The 2023 Slammiversary was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Impact Wrestling. It took place on July 15, 2023, at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada and celebrated the promotion's 21st anniversary. It was the 19th event under the Slammiversary chronology, and the final Slammiversary event to take place under the Impact Wrestling name.
| Slammiversary | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Promotion | Impact Wrestling | ||
| Date | July 15, 2023 | ||
| City | Windsor, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Venue | St. Clair College | ||
| Attendance | c. 1,500[1] | ||
| Buy rate | c. 4,400[2] | ||
| Pay-per-view chronology | |||
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| Slammiversary chronology | |||
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Eleven matches were contested at the event, including two on the pre-show and one taped as a digital exclusive. In the main event, Alex Shelley defeated Nick Aldis to retain the Impact World Championship. In other prominent matches, Trinity defeated Deonna Purrazzo by submission to win the Impact Knockouts World Championship, Scott D'Amore and Eric Young defeated Bully Ray and Deaner, and Lio Rush defeated Chris Sabin to win the Impact X Division Championship. The event featured the returns of Jake Something, who competed in the Ultimate X match; Eric Young, who had signed with WWE prior to the event; Traci Brooks (who made an appearance as Frankie Kazarian's manager); and Josh Alexander, who had suffered a triceps tear.
Production
edit| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| Commentators | Tom Hannifan |
| Matthew Rehwoldt | |
| Ring announcer | David Penzer |
| Referees | Daniel Spencer |
| Allison Leigh | |
| Frank Gastineau | |
| Interviewer | Gia Miller |
Background
editSlammiversary is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Impact Wrestling to celebrate the anniversary of Impact's first event, which was held on June 19, 2002. As such, the event is usually held in the summer (June or July). The first event took place nearly a year after that event on June 18, 2003, and has since been considered one of Impact's premiere PPV events, along with Bound for Glory and – since 2020 – Hard To Kill, and Rebellion.[3]
On March 24, 2023, at Sacrifice, it was announced by Impact Wrestling that Slammiversary would take place on July 15, 2023, at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.[4][5]
Storylines
editThe event featured several professional wrestling matches, which involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines were produced on Impact's weekly television program.[6]
At Against All Odds, Nick Aldis won the first ever "8-4-1 Match" to become the number one contender to the Impact World Championship at Slammiversary. Later in the main event, Alex Shelley defeated Steve Maclin to become Impact World Champion for the first time,[7][8] with Aldis now set as his challenger at Slammiversary.[9]
On the May 4 episode of Impact!, Trinity (formerly Naomi in WWE) made her Impact debut, letting it be known that she has eyes on the Impact Knockouts World Championship. This declaration would soon draw out champion Deonna Purrazzo, with the two and Jordynne Grace sharing a tense stare-down in the ring.[10][11] Nearly a month later on June 1, after Trinity won her match,[12][13] she challenged Purrazzo to a title match at Slammiversary. Purrazzo accepted the challenge, and the match was soon made official.[14]
At Under Siege, then-Impact World Champion Steve Maclin retained the title over PCO in a no disqualification match. After the match, per an agreement made the night before on Impact!, Impact President Scott D'Amore came out to strap the title belt around Maclin's waist, though Maclin refused to shake D'Amore's hand as was the agreement. However, as D'Amore watched Maclin walk away, Bully Ray came from behind and strangled D'Amore with a cable. Matthew Rehwoldt, PCO, and The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) attempted to intervene but were all shut down by Ray and Maclin. This all culminated in the two putting D'Amore through a flaming table.[15][16] Two weeks later at Against All Odds, Ray competed in the "8-4-1 Match," when D'Amore struck Ray with a steel chair to incapacitate him.[7][8] The week later on Impact!, Ray cut a promo that revealed he filed a complaint with the Anthem Sports & Entertainment Board of Directors about D'Amore's involvement in his business. D'Amore confronted Ray soon after, saying that the board advised that he take a leave of absence from his duties as president. D'Amore also said he agreed with the board, though only because it allowed him to attack Ray right then and there. Maclin would soon come out and assist Ray once again before PCO appeared and took out both men.[17][18] A recovered D'Amore then announced that, before officially accepting his leave, he signed a tag team match for Slammiversary, in which Ray and Maclin would face PCO and himself. This would be D'Amore's first official match in 4 years.[19] On June 29, Impact announced that former Detroit Red Wings enforcer Darren McCarty, who Bully Ray had prior history with, would act as the special guest enforcer.[20] However, on the July 6 Impact!, Ray and Maclin ambushed D'Amore and PCO in the ring, cuffing D'Amore to the ring ropes before dragging PCO to the backstage area. They would proceed to pour car battery acid into PCO's mouth before dousing him in lighter fluid and setting him on fire. PCO's status for Slammiversary is currently unknown, but it has left D'Amore without a partner.[21][22] On July 8, Impact announced on its website that Maclin is also unable to participate at Slammiversary due to suffering a serious injury during Impact's Down Under Tour in Wagga Wagga, Australia.[23] Ray's new tag team partner was announced live on Busted Open Radio the following Monday to be Deaner. D'Amore, meanwhile, has yet to name his new partner.[24]
On the June 29 Impact!, Lio Rush made his Impact Wrestling in-ring debut. Later in the night, while Impact World Champion Alex Shelley and Nick Aldis were having a brawl, Shelley's tag team partner, Impact X Division Champion Chris Sabin, attempted to intervene on behalf of Shelley, only to be jumped from behind by Rush.[25][26] As such, Sabin would challenge Rush to an X Division Championship match at Slammiversary, which Impact made official the following day.[27] In addition to the title match, Impact also announced an Ultimate X match for Slammiversary, with the winner earning a guaranteed X Division Championship match at the time and place of their choosing. The participants are: Mike Bailey, Jonathan Gresham, Kushida, Kevin Knight, and Alan Angels.[28]
On the June 22 episode of Impact!, Killer Kelly defeated Taylor Wilde, one half of the Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Champions The Coven. After the match, Wilde and her partner KiLynn King attacked Kelly, but the latter would be saved by her old rival Masha Slamovich with a dog collar and chain.[29][30] The following week, Slamovich defeated King in a singles match. Wilde heavily got involved in the match but was eventually taken out by Kelly with a chain clasped around her neck. After the match, Slamovich would clasp the other end of the chain around her neck and pull Kelly towards her, signaling a new partnership between the two.[25][26] On July 4, Impact would announce on their website that The Coven would defend the Knockouts World Tag Team Championship against Kelly and Slamovich at Slammiversary.[31]
On the June 22 Impact!, Joe Hendry defended the Impact Digital Media Championship against Yuya Uemura, with Kenny King unexpectedly providing special guest commentary. After the match, King grabbed Hendry's title belt from the referee, holding it for a good amount of time before tossing back at Hendry.[29][30] On the following episode, after King won his match, Hendry displayed a music video that highlighted King's past as a male stripper.[25][26] On July 6, Impact announced on its website that King will challenge Hendry for the Digital Media Championship on the Countdown to Slammiversary pre-show.[32]
At Against All Odds, Frankie Kazarian defeated Eddie Edwards in a first-time ever singles match.[7][8] On the subsequent episode of Impact!, Kazarian mocked Bully Ray and Steve Maclin for their failed attack against Scott D'Amore and PCO, with Edwards backing him up believing their relationship had been mended.[17][18] This led to a tag team match for the following week, with Edwards and Kazarian losing to Ray and Maclin. In the closing moments of the match, Kazarian had Maclin in a chicken wing submission when Edwards hit a kick that was apparently meant for Maclin but hit Kazarian instead.[29][30] Edwards and Kazarian later mutually agreed that they were better opponents than allies, facing each other again in a singles match on the July 6 Impact!. There, Edwards won after heavy interference by his wife Alisha Edwards.[21][22] Backstage after the match, Kazarian challenged Edwards to one more match at Slammiversary, bringing his own wife, former Impact Knockout Traci Brooks, to counter Alisha at ringside.[33]
Reception
editDave Meltzer from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that the event had over 4,400 pay-per-view buys through the television, an increase of nearly 250% from the previous Slammiversary event, which had less than 1,300 buys.[2]
Results
editNotes
edit- ^ The match was taped for an Impact Digital Exclusive that aired on July 18.
References
edit- ^ Ryan, Gerard (July 16, 2023). "IMPACT Wrestling News & Notes: Reported Slammiversary Attendance + Contracts". BodySlam.net. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Lambert, Jeremy (July 28, 2023). "Report: IMPACT Slammiversary 2023 Did Over 4,400 PPV Buys, Up Nearly 250% From 2022". Fightful. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ "IMPACT Wrestling Launches Brand New 'IMPACT Insiders' YouTube Membership". Impact Wrestling. August 4, 2021.
- ^ Tessier, Colin (March 24, 2023). "IMPACT Wrestling Announces Date And Location For Slammiversary 2023". Fightful. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (April 16, 2023). "IMPACT Wrestling Announces Dates For Slammiversary, Multiverse United 2, And More". Fightful. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ Grabianowski, Ed (January 13, 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Against All Odds 2023 Full Results". Post Wrestling. Impact Wrestling Staff. June 9, 2023. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c Vetter, Chris (June 9, 2023). "6/9 Impact Wrestling Against All Odds results: Vetter's review of Steve Maclin vs. Alex Shelley for the Impact World Championship, Ace Austin and Chris Bey vs. The Good Hands for the Impact Tag Titles, Trey Miguel vs. Chris Sabin for the X Division Title, the 8-4-1 match for a shot at the Impact World Championship at Slammiversary". Post Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- ^ a b IMPACT Wrestling Staff (June 9, 2023). "Seismic Shift in IMPACT World Title Picture Leads to Alex Shelley vs Nick Aldis at Slammiversary". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
- ^ Moore, John (May 4, 2023). "5/4 Impact Wrestling TV results: Moore's review of Trinity debuts, Mike Bailey vs. Jonathan Gresham, Steve Maclin, Champagne Singh, and Shera vs. PCO and two partners, Yuya Uemura and Bhupindar Guffar vs. Moose and Brian Myers, Alisha Edwards vs. Jody Threat". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (May 4, 2023). "IMPACT! on AXS TV Results: May 4, 2023". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (June 1, 2023). "IMPACT! on AXS TV Results: June 1, 2023". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ^ Powell, Jason (June 2, 2023). "Impact Wrestling TV results (6/1): Moore's review of Bully Ray's show opening segment post Under Siege, Sami Callihan and Jake Crist vs. Crazzy Steve and Black Taurus, Dani Luna vs. Jody Threat, Trinity vs. Savannah Evans, Eddie Edwards vs. Yuya Uemura". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ a b IMPACT Wrestling Staff (June 1, 2023). "Deonna Purrazzo Accepts Trinity's Challenge for Epic Knockouts World Title Bout at Slammiversary". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (May 26, 2023). "Under Siege 2023 LIVE Results". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ Vetter, Chris (May 26, 2023). "Impact Wrestling Under Siege results: Steve Maclin vs. PCO in a No DQ match for the Impact World Championship, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Jordynne Grace for the Knockouts Title, Ace Austin and Chris Bey vs. Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster for the Impact Tag Titles, Trey Miguel vs. Chris Sabin for the X Division Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ a b IMPACT Wrestling Staff (June 15, 2023). "IMPACT! on AXS TV Results: June 15, 2023". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ a b Powell, Jason (June 16, 2023). "Impact Wrestling TV results (6/15): Moore's review of new Impact World Champion Alex Shelley and new X Division Champion Chris Sabin opening the show, Impact Tag Team Champions Chris Bey and Ace Austin vs. Crazzy Steve and Black Taurus in a non-title match, Moose vs. Rich Swann, Bully Ray speaks". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (June 15, 2023). "Scott D'Amore Returns to In-Ring Competition, Joins Forces With PCO to Battle Bully Ray & Steve Maclin at Slammiversary". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (June 29, 2023). "NHL Legend Darren McCarty Named Special Enforcer for Scott D'Amore & PCO vs Bully Ray & Steve Maclin at Slammiversary". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
- ^ a b IMPACT Wrestling Staff (July 6, 2023). "IMPACT! on AXS TV Results: July 6, 2023". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Moore, John (July 6, 2023). "Impact Wrestling TV results (7/6): Moore's review of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin vs. Nick Aldis and Lio Rush, Frankie Kazarian vs. Eddie Edwards, Jonathan Gresham vs. Angels, PCO vs. Jason Hotch and John Skyler". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (July 8, 2023). "Major Change Confirmed For Slammiversary Match On Saturday, July 15". Impact Wrestling. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ a b IMPACT Wrestling Staff (July 10, 2023). "Deaner Joins Forces With Bully Ray For Major Tag Team Match At Slammiversary". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c IMPACT Wrestling Staff (June 29, 2023). "IMPACT! on AXS TV Results: June 29, 2023". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ a b c Moore, John (June 30, 2023). "Impact Wrestling TV results (6/29): Moore's review of Chris Sabin vs. Trey Miguel for the X Division Title, Trinity vs. Jai Vidal, KiLynn King vs. Masha Slamovich, Yuya Uemura vs. Kenny King". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ a b IMPACT Wrestling Staff (June 30, 2023). "Challenge Accepted: Chris Sabin to Defend X-Division Title Against Lio Rush at Slammiversary". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ a b IMPACT Wrestling Staff (June 30, 2023). "Ultimate X Returns at Slammiversary, Winner to Earn X-Division Title Shot Any Time of Their Choosing". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ a b c IMPACT Wrestling Staff (June 22, 2023). "IMPACT! on AXS TV Results: June 22, 2023". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ a b c Moore, John (June 23, 2023). "Impact Wrestling TV results (6/22): Moore's review of Bully Ray and Steve Maclin vs. Eddie Edwards and Frankie Kazarian, OVE vs. Brian Myers and The Good Hands, Taylor Wilde vs. Killer Kelly, Kon and Angels vs. Jonathan Gresham and Mike Bailey". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ a b IMPACT Wrestling Staff (July 4, 2023). "Unlikely Allies in Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly Challenge The Coven for Knockouts Tag Gold at Slammiversary". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ a b IMPACT Wrestling Staff (July 6, 2023). "Countdown to Slammiversary: Joe Hendry Puts the Digital Media Title on the Line Against Kenny King". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ a b IMPACT Wrestling Staff (July 6, 2023). "Traci Brooks Will Be in Frankie Kazarian's Corner for Slammiversary Grudge Match vs Eddie Edwards". Impact Wrestling. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (July 11, 2023). "Countdown to Slammiversary: Jody Threat Unites With the Death Dollz to Fight Back Against the SHAWntourage". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (June 28, 2023). "ABC to Defend IMPACT World Tag Team Titles in Stacked 4-Way Match at Slammiversary". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (July 15, 2023). "Slammiversary 2023 Full Results". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
- ^ Moore, John (July 15, 2023). "Impact Wrestling Slammiversary results: Moore's live review of Alex Shelley vs. Nick Aldis for the Impact World Championship, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Trinity for the Knockouts Title, Scott D'Amore and a mystery partner vs. Bully Ray and Deaner". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.