10 Ups & 1 Down From Impact Wrestling Slammiversary XVI

3. Mask Versus Hair

Sami Callihan is a divisive performer, and not only for the way he conducts himself away from the cameras. His act is very turn-of-the-century indie, with his forced "edginess" often coming off like he's trying too hard, and his matches have a tendency to descend into sloppy walk-and-brawls. It's frustrating, because Sami is one of the best scrappers in the business on his best days.

Fortunately, this was one of his best days.

'The Worldwide Desperado's' mask versus hair war with Pentagon Jr. was utterly fantastic. On another night, it may have finished top of our 'Ups,' but take nothing away from this chaotic brawl. It was unlike anything you've seen from a mainstream American promotion all year. Sami tore Penta's mask. They drove spikes into each others' flesh. By the end, Callihan's face was coated in claret. There were chairshots, sick bumps, the obligatory baseball bat spots, and all of it resonated.

It'd take a longer word count than this to do their feud justice, but rest assured, this was a fittingly brutal conclusion. It could've done without the referee bump, but who cares? Pentagon and Callihan threw a drama-laden violence party, and as Sami, coated in his own plasma, bawled his eyes out as Penta shaved his hair, his comeuppance was beyond satisfying.