Impact Wrestling Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction, and Highlights from June 3

As Impact Wrestling continued its march to Against All Odds, it made a pitstop Thursday night for an episode headlined by a blockbuster showdown between Sami Callihan and Moose that had incredible implications for Kenny Omega's next Impact world title defense.

That match capped off a card that also featured a tables match between Jake Something and Rohit Raju, the in-ring debut of Japanese legend Satoshi Kojima, and an Iron Man bout for the X-Division Championship.

What went down, who built momentum ahead of the June 12 pay-per-view and what did it mean for the talent moving forward?

Find out now with this recap of the June 3 episode.

Two of the best technical wrestlers in the industry squared off Thursday night with the X-Division Championship on the line as Josh Alexander defended against TJP in an Iron Man match that began on Before the Impact and concluded in the opening minutes of this week's main show.

Alexander scored the first fall 20 minutes into the 60-minute time limit, pinning TJP's shoulders to the mat and putting the challenger on the defensive. Desperation fueled TJP for the remaining 40 minutes, leaving him to exhaust his arsenal but to no avail. 

With four seconds left on the clock, TJP countered Alexander's ankle lock into a pinning combination to tie the score at one fall apiece. In sudden-death overtime, Alexander summoned enough energy and will power to pin his opponent and retain the title.

Result

Josh Alexander defeated TJP to retain the X-Division Championship

Grade

A

Analysis

More than the action that unfolded over the hour-plus runtime of the match was the story that unfolded between Alexander and TJP.

From the moment the champion seized control with his pinfall early on, the challenger was on the defensive. He threw everything he could at Alexander before relying on something as basic as a counter of a submission hold into a roll-up to tie things up.

The visual of the Impact roster surrounding the ring to check out the action added to the grueling nature of the bout. That, plus Alexander's own sense of urgency in the overtime period, helped fuel the narrative.

The right man went over as Alexander continued to establish himself as one of the faces of Impact's bright future. Hopefully, this is just the beginning for him because he continues to impress with every passing match and would not look out of place sharing the ring with world champion Kenny Omega.

The intensifying rivalry between Jake Something and Rohit Raju culminated Thursday in a tables match.

Raju utilized a pair of steel chairs to negate Something’s fury, not to mention his strength and size advantage. He targeted the arm, then drove his own bodyweight into his rival with a corner cannonball. He resorted to a low blow and then delivered a double stomp onto Something through two chairs.

However, a furious Something fought back, delivered consecutive Black Hole Slams and speared Raju through the table for the win.

Result

Something defeated Raju

Grade

B

Analysis

Tables matches are typically difficult to execute because they usually revolve around repeated attempts to put an opponent through one, with little or nothing in between. Here, Raju utilized chairs to help wear down Something so he could negate the disparity in size and score the win.

It worked momentarily, but Something used everything Raju through at him late on as the fuel necessary to put his opponent through the table.

Something needed a win like this to build momentum, and while Raju hasn't been on the roll he was a year ago, he is still a former champion and one of the better workers on the roster. Beating him still matters because he has not been allowed to fade into the background.

Here’s to Something building and evolving from here because he looks like the future of the company.

After Scott D'Amore granted W. Morrissey's request for a match with Rich Swann, the big man attacked the former Impact world champion prior to the bout, brutalizing him until referees and security broke things up.

Backstage, a verbal confrontation between Rosemary and Havok gave way to a stipulation for next week's match between the two: if Havok beats the No. 1 contender, she joins the Against All Odds match between Rosemary and Deonna Purrazzo for the Knockouts Championship.

Elsewhere, Brian Myers taught Sam Beale what it means to be the most professional wrestler in a new vignette.

Grade

A

Analysis

Impact does these vignettes and angles perfectly, presenting storylines and segments without overexposing the talent involved in repetitive matches that water down the eventual PPV showdown.

Morrissey looked like an indestructible force as he beat down Swann, a former world champion who did not seem to be on the big man's level.

Rosemary vs. Purrazzo may not have been the hottest match possible, but the potential addition of Havok to the equation creates intrigue if nothing else.

Finally, Myers was great here as the insufferable teacher, touting his own entrance as he taught his protege on how to be a star in Impact.

Everything here hit the mark, and the result was a refreshing approach to storyline development rather than the same old "match leading to a match" formula that WWE overuses every week.

With frustration setting in after repeated losses and self-doubt, Jordynne Grace partnered with Rachael Ellering to challenge Fire 'N Flava for the Knockouts Tag Team Championship they dropped to the heels at Under Siege.

Ellering absorbed a beating for a great deal of the contest, which took her out of the equation late in the bout.

With Kiera Hogan draped on her back and a sleeper hold locked in, Grace fell backward in hopes that she would break it up. Instead, Hogan held on and Tasha Steelz launched herself off the top rope with a frog splash for the pinfall victory.

Result

Fire 'N Flava defeated Grace and Ellering to retain the Knockouts tag titles

Grade

C+

Analysis

Beyond Fire 'N Flava further establishing themselves as the standard-bearers in Knockouts tag team action, this was about the growing schism between Grace and Ellering. 

Already paranoid that Ellering is looking for opportunities away from her and fueled by the frustration of repeated defeats, it will be interesting to see how Grace reacts to being left to fend for herself in the closing moments of this title match.

Kudos to Impact for not going the predictable route of the expected heel turn and instead taking its time and letting the storyline play out.

Satoshi Kojima made his Impact Wrestling in-ring debut Thursday, battling Violent By Design's Deaner in a preview of his Against All Odds match against Joe Doering of the same faction.

Deaner controlled early, but Kojima fought back and stunned his opponent with a barrage of shotgun chops before flattening him with a top-rope elbow drop.

The Koji Cutter put Deaner away as Kojima celebrated his win alongside Eddie Edwards, who hit the ring to prevent VBD's sneak attack.

Result

Kojima defeated Deaner

Grade

C

Analysis

This was little more than a showcase for Kojima, who steamrolled Deaner en route to his match with Doering.

The fact that Kojima is even on Impact continues what has been a really cool period of open doors in the wrestling industry by way of the company's relationships with All Elite Wrestling and NJPW.

The match with Doering is going to be incredibly physical and some of that was on display, particularly in the strikes he dealt Deaner.

While it lacked the spark of FinJuice or El Phantasmo, Kojima's arrival brought a sense of credibility based on his legendary status in Japan. Even though signs point toward Doering winning to continue Violent By Design's recent string of success, Kojima still has plenty to offer from a legitimacy standpoint.

A week ago, Moose leveled Sami Callihan with the Lights Out Spear just moments after a disappointing loss to The Good Brothers. Thursday, the self-proclaimed "Wrestling God" battled The Draw in a star-studded main event.

Moose dominated early in the contest despite nursing an arm injury. He delivered Go To Hell at one point, but his inability to grab hold of his opponent during the pinfall prevented him from scoring the win.

As Callihan mounted a comeback and turned the tide in his favor, The Good Brothers and Kenny Omega hit the ring. They beat down the top two threats to The Cleaner's Impact world title and stood tall to close out the show.

Backstage, Scott D'Amore approached Don Callis and suggested that, since Callihan defeated Moose, he should get a shot at Omega's title, too.

Next week, AEW President Tony Khan will also be in attendance, and the three executives will discuss what to do about the Against All Odds title match.

Result

Callihan defeated Moose via disqualification

Grade

C+

Analysis

The match between Moose and Callihan was appropriately physical, but the commercial break in the middle of it hurt its flow.

With that said, the interference finish played a major role in the booking of the Against All Odds match, which will now likely see Omega have to defend his title in a Three-Way match.

With the uncertainty surrounding Moose's contractual status, it makes sense to insert Callihan, who is a genuine main event talent with Impact Wrestling. If nothing else, it creates intrigue for a contest that never felt like it was Moose's to win.