This is the Fightful.com live coverage for tonight's episode of IMPACT Wrestling on POP TV! Tonight we an action packed show as in our main event Austin Aries defends his newly won IMPACT Global Championship against the former champion Eli Drake, Taiji Ishimori defends his X-Division Championship against El Hijo de Fantasma as well as the debut of Brian Cage and much more so be sure to come back here at 8 PM EST for all of the action!
Sami Callihan vs Bobby Lashley
Sami sends Bobby out of the ring to start the match before Lashley clotheslines him and takes out the Crist brothers at ringside. Lashley gets back in the ring at the count of eight only for Sami to toss him back out of the ring and go out after him. Lashley gets back in the ring once more at the count of nine before hitting a delayed suplex, Jake distracting Lashley and allowing Sami to send Lashley out of the ring for a third time and send send into the railing. Sami spits in his hand and chops Lashley across the chest before tossing him into the railing again. Sami runs around ringside, planning a clothesline to a seated Lashley only to be speared as we go to commercial.
Sami is in control as we come back from commercial until Lashley comes back and goes for a spear, but Sami puts him in a guillotine choke that he powers out of. Sami hits a sit-out powerbomb and a boot that only angers Lashley who hits a reverse suplex and a spear that turns Sami inside out only for the Crist brothers to come in and break up the pin for the disqualification.
Winner: Lashley defeats Sami Callihan via disqualification when the Crist brothers interfere.
-Backstage Moose is attacked during an interview by Alberto El Patron.
Rosemary vs Hania
Hania tries to attack Rosemary before the bell, but Rosemary counters and sends her into the corner before Hania comes back with a wheel kick for a quick two count. Rosemary locks in a tarantula in the ropes before missing a dropkick off of the top, then Hania hits a sit-out facebuster before playing to the crowd. Rosemary then counters a DDT and Hania hits an ax kick before hitting a diving cross body, but Rosemary rolls through and pins Hania for the win.
Winner: Rosemary defeats Hania via pinfall when countering a diving cross body.
-We get clues about who is stalking Allie as she discovers Valentine's Day gifts addressed to her before she attacks Laurel who was hiding in a box.
Matt Sydal & Johnny Impact vs EC3 & Tyrus
EC3 and Johnny start the match off with the two going back and forth until Johnny takes control and soon after tags Matt in. Johnny and Matt double team EC3 before he tries to fight them off, but eats a double dropkick before managing to tag Tyrus in. Johnny tags Matt in and he kicks Tyrus repeatedly before hitting a standing moonsault, then Tyrus swats Matt out of the air when he goes for a diving move before tagging EC3 back in. EC3 and Tyrus tag in and out and keep Matt isolated in their half of the ring before Matt finally manages to tag Johnny in. EC3 and Johnny tag in at the same time before Johnny sends Tyrus out of the ring and hits a spinning neckbreaker for a near fall before EC3 pins Johnny out of nowhere with his feet on the ropes for leverage for the win.
Winner: EC3 & Tyrus defeat Johnny Impact & Matt Sydal via pinfall when EC3 puts a leverage pin on Matt.
-Brian Cage vs Enhancement Talent
Brian immediately runs over the guy before hitting him with a series of clubbing blows in the corner and tossing him across the ring. Bryan then powerbombs him into the corner before hitting him with a clothesline and finishing with what he calls the Drill Claw for the pin and the win.
Winner: Brian Cage defeats local talent via pinfall with the Drill Claw
X-Division Championship Match
Taiji Ishimori (c) vs El Hijo de Fantasma
They play to the crowd to start the match before locking up for a clean break, then they exchange hammer locks and headlocks. They exchange takedowns and head scissors until Taiji hits an arm drag that sends Hijo out of the ring, then once Hijo is back in the ring they do a test of strength with Hijo winning. Hijo whips Taiji across the ring and clotheslines him in the corner before starting to focus on his left arm and dropping him throat first across the top rope. Hijo puts Taiji in a submission that he gets out of by getting to the bottom rope for the break, then Hijo hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall as we go to commercial.
Taiji is in control as we come back from commercial after hitting a flipping senton over the top rope and onto Hijo onto the floor before rolling him back into the ring for a near fall; Hijo grabbing the bottom rope for the at the last second. Hijo sends Taiji out of the ring before hitting a tope through the ropes and taking out Taiji before Taiji hits a running huricanrrana. Taiji hits a moonsault off of the top and to the floor before rolling back into the ring, then Hijo hits an enzuigiri into a diving cross body for a near fall. Taiji then hits a lung blower before finishing with a 450 splash for the pin and the win.
Winner: Taiji Ishimori retains his X-Division Championship by defeating AE Hijo de Fantasma via pinfall with a 450 splash.
IMPACT Global Championship Match
Austin Aries (c) vs Eli Drake
Austin takes Eli down and grapples him before going for the Last Chancery, but Eli is quick to the ropes for the break before rolling out of the ring to regroup. Eli comes back in the ring and beats Austin down before Austin comes back with a series of arm drags, but Eli is quick to retake control as we go to commercial as Eli is shoulder tackling Austin in the corner repeatedly.
Austin is in control as we come back from commercial, hitting a flurry of offense before hitting an elbow drop to the back of Eli's neck off of the top for a quick two count. Eli drops Austin with a boot before hitting a neckbreaker for a near fall when he side steps Austin coming in, then Eli sends Austin throat first up into the middle rope. Austin hits a jawbreaker before Eli almost immediately slams him back down to the mat and drops him with a back elbow before missing a springboard moonsault. They exchange strikes until Austin hits a neckbreaker in the ropes and a missile dropkick for a near fall. Austin gets a near fall off of a roll up before Eli runs up and superplexes him before hitting a DVD for a very close near fall.
Eli goes shoulder first into the ring post before Austin dropkicks him, then Eli counters a suplex only to be tossed over the top rope and onto the floor. Austin hits a tope to the outside and accidentally takes out Chris before Eli drops Austin back first into the apron and rolls him back into the ring. Austin then counters the Gravy Train into a roll up for a near fall before locking in the Last Chancery, but Austin releases it and sends Chris off of the apron before finishing with a brainbuster for the pin and the win.
Winner: Austin Aries defends his IMPACT Global Championship by defeating Eli Drake via pinfall with a brainbuster
