
WrestleTalk will be providing live coverage of IMPACT Wrestling’s Hard To Kill. The show is headlined by Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers going up against Rich Swann, Chris Sabin, and Moose. Will we see any other AEW Wrestlers make some appearances?
I’m actually quite looking forward to Purrazzo and Valkyrie. The other match that should be at a minimum very interesting to watch is Ethan Page vs. The Karate Man. He’s very clever and the snippet on YouTube was fairly good.
The Main Event
This match is industry shifting. Kenny Omega on IMPACT. Words I never thought I would type.
Don Callis introduces Kenny Omega. Omega has his AEW Tron and Music. He doesn’t get the Justin Roberts entrance we’ve seen recently. Callis does a great job though.
He’s wearing a Bullet Club Shirt. It’s a Halloween one with a pumpkin, but still a bullet club one though.
Anderson starts off with Sabin. We then get Moose and Gallows. Finally, Omega is in the ring and lines up against Swann. Gallows and Anderson are sporting Bullet Club gear.
I am a big fan of Rich Swann. However, trying to compare Swann and Omega as “equals” just doesn’t feel right. They are not on the same level.
This match has broken down. Everyone is just fighting all over the place. Tags are out.
Moose hits an Avalanche Spanish Fly, but we get a huge kick out. The match has regained order.
Swann and Omega wind up in the ring. Swann hits a 630, but Omega kicks out. The Good Brothers are in and hit a Magic Killer. Swann kicks out.
Omega hits the one-winged Angel. No one kicks out of that one and that includes Rich Swann.
Omega and The Good Brothers are victorious. That match was a lot of fun. That’s it. That’s the show. The Good Brothers and Omega stand tall and give the Two Sweet hand symbol.
See you Monday night.
TOP ROPE SPANISH FLY BY @TheMooseNation! #HardToKill pic.twitter.com/Vh9Mty4Pbx
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 17, 2021
Barbwire Massacre Match
There’s barbwire all over the ring. There are tables with barbwire stapled to boards. There is a steel cage wall covered in wire. Callihan is the first to bleed as Edwards wraps barbwire around his head.
Both men are bleeding at this point. We’ve seen a game controller covered in barbwire. We’ve seen chairs covered in barbwire.
Both guys are just destroying themselves in this one. They square off with a bat and a kendo stick. Eddie Edwards was on the top rope and he falls off.
When he falls off, he almost hangs himself on a chain. I’m not sure if that was a planned spot or an accident. Either way, it looked brutal.
Edwards kicks out of a piledriver through a barbwire table. Callihan kicks out at 1 after a Boston Knee Party with a chair covered in barbwire.
Edwards finally wins with an Emerald Flosion onto wire. Both men laid it on the line in this one. I’m not sure we need death match style bouts in 2021. IMPACT just gave us one though. It was hard to watch, but also hard to look away.
OH MY GOD!
PILEDRIVER THROUGH A BARBED WIRE BOARD! #HardToKill @TheSamiCallihan @TheEddieEdwards pic.twitter.com/xkM1GtxHqq
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 17, 2021
The Karate man is in action
I guess if you are going to have the same person playing two different characters in a television product, it has to be cinematic.
Karate Man gets the win by pulling out the heart of Ethan Page is rumored to be a person of interest for both WWE and AEW.
This is a way to write him off television. That was good for what it was.
GET HIM A BODY BAG! #HardToKill @The_KarateMan @OfficialEGO pic.twitter.com/lcBAX90Sj6
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 17, 2021
Knockout's Championship Match
Taya Valkyrie and Purrazzo are battling over the Knockout’s Title. Around the ring, we have Susan and Kimber Lee on one side. On the other, it’s The Decay. They get into a brawl early. The ref throws all of them out.
The match itself was pretty good. The two women gave it everything they had. Valkyrie loses and Purrazzo reatains the Knockouts Championship.
Valkyrie is the longest reign in IMPACT. Purrazzo getting a win over her is huge in establishing a documentation process.
CURB STOMP by @TheTayaValkyrie. #HardToKill
ORDER HERE: https://t.co/2QIZHWLgq0 pic.twitter.com/mD0xVX0Ohi
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 17, 2021
X-Division Championship Match
Rohit Raju, Manik, and Chris Bey are squaring off in a triple-threat X-Division Championship match. This story has focused on the fact that everyone knows TJP is the man behind the Manik mask, but he just won’t admit it.
These 3 guys are putting on a fantastic match. Raju manages to get the mask off of Manik.
It’s clear it’s TJ Perkins, but his face is painted. Chris Bey hits a huge cutter on TJP as he was diving from the top rope. He then hits the Ultimate Finesser for a near fall.
Manik hits a Tombstone. Raju and Manik trade blows and we get lots of near falls. In the end, Manik hits a roll-up for the win.
Manik retains the X-Division Championship. Manik stares down his competitors after the match.
Manik had his mask removed! #HardToKill
ORDER HERE: https://t.co/2QIZHWLgq0 pic.twitter.com/kcKjM0Gmi0
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 17, 2021
Ace Austin vs.. ???
Ace Austin comes out to the ring and is upset he’s not on the card tonight. He demands to be added to the X-Division Championship match.
Scott D’Amore doesn’t allow that to happen, but he does have a match for him. He introduces former WWE and AEW Wrestler Matt Cardona.
Cardona comes out and puts the hurt on Ace Austin. Austin’s big man Madman Fulton interferes in the match and gets Austin disqualified.
Cardona gets the win. I like Cardona, but WWE did so much damage to him over the years, he just doesn’t feel like a game-changer at all.
ALWAYS READY! @TheMattCardona has made his IMPACT debut at #HardToKill! pic.twitter.com/5KJLovakgv
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 17, 2021
Knockouts Tag Team Titles
Havok and Naveah are fighting Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz. Steelz and Hogan are going by Fire and Flava.
Havok and Naveah have a clear size advantage in this one. Hogan and Steelz have a clear speed advantage.
The action is hot and heavy to get us started. Steelz and Hogan are trying to pick up the pace.
Havok hits a huge fallaway slam on both Steelz and Hogan. Man, that was impressive.
Eventually, FIre and Flava get back the momentum. They run wild and hit several combination moves.
Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz get the win. They are the new tag team champions.
After the match, Madison Rayne and Gail Kim give them the titles as they celebrate.
That was a great call. These two have a lot of charisma and upside for the women’s division.
AND NEW Knockouts Tag Team Champions – Fire and Flava! #HardToKill pic.twitter.com/Jr3OsTXgee
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 17, 2021
Violent by Design vs. Dreamer, Cousin Jake, and Rhino
Eric Young, Deaner, and Joe Doering are taking on Rhino, Cousin Jake, and Tommy Dreamer. This match is old school rules which just means no DQ.
Jake and Deaner square off. Young and Dreamer, Doering and Rhino, and Jake and Deaner have partnered off and are battling all over ringside.
At one point, Doering just takes chair shots from all of his opponents. The chairs were just the first weapons. We got kendo sticks and thumbtacks.
After several guys all landed in the tacks, Eric Young hits a big Pile Driver. Violent by Design pick up the win after they pick up a new name for their team.
Tommy Dreamer and Rhino are a long way from where they used to be, but the no DQ helps to hide they’ve lost a step.
Joe Doering doesn't need a weapon, Joe Doering IS the weapon. #HardToKill
ORDER HERE: https://t.co/2QIZHWLgq0 pic.twitter.com/oW1CFpiQt1
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 17, 2021
Hard to Kill is underway
I’m still not 100% sure what exactly AEW is gaining from this relationship with IMPACT, but one thing’s for certain, people are talking about it. This certainly is beneficial for IMPACT.
The first match tonight is an intergender tag match between Kaleb with a K and Tenille Dashwood vs. The Decay. Crazzy Steve and Rosemary are back together and they are kicking off Hard to Kill.
Kaleb has a very distinguished background on the independent circuit around the Carolinas. He was very good in the ring. However, he’s playing down his ability in this role and trying to be a bigger comedy character.
Steve and Rosemary both spray mist in the face of Kaleb and Dashwood. This allows Steve to hit a Tornado DDT on Kaleb. The Decay get the opening win on Hard to Kill.
Double chokeslam by Decay! #HardToKill @WeAreRosemary @steveofcrazzy
ORDER HERE: https://t.co/2QIZHWLgq0 pic.twitter.com/mlzqEWhQEA
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 17, 2021
Myers and Alexander
The opening match on the pre-show is Brian Myers and Josh Alexander. D-Lo Brown and Matt Stryker are on commentary. I’ll be interested to see how they work together. The first 2 minutes seems pretty solid.
Matt Stryker just explained why Alexander wears the headgear in his matches. Apparently, his ear fell off in a match and this is to keep it on. I guess headgear is better than no-ear. I have never heard that story before.
The match ends with a Brodie Lee Tribute from Myers who hits the discus clothesline for the win. I really thought Alexander was going to get the win in this one. Myers had the Brodie armband on this one. This is the first live show for IMPACT since the passing of Lee.
Myers was outspoken about WWE’s tribute or lack there of from the company itself. So, maybe, I should have expected him to win and be able to pay tribute to his friend.
.@Walking_Weapon WIPES OUT @Myers_Wrestling with a crossbody. #HardToKill pic.twitter.com/Z5qQVjVcq3
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 17, 2021
IMPACT's Hard To Kill
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SIX-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH
Kenny Omega, Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. Rich Swann, Chris Sabin & Moose
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IMPACT X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Manik (c) vs. Chris Bey vs. Rohit Raju
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IMPACT KNOCKOUTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs. Taya Valkyrie
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IMPACT KNOCKOUTS TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Kiera Hogan & Tasha Steels vs. Havok & Nevaeh
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SINGLES MATCH
Ethan Page vs. Karate Man
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BARBED WIRE MASSACRE
Eddie Edwards vs. Sami Callihan
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OLD SCHOOL RULES
Cousin Jake, Rhino & Tommy Dreamer vs. Cody Deaner, Eric Young & Joe Doering
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MIXED TAG TEAM MATCH
Kaleb & Tenille Daswood vs. Crazzy Steve & Rosemary
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SINGLES MATCH (PRE-SHOW)
Brian Myers vs. Josh Alexander