Impact Wrestling “Slammiversary XVI” Preview
July 21, 2018
By: Josh Boutwell
Impact Wrestling returns to traditional pay-per-view this weekend with the 16th installment of “Slammiversary” live from the gorgeous Rebel Complex in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
This is Impact’s first PPV since April’s terrific “Redemption,” which was looked as the true re-launching of Impact under the Don Callis/Scott D’Amore flag.
Since that time, Impact has put on the most consistently good television product it’s had in decades, in my opinion, and is looking to continue that with another strong outing at “Slammiversary.”
We’re going to go down the card, match-by-match, and see how we’ve arrived at “Slammiversary.”
“Undeniable” Tessa Blanchard vs. Allie
The third generation star, Tessa Blanchard, made her presence felt early in Impact going right after a number of former Impact Knockouts Champions like Madison Rayne and Allie.
This rivalry began a few weeks ago when Allie intercepted a Blanchard attack on Rayne. After Allie defeated Shotzi Blackheart last week, Blanchard attacked her and told Allie that she did “the wrong thing by doing the right thing” in helping Rayne.
Allie herself hasn’t been the same since the injury of her twisted friend Rosemary at the hands of Su Yung. Can she get things back on track or will Tessa prove that “diamonds are forever and so is Tessa Blanchard?”
Impact Tag Team Championships
5150 Street Fight
The LAX (Santana & Ortiz) w/Konnan vs. The OGz (Homicide and Hernandez) w/King
For weeks LAX aimlessly went through their matches lost without their mentor Konnan, who was attacked and hospitalized by a mystery assailant, until King (the former Eddie Kingston) made his return to Impact to help guide LAX back to the Tag Team Championships.
Then, three weeks ago Konnan finally made his return and accused King of setting him up and eventually getting him to admit to it. King told LAX to choose sides and when Santana and Ortiz stuck behind their original mentor, Homicide and Hernadnez – the original LAX – made their shocking return and attacked LAX.
Now known as The OGz, Homicide and Hernandez are waging war with their former mentor, claiming that Konnan turned his back on them and never gave them the same opportunities afforded to Santana and Ortiz.
This feud will come to a violent head at “Slammiversary” when LAX defends the tag titles against The OGz in a 5150 Street Fight. This will be Hernandez and Homicide’s first opportunity to regain those titles since last holding them in 2009.
House of Hardcore Match
“The Lone Wolf” Eddie Edwards vs. “The Innovator of Violence” Tommy Dreamer
This surprising rivalry is a spinoff of the unbelievably violent rivalry between Eddie Edwards and Sami Callihan earlier in the year.
At the culmination of their intense rivalry, Dreamer begged Richards to stop going down the road he was going or he would see it destroy him.
Dreamer said that he saw the same obsession in Eddie that he had with Raven during their rivalry in the old ECW in the 1990s. In attempting to help Edwards, the now crazed Edwards turned his aggression on the former ECW World Champion.
Edwards even took the fight to Dreamer’s home promotion, House of Hardcore, and laid waste to the man that helped him gain revenge on Sami Callihan at “Redemption.”
This feud will take an even more violent turn at “Slammiversary” when the two face off in a “House of Hardcore” (No DQ) Match. Dreamer has said that he is now the obsessed one and won’t be satisfied until he destroys Edwards.
Fatal 4-Way
“The Paragon of Virtue” Johnny Impact vs. “The Outlandish” Rich Swann vs. “Bone Soldier” Taiji Ishimori vs. “El Hijo del Fuego” Fenix
Impact Wrestling will clear the airways for a highflying affair that should be nothing short of spectacular in this Fatal 4-Way.
Johnny Impact makes his return to the company after being gone for much of the summer, while we get a chance to see Ishimori for the first time since his debut as the new “Bone Soldier” in New Japan.
Rich Swann will also make his Impact PPV debut here and both he and Fenix have already set Impact on fire with a series of spectacular matches, including a breathtaking singles match a few weeks ago.
The winner of this match is sure to be next in line for a title shot, whether that be the X-Division Championship and World Championship.
Mask vs. Hair Match
“Cero Miedo” Pentagon Jr. (mask) vs. “The Death Machine” Sami Callihan (hair)
After his feud with Edwards, the psychotic Sami Callihan turned his attention to former Impact World Champion Pentagon Jr. in his quest to prove he is the most sadistic wrestler on the planet.
The problem is, he may have picked on the wrong wrestler in Pentagon.
This feud began following a Pentagon and Hijo del Fantasma win over OVE last month. Following the match Callihan viciously attacked Pentagon and ripped his mask, showing his lack of respect for Lucha Libre tradition in the process.
Pentagon looked for a measure of revenge the following week in a Steel Cage Match, taped at a PCWUltra event, but OVE helped beat Pentagon down and ultimately stole his mask.
Callihan then used the mask to disguise himself as Pentagon and attack his brother Fenix. Following that attack, Pentagon issued a Mask vs. Hair challenge, a lucha libre staple, in a first-time ever matchup in Impact.
These two have had a number of violent matches around the country and this one is sure to be no different, especially with the added wager on the line.
At “Slammiversary” either one of the most popular luchadors on the planet will be unmasked or the sadistic Sami Callihan will be shaved in front of the masses.
Impact X-Division Championship
“New Bourne” Matt Sydal (c) vs. “The Machine” Brian Cage
Impact will prove the “no limits” claim of the X-Division on Sunday with the monstrous Cage gets a shot at Sydal’s championship. This is Cage’s first shot at championship gold in Impact.
Cage earned his shot at the title with a win over Dezmond Xavier and Sydal will have to use his aerial ability to show why he is considered by many to be one of the greatest high flyers of all time, if he is going to defeat the freakish Cage.
Impact Knockouts Championship
“The Undead Bride” Su Yung (c) vs. “The Queen” Madison Rayne
Su Yung has left a wake of disaster behind her after debuting in Impact earlier this year. After taking the Knockouts Championship from Allie and then dispatching of Rosemary, Yung has set her sites on the Knockouts legend Madison Rayne after Rayne earned a title shot.
Ever since earning that shot, Yung has played mind games with her, even luring her into the forest only to be surrounded by Yung’s “brides.”
This feud is likely only going to grow even more bizarre with the title on the line.
Main Event
Impact World Heavyweight Championship
“The Belt Collector” Austin Aries (c) vs. Moose
Austin Aries will look to hang on to his belt, as he looks to add keep it for his collection, when he faces former NFL star Moose in Moose’s first one-on-one opportunity at winning the Impact World Championship.
Ever since Moose was crowned No. 1 contender, Aries has used every tactic he can to get in Moose’s head and attack him. Eventually Moose’s friend and former NFL running back D’Angelo Williams returned to Impact to have Moose’s back only to be assaulted by Aries.
With the title on the line, will Moose be able to keep his cool or has Aries permanently rented space in the former offensive lineman’s head. Williams will also likely make his presence felt at “Slammiverasry,” too.
“Slammiversary” will go down live on pay-per-view this Sunday, July 22, from Toronto.