Impression Wrestling
Down Beneath Tour – Tag 1
June 30, 2023
Equex Middle
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Watch: FITE

This previous Friday (June 30), Impression Wrestling held their first-ever present in Australia. Run along with the New South Wales authorities, the primary night time of the Down Beneath Tour on the Equex Centre in Wagga Wagga was headlined by Alex Shelley defending the Impression World Championship in opposition to Steve Maclin.

Slex def. Adam Brooks

A technique for the Impression reserving group to earn goodwill with me was reserving Slex on this tour. So, once they not solely opened up the primary present with ‘The Enterprise’ however they put him over as nicely, you may think about my delight.

Sadly, I used to be not as delighted with the manufacturing on this present. As a lot because it did get higher in a while, the lighting was poor all through and the digital camera work on this opener was fairly sloppy.

Regardless of the manufacturing snafus, these two made good use of the six minutes they got. They performed off their earlier historical past by countering one another’s offence after which put themselves in my good books for all times by doing the Eddie Edwards/Davey Richards suplex spot to the skin. Slex ultimately gained with the Slexicution and will hopefully be getting an Impression contract earlier than the tip of the weekend if all is correct with the world. ***

Gisele Shaw def. Erika Reid

I’d seen Erika Reid earlier than on a couple of MCW reveals so I type of knew what to anticipate from her coming in. Finally she delivered at concerning the degree I anticipated, wanting stable albeit a tad awkward in a couple of locations in what was an honest little match.

A specific spotlight was Shaw profitable with a Fujwara Armbar variation, including a wrinkle to her title match with Deonna Purrazzo the next night time. **1/2

Impression Wrestling Digital Media Championship
Joe Hendry (C) def. Eddie Edwards

I really feel pretty assured that this was the very best straight singles match of Joe Hendry’s second run with Impression. Now, it was solely a gentleman’s three, however sadly the bar to clear wasn’t that top.

It did take some time to get going as each guys did plenty of taking part in to the group and a few of the sequences in the direction of the tip appeared a bit too telegraphed. There additionally wasn’t a lot drama to the consequence, with each males shifting in numerous instructions for Slammiversary, however all in all it was first rate work. ***

Okayiller Kelly def. Aysha

For these not watching Impression usually, Killer Kelly’s present gimmick is that of a femme fatale and in latest weeks it’s grow to be more and more sexual as she’s fashioned a tag group with Masha Slamovich. Certainly, I did ponder whereas watching their segments whether or not Impression had moved into the customs enterprise.

Anyway, as for this match, it was largely a complete lot of nothing. Aysha is working a spoiled brat gimmick, coming to the ring with a bottle of champagne and so forth, however she didn’t do a ton to face out. In actual fact, she was successfully on the tip of an prolonged squash right here as Kelly picked up the win. **

Impression Wrestling X-Division Championship
Chris Sabin (C) def. Robbie Eagles and Frankie Kazarian

I’d by no means considered it earlier than watching this match, however I desperately want a Chris Sabin-Robbie Eagles singles match sooner or later. Each guys are so easy and it appears tailored for the Multiverse present this August – Gedo, Rocky, Scott, whoever, make it occur.

The group in Wagga Wagga was stable sufficient for the entire present, however they loved this match, and it’s no shock given {that a}) it was plenty of enjoyable and b) Robbie Eagles is certainly one of their very own.

What made this three-way dance notably satisfying was the truth that they labored in plenty of three-person spots, fairly than going with the drained WWE method of two guys in and one man out always. Ultimately, Sabin put Eagles away with the Cradle Shock after sending Kazarian to the skin. ***1/2

ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) def. Brian Myers & Moose

I want Impression hadn’t introduced the four-way for the tag group titles at Slammiversary earlier than this present, I actually do. With out that already on the market, you might have opened up extra reserving instructions for this present to set that up organically. You additionally may have caught with the extra attention-grabbing story of simply ABC versus Moose and Brian Myers however that’s inappropriate.

As for this match, it was actually good. It wasn’t as go-go-go, twister tag as a few of Ace Austin and Chris Bey’s matches have been however it didn’t should be. As a substitute, it was simply good, smart tag group wrestling that used a couple of excessive spots correctly and allowed the babyfaces to combat from beneath.

Myers received a few nice nearfalls with Roster Minimize lariats however finally ended up on the shedding finish as he received rolled up by Bey. ***1/2

Deonna Purrazzo def. Steph De Lander

Pre-match, Steph De Lander lower a promo. She spoke about being residence and that was why she’d received the Southern Cross on her gear. Simply as she’d received the group on-side, she then insulted the city and the venue and demanded she be handled extra just like the star she is.

I assumed the promo was efficient and entertaining which is unfortunately greater than may be mentioned of the match. It wasn’t unhealthy per se however it wasn’t good both. It was sloppy and ungainly in locations and felt very a lot a product of the WWE system with De Lander grabbing a maintain as they moved between spots.

Purrazzo received the win with the Fujiwara Armbar, properly syncing up with Shaw’s end earlier within the night time to tee up their title match on the second present of the weekend. **1/2

Impression Wrestling World Championship
Alex Shelley (C) def. Steve Maclin

Though this didn’t hit the heights of their In opposition to All Odds major occasion a couple of weeks prior, this was nonetheless an entertaining match and simply the very best factor on the present.

What struck me all through the match was the completely different really feel to their first assembly. Alex Shelley carried a unique aura right here, projecting as a assured, cerebral champion that dominated a lot of the early happening his phrases on the mat.

Maclin as soon as once more fought his means again into the match with energy offense and brute power, however it was much less about uncooked explosivity than earlier than. As a substitute, he targeted on backbreakers and slams, utilizing his measurement benefit and concentrating on a selected physique half to put on the champion down.

Finally although, it was Shelley’s leg work that paid dividends (in kayfabe and actually with Maclin pulling out of the second present with damage), as he put Maclin away with Shellshock to safe his first televised title protection. ***3/4

Last Ideas

The primary night time of the Down Beneath Tour was a stable exhibiting from Impression Wrestling. The native feminine expertise used on this present didn’t do a lot to face out, however I loved the opener, and Slex is somebody I’d snap up in a heartbeat.

There’s nothing must-see for me to suggest, however at slightly below two-and-a-half hours, that is a straightforward background watch.