Impact Wrestling Results and Review 5/6/2021: El Phantasmo Debuts!

Before The Impact: Jake Something vs. Rohit Raju

Jake Something picks up a victory over former X Divison Champion Rohit Raju just one week after losing to a returning Chris Bey in the first of six qualifying matches for the Impact World Heavyweight Championship number one contenders match at Under Seige, an Impact+ exclusive event on May 15th.

A decent match but nothing really worth writing home about. Rohit still looks strong even in defeat and Jake Something regains some momentum.

Grade: C

Nothing really impressive happened during this match, which a year ago would have made it a pretty typical Rohit Raju match. But following his impressive run with the X Division Title, the fans expect more from him now.

Chris Sabin w/James Storm vs. Rhino w/Violent By Design: Number One Contender Qualifying Match

Chris Sabin pulls off a surprising upset over the ECW legend, Rhino, taking the fourth spot in the Number One Contender’s match at Under Seige; he joins Chris Bey, Sami Callihan, and Matt Cardona in the match. Sabin was able to utilize his superior speed to keep Rhino consistently on his back foot, not allowing him to get his signature high-impact offense in. This allowed Sabin to pick him apart slowly.

Grade: B

Rosemary and Brian Myers promo

Myers is visibly upset backstage, confused as to why he had to face off against someone he already beat at Rebellion in order to earn a shot at a spot that he feels is already his. His temper tantrum is interrupted by Rosemary, who gives him the opportunity to change his fate, reading his cards in the process. Myers tells Rosemary that it’s a “cool story, bro” before trying to leave and being speared by Toros. Rosemary, Toros, and Crazzy Steve stand over the prone Meyers before the show goes to commercial, showing James Storm’s title victory over Kurt Angle on October 20, 2011.

Grade: B-

A solid promo from Myers and Rosemary both setting up his frustration and establishing her stable as a legitimate threat backstage and in the ring.

Kenny Omega promo w/ Don Callis and The Good Brothers

Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers are backstage talking about the party that they will be attending after Impact goes off the air tonight when Don Callis reminds them that they need to focus more on winning matches and less on partying, especially since they lost their Impact Wrestling Tag Team Title opportunity against FinnJuice. The Good Brothers agree and then Omega comes up with an idea. They can’t possibly lose if Omega is ringside talking them through the match! He is a former eighth-grade girl’s volleyball coach after all!

Grade: D

This was okay but by no means the best work from any of the men involved. We know that the Good Brothers have an off-kilter sense of humor and that’s great. But the humor fell flat for me here.

Taylor Wilde vs. Susan w/ Kimber Lee

Taylor Wilde defeats Susan thanks to a distraction by Tenille Dashwood. The match starts pretty slowly, with Wilde and Susan trading holds several times before Dashwood and her personal photographer, Kaleb with a K, come down to the ring and distract both Susan and Kimber Lee, allowing Wilde to pick up the victory.

Grade: D

This match was bad. I wish I could give a more knowledgeable analysis about why it didn’t work. But I can’t because it was just really, really bad.

Deonna Purrazzo promo w/Havok and Rosemary

Deonna Purrazzo is being interviewed backstage when Rosemary and Havok interrupt. Rosemary accuses Purrazzo of becoming a coward and ducking every woman on the roster, content to sit back and rack up days in the record books. Fearing a 2-on-1 beat down Deonna says that she will speak to Scott D’Amore about facing the winner of Havok and Rosemary at Under Seige. That match will take place next week.

Grade: B

A decent promo from the champion that was immediately made better by the presence of Havok and Rosemary. Both women are so damn imposing and have the in-ring skill to back it up.

W. Morrissey Promo

Morrissey is back on our television screens and looking to remind people just how good he has always been. He calls out his “friends” in the industry for abandoning him when he needed them most.

Grade: B

A solid promo from Morrissey. He seems to have a renewed love of professional wrestling and is determined to prove that he is just as good as we all remember.

Rohit Raju w/Shera vs. Trey Miguel: Number One Contender Qualifying Match 

Trey Miguel picks up the victory and takes the fifth spot in the Number One Contender’s match on May 15th. This match was fantastic and is much more of what we expect from Raju. Following the match, Jake Something came down and attacked Raju as payback for his costing Jake his qualifying match last week.

Grade: A- 

A fantastic match. One that we have come to expect from both competitors.

Swinger’s Palace Promo

This had way too many people and personalities to mention in one small paragraph but I’m going to try. Chris Bey, Johnny Swinger, James Storm, Matt Cardona, Taylor Wilde, Chris Sabin, and more are backstage playing poker when Wilde loses her final hand before offering that she will do anything to stay at the table. Thankfully Trey Miguel interrupts Johnny Swinger before he can get too creepy with his response, prompting the other members of the table who have already qualified for the number one contender match to cast aspersions on Storm’s dedication to his tag team with Sabin.

Grade: C

The only reason this didn’t end up with a lower grade was because of the closing moments with Miguel and CBey teaming up to poke holes in the team of Sabin and Storm. Otherwise, it had very early 2000s WWE vibes. In a word? Creepy.

Luke Gallows w/ Kenny Omega and “Machine Gun” Karl Anderson vs. Juice Robinson w/ David Finlay

Luke Gallows earns a victory over Juice Robinson after a solid match from both competitors. This is probably the most New Japan match that the Good Brothers have had since arriving in Impact Wrestling. Following the match, Karl Anderson and Kenny Omega beat down Robinson and David Finlay. Eddie Edwards, their partner at Under Seige runs down to the ring to back them up but is beat down as well.

Grade: C

This was a good match but nowhere near what both of these guys can do if they are able and willing to give 110 percent. It does help to build towards Under Seige and the gang warfare that will occur between The Elite, FinnJuice, and Edwards.

VSK vs. El Phantasmo

VSK, an alumnus of the Create A Pro dojo, had a great showing in his Impact debut this week against the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. Eventually, though, the switch seemed to flip in the head of El Phantasmo and he made quick work of VSK.

Grade: A-

Not the squash match that I thought it would be. It served both men well, building VSK as an immediate top player in the company and showcasing just how good El Phantasmo can be.

Rachel Ellering w/ Jordynne Grace vs. Kiera Hogan w/ Tasha Steelz

Rachel Ellering defeats Kiera Hogan in a fantastic Knockouts division match. The former Knockouts Tag Team Champion’s, Fire and Flava, faced off with the women who took their titles at IMPACT Rebellion. This was a phenomenal showcase of just how incredible the Knockout’s division is and can be.

Grade: A+

Phenomenal match that shows just how incredible this division consistently is.

MOOSE and Don Callis promo

MOOSE is getting warmed up before his number one contender qualifying match against James Storm in the main event of the evening. Don Callis comes in and attempts to convince MOOSE that he is above qualifying matches. Credit to MOOSE, however, as he immediately calls out the fact that Callis doesn’t care about MOOSE, but about protecting Kenny Omega from MOOSE. MOOSE leaves after telling Callis that he is starting to piss him off.

Grade: B

I will be the first to admit that MOOSE is not my favorite wrestler. I have been very critical in the past of both his in-ring work and his promo ability but it really feels like he has started to put it all together.

Fire and Flava and Jordynne Grace/Rachel Ellering Promo

Fire and Flava are backstage saying that they just got caught slipping before Jordynne Grace and Rachel Ellering make their presence known. Grace is told that she is a non-factor in their title match at Under Seige by Tasha Steelz. She takes offense to this and challenges Tasha to a singles match next week. The challenge is accepted.

Grade: B

MOOSE vs. James Storm: Number One Contender Qualifying Match

The field is finally set with a who’s who of impressive wrestling talent. MOOSE joins Matt Cardona, Chris Bey, Sami Callihan, Chris Sabin, and Trey Miguel in a massive six-man match for the number one contendership for the Impact World Championship. MOOSE and James Storm could wrestle every week and I would be happy to sit and watch. I take back every bad thing I have ever said about MOOSE’s in-ring ability and talent. Real quick, though, I do want to take a moment and say thank you on behalf of wrestling fans the world over to James Storm for putting over MOOSE so effectively and making him seem like a true threat to the dominance of Kenny Omega. In theory, this victory does telegraph who will go on to be the number one contender (The MOOSE and James Storm match easily being the most brutal of the six over the last two weeks).

Grade: A+

It was by all accounts, a phenomenal match and one that I would recommend seeking out on Youtube immediately after completing this article. A love letter to professional wrestling and a return to form for James Storm. I have huge hopes for the future pushes of both these gentlemen.