2022 Impact Wrestling event
The 2022 Sacrifice was a professional wrestling event produced by Impact Wrestling. It took place on March 5, 2022, at Old Forester's Paristown Hall in Louisville, Kentucky, and aired on Impact Plus and YouTube. It was the 13th event under the Sacrifice chronology.
Twelve matches were contested at the event, including two on the pre-show and one taped as a digital exclusive. In the main event, Moose defeated Heath to retain the Impact World Championship. In other prominent matches, Violent By Design (Eric Young and Joe Doering) defeated The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) to win the Impact World Tag Team Championship, Tasha Steelz defeated Mickie James to win the Impact Knockouts World Championship, and The Influence (Madison Rayne and Tenille Dashwood) defeated The IInspiration (Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay) to win the Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Championship. The event also marked the return of Alex Shelley, facing his student and Bullet Club leader Jay White in a losing effort.
The event garnered positive reviews from critics, with much praise being directed to the X Division title match between Jake Something and Trey Miguel.
Production.
Background.
Sacrifice was an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Impact Wrestling (then known as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling) that was first held in August 2005. The promotion's PPV schedule was reduced to four quarterly events in 2013, dropping Sacrifice. The event would return in 2014 and in 2016, the latter as a special edition of "Impact!". The event would be revived in 2020 as a monthly special for Impact Plus.
On December 24, 2021, Impact Wrestling announced that Sacrifice would take place at Old Forester's Paristown Hall in Louisville, Kentucky on March 5, 2022.
Storylines.
The event featured several professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines. Storylines were produced on Impact Wrestling's weekly television programs: "Impact!" and "Before the Impact".
The Influence (Madison Rayne and Tenille Dashwood) were originally slated to challenge The IInspiration (Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay) for the Impact Knockouts Tag Team Championship at Hard To Kill in January 2022. However, the match was cancelled due to The IInspiration having come into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. On February 22, it was announced that the title match will now take place at Sacrifice. The Influence questioned Kaleb with a K's allegiance to them ever since he received a new phone from The IInspiration, and started losing matches through a call from said phone and Kaleb being distracted with McKay in his arms.
At No Surrender, Jake Something defeated Ace Austin, Chris Bey, and Mike Bailey in a four-way match to become the number one contender to the Impact X Division Championship. On February 23, it was announced that Something will challenge defending champion Trey Miguel at Sacrifice.
At No Surrender, Honor No More (Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, Kenny King, PCO, and Vincent) defeated Team Impact (Chris Sabin, Rhino, Rich Swann, Steve Maclin, and Willie Mack) to earn their right to stay in Impact Wrestling, after the latter team was betrayed by Eddie Edwards. Edwards was found to be attacked backstage before the match, forcing Mack to take his place. However, Edwards would return during the match's climax and attacked Rhino and the rest of Team Impact before allowing King pin Rhino; turning heel and joining Honor No More in the process. Edwards would explain his actions on the February 24 episode of "Impact!"; after Kenny Omega won the Impact World Championship in a cross-promotional match at Rebellion in 2021, Edwards waited be chosen by Impact management to challenge for the title and "restore honor" to the company. Instead, it was Moose and Sami Callihan who both challenged and failed to beat Omega over the Summer. Feeling betrayed by Impact Wrestling (as well as by Ring of Honor, a company Edwards once wrestled for, going on a hiatus and releasing members of Honor No More from their contracts), Edwards would cost Team Impact the match at No Surrender. During that week's episode, Impact Executive Vice President Scott D'Amore would book a match between Rhino and Edwards for Sacrifice. Meanwhile, Jonah would be booked to face Honor No More's PCO. On March 2, it was announced that Swann and Mack will face Honor No More's Matt Taven and Mike Bennett on the "Countdown to Sacrifice" pre-show.
At No Surrender, Moose retained the Impact World Championship against W. Morrissey. On the February 24 episode of "Impact!", Moose would take credit for Eddie Edwards' recent actions, citing how those he defeated and retained the title against (including Josh Alexander and Matt Cardona) had gone through downward spirals. Moose would then be interrupted by Heath, who was returning after the initial assault by Honor No More, and be challenged for the Impact World Championship at Sacrifice. Scott D'Amore, bewildered that Moose had no issue with Honor No More as long as they "stayed away" from his championship, officially booked a title match between Moose and Heath during a backstage segment.
At No Surrender, The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) successfully retained the Impact World Tag Team Championship against the Guerillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) after the latter team was betrayed by Bullet Club leader Jay White. Subsequently, Guerillas of Destiny (G.O.D.) was kicked out of Bullet Club and White reinstated The Good Brothers as members for the first time in nearly a decade. On the February 24 episode of "Impact!", White announced that he would be facing his mentor, Alex Shelley, at Sacrifice. During the segment, Violent By Design (Eric Young, Deaner, and Joe Doering), who had been in a partnership with The Good Brothers, confronted the Bullet Club backstage. After White denied Violent By Design (VBD)'s request for a title match, G.O.D. would ambush the Bullet Club. It was later announced that The Good Brothers will defend the Impact World Tag Team Championship against VBD at Sacrifice.
At No Surrender, Mickie James defeated Tasha Steelz to retain the Impact Knockouts World Championship. On the following episode of "Impact!", Steelz and her bodyguard Savannah Evans burst into executive producer Gail Kim's office, who was in talks with James and Chelsea Green about a title match at Sacrifice. Steelz objected to the idea, so Kim booked a number one contender's match for next week between Green and Steelz. Steelz would win the match, earning her another title opportunity against James at Sacrifice.
On the February 10 episode of "Before the Impact", Lady Frost defeated Alisha Edwards. However, Frost's celebration would be cut short due to the debuting Gisele Shaw, who came down to the ring and ignored Frost entirely. The two would square off in a match the following week, where Shaw would pick up the victory. On the February 24 episode of "Impact!", Frost answered Deonna Purrazzo's "Champ-Champ" open challenge, attempting to take Purrazzo's AAA Reina de Reinas Championship, but came up short. After the match, Shaw came down again, staring at Purrazzo before mocking Frost on her failure. The next week, when Shaw interrupted Purrazzo's interview time, Frost confronted Shaw to let her know that the two of them would have a rematch on the "Countdown to Sacrifice" pre-show.
Event.
Digital Media Exclusive Match.
Before the event went live, Mike Bailey defeated Aiden Prince which was aired as an Impact Digital Exclusive on March 8.
Countdown to Sacrifice.
Two matches were contested on the Countdown to Sacrifice pre-show. In the first match, Gisele Shaw fought against Lady Frost. In the end, Frost hit the "Frostbite" to get the victory.
In the second pre-show match, Rich Swann and Willie Mack took on Honor No More (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett). Maria Kanellis-Bennett joined Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt on commentary. In the end, Swann rolled up Bennett to get the win for his team.
Preliminary matches.
The opening match of the event was Jake Something against Trey Miguel for the X Division Championship. Jake puts Trey down the mat after a lockup, who lands some strikes but gets back down with a few clotheslines. Trey begins to target Jake's arm but gets caught in a powerbomb for two. Jake remains in control after whipping Trey in the corner followed by a punch that sends him to the ground. Trey fights back with a couple strikes and an elbow, but Jake knocks him down with a forearm followed by a spear in the corner for a two count. Jake hits some clotheslines on Trey, who answers back with forearms in the corner and a springboard splash. Trey misses two kicks on Jake but hits a back kick for two. Trey lands some chops on Jake who sends him into the mat and hits a backbreaker for two. Jake hits Trey with two clotheslines against the ropes, but gets kicked to the outside, and planted with a Destroyer on the ramp. Trey rolls Jake into the ring for a two count, applies an armbar immediately afterwards, but gets powerbombed into the turnbuckle and on the mat for two. Jake goes for another powerbomb but Trey counters it into a meteora for a two count. Trey climbs to the top rope but gets punched by Jake who follows him up, slips out of a superplex attempt to hit a few strikes, and lands another meteora on Jake for three to retain his title.
Next, Eddie Edwards (with Honor No More) took on Rhino (with Chris Sabin, Rich Swann, and Willie Mack). Edwards charges at Rhino who avoids him, landing punches and chops that forces Edwards to go outside and regroup with Honor No More. Rhino continues to lay Edwards with punches and chops, before Edwards lands some chops of his own, and gets thrown outside near Team Impact who send him back into the ring. Edwards catches Rhino with a boot and attempts to get a kendo stick from Maria Kanellis-Bennett, but she gets caught by the referee who ejects her from ringside. Rhino comes back with some punches on Edwards, who hits a few elbows in return, but gets taken down with a punch. Matt Taven trips Rhino from the outside, allowing Edwards to choke him on the ropes, giving Taven a chance to choke Rhino as well. Edwards punches Rhino to the corner and hits a running forearm, but gets caught with a clothesline followed by a shoulderblock in the corner. Honor No More and Team Impact begin brawling at ringside, with Vincent, Swann and Mack landing dives on everybody outside. Steve Maclin enters the ring and lands a DDT on Edwards, encourages Rhino to hit the "Gore", but hits him with a kendo stick. Edwards hits the "Boston Knee Party" for the win.
Backstage, Kaleb with a K asked The Influence (Madison Rayne and Tenile Dashwood) if they were ready for tonight, who respond by telling him to not be at ringside for their match. The third match was The Influence versus The IInspiration (Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay) for the Knockouts World Tag Team Championship. Jessie gets the early advantage on Tenille which forces her to tag Madison in, who gets double teamed by Cassie and Jessie. Cassie and Madison trade multiple pin attempts, followed by Cassie applying an armlock on Madison. Both teams were in the ring, with The Influence mocking The IInspiration's pose and getting sent outside the ring. Tenille drops Cassie face-first into the apron, while Madison throws Jessie into the ring post. Back in the ring, The Influence continue the double team assault on Jessie, resulting in the latter being put in the tree of woe in their corner. Jessie tags in Cassie and takes out The Influence, hitting a fisherman suplex on Tenille for two. The IInspiration attempt to hit "The Idolizer" on Tenille, who manages to escape but gets driven into Jessie's knee instead. Tenille escapes a double suplex attempt by The IInspiration and hits the "Spotlight Kick" on Cassie for a near fall. Kaleb arrives at ringside, Cassie hits a spin kick on Tenille for two, and both teams fight in the ring. Kaleb throws one of the belts in the ring, which is picked up by Tenille who hits Cassie with it, and pins her to win the tag titles for her team.
Heath and Rhino talk backstage about Steve Maclin's betrayal on Team Impact and Heath's upcoming title match. Anthony Carelli walks up to Heath and gives