10 Takeaways From Impact Wrestling 7/26

Don’t look at Sami Callihan’s head. Don’t laugh at him and don’t make fun of him. Even if you don’t, he’ll probably think you did, however.

Callihan has become unhinged (more so) since Pentagon Jr. cut off his hair at Slammiversary.

This week we saw Callihan lose it on a guy in the urinal next to him. Callihan thought the guy was laughing at him so he and oVe beat him up and shaved his head in the washroom.

Pentagon delivered this promo later in the show:

When Austin Aries gave his Championship Address last night on Impact, much of what he said applied to both himself as champion and Impact Wrestling as a promotion.

Aries talked about how in Impact Wrestling nobody hands them a script. In Impact they allow talent to be creative as opposed to just following directions. This was as much of an Impact Wrestling address to fans as it was Aries gloating over his victory.

Eddie Edwards attacked Aries from behind, signifying he wants in the mix for Aries’ world title.

He wouldn’t be the only person who would challenge Aries by the end of the night, however. Anthony Carrelli’s student, Dustin Quicksilver, challenged Aries in the back after the champion interrupted an interview with Carelli.

Scarlett Bordeaux: “I want to be remembered as the greatest women’s activist of all time.”

Alicia Atout: “Like Susan B Anthony?”

Scarlett Bordeaux: “Ew. Like Marylyn Monroe. Or Cardi B.”

Bordeaux is a heel. She is the anti-hero in terms of female wrestlers being treated as athletes rather than models. She wants to bring sexy back to wrestling but will it be to the detriment of other Knockouts in the division?

We didn’t see LAX this week. Konnan and the tag champions are likely out of action for a week or two after the beating the OGz gave them after the match at Slammiversary. Even though LAX was victorious over the OGz, King and his crew beat up Konnan an the champs after the match was over.

King told Homicide and Hernandez that Konnan and LAX thought they won the war but they had only won a battle.

News flash: Tessa Blanchard can wrestle. Her intense style is heavily influenced by old-school wrestling eras. The ones her father and step-father, Tully Blanchard and Magnum TA, made their names in.

We spoke to Blanchard in May about what has influenced her in-ring style.

“I have huge respect for the 4 Horsemen, all bias aside,” Blanchard said of her father’s old faction. “My Dad and Arn were one of the greatest tag-teams of all time.”

“I watch that era of professional wrestling for inspiration and to study tape,” Blanchard continued to say. “I want to portray that style through my work.”

She made quick work of Rebel this week, defeating her in the very nightclub which bears her name.

In the opening match, Taiji Ishimori defeated Petey Williams. After the two former X-Division Champions shook hands after the match, they were attacked by the Great Gama Singh’s Desi Hit Squad.

Gursinder Singh (Lance Storm Wrestling Academy graduate) and Rohit Raju delivered the beatdown while Gama Singh shouted instructions from outside the ring. It’s likely we see a tag match involving these four wrestlers sometime soon.

After Johnny Impact defeated Trevor Lee this week, he said his goal is to become Impact World Champion. He said he has some unfinished business to take care of first, however.

It was Kongo Kong who put Johnny out of action and now Johnny wants his revenge.

In a backstage interview, Allie said her match with Blanchard distracted her from getting even with Su Yung. Allie says she is not going to let Su Yung lock any more wrestlers in coffins. Kiera Hogan then showed up to offer her support as well.

The GWN moment of the week just so happened to be the Motor City Machine Guns vs Generation Me (aka the Young Bucks).

Alex Shelley has been making statements lately which seem to indicate he is not returning to the ring.

After an action-packed main event, Brian Cage once again hit the Drill Claw on Sydal. The victory gives Cage is first-ever title defense of the X-Division belt.

Cage has never been pinned and never submitted in Impact. If anyone can beat Cage for the title, they are going to have to do something no Impact wrestler on the roster has been able to do yet.

After Slammiversary, Cage posted the following to his Instagram account:

quick results:

• Taiji Ishimori defeated Petey Williams
• Tessa Blanchard defeated Rebel
• Johnny Impact defeated Trevor Lee
• X-Division Championship
  Brian Cage (c) defeated Matt Sydal