Impact Turning Point 2023 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights
After a brilliant showing in his win over "Speedball" Mike Bailey at Bound For Glory on October 21, Will Ospreay returned to Impact Wrestling for a showdown with former world champion Eddie Edwards at Turning Point.
Also on tap for the event was a huge clash between Knockouts world champion Trinity and top contender Deonna Purrazzo, with Hall of Famer Gail Kim serving as the guest referee.
Who emerged victorious from those headlining bouts and which other stars established momentum as the promotion prepares to rebrand itself back to TNA Wrestling?
Find out with this recap of the November 3 show.
Match Card
1 of 11Announced for Impact Wrestling's live event special are:
- Knockouts World Championship: Trinity (c) vs. Deonna Purrazzo (with Gail Kim as the special guest referee)
- Will Ospreay vs. Eddie Edwards
- Frankie Kazarian and Chris Sabin vs. Moose and Brian Myers
- Josh Alexander and Eric Young vs. Subculture
- Jordynne Grace vs. Dani Luna
- Joe Hendry vs. Simon Miller
- Gisele Shaw vs. Alex Windsor
- Rich Swann vs. Trey Miguel
- Countdown to Turning Point: Rhino and Grado in action
- Countdown to Turning Point: Mark Haskins vs. Leon Slater
Countdown to Turning Point Results
2 of 11
Rhino and Grado defeated unnamed opponents
Leon Slater defeated Mark Haskins
The night's opener was a bare-bones tag match that fired the crowd in Newcastle, England but it was the second bout that set the bar for the night's in-ring work.
19-year-old Slater and veteran Haskins delivered an energetic, competitive opener that highlighted the babyface while also allowing the heel to showcase his own skill set. The right guy went over, the crowd ate it up and the result was an effective kickoff show.
Josh Alexander and Eric Young vs. Subculture
3 of 11
Former Impact World champions Eric Young and Josh Alexander teamed for just the second time ever to kick off this year's Turning Point, battling Subculture's Flash Morgan Webster and Mark Andrews.
This was a fantastic match, with action that built gradually before culminating in a relentless display of timing, chemistry, and athleticism.
Webster and Andrews have been underrated everywhere they have been and, considering how great they have been as opponents, it was no surprise that Alexander and Young made as strong a team as they did.
The established stars went over, with Alexander scoring the win for his team, but this set the bar pretty damn high for the rest of the show to try and eclipse.
Result
Alexander and Young defeated Subculture
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- The English crowd greeted Young with a huge pop, a reflection of their appreciation for his years of work around the globe, but especially in the United Kingdom.
- Andrews and Webster tried desperately to keep Young out of the ring but the former world champion exploded into the match and the pace of the bout quickened.
- Webster delivered Blitz Knee Bop to Young, who kicked out for a strong, dramatic near-fall.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Gisele Shaw vs. Alex Windsor
4 of 11
Familiar foes rekindled their rivalry Friday night as Gisele Shaw battled Alex Windsor in singles competition.
Shaw earned a hard-fought victory, something she could use more of in Impact. Sure, she is a heel and relies heavily on Jai Vidal and Savannah Evans, but quality wins that remind the audience that she is a competent and talented in-ring competitor without them are a welcome change of pace.
Windsor looked great here and could be a nice addition to the Knockouts division.
The competitors had a history and established chemistry, and the result was a fun, competitive match with the right result.
Result
Shaw defeated Windsor
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt revealed that Windsor was trained by "the legendary Knight family," which of course includes former AEW and WWE women's champion Saraya.
Rich Swann vs. Trey Miguel
5 of 11
Rich Swann and Trey Miguel have been foundational players in Impact Wrestling for years now, loyal competitors who have done it all and then some for the promotion. They are also guys who can be trusted to go to the ring and deliver on short notice, with or without a story, and that was the case here.
Swann and Miguel did battle in a good, sound pro wrestling match that was marred slightly by a botched referee's count, but not so much that it was readily apparent that a mistake had been made.
The count came moments after a middle-rope 450 splash that probably should have ended the match anyway.
Swann was awarded the match, which will have no realistic, long-term effect on either guy or any ongoing storylines, but it continued the trend of good professional wrestling to this point in the card.
Result
Swann defeated Miguel
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- These two could work with each other every night for the next six months and deliver a different match each time. They are veterans of Impact and have done this dance before, but it is almost always solid.
- Swann might have the most beautiful 450 splash in pro wrestling.
- The finish saw Miguel get his shoulder off the mat before the three but the referee called it as he saw it and Swann got the win in what appeared to be the unintended outcome.
Jordynne Grace vs. Dani Luna
6 of 11
"The Juggernaut" Jordynne Grace continued to build momentum after winning the Call Your Shot Gauntlet match at Bound For Glory, defeating Subculture's Dani Luna in one of the best matches of the night.
It was as physical as anything on the show to that point, a showcase for women's wrestling between two women unafraid of throwing their entire bodies behind a back elbow.
Grace winning was a foregone conclusion given her win at the most recent pay-per-view and her upcoming title match with either Trinity or Deonna Purrazzo at Hard to Kill will need her at her hottest.
Still, Luna was great here and should get more looks as a potential, consistent presence in the Knockouts division.
Result
Grace pinned Luna
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Luna is really good and this was the perfect showcase for her.
- This is the definition of a match where the loser was really a winner for coming out of the match better off than when she entered it.
Joe Hendry vs. Simon Miller
7 of 11
Joe Hendry and social media personality Simon Miller settled an online feud Friday in a match that was less competitive, more one-sided in the favor of the latter than anything.
There was a brief moment when Miller was able to get over on Hendry and enjoy some sustained offense but the former Digital Media champion fought back and downed his opponent with a Standing Ovation for the victory.
This was inoffensive, was never really about having a five-star classic, and gave fans the opportunity to see a loudmouthed antagonist get silenced by one of the more beloved guys in the company.
Result
Hendry defeated Miller
Grade
C
Top Moments and Takeaways
- "Don't hate the player, hate the subscribe button," Miller said. Ha.
- There was a difference in skill levels at play here and it was apparent.
Frankie Kazarian and Chris Sabin vs. Brian Myers and Moose
8 of 11
Moose will challenge either Alex Shelley or Jonathan Gresham for the Impact World Championship at Hard To Kill but before that, the possessor of the coveted Feast or Fired briefcase teamed with his "Most Professional Wrestling Gods" partner Brian Myers to battle Chris Sabin and Frankie Kazarian.
A good, competitive match concluded with the heels fending off a late charge by the babyfaces and Moose flattening Kazarian with a spear for the win.
This was a formulaic tag match elevated by the grizzled pros on both sides.
The action was solid, strong, and fit the rest of the card. There was little gained or advanced by it, but there did not have to be. Moose looked strong, the right guy went over, and the company can continue rebuilding him into a legitimate No. 1 contender from here.
Result
Moose and Myers defeated Kazarian and Sabin
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
- The commentary team revealed that Impact World Champion Alex Shelley is focused on his upcoming title defense against Jonathan Gresham and thus, was unable to appear tonight. He is actually recovering from a calf strain.
- Following a fun babyface spot, Hannifan tried to coerce a "nice" out of Rehwoldt on commentary by asking him what Moose's jersey number was in the NFL. Look it up. Childish? Sure. Fun and back and forth the likes of which we don't get often enough out of the commentary teams on WWE and AEW TV? Oh hell yeah.
- It really is impressive just how good Kazarian and Sabin still are, nearly three decades into their careers.
Knockouts World Championship Match: Trinity vs. Deonna Purrazzo
9 of 11
Deonna Purrazzo is one of the best wrestlers in the history of Impact Wrestling's Knockouts division, not to mention one of its most decorated, but Friday night she fought for her championship life.
The Virtuosa challenged Trinity for the Knockouts World Championship with the stipulation that a loss would mean she was unable to challenge for the top prize in the division as long as the queen of glow held the title.
At one point, it appeared as though Purrazzo would win the match and title. Instead, she let the frustration surrounding her inability to beat Trinity with the Queen's Gambit distract her. After a verbal confrontation with special guest referee Gail Kim, Purrazzo found herself trapped in Starstruck and left with no choice but to tapout.
A physical encounter with Kim made her night worse as she was left lying, her championship prospects limited.
Purrazzo is so good. As talented as Trinity is, The Virtuosa is on another level, though that could be said of her and any other competitor in the promotion. Purrazzo is one of the best pure, technical wrestlers on the planet and she continuously shows it whenever she competes.
Up next for her, it appears, is the long-awaited showdown with Hall of Famer Kim, who would likely give her another stellar encounter to hang her proverbial hat on.
As for the champ, Trinity will battle Jordynne Grace for the Knockouts World Championship at Hard to Kill on January 13, 2024 in Las Vegas.
Result
Trinity defeated Purrazzo to retain
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- It was appropriate that Kim, one of the most influential women in Impact Wrestling history, was the official for this match between two of the most important competitors in the modern era of the Knockouts division.
- Purrazzo and Kim is going to be straight fire, featuring two of the best to ever lace a pair of boots in Impact Wrestling. It's about to get special between those two.
Will Ospreay vs. Eddie Edwards
10 of 11
Will Ospreay made it 2-0 in this most recent run with Impact Wrestling Friday night, defeating Eddie Edwards in another stellar main event that only served to further the argument that The Aerial Assassin is among the best pro wrestlers on the planet.
Edwards threw everything he had at his opponent, overpowering him and utilizing his striking advantage against the smaller, more athletic and high-flying opponent. Ospreay, though, caught him mid-Boston Knee Party and unleashed a barrage before pinning him with the Stormbreaker for the win.
Ospreay is a total star and elevated the significance of this show. Edwards is the heart and soul of Impact and belonged in this spot. Together, they wrestled a match totally different than that of Ospreay's match with Mike Bailey at Bound For Glory, but still delivered a superb main event that sent fans home happy and begged the question: what might this company look like with Ospreay as its face?
Result
Ospreay defeated Edwards
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- More than just being a great professional wrestler, Ospreay understands the significance of carrying one's self as such. His entrance is electric and he looks like a big deal.
- Rehwoldt shouted out Mark Andrews of Subculture when Ospreay took Edwards down with Stundog Millionaire, a nice nod to one of the originators of the maneuver.
- Ospreay obliterated Edwards with a clothesline, cutting off a Boston Knee Party form Edwards, then followed up with a Styles Clash.
- "I was born into wrestling a TNA kid," Ospreay told the fans.
Overall Grade
11 of 11There was very little in the way of storyline development or advancement with Turning Point, outside of the tease of the long-awaited showdown between Gail Kim and Deonna Purrazzo, but that by no means is a bad thing.
There was good-to-great wrestling up and down this card, starting with the tag team match that pitted Josh Alexander and Eric Young against Subculture, and continuing all the way through the main event.
Was it a show that needed to happen? Probably not, but it did and exceeded expectations along the way.
Overall Grade: B
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
