‘Impact Wrestling: Over Drive 2022’ PPV Review
Welcome to this review of Impact Wrestling’s Over Drive 2022 pay-per-view/premium event/whatever Impact calls their streaming platform shows… Whatever, let’s just get into the review!
Countdown to Over Drive:
Match #1: 6-Way X-Division Match – Rich Swann def. Jason Hotch, Yuya Uemura, Kenny King, Bhupinder Gujjar & Mike Bailey
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
It’s every man for himself in tonight’s opening contest. Swann hits the ropes but King takes him off his feet with a spin kick. King turns hit attention towards Gujjar as he hits a big Spinebuster. King pummels King with a flurry of kicks. Hotch sends Bailey to the outside with a pinpoint kick of his own. Uemura hits a back suplex on Swann, followed by a German suplex to Gujjar. Hotch dives through the ropes, colliding with Uemura on the floor. Swann soars with a Phoenix Splash off the top rope. Bailey is perched on the top for Ultimo Weapon but King sends him toppling to the outside. Hotch takes out both Uemura and Swann with a double neckbreaker. Gujjar connects with a Ripcord Knee to Hotch. Bailey hits Ultima Weapon onto the back of Hotch but King superkicks him off the pin. King is focused on Bailey while Swann hits the handspring cutter on Hotch to win!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: World Tag Team Title #1 Contenders Match – Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) def. Bullet Club (Ace Austin & Chris Bey)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The winning team will earn a future shot at the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles! Shelley makes a blind tag, allowing Sabin to go after Bey on the outside. Meanwhile, Sabin attacks Austin from behind. Austin delivers a kick to Sabin on the apron. Bey continues the assault with a running forearm into the corner. Both men are down following a double clothesline in the middle of the ring. Sabin tags out to Shelley while Bey does the same to Austin. Shelley does some serious damage with a double armbreaker to both of his opponents. Bey grabs Shelley from the apron, allowing Austin to turn the tide. Bullet Club wear Shelley down as they cut off the ring and employ quick tags. Shelley avoids a top rope Moonsault from Bey, creating separation and allowing him to make the much-needed tag to Sabin. The pace quickens as Sabin goes on the attack. Sabin hits Bey with a Fisherman’s suplex for two. Sabin takes out both members of the Bullet Club with a double crossbody, followed by a double clothesline from Shelley. The Guns hit a Magic Killer but Bey kicks out at two. Bey sends Shelley crashing into his own partner. Austin follows up with the springboard kick. Bey soars over the top rope, colliding with both of the Guns on the floor. Sabin counters the Art of Finesse into a German suplex. Sabin stacks up Bey to score the victory!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Over Drive:
Match #1: Tables Match – Bully Ray def. Moose
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The first person to put their opponent through a table will be declared the winner in this personal showdown! Bully turns his back and Moose immediately delivers a low blow. Moose connects with a spear moments into the match. Moose takes some time to set up a table in the corner, allowing Bully to hit a spear of his own. Bully hits a vertical suplex on the floor. Bully returns the favor from earlier and goes low. Moose hits him in the back with a steel chair but Bully counters the follow-up Uranage attempt into a German suplex. Moose shuts down his momentum with a pump kick. Bully is perched on the top and sends Moose crashing to the mat with a thunderous powerbomb. Moose counters the Bully Bomb but Bully catches him with a mid-air cutter instead. Bully charges into the corner but Moose sidesteps, causing him to put himself through a table. The match doesn’t end, however, because it was not Moose who drove him through the table. Bully spears Moose through a table in the other corner to win!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Knockouts World Tag Team Championship – Death Dollz (Taya Valkyrie & Jessicka) def. Tasha Steelz & Savannah Evans
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The Death Dollz put the Knockouts World Tag Team Titles on the line against the duo of Tasha Steelz and Savannah Evans. The two powerhouses, Evans and Jessicka, exchange strikes in the middle of the ring. Jessicka hits a scoop slam, followed by a running leg drop for two. Evans softens up Valkyrie, then makes the tag to Steelz. Valkyrie is whipped into the corner as Steelz follows up with a running dropkick. Evans distracts the referee, allowing Steelz to attack Valkyrie from the apron. After a brutal beatdown, Valkyrie fights her way out of the corner with a clothesline. Valkyrie has an opportunity to make the tag when Steelz runs across the ring and knocks Jessicka off the apron. Valkyrie finally makes the tag to Jessicka, who goes on the attack. Jessicka hits a double running crossbody to both of her opponents. Jessicka counters the cutter from Steelz into an assisted Sick Driver for three!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Mickie James def. Taylor Wilde
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Mickie James’ Last Rodeo continues as she battles Taylor Wilde in a first time ever dream match! Both Knockouts jockey for position in the opening minutes of the match. James gains the first true advantage with a leg scissors out of the corner, followed by a Hurricanrana. James sends her rolling through the ropes to the floor. The fight spills to the outside where Wilde drives her into the side of the apron. Wilde hits a snap vertical suplex for two. James whips her into the corner but Wilde sidesteps and regains control with a backbreaker. James and Wilde exchange strikes as Wilde gains the upperhand with a targeted shot to the lower back. James builds momentum with a neckbreaker but Wilde avoids the Mick DT. Wilde hits the Wilde Run for a very close near fall. Wilde immediately locks in the Camel Clutch but James escapes. James hits the Mick DT to win!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: IMPACT World Tag Team Championship – Heath & Rhino def. Major Players (Matt Cardona & Brian Myers)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Heath and Rhino defend the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles against the Major Players! Myers is trapped in the Tree of Woe as Heath and Rhino send Cardona colliding into his own partner. Cardona attacks Heath on the apron, allowing Myers to gain control. Cardona hits Heath with a running clothesline on the floor. Myers begins to wear Heath down with a chin lock. The Major Players then cut off the ring, preventing Heath from making the tag. Cardona catapults Heath throat-first into the bottom rope. Cardona hits multiple neckbreakers to continue the assault. Heath finally creates some separation but Myers quickly shuts him down. Moments later, Heath has another opportunity to make the tag but this time it’s Cardona who pulls Rhino off the apron. The Motor City Machine Guns grab a front row seat as they prepare to challenge the winners of this match. Heath counters the ReBoot and sends Cardona over the top rope to the floor. Heath finally makes the tag to Rhino, who joins the fray with a burst of speed. Myers hits Rhino with the Flatliner for two. The Major Players hit a double DDT on Rhino but Heath breaks the pin at two. The Guns stop Cardona from introducing a steel chair into the match. Rhino Gores Myers to score the victory!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: X-Division Title Tournament Final – Trey Miguel def. Black Taurus
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The tournament to crown a new X-Division Champion comes down to this as Black Taurus and Trey Miguel face off in the finals! It’s a stalemate in the early going as both competitors match each other’s offense move for move. Taurus hits a series of Slingblades, followed by a backbreaker. Taurus quickly climbs the ropes to deliver a flying headbutt to Miguel. Taurus locks in a modified Cloverleaf but Miguel makes it to the ropes in order to break the hold. Taurus connects with a pop-up Samoan Drop for two. Miguel hits running double knees in the corner, followed by the running Meteora for a near fall of his own. Both men exchange stiff strikes in the middle of the ring, followed by stereo headbutts. Miguel fights off Destination Hellhole, then hits an Enzuigiri for another near fall. Taurus hurls him off the top rope but it’s not enough to keep Miguel down. Miguel dives over the top and hits a Hurricanrana on the floor. Back in the ring, Miguel connects with the Meteora for yet another near fall. Taurus sends him back-first into the steel ring post. Miguel blinds Taurus with spray paint, then hits the Lightning Spiral to win!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #6: Last Knockout Standing Match for the Knockouts World Championship – Jordynne Grace def. Masha Slamovich
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Jordynne Grace and Masha Slamovich continue their epic rivalry, this time in a Last Knockout Standing match for the Knockouts World Title! There are no disqualifications, no count outs and the only way to win is to incapacitate your opponent for the referee’s count of ten. Grace hits a vertical suplex on the floor. Slamovich bounces back by driving Grace back-first into the steel ramp. In the ring, Slamovich hits a modified Fisherman Driver. Grace is showing signs of life, prompting Slamovich to continue the assault. Grace targets the legs of Slamovich as she hits a snap suplex into the ropes. Grace delivers a thunderous powerbomb into multiple steel chairs. Moments later, Slamovich returns the favor with an Air Raid Crash into a chair but Grace breaks the count at eight. Grace pummels her opponent with a flurry of strikes, followed by the Vertibreak-her into a trash can. Slamovich gets to her feet at nine and counters a Muscle Buster into a Moscow Sunrise off the top. Grace is up at nine, then locks in a Figure Four Leg Lock. Slamovich rolls all the way to the apron but Grace refuses to break the hold. Slamovich breaks the count, then hits a Piledriver on the ramp. Slamovich wraps a toiler seat around the throat of Grace and drags her around the ring. Grace climbs to the top of the ring steps and hits the Muscle Buster through a door. Grace makes it back to her feet while Slamovich stays down for the referee’s count of ten – Jordynne Grace is the Last Knockout Standing!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #7: IMPACT World Championship – Josh Alexander def. Frankie Kazarian
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Frankie Kazarian exercises Option C to challenge Josh Alexander for the IMPACT World Title in tonight’s main event! Kazarian focuses his attention on Alexander’s arm and wrist in the early going. Alexander secures an early Ankle Lock but Kazarian quickly fights out of it. Alexander instead takes him down with an explosive running boot. Alexander hits a backbreaker for two. Alexander strings together a series of German suplexes. Kazarian sends him to the outside, then catches him with a leg drop on his way back into the ring. Kazarian hits a slingshot Hurricanrana to the outside, followed by a slingshot leg drop for two. Kazarian connects with a spinning neckbreaker, putting him into the driver’s seat. Kazarian hits his signature springboard leg drop for two. Kazarian sends Alexander crashing into the turnbuckles with a belly-to-belly suplex. Alexander creates some much-needed separation, giving him a chance to regain his composure. Alexander sends Kazarian flying with a big back body drop. Alexander is in total control following ten German suplexes. Alexander ducks and Kazarian inadvertently takes out the referee. Kazarian sends him crashing to the outside as Alexander’s family watches on. Kazarian is about to use the IMPACT World Title as a weapon but changes his mind. Alexander capitalizes and locks in the Ankle Lock. Kazarian rolls through and hits the Killswitch for a very close near fall. Alexander avoids the leg drop, then hits the running crossbody to the back. Both men exchange submission attempts, leading to a suplex out of the corner from Alexander. Kazarian almost puts Alexander away with Back to the Future. Alexander comes back with a Piledriver. Kazarian hits the slingshot cutter but it’s still not enough to keep Alexander down. Kazarian locks in an Ankle Lock but Alexander reverses into one of his own. Kazarian crawls to the bottom rope, forcing him to break the hold. Kazarian hits the Styles Clash for yet another close near fall. Kazarian soars off the top with a leg drop, then transitions into a Chicken Wing. Alexander hits the C4 Spike to score the victory!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
Really? REALLY?! We’re going to do THAT angle again with Josh Alexander? WTF are Scott D’Amore and co. thinking of rehashing the idea of attacking Alexander’s wife as part of a build to another championship match. I’m sorry, but a) that’s a stupid thing to do. Again; and b) if I was Josh Alexander I’d be f*cking pissed that my bosses can’t find a better opponent or angle than this crap. As usual, you CANNOT fault the wrestling in Impact, and not on this show either, but the storylines have – for me – hit a new low. I can’t see where any of this is headed and especially headed in a good way. It really does, unfortunately, feel like Impact needs an injection of fresh blood both on screen and in the writers room (if they ven have one?!)
