2022 Impact Wrestling event
Over Drive was a professional wrestling event produced by Impact Wrestling. It took place on November 18, 2022, at Old Forester's Paristown Hall in Louisville, Kentucky, and aired on Impact Plus and YouTube. The event also featured wrestlers from partner promotions Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).
Ten matches were contested at the event, including two on the pre-show and one taped as a digital exclusive. In the main event, Josh Alexander defeated Frankie Kazarian to retain the Impact World Championship. In other prominent matches, Jordynne Grace defeated Masha Slamovich in a Last Knockout Standing match to retain the Impact Knockouts World Championship, Trey Miguel defeated Black Taurus to win the vacant Impact X Division Championship, Mickie James defeated Taylor Wilde in a Career Threatening match, and Bully Ray defeated Moose in a Tables match in the opening bout.
The event received positive reviews from critics, with much praise being directed to the X Division Championship Tournament final, the Last Knockout Standing bout, and the Impact World Title main event.
Production.
Background.
On July 18, 2022, Impact Wrestling announced that Over Drive would take place on November 18, 2022, at Old Forester's Paristown Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.
Storylines.
The event featured several professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines were produced on Impact's weekly television program.
On the October 13 episode of "Impact!", after Josh Alexander successfully defended the Impact World Championship against Bobby Fish, X Division Champion Frankie Kazarian invoked Option C, vacating the X Division Championship the following week for a world title match at Over Drive.
As a result of Frankie Kazarian invoking Option C, an eight-man tournament was organized to crown a new X Division Champion, with the finals set to take place at Over Drive. Black Taurus, Trey Miguel, PJ Black, and Mike Bailey advanced to the semifinals by defeating Laredo Kid, Alan Angels, Yuya Uemura, and Kenny King, respectively. Miguel advanced to the final by defeating Bailey via disqualification after King threw the former into the ring steps, and Taurus advanced to the final by defeating Black.
On the October 20 episode of "Impact!", Heath and Rhino won the Impact World Tag Team Championship by defeating The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett). The following week, The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin), who lost to The Kingdom at Bound for Glory, looked to gain another title match from the new champions. However, The Major Players (Brian Myers and Matt Cardona) also wanted a shot, so Shelley and Cardona faced off in singles competition later that night. There, Cardona picked up the win after Myers hit Shelley with the Impact Digital Media Championship belt. This win earned The Major Players a tag team title match against Heath and Rhino at Over Drive.
At Bound for Glory, The Death Dollz (Jessicka and Taya Valkyrie) (accompanied by Rosemary) defeated the Knockouts World Tag Team Champions VXT (Chelsea Green and Deonna Purrazzo) to win the titles. On the November 3 episode of "Impact!", Jessicka answered an open challenge to face Savannah Evans, which was offered by Evan's ally Tasha Steelz, but was unsuccessful. Following Jessicka's loss, it was confirmed that Evans and Steelz would challenge The Death Dollz for their title.
At Bound for Glory, Bully Ray returned to Impact in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet, last eliminating Steve Maclin to win a championship match of his choosing at any time. Later in the night, after Josh Alexander retained the Impact World Championship against Eddie Edwards, Honor No More attacked Alexander from behind, appearing to let Ray invoke his title match right then and there. However, Ray instead helped Alexander fend off Honor No More to close out the show. On the subsequent episode of "Impact!", Ray explained to Alexander that, due to his checkered past in Impact as someone who will do anything to get what he wants, he wants to use his opportunity the right way in order to preserve his legacy. However, many questioned Ray's true motives, including Moose, who called Ray nothing but a "scumbag". On the October 20 episode of "Impact!", Ace Austin was attacked in the parking garage before a tag team match with Chris Bey against Ray and Tommy Dreamer, leading to more suspicion being put on Ray. The following week, Ray tried to explain that he was not the culprit, and arbitrarily blamed Moose for the attack. Later, Moose came out during a match between Dreamer and Bey, with Ray in Dreamer's corner. There, Moose swept Bey's legs and walked off, making it seem that Ray had committed the act instead. On November 4, Impact announced that Ray and Moose will meet one-on-one at Over Drive. On the November 10 episode of "Impact!", after Ray defeated Zicky Dice, Moose would deliver a low blow to Ray before spearing him through a table. As such, their match would later turn into a tables match.
At Bound for Glory, Taylor Wilde made her return to Impact in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet, where she was eliminated 12th by Matt Cardona. On the October 20 episode of "Impact!", after Wilde defeated Mia Yim, Wilde was welcomed back by Mickie James, who is in her final run before retiring (dubbed "The Last Rodeo".) Before James could challenge Wilde to a match, both were attacked by VXT (Chelsea Green and Deonna Purrazzo) and Gisele Shaw up until the Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace made the save. This led into a six-woman tag team match between all involved on the following episode of "Impact!", which Grace, James, and Wilde were victorious. On the November 10 episode of "Impact!", after James defeated Green, Impact confirmed that James would face Wilde at Over Drive.
At Bound for Glory, Jordynne Grace successfully defended the Impact Knockouts World Championship against Masha Slamovich, breaking the latter's undefeated streak. Several weeks later on the November 10 episode of "Impact!", Grace defended the title against Gisele Shaw. After the match, Slamovich returned and attacked Grace on the entrance ramp with steel chairs. On November 14, Impact announced that Grace will once again defend the title against Slamovich in a Last Knockout Standing match.
Reception.
Steve Cook of "411Mania" reviewed the event and gave it a 7 out of 10, saying: "What we got was a couple of good hours of wrestling action with minor complaints, and a main event that is definitely worth watching." Bob Kapur of "Slam Wrestling" gave it 5 out of 5 stars, praising the Last Knockout Standing bout for being "a must-see slobberknocker" and "a late contender for women's match of the year" and the Impact World Title main event for not only giving both Alexander and Kazarian one of their career-best but "one of the best matches in the history of the company." He concluded that: "It's easy to "sleep on" Impact Wrestling, as the kids say. But when the company puts on a show like OverDrive, it would be a shame to do so. The show was chock full of strong matches, but the last two were simply *chef's kiss*. Go out of your way to watch this one." Kristian Thompson of "TJR Wrestling" gave the event an 8 out of 10, commending the "two really solid pre-show matches" and the "perfectly acceptable" undercard, but gave high praise to the final three bouts, calling it "another very good monthly special from Impact Wrestling." Darrin Lilly of "Pro Wrestling Torch" also highlighted the last three matches as standouts, saying the event "continues the streak of good Impact Plus specials. A fun evening of wrestling."
Aftermath.
After the event, Impact announced that Josh Alexander will defend the Impact World Championship against Bully Ray in the main event of Hard To Kill. On the December 22 episode of "Impact!", Alexander would be attacked by Ray, Jason Hotch, and John Skyler. Tommy Dreamer, Ray's former friend, tried to intervene, but Ray dispatched of him using a steel chair and ladder. Alexander would go to Impact Executive Vice President Scott D'Amore, demanding his match with Ray at Hard To Kill be upgraded to a Full Metal Mayhem match, which D'Amore made official.
On the December 1 episode of "Impact!", New X Division Champion Trey Miguel explained what he needed to do to regain the title and defaced the title belt with green spray paint. He would continue his feud with Black Taurus on the December 15 episode of "Impact!", when he went after him and his Decay partner Crazzy Steve during an entrance for a tag team match against The Major Players (Brian Myers and Matt Cardona), striking Steve with the spray paint can before tagging him, with the lingering effects causing Decay to lose their match. On the subsequent episode of "Impact!", it was announced that Miguel and Taurus will have a rematch for the X Division Championship at Hard To Kill.
On the December 8 episode of "Impact!", Heath and Rhino defended the Impact World Tag Team Championship against The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin), but the match went to a no contest due to interference from The Major Players (Brian Myers and Matt Cardona). The former two teams would have a rematch the following week, with Sabin pinning Rhino to earn the MCMG their third Impact World Tag Team Championship.
References.
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