.png)
Impact Wrestling presents Turning Point 2023! Before the PPV had even begun, the atmosphere in the arena was amazing. The crowd were clearly happy to have Impact Wrestling back in the UK, and even happier that the company will be going back to TNA!
This review will obviously contain spoilers, as the event will not air on Impact Plus until next week, so if you do not want to know the results of the match, please come back to read the review once the PPV has aired.
To start the show, Cultaholics’s own Tom Campbell came out, he was the special guest ring announcer for the event. He was very emotional, you could tell this was something that meant a lot to him.
Match 1: Two Local Talents vs Grado & Rhino
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to catch the names of the two local talents who were in this match and I do apologise for that! Especially to the talent themselves as they put on a good show.
The ovation that Grado received upon his entrance was amazing. The crowd singing along to “Like A Prayer” was deafening. Then when Grado announced Rhino as his partner, the roof came off the building!
This was a quick match that had lots of crowd interaction. It was a great way to start the show and all 4 men put on a good match. Let’s hope the energy stays like this, because it is brilliant!
Winners: Grado & Rhino - Grade C-
Match 2: North Wrestling Championship Match - Leon Slater vs Mark Haskins
I was not expecting a championship match here, but this one should be a banger!
Some absolutely brilliant back and forth with plenty of crowd interaction. This one was an absolute beauty of a match. The intensity was fierce and these two men definitely gave it their all. Leon Slater executed a stunning handspring back elbow. Plenty of near falls that added to the excitement. The crowd were firmly behind Leon Slater with the “0121” chants. Haskins delivered a brutal looking knee to the face of Slater. Leon Slater delivered an amazing jumping moonsault to the outside. He then hit Haskins with a Senton 450 splash to pick up the victory and retain his championship.
A brilliant match from these two, and I expected nothing less from two very talented individuals.
Winner: Leon Slater - Grade B
Match 3: Josh Alexander & Eric Young vs SubCulture
Dani Luna was not at ringside for this one as she has her own match later. Eric Young was receiving all the love from the crowd. You could see the happiness on his face from this. This match had a nice clash of wrestling styles from all the men. It was a beautiful display of tag team wrestling from SubCulture, proving why they are one of the best tag teams in the wrestling industry. Eric Young and Josh Alexander were their usual hard-hitting selves.
I hope that the chants are not edited out of the PPV, because the crowd were electric for this one. So far, it has been an absolute pleasure to be in the crowd for this PPV and listening to how passionate the UK wrestling fans are.
Plenty of high flying action from SubCulture and a Canadian Destroyer from Mark Andrews! SubCulture hitting some lovely double team moves. Josh Alexander showcasing his strength with some German Suplexes. Josh Alexander and Eric Young lock in synchronised Sharpshooters. Josh Alexander hits a C4 Spike and picks up the victory for his team.
Winners: Josh Alexander & Eric Young - Grade B+
After the match, there was a huge show of respect from all 4 men.
Match 4: Gisele Shaw vs Alex Windsor
I’m not familiar with the work of Alex Windsor, so I was looking forward to this one to see her in action.
These women were not giving an inch, they gave us some hard-hitting action. Gisele was getting some love from the crowd. I’m sure I even heard a “Happy Birthday Gisele” chant (a little early though as it isn’t her birthday until the 30th October). Gisele hit a springboard stunner which was very well executed. There were a few near falls from both women. Gisele hit a beautiful running knee and she picked up the victory.
Winner: Gisele Shaw - Grade C
Match 5: Rich Swann vs Trey Miguel
This one was scheduled to be a triple threat match involving Frankie Kazarian, but as always, the card is subject to change.
There was no doubt that this match was going to be an athletic one as these are some of the X Division’s finest wrestlers.
Trey continuously tried to get a count out victory, but Rich Swann was not letting that happen. Trey was not happy with the referee in this one, he was constantly shouting at the ref, threatening to kick his ass. We were treated to some action up on the stage as well. Trey hit a quick combination of moves on Rich, taking him down. The men engaged in a hard chop battle. The action in this match was so fast paced that it was hard to keep up! Swann hit a picture perfect 450 splash, it seemed like there was a bit of a mess up with the count, as it looked like there may have been a kick out, but a little too late so the ref called it as he saw it and declared Rich Swann the winner.
Winner: Rich Swann - Grade B-
Match 6: Dani Luna vs Jordynne Grace
A “Jordynne’s gonna kill you” chant erupts from the crowd to start this one. Jordynne showcased all of her power and strength in this one, she was manhandling Dani Luna. Not to be outdone, Dani Luna displayed some strength and power of her own. It was nice to see a power vs power match between two knockouts.
Huge synchronised headbutts took both women down. This one was definitely a hard hitter. Jordynne showcased her athleticism as well, as she skinned the cat but was brought back into the ring the hard way by Dani Luna hitting her with a German Suplex. Both women got some near falls. Jordynne hit Dani with a modified pump handle slam and picked up the victory.
Winner: Jordynne Grace - Grade C
After the match, there was a nice show of respect between Jordynne and Dani.
Match 7: Simon Miller vs Joe Hendry
To start this one, we got a promo from Simon Miller which then ended with a music video from Joe Hendry.
Simon Miller attacked Joe Hendry before the bell rang. Simon was the heel in this match, even though he is loved on the internet. Joe Hendry was absolutely adored by the crowd. This one was highly entertaining. Simon Miller attempted a big elbow drop, but Joe Hendry was able to sit up and avoid it. An “Unsubscribe” chant broke out from the crowd. There was no love lost between these two. Joe Hendry showcased his amazing strength. Simon Miller collided with Hendry with a huge spear. Hendry dropped Simon with a cutter. Hendry then hit Simon with a huge slam and picked up the victory.
Winner: Joe Hendry - Grade C+
Match 8: Moose & Brian Myers vs Frankie Kazarian & Chris Sabin
So, this was why Kazarian was removed from the triple threat match earlier in the night. This was meant to be the Motor City Machine Guns vs Moose & Myers.
There was a hell of a lot of crowd interaction in this match. An “Edge’s bitch” chant kicked off, but Kazarian reminded the crowd that his name is now Adam. So “Adam’s bitch” chants replaced them.
Some nice back and forth in this one, Moose hit a beautiful dropkick, taking down Chris Sabin. Sabin and Kaz double teamed Moose. Moose and Myers ended up in a “69” position thanks to Kaz and Sabin, that got a lot of response from the crowd.
I had a young fan sat behind me throughout this PPV, and it was genuinely heart-warming to hear how into the entire event he was. He was so loud during this match especially.
Myers pulled Kaz off the apron and Sabin was going for a tag. Kaz hit Myers with a springboard DDT which got a near fall. Moose hit a huge diving crossbody which took down Sabin. Sabin went for several quick pin attempts which got some near falls.
Kaz took Moose down with a cutter. Kaz then hit a backstabber, and tried to follow it up with a dive to the outside, but he was caught by Moose. Moose then slammed Kaz into the ring post spine first. Sabin then hit Moose with a huge kick from the apron. Myers then came from behind and speared Sabin on the apron. Moose hit a huge spear on Kaz and picked up the win.
Winners: Moose & Brian Myers - Grade C+
Match 9: Knockout’s World Championship Match - Trinity vs Deonna Purrazzo with Special Guest Referee Gail Kim
We had duelling chants from the crowd for Trinity and the Virtuosa. Both women were loved by the crowd, but Trinity did manage to edge out as the favourite. We also got a “Women’s Wrestling” chant from the crowd which was great.
This match had a slow, methodical start. Both women were very well matched. We had a trading of moves and they hit a dropkick simultaneously. Trinity bridged out of a pin attempt. Trinity hit Deonna with a stunner from the second rope.
There was some amazing back and forth, I kept getting so engrossed in the match that I actually forgot that I was supposed to be making notes for my review!
Trinity hit Deonna with a Samoan Drop, gaining a near fall. Deonna locked in an arm bar with an attempt at the Venus De Milo but Trinity was able to get to the ropes to break the hold. Trinity then drops Deonna, but still only manages to get a near fall. Deonna spikes Trinity with a Piledriver but is only able to get a 2 count.
Trinity locked in a submission, but Deonna was able to reverse it into a pin attempt. Trinity then locks in Starstruck and Deonna taps out.
Winner: Trinity - Grade B
After the match, Deonna attacked Trinity from behind. Deonna then got in Gail Kim’s face. The two women shoved each other, Deonna then slapped Gail Kim and Gail Kim hit Deonna with an “Eat De Feet”. Gail Kim and Trinity celebrated on the stage.
Main Event: Will Ospreay vs Eddie Edwards
The crowd support for Will Ospreay was absolutely mental! The crowd was so loud. This was where my play by play analysis went out the window as I was hooked on watching this one because it was absolutely phenomenal.
This was a highly competitive match, Eddie had the upper hand in the opening moments of the match. He managed to keep his momentum going for a while.
This is definitely one of the matches that I will enjoy watching again when Turning Point is aired on Impact Plus next week.
Ospreay reversed a suplex attempt into a stunner. Eddie then hung up Ospreay on the top rope. Ospreay hit Eddie with a springboard stunner. The pace of the match quickened and both men ended up on the mat. Ospreay hit Eddie with a Styles Clash and the crowd erupted! He then followed that up with the Hidden Blade and Stormbreaker and he picked up a huge win!
Winner: Will Ospreay - Grade A
After the match, Will Ospreay got on the microphone and cut an emotional promo about TNA. He said that no matter what happens in February, he will always be a huge fan of TNA.
This PPV was amazing. The crowd participation was out of this world and the matches were something else entirely. I genuinely cannot wait for everyone to watch this when it is released on Impact Plus. I hope that this gives Impact an even bigger push and more eyes get on the product because they deserve all the success in the world.