Davey Boy Smith Jr speaks

Davey Boy Smith Jr has spoken to various news outlets, including Impact Wrestling Social Media pages on his decision to sign with the company, his debut at Hard To Kill and what does the future hold for him in American Wrestling.

"I had various offers from companies such as NJPW, AEW, WWE & Impact Wrestling....or as I was told within the meeting for Impact TNA, I'm assuming they are working under that banner or changing branding to say TNA again, anyway before I go off topic a little, I had various offers presented to me, and they were substantial offers as well, offering me this thing and that thing, WWE presented me with an offer which meant I would have been signed to their NXT Brand or the developmental brand...but based at their UK site, it was a fine offer, but I felt insulted that they didn't think I was good enough for the main roster, so I declined WWE's offer for a contract, however I will be honouring their decision to allow myself to induct my father into the WWE Hall of Fame. AEW & NJPW offer were scarily similar in terms of salary and dates, which said to me they were going to be in a working relationship with one another, at this point in my life, I don't want to be thrown from pillar to post...I just want a settled home, one where I can make it my own, that's where Dwayne came in with an offer to myself".

"Dwayne spoke with me daily for extended periods of time getting me to sign a deal, he also put me into talks with Impact Director Christian Cage and I'm not even sure I'm allowed to say this, due to the mass changes at boardroom level, Don Callis who is the President of Talent Relations, which I think is a promotion on his previous title, I'm unsure...either way they all spoke to me and assured me my position, my salary and the vision they all had for TNA/Impact Wrestling for the future and that is what persuaded me to ink the deal".

"I knew there was a chance straight off the bat to claim a world title opportunity, which is why I decided to make my debut at Hard To Kill, easily making Moose tap out...I do understand people's concerns, including Christian Cage's concerns about why Sting was there, trust me I didn't know either...I thought they changed the script on me and had Sting sign with the company and be put into that match behind my back, again I have no connection with Sting, I want that to be known. There isn't any conspiracy here, there is no invasion happening, I don't know why I need to stress that, but I do for some reason".

"The immediate future for myself will be to walk into The Impact Zone on the 1st show of 2021, make Samoa Joe my bitch and become the new Impact World Champion, he can't win a match without any screwy finishes, anyone helping him...whether that be Akam, Rezar or the Impact Board..... then I guess longterm is to become the longest reigning Impact World Champion in its history!!!!"

- Health Update on Eric Young - 

We can finally confirm that after weeks of speculation on social media following Last Month's Hard To Kill submission match against Samoa Joe, that Eric Young has suffered and sustained injuries that will prevent him from returning to TNA/Impact Wrestling action anytime soon. Following the barbaric match, in which special guest referee and Impact Director Christian Cage stopped the match, on grounds of safety and the well-being of Eric Young, who was visibly losing consciousness in his match against Samoa Joe, was taken to a medical facility close to Skyway Studios (former hosting site of TNA/Impact Wrestling) where he was looked over by the best medical professionals at the site. 

Eric Young suffered severe trauma to his neck and vocal cords, thanks to the chain attack, and lethal coquina clutch from Samoa Joe and currently there is no return date pencilled or penned in for Young's return to the company. Everyone at TNA/Impact Wrestling wish him the best of recoveries, and we hope to see him back in the company sooner rather than later.

Show Preview

Impact Wrestling will be live for the first show of 2021, and it will emanate from its new venue for the meantime of 'First Horizon Park', as we welcome fans back into attendance, on a limited basis for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic swept the planet. We have tantalising card with two titles set to be defended on the show, as the Impact Women's Championship will be contested between Rosita & Tessa Blanchard, we will also see Samoa Joe defend his Impact World Title against Davey Boy Smith Jr, can 'The British Bulldog' overcome the odds and claim the Impact World Championship in only his 2nd match in the company? - or will 'The Samoan Submission Machine' prove too strong and walk out still the Impact World Champion? Chris Bey will also be in action as he faces the self-proclaimed 'Mr Impact Wrestling' Moose in single's action, with Rohit Roju also in singles action against TJP in a "No-Disqualification" match, with Rohit angry he isn't number one contender for the X-Division title and will do everything in his power to claim that chance, even if he has to put TJP on the shelf.

Will we also see an appearance from TNA/Impact Hall of Famer Sting? He currently isn't signed to the company, but he did make an appearance at Hard To Kill as he introduced Moose to Davey Boy Smith Jr. Impact Director Christian Cage has already told Sting to stay away from Impact, if he knows what's good for him. Christian has also promised a huge announcement ahead of January's special event Against All Odds.

Impact Wrestling opens with a fireworks display to welcome fans back into attendance, at their new venue of First Horizon Park. We also get a pan of the seated section where fans are wearing their face coverings, making noise, and it is a noise we all welcome back. We also get a pan of the new six-sided ring, with a banner that says "#ThankYou" . It is revealed that this is done for the emergency health care and front line workers for their work during the pandemic so far and for the future, we have a minute applause from everyone inside The Impact Zone before the main show starts.

Show Review

- We open the show with Impact Director Christian Cage in the ring, he welcomes the fans back to the newly renamed "Impact Zone @ First Horizon Park", he thanks them both for their patience and support during this testing time for everyone around the globe. He hypes the show with the 3 matches already announced for the show, with an impromptu Impact Tag Team Championship match being added, due to Samoa Joe's request. He said he has "no idea" what Joe has in mind for Akam & Rezar, Christian also went into more detail about why he called the match at Hard To Kill in Joe's favour, he said he can't let someone die on his watch, and it was his fear that Joe would just do that to Eric Young. He revealed that Eric Young will be taken an indefinite leave of absence from Impact Wrestling. Christian Cage revealed that the next special event for Impact Wrestling would be later this month as Against All Odds will be the next event and Samoa Joe will defend his title against a yet to be named opponent.

- Christian Cage then decided to call out Sting, he said that Sting had no business showing up at Hard To Kill, he has no business with Impact Wrestling and he was always the afterthought to him. He stated that when he first signed to TNA/Impact Wrestling, Sting decided to pen a deal shortly afterwards, when he decided to sign for WWE, who decided to join him there afterwards? and he says he will be angered if Sting has decided to once again follow Christian to another company. Cage basically said "Stay out or else!!" Would we see Sting before the night is out?

- In the first match of the night, Chris Bey sat at ringside and took selfies and videos with some fans in attendance, as he was on a scouting mission as he watched his future X-Division Championship opponent TJP take on Rohit Roju in a NO-DQ match, Chris Bey was no distraction for TJP, but he proved to be for Rohit Roju as Bey kept teasing him at ringside and getting the crowd to chant "Roju Sucks" an awful lot, Roju got into Bey's face but with this being a No-DQ match, Bey hit him with a super-kick as TJP took the advantage to roll Roju up for the win. Bey and TJP shake hands but both men know that they'll soon collide for Bey's gold, Roju looks livid and annoyed and storms off up the ramp, as the crowd laugh.

- We're taken to the backstage area as Samoa Joe, Akam and Rezar are having a conversation, Joe assures both men they have nothing to worry about ahead of their title defense tonight, he just needs to focus on his as he takes on a tough opponent in Davey Boy Smith Jr. Rezar says "Listen, Joe....we didn't come to Impact to be your little bitches...remember that!". Joe replies with "I don't care what you think, or what you both think.........lose tonight, and you will be little bitches". Akam says "Listen, me and Rezar were talking earlier and while we appreciate you bringing us in to this company, we don't need you. We're ready to shine on our own", "That's a rather bold and brave statement to say, you know what...go out there and see what being out of my company does for you" Joe angrily replied to them, as Akam & Rezar walk off, Joe quickly goes on his mobile phone "They'll be slim pickings, if you both can't do the job....you won't have a job". Who is Joe on the phone to?

- We're then taken to the locker room of Rosita, she proudly displays her newly won Impact Women's Championship and says she'll slap any one down who comes crawling towards her for it, starting tonight with the "Basic B" Tessa Blanchard. She says that if she loses, she'll quit...that's how confident she is of not losing her championship tonight.

- The 2nd match of the night is Akam & Rezar defending their Impact Tag Team Titles against a yet to be announced opponent, the fans are cheering for both Akam & Rezar, despite their current alliance with Samoa Joe, which may have ended earlier tonight. Their opponents are The Good Brothers in a rematch from Hard To Kill, both teams seem to be fan favourites here as both teams get cheers throughout the match, its was Akam & Rezar who won the bout though, afterwards Akam, Rezar & The Good Brothers all shook hands and all raised hands as the fans celebrated the bout, the celebration was cut short as Samoa Joe was seen on the tron. "Remember what you said earlier boys? That you didn't need me? Well......now you're on your own" He laughs maniacally as two masked men enter the ring with lead pipes and clear the ring of The Good Brothers and Rezar, Akam puts up a brave fight but is over powered by the two men. As Akam is laid out, the two men unmask, and they appear to be no other than The 'Guerrillas of Destiny' Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga, they both laugh as they stare down all 4 men they've just beaten down and look at the Impact Tag Team Titles.

- Christian Cage is seen seething backstage and angered on the phone "Well, who the hell brought these guys in? Was it you? Was it Don? or is it Jessie from the café? I don't have a say on whose coming on my show, all I'm here for is just to HOPEFULLY control them?". Christian slams his hand down on the table "No, you don't need to get rid of me Mr. Johnson. I'll try my best to make the best of a bad situation, but the net is tightening, and I'm afraid I am running out of certain options". Christian seemed more deep in thought as his phone conversation went on.."Just tell me one thing, Sting isn't signed to an Impact Wrestling contract is he?", his face turned to joy as it turned out Sting has not been signed to a Impact Wrestling contract.....yet. "Okay, see you in a few weeks Mr Johnson", Christian's face soon turned from glee to anger, he dials a number, but we don't know who he is on the phone to just yet.

- We were due to have our third match of the night, in which The Impact Women's Championship was going to be defended however as Rosita was making her way to the ring, Tessa Blanchard came from behind and lay her out, she hit a stiff spike piledriver on Rosita on the outside as fans cheered for that, medical staff came to check over Rosita as Tessa stood there and basked in the fans admiration, she didn't win the title, the match didn't even start , so what is the end game for Tessa?

- We see Davey Boy Smith Jr warming up backstage, he is asked what his emotions are like ahead of his title match against Samoa Joe

- We have The Self-Proclaimed 'Mr Impact Wrestling' Moose in the ring, he is angered he isn't being given another chance to claim his number one contender spot for the Impact World Title, after Sting ruined his chances. He says that if Sting was here tonight, he'd give him what for, then just there the lights went out, the lights pan through the crowd as it's littered with a few wearing Sting face paint. As the light's come back up, Sting is in the ring holding a baseball bat, as Moose is laid out and the crowd cheer. We go to backstage as we see Christian Cage is seething, he's shouting down the phone "Listen, if Sting wants to be in Impact, want's to attack my talent well he can do it in a match setting. Against All Odds Sting can take on Moose, how does he like them apples?". We've got our first match announced for Against All Odds , Impact Fans are cheering at the announcement. 

- Main event time as Impact World Champion Samoa Joe defends his championship against new-boy Davey Boy Smith Jr, Joe & Smith Jr had a hard-fought bout the crowd were into, however near the end of the bout, both men spilled to the outside area brawling as Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa made their way out to the ringside area, they helped the layed out Joe back into the ring, as they duct tape Davey Boy Smith Jr to the barricade surrounding the ring, the Ref counts out Smith Jr as Joe retains his championship, through shenanigans, Joe celebrates in the ring with his new faction members. Joe grabs a mic and says "Impact, TNA whatever you want to call yourselves, allow me to introduce to my club, THE CLUB to be apart of here in Impact, heck in all of Wrestling....The Impact Club, no that sounds too lame......we're The Family!!!!"

- The show ends with The Family standing tall as fans boo as Davey Boy Smith Jr feels hard done by.

Show Results

TJP defeats Rohit Roju

Akam & Rezar defeat The Good Brothers

Rosita v Tessa Blanchard no contest

Samoa Joe defeats Davey Boy Smith Jr

- Show Preview - 

The fallout from last week's huge title match between Samoa Joe & Davey Boy Smith Jr will be the main topic of debate, as Samoa Joe retained the title in controversial circumstances when Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa made their presence known, they sided with Samoa Joe and helped him retain the title as they stopped Davey Boy Smith Jr getting into the ring. How will Akam & Rezar respond to be thrown out by Joe, in favour of the new blood? Also how will Impact Director get things under control on his own show? Sting has made another unscheduled appearance on his shift and it appears people above him and pulling the strings behind his back. Will Cage call out either Dwayne Johnson or Don Callis? 

- Tune in to this week's Impact Wrestling to find out.