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

Impact World Heavyweight Champion Sami Callihan “exposes” Tessa Blanchard

The Impact Champion and oVe leader marches to the ring with purpose before demanding a mic. The self-proclaimed “Draw” says he’s ready to expose Tessa Blanchard as a phony, just like the fans in attendance and the fans watching at home (that one hurt, Sami).

He says he’s sick of hearing her name, but on Jan. 12, when they make history as the first ever World Championship intergender main event, he doesn’t think they should bring gender into this. He just sees this as another match because he would slap, spit on, and piledrive that woman as he would any other man.

“In 2019, intergender wrestling is just pro wrestling.” Oddly progressive promo from the heel so far.

Sami Callihan says Blanchard was given every opportunity in the world to succeed after being fathered by Tully Blanchard and raised by Magnum T.A. Alternatively, he scratched and clawed his way to the top by himself and did not need his “daddy” to ever get him a tryout via a telephone call.

Furious, Blanchard hits the ramp, but Madman Fulton blindsides her. oVe double team Blanchard until Ken Shamrock comes out to even the odds. But because Shamrock’s injured ribs are wide open, Madman dominates him as Blanchard and Callihan brawl to the back and outside the arena near a tour bus. Callihan is choking Blanchard all over the place.

Blanchard dives onto Callihan from inside of a truck and into moving traffic. Callihan then bites at Blanchard’s face before running away. She chases after him and gets kicked in the gut before refs break them up.

Grade: B+

This loses points because I expected something a little less predictable than Callihan calling out Blanchard’s legacy (when they said “expose,” I expected exposing secrets or something), but the brawl was awesome and the Callihan promo was awesome, so I can’t complain. Great way to close out a somewhat disappointing episode.

Overall Grade: C+

Impact in-ring action wasn’t as on par as it usual is (apart from a stellar opener), but there were a lot of interesting storyline developments that get me excited for Hard to Kill. Arguably a forgettable show for the most part when it comes to actual wrestling, but promo-wise, and in terms of character development, story progression, and PPV advertising, I’m excited for the PPV and that’s good enough for me.