13 Ups & 2 Downs From IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Knockdown 2021

2. Mercedes And Rachael Set The Standard

Mercedes Martinez vs. Rachael Ellering easily could have served as the finals for this tournament. It had that vibe to it from even before the ring of the bell as their brief handshake felt like a huge deal, while their post-match embrace further cemented this aura.

There was little to rag on here. Ellering seemed worried as the match was beginning, though these fears soon subsided as she took control. Again, this got the aura of the match over to a great degree. You could almost feel the exact emotion yourself.

The majority of this was leading into the finish, where Mercedes performed a Fisherman's Buster before opting for a submission victory via front chokehold. Prior to this, though, Rachael seemed to be stiff in places, executing a pump kick with tremendous force. This likely wasn't the real case, but because it looked real, it felt real. Mercedes understood this, choosing the safer option by choking her out instead of risking a kickout.

Wisely holding back a tad, thus saving something meaningful for the finals, there's now a potential Mercedes vs. Rachael feud for the future that would be worth visiting. It was a superlative match that will one day contest the Knockouts Title.