March 16, 2023 – IMPACT wrestling
INFLUENCE! on AXS TV Results: March 16, 2023
Stream this episode of IMPACT! on demand
The action begins before the IMPACT with an exclusive match.
Ziki Dice with Johnny Swinger vs Champagne Singh with Shera
Ziki Dice goes head to head with the new Champagne Singh! Shera diverts attention from the ring by allowing Singh to thumb Dice in the eye. Singh grabs a half-Boston crab, but lets go of the hold and does a side kick with a Russian leg. Both men fall, following a pair of clotheslines in the center of the ring. Dice caught fire when paired with a German suplex for two. Shera gets up on the apron, but Dice telegraphs the attack. The twist is fair game as Dice hits Singh with his thumb in the eye, almost pushing him away. Singh hits the champagne to win.
Champagne Singh with Shera vs Zika Dice with Johnny Swinger
The jam-packed road to Sacrifice, Multiverse United and Rebellion continues, a brand new STRIKE! is on the air.
After being run over by an unidentified person last week, the PCO calls Eddie Edwards in the Las Vegas desert.
Mike Bailey & Jonathan Gresham vs. Decay (Black Bullock & Crazy Steve)
Mike Bailey and Jonathan Gresham join forces against longtime duo Black Bull and Crazy Steve! Chaos breaks out early on when Steve bites Gresham’s arm and Taurus throws Bailey out. Taurus hits Gresham with an overhand throw for two. Taurus tries to headbutt but Gresham ducks, causing him to unintentionally hit his partner. Gresham creates a much-needed separation with a kick that allows him to mark Bailey. The pace picks up when Bayley hits Steve with Shooting Star. Moments later, Steve bites Bailey’s toes. Taurus offers a Samoan Drop pop-up menu for two. Gresham protects Bailey from the Destination Hellhole before Bailey kills Steve with the Moonsault on the floor. Back in the ring, Bayley hits Ultima Taurus with the Weapon while Gresham stops Steve from re-entering the ring. Bailey holds the Taurus to secure a win for his team.
Mike Bailey & Jonathan Gresham vs. Decay (Black Bullock & Crazy Steve)
After the match, Bailey and Gresham shake hands.
Gia Miller interviews IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander, Rich Swan and Frankie Kazarian. Before they face the Time Machine at Sacrifice, they must go to war with the Bullet Club tonight. Alexander announces victory in both of his upcoming matches, despite the fact that they have never been trios before. They are confronted by the #1 contender in Rebellion, Steve McLean, who claims that the only reason Alexander is teaming with Swann and Kazarian is because they are no longer a threat to his title.
With the opportunity to pick his opponent on his way to 50 wins, Johnny Swinger gets more than he bargained for when he picks Jai Vidal.
Steve McLean vs. The Heat
As Steve McLean prepares to challenge the IMPACT World Champion at Rebellion, tonight he must get through the Heat first! Heath takes control, launching McLean up the top rope to the floor. Moments later, McLean sends him to the steps of the steel ring to turn the tide. Returning to the ring, McLean delivers a vicious blow to the back for two. The hit picks up with a knee run followed by a powerful power slam. Heath nearly kills McLean with a Spinbuster. Heath hits the crosshairs as McLean’s shoulder slams into Heath’s sternum. McLean hits KIA to win.
Steve McLean vs. The Heat
Taya Valkyrie is concerned that Jessica might discover her true identity if exposed to the Coven’s dark magic.
The PCO has made it to the city of Las Vegas as its search for Eddie Edwards continues.
Despite his team win tonight, Mike Bailey is looking to even the score against Jonathan Gresham in singles at Sacrifice. Gresham accepts the challenge.
Johnny Swinger with Ziki Dice vs. Jai Vidal with Giselle Shaw and Savannah Evans
Johnny Swinger takes on his chosen opponent, Jai Vidal, but what Swinger doesn’t realize is that Vidal is more than just Shaw’s executive stylist, he’s a seasoned professional wrestler! Vidal insults him in the corner with a slap. Vidal slams Swinger’s face into the top turnbuckle several times. Ziki Dice is caught red-handed as the judge kicks him out for interfering. Moments later, Savannah Evans drags Vidal to safety, causing the judge to throw her and Giselle Shaw out. Out of nowhere, Deonna Purrazzo blinds Shaw until security interrupts him. Back in the ring, Vidal kicked Swinger with his boot to win.
Jai Vidal with Gisele Shaw and Savannah Evans vs. Johnny Swinger with Zeki Dice
The design shows that despite Callihan’s victory over Reno last week, this was not step 6 in his initiation process. Diener tells Callihan that he should be punished for costing Kon the match against Frankie Kazarian at No Surrender.
The PCO has arrived at the site of today’s IMPACT! looking for Eddie Edwards.
World knockout champion Mickey James is concerned that Tommy Dreamer is requesting a tag team match where they will take on Bully Ray and Masha Slamovich next week, that is, until she faces Jordyn Grace, who doubts that James will ready for their rematch for the knockout world title at Sacrifice.
Eddie Edwards is in the ring and says he found it difficult to focus on his future when he was constantly haunted by his past. Edwards is convinced his PCOS issues are finally over after he was hit by a car last week. Edwards is shocked to see that the PCO is here in the STRIKE zone. The PCO sneaks into the ring when he is jumped from behind by his former ally in Honor No More, Kenny King. The PCO starts to fight back, but ends up falling prey to the numbers game. Edwards hits PCO with a kendo stick and then a top rope blockbuster from King. Edwards drives a steel chair into a PCO’s head during the Boston Knee Party.
Authority Director Santino Marella is visited by an old friend. Meanwhile, digital media champion Joe Hendry references Brian Myers’ rematch clause for the digital media title on Sacrifice so he can get his revenge. Dirty Dango is a big fan of Hendry and gets very excited when Marella invites them to a tag team match against Myers and Moose next week.
World Tag Team Knockout Champions Death Dollz (Taya Valkyrie and Rosemary) with Jessica vs. Coven (Taylor Wilde and Keelin King) – Knockout Tag Team Titles
The Coven challenge the Death Dollz for the Knockouts World Tag Team titles in their first duo match! The Death Puppets gain an early advantage as they tie both of their opponents to the floor with the top rope. We see footage from the commercial break where the coven took control after Wilde’s illegal interference. Rosemary locks Wilde upside down to create a division. Rosemary marks the Valkyrie, who goes on the attack. Valkyrie hits the Blue Thunder Bomb on King, but it’s not enough. The Valkyrie continues to attack with her trademark double kneeling run. Wilde attacks Valkyrie with an apron, allowing King to knock her down. Rosemary throws Wilde out of the ring, but Wilde trips her moments later. King delivers a large boot and then a modified suplex to Valkyrie to win the titles.
Coven (Taylor Wilde & Keelin King) Defeated World Tag Team Champions by KO Death of the Dolls (Taya Valkyrie & Rosemary) with Jessica – NEW World Tag Team Champions by KO
Don’t miss the final STRIKE! before Sacrifice next Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and at 8:30 pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders. Deonna Purrazzo meets one on one with Savannah Evans. Digital media champion Joe Hendry teams up with Dirty Dango to take on Brian Myers and Moose. The Time Machine takes on Design in a six-player team game. In addition, world knockout champions Mickey James and Tommy Dreamer faced off against Bully Ray and Masha Slamovich.
On Thursday, March 30, don’t miss the special IMPACT Live! with expert analysis and never-before-seen matches as we count down to Multiverse United: only the STRONG survive.
IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander, Rich Swann & Frankie Kazarian vs Bullet Club (NJPW STRONG KENTA Openweight Champion & IMPACT World Tag Team Champions Ace Austin & Chris Bay)
Before Josh Alexander, Rich Swann and Frankie Kazarian take on the Time Machine in a all-star match at Sacrifice, they’ll take on Bullet Club in tonight’s main event! Austin uses an “ace in the hole” to deliver Swann a sick paper cut. Both KENTA and Swann fall, following the clothesline in the middle of the ring. Kazarian knocks Ace off his apron before hitting Bey with a ski jump. Kazarian gets two for one with double DDT. Alexander catches Bey in the air and connects with a vicious spinbreaker. Swann takes off with a 450 Splash to Bey, but the pin attempt is interrupted by Ace. The match starts to fall apart when everyone interferes from outside. Kazarian blows Bey with an air cutter into the sea of humanity. Returning to the ring, KENTA strikes Kazarian with a knee strike. Alexander notices McLean looking at him from the back of the STRIKE zone, allowing the Bullet Club to take control. Ace and Bey removed Swann with The Art of Finesse in The Fold.
Bullet Club (NJPW STRONG KENTA Openweight Champion and IMPACT World Tag Team Champions Ace Austin and Chris Bay) vs. IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander, Rich Swann and Frankie Kazarian
Bullet Club celebrates its huge victory as IMPACT! goes off the air.
