Hall’s TNA Sacrifice 2022 Review

Sacrifice 2022
Date: March 5, 2022
Location: Paristown Hall, Louisville, Kentucky
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

So this might be interesting as I was in the arena for the show. Granted I didn’t actually see much of it as the venue is NOT well designed for wrestling and if you’re not on the floor, good luck seeing anything. Instead I was up in the balcony, where I might have been able to see about a third of the ring due to a couch, a barricade and a kid who would not sit down all night long. The main event here is Moose defending the World Title against Heath, just in case you were wondering how bad things had gotten around this point. Let’s get to it.

Pre-Show: Gisele Shaw vs. Lady Frost

Frost snapmares her down to start and a frustrated Shaw is sent outside. That’s fine with Frost, who plants her on the floor as well but an anklescissors is broken up inside. Shaw’s running elbow gets two and she faceplants Frost to keep her in trouble. A Vader Bomb gets two more on Frost, who certainly has the fans’ support. Frost is right back up to send her into the corner for a handspring Cannonball, only to get caught on top. The hanging DDT plants Frost again but she’s able to block a belly to back superplex. Instead Shaw is elbowed down and a moonsault gives Frost the pin at 6:03.

Rating: C. The match was hardly memorable but it wasn’t supposed to be. This was about getting a match in front of the fans and the big spot for the finish made it that much better. Shaw always felt like she was going to be a big deal in TNA but it never quite got there. Frost wasn’t much of a star either, but you could easily see the athleticism and that was enough to catch your attention.

Pre-Show: Honor No More vs. Rich Swann/Willie Mack

Honor No More (Matt Taven/Mike Bennett) have Maria, who joins commentary, with them. The idea is that Honor No More was a group of former ROH wrestlers who had shown up here and tried to take over, with hit and miss success. Bennett headlocks Swann to start but gets dropkicked into the corner for his efforts. Taven comes in to take over on Swann but it’s off to Mack just as fast. Mack gets in a knockdown of his own until the villains send him outside.

The brawl heads to the floor, with Mack getting back inside for the big running flip dive. Back in and a DDT gets two on Mack and it’s time to beat him down in the corner. An assisted backbreaker gets two and a jumping enziguri connects for the same. Mack punches his way out of trouble though and it’s back to Swann. An assisted bulldog gets two on Taven with Bennett making the save. Mack Stuns Taven and Swann is back up, only to get caught in the corner. The Backpack Stunner is broken up though and Swann sunset flips Bennett for the pin at 7:44.

Rating: C+. This was a pretty standard tag match and it was nice to see Swann and Mack working together well. They could have been a nice team if they were given a chance but that only went so far. Honor No More was a nice idea but it never worked, which tends to be the case with a lot of these invasion ideas.

The opening video talks about the importance of sacrifice and looks at the bigger matches on the show.

X-Division Title: Trey Miguel vs. Jake Something

Miguel is defending and Something would later be known as Jake Doyle in AEW. Something powers him down to start but gets sunset flipped out of the corner. Back up and a dropkick works for Miguel, but his hurricanrana is countered into a sitout powerbomb for two. Doyle’s Vader standing body splash gets two more but Miguel is back up with some forearms. Doyle gets creative though by standing on Miguel’s foot to prevent him from hitting the ropes and allowing Doyle to drop him with a big forearm.

Miguel gets up with a kick to the face and a quick Lightning Spiral to start the comeback. The chops just wake Something up though and he grabs an Abyss Shock Treatment for two more. A kick to the head puts Something on the floor and a diving Canadian Destroyer knocks him silly. Something is fine enough to come back with a buckle bomb, followed by a gutwrench powerbomb for another two. Another powerbomb is countered into a Meteora and a top rope Meteora in the Tree Of Woe retains the title at 11:04.

Rating: B+. These guys had a heck of an opening match as you could see the chemistry working. It helps that they were doing a rather basic speed vs. power formula and that’s always going to work. This got rolling and you could see either of them winning, which is a great feeling to have in a match. Rather good stuff here.

Tasha Steelz, with Savannah Evans, is ready to beat Mickie James again.

Rhino vs. Eddie Edwards

This is fallout from the TNA vs. Honor No More match at No Surrender which kept the latter around. Therefore, Team TNA (Rich Swann/Willie Mack/Chris Sabin) and Honor No More (Matt Taven/Mike Bennett/Vincent/Kenny King/Maria) are here too. Edwards charges at him to start and is quickly punched out to the floor as brawling with someone named RHINO is a bad idea.

Back in and Rhino wins a chop off to send him right back to the floor. Edwards is sent back inside where he scores with a cheap shot, allowing Maria to try to hand him a kendo stick. That earns her an ejection so Taven trips Rhino down to keep up the cheating. Taven chokes on the rope and Edwards thumbs Rhino in the eye to cut him off again.

Rhino comes back with some clotheslines though and the teams get in the big brawl on the floor. Mack flip dives onto the pile and here is Steve Maclin to lay Edwards out. Then Maclin turns on Rhino with the kendo stick, allowing Edwards to hit the Boston Knee Party for the win at 8:44.

Rating: C+. This was almost about everything BUT the match and that’s not the best way to go. It’s part of a much bigger story but Honor No More never really turned into a major force. The Maclin interference is a good thing as Maclin is someone who can be quite the force if he’s given the chance. Let him show what he can do and working with Rhino will be a good start.

We recap the Influence (Madison Rayne/Tenille Dashwood) challenging the IInspiration (Cassie Lee/Jessie McKay) for the Knockouts Tag Team Titles. This is of course about the belts, but also about the personal photographer (Kaleb With A K) who works for the Influence but seems to be tempted to switch sides.

The Influence tells Kaleb to stay in the back and not come out there until they win the titles.

Knockouts Tag Team Titles: Influence vs. IInspiriation

The IInspiration is defending. Dashwood punches McKay down to start and gets dropped for her efforts, with McKay getting to strike the pose. A gutwrench suplex drops Rayne and it’s off to Lee for an armdrag. Everything breaks down rather quickly and the Influence takes over, allowing them to pose. The beating goes outside, with Rayne sending McKay into the post to knock her silly.

Back in and McKay gets tied in the Tree Of Woe for some hair pulling, including the sliding version. A clothesline and Codebreaker get McKay out of trouble and the running tag brings Lee in to clean house. Dashwood gets out of a double suplex though and the Spotlight Kick gets two on Lee. Back up and Lee kicks Dashwood down but here is Kaleb, despite what the Influence told him. Kaleb slides Dashwood a belt and Lee gets knocked silly for the pin and the titles at 10:19.

Rating: C+. The crowd was way behind the IInspiration here but having them as the top stars of the division for so long can become an issue. You have to swap them out every so often and that’s what we saw here. If nothing else, Kaleb sticking with the Influence is good to see, as sometimes it’s better to go with what makes sense rather than messing with the idea.

Rhino is livid but wants Heath to win the World Title. Heath says he’s scared but Anthony Carelli (Santino Marella) comes in to give him a pep talk. That’s enough for Heath to be ready to fight.

Brian Myers has set up his own commentary desk. W. Morrissey (Big Cass/Bill/whatever) comes out to powerbomb him through it instead.

Jonah vs. PCO

Jonah would later be known as Bronson Reed and PCO is part of Honor No More. Jonah pounds him into the corner to start but gets knocked down for a basement dropkick to the back. They’re quickly on the floor for some rams into various things but Jonah Russian legsweeps him onto the ramp. Back in and PCO shrugs off some chops and screams a lot before knocking him outside.

The running flip dive takes Jonah out and PCO hits the top rope flip dive onto the apron. Jonah is right back up with a superplex and they’re both down again. An exchange of German suplexes has both of them up so Jonah hits a clothesline and a regular suplex to take over. The top rope splash is broken up and PCO hits a super Frankensteiner (as the camera shots keep messing up, leaving a bunch of ghost images on the screen).

The PCOsault only gets two and they head outside again, with PCO missing a charge into the steps. A piledriver drops PCO onto the steps and Jonah powerbombs him from the steps onto the floor (OUCH). Back in and the top rope splash to PCO’s back finishes him off at 11:30.

Rating: B. This was exactly as advertised, with the two of them beating the fire out of each other. That powerbomb onto the floor looked devastating (as PCO isn’t a sane human) and it was a blast to see the two of them beating on each other like this. It’s easy to see why Jonah wound up back in WWE, as you don’t find someone with that size who can move like that. Very entertaining monster fight.

Jay White is ready to face his mentor, Alex Shelley. He’s gone around the world and wrestled in different places and now he’s here, ready to win again.

Jay White vs. Alex Shelley

The fans are split to start and they lock up into the series of standing switches. That’s good for a standoff so Shelley takes over on the arm, including a middle rope stomp onto said arm. Shelley takes him down on the apron, slides back inside to smile at the referee, and then slams White face first onto the apron. Back in and Shelley goes after the arm again, earning himself a backbreaker to put White in control on the first time.

White drops him throat first across the top rope and they’re back on the floor, where Shelley is rammed into the apron. Another backbreaker gets two back inside and White works on a waistlock. Shelley gets up and runs him over though and goes simple by kicking white in the head. A charge misses in the corner though and White grabs a DDT for a double down. Shelley is right back up with a Downward Spiral onto the middle buckle and it’s time to get serious. White can’t get a Rock Bottom so he chops Shelley down instead.

Back up and they strike it out until White scores with his swinging Rock Bottom. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Shelley is back up with a standing Sliced Bread for two of his own. Shell Shock is blocked but the Blade Runner is as well, allowing Shelley to pull him into the Border City Stretch.

White gets his foot on the rope for the break as the fans approve of everything. Shelley kicks him out to the floor, where White is right back with the Blade Runner to the apron (ow). Back in and another Blade Runner is countered into the Shell Shock, with Shelley grabbing the Border City Stretch again. White slips out again though and it’s the Blade Runner to finish Shelley at 18:41.

Rating: B+. This was a heck of a match, with the two of them trading one counter after another until White finally caught Shelley. You do not have stars like Shelley very often, as he can make anyone look good and hang with anybody. That was certainly the case with White, who is always a blast to watch. Match of the night thus far here.

Post match Shelley offers a handshake but White leaves instead.

Violent By Design is ready for their reward, meaning the Tag Team Titles.

Ring Of Honor Women’s Title: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Chelsea Green

Green is challenging (after selecting the ROH Women’s Title over the AAA Reina de Reinas Title, both of which were held by Purrazzo). They fight over a lockup and go to the mat, with neither being able to get anywhere. A Japanese armdrag sends Purrazzo outside for the suicide dive but she’s right back in with some choking on the rope. Green gets out of the Fujiwara armbar so Purrazzo is right back with the running clothesline.

Back up and Green’s middle rope sunset flip sets off an exchange of near falls until Purrazzo gets the Fujiwara armbar again. That’s escaped and they knock each other down for a double breather. Green sends her face first into the middle buckle and a face stomp gets two. A stalling Downward Spiral plants Purrazzo again but she’s right back with a kind of flipping slam for two.

The Fujiwara armbar goes on again so Green reverses into one of her own, sending Purrazzo over to the rope. Purrazzo is able to snap the arm and leaves Green screaming while the referee checks on her. Green tries to fight back with one arm and is immediately pulled into the Fujiwara armbar to retain the title at 8:18.

Rating: B-. This was an interesting one as you had Green trying to figure out a way around Purrazzo but she finally got caught by the better wrestler. It worked well enough and the armbar at the end made it feel like Green was in agony. That’s how Purrazzo works best and it was the case again here, as she reeled Green in and finally caught her.

Post match the hold stays on until Mickie James runs in for the save. Cue Tasha Steelz and it’s time for the scheduled Knockouts Title match, even as Green is getting her arm iced on the floor.

Knockouts Title: Mickie James vs. Tasha Steelz

James is defending and has to get back inside from checking on Green, where Steelz jumps her for the fast start. Steelz fires off some shoulders in the corner but James pulls her out for a running kick to the chest. A Boston crab goes on and here is Savannah Evans to cut off Green as she tries to leave. James cuts Evans off but gets taken out by a diving Steelz and they head back inside.

The comeback doesn’t work for James as Steelz kicks her down for two but James gets in some chops in the corner. Steelz is back with a running kick to the chest and grabs a camel clutch. James powers up and jawbreaks her way to freedom before hammering away in the corner. They both wind up sitting on top for a slugout and then fall out onto the floor in a big crash.

Back in and James fires off the right hands, including after a Thesz press to the delight of the fans. The MickieDT looks to finish but Evans comes in for the distraction. Steelz is back up with a crucifix bomb for two and even tries a Stratusfaction, which is easily shoved away. James goes up but gets distracted by Evans, causing her to dive into a cutter to give Steelz the pin at 14:08.

Rating: B-. There was a lot going on here and I was waiting for Green to turn on James and cost her the title. At least they didn’t go that way, though the Evans stuff got annoying in a hurry. Steelz winning the title is fine as you always need some fresh blood in a division and beating one of the all time legends is a good thing.

We recap the Tag Team Title match, with the Good Brothers defending and Violent By Design wanting….I have no idea what Eric Young was talking about most of the time.

Tag Team Titles: Good Brothers vs. Violent By Design

Violent By Design, with Deaner, is challenging and Chris Bey is here with the champs. Young and Anderson start things off with the former grabbing an armbar. Anderson reversed into an armbar of his own, meaning it’s off to Doering vs. Gallows. They trade some shoulders until Gallows boots him down and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up in a hurry and they collide for a double down. It’s back to Anderson for a backsplash on Young but Doering is in for an easy save.

A powerslam plants Anderson and Young drops a top rope elbow for two. Anderson isn’t having that and gets back to Gallows so house can be cleaned. The chokebomb gets two on Young but he slips out of the Magic Killer attempt. An AA and Death Valley Driver put Anderson down for two but the Brothers catch Young up top. That’s turned into a Tower Of Doom, leaving Young to take Gallows up to the stage for a piledriver. A powerbomb/neckbreaker combination finishes Anderson for the titles at 11:45.

Rating: B-. This was a title change that needed to happen as you never want to keep the titles on the Brothers. Then again you also don’t want to have Violent By Design as champions either so there was only so much you could do with this whole thing. The match was a good power fight but this wasn’t the best time for the division to put it mildly.

We recap the World Title match. Moose is defending against Heath, who is back from a major injury and wants a shot at the title. And yes this really is the main event.

Impact Wrestling World Title: Moose vs. Heath

Moose is defending and powers him into the corner to start before driving him into another corner for the shoulders. A big toss sends Heath flying again, which works so well that Moose does it again. Heath manages to strike away and gets in a leg lariat to send Moose outside, where Moose cuts him off with ease. Moose sends him crashing into the post as well as the steps.

Back in and Moose slowly stomps away on the arm and hand before switching over to the ankle. That’s not enough variety so Moose grabs an abdominal stretch before dumping Heath outside. Back in and Moose slaps him down but Heath manages a backdrop to the floor. The slingshot dive connects and a Wake Up Call (Zig Zag) gives Heath two back inside. Moose pops up for a release Rock Bottom and the spear to retain at 12:10.

Rating: C-. This was pretty much an extended squash and that’s not what you want in a pay per view (or close enough) main event most of the time. Heath never felt like he had any kind of a chance to win the title and it was a pretty dull match. Moose needs the right kind of opponent and beating Heath up for ten minutes isn’t the right situation. Heath can have a good match but it wasn’t going to happen here.

Post match the former World Champion Josh Alexander runs in to lay Moose out and say he’s signed a new contract. That includes a title shot at Rebellion (where he would win the title).

 

Results
Lady Frost b. Gisele Shaw – Moonsault
Rich Swann/Willie Mack b. Honor No More – Sunset flip to Bennett
Trey Miguel b. Jake Something – Top rope Meteora
Eddie Edwards b. Rhino – Boston Knee Party
Influence b. IInspiration – Belt shot to Lee
Jonah b. PCO – Top rope splash
Jay White b. Alex Shelley – Blade Runner
Deonna Purrazzo b. Chelsea Green – Fujiwara armbar
Tasha Steelz b. Mickie James – Cutter
Violent By Design b. Good Brothers – Powerbomb/neckbreaker combination to Anderson
Moose b. Heath – Spear

 

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7.5

The final score: review Good

The 411

There is some good stuff in here, with the Jonah vs. PCO, White vs. Shelley and opener being worth a look. At the same time though, that main event and some of the other stuff just not being very interesting hurts. This really wasn’t a good time for TNA and that was pretty clear here, though as usual it isn’t due to a lack of trying. Granted this wasn’t a top level show, but it needed another good match or two to really carry things.