Impact Down Under Tour

Down Under Tour was a series of co-promotional professional wrestling events jointly produced by Impact Wrestling and Oceania Pro Wrestling. It was a four-day tour, which took place between June 29, 2023 and July 2, 2023. It featured two marquee events, which took place at the Equex Centre in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia on June 30, 2023 and July 1, 2023, which aired live via pay-per-view on FITE TV.[1][2]

Down Under Tour
PromotionImpact Wrestling
Oceania Pro Wrestling
DateNight One:
June 30, 2023
Night Two:
July 1, 2023
CityWagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
VenueEquex Centre

A total of sixteen matches were contested on both days with eight matches on each show. In the main event on the first day, Alex Shelley defeated Steve Maclin to retain the Impact World Championship. In other prominent matches, Chris Sabin retained the X Division Championship against Frankie Kazarian and Robbie Eagles in a three-way match, and Joe Hendry retained the Digital Media Championship against Eddie Edwards.[3][4] The second day was headlined by a Knockouts World Championship match between Deonna Purrazzo and Gisele Shaw, which Purrazzo won to retain the title. In other prominent matches at the event, ABC (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) to retain the World Tag Team Championship, Joe Hendry defeated Moose to retain the Digital Media Championship, and Adam Brooks defeated Robbie Eagles to become the inaugural OPW Heavyweight Champion.[5][6]

Production

Background

In December 2022, New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced that it would host the first-ever Oceania Cup in Australia and it would be a four-day event, taking place in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.[7] However, NJPW was forced to postpone the event. On May 8, 2023, it was announced that NJPW's partner promotion Impact Wrestling would replace NJPW on the Australia tour, marking Impact's first-ever to Australia, taking place between June 29, 2023 and July 2, 2023.[8] The event was funded by the New South Wales government's Regional Events Acceleration Fund.[9][10]

It was announced that Starrcast creator Conrad Thompson would host a live podcast during the tour titled "Business of Wrestling" with the Impact Wrestling President Scott D'Amore.[11][12] Two major wrestling shows were announced to take place on June 30 and July 1, featuring wrestlers from Impact Wrestling and the upstart promotion Oceania Pro Wrestling.[13][14] An eight-match Australian Showcase event was also announced to take place on the fourth day of the tour on July 2, which would feature wrestlers from Australia competing in front of D'Amore.[15]

Storylines

The event featured several professional wrestling matches, which involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines were produced on Impact's weekly television program.[16]

Main event matches

At Against All Odds, Alex Shelley defeated Steve Maclin to win the Impact World Championship. On June 15, it was announced that Maclin would receive his rematch against Shelley for the title on the first night of the Down Under Tour.[17]

On June 15, it was announced that Deonna Purrazzo would defend the Knockouts World Championship against Gisele Shaw on July 1, and if Shaw won the title then the scheduled title match between Purrazzo and Trinity at Slammiversary would become a three-way match for the title between Shaw, Purrazzo and Trinity.[18]

Undercard matches

On June 22, it was announced that Joe Hendry would defend the Digital Media Championship against Eddie Edwards on June 30, and the winner of the match would defend the title against Moose on July 1.

On June 22, it was announced that Chris Sabin would defend the X Division Championship against Frankie Kazarian and Robbie Eagles in a three-way match on June 30.

On June 22, it was announced that ABC (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) would defend the World Tag Team Championship against The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin).[19]

On the June 22 episode of Impact!, Bully Ray and Steve Maclin defeated Eddie Edwards and Frankie Kazarian in a tag team match.[20] This led to a match being announced between Kazarian and Maclin to take place on July 1 during the Down Under tour.[21]

Results

Down Under Tour
Night 1 (June 30)
No.ResultsStipulationsTimes[22]
1Slex defeated Adam Brooks by pinfallSingles match6:19
2Gisele Shaw defeated Erika Reid by submissionSingles match7:33
3Joe Hendry (c) defeated Eddie Edwards by pinfallSingles match for the Impact Digital Media Championship11:41
4Killer Kelly defeated Aysha by submissionSingles match7:09
5Chris Sabin (c) defeated Frankie Kazarian and Robbie Eagles by pinfallThree-way match for the Impact X Division Championship14:49
6ABC (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) defeated The Most Professional Wrestling Gods (Brian Myers and Moose) by pinfallTag team match15:57
7Deonna Purrazzo defeated Steph De Lander by submissionSingles match9:07
8Alex Shelley (c) defeated Steve Maclin by pinfallSingles match for the Impact World Championship21:06
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
Night 2 (July 1)
No.ResultsStipulationsTimes[23]
1Adam Brooks defeated Robbie Eagles by pinfallSingles match for the new OPW Heavyweight Championship13:02
2The Natural Classics (Stevie Filip and Tome Filip) defeated The VeloCities (Jude London and Paris De Silva) by pinfallTag team match4:46
3Joe Hendry (c) defeated Moose by pinfallSingles match for the Impact Digital Media Championship12:16
4Eddie Edwards defeated Slex by pinfallSingles match11:49
5Steph De Lander defeated Killer Kelly by pinfallSingles match9:51
6Frankie Kazarian defeated Brian Myers by submissionSingles match14:47
7ABC (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) (c) defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) by pinfallTag team match for the Impact World Tag Team Championship19:03
8Deonna Purrazzo (c) defeated Gisele Shaw by submissionSingles match for the Impact Knockouts World Championship17:04
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

Australian Showcase
Australian Showcase
PromotionImpact Wrestling
Oceania Pro Wrestling
DateJuly 2, 2023
CityWagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
VenueEquex Centre
No.Results[24]Stipulations
1Jimmy Townsend defeated Ricky SouthSingles match
2Erika Reid defeated XenaSingles match for the new OPW Women's Championship
3Matt Hayter defeated Luke WattsSingles match
4Kingsley defeated Lena KrossSingles match
5The Parea (Eli Theseus and Gabriel Aeros) defeated Top Tier (Mitch Ryder and Tim Hayden)Tag team match for the new OPW Tag Team Championship
6Anth Cava defeated Syd ParkerSingles match
7Aysha defeated Frankie BSingles match
8Mick Moretti defeated Jack BonzaSingles match

References
  1. "IMPACT Wrestling Down Under Tour Full Results: Day 1 (June 30, 2023)". Impact Wrestling. June 30, 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  2. "IMPACT Wrestling Down Under Tour Full Results: Day 2 (July 1, 2023)". Impact Wrestling. July 1, 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  3. Markus Gronemann (June 30, 2023). "Impact Down Under live results: Alex Shelley vs. Steve Maclin World title rematch". WON / F4W. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  4. Chris Vetter (June 30, 2023). "Impact Wrestling Down Under night one results: Vetter's review of Alex Shelley vs. Steve Maclin for the Impact World Championship, ABC vs. Moose and Brian Myers for the Impact Tag Titles, Chris Sabin vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Robbie Eagles for the X Division Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  5. Markus Gronemann (July 1, 2023). "Impact Down Under live results: Motor City Machine Guns vs. Chris Bey & Ace Austin". WON / F4W. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  6. Chris Vetter (July 2, 2023). "Impact Wrestling Down Under night two results: Vetter's review of ABC vs. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin for the Impact Tag Titles, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Gisele Shaw for the Knockouts Title, Joe Hendry vs. Moose for the Digital Media Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  7. Ethan Renner (December 12, 2022). "NJPW announces four-day Oceania Cup event for Australia in 2023". WON / F4W. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  8. "IMPACT Wrestling Announces 2 Shows This Summer In Australia (Winter, Down Under)". Impact Wrestling. May 8, 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  9. "Date set for international wrestling show to hit the ring in Wagga Wagga". Government of Wagga Wagga. May 9, 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  10. Matt Malone (May 11, 2023). "Impact Wrestling announce a four-day, two-shot Impact Down Under Tour to be held in Wagga". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  11. Jerome Wilen (May 8, 2023). "IMPACT Wrestling coming to Australia, Conrad Thompson to host live podcast". WrestleView. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  12. "Conrad Thompson Show". Oceania Pro Wrestling. May 19, 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  13. "Oceania Pro Wrestling on X: "Great to announce the partnership with @IMPACTWRESTLING today"". Oceania Pro Wrestling. Twitter. May 9, 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  14. "Australian Talent Announcement". Oceania Pro Wrestling. June 21, 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  15. Andy Gray (June 28, 2023). "IMPACT Downunder tour – IMPACT match announcements + Australian showcase". Pro Wrestling Downunder. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  16. Grabianowski, Ed (13 January 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  17. "Shelley vs Maclin II for the IMPACT World Title, Plus Purrazzo vs Shaw for the Knockouts World Title Official for Down Under Tour". Impact Wrestling. June 15, 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  18. Josh Nason (June 15, 2023). "Alex Shelley vs. Steve Maclin World title rematch set for Impact Down Under". WON / F4W. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  19. Ian Carey (June 28, 2023). "New matches announced for Impact Down Under pay-per-views". WON / F4W. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  20. Darrin Lilly (June 22, 2023). "6/22 IMPACT WRESTLING TV REPORT: Edwards & Kazarian vs. Bully & Maclin, Wilde vs. Kelly". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  21. "IMPACT Wrestling Down Under Tour Preview: Day 2 (July 1, 2023)". Impact Wrestling. June 30, 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  22. "Impact Wrestling Down Under Tour - Tag 1". Cagematch. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  23. "Impact Wrestling Down Under Tour - Tag 2". Cagematch. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  24. "Impact Wrestling Australian Showcase". Cagematch. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
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