January 16th 2021 will forever go down in history as the day the wrestling world changed, as Impact Wrestling presented their first major pay per view of 2021 Hard to Kill.
From Skyway studios in Nashville, Tennessee the first major show for Impact Wrestling of the new year brought about history-making moments, surprises, debuts, and high-class matches throughout the night. New champions were crowned and a new era in Impact Wrestling was born, so let’s take a look at this very well-received show and pick out five of the biggest stand-out moments from Hard To Kill.
Knockouts Tag Team Champions Crowned:
As announced at Bound for Glory the Knockouts tag team championships did indeed make their highly anticipated return at the Hard To Kill pay per view. Over the previous weekly editions of Impact, a tournament took place to decide the first two contenders. The tournament finally came to a halt as Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz (Fire and Flava) defeated the team of Havok and Neveah to become Impact Knockouts tag team champions.
Going into the match, Tasha Steelz and Kiera Hogan had the backing of the Impact Nation, a faith very well placed as they’re the total package. The reason this was one of the standout moments is after months of building the right choice for the new champions was made, the team crowned by former champions and pioneers of the Knockouts division Madison Rayne and Gail Kim, and this in itself was a huge moment for Steelz and Hogan as well as the division as a whole.
Decay Reuniting:
After four long years, the team of Crazzy Steve and The Demon Assassin Rosemary reunited as a team. They were of course missing their beautiful Monster but I’m sure he was watching on with a smile. Both Rosemary and Crazzy Steve have improved their abilities since last we saw them as Decay, there is also a lot of potential here to introduce members to the group. This is why in the long run this could be one of the standout moments of the Hard To Kill pay per view, as it will lead to Brand development and a new Stable.
Matt Cardona Reboot:
Something that many people within the Impact Fan Nation thought would be Inevitable, The former Bro-ski Matt Cardona made his official Impact Wrestling debut at Hard To Kill as a surprise opponent for the man who recently won the super X cup tournament Ace Austin. He was introduced by Impact Wrestling Executive vice president Scott D’Amore, Cardona would pick up the win via disqualification at the hands of Ace’s monster Madman Fulton. However, Cardona would be the one standing tall after taking out both men after the bell had sounded, the YouTube video of this moment trended in the YouTube top forty videos until the next day, and there is of course the potential for a major bros reunion or maybe even a feud should Cardona stick around and join the Impact Roster.
Moose Shining like a Star:
Despite the fact that the self-proclaimed TNA World Heavyweight Champion Moose was not in the original line up for this match. Mr Impact Wrestling wanted to show the world that he is more than ready to be in that number one spot, within Impact Wrestling and in the world of pro wrestling. By hanging with the best Impact and the world has to offer he without a doubt showed that he should be being talked about in the conversation, of not just the best big men in wrestling but one of the best wrestlers in the world today. Moose pulled off some of the best-looking moves during the course of the main event, which is why he is absolutely one of the standouts of Hard To Kill. He showed he is more than capable of going toe to toe with the best bout machine. If this match isn’t the match that leads to the world championship run of Moose then a lot of wrestling fans will be very surprised.
AEW World Champion pins Impact World Champion:
In arguably the biggest surprise of the night Kenny Omega did indeed pin the Impact Wrestling World Champion Rich Swann in the main event of Impact’s first live pay per view of the year. In what already could be considered a match of the year candidate, all six men put on an incredible match and proved to everyone why they’re in this match. But Omega would prove to everyone who isn’t too familiar with his in-ring work from companies such as new japan pro wrestling and All Elite Wrestling, As Omega was the one to pick up the pinfall victory and over Rich Swann that of course has everyone’s wrestling brains asking the question of whether Kenny Omega would be the one to dethrone Rich Swann as Impact World Champion?
Only time will tell.