Impact Wrestling Genesis 2021 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights

Just seven days before Impact Wrestling presents Hard to Kill on pay-per-view, the company put on its first Impact Plus special of 2021 with Genesis.

Featuring a special Super X Cup Tournament, a dream match pitting the legendary Jazz against former Knockouts champion Jordynne Grace and the culmination of the rivalry between Moose and Willie Mack in an "I Quit" match, the show set the stage for next week's extravaganza.

Who emerged victorious, which star hoisted the Super X Cup and who earned momentum heading into the rest of the year?

Find out with this recap of Saturday's broadcast.

Super X Cup Quarterfinal: Ace Austin vs. Suicide

Credit: Impact Wrestling

The Super X Cup Tournament kicked off with two former X-Division champions doing battle as "The Inevitable" Ace Austin squared off with Suicide. 

Suicide frustrated his opponent early, trapping him in a surfboard submission in an attempt to force a tap-out. He failed to do so but sent Austin to the floor, staved off attempted interference from the massive Madman Fulton and wiped out the heel with a dive from the ring apron.

Austin sent Suicide into the ring steps, though, to turn things in his favor. A brief display of control by Austin gave way to a comeback by the masked vigilante of Impact, which included a series of open-palm thrusts. Austin answered, rocking Suicide with a springboard kick for a two-count.

Suicide tried to build momentum, but another momentary distraction from Fulton allowed Austin to halt him. Suicide still managed to recover and deliver a modified brainbuster for a near-fall.

Yet another distraction from Fulton allowed Austin to catch Suicide with The Fold for the win.

Result

Austin defeated Suicide.

Grade

C+

Analysis

Not only did this result in a big win for Austin and see him advance to the next round of competition, it also set up Fulton to be a major factor throughout the remainder of the tournament. His constant distractions helped Austin to victory here and will likely contribute in whatever success The Inevitable has going forward.

The in-ring chemistry was strong, and there was certainly a flow the performers got into as the match progressed. Were there a few iffy spots? Sure, but one can only imagine what Austin and Suicide would have been capable of had they not been forced to rush because of the show's format-related time constraints.

Super X Cup Quarterfinal: KC Navarro vs. Blake Christian

Credit: Impact Wrestling

The tournament continued with a contest between two of the bright young stars of Impact Wrestling: Blake Christian and KC Navarro.

The overconfident Navarro mocked his opponent early before engaging in some quality chain wrestling. Christian answered with a heel kick, some chops and a rollup for a quick two-count. The pace quickened, and Navarro rolled to the floor, looking to halt his opponent's momentum.

He stunned Christian with a double-ax handle to the shoulder blades and followed up with a tope suicide to seize control. "I'm a star, damn it," Navarro exclaimed before delivering an expertly placed kick to the back. 

Navarro delivered a running punt kick and a picture-perfect swinging neckbreaker for two. Navarro tried for another neckbreaker, but Christian caught him and delivered a rolling Death Valley Driver. A standing shooting-star press earned him a two-count of his own. 

Christian added a neckbreaker from the ropes and finished with a twisting splash for the win. 

Result

Christian defeated Navarro.

Grade

C

Analysis

This was a good, solid, inoffensive match between two young guys with bright futures. There was a lot of movement but not a lot in between, making for a lack of story even if there was plenty of action to keep viewers' attention.

It was a safe match, one wherein everything hit and both men were allowed to show off a little bit. Nothing more, and nothing less.

Navarro excelled in the character department, working the heel persona throughout the match, while Josh Mathews and Madison Rayne put over Christian on commentary, hammering home who was the competitor to watch in management's eyes. 

Super X Cup Quarterfinal: Daivari vs. Cousin Jake

Credit: Impact Wrestling

Former X-Division champion Daivari entered the Super X Cup Tournament and drew Cousin Jake, a much larger competitor known more for his tag team work, in Round 1. Jake, recently betrayed by Cody Deaner, put over how much the tournament represented his opportunity to find himself.

Jake dominated on the floor, clubbing away at Daivari. Back inside the squared circle, though, the 20-year vet turned the tables, grounding his opponent in an attempt to take away the obvious size difference. The heel worked a bodyscissors and added a sleeper, looking to drive the fight out of the big man.

The babyface fought back into the match with a big clothesline and overwhelmed Daivari with his power. He downed the veteran competitor with a powerbomb but could only keep him down for a count of two. Daivari answered with a DDT for two.

He then targeted his opponent's legs, applying a Figure Four, but Jake made it to the ropes to break the hold. He recovered and delivered a black hole slam reminiscent of Abyss for the win.

Result

Cousin Jake defeated Daivari.

Grade

C

Analysis

This was an interesting match, if only because Daivari attempted two heat portions, the second short-changed.

There was the bodyscissors spot that attempted to sap the fight out of Jake and took up a large portion of the middle of the match. Then late, he targeted the leg, trying a Figure Four that lasted only a minute or so. It was out of place and hurt the flow of the closing moments.

Beyond that, it was a basic match that put over Jake strong as a hoss who can fight through the pain to emerge victoriously. Whether he is any match for tournament favorite Austin in the semifinals remains to be seen.

Super X Cup Quarterfinal: Crazzy Steve vs. Tre Lamar

Credit: Impact Wrestling

In the final match of the first round, young newcomer Tre Lamar battled circus clown extraordinaire Crazzy Steve.

Steve played mind games early, catching him off guard and sending him scurrying to the floor, away from the creepy sideshow antics.

Lamar finally settled things down and worked over Steve, grounding him and applying an armbar. Steve mounted a comeback that included a side Russian leg sweep off the middle rope. The combatants exchanged blows, with Lamar getting the best of them.

Steve delivered another side Russian leg sweep into a submission, but Lamar countered into a submission of his own. Lamar escaped and tried for a top-rope splash. He crashed and burned, and Steve delivered a diving DDT for the win.

Result

Crazzy Steve defeated Lamar.

Grade

C

Analysis

Another largely inoffensive match in the first round of this competition.

Lamar looked like a young star with a lot more to offer than he had the opportunity to show in this one, but he did what he had to and worked well with Steve. The face-painted babyface is a different style of worker than most others in the field, but he meshed well enough with Lamar and picked up a win to continue who recent roll.

It should be interesting to see how he works with Christian in the semifinals.

Super X Cup Semifinal: Ace Austin vs. Cousin Jake

Credit: Impact Wrestling

Wasting no time between rounds, Austin and Cousin Jake took to the squared circle for the first semifinal.

Jake overpowered Austin early while Matthews and Rayne discussed how the babyface "looked right through" Madman Fulton and was laser-focused on Austin. The big, bearded babyface stared down Fulton on the floor as he continued to take the fight to his smaller opponent. Again, Jake came face-to-face with Fulton, this time laying in a hard right hand to the face.

The distraction allowed Austin to wipe him out with a dive to seize control. Jake tried to fight back with a suplex, but Austin caught him with a knee to the face to remain in control. Austin added consecutive spinning kicks, but Jake fought back and delivered a buckle bomb.

He drove Austin into the mat for a near-fall, but Austin showed guts in kicking out at two.

The fight continued from ringside back in, where Austin delivered The Fold from out of nowhere for the win.

Result

Austin defeated Jake.

Grade

C+

Analysis

Austin's win was the right call, as this is his tournament to lose. But Jake continued to look like a star. 

Yes, he was on the defensive for a considerable amount of the match, but as he mounted his comeback, it became clear he could have a bright future as a powerhouse babyface, not unlike Bradshaw's brief run as an upper-midcarder after WWE's initial brand extension back in 2002.

A match between him and Fulton could be a hell of a brawl if Impact books it.

Super X Cup Semifinal: Crazzy Steve vs. Blake Christian

Credit: Impact Wrestling

Crazzy Steve and Blake Christian wrapped up the semifinals of the tournament, doing battle just days after they competed against each other in a Fatal 4-Way Match on Impact Wrestling on AXS TV.

Christian inadvertently kicked Steve's stuffed monkey off the apron, igniting a fire in the typically fun-loving competitor that saw him unleash a merciless assault on the young competitor. Steve sent his opponent back- and then sternum-first into the turnbuckles in a further display of fury.

Christian recovered and delivered a split-legged moonsault for a near-fall. Steve answered with a headscissors takedown before a double clothesline on the floor left both men reeling. Back in the ring, Steve fired off throat thrusts and running uppercut in the corner. A senton followed for two.

Steve delivered a clothesline that turned Christian inside out but only earned a two-count. Christian hung Steve up on the top rope and delivered a 450 splash. A three-count later, and the young upstart had scored an upset to advance to the final.

Result

Christian defeated Steve.

Grade

B-

Analysis

This was the best match of the tournament to this point, which can be attributed to the storytelling early.

Steve snapping after the spot with the monkey, awakening a more aggressive side of himself that allowed him to take control while playing the de facto heel, was a great touch and helped set the stage for the rest of the match.

Christian was great, looking even better here than he did against Navarro in the first round. It was clear from early on that is the focus of the tournament. His underdog attitude should mesh well with Austin's overconfident heel persona in the tournament finale.

Jazz vs. Jordynne Grace

Credit: Impact Wrestling

Jazz delayed her retirement one more time to face Jordynne Grace, her partner in the Knockouts Tag Team Championship Tournament, in singles competition.

A test of power gave way to Thicc Mama Pump dropping the former WWE women's champion across the ring apron. A fisherman suplex earned Grace a two-count. Jazz answered by hanging up her opponent on the top rope and then delivering a leg drop for her own near-fall. The celebrated vet continued to use the ropes to her advantage, adding some clubbing forearms across the face for good measure.

Grace tried to fight back but Jazz caught her with a suplex for another two-count. Grace finally reversed into a back drop as both women found themselves down. Fighting back to her feet, the former Knockouts champion delivered a spinebuster for two. 

The younger competitor delivered a running double knee to the back, a back elbow in the corner and a Vader Bomb for a near-fall. Jazz delivered a double chicken-wing facebuster and then applied the STF. Grace fought to the ropes, forcing the break. 

Jazz delivered a slingshot into the corner and added some jabs, but Grace scored a schoolgirl rollup for two. Moments later, she countered a rollup from Jazz into one of her own for the win.

Result

Grace defeated Jazz.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Jazz may not be as good as she once was. But Saturday, she was still pretty damn good.

She was a step slower than Jordynne Grace but hung with her for the most part. She showed flashes of the badass former champion she was when dominating the women's division in WWE or tearing through the indy scene, teeing off on Grace and grounding the former KO champion.

Grace, though, withstood it all and scored the win by out-wrestling her opponent and earning further credibility while doing so. She is arguably the best wrestler no one is talking about, which is a shame. A powerhouse who can grapple with the best of them, she has been responsible for strong showings against Taya Valkyrie, Deonna Purrazzo, Tenille Dashwood and X-Division champions Rohit Raju, TJP and Chris Bey.

She is a star of the future for Impact or whichever company she may take her talents to.

Super X Cup Final: Ace Austin vs. Blake Christian

Credit: Impact Wrestling

Despite benefiting exponentially from the distractions provided by his bodyguard Madman Fulton, Ace Austin sent him to the back as he battled underdog Blake Christian in the Final of the Super X Cup Tournament.

Austin, predictably, seized control of the match early and targeted his opponent's midsection. He outwrestled and dominated Christian until a snapmare and dropkick to the back of the head earned the babyface a reprieve.

Christian dodged a springboard kick and delivered a standing shooting star press for two that may have been three had his ribs not been damaged throughout. Austin downed Christian moments later to regain control. 

A flying clothesline by Christian gave way to a sunset flip powerbomb off the ropes for a two-count. A springboard moonsault by Christian off the second rope on to the floor had the babyface rolling, and a springboard 450 splash back into the ring continued his onslaught.

Christian caught Austin with a double stomp, driving the heel off the second rope and into the mat for two. He went for one too many strikes and missed. Austin downed him for another two-count as frustration began to set in.

Austin applied a leg submission, twisting Christian like a pretzel while seeking a tap-out. The underdog fought out and caught a charging Austin with a standing Spanish Fly. He soared over the top rope and on to Austin before delivering an Eye of the Hurricane on the entrance ramp.

The babyface tried for the twisting splash but missed. Austin went for The Fold, but Christian countered into a rollup. A series of rollups and near-falls ensued, giving way to a barrage of strikes from both men. Counters and reversals culminated in Austin delivering The Fold to win the match and the Super X Cup.

Result

Austin defeated Christian.

Grade

B+

Analysis

This was a damn good match and a great reminder of just how good Austin is this early in his career. He has already headlined pay-per-views, worked with The Good Brothers and appeared in top storylines. Now he has a tournament win on his resume.

He was the best wrestler in the tournament, and it wasn't even particularly close.

With that said, Josh Mathews put over how a tournament like this can breed stars, and Christian certainly elevated his stock with his showing. He was the consummate underdog from the beginning, and though his nonexistent selling of the knee injury Mathews referenced throughout the match was glaring, he performed above and beyond expectations and made a name for himself.

The counter-wrestling late in this one helped elevate its overall quality. As did Austin executing his finisher out of the blue. After each man had thrown everything at his opponent, it was a great and creative way to wrap it up, with the right man going over.

'I Quit' Match: Moose vs. Willie Mack

Credit: Impact Wrestling

Willie Mack was a victim of a referee stoppage, motivating him to issue the challenge to Moose for an "I Quit" match Saturday night. Then, Tuesday on AXS TV, Mack interjected himself in a Three-Minute Challenge between Moose and Matthew Palmer, helping the young star earn a fluke win over the former NFL star.

Mack dominated the early minutes of the match, but Moose refused to say "I quit." Moose eventually gained control, punishing his opponent but failing to force him to quit.

As the action spilled to the floor, Mack regained control, rocking Moose with a steel chair across the back. In the ring, a limping Mack smacked the chair into the back of Moose, looking to drive the air out of his opponent. Some disrespect from Moose earned him a chair shot to the face, but he still refused to quit.

Mack delivered the Six-Star Frog Splash, his signature move, but Moose again shoved away the referee and microphone. Another frog splash, this time to the back, left the heel gasping for air. Mack drove a chair into his opponent's midsection and then into the throat as the referee asked whether he wished to give up.

Willie scaled the ropes for a third frog splash, but Moose hopped up, fueled by adrenaline, and cut off his opponent. Perched atop the ropes, Mack hammered away at Moose. The heel raked his eyes, though, and delivered a Go To Hell through a table.

Back in the ring, Moose laughed before he and Mack threw hands. They traded pump kicks before Mack delivered a stunner. Moose answered with a headbutt. Mack turned Moose inside out with a clothesline. Moose delivered a uranage as the action intensified.

Moose gained the upper hand and introduced a number of chairs into the ring. Mack threw one of them at Moose, stunning him, and then delivered a nasty superplex off the top rope on to the rest of them. Both men screamed out in agony, the pain agonizing.

On the floor, Moose blasted Mack with the TNA World Championship belt to the face. Back in the ring, Moose piled chairs on Mack's face and threatened to bash him with another until Impact world champion Rich Swann hit the ring.

"What do you want?! I'll give you a shot," he said, lifting the title in the air. 

Moose spoke into the microphone, "Thank you. I quit."

The show went off the air with Moose having achieved what he set out to.

Result

Mack defeated Moose.

Grade

B

Analysis

This was a hard-hitting, super physical match that saw both men beat the living hell out of each other in the name of forcing an "I quit" from their opponent's mouth. It was an appropriately brutal match for the stipulation with a finish that threatened to derail it all.

Swann has repeatedly been a defending champion, so for him to have to be goaded into granting a title opportunity by way of a barbaric "I Quit" match that had no guarantee of Moose getting what he wanted is a bit convoluted, to say the least.

Yet Impact is arguably in a stronger position for finally getting to that particular match.

Swann vs. Moose is a battle of Impact stars, with the latter being its longest-erm project.

Moose is going to be the face of the company at some point in the near future, and this was a step in the right direction—even if the outcome created unnecessary criticism of the logic behind the Moose-Mack match.