Daga is able to dropkick them away. However, the third member of Desi Hit Squad, the massive Shera, returns to chokeslam Daga. As their manager, Gama, hits the ring, the stable celebrate over the broken babyfaces.

Winner: TJP

Grade: C-

This match kind of dragged to me, to be honest. Chemistry wasn’t bad and the mix of fast high flying action mixed with technical prowess was interesting from both parties. I just don’t think either of these guys are high enough on the totem pole to justify such a long match, especially with no real stakes on the line. And I say that as a big Daga fan. Lost interest fast.

Elsewhere, Brian Cage finds RVD making out with his girlfriend in a closet. Van Dam mentions they’re wrestling each other at Hard to Kill. RVD wishes Cage good luck, but RVD isn’t worried because he knows how to reverse his own moves.