13 Ups & 2 Downs From IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Knockdown 2021

6. Welcome To The Team

Mercedes Martinez winning the Knockouts Knockdown tournament indicates that she'll be with IMPACT for the foreseeable future. How long, exactly, isn't yet known, but she's at the very least got a future match with either Deonna Purrazzo or Mickie James.

Her tournament finals vs. Tasha Steelz was a nice match. Far from the tournament's greatest offering - we'd seen a few of the same spots/moves in previous matches - the majority of it still clicked. Tasha's Stratusfaction benefitted from Mickie James' disgusted commentary reaction, whereas Mercedes' match-ending OG Drop was her best execution of the move throughout this event. She seemed to safely drop Tasha on her neck ever so slightly, while making it appear as if it was a neck bump gone wrong.

Like all one-night tournaments, this was hindered by being the last match. We'd already seen all there greatest hits and more; Tasha could have attempted fifty crucifix drivers, but still no one would care because she'd already won a prior match that way. Had this been in the opening-round, it would be a sure-fire banger. Instead, it's simply enjoyable at a standard level.