3/30 IMPACT WRESTLING X NJPW MULTIVERSE UNITED PPV REPORT: Tanahashi vs. Bailey, Kenta vs. Suzuki

By Darrin Lilly, PWTorch Contributor


SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...

IMPACT WRESTLING X NJPW MULTIVERSE UNITED PPV REPORT
MARCH 30, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CA AT THE GLOBE THEATRE
AIRED LIVE ON FITE TV
REPORT BY DARRIN LILLY, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt, Ian Riccaboni

-Video package featuring the stars of Impact Wrestling and NJPW.

(1) TREY MIGUEL (c) vs. RICH SWANN vs. KEVIN KNIGHT vs. FRANKIE KAZARIAN vs. CLARK CONNORS vs. ROCKY ROMERO — Impact Wrestling X Division Title Scramble match

This was a hot start to the show. Typical multi-person X Division match with lots of high flying, a bit of comedy, and everyone having a chance to shine. Miguel rolled up Knight to retain the title.

WINNER: Trey Miguel in 8:00.

-Hannifan, Rehwoldt, and Riccaboni ran down the card.

(2) EDDIE EDWARDS & TOM LAWLOR & JR KRATOS & JOE HENDRY vs. CALLIHAN & FRED ROSSER & ALEX COUGHLIN & PCO

Hendry did mic work before the match to get “We believe” chants. Crowd was into PCO, who went at it with Kratos a few times. PCO did a rana off the top and a moonsault to the floor on a pile of wrestlers. There was a sequence where everyone exchanged big moves. PCO delivered the moonsault from the top on Kratos and got the pin.

WINNERS: PCO & Callihan & Fred Rosser & Alex Coughlin in 13:00.

(3) MOOSE vs. JEFF COBB

A battle of shoulder tackles started the match. Lots of power moves. Cobb gave Moose a superplex and later in the match, Moose did one of his own. Cobb got the pin after the Tour of the Islands.

WINNER: Jeff Cobb in 11:00.

-Gia Miller attempted an interview, but there were technical problems.

-Mickie James came out to her entrance music and joined the commentary team.

(4) MASHA SLAMOVICH vs. GISELE SHAW vs. MIYU YAMASHITA vs. DEONNA PURRAZZO

The winner of this match will advance to the match at Rebellion. Fans chanted for Masha, then Miyu. Shaw called for cheers but got booed. They took turns squaring off in different combinations. Masha gave Shaw a Canadian Destroyer. Everyone exchanged big moves at the end. Deonna put Shaw away after a Queen’s Gambit.

WINNER: Deonna Purrazzo in 9:00.

-Gia Miller interviewed Chris Bey & Ace Austin. They talked about their road to the titles and called themselves “ABC”.

(5) BULLET CLUB (Chris Bey & Ace Austin)(c) vs. MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS vs. TMDK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito) vs. AUSSIE OPEN (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) — Impact Wrestling World Tag Team Title match

Good match that really picked up at the end. Each team had a chance in the spotlight. Finishing sequence saw Bey hit the cutter on Tito, followed by Ace getting The Fold and the pin.

WINNERS: Bullet Club in 14:00.

(6) LIO RUSH vs. KUSHIDA

Kushida kept going for the Hoverboard Lock throughout the match. They took it to the mat early. Rush made a big comeback. Rush attempted a diving splash but got caught in the Hoverboard lock and tapped out. They paid respect to each other after the match.

WINNER: Kushida in 14:00.

(7) KENTA (c) vs. MINORU SUZUKI — New Japan Strong Openweight Title match

Hard hitting back and forth match. The action spilled to the floor early. They traded slaps and punches. At the end, Kenta used a low blow while the referee was distracted to get the pin on Suzuki.

WINNER: Kenta in 16:00.

(8) HIROSHI TANAHASHI vs. “SPEEDBALL” MIKE BAILEY

They shook hands at the start. Fans chanted for both. They fought on the floor for a bit. Bailey got in a lot of offense, including a rana from the top rope and his coast to coast tornado kick. But in the end, Tanahashi got the High Fly Flow and the pin. They shook hands after the match.

WINNER: Hiroshi Tanahashi in 16:00.

 

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