Impact Wrestling Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction, Highlights from February 3

Bullet Club arrived on the scene a week ago, and they headlined Impact Wrestling on Thursday night in a blockbuster 8-man tag team match against Jake Something, "Speedball" Mike Bailey, Ace Austin and Madman Fulton.

However, it was another impending rivalry—against The Good Brothers and Violent By Design—that raged as the show came to an end.

What preceded it, who stood out and how did it all affect the company as it builds toward No Surrender on February 19?

Find out with this recap of Thursday's broadcast. 

Frustrated by his inability to wrest the Impact World Championship away from Moose, Matt Cardona set his sights on Jordynne Grace and the Digital Media Championship in the night's opening contest.

Several attempts at shoulder tackles by Grace went unsold by Cardona before she tripped him up and then finally rocked The Long Island Broski with one.

Cardona recovered and seized control of the match, slamming Grace to the mat. Two missed elbow drops and a quick roll-up by Thicc Mama Pump intensified his frustration and led to a wicked clothesline that downed the champion.

Looking to negate the size advantage, Grace took out the left leg of her opponent, delivered a Vader Bomb and covered for a close two-count. Cardona answered, shaking off any hesitancy and delivering a Reboot for a dramatic near-fall. 

At ringside, Cardona teased using the Digital Media title belt but when the referee pulled it away, he capitalized on the opening by rocking Grace with a steel chair. Radio Silence followed and a new champion was crowned.

         

Result

Cardona defeated Grace

        

Grade

A

      

Analysis

This was a fantastic bit of business, heightened by Cardona's excellent character work.

He teased hesitancy numerous times, as though he was conflicted about competing against a woman. Then he flashed his true colors, blasting her with the chair and initiating a heel turn that should see him achieve a whole new level of success in the company.

The question is whether a heel turn for Chelsea Green is on the horizon.

Grace is a great babyface and did everything she needed to here to make Cardona's actions that much more despicable. While it would seem this is a one-and-done matchup, do not be surprised if the former champion eyes a rematch and a high-profile one at that.

Impact officials should be thinking the same.

The product of a tense staredown a week ago, Jonah battled Decay's Crazzy Steve on this week's show. 

As predicted, the match was a one-sided squash that saw the Aussie put the former circus clown away with a middle rope splash.

Backstage, Gia Miller caught up with Matt Cardona, who took exception to her asking how Chelsea Green would feel. "Why don't you ask Jonathan Gresham what it's like being married to a loser? Gotta go!" the new champion exclaimed as he rushed out the door.

        

Result

Jonah defeated Crazzy Steve

        

Grade

C-

        

Analysis

Jonah is a monster and while Crazzy Steve and Decay are always fun, this mini-program feels like a considerable step down for the Australian.

The big man should be around the main event scene at least, mixing it up with the top stars in the company. Sure, a bout with Black Taurus would be a lot of fun, but it feels like a waste of what could be limited availability from Jonah.

The quick Cardona promo was fun and sets up the next few weeks of television, which will likely pit Green between her husband and friend Jordynne Grace.

Hellbent on proving he could beat Ring of Honor champion Jonathan Gresham without the convoluted Pure rules that plagued him in their first meeting, Steve Maclin battled The Octopus in a straight match.

An intense start by Maclin was slowed and countered by a methodical Gresham. Maclin utilized the ropes to his advantage, something he could not under Pure rules, and dropped the ROH star throat-first on them. 

Maclin attempted to wear down his opponent but a series of forearms brought Gresham back into the contest. The ROH champ attempted a springboard moonsault but Maclin drove him into the mat for a two-count.

With his emotions getting the better of him, he refused to stop beating on his opponent. The referee called for the bell but a raging Maclin delivered Crosshairs. As he looked to further punish Gresham, Honor No More's Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, PCO and Vincent attacked. 

Gresham watched from the ramp, refusing to joining his ROH exports.

       

Result

Maclin defeated Gresham via disqualification

      

Grade

B+

      

Analysis

This was an even better match than their first. And while the finish may not have been what one hoped for as the bout unfolded, it set up the post-match angle and the mystery surrounding Gresham's relationship with Honor No More.

By preserving Maclin and sparing him a loss, hopefully we have the opportunity to see the former Forgotten Son have one more go-round with Gresham because their in-ring chemistry is undeniably strong. 

The "is he or isn't he" storyline between Gresham and Honor No More is also strong and should, ultimately, force him to choose a side.

Former Impact world champion Josh Alexander's tense staredown with Jonathan Gresham gave way to a match with Honor No More's Vincent.

It was the former Ring of Honor star who dominated the action, though, working his opponent over with an arsenal of offensive weapons, including a guillotine choke. Alexander fought his way out of the hold and applied his trademark ankle lock.

A teased attack by Bennett, Taven and PCO gave way to Team Impact hitting the ringside area and fending them off. Alexander responded, feeding off the fury of his teammates and tapping Vincent out with the ankle lock.

After the match, though, Kenny King attacked before standing tall with his fellow Ring of Honor alumni.

     

Result

Alexander defeated Vincent

    

Grade

B

        

Analysis

And with that, the sides are even entering No Surrender on February 19.

King joined Honor No More and showed the fire and energy one would expect from someone excited by the prospect of joining Impact. He was a longtime member of the Ring of Honor roster and is an athletic and dynamic performer who enhances any roster he appears on.

His arrival strengthens the heel faction and gives Impact another hurdle to run through if it hopes to halt the momentum of the invaders.

Alexander scored a big win and showed some solid in-ring chemistry with Vincent, an enigmatic character we will hopefully see more of beyond the one-dimensional invasion storyline.

After a backstage confrontation a week ago, rookie Bhupinder Gujjar battled John Skyler.

The veteran dominated the action throughout, forcing Gujjar to mount a comeback if he hoped to score a win in his first match with Impact .

He did just that, flattening Skyler with a Spear from the middle rope for the win.

After the match, Raj Singh applauded the newcomer's victory but Gujjar backed out of the Impact Zone, wary of his prospective associate.

     

Result

Gujjar defeated Skyler

     

Grade

C+

     

Analysis

This was perfectly acceptable pro wrestling from a veteran in Skyler and a young star Impact clearly sees big things in.

The attention may have been on Gujjar but Skyler did a ton to help him look great in his first outing. He was selfless at a time when he could have eaten Gujjar up and hurt his ability to connect from the get-go. Kudos to him for understanding the assignment and acing it. 

Hopefully, the 34-year-old gets the opportunity for an expanded role in the near future because he has more to offer.

Masha Slamovich battled Kaci Lennox in the night's penultimate match.

It went about as well as one would expect for Lennox based on other Slamovich matches.

The Russian obliterated her opponent, extending her unbeaten streak and continuing to assert her dominance over the Knockouts division.

     

Result

Slamovich defeated Lennox

     

Grade

C

    

Analysis

Another week, another Slamovich destruction.

For now, this works. The Moscow native is new enough that these squashes work. At some point, she will have to start scoring wins over known talent or risk losing momentum.

For now, letting her tear through the competition while establishing a fanbase is the right call and a booking method that has worked countless times before.

Last week, Bullet Club's "Switchblade" Jay White, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa and Chris Bey beat down Jake Something and "Speedball" Mike Bailey. After Ace Austin and Madman Fulton agreed to join the babyfaces, an 8-man tag team main event was made for this week's show.

The heels controlled the majority of the match, establishing dominance as they looked to score their first victory as a unit in Impact.

A late tag by Bailey to Austin sparked a comeback for Team Impact but in-fighting between them threatened their ability to score a victory. Something exploded into the match late, tagging himself in with a wicked chop to the chest of Austin.

With his teammates down at ringside, Something found himself on the receiving end of a concentrated attack by Bullet Club. The Art of Finesse by Bey earned the heels the victory and the former X-Division champion a bit of revenge against Something.

After the match, The Good Brothers and Violent By Design attacked Bullet Club as the show went off the air.

     

Result

Bullet Club defeated Something, Austin, Fulton and Bailey

     

Grade

B+

     

Analysis

This was a fast-paced main event that spotlighted Something while still delivering Bullet Club the victory.

Something is a star in the making, a guy who is going to be at the forefront of Impact as long as another company doesn't come along and throw money at him. He's special, has a great look and brings the in-ring intensity that helps separate him from others in similar positions in the company.

He was the centerpiece of this match, and one has to think the in-fighting with Austin will eventually lead to a big match between them. 

Bullet Club winning was the obvious choice but the impending feud with The Good Brothers and Violent By Design is an interesting choice, if only because it is going to force one of the heel acts into a babyface role. Who that is and how believable they are will determine the success of the feud.