IMPACT Wrestling results for Thursday are courtesy of impactwrestling.com.
The big news coming out of Thursday night’s show on AXS TV is that former NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano made a surprise appearance in a video. Gargano appeared alongside others to talk about the legacy of Alex Shelley and promoting the upcoming IMPACT World Title match Shelley has with Josh Alexander at Emergence.
In a report from Fightful Select on Thursday, Gargano is not in talks with IMPACT Wrestling, and his appearance was “more of a favor for a friend.”
Gargano chose not to re-sign with WWE. His final match with the company was last December at the NXT Takeover WarGames event.
7/28 IMPACT Results
Eddie Edwards w/ Kenny King vs Ace Austin vs Chris Bey
The war between Honor No More and Bullet Club rages on as Eddie Edwards takes on Ace Austin in tonight’s opening contest! King provides a distraction on the outside, allowing Edwards to gain the early advantage. Edwards hits a belly-to-belly suplex off the ropes for two. Austin quickens the pace and sends Edwards to the floor. Austin soars through the air with a Fosbury Flop. He follows up with a springboard leg drop for two. Edwards returns fire and hits a Backpack Stunner. King and Bey are ejected from ringside, prompting Bey to take out King with a dive over the top. Back in the ring, Austin almost puts Edwards away with his signature springboard kick. Edwards comes back with a Tiger Driver, followed by the Diehard Driver to win.
Eddie Edwards def Ace Austin
Heath is on a mission to take out every member of Honor No More with a Wake Up Call.
During an interview with Gia Miller, IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander is interrupted by his next challenger at Emergence, Alex Shelley. Shelley says that he wants Alexander to come out of tonight’s match with Shera unscathed because he wants him to be at his best at Emergence.
Laredo Kid & Trey Miguel vs Johnny Swinger & Zicky Dice
Laredo Kid and Trey Miguel join forces against duo from Swinger’s Dungeon, Johnny Swinger and Zicky Dice! Kid and Miguel quickly gain control as Dice retreats the outside. Swinger and Dice attempt to play mind games as they don their own masks. Miguel dives through the ropes, taking out Dice on the floor. Swinger provides a distraction, allowing Dice to blindside Miguel with a clothesline. Swinger inadvertently hits partner with a top rope elbow drop. Miguel hits Dice with the Meteora, followed by the Frog Splash from Kid to win!
Laredo Kid & Trey Miguel def Johnny Swinger & Zicky Dice
Brian Myers continues to make Bhupinder Gujjar jump through hoops for a Digital Media Title opportunity. Despite Gujjar’s win over Vincent earlier tonight on BTI, Myers tells him that his spot has been taken by Black Taurus next week.
Tiffany Nieves vs Jada Stone
Tasha Steelz joins Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt on commentary for the following showcase match between talents from Ohio Valley Wrestling. Steelz says the winner may receive a match with her in the future. Stone crashes and burns on a springboard Moonsault attempt, allowing Nieves to capitalize with a DDT. Nieves stacks her up with a hold of the ropes to win.
Tiffany Nieves def Jada Stone
After the match, Killer Kelly makes her long-awaited arrival in IMPACT Wrestling and goes face to face with Nieves! Kelly chokes her out before dropping Stone with a modified Implant Buster in the middle of the ring.
Eric Young gives Deaner and Joe Doering their orders – take out the Motor City Machine Guns, then do the same to KUSHIDA.
Chris Sabin, IMPACT Executive Vide President Scott D’Amore, Sami Callihan, KUSHIDA, Jimmy Jacobs, X-Division Champion Mike Bailey, Trey Miguel and even Johnny Gargano praise Alex Shelley ahead of his first ever IMPACT World Title opportunity against Josh Alexander at Emergence.
IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander vs Shera w/ Raj Singh
After a physical altercation last week, Josh Alexander collides with Shera in what promises to be a hard-hitting contest! Alexander hits a running crossbody to the back of Shera. Singh pulls Alexander off the apron but fails his attempt to push him into the steel steps. Alexander locks in the Ankle Lock, forcing Shera to tap out!
IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander def Shera w/ Raj Singh
In an interview with Gia Miller, Moose denies the allegations that he and Steve Maclin have formed an alliance.
Honor No More confronts IMPACT Executive Vice President Scott D’Amore about Heath’s recent string of attacks on the group. D’Amore doesn’t offer them any support and tells Edwards that being a leader comes with a lot of problems. Heath strikes again in the background.
Havok’s alter ego, Jessicka, wants to party with VXT at Chelsea Green’s bachelorette party. Rosemary and Taya Valkyrie pull her away as they have a Knockouts World Tag Team Title defense against VXT at Emergence.
Back in the IMPACT Zone, Raj Singh is furious as Shera is still laid out after his match against Josh Alexander. Singh says that Alexander should have been disqualified and that he’s not leaving the ring until there is justice. The lights go out and Sami Callihan spikes him with the Cactus Driver 97! Callihan gets on the mic and says that he doesn’t care if Moose and Steve Maclin are in an alliance or not, they both have a date with the Death Machine!
Gia Miller interviews Mia Yim, who is scheduled to challenge Jordynne Grace for the Knockouts World Title at Emergence. After suffering her first pinfall loss since return to IMPACT Wrestling, Miller asks her if that’s going to affect her momentum heading into big event. The feed cuts out as Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt apologize for the technical difficulties.
Scott D’Amore rushes to the production truck where he discovers that Honor No More is responsible for the interruptions. D’Amore grants Honor No More a chance to earn the IMPACT World Tag Team Title shot they so desperately desire. At Emergence, Honor No More will battle Bullet Club in a five on five showdown – if Honor No More wins, they will receive their title shot but if they lose, they must disband!
Rich Swann vs KUSHIDA
KUSHIDA makes his highly-anticipated IMPACT in-ring debut as he squares off with former IMPACT World Champion Rich Swann! KUSHIDA targets the left arm in the early going. Swann starts to build momentum with a dropkick. KUSHIDA ducks, causing Swann to chop the steel ring post. Both men are down following in-sync running crossbodies. KUSHIDA quickens the pace with a flurry of strikes, followed by a Pele kick. KUSHIDA locks in the Armbar but Swann counters into a pinning opportunity for two. Swann hits a neckbreaker, followed by a running kick but it’s not enough to keep KUSHIDA down. KUSHIDA secures a Kimura on the top rope, then locks in the Hoverboard Lock to win by submission!
KUSHIDA def Rich Swann
After the match, KUSHIDA celebrates his victory as IMPACT! goes off the air.