SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
•Top Stories of the Week
- Thursday’s episode of Impact, drew 135,000 viewers which is up from last week’s 116,000 viewers. This was good enough for Impact to rank #118 on the Cable Top 150. LINK
- Earlier this week it was reported that Anthem Sports & Entertainment attempted to sell Impact Wrestling to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), but the offer was declined. LINK 1 LINK 2
- On a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported the decision for Impact to stay at 10 pm ET. is apart of a long-term plan. With Smackdown moving to Friday nights later this year, the hope is that fans will switch to Impact when Smackdown concludes.
•Live Event Results
•Upcoming Major Show Line-up: Homecoming in Nashville
Impact Homecoming
January 6, 2019
Nashville, Tenn. at the Fairgrounds
- Johnny Impact (c) vs. Brian Cage – Impact World Championship match.
- Tessa Blanchard (c) vs. Taya Valkyrie – Impact Knockouts Championship match.
- Jake Crist vs. Ethan Page vs. Rich Swann vs. Trey Miguel – Ultimate X Match for the vacant X-Division Championship.
- LAX (c) vs. The Lucha Bros – Impact World Tag Team Championship match.
- Eli Drake vs. Abyss – Monster’s Ball match.
- Eddie Edwards vs. Moose – Falls Count Anywhere match.
•Upcoming Events
•Latest TV Highlights: (12/27 Impact Wrestling)
This week’s episode was part two of a two-part series showcasing the best moments/matches from Impact in 2018.
(1) Fenix defeated Rich Swann – Impact July 5th, 2018
(2) LAX (w/Konnan) (c) defeated The OGz (w/King) – Non-Title Street Fight – Impact August 16th, 2018
(3) Tessa Blanchard (c) defeated Taya Valkyrie – Knockouts Championship Match – Bound for Glory 2018
(4) Pentagon Jr defeated Austin Aries (c), Fenix – Three Way World Championship Match – Redemption 2018
(5) LAX (w/Konnan) (c) defeated The OGz (w/King) – 5150 Street Fight for the Impact Tag Team Championship – Slammiversary 2018
(6) Johnny Impact (w/Taya Valkyrie) defeated Austin Aries (w/ Moose & Killer Kross) (c) – World Championship Match – Bound for Glory 2018
(7) Pentagon Jr defeated Sami Callihan – Hair vs. Mask Match – Slammiversary 2018
•Latest PWTorch Livecast Covering Impact
PWTorch.com’s Mike McMahon and Andrew Soucek break down the year that was for Impact Wrestling. They look at the best and worst of the company in 2018, as well as hand out awards for Wrestler of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Feud of the Year, and more. They look at the business aspects moving ahead into 2019 and they each make a bold prediction for the new year.
-On Tune In Radio HERE
-On Apple Podcasts HERE
-Or search “PWTorch” or “Pro Wrestling Torch” on your podcast app of choice
•Impact in the Media
- On the latest edition of Killing the Town, Don Callis gave his thoughts on Impact moving to Pursuit Channel, Raven on Impact, oVe, Brian Cage, and Johnny Impact. The most interesting thing Callis said during the interview was in regards to moving to Pursuit Channel. Callis said, “…It’s a great strategic move for us, and I think people are going to love to see a sexier, edgier, maybe even a little more hardcore Impact Wrestling. I’m really, really pumped about that.” With that being said, who knows what Impact will look like in 2019…
https://www.podcastone.com/episode/Cyrus-vs-THE-MALL
https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/12/27/interview- highlights-don-callis-talks- about-impact-wrestlings-new- pursuit-tv-partner-creative- influence-in-2018-callihan- raven-brian-cage-johnny- impact/ - On a recent episode of WINCLY, Scott D’Amore discussed his relationship with Chris Jericho. D’Amore was asked if Jericho would be with Impact in 2019 and he said, “One thing Chris has proven in his very successful career is that you can’t predict what he’s going to do…” D”Amore also said there will be changes in creative with Impact when they move to Pursuit Channel. He mentions Pop TV had lots of restrictions that Pursuit doesn’t have and said there will be changes in 2019.
https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2018/12/scott-damore- talks-chris-jericho- supporting-impact-wrestling- 649231/
•Social Media Scene
NEXT WEEK on IMPACT – all the final hype before #IMPACTHomecoming! @TheRealMorrison and @MrGMSI_BCage vs. @ReyFenixMx and @PENTAELZEROM
A CRAZY Ten Man Tag Team match @AllieImpact vs. @HoganKnowsBest3 @TheEliDrake's Homecoming address! #IMPACTonPop pic.twitter.com/ZUOaI5g3SH
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 28, 2018
.@Tess_Blanchard is ready for @TheTayaValkyrie at #IMPACTHomecoming! #IMPACTonPop pic.twitter.com/RZdV2cNdr9
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) December 28, 2018
You’ve got that right. I’m not Tessa Blanchard, I’m not 3rd generation & I’m not the knockouts champion. I’ve never wanted to be u because being me is amazing. I don’t need to be 3rd generation because I paved my own path & yes…I’m not knockouts champ, but I soon will be. https://t.co/zM2FYTVkKO
— Wera Loca (@TheTayaValkyrie) December 28, 2018
Gag. People are sick of hearing me say the “Johnny Impacts Wife” line? Well, lt’s about as over used as the “Daddy’s girl” line. You ARE amazing, you could be one of the best in the world. Still doesn’t make you champion. After Jan 6 we can stop with the charity title shots. https://t.co/YhxqKoONo1
— Tessa Blanchard (@Tess_Blanchard) December 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/Tess_Blanchard/status/1079099835087769600
Closing Commentary
Only one week remains until Homecoming, Impact Wrestling’s January pay-per-view. There is still one Impact episode remaining before Homecoming, but similar to Bound for Glory, there is no momentum heading into this PPV. Before the past two week’s “best of” episodes of Impact, I was really excited for the PPV, but the “best of” shows have really destroyed most – if not all – momentum heading into Homecoming.
Currently, there are six scheduled matches for Homecoming and four of those are championship matches. Hopefully, the Abyss versus Eli Drake match goes short because the build has been terrible and it’s a “Monster’s Ball” match. The other non-title match should be good as Moose has drastically improved this year and Eddie Edwards can still go despite his ridiculous character. Next week, I will give a detailed preview of the Homecoming card.
With Impact moving to pursuit channel this could be a great time to freshen up the roster. Despite signing Willie Mack earlier this year they have failed to properly book him. Mack could easily be slotted in at the upper-mid card, but any casual viewer has no idea he’s competent.
All that being said, Impact needs to sign more talent for 2019. Most companies have already locked up key free agents such as Bandido, Jeff Cobb, and PCO. But there are plenty of talented wrestlers out there including Sammy Guevara, John Skyler, and David Starr, just to name a few. Also, Kylie Rae would be a great addition to the women’s division. I doubt Impact will sign any of these up-and-coming wrestlers, but it doesn’t hurt to hope. None of those what-if signings will even matter if Impact doesn’t book them properly.
NOW CHECK OUT OTHER WEEKLY OVERVIEWS HERE.
OR JUMP TO LAST WEEK’S IMPACT OVERVIEW: WEEKLY OVERVIEW – IMPACT WRESTLING (thru 12/22): Top stories of week, major show lineups, live event results, schedule of live events, noteworthy social media posts, more
Impact under Callis and D’Amore has become a disgrace. Nothing more than a place for Impact to resemble a televised Border City Wrestling. Clueless about marketing, the reigns should have been turned over to Chris Jericho. At least he knows how to market. The “special attraction” for the upcoming PPV? Abyss and Gail Kim? Please shut the lights on this fraudulent promotion. As the cops say, “nothing to see here.”